Hi there. It's Friday, October 21 and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of today's news.
Let's start with the latest on the floods
The State Emergency Service says flood levels in Echuca are now expected to peak two days earlier than previously expected.
The Murray River was expected to peak on Tuesday but it'll now swell to 94.8 metres by tomorrow, and reach its peak from Sunday to Tuesday.
An evacuation warning remains for the township, while further east in Barmah and Lower Moira it's too late to leave.
We heard more about Liz Truss' replacement
A contest is underway within Britain's governing Conservative party to decide who'll become the next party leader -- and prime minister -- following Liz Truss' resignation after just six weeks in the job.
Liz Truss' replacement is expected to be appointed by next Friday.
Her main challenger in the previous conservative ballot, Rishi Sunak, is tipped to enter the race, along with her predecessor Boris Johnson.
The shadow foreign minister for the opposition Labour Party, David Lammy, said the Conservative party is so divided it will be difficult for MPs to agree on a candidate.
Conservative MPs revolted against Ms Truss after a series of U-turns on her economic plan undermined confidence in her authority.
What Australia has been searching for online
Kevin Spacey: A New York court has dismissed a sexual abuse lawsuit raised against the American actor.
Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of assaulting him 1986 when he was 14 years old.
The jury took little over an hour to decide there wasn't enough evidence to prove the allegations.
Taylor Swift: The singer-songwriter has dropped her new album Midnights — her 10th studio album and first new music drop in two years.
The album features a cameo by singer Lana Del Ray, writing by actor Joe Alwyn — Swift's partner of six years — and the influence of producer and frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff.
One more thing: meet Australia's most expensive kelpie
A kelpie has secured a record price for a working dog in Australia.
Capree Eve sold for $49,000 at a stud sale in the NSW central tablelands yesterday.
The previous record was set by Hoover, a male kelpie from western Victoria, who sold for $35,000 in 2021.
Capree Stud owner Chris Stapleton said new record dog Capree Eve was a result of more than 50 years of breeding.
"It's a lot of money but I'm sure the reason she made that much money is that people do appreciate the breeding she's got behind her," he said.
You're up to date
We'll be back on Monday.
