This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happened.
Key events
- Medibank CEO says breach designed to cause 'maximum harm to the most vulnerable'
- Medibank says number of affected customers 'could grow substantially'
- BREAKING: Medibank confirms all personal customer data has been accessed in cyber breach
- Doctor Who leaves the ABC
- Biden says US in 'constant contact' with Moscow about Brittney Griner
- Ever seen two galaxies colliding? Now you have
- James Corden addresses his New York restaurant ban
- ICYMI: Rishi Sunak is now *officially* Britain's new PM
- What Australia has been searching for: Federal budget
- One thing from overnight: Adidas has cut ties with Kanye West
- More news while you snoozed: Brittney Griner loses appeal
- One more thing: Elon Musk's Twitter deal could be days away
Live updates
By Kate Ainsworth
That's all for The Loop this morning
Thanks for joining me this morning. If you're just catching up, here's what we covered:
- Medibank has confirmed all of its customers' personal data was accessed by a cyber attack earlier this month
- Kanye West has been stripped of his billionaire status by Forbes in the wake of Adidas dissolving their partnership with the rapper
- Elon Musk is planning to finalise his deal to buy Twitter by the end of the week
- The US says they're in constant contact with Moscow about Brittney Griner after the basketballer lost her appeal in a Russian court overnight to overturn her nine-year sentence for drug smuggling
- The January 6 panel has interviewed former Trump aide Hope Hicks as part of their investigation into the Capitol riots
- Russia is planning to begin nuclear drills, but the White House says they don't believe Russia is planning to use nuclear weapons
- And Doctor Who will be leaving the ABC universe after the BBC signed a partnership with Disney+ to produce future seasons
You can keep up-to-date on other news on the ABC's website, by subscribing to our mobile alerts, and by watching News Channelor listening to local radio here.
Meanwhile if you want to stay across the latest on the Medibank data breach, our coverage is continuing below 👇
By Kate Ainsworth
Medibank CEO says breach designed to cause 'maximum harm to the most vulnerable'
Medibank CEO David Koczkar says the data breach was designed to hurt the most vulnerable members of the community.
"Our investigation has now established that this criminal has accessed all our private health insurance customers personal data and significant amounts of their health claims data," he said.
"The investigation into this cybercrime event is continuing, with particular focus on what data was removed by the criminal.
"As we've continued to say we believe that the scale of stolen customer data will be greater and we expect that the number of affected customers could grow substantially.
"I apologise unreservedly to our customers.
"This is a terrible crime — this is a crime designed to cause maximum harm to the most vulnerable members of our community."
By Kate Ainsworth
Medibank says number of affected customers 'could grow substantially'
Here's more of Medibank Private's statement to the ASX just now:
"Since yesterday's announcement, our investigation has now established that the criminal had access to:
- All ahm customers' personal data and significant amounts of health claims data
- All international student customers' personal data and significant amounts of health claims data
- All Medibank customers' personal data and significant amounts of health claims data
"As previously advised, we have evidence that the criminal has removed some of our customers' personal and health claims data and it is now likely that the criminal has stolen further personal and health claims data.
"As a result, we expect that the number of affected customers could grow substantially. "
By Kate Ainsworth
BREAKING: Medibank confirms all personal customer data has been accessed in cyber breach
Medibank has given an update on the data breach it suffered last week, saying all of its main-brand customers were affected.
A statement just released says:
"All Medibank customers' personal data and significant amounts of health claims data" was removed by the person who targeted the insurer.
By Kate Ainsworth
Even Joe Biden can't keep up with the ever-changing British PMs
US President Joe Biden has congratulated Britain's newest prime minister Rishi Sunak on his appointment.
But it appears even Biden has been struggling to get his head around the country having its third PM in three months, stumbling over Sunak's name.
By Kate Ainsworth
Doctor Who leaves the ABC
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Whovians.
After more than 50 years, Doctor Who won't appear on the ABC beyond the current season after the BBC announced a new partnership with Disney+.
"Everyone at the ABC wishes the Doctor well on their adventures and we hope the Time Lord will visit us again at some stage in the future," an ABC spokesperson said.
But fear not if you want to enjoy past seasons — they're still available on ABC iview.
By Kate Ainsworth
In Moree, the clean-up after the floods is beginning
ABC News reporter Harriet Tatham is in the north-west NSW town of Moree where hundreds of homes have been inundated by floodwaters.
She says homes and businesses are only just now beginning to survey the damage.
"We actually met the son of the couple who own this home behind us in North Moree. They unfortunately have been in Canada over this whole ordeal and haven't even been here to be able to survey the damage and are completely devastated.
"They are just one of the 390 homes and business that have been inundated with water over this major flood copy this flooding was actually caused by rain in already sodden catchment late last week. That flood peaked in the Mehi and the Gwydir River on Sunday and then river levels have continued to drop.
"When we first arrived it took a really long time for the river levels to drop but since then and driving around town and surveying at this morning, water levels have thankfully been able to be reduced."
