This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happens.
Key events
Live updates
That's it for The Loop this morning
By Peta Fuller
If you're looking to catch up, here's some of what we covered this morning (click the link to jump straight to the post):
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New Zealand has declared a national state of emergency in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle — it's only the third such declaration in their history
- The damage in parts of New Zealand has been described as "wet, sodden, devastation" with the clean-up still to come — while a volunteer firefighter remains missing
- Overseas, White House spokesman John Kirby says China's balloon program is linked to their army — but he can't "go into many details"
- A grand jury's report into Donald Trump and his allies' attempt to overturn his election loss will be partially released this week
- And Queen Consort Camilla has COVID for the second time
And you can keep up-to-date with other news on the ABC's website, by subscribing to our mobile alerts, and by watching News Channel or listening to local radio here.
Search for earthquake survivors enters final hours in Türkiye
By Peta Fuller
The desperate search for earthquake survivors in Türkiye and Syria is entering its final hours.
Experts say the window for rescues has nearly closed, given the length of time that has passed, the fact that temperatures have fallen to -6C and the severity of the building collapses.
The death toll has now surpassed 35,000 — and Turkish authorities say more than 150,000 survivors have been moved to shelters outside the affected provinces.
'Wet, sodden, devastation': Three-times monthly rainfall in some parts of NZ
By Peta Fuller
That's all from New Zealand's prime minister for now — let's get a bit of context from Lewis Ferris, at the NZ's MetService.
He spoke to the ABC's Nate Byrne earlier
"A station in the Hawke's Bay and Napier received 175mm of rain up to 9:00am this morning. That's the second wettest day.
For context, their normal February monthly total comes at 56mm of rain. They hit three times their monthly normal in a 24-hour space. It's going to be wet, sodden, devastation.
We've seen the worst of the storm now. And we're going to be moving into that clean-up period... We just have to get through today. Still a few red warnings in place."
'It won't be an overnight recovery', Hipkins says
By Peta Fuller
NZ's prime minister says it's a long road ahead for those affected and recovery will "take time".
He said it's an hour-by-hour review of the situation, with more detail coming to light early this morning, before the national state of emergency was declared:
"You can have the best technology in the world but until the sun comes up there's a limited amount you can know," he said.
Mr Hipkins said a navy vessel is on its way to a yacht off the east coast, which turned on its emergency beacon this morning.
Volunteer firefighter missing in New Zealand's storm crisis
By Peta Fuller
Mr Hipkins has acknowledged at least one volunteer firefighter is missing, and the search continues for them.
"They (emergency services) will be feeling this as they continue to do their work as well," he said.
New Zealand fire and emergency has confirmed a volunteer firefighter remains inside a house after it slid down a hill near Auckland.
A second firefighter was rescued and is in critical condition in hospital.
The PM said they'll be "throwing everything at this" event as the wash-up of Cyclone Gabrielle continues, with defence forces on the ground.
We're hearing from the NZ Prime Minister right now
By Peta Fuller
Chris Hipkins says the volunteer response has been "phenomenal" as he begins his update into the weather crisis in New Zealand.
Moldovan president warns of Russian plot to topple leadership
By Jessica Riga
Moldova's president has accused Russia of planning to use foreign saboteurs to bring down her country's leadership, stop it joining the European Union and use it in the war against Ukraine.
President Maia Sandu says the plan involved actors from Russia, Montenegro, Belarus and Serbia entering Moldova to try to spark protests and install a government controlled by Moscow.
The accusation comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week his country had uncovered a Russian intelligence plan "for the destruction of Moldova."
White House national security adviser, John Kirby, says there's been no independent confirmation, but described the reports as "deeply concerning" and "certainly not outside the bounds of Russian behaviour."
Getting a few questions on property (and rates) this morning
By Peta Fuller
Do the banks actually need to pass on every rate rise to borrowers? Or is this just to maintain their incredible profits for their shareholders? What if the banks only passed on some of the rises? They would still maintain a profit with a little less pain on the people. Has this ever been asked?
- Dicko
Morning, With the housing policy labour is trying to put through, mainly to build new houses. Isn't the answer somewhere else and stopping people having 2,3,4, 10 investment properties but limiting this to a home + 1 investment. This would help with the cost, free up a lot of houses and avoid having 10% unoccupied houses?!
- Manu
No easy answers but they're all timely — because guess who is up before senate estimates this week? It's the RBA governor Philip Lowe.
He's listed for Wednesday, and another house committee on Friday — so we'll be watching all of that closely.
Coming off your fixed mortgage this year? Here's one for you
By Peta Fuller
There's new analysis showing just how much average households on a fixed rate will need to find in their budget.
They'll need to find an extra $16,500 to meet those variable interest repayments.
