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
Thanks for joining us today. If you're catching up, here's a bit of what we've covered (click the link to jump straight to the post):
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Ukraine used drones to hit two military bases inside Russia, according to reports in the New York Times
- Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital says say the blowout in wait times is expected to last for the rest of this week with one expert 'becoming angry' and calling for an immediate shift in COVID policy
- Lady Gaga's dogwaker shooter has taken a 21-year plea deal
- Vladimir Putin has visited Crimea in a bid to boost morale, walking on a key bridge that was bombed in October
- It's rates day, with the RBA likely to raise the cash rate again
- And the (latest) word of the year from the UK is in— and the voters chose … "goblin mode"?
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.
Coming up: Rates (probably) rising, and a controversial sex law in Indonesia
By Peta Fuller
So we know interest rates are coming up today at 2:30pm AEDT (Predictions? Barrenjoey chief economist Jo Masters told ABC radio it'll be about another quarter of a per cent — currently it's at 2.85 per cent).
But, for something completely different, we're also expecting to see sweeping legal changes pass in Indonesia at about the same time — among the most controversial revisions are articles that will penalise sex outside of marriage, with up to one year in jail.
Legal experts and civil society groups have warned that such changes will be a "huge setback" for the world's third-largest democracy.
You can read up on that here:
Landslide buries bus in Colombia
By Peta Fuller
Colombia's president says at least 34 people have died after a landslide buried a bus in the country's northwest.
The landslide, caused by strong rains, hit the vehicle about 230 kilometres from the capital Bogota.
The region's governor said earlier that several people had been rescued alive from the bus.
PM says national cabinet delay won’t impact decision on energy intervention
By Peta Fuller
Anthony Albanese says moving the national cabinet meeting to Friday (held virtually) won't impact the government's plan to intervene in the energy market as prices soar.
Speaking to ABC Radio Melbourne from Kirribilli House where he’s isolating, the PM says all leaders have been given details about the proposal and he's confident national cabinet can work through a plan "with a bit of goodwill":
“You’ve got to draw a distinction between what premiers and some states say in public in order to promote their own position and what’s actually happening,” he said.
“What's been happening is very constructive dialogue — people have been given a whole lot of detail about what’s been proposed, people have also been given the legal advice, bureaucrats have been working this through for weeks."
The meeting will see leaders discuss the federal government’s proposal to cap wholesale gas and coal prices — something NSW and Queensland have already voiced opposition to and said if it goes ahead they’ll be seeking compensation from the Commonwealth for any lost royalties.
- Reporting by Georgia Hitch
You can catch-up on the background here:
Bella Hadid and Valentino's top designer win at major fashion awards
By Peta Fuller
Valentino designer Pierpaolo Piccioli and model Bella Hadid were among the winners at the Fashion Awards in London today.
Piccioli, who is creative director of the Italian luxury brand, was named designer of the year, while Hadid took the title of model of the year.
"To me fashion has a responsibility. I feel [I] have a voice and I want to use my voice even for who don't have a voice," Piccioli told Reuters on the red carpet.
Mariah Carey's life and career detailed in a new comic book
By Peta Fuller
Let's just change pace for a second — any "Queen of Christmas" fans out there?
The life and career of Mariah Carey is being celebrated in a new comic book.
TidalWave Comics has added the singer to its Female Force series, highlighting successful women in their respective fields.
In 22 pages, Mariah's childhood and rise to fame are outlined in vivid colour with illustrations by Pablo Martina.
Three covers will be released on December 7.
Third meningococcal death in NSW sparks warning
By Peta Fuller
Parents are being warned to be on the lookout for symptoms of meningococcal disease after the state recorded its third death from the infection this year.
A teenager has become the third person to die of the disease — it's characterised by severe unexplained limb pain, severe headache and a red-purple rash that doesn't disappear when pressed.
New South Wales Health says there's been an increase in meningococcal infections this year with 29 cases reported so far.
Jeremy McAnulty from New South Wales Health warns the disease can be fatal and seeking early treatment is critical:
"Around one in 10 people who get meningococcal disease can die and then another proportion can get long-term consequences so early treatment with specialised antibiotics can be very effective in preventing those bad outcomes."
Breaking: Ukraine used drones to hit Russian bases, NYT says
By Peta Fuller
The New York Times is reporting Kyiv used drones on two bases in the heart of Russia.
The paper cites a senior official, who said the drones were launched inside their territory and destroyed at least two planes, damaging others.
Marles, Wong meeting top US diplomats
By Shiloh Payne
Australia's defence and foreign ministers are in the United States for a series of important meetings.
North America correspondent Carrington Clarke says over three days, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong will be meeting with the US diplomatic elite.
"It's the Albanese government's first AUSMIN consultations," he says.
"But added to this year's schedule is a meeting of the AUKUS defence ministers. With Australia's, the United Kingdom's and the United State's defence bosses scheduled to meet to discuss the security pact."
Although the agreement states it will provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, there are questions about whether either of the other two partners has the capacity to do so."
'I'm becoming angry': Expert calls for immediate COVID policy shift as hospital hit by delays
By Peta Fuller
Infectious diseases expert Brendan Crabb says there needs to be an immediate shift in the country's response to COVID, as another Victorian hospital struggles to cope with surging demand.
Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital yesterday said wait times could push beyond 12 hours for some children, after an unusually sustained demand for emergency department beds — and today said those delays would last all week.
Professor Crabb said Australians should be taking pro-active steps to avoid infection, and told ABC radio:
"I'm becoming angry, basically, at what is, not children's hospital-specific, this is the sort of thing that happens with a COVID policy like we have, which is one which is effectively pro-infection, effectively says it doesn't matter how much COVID is in the community so long as we in inverted commas 'protect the vulnerable'."
