This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happens.
Key events
- 'The flood warnings are just incredible': More than 200 active warnings across the country
- 'Scepticism' about Boris Johnson's numbers
- Pelosi says Trump not 'man enough' to testify on Capitol riot
- BREAKING: Boris Johnson has pulled out of the race for PM
- One thing from overnight: Russia's defence chief warns of 'dirty bomb' provocation
- More news while you snoozed: Salman Rushdie loses sight in eye after attack
- News Australia is searching for: Man killed in lightning strike
- One more thing: Dwayne Johnson's biggest box office weekend in Black Adam
Live updates
By Peta Fuller
That's it for The Loop this morning
Thanks for joining us — here's what we've covered this morning:
- Boris Johnson is *out* of the UK leadership race — but there's some "scepticism" about his numbers (read his full statement here)
- More than 200 flood warnings were out across the country, as the flood threat continues from southern Queensland to Victoria
- Russia's defence boss has made a 'dirty bomb' claim
- Nancy Pelosi came out swinging against Donald Trump, saying he's not "man enough" to testify under oath at the Capitol riot investigation
- Salman Rushdie has lost sight in one eye after a brutal attack in August, his agent confirms
- And Dwayne Johnson has debuted his Black Adam superhero character — to some rough reviews but *plenty* of cash
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
Islamic extremists claim responsibility for hotel attack in Somalia
At least eight people were killed after militants stormed a hotel in Somalia's port city of Kismayo.
The attack on Sunday, local time, started with a suicide bombing before gunmen forcibly entered and exchanged fire with security forces.
The Islamic extremist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its fighters had penetrated the Tawakal Hotel.
A doctor at the local hospital told AP eight were dead and 41 wounded, but there hasn't been official confirmation yet.
By Peta Fuller
Brazilian politician attacks police, sparking seige
A Brazilian politician has attacked federal police officers trying to arrest him at his home, prompting an hours-long siege.
Politician Roberto Jefferson, an ally of President Jair Bolsonaro, fired a rifle and threw a grenade — wounding two officers.
He was resisting an arrest ordered by the country's Supreme Court for offending a justice.
He's now in police custody.
It comes just days before Brazilians go to the polls to vote for a president.
By Peta Fuller
Echuca bracing for Murray River peak
We heard from the ABC's Iskhandar Razak, who's in Echuca today, and he said the Murray is still rising towards the forecast peak of 95 metres:
"We have heard from emergency staff that it could exceed that, they are seeing a rise right now," he said.
He said overnight rains had eased this morning and a 2.5km mud levee was holding.
"On Friday (when) we arrived, only three shops were open. Here in this morning, a sign ofconfidence I guess from the local community, a lot of shopkeepers are sweeping and opening the doors, not removing the sandbags but opening their doors to trade."
And today's dedicated flood blog is here:
By Peta Fuller
'The flood warnings are just incredible': More than 200 active warnings across the country
The Bureau of Meteorology's Dean Narramore says the NSW Northern Rivers are an area of concern, but the severe weather warning has just been cancelled this morning, which will help.
There are 140 active flood warnings across New South Wales, while Victoria has more than 60.
And he said that warnings list stretches from southern Queensland right down into Victoria:
By Peta Fuller
'Overwhelmed' by support: Boris Johnson's full statement
Here's the full text of Mr Johnson's statement:
"In the last few days I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who suggested that I should once again contest the Conservative party leadership, both among the public and among friends and colleagues in parliament.
"I have been attracted because I led our party into a massive election victory less than three years ago - and I believe I am therefore uniquely placed to avert a general election now.
"A general election would be a further disastrous distraction just when the government must focus on the economic pressures faced by families across the country.
"I believe I am well placed to deliver a Conservative victory in 2024 — and tonight I can confirm that I have cleared the very high hurdle of 102 nominations, including a proposer and a seconder, and I could put my nomination in tomorrow. There is a very good chance that I would be successful in the election with Conservative Party members — and that I could indeed be back in Downing Street on Friday.
"But in the course of the last days I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do. You can't govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament.
"And though I have reached out to both Rishi (Sunak) and Penny (Mordaunt) — because I hoped that we could come together in the national interest — we have sadly not been able to work out a way of doing this.
"Therefore I am afraid the best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds.
"I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time."
By Peta Fuller
Slim Dusty highlighted by Google's Doodle today
Gone to Google something this morning? You might have recognised this bloke:
Yes it's Aussie music icon Slim Dusty — and the "doodle" (which highlights prominent people and celebrations) has been dedicated to him today.
That's pushed his name right to the top of Google's trending searches — with more than 100,000 people looking for his name.
By Peta Fuller
'We will always be grateful to him': Rishi Sunak on Boris Johnson
The frontrunner for UK PM, Rishi Sunak, has just tweeted this in response to Mr Johnson stepping aside:
Meanwhile, the UK's chancellor Jeremy Hunt has thrown his support behind Mr Sunak with an op-ed in The Telegraph.
Here's a bit of what he said:
"The British people want leaders who level with them in a crisis such as the one we now face... We have a leader who can do just that in Rishi Sunak."
By Peta Fuller
Korean Air jet overshoots runway in Philippines
There were 173 people on board the Korean Air jet as it overran the runway at Cebu International Airport in the Philippines in bad weather.
There were no injuries and all passengers were safe.
The Airbus SE A330 widebody was flying from Seoul to Cebu and had tried to land twice in poor weather before it overran the runway on the third attempt at 23:07 local time, Korean Air said in a statement on Monday, adding:
"Passengers have been escorted to three local hotels and an alternative flight is being arranged. We are currently identifying the cause of the incident," the airline said.
