This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happened.
Key events
Live updates
That's all for The Loop this morning
By Tom Williams
Thanks for joining me today. If you're catching up, here's a bit of what was covered (click the link to jump straight to the post):
- Federal government outlines plan to embed superannuation definition in law
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Police find body in search for UK woman Nicola Bulley
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COVID-19 boosters are now available to more Australians
- Comedian and Law & Order star Richard Belzer has died
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North Korea allegedly fires another ballistic missile
- Search resumes for two men missing in NSW Blue Mountains
- Rebel Wilson announces engagement to Ramona Agruma
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.
American actor Tom Sizemore in critical condition after suffering brain aneurysm
By Tom Williams
Tom Sizemore, an American actor known for his roles in Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down, is in critical condition in a Los Angeles hospital after suffering a brain aneurysm on Saturday.
"He is currently in critical condition and it's a wait and see situation," the 61-year-old's manager says.
Sizemore is best known for playing the battle-hardened sergeant at Tom Hanks' side in Saving Private Ryan, and the commander of an Army Ranger battalion in Black Hawk Down.
He has experienced drug addiction and has had multiple run-ins with law enforcement.
A 2007 documentary series, Shooting Sizemore, chronicled his efforts to reclaim his life and career after being convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and entering rehab for methamphetamine and heroin use.
The actor has been arrested for driving under the influence and drug possession multiple times in recent years.
Family and domestic violence support services:
- If you need help immediately call emergency services on 000
- 1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732
- Women's Crisis Line: 1800 811 811
- Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491
- Mensline: 1300 789 978
- Lifeline: 131 114
Robodebt royal commission begins last round of hearings
By Tom Williams
The final round of hearings in the Robodebt royal commission will take place today in Brisbane, probing what ministers' offices knew about the legality of the scheme.
Megan Lees, former chief of staff to then human services minister Marise Payne; and Charles Wann, chief of staff to Scott Morrison when he was social services minister, will give evidence.
They will appear alongside two lead plaintiffs in the Robodebt class action lawsuit and others affected by the debt collection scheme.
Robodebt ran from 2015 until 2019, despite concerns it was unlawful, with several people taking their own lives while being pursued for money.
Commissioner Catherine Holmes last week wrote to the government requesting a two-month extension of the inquiry.
Her final report will now be handed down by the end of June, rather than April.
If you or anyone you know needs help:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- ReachOut at au.reachout.com
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
- Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) on 1800 008 774
- Head to Health at headtohealth.gov.au
Date set for vote on Alan Tudge's former Victorian seat
By Tom Williams
Voters in ex-cabinet minister Alan Tudge's former Victorian seat of Aston will head back to the polls on Saturday, April 1 to elect a new MP after he announced his resignation earlier this year.
Tudge's resignation prompted speculation that former treasurer Josh Frydenberg would seek Liberal Party endorsement for the seat, but the ABC confirmed Frydenberg will not seek the seat.
Australian professor and colleagues taken hostage in Papua New Guinea
By Tom Williams
An Australian professor and three colleagues are believed to have been taken hostage in a remote area of Papua New Guinea.
The ABC understands that a group of armed men in the highlands region have taken the four researchers at gunpoint.
It is believed a ransom demand has been made for their release.
The Australian professor, a Papua New Guinean program coordinator and two University of PNG graduates were in the area doing a field study.
North Korea allegedly fires another ballistic missile
By Tom Williams
North Korea has fired another ballistic missile off its east coast, acording to South Korea's military.
The alleged launch comes just two days after North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the sea off Japan's west coast, in what it called a "sudden launching drill".
Today's launch would be the North's third major weapons test this year after Pyongyang threatened an "unprecedentedly persistent, strong" response as South Korea and the United States gear up for their annual military exercises.
It also comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, says that whether to use the Pacific Ocean as its "shooting range" depends on the US.
In a statement carried by state media, Kim said Pyongyang was carefully examining the impact of the increase US strategic assets' presence in the region.
Collingwood captain Darcy Moore speaks about Jack Ginnivan's drug sanction
By Tom Williams
Collingwood captain Darcy Moore says teammate Jack Ginnivan's banning under the AFL's illicit drug policy isn't a sign of drug problems at the club.
