This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happens.
Live updates
By Kelsie Iorio
Stay in The Loop
Thanks for reading this morning's live wrap of key news headlines.
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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As the hard-hit areas of Echuca and Moama prepare for renewed river rises, heavy rainfall is forecast for parts of New South Wales and Queensland, which may lead to flash flooding
- Cyber Security Minister Clare O'Neil says a ransomware attack on Medibank and the alleged removal of customer data has been referred to the Australian Federal Police for investigation
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Former US president Donald Trump has been deposed in a defamation suit filed by magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll
- Relatives say Queensland rugby league player Liam Hampson has died in an accident after friends reported him missing in Barcelona
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Prime Minsiter Anthony Albanese has announced the appointment of former defence minister Kim Beazley to the Council of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra
- Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman has resigned after breaching the ministerial code by sending an official document from her personal email
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in the four regions of Ukraine that Russia has proclaimed as annexed
- US President Joe Biden responded to the declaration, telling reporters that Putin's "only tool available to him is to brutalise individual citizens in Ukraine"
By Kelsie Iorio
Just in: Independent review into COVID response asserts 'mistakes were made'
An independent review has condemned Australia's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that government health measures and policies lacked transparency and further entrenched existing inequalities.
The review received submissions from more than 350 people and found that governments were making decisions in a "fog of uncertainty".
It also found that many of Australia's border closures and lockdowns were the result of policy failures in quarantine and contact tracing.
Reporter Jessica Kidd takes us through the report in more detail here:
By Kelsie Iorio
Explained: The state of the British government
By Kelsie Iorio
ICYMI: Chess is whack, again
Chess champion Hans Niemann's opponent at the US Championships, fellow grandmaster Sam Sevian, has 'decapitated' his king mid-tournament.
It all looked like it was going to kick off — Niemann was visibly annoyed before Sevian put the piece back on the wrong square — before the match was paused as an arbiter was called to resolve the matter.
National Sport Editor James Coventry explains what went down:
By Kelsie Iorio
Just in: Kim Beazley's appointment to Australian War Memorial Council confirmed
PM Anthony Albanese has announced the appointment of former Labor defence minister Kim Beazley to the Council of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
The former WA Governor will replace Brendon Nelson for three years.
By Kelsie Iorio
Just in: Trump deposed in defamation suit
Donald Trump has been deposed in a defamation suit filed by magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, her lawyers say.
Ms Carroll says the former US president raped her in the mid-1990s in a department store dressing room.
"We’re pleased that on behalf of our client, E. Jean Carroll, we were able to take Donald Trump’s deposition today. We are not able to comment further," a spokesperson for the law firm representing her says.
Trump has said Carroll's rape allegation is "a hoax and a lie."
Reporting by AP
By Kelsie Iorio
Coming up: Shops in SA might soon be able to open earlier on Sundays
A bill to allow shops in SA to open earlier on Sundays is expected to pass State Parliament today.
If it passes, it will allow shops to open at 9am instead of 11am on Sundays starting sometime next month.
Under the changes, late-night trading would also be allowed on Black Friday and on the three weekdays leading up to Christmas.
Changes are also afoot for Boxing Day — previously only CBD shops could open, but Industrial Relations Minister Kyam Maher says shops suburban shops (not including big supermarkets) will also be allowed to trade.
By Kelsie Iorio
Live: Latest flood and weather updates from around the country
Today's dedicated weather and flood blog is live.
We have reporters from all around the country bringing you the latest on weather warnings, evacuation orders, flood clean-up and more.
Follow along here:
By Kelsie Iorio
ICYMI: Year 12s give up muck-up day to help sandbag
By Kelsie Iorio
Just in: Australian footballer Liam Hampson dies in accident, family says
Relatives say Redcliffe Dolphins player Liam Hampson has died in an accident after friends reported him missing in Barcelona earlier this week.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is yet to confirm the 24-year-old's death, and the Dolphins also haven't confirmed any details yet.
He'd been holidaying with a group of friends, including Gold Coast Titans fullback AJ Brimson and Broncos back-rower Jordan Riki.
By Kelsie Iorio
Developing story: Federal police investigating Medibank Private hack
A message from hackers claiming to have stolen data from one of Australia's biggest health insurers has been referred to federal police.
Medibank Private was hit by a cyber attack last week, and the company has now received messages from a group asking to negotiate a ransom for allegedly stolen data.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil says the AFP and Australian Signals Directorate are working with the insurer to establish exactly what has happened.
"The very best people in the country are working with Medibank to try to prevent any harm from occurring from what has gone on here," she says.
By Kelsie Iorio
ICYMI: This is a reminder to do your tax return
If you are lodging your tax return with the ATO yourself, the deadline is October 31.
If you haven't done yours yet, here's what you need to know (and how to avoid copping fines):
By Kelsie Iorio
ICYMI: Kangaroos starting lineup announced for next World Cup match
The debutant-heavy Australian side to take on Scotland in their second match of the Rugby League World Cup has been confirmed:
They'll play on Saturday morning at 5:30am AEDT.
As we speak, the Cook Islands are up 18-12 over Wales with about five minutes to go.
Update: Despite a last-ditch push from Wales, the match ended 18-12 to the Cook Islands.
By Kelsie Iorio
Overnight: British Home Secretary resigns, takes swipe at government on the way out
Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman has quit after breaching the ministerial code by sending an official document from her personal email.
She is the second senior cabinet member to quit the Truss government in the past week, after Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng stepped down last Friday.
In her resignation letter, Ms Braverman took a thinly-veiled swipe at Ms Truss's government saying she had "serious concerns" about the government's ability to honour commitments it made to voters at the last election.
Here's more from reporter Jack Hawke from London:
By Kelsie Iorio
ICYMI: Vladimir Putin declares martial law in annexed regions of Ukraine
If you missed it last night, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in the four regions of Ukraine that Russia has proclaimed as annexed — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
His decree gave law enforcement agencies three days to submit specific proposals and ordered the creation of territorial defence forces in the four annexed regions.
Putin didn't immediately spell out the steps that would be taken under martial law but said his order was effective starting Thursday.
By Kelsie Iorio
Overnight: Biden accuses Putin of trying to 'brutalise individual citizens' in Ukraine
US President Joe Biden has responded to reports that Russia has declared martial law in territories it has claimed to have annexed from Ukraine by saying Vladimir Putin "finds himself in an incredibly difficult position".
Biden told reporters at the White House that Putin's "only tool available to him is to brutalise individual citizens in Ukraine, Ukrainian citizens to try to intimidate them into capitulating."
Overnight, the Russian President declared martial law in the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow annexed.
By Kelsie Iorio
Setting you up for the day
Good morning. You're reading The Loop, a quick wrap of the headlines this Thursday, October 20. Thanks for joining us.
Making news so far today:
- Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman has resigned in the latest blow to Prime Minister Liz Truss's fledgling government
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in the four regions of Ukraine that Russia has proclaimed as annexed
- US President Joe Biden says the declaration shows Putin "finds himself in an incredibly difficult position"