ABC News Breakfast's finance presenter Madeleine Morris has a bit more for us:
"Financial markets now expect another three rate rises before August.
Consultancy firm KPMG says if that happens, borrowers who took out a $600,000 loan and fixed it when interest rates were low, will face a $16,500 hit when they move onto variable rates.
And it predicts the impact on the broader economy will be significant, with a $20 billion reduction in consumer spending, shaving a full percent off GDP.
KPMG believes the reserve bank hasn't fully accounted for this, and the resulting economic slowdown will be worse than forecast."
If you're in this boat, check out today's story from Rhiana Whitson:
Happening now: Academy Award nominees luncheon
By Jessica Riga
The biggest names in Hollywood are gathering in Beverly Hills, California for the nominees luncheon ahead of the 95th Oscars.
It looks like everyone got the same memo and went hard on the suits, tailoring and neutrals!
The Oscars are on March 13 and we will absolutely be blogging every minute of it.
Queen Consort Camilla tests positive for COVID
By Jessica Riga
Time for some royal news. Buckingham Palace has announced Camilla, the Queen Consort, has tested positive for COVID-19 after suffering from cold symptoms.
She cancelled all her engagements this week "and sends her sincere apologies to those who had been due to attend them.''
Both King Charles III and Camilla have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including a booster shot.
This isn't the first time Camilla has contracted the virus, testing positive in February last year.
NZ emergency call 'significant' with situation evolving
By Peta Fuller
NEMA's national manager of operations Roger Ball said the situation was changing "minute by minute".
He said an evacuation effort in Hawke's Bay, underway now, had reached out for defence support which was granted.
He added that the decision for a national emergency was "significant" and not taken lightly.
"Many areas of the country are saturated — it won't take much to cause issues," he said.
We're hearing from NZ's Minister for Emergency Management
By Peta Fuller
Kieran McAnulty said the national state of emergency was not a reflection of the work done so far, but would allow for better coordination.
The declaration will apply to the six regions that have already declared a local state of emergency:
- Northland,
- Auckland
- Tairāwhiti
- Bay of Plenty
- Waikato
- Hawkes Bay
An update on the bushfires in Queensland
By Peta Fuller
The ABC's David Iliffe is in Wieambilla, near Tara in the state's west, said fires were still burning on a smaller scale but can "flare up very, very quickly".
He said there has also been "enormous" infrastructure damage to power lines in the region.
Several warnings remain in place for the state, including Jendowie and Myall Park, near Miles.
Trump grand jury details to be (partially) released
By Peta Fuller
On Thursday we'll get a bit more detail about a special grand jury's report into Donald Trump's attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss.
A Georgia judge ruled *some* of the report should be seen now, after media organisations pressed for its release.
Any recommendations on who should (or should not) be prosecuted will remain secret for now — to protect due process rights.
A quick update on the situation in New Zealand
By Peta Fuller
Some 46,000 homes have lost power as Cyclone Gabrielle lashes the north of New Zealand.
Authorities have issued warnings of heavy rain and winds, as hundreds of flights are cancelled.
It comes weeks after Auckland and surrounding areas were hit by record rainfall that sparked floods and killed four people.
New Zealand has declared a National State of Emergency
By Peta Fuller
This is only the third time in New Zealand's history that a National State of Emergency has been declared, as the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle continues.
The Minister for Emergency Management, Kieran McAnulty, signed the declaration at 8:43 am (local time), the government said in a statement.
There'll be a press conference in about 15 minutes.
Yes, China's balloon program is connected to their army, US says
By Peta Fuller
White House national security spokesman John Kirby has just taken to the podium this morning — saying he can't "go into many details" but said the link has been confirmed.
Kirby said the US has recovered some (but not all) of the payload and the most recent one, shot down over Lake Huron on the Canadian border, was now in very deep water.
He also said the US wasn't flying balloons (or any other aircraft) into Chinese airspace.
And the press briefing started with this disclaimer — all of this "activity" isn't linked to aliens... it got a good laugh from the press room:
News Australia is searching for
By Peta Fuller
- Israel: Tens of thousands of Israelis have demonstrated outside the country's Parliament in Jerusalem against a proposed law they say will damage judicial independence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says changes are needed to restore balance in the system and curb activist judges who have overreached their powers to interfere in the political sphere.
One more thing: Baby born under Syrian quake rubble 'in good health'
By Peta Fuller
You might remember this from early in the quake's aftermath:
Baby Aya, who was found still connected by umbilical cord to her mother, was the only survivor in her immediate family — her mother, father and four siblings all died.
The baby’s paternal aunt, who also recently gave birth and survived the quake, will raise her.
Dr Hani Maarouf says she might be able to leave as soon as Wednesday — but local policemen were standing guard to make sure that no one tries to kidnap the child, after a series of people showed up falsely claiming to be her relatives.
