This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happens.
Key events
Live updates
That's it for The Loop this morning
By Kate Ainsworth
Thanks for joining us. If you're just catching up, here's some of what we covered:
- The NT government has been recommended to urgently impose further alcohol restrictions in Central Australia, as part of a snap review handed to the territory and federal governments yesterday
- An alcohol safety group says current restrictions in Alice Springs, introduced earlier this week, arealready having an impact on local crime rates
- The final Boeing 747 paid tribute to the aircraft, drawing a crown in its path from Portland to Ohio
- Former Attorney-General Christian Porter will give evidence in the robodebt royal commission in Brisbane today
- Tom Brady is retiring 'for good' from the NFL, a year after he first announced he would leave the league
- Beyonce is going on a world tour in May, starting off in Europe before heading to the US — but Australia isn't on her list of dates (for now).
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.
Safety group says new alcohol restrictions already reducing crime in Alice Springs
By Kate Ainsworth
A leading alcohol safety group in Alice Springs says new alcohol restrictions introduced Alice Springs in earlier this week are already reducing crime.
Bottle shops are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays in the community as part of a three month takeaway alcohol ban to help tackle violence and anti-social behaviour.
It comes as a report that's yet to be made public has recommended the NT government urgently legislate alcohol restrictions in Central Australia in the longer term.
Professor John Boffa says police have described an unheard of reduction in crime.
"Domestic violence interpersonal violence, which is of course is the major concern in all of this," he said.
"We've been looking at 20 to 25 domestic violence incidents a day and that was 4 on Monday and 9 on Tuesday, so very, very significant."
2024 Paris Olympics organisers will follow IOC's decision on Russian athletes
By Kate Ainsworth
The organisers of the 2024 Paris Olympics say they will abide by the International Olympic Committee's decision on whether Russian and Belarusian athletes can participate in the Games.
Last week the IOC said the Olympic Council of Asia had offered Russian and Belarusian athletes the chance to compete in Asia, sparking an outcry from Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who called for Russian sportspeople to be banned over Russia's invasion of the country.
Zelenskyy said that allowing Russia to compete at the 2024 Games would be tantamount to showing that "terror is somehow acceptable".
"As the conflict continues, Paris 2024 would like to express its full solidarity with Ukraine, its people and the Ukrainian Olympic and Paralympic movements, who are faced with an unimaginable crisis," Paris 2024 told Reuters.
A number of sanctions have been in place since February 2022, including:
- No flags, anthems, colours or any other identification of Russia or Belarus are displayed at any sporting event or meeting;
- No international sporting event is organised or supported by an International Federation or National Olympic Committee in either country; and
- No representative of the Russian government or state shall be invited or accredited to any international sporting event or meeting
According to Paris 2024, those sanctions "directly or indirectly affect the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in certain qualifying events for Paris 2024".
Twitter has two weeks to legalise bedrooms at its HQ
By Kate Ainsworth
San Francisco building inspectors have given Twitter's construction contractor two weeks to submit a corrected building use permit if the social media company wants to keep using two conference rooms as bedrooms at its headquarters.
The correction notice issued earlier this week from San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection asks the contractor to correctly label conference rooms as sleeping areas in a floor plan.
The city launched an investigation in December after Forbes reported on the beds, prompting owner Elon Musk to lash out at San Francisco Mayor London Breed, even though there is no evidence she was involved in the inspection.
“So city of SF attacks companies providing beds for tired employees instead of making sure kids are safe from fentanyl. Where are your priorities @LondonBreed!?” Musk tweeted, referring to a story about a baby's reported fentanyl overdose.
The other option is for Twitter to restore the conference rooms to their original use.
Russian critic Alexei Navalny has been moved to solitary confinement
By Kate Ainsworth
Jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny says he's been moved to solitary confinement for the next six months — the maximum term allowed.
Mr Navalny is the the most prominent remaining opposition voice in Russia, and says he will also be denied visits while in confinement.
He's been in detention for two years and his supporters say his health has deteriorated dramatically after around a dozen spells in solitary confinement.
A fitting tribute for the end of Boeing 747s
By Kate Ainsworth
The final Boeing 747 has marked the end of an aviation era by tracing a crown in its flightpath.