By Peta Fuller
North and South Korea exchange warning shots
North Korea has fired 10 shells from multiple rocket launches early this morning.
Overnight, South Korea had fired warning shots at a North Korean boat that crossed their maritime border, then the North fired back.
The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it sent back a North Korean merchant vessel that crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto sea boundary between the two Koreas.
The North Korean spokesman said in a statement carried by the KCNA (the state news arm of the North):
"The General Staff of the Korean People's Army ... ordered to fire 10 shots from multiple rocket launchers to sternly send back the enemy's vessel," it said.
By Peta Fuller
'Scepticism' about Boris Johnson's numbers
The ABC's European correspondent Steve Cannane says there's "still scepticism" about Mr Johnson's numbers (he claimed 102 MPs would've supported him).
But he says there was a bigger worry among Tory ranks, who feared he'd get fewer partyroom nominations than current favourite, Rishi Sunak, but:
"(Johnson) then would go to the membership and the membership would elect him; he would have a situation where the parliamentary party did not support him... that could end up having confidence issues for the party," he said.
Watch that in full here:
By Peta Fuller
Johnson says 'good chance' he could have won but it was not 'right thing to do'
The UK's former PM Boris Johnson pulled out of the contest to retake the top job — and issued this statement
"There is a very good chance that I would be successful in the election with Conservative Party members - and that I could indeed be back in Downing Street on Friday," Johnson said in a statement.
"But in the course of the last days I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do. You can't govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament."
Mr Johnson said he had far fewer supporters than front-runner former finance minister Rishi Sunak.
And he never formally announced his bid — returning from a Caribbean holiday to try to convince Conservative MPs to back him, saying he had the support of 102.
By Peta Fuller
Pelosi says Trump not 'man enough' to testify on Capitol riot
Will Donald Trump comply with a subpoena from the committee investigating the January 6 riots? And will it be live?
Mr Trump has reportedly told associates he might consider complying if he could answer questions during live testimony — but that could be off the table.
Liz Cheney, the committee's vice chair, said a few hours ago that they wouldn't allow Mr Trump's testimony to turn into a "food fight" on TV.
"We are going to proceed in terms of the questioning of the former president under oath... he’s not going to turn this into a circus," she said.
And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took aim at Mr Trump on US network MSNBC, saying no one is "above the law":
"I don’t think he’s man enough to show up," Ms Pelosi said.
"I don’t think his lawyers would want him to show up because he (would) had to testify under oath. ... We'll see."
By Peta Fuller
Incoming federal budget to reveal forcast hit on Australia's growth
Yes, it's federal budget day tomorrow — and we're looking at some big downgrades in economic growth predictions.
The budget papers will show GDP growth *falling* to 3.25 per cent this financial year.
That will decrease further to 1.5 per cent in 2023.
Why? High inflation and soaring interest rates aren't helping, and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told ABC News Breakfast that global factors are taking a toll on Australia's economy:
"We're not immune from some of these challenges that we're seeing internationally or indeed domestically, even the floods, certainly our inflation problem that we need to get down to normal ranges, all of that is in the mix."
By Peta Fuller
BREAKING: Boris Johnson has pulled out of the race for PM
Boris Johnson has pulled out of the Tory leadership contest, UK media reports.
He says that despite having the support of the MPs required to run, he has concluded that "it wouldn't be the right thing to do, because you can't govern effectively unless you have a united party."
The Times political editor tweeted the news:
By Peta Fuller
Flood latest: Evacuation orders and towns waiting for waters to peak
In NSW, there are more than 140 flood warnings statewide and 15 evacuation orders in parts of Moree, Dubbo, Mudgee and Moama.
SES spokesman Matt Reeves says heavy rain has caused moderate flash flooding in the Northern Rivers region overnight:
"We do still have immediate concerns for flooding in an around Lismore," he said.
In Victoria, more rain is on the way with flood waters peaking in some places.
Echuca residents are waiting for their peak today, while in Kerang they've already reached their high point — cutting off the town in the process.
By Peta Fuller
One thing from overnight: Russia's defence chief warns of 'dirty bomb' provocation
Russia's defence chief has alleged Ukraine is preparing a "provocation" involving a radioactive device — a claim that's been strongly rejected by Ukrainian and British officials.
Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the allegations in phone calls with his counterparts from the United States, Britain, France and Turkey.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted the international community was unlikely to believe Mr Shoigu's claims, and implied that Moscow was setting the stage for deploying a radioactive device on Ukrainian soil.
By Peta Fuller
More news while you snoozed: Salman Rushdie loses sight in eye after attack
Salman Rushdie’s agent says the author has lost sight in one eye and the use of a hand after the 75-year-old was attacked on stage in New York in August.
Literary agent Andrew Wylie gave the update on his condition to a Spanish newspaper, and said he suffered three serious wounds to his neck and 15 more wounds to his chest and torso.
By Peta Fuller
News Australia is searching for: Man killed in lightning strike
- Lightning strike: A 29-year-old man was killed in rural South Australia after he was hit by lightning on the weekend. Flooding has cut come highways in the Mid North:
- Samoa rugby league: They're back on track in the World Cup after a massive 72-4 win over Greece
By Peta Fuller
One more thing: Dwayne Johnson's biggest box office weekend in Black Adam
The Rock's turn as a leading man has taken in $US67 million on its opening weekend — the highest since Thor: Love and Thunder's $143 million debut back in July.
But the reviewers haven't been so kind — it has been notably hobbled by poor reviews (with a not-so-good 40% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes).
Johnson spent a decade trying to bring the D.C. Comics character to the big screen; an ancient Egyptian summoned to the modern day for superhero-like tasks.
And if you want to read the ABC's take, it's right here:
