This is The Loop, your quick catch-up on this morning's news as it happens.
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By Bridget Judd
That's all for The Loop this morning — thanks for following along!
We'll be back tomorrow, but in the meantime, you can stay up to date on the ABC News website and by subscribing to our mobile alerts.
If you're just joining us, here's what you need to know:
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that Russian air strikes on Ukraine's battered power grid are an "obvious crime against humanity."
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The European Space Agency has selected a British Paralympian to be among its newest batch of astronauts — a leap toward its ambition to send someone with a physical disability into space.
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The federal government will legislate new protections for Indigenous heritage sites after Rio Tinto's destruction of a sacred rock shelter at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia.
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And I can't leave you without the full video of the Japanese otter that successfully predicted Germany's shock World Cup loss...
'Actions speak louder than words': Traditional owners say they were not consulted over Juukan Gorge response
By Bridget Judd
As we heard a short time ago, the federal government will legislate new protections for Indigenous heritage sites after Rio Tinto's destruction of a sacred rock shelter at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia.
In a formal response tabled to parliament this morning, the government said it would partner with the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance to co-design changes to heritage laws in this term of parliament.
But traditional owners at the centre of the Rio Tinto scandal say they were only told on Tuesday of the government's intended response.
In a statement, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) Aboriginal Corporation said it was "angry and disappointed" at the government's response because it had not been consulted.
"All of this started with the destruction of our cultural heritage, everyone keeps on telling us they are sorry about it, but actions speak louder than words," chair Burchell Hayes said.
"It seems like a media event in Canberra is more important than giving PKKP people the respect of asking us what can be done to try and stop something like the destruction of the Juukan rock shelters happening again, or even letting us know what the government is planning."
Charges laid over multinational crime ring importing drugs to NSW
By Bridget Judd
Police say they've uncovered several organised crime groups that have been working together to smuggle drugs into New South Wales.
Detectives working with Australian Border Force and the United States Homeland Security have seized $300 million worth of methylamphetamine and cocaine as part of a major international investigation.
They raided 16 properties across greater Sydney yesterday, arresting six men, aged between 28 and 44.
They also seized $2.5 million in cash, as well as cryptocurrency, gold bullion, guns and ammunition.
"What it has shown is that organised crime groups are definitely trying to work collaboratively to avoid law enforcement," says Detective Superintendent Peter Faux.
"What it has shown as well is us working with all our partner agencies, not only in NSW and Australia, but around the world - we'll identify these people and dismantle their syndicates."
Calls to regulate crypto after tens of thousands of Australians stung
By Bridget Judd
Consumer protection group Choice is urging the federal government to do more to regulate cryptocurrency.
The call comes after the collapse of the US based exchange, FTX, which has affected tens of thousands of Australians.
KordaMentha is now the administrator of FTX's Australian arms, and is trying to get back the money owned.
Choice's head of policy, Patrick Veyret, says the government has to recognise that some Australians are investing in crypto, and they need to be looked after.
"The challenge for policymakers is providing a baseline level of consumer protections, without giving a greenlight to this industry and suggesting that it's a stable asset class or a safe investment, and that's a real concern."
Russian strikes on Ukraine grid 'crime against humanity,' Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells UN
By Bridget Judd
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that Russian air strikes on Ukraine's battered power grid are an "obvious crime against humanity."
"When we have the temperature below zero, and scores of millions of people without energy supplies, without heating, without water, this is an obvious crime against humanity," he told the meeting in New York via video-link.
Famed house from The Goonies is up for sale
By Bridget Judd
Good news for fans of The Goonies: the old Victorian home featured in the film is on sale in the US state of Oregon, and potential buyers are considering making it more accessible to the public.
“We have a few interested parties right now,” said realtor Jordan Miller, the listing agent for the property.
“It seems to be everybody’s intention to be able to open up the house a little bit more and have more access.”
Since the movie hit theaters in 1985, fans have flocked to the home in north-western Oregon’s historic port of Astoria.
The city celebrates Goonies Day on June 7, the film’s release date, and welcomes thousands of people for the event.
Twin blasts shake Jerusalem, killing teen and wounding 18 people
By Bridget Judd
Israeli authorities are on high alert after bombing attacks at two bus stops in Jerusalem that killed at least one person.
The ABC's Middle East correspondent Allyson Horn is in Jerusalem:
"Police say it was a coordinated attack. Two bombs planted at two separate... bus stations detonated within half-an-hour of each other to go off during peak morning traffic.
"Police say that the bombs were packed with nails to cause maximum damage. A 16-year-old boy, a duel Israeli-Canadian citizen, was killed with more than a dozen others injured, some critically.
"Israeli authorities believe it is an attack by Palestinian militants. And while the Gaza based group Hamas has praised the explosion, they stopped short of claiming responsibility."
Government to legislate new protections after Juukan Gorge destruction
By Bridget Judd
The federal government will legislate new protections for Indigenous heritage sites after Rio Tinto's destruction of a sacred rock shelter at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia.
A parliamentary inquiry recommended new protections for thousands of heritage sites across Australia and an overhaul of how native title operated after the mining company blasted 46,000-year-old sites despite warnings from traditional owners.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek says the government has accepted all but one recommendation from last year's parliamentary inquiry, including to legislate new cultural heritage protections and review the native title act.
She says the law as it stands does not provide enough protection.
"In fact, the destruction of Juukan Gorge was legal under the laws that exist at the moment," Ms Plibersek told ABC Radio.
"It was completely wrong, but it shows how weak our laws are."
Did you pick Japan to beat Germany at the World Cup? Well, this otter did
By Bridget Judd
Finding animals to pick the winners of pretty much anything has become a much-loved tradition across the world (remember the psychic croc that can predict an election?).
But you g-otter hand it to Sankei Shimbun, one of Japan's daily newspapers, for taking it up a notch.
The newspaper found an otter that correctly picked Japan's shock triumph over Germany.
While cute, it's a devastating blow for Olivia the grey parrot, who truly gave everyone a bum steer.
US Justice Department seeks to question Mike Pence in Capitol attack probe
By Bridget Judd
The US Justice Department is seeking to question former vice president Mike Pence as a witness in connection with its criminal investigation into former president Donald Trump's efforts to stay in power after losing the 2020 election.
The New York Times reports that Pence is open to considering the request, recognising that the Justice Department's probe is different from the investigation by a House of Representatives committee that has also probed the January 6 attack.
Thomas Windom, a lead investigator examining the efforts to overturn the election, reached out to Pence's team in the weeks before Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to oversee the investigation and a separate probe into Trump's handling of classified documents, the report added.
The office of special counsel declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.
Europe's space agency gets first parastronaut
By Bridget Judd
The European Space Agency has selected a British Paralympian to be among its newest batch of astronauts — a leap toward its ambition to send someone with a physical disability into space.
John McFall, a 41-year-old Briton who lost his right leg when he was 19 and went on to compete in the Paralympics, called his selection at Europe’s answer to NASA “a real turning point and mark in history".
“ESA has a commitment to send an astronaut with a physical disability into space ... This is the first time that a space agency has endeavored to embark on a project like this. And it sends a really, really strong message to humanity,” he said.
The newly-minted parastronaut joins five other astronauts in the final selection unveiled during a news conference in Paris.
US high court reinstates ban on abortions after 6 weeks
By Bridget Judd
The Georgia Supreme Court in the US has reinstated the state’s ban on abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy, abruptly ending access to later abortions that had resumed days earlier.
In a one-page order, the justices put a lower court ruling overturning the ban on hold while they consider an appeal.
Doctors who had resumed providing abortions after six weeks had to immediately stop.
Abortion advocates have blasted the order, saying it will traumatise women who must now arrange travel to other states for an abortion or keep their pregnancies.
“It is outrageous that this extreme law is back in effect, just days after being rightfully blocked,” said Alice Wang, an attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights, which also represents plaintiffs in the case.
“This legal ping pong is causing chaos for medical providers trying to do their jobs and for patients who are now left frantically searching for the abortion services they need.”
Gone in 9 minutes: How a Celtic gold heist unfolded in Germany
By Bridget Judd
If you're an avid reader of The Loop (I assume you're all up at 5:00am frantically refreshing), then you may have seen us talking about this story yesterday.