Earlier this week Atlas Air received Boeing's final 747 plane, which is being phased out after 54 years.
The 747s marked a new era in air travel, and are widely regarded by pilots and aviation enthusiasts as the most popular airplane of all time. The plane is often referred to as Queen of the Skies.
The final 747 has now left Portland to embark on a cross-country journey to Ohio — but not without making a tribute that will live on in aviation history first.
Christian Porter to give evidence in robodebt RC in Brisbane later today
By Kate Ainsworth
Former Attorney-General Christian Porter will front the robodebt royal commission in Brisbane today.
Porter was social services minister when the robodebt scheme was implemented.
He's expected to be questioned over his knowledge and understanding of its legal problems, as well as his continued defence of the program until it was shut down in 2019.
Porter later conceded that all Centrelink debts raised using the "income averaging" method were unlawful.
Yesterday former minister Alan Tudge told the commission he wasn't responsible for his department's failure to raise concerns about the scheme's legal issues.
Tudge will continue his evidence this morning.
Ribbons symbolising clergy abuse have been removed from St Mary's Cathedral fence
By Kate Ainsworth
Colourful ribbons symbolising victims of clergy abuse have been removed from the fence of St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.
Survivors of clergy abuse and their supporters tied the ribbons on the cathedral's fence yesterday as part of a silent protest while Cardinal George Pell's body lay in state.
Security guards attempted to remove the ribbons yesterday before a decision was made to allow them to remain.
'Governments don't always listen to us': Pat Anderson says First Nations people must be at centre of Alice Springs talks
By Kate Ainsworth
Pat Anderson, a member of the Voice to Parliament Referendum Working Group, was also asked on RN Breakfast about the recommendations in the Alice Springs report about First Nations communities designing their own futures.
Here's what she told host Patricia Karvelas:
"The question should be put to, and always to the First Nations people that live in and around Alice Springs and the Northern Territory," she said.
"We've been talking about these issues or ages, but governments don't always listen to us, hence why we're in this position.
"It's important to listen to people on the ground."
More heavy rain is on the way for parts of flooded Auckland
By Kate Ainsworth
More rain is on the way for parts of New Zealand, which could exacerbate the problems caused by the weekend's floods.
Some of the main highways into Auckland remain under water, and other roads have been washed away.
The country's weather bureau says a heavy rain watch is in force for parts of Auckland and a there's a thunderstorm warning for much of the North Island.
Local MP and Minister for Auckland Michael Wood says insurers have told him the damage bill from the flooding could be the second-largest the country has seen.
"With the exception of the Christchurch earthquakes from a twelve years ago, this is likely to be that the largest single insurance [bill]," he said
"[There's] huge in widespread damage across of the Auckland the city but also the broader region in the upper North Island as well."
'It just didn't happen overnight': Referendum group member says governments have known about Alice Springs 'tragedy' for years
By Kate Ainsworth
In the wake of recommendations that the NT government introduce alcohol bans, Referendum Working Group Member Pat Anderson was asked on RN Breakfast what she made of the recommendations.
She's told host Patricia Karvelas that First Nations people need to be listened to when it comes to issues in their communities.
"It's a tragedy what's happening, but this is a long time in the making. It just didn't happen overnight, and governments have known for a really long time that there are issues in the Northern Territory and other jurisdictions as well," she said.
"There's been hardly any investment in Aboriginal remote communities for decades, it's all broken down quite a bit.
"The alcohol restrictions we're doing now — we have to do something, it's a tragedy — and all kinds of governments have known about this."
Coming up: Thousands to attend George Pell's funeral
By Kate Ainsworth
The late Cardinal George Pell will be buried today after a requiem mass at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.
Cardinal Pell, who was Australia's highest ranking catholic, died from complications after hip surgery in Rome last month.
The Catholic Archdiocese is expecting thousands of people to attend the funeral mass at 11am Sydney time.
The late Cardinal will be buried shortly afterwards in a private ceremony in the church Crypt.
A planned protest will also be held in Sydney this morning, after activist group Community Action for Rainbow Rights struck a deal with NSW Police yesterday.
They will hold a rally in Hyde Park, opposite St Mary's Cathedral, just before the funeral mass begins.
Originally, the group planned to walk past the cathedral, but police argued it could spark a confrontation between demonstrators and mourners and block emergency vehicle access.
