This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happened.
Live updates
That's all for The Loop today
By Claudia Williams
Thank you for joing me this morning. If you are just catching up this is a bit of what was covered:
- A search is underway for a missing Australian near Hawaii
-
Walt Disney has sued Republican Ron DeSantis
- King Charles and Camilla have officially unveiled the Eurovision stage
- A new image has revealed violent events near a supermassive black hole
Lifeline for surfing champion Kelly Slater
By Claudia Williams
Kelly Slater has been given a career lifeline after missing the World Surf League mid-season cut following his early exit at the Margaret River Pro.
The 11-time world champion has been given a wildcard to remain on the main tour until next year's mid-season cut when he will be 52.
Transgender politician silenced after 'blood on your hands' comment
By Claudia Williams
In the US, Montana Republicans have silenced Democratic transgender legislator Zooey Zephyr from floor debates for breaking decorum.
This comes after she said politicians who backed a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors would have "blood on their hands."
She was banned from the chamber after a vote.
The state measure seeks to ban transgender healthcare treatments for minors, including puberty blockers and hormones.
"If you vote yes on this bill and yes on these amendments, I hope the next time there's an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands," she said.
UN to vote to condemn ban on Afghan women
By Claudia Williams
The UN Security Council is set to vote to condemn a ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations in Afghanistan.
The council will call upon the Taliban to "swiftly reverse" its crackdown on the rights of women and girls.
The resolution to be voted on describes the ban as "unprecedented in the history of the United Nations" and asserts "the indispensable role of women in Afghan society."
UAE UN Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh says the restrictions "could jeopardize the operations of the UN in Afghanistan as a whole".
- with Reueters
Elizabeth Holmes delays going to prison with appeal
By Claudia Williams
The former Theranos CEO has filed an appeal which has automatically delayed the date she is required to report to prison.
The verdict in January followed a four-month trial revolving around her downfall from a rising Silicon Valley star to an alleged scam artist.
The tactic was also used by her former lover and subordinate, Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani last month.
He was required to report to prison when his appeal was rejected three weeks later.
AP
Coming up today: Minister to outline migration strategy
By Claudia Williams
Home Affairs minister Clare O'Neil will outline government's migration strategy later today.
This comes after a review has found key areas of the system is "broken" and is need need of "major reform".
Health Minister Mark Butler told ABC News Breakfast the system has found to be "slightly chaotic, frankly, and slow at delivering what the country needs".
Read more about the review below.
Aerial search underway for missing Australian
By Claudia Williams
A follow up to the Australian man who is missing after going overboard from a cruise ship.
An aerial search is underway off Hawaii.
The ship has now resumed course for Honolulu and a C-130 Hercules plane has taken over a search of the area in the darkness.
Georgina Thompson, who is on board the ship, has described to Channel Nine hearing someone speaking over the PA system while in bed.
"There were big lights shining on the ocean, and also there were a couple of boats out there in the water," she said.
UK's lower house approves illegal immigration bill
By Claudia Williams
A British bill seeking to bar the entry of asylum seekers arriving in small boats across the English Channel has been approved by the lower house of parliament.
The bill would see anyone who arrives on small boats prevented from claiming asylum, and deported either back to their homeland or to so-called safe third countries.
They would also be banned from ever re-entering the UK.
Critics say the plan is impractical and could criminalise the efforts of thousands of genuine refugees.
Chocolate sculpture to celebrate King's coronation
By Claudia Williams
And another story on King Charles III.
A life-size bust of the king made entirely of chocolate has been revealed ahead of the coronation on May 6.
The piece was commissioned by Celebrations, which is launching a Limited-Edition tub in the UK for the event.
“The team studied hours of footage of the King to capture his true likeness and the resemblance is uncanny," Celebrations senior brand manager Emily Owen said.
Civil trial against Donald Trump continues in New York
By Claudia Williams
Writer E. Jean Carroll has explained in graphic detail how Mr Trump allegedly raped her nearly 30 years ago.
"As I'm sitting here today I can still feel it," she said.
"It left me unable to ever have a romantic life again."
She is seeking unspecified damages from Mr Trump and says he defamed her by calling her rape claim a hoax, lie and "complete con job".
"I'm not settling a political score at all," she said.
