This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happens.
Key events
Live updates
By Peta Fuller
That's it for The Loop today
Thanks for joining us this morning. If you're catching up, here's a bit of what we've covered:
- "Heroic" patrons stopped a shooting in a US gay club that killed five and injured 18 overnight
- UK comedian shreds $17k in banknotes after giving David Beckham an ultimatum
- The latest towns under flood threat in NSW
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Power Rangers star Jason David Frank dies at 49
- And fans chant for beer at the World Cup
You can keep up-to-date on other news on the ABC's website, by subscribing to our mobile alerts, and by watching News Channel or listening to local radio here.
By Peta Fuller
Coming up: American Music Awards in LA
If you need a bit of red carpet glam to ease into Monday, the 50th American Music Awards are on... about now.
Most nominated? Bad Bunny on eight (including artist of the year) plus Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Drake all clocked six nods.
They're entirely fan-voted too, with the ceremony starting in about three hours, if you're keen to find out!
By Peta Fuller
US president Joe Biden turns 80
He's now the first octogenarian president in the country's history, and celebrated with a brunch hosted by his wife, Dr Jill Biden.
The president's granddaughter also held her wedding at the White House yesterday, becoming the 19th person to celebrate their nuptials at the Washington residence.
By Peta Fuller
Ukraine calls Russian attacks 'energy terrorism'
Residents in parts of Ukraine have been forced to collect water from village wells as efforts to restore damaged power facilities continue.
Ukrainian officials say Russia's attacks amount to "energy terrorism", and have accused Moscow of deliberately targeting infrastructure to cut Ukrainians off from heat and electricity ahead of winter.
Australian journalist Francis Farrell is currently in the south-eastern city of Kherson, and has told ABC News Radio that residents can't turn on the taps because water supplies are so badly damaged:
"It's much more difficult to get that infrastructure restored, so you've got humanitarian aid organisations bringing in water, you've got people collecting it from wells in villages and bringing it in."
By Bridget Judd
'It’s almost like I got to hug my daughter again': Mum hears late daughter's transplanted heart
An Indiana woman has heard the heartbeat of her late daughter inside the chest of a 68-year-old Illinois man who received it in a transplant operation.
Amber Morgan and Tom Johnson met for the first time over the weekend, four years after he received a heart transplanted from the body of Andreona Williams, who was 20 when she died from asthma complications.
The Indiana Donor Network arranged the rare meeting at a Chicago hotel, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Ms Morgan listened through a stethoscope that was pressed to Mr Johnson’s chest.
“It’s almost like I got to hug my daughter again,” she said.
“As a mother, you listen to your child’s heartbeat when you carry them, and I don’t think you ever ask to hear it again. It’s amazing.”
By Peta Fuller
Afterpay fan? You might want to read this
Around 7 million of us use "buy now, pay later" plans — but the government's looking to boost laws to protect users.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told ABC's News Breakfast people were starting to see these programs as "a credit card".
"We're also seeing certainly some pressure on people in terms of getting into serious trouble with schemes like this. So I think that it is responsible for the government to have a look at how to regulate it or how to put some guardrails around [it to] make sure that consumers are safe," she said.
And a new Treasury paper suggests companies such as Afterpay should be subject to the same laws as credit card providers.
By Peta Fuller
Iran's World Cup captain voices support for protests in home country
The captain of Iran's World Cup soccer team, Ehsan Hajsafi, has voiced concern about the political crisis in his country and called for change.
After arriving in Qatar, he told a press conference the situation wasn't good:
"They should know that we are with them. And we support them. And we sympathise with them regarding the conditions.
We have to accept the conditions in our country are not right and our people are not happy."
By Peta Fuller
Bluey's mum and dad *finally* met in person
Bluey fans might not believe it — but the voice artists behind the iconic cartoon dog's parents have only just met.
Melanie Zanetti (aka voice of Bluey's mum) told ABC's News Breakfast this morning that she'd only just met David McCormack — and it happened in New York. But (phew) they like each other:
"I'm very happy that my cartoon dog husband has turned out to be so great," Zanetti said.
But the best bit? There'll be a Bluey balloon in the Thanksgiving parade for the first time. AND the duo will be on Jimmy Fallon's late-night show tonight.
Aw biscuits to that!
By Peta Fuller
Question: Any trouble for UK comedian after he shred $17k?
Is defacing / destroying currency an offence in the UK? Shredder Joe might want to speak to his lawyer🤣
- Curious
We're thinking about that too, but it appears it's *not* illegal to deliberately destroy a banknote in the UK — but it is an offence to deface one.
If you missed it earlier, UK comedian Joe Lycett dressed in a rainbow shirt, posted footage of him putting pound notes into a woodchipper — he said he'd donate the money to charity if David Beckham agreed to pull out of his role as an ambassador for Qatar at the World Cup.
By Peta Fuller
Severe weather warning as windy conditions cross Victoria
Gusts of over 80 kilometres an hour lashed the state overnight, and the SES received around 500 calls for help in 24 hours.