Usman Khawaja is on his way to India after getting his visa
By Kate Ainsworth
Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja is on his way to India after finally having his visa issued late last night.
Every other member of Australia's 18-man Test squad had already been cleared to enter India except the Pakistan-born batter, who also faced visa issues when touring there in 2011.
Khawaja briefly told reporters at Melbourne airport he was glad to be flying out.
BREAKING: Alice Springs report recommends NT government 'urgently' impose alcohol restrictions
By Kate Ainsworth
In news just in from RN Breakfast host Patricia Karvelas, the Dorelle Anderson report examining alcohol and crime in Alice Springs that's been handed to the federal government has recommended the NT government "urgently" legislate amendments to its liquor act to impose alcohol restrictions in Central Australia, including town camps.
This would go beyond the three month restrictions currently in place.
Under the recommendations, the liquor laws would then stay in place until alcohol management plans are developed by communities that would allow them to opt out of the scheme, but only with their own customised plan.
US Federal Reserve raises interest rates by 0.25 percentage points
By Kate Ainsworth
Over in the US, the Federal Reserve has lifted its interest rates by 0.25 percentage points, taking the rate to 4.75 per cent.
It's the smallest increase in 11 months, signalling the Fed may be taking a more cautious approach.
Meanwhile here in Australia, our Reserve Bank will meet next Tuesday to decide how to proceed with our interest rates — with some economists predicting another rise.
Andrew Tate loses his appeal against detention in Romania, again
By Kate Ainsworth
A Romanian court has upheld a second 30-day extension to the detention of divisive influencer and former professional kickboxer Andrew Tate, who is detained on suspicion of organised crime and human trafficking.
Tate lost his appeal against a judge's decision on January 20 to extend his arrest a second time for 30 days, according to a spokesperson for Romania's anti-organised crime agency DIICOT.
Tate, 36, a British-US citizen who has nearly 5 million followers on Twitter, arrived at the Bucharest Court of Appeal handcuffed to his brother Tristan, who is held in the same case along with two Romanian women.
The court rejected all four appeals and the applicants will remain in custody until February 27 as prosecutors continue investigating the case.
It's the second time they've lost an appeal against an earlier 30-day extension.
News while you snoozed: Funeral held for Tyre Nichols, FBI searches Biden's beach house
By Kate Ainsworth
- In Memphis, Tennessee, a funeral for 29-year-old Black man Tyre Nichols is underway. Nichols died in hospital days after he was brutally beaten after being arrested during a traffic stop in early January. Five police officers have been charged with second-degree murder, two other officers have been stood down from duties, and two medics were fired after failing to provide him with adequate care. Nichols's death has also sparked a wave of anti-police protests across the US. Vice President Kamala Harris will attend the service.
- Attorneys for US President Joe Biden say the FBI has found no evidence of classified documents from his time as vice president at his Delaware beach house. Earlier his attorneys confirmed the FBI were searching the home. Agents have previously searched his former office in Washington, and his home in Delaware. Biden's attorneys said he fully cooperated with the latest search.
News Australia is searching for: Tom Brady
By Kate Ainsworth
The NFL quarterback has announced his retirement — again.
If you think this sounds familiar, it's because it is. Brady first announced he'd be retiring on February 1 last year, but changed his mind after six weeks and went to play his third season with Tampa Bay, which ended up being his worst as a professional.
But overnight he's taken to his Instagram saying this time, he's retiring "for good".
"I know the process was a pretty big deal last time," he said.
"You only get one super emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year.
"Thank you guys so much, to every single one of you for supporting me."
The 45-year-old is one of the most decorated NFL players in the sport's history, and has won seven Super Bowls.
He's also got the support of his ex-wife Gisele Bundchen, who commented on the post "Wishing you only wonderful things in this new chapter of your life. 🙏🏼"
The pair announced their divorce in October last year.
One last thing: Beyonce announces her Renaissance world tour
By Kate Ainsworth
... except Australia's not on the list (at least, not yet).
It's been a hot minute, but Beyonce is hitting the road for her latest album Renaissance.
She's kicking things off in Stockholm on May before shows in Europe before she tours the US from July.
But with shows ending in September... could it mean she'll come pay her Australian Beyhive a visit? We can only hope.