"I'm settling a personal score because he called he a liar repeatedly, and it really has decimated my reputation."
Mr Trump — who is not required to attend — posted about the trial on Truth Social about an hour before Wednesday's testimony began.
He questioned how anyone could believe he — "being very well known, to put it mildly!" — could have raped Ms Carroll.
"She didn't scream?" Trump wrote. "There are no witnesses? Nobody saw this?"
The Fugees rapper convicted over lobbying campaigns
By Claudia Williams
Grammy Award-winning rapper Prakazrel 'Pras' Michel has been convicted on criminal charges that he conspired with a Malaysian financierto orchestrate a series of foreign lobbying campaigns aimed at influencing the US government.
He was charged with 10 counts of conspiracy, acting as an agent of a foreign government, witness tampering and falsifying campaign finance records.
Prosecutors accused him of plotting with Malaysian businessman Jho Low to attempt to influence the administrations of former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
Prosecutors said Michel agreed to funnel about $US2 million ($3 million) from Low into Mr Obama's 2012 re-election campaign in exchange for receiving millions of dollars.
Slain journalist's camera handed back to family 15 years later
By Claudia Williams
The video camera of a Japanese journalist killed while reporting on Myanmar's 2007 "Saffron Revolution has been given to his family.
The final pictures of Kenji Nagai during at an anti-government protest were obtained by Myanmar-focused news outlet the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB).
His sister, Noriko Ogawa said the camera and footage would be analysed and support an investigation into his death.
"Through this, I hope that people will once again turn their attention to Myanmar and I hope that people around the world will feel that something should be done about the current situation," she said.
DVB's co-founder Aye Chan Naing declined to say how the organisation obtained Mr Nagai's camera, to ensure the safety of those involved.
New image reveals violent events near a supermassive black hole
By Claudia Williams
Scientists have unveilled the first picture showing the launching point of a colossal jet of high-energy particles shooting outward into space.
The new image was obtained using 16 telescopes at various locations on Earth that essentially created a planet-sized observational dish.
The super massive black hole pictured resides at the centre of a relatively nearby galaxy called Messier 87, or M87, about 54 million light-years from Earth.
"The image underlines for the first time the connection between the accretion flow [material pulled inward] near the central supermassiveblackholeand the origin of the jet," astrophysicist Ru-Sen Lu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai said.
- Reuters
Freddie Mercury collection for sale
By Claudia Williams
He was the king of Queen and his crown could be yours!
An extensive collection of costumes, fine art, and even handwritten working lyrics for We Are the Champions will be auctioned in September.
He left the items with his close friend Mary Austin who says she has made the “difficult decision” to sell it all.
There are about 1,500 and some will be exhibited in New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong during a tour in June.
A portion of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to charity.
- with AP
Australian missing off cruise ship near Hawaii
By Claudia Williams
The US coast guard has confirmed that an Australian is missing after going overboard from a cruise ship off Hawaii.
The ship, the Royal Caribbean’s ‘Quantum of the Seas’, halted its course after the incident and took part in the initial search for around two hours.
It has now resumed course and a C-130 Hercules is conducting an aerial search.
The Honolulu Command Centre has confirmed the person missing is an Australian man but provided no further details.
The incident was first reported by 9 News.
Passengers on board the cruise, which departed Brisbane two weeks ago, have posted photos and videos of the search effort.
Stage unveiled for Eurovision in Liverpool
By Claudia Williams
Eurovision starts on May 9 and King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort, have pressed a bright pink button to officially unveil the stage.
Liverpool is set to host the competition, on behalf of last year's winner Ukraine.
"We'll be watching with great interest, egging you on," the king told Britain's entrant Mae Muller.
WA synth-metal group Voyager will represent Australia.
Walt Disney sues Republican Ron DeSantis
By Claudia Williams
Walt Disney Co has sued the Florida Republican Governor, asking a court to overturn state efforts to control Disney World.
In its lawsuit, Disney has accused Mr DeSantis and his supporters of illegally using the state government to punish a company for voicing an opinion that should be protected by free-speech rights.
Disney has been critical of a Florida law banning classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity with younger children.
Mr DeSantis has repeatedly attacked "woke Disney" in public remarks.
