Hello. It's Thursday, December 9 and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of the news you need today.
One thing you should know
New Zealand's government will prevent Kiwis born from 2011 onwards from ever buying tobacco as part of its ambitious Smokefree 2025 plan.
The restrictions would also significantly reduce the number of retailers that can sell tobacco products, and weaken nicotine content.
Associate health minister Ayesha Verrall says smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in NZ, and that a significant factor in the life expectancy gap between Maori and non-Maori New Zealanders is attributed to smoking.
"We want to make sure young people never start smoking … if nothing changes it would be decades till Maori smoking rates fall below five per cent, and this government is not prepared to leave people behind," she says.
What else is going on
- Relatives of a teenager who has pleaded guilty to attacking 25-year-old soccer player Danny Hodgson in Perth's CBD have apologised for the 17-year-old's acts in a Perth court
- Bowled off a no ball, a simple catch dropped, and a missed run-out — England gave David Warner plenty of chances on day two of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, but he just missed out on a century — the same can't be said for Travis Head though, who scored a spectacular first-ever Ashes ton
What Australia has been searching for online
Boris Johnson. The British PM has apologised and one of his aides has resigned after a video was leaked showing his advisers joking about a party held at Number 10 Downing Street during a COVID-19 lockdown, saying he was "also furious to see that clip".
Sanna Marin. In more news about European leaders saying sorry, the Finnish PM has also apologised after a photo surfaced of her in a nightclub hours after her foreign minister tested positive for COVID-19, meaning she should have been isolating.
News alerts you might have missed
- From Genesis Owusu to You Am I, the Double J team has voted on their top 50 albums of 2021. Here's who came in at number one
- Queensland has hit its 80 per cent COVID-19 vaccination milestone and while it paves the way for borders to open, experts say it's no 'Freedom Day'
Not signed up for ABC News alerts and want updates like these in real-time? Head to the ABC News app homepage ➡️ Settings ➡️ Notifications and tailor your alerts to what you want to know.
And one more thing (with a mild language warning)
Tell me you're Australian without telling me you're Australian.
Matildas and Chelsea superstar Sam Kerr has dropped a shoulder into a pesky pitch invader overnight, landing him flat on his a... back.
Most of her Aussie fans found it hilarious...
But the ref apparently didn't share our sense of humour, giving her a yellow card for the cheeky nudge — an offensive decision if you ask me.
This all came towards the end of a frustrating night for Kerr and the Blues who were held to a tense 0-0 draw by Italian champions Juventus at Kingsmeadow.
You're up to date
Thanks for reading.
ABC/wires