The AFL found Ginnivan guilty of "conduct unbecoming" after footage emerged of him with an illicit substance while on a preseason camp in Torquay last month and banned him for the first two games of the season plus two preseason matches.
Speaking this morning, Moore said Ginnivan's actions should not reflect poorly on the whole club.
"Absolutely, I believe there's no issue [with drugs at the club]," he said.
"We have [more than] 90 male and female athletes at this club, the large majority of whom take their jobs really seriously and make great decisions.
"But we don't operate in a vacuum, and people make errors of judgement, and that's something that Jack's done in this instance."
Ginnivan also fronted the media on his way in to training, saying: "Everyone knows that I'm pretty sorry and remorseful for the actions that I did, and [am] ready to get to work today and earn the trust back of the group."
Five NT government cars stolen in Alice Springs overnight
By Tom Williams
Police say before midnight last night, five Northern Territory government marked vehicles were stolen on the North Stuart Highway in Alice Springs.
Three of the cars have since been recovered, but two remain unaccounted for.
Police say one of the stolen vehicles was spiked, with a police pursuit stretching for hundred of metres.
11 children and one adult were inside the spiked vehicle, and eight of them were arrested.
Communications improve as New Zealand continues Cyclone Gabrille recovery
By Tom Williams
As New Zealand continues its long road to recovery following the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle, the more people have become contactable as communications in hard hit areas improve.
The cyclone hit the North Island's northernmost region on February 12 and tracked down the east coast, inflicting widespread destruction. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has called Gabrielle New Zealand's biggest natural disaster this century.
The country's Police Commissioner Andrew Coster told local media that they had managed to make contact with 4,000 of the 6,500 people reported as having not been in contact since before the cyclone.
Police have confirmed 11 deaths in circumstances related to the cyclone.
Coster said the number of deaths would grow but added most of those who are currently out of contact are in this situation due to the difficulty with communications.
Rebel Wilson announces engagement to Ramona Agruma
By Tom Williams
Australian actor Rebel Wilson has announced her engagement to partner Ramona Agruma.
The special moment appears to have taken place at a Disneyland in the US.
Wilson, who is best known for roles in Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids, shared that she was in a relationship with Agruma in June 2022.
They announced the birth of daughter Royce Lillian via surrogate in November.
Severe heatwave conditions predicted this week for Adelaide, Melbourne
By Tom Williams
That heatwave you *thought* you'd seen the end of in southern Australia? Sorry, but it's sticking around this week.
Adelaide will get a few more 40C-plus days this week, likely on Thursday and Friday according to the Bureau.
And Melbourne is forecast to climb back to 36C by Friday — Geelong will top 38C.
The heatwave forecast for later this week will be severe for both cities:
Federal government outlines plan to embed superannuation definition in law
By Tom Williams
Treasurer Jim Chalmers will today use a speech to the financial services industry to make the case for embedding a definition for superannuation into law.
During the pandemic, Australians withdrew around $36 billion from their superannuation under a Coalition policy which allowed people to tap into their savings.
The government has today released a proposed objective which states superannuation is about preserving savings "to deliver income for a dignified retirement".
Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie says she believes people already knew superannuation was meant to be for retirement and that whatever the government planned to do people still needed to be able to access their super in emergencies.
"There are things that happen in our lives where that money may come in handy, whether it is part of that money or 20 per cent of that money, just to keep us afloat," she told Channel Nine this morning.
"Especially in the next two years, if we are going into recession, if there are guys out there who can dig in to make sure we can keep the roof over their head to continue to pay their house rates, we have to be a bit more flexible than that mate when we are going through tough times."
Facebook and Instagram to test paid verification in Australia this week
By Tom Williams
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced that social media platforms Facebook and Instagram will begin testing a paid verification system this week, beginning in Australia and New Zealand.
Zuckerberg says a "Meta Verified" account will give subscribers things like a verified badge, increased visibility on the platforms and prioritised customer support.
"This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services," Zuckerberg says.
Meta says it will cost Australians $19.99 per month on the web, or $24.99 per month on mobile.