A stash of Celtic coins worth several million euros were stolen from a German museum in an early morning raid - and now officials have released a few more details about how it all unfolded.
According to police, they got in and out in nine minutes without raising the alarm, a further sign that the heist was the work of organised criminals.
Guido Limmer, the deputy head of Bavaria’s State Criminal Police Office, says that at 1:17am on Tuesday, cables were cut at a telecoms hub about one kilometre from the Celtic and Roman Museum in Manchning, knocking out communications networks in the region.
Security systems at the museum recorded that a door was pried open at 1:26am, before the thieves left again at 1:35am.
Elon Musk sets Twitter poll for 'general amnesty' of suspended accounts
By Bridget Judd
It comes amid criticism that Musk's criteria for content moderation is subject to his personal whim, with reinstatements decided for certain accounts and not others.
"Should Twitter offer a general amnesty to suspended accounts, provided that they have not broken the law or engaged in egregious spam?" Musk tweeted.
Former US president Donald Trump's Twitter account was reinstated over the weekend after a narrow majority of respondents supported the move.
Looking for the latest on the World Cup?
By Bridget Judd
The ABC's Dan Colasimone has all the latest action in our other live blog.
(Sorry Canadians, you just lost to Belgium)
Germany protest against FIFA ban on 'One Love' arm bands
By Bridget Judd
As players took to the field (before that shock loss to Japan), they covered their mouths in their team photo as a form of protest.
It was a response to football's governing body, FIFA, warning any team captain who wore a "One Love" armband to protest against discrimination in the host nation of Qatar would be given a yellow card.
Qatar has been under scrutiny for its human rights record and laws criminalising homosexuality.
In a statement posted to social media, the German Football Association (DFB) backed the players.
"We wanted to use our captain's armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect. Together with other nations, we wanted our voice to be heard," the statement read.
"It wasn't about making a political statement but human rights are non-negotiable.
"That should be taken for granted, but it still isn't the case. That's why this message is so important to us."
Ukraine requests urgent Security Council meeting after Russian strikes cut power
By Bridget Judd
A new onslaught of Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure has caused power outages across the country — and in neighbouring Moldova.
Multiple regions reported attacks in quick succession and Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said that “the vast majority of electricity consumers were cut off.”
Officials said three people were killed and nine wounded in the capital, Kyiv, after a two-story building was hit. In the outlying region, four people were killed and 34 wounded, the region’s governor Oleksii Kuleba said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he has instructed Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations to request an urgent Security Council meeting.
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's.... Bluey?
By Bridget Judd
Keep an eye out, because Australia's favourite blue heeler is set to debut in the 96th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the US.
The Bluey balloon will be seen by about 3.5 million spectators and 50 million viewers when the parade gets underway on Thursday (US time).
Protesting workers reportedly beaten at Chinese iPhone factory
By Bridget Judd
Police have beaten workers protesting over a pay dispute at the biggest factory for Apple’s iPhone, whose new model is delayed by controls imposed as China tries to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Foxconn, the biggest contract assembler of smartphones and other electronics, is struggling to fill orders for the iPhone 14 after thousands of employees walked away from the factory in the central city of Zhengzhou last month following complaints about unsafe working conditions.
On Tuesday, a protest erupted after employees who had traveled long distances to take jobs at the factory complained that the company changed terms of their pay, according to an employee.
Videos online showed thousands of people in masks facing rows of police in white protective suits with plastic riot shields.
Police kicked and hit a protester with clubs after he grabbed a metal pole that had been used to strike him. People who shot the footage said it was filmed at the site.
AP
One thing to know: Walmart manager opens fire in break room, killing six people
By Bridget Judd
A Walmart manager has opened fire on fellow employees in the break room of a US store, killing six people in the country’s second high-profile mass shooting in four days.
The gunman was dead when officers found him, police said. There was no clear motive for the shooting, which also left at least six people wounded, including one critically.
The store in Chesapeake, Virginia’s second-largest city, was busy just before the attack Tuesday night as people stocked up ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, a shopper told a local TV station.