National cabinet rescheduled to Friday after Albanese's COVID diagnosis
By Peta Fuller
National Cabinet will meet virtually on Friday, after the Prime Minister tested positive for COVID-19.
Anthony Albanese was due to host Premiers and Chief Ministers in person on Wednesday, to discuss the energy price crisis hitting most of the country.
Lady Gaga's dogwalker shooter takes 21-year plea deal
By Peta Fuller
The man who shot Lady Gaga’s dogwalker and stole her dogs last year took a plea deal and has been sentenced to 21 years, the DA involved has said.
Lady Gaga's dog walker, Ryan Fischer, was shot when two of the singer's French bulldogs, Koji and Gustav, were stolen in Hollywood.
James Howard Jackson, one of three men and two accomplices who participated in the violent robbery and its aftermath, pleaded no contest to one count of attempted murder.
The Lady Gaga connection was a coincidence, authorities have said, and the motive was the value of the French bulldogs, a breed that can run into the thousands of dollars.
Sydney storm stops Jack Johnson concert as fans evacuated
By Peta Fuller
Sydney has escaped major damage after an intense thunderstorm swept across the city last night — with just 30 calls for help to the SES.
But American singer Jack Johnson was forced to end his concert in the Opera House forecourt early when the thunderstorm rolled in about 8:30pm.
Concert organisers evacuated fans from the area:
China's easing controls, but no sign on end to 'zero COVID' policy
By Peta Fuller
China is easing some of the world’s most stringent anti-virus controls and authorities say new variants are weaker. But they have yet to say when they might end a "zero-COVID" plan, that confines millions to their homes.
One example?
Commuters in Beijing and at least 16 other cities were allowed to board buses and subways without a virus test in the previous 48 hours for the first time in months.
The changes follow protests, but are in line with earlier Communist Party promises (and have been highly publicised in a bid to end public anger).
- AP
Russia warns it could cut oil production, sending global prices higher
By Peta Fuller
The Kremlin has warned a new cap on the price of Russian oil could send global prices higher — and says the move won't affect its ability to wage war in Ukraine.
The ABC's Europe Correspondent Nick Dole has filed this explanation:
"Russia is one of the world's biggest oil producers and the revenue is helping finance its war in Ukraine.
To diminish Vladmir Putin's war-chest, the G7, along with Australia, have set a cap on Russian oil prices at $60 a barrel.
Shipping companies and insurance brokers will be banned from getting involved with Russian oil that sells for a higher price.
But analysts say at $60, Russia will still be making a profit. And the Kremlin says it could respond to the cap by cutting production, potentially sending global oil prices higher."
And we're already seeing reports this morning of oil tankers queued in Turkey, according to the UK's Financial Times, with the government there insisting on new insurance proof for all ships.
Is national cabinet on?
By Peta Fuller
The federal government insists national cabinet will only be delayed a couple of days, after the prime minister tested positive for COVID.
Anthony Albanese and the premiers and chief ministers were due to discuss the response to the energy crisis hitting much of the nation tomorrow.
Government frontbencher Bill Shorten has told Channel Nine it remains a priority to be dealt with before the end of the year:
"Families are doing a tough. You know, you look at the whammy between mortgage rates, this and inflation caused by supply shortages — it is hard.
I assume that things will be tackled well before Christmas. There'll be discussions between the prime minister and premiers.
So I look forward to seeing what emerges in the national interest."
Prince Harry on 'dirty game' and royal life in Netflix trailer
By Peta Fuller
If you *haven't* seen it yet, there's a new trailer out for Prince Harry and Meghan's Netflix series — and he has described the "pain and suffering of women" marrying into the royal family.
In the trailer, Harry speaks of what he calls a "dirty game":
"There's a hierarchy of the family. There's leaking, but there's also planting of stories. It's a dirty game.
The pain and suffering of women marrying into this institution, this feeding frenzy.
I was terrified and I didn't want history to repeat itself."
Is this one on your must-watch list?
Melbourne children's hospital surge likely to last all week
By Peta Fuller
The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne urged Victorian families to seek other care options last night, with more than 90 patients in emergency after 5pm.
This morning it has said the blowout in wait times is expected to last for the rest of this week.
The ABC's Joshua Martin has filed this update:
"Families with sick children were waiting up to 12 hours at the Royal Children's Hospital Emergency Department last night as it coped with unprecedented demand.
Staff volunteered to work additional shifts, with doctors asked to come in on their days off.
Some elective surgeries have been delayed.
The hospital has told parents to seek alternative care from GPs when possible."
And CEO Bernadette McDonald says they are unable to discharge enough patients to free up the backlog:
"We normally see a decrease around this time of year but that's not happening."
Brazil is absolutely *dominating* South Korea
By Peta Fuller
Neymar is back, and Brazil is demolishing a path to the quarterfinals at the World Cup.
They're up 4-0 at halftime over South Korea — Jon Healy's blogging for us, and says the Brazilians are "basically just having fun out there at this point."
Get into the second half over here:
Moscow says missile strike on Ukraine 'revenge' for attack on Russian military bases
By Peta Fuller
Russia has launched a fresh wave of fatal air strikes on Ukraine, in response to fatal explosions at two Russian military air bases.
The ABC's Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop filed this report from the city of Kryvyi Rih, which has been hit:
"Across Ukraine millions are without power, running water and heating yet again.
It's the eighth time in eight weeks that Russia's launched air strikes on Ukraine's vital infrastructure.
At least four people were killed, including in a strike here on Kryvyi Rih. In the eastern Zaporizhia region, houses were destroyed.
The missile strikes came hours after explosions at two military air bases in Russia, in which three people died. Moscow blames Ukrainian drones for those attacks and says today's air strikes were revenge."