The announcement comes after Twitter added paid verification to its Twitter Blue subscription last year, following Elon Musk's takeover of the company.
Zelenskyy says Ukraine inflicting 'extraordinarily significant' losses on Russia
By Tom Williams
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country's military is inflicting "extraordinarily significant" losses on Russian forces near the town of Vuhledar in the eastern Donbas region.
"The situation is very complicated. And we are fighting. We are breaking down the invaders and inflicting extraordinarily significant losses on Russia," he said in his nightly video address.
Zelenskyy referred to several towns in Donbas where fighting has been focused for months, saying "the more losses Russia suffers there, in Donbas — in Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Marinka, Kreminna — the faster we will be able to end this war with Ukraine's victory".
Search resumes for two men missing in NSW Blue Mountains
By Tom Williams
A large air and ground search is continuing this morning for two bushwalkers who've gone missing in the New South Wales Blue Mountains.
The men aged 69 and 81 are believed to have left from Dunphy's campground in the Megalong Valley last Wednesday, with the intention of returning on Friday.
Police say they were notified when the 29-year-old man didn't keep an appointment on Sunday.
They also found a car belonging to the 81-year-old man in the car park of Dunphy's campground.
Authorities say both men are described as regular and experienced bushwalkers.
The BAFTA awards are happening right now in London
By Tom Williams
Big names in the world of film are in London for the 76th BAFTA awards, where All Quiet on the Western Front leads the nominations.
You can follow all of the award announcements in my colleague Shiloh's blog right here:
Comedian and Law & Order star Richard Belzer has died
By Tom Williams
Richard Belzer, the longtime stand-up comedian who became TV detective John Munch in Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: SVU, has died. He was 78.
Belzer died on Sunday at his home in Bozouls in southern France, his longtime friend Bill Scheft told The Hollywood Reporter. Comedian Laraine Newman first announced his death on Twitter. The actor Henry Winkler, Belzer's cousin, wrote, "Rest in peace Richard."
For more than two decades and across 10 series — including appearances on 30 Rock and Arrested Development — Belzer played Munch, the wise-cracking homicide detective prone to conspiracy theories.
Belzer never auditioned for the role. After hearing him on The Howard Stern Show, executive producer Barry Levinson brought Belzer in to read for the part.
"I would never be a detective. But if I were, that's how I'd be," Belzer once said.
"They write to all my paranoia and anti-establishment dissidence and conspiracy theories. So it's been a lot of fun for me. A dream, really."
Police find body in search for UK woman Nicola Bulley
By Tom Williams
Police searching for a woman who vanished three weeks ago in northwest England say a body has been found in a river close to where she was last seen, but is yet to be formally identified.
The search for 45-year-old Nicola Bulley has riveted Britain and online sleuths since she went missing in January while walking her dog along the River Wyre.
It also generated a circus of sorts in the tiny community of St Michael's on Wyre as speculation on social media spurred unofficial searches and attracted amateur sleuths.
The Lancashire police department, which dedicated 40 detectives to the investigation, came under increasing criticism the longer the case went unsolved.
Brazil's Carnival has returned, but mudslides have killed at least two people
By Tom Williams
Brazil's colourful Carnival celebrations have returned in (almost) full force after COVID-19 led to some quieter events in recent years, but mudslides have already led to the deaths of at least two people.
A seven-year-old girl and a woman in north Sao Paulo state and more people are feared dead, Brazilian authorities said over the weekend.
The cities of Sao Sebastiao and Bertioga also cancelled their Carnival festivities.
The Sao Paulo state government said rain in the region has surpassed 600 millimeters in one day, one of the highest totals in Brazil in such a short period.
News Australia is searching for
By Tom Williams
Matildas.
A strong first half has helped the Matildas secure a 3-2 win over Spain in their Cup of Nations match in Sydney.
Cortnee Vine, Clare Polkinghorne, and Caitlin Foord all scored for Australia in the first half.
The Spainards broke through twice after the break, but left their run too late.
The Matildas now have two wins from two games, and will end the tournament against Jamaica in Newcastle on Wednesday.