Today, winds averaging between 50 and 70 kilometres per hour with peak gusts of up to 110 kilometres are expected.
State Duty Officer Aaron White says weeks of wet weather created some dangerous conditions, and that might bring down more trees.
By Peta Fuller
Parliament could be extended as Labor tries to pass signature bill in Senate
Labor wants the contentious Industrial Relations bill passed before Christmas but will need the support of key crossbenchers.
What's it about? The government argues expanding multi-employer bargaining will encourage higher wages, but some crossbenchers want more time to consider the potential unintended consequences of the changes.
Labor's senate leader Katy Gallagher says she's talking to members of the Senate about extending the sitting program by two days:
"We've got a lot of bills to get through and the senate is going to be a wild old place for the next fortnight in processing legislation and debating legislation, so i think we will end up with extra hours, we haven't locked everybody in on that."
By Bridget Judd
Tuan Tuan the panda, a symbol of reunion with China, has died in Taipei
Tuan Tuan, one of two giant pandas gifted to Taiwan from China, has died after a brief illness.
No cause of death was immediately given, but earlier reports said the panda was believed to have a malignant brain tumour.
Tuan Tuan and his mate, Yuan Yuan, were gifted to the zoo in 2008 during a time of warming relations between China and Taiwan, which split amid civil war in 1949.
Both were born in China in 2004 and succeeded in having a pair of cubs in Taiwan.
By Peta Fuller
More than 100 SES warnings across NSW
The SES says the storm threat has moved to the northeast of the state today, while on the flood front, they've received over 617 calls for help in 24 hours.
And they've got over 100 current warnings, you can get the full list here:
By Peta Fuller
'Worst flood they've ever experienced': NSW flood threat continues
The ABC's Kamin Gock is in Forbes today, where the water is dropping (so more damage assessments are underway) but the threat is elsewhere:
"In Euabalong overnight, their makeshift levee had a breach and it had to be quickly filled with sandbags, and in Condobolin, a 4km temporary levee separates the CBD tothe Lachlan River which has reached record heights as the worst flood they've ever experienced," he said.
And here's a look at that wall in Condobolin:
By Bridget Judd
Ukraine says it will investigate alleged prisoner shooting video
Ukraine will investigate video footage circulated on Russian social media, which Moscow says shows that Ukrainian forces killed Russian troops who may have been trying to surrender.
“Of course Ukrainian authorities will investigate this video,” Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister overseeing the country’s push to join the European Union, said on the sidelines of a security forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Stefanishyna, speaking late on Saturday, said "it is very unlikely" that the short, edited snippets show what Moscow claims.
On Friday, Russian authorities announced the opening of a criminal investigation based on the snippets posted on Russian Telegram channels and relayed on other social media, which present a muddled and incomplete picture.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed the footage shows an “execution” and said Russia wants an international investigation.
AP
By Peta Fuller
'Can't believe it': Power Rangers star Jason David Frank dies at 49
You might remember Jason David Frank (aka the Green Power Ranger) from the original 90s kids' show, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers — so some sad news overnight about his death at 49.
Co-star Walter Jones, who was the Black Power Ranger, has led led tributes to the late actor.
Thuy Trang, who played the original Yellow Power Ranger, died in a car accident in 2001 at age 27:
Frank's manager's statement did not reveal a cause of death.
By Bridget Judd
UK entertainer destroys $17,000 in bank notes over Qatar World Cup deal
In a bit of news off the field, a British comedian has shredded 10,000 pounds (more than $17,000) in bank notes after giving former England soccer captain David Beckham an ultimatum to pull out of his role as an ambassador for Qatar at the World Cup.
Beckham, who played for Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder, is working for Qatar, which has been criticised for its treatment of foreign workers, LGBTQ+ rights and restrictive social laws.
Joe Lycett said last week he would donate the money to charity if Beckham agreed to cut ties with the World Cup host or he would shred the money before the tournament began (although it should be noted that Beckham has not publicly acknowledged or responded to the ultimatum).
By Peta Fuller
Djokovic matches Federer's record in Italy
Novak Djokovic claimed a record-equaling sixth ATP Finals title in Turin by beating the third-seeded Casper Ruud.
Djokovic won 7-5, 6-3 to secure his first title at the event since 2015 and match Roger Federer’s record.
By Peta Fuller
Watch: Seats empty *before* full time as Qatar marks historic loss
ABC Sport's Sam Lewis, who is in Qatar, says *plenty* of people were out the door early (leaving some gaping holes):
Qatar is the first World Cup host in history to lose its opening fixture.
By Peta Fuller
Flood focus shifts in NSW
Waters are dropping in Forbes, allowing more damage assessments there, but downstream communities are the latest concern.
And flooding is yet to hit towns including Condobolin — while in the Riverina, some residents in Deniliquin have been told the evacuate by 10am Wednesday, or risk having evacuation routes closed.