By Kate Ainsworth
What does Larry the Cat think of the new prime minister?
Downing Street's Chief Mouser Larry the Cat wasn't far away when Rishi Sunak arrived to deliver his first address as the newly sworn-in British Prime Minister.
It's like the old saying goes — if you deliver a speech to the nation outside Number 10 but Larry's not nearby, did it even *really* happen?
By Kate Ainsworth
Kanye West is no longer a billionaire after Adidas deal scrapped
Adidas's move to end its partnership with Kanye West (now legally known as Ye) has ended up costing the rapper his billionaire status, knocking him off Forbes' billionaire list.
Forbes said the end of the deal meant his net worth had shrank to $US400 million ($626 million), down from its previous estimation of $US1.5 billion.
So where does the rest of Ye's wealth come from? Real estate, cash, and his music catalogue — plus a 5 per cent stake in ex-wife Kim Kardashian's shapewear company Skims, according to Forbes.
It's not just Ye who is going to take a financial hit from this deal ending either, with Adidas expected to have a 250 million euro ($390 million) "short-term negative impact" on its net income this year.
By Kate Ainsworth
Biden says US in 'constant contact' with Moscow about Brittney Griner
US President Joe Biden says he's in "constant contact with Moscow about WNBA basketballer Brittney Griner, whose appeal against her nine-year sentence for drug smuggling was denied by a Russian court overnight.
But despite the frequent contact, Mr Biden says there hasn't been "much positive response".
"We're in constant contact with Russian authorities to get Brittney and others out. So far we've not been meeting with much positive response but we're not stopping," he said.
By Kate Ainsworth
In Victoria? Spare a thought for VCE students
In half an hour, more than 42,000 Victorian students will be sitting the first of their final exams to mark the start of the VCE.
The first exam is English, and is the largest sitting.
Education Minister Natalie Hutchins has reassured those in flood-affected areas they won't be disadvantaged, and a derived examination score is available.
But Ms Hutchins is also encouraging students in flood-hit areas to do the exam if they can.
"We've set up alternative spaces for them to be able to do that outside of areas directly being evacuated," she said.
"There is a dedicated hotline for students to contact which we know many schools have already reached out to their students before today."
By Kate Ainsworth
Ever seen two galaxies colliding? Now you have
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has released some new images of deep space — including two galaxies colliding with each other 270 million light-years away.
The two galaxies are plunging into one another in what's known as a galaxy merger, which ignited a frenzied star formation process known as a starburst.
This particular galaxy system is bright at infrared wavelengths, which NASA says has made it a perfect place for Webb's ability to study luminous galaxies.
But enough about the science — here's the pic.
By Kate Ainsworth
January 6 panel interviews former Trump aide Hope Hicks
Hope Hicks, a longtime aide to former US president Donald Trump, is being interviewed by the January 6 committee investigating the Capitol riots.
Hicks didn't play a major role in the White House's response to the insurrection in 2021, but had been one of Trump's most trusted aides.
CNN has also reported she was looped in on some texts and emails the day before his speech outside the White House, and before the violence unfolded.
Hicks was also a key witness in former special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation — but declined to answer questions about her time in the White House when probed by House Democrats.
By Kate Ainsworth
Marcus Stoinis quietly sets an Australian T20 record
If you were unaware, Australia is hosting the ICC T20 World Cup right now — and it seems being on home soil is doing wonders for Marcus Stoinis.
He scored the equal second-fastest 50 in tournament history (tied with Dutchman Stephan Myburgh) by notching up 53 runs off 17 deliveries — meaning he's also quietly set an Australian record (no biggie).
His efforts led Australia to a seven-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in Perth, with the Aussies now 1-1 in their title defence.
Missed the match but want to catch up? We've got you covered 👇
By Kate Ainsworth
Zelenskyy has spoken with new British PM Rishi Sunak
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already spoken with Britain's newest prime minister Rishi Sunak, saying they had agreed on "full support in the face of Russian aggression".
Earlier Zelenskyy tweeted that he was ready to continue strengthening the partnership between Britain and Ukraine.
By Kate Ainsworth
James Corden addresses his New York restaurant ban
ICYMI last week, the owner of New York restaurant Balthazar took to Instagram to ban (and then unban) comedian and talk show host James Corden after claiming he had been rude to wait staff.
Owner Keith McNally then announced he'd reversed the ban after James Corden called him to apologise for his behaviour.
Now James Corden has used his opening monologue of his show to address the whole fiasco (and spoiler alert, he apologises again):
By Kate Ainsworth
ICYMI: Rishi Sunak is now *officially* Britain's new PM
A day after winning the Conservative Party leadership, Rishi Sunak has been officially declared as the new British Prime Minister after meeting with King Charles III overnight.
The King had just accepted Liz Truss's resignation moments before the pair met.
By Kate Ainsworth
Russia plans to carry out nuclear drills, Pentagon says
The Pentagon says Russia has notified the US about plans to carry out exercises of its nuclear forces.
"The U.S. was notified and, as we've highlighted before, this is a routine annual exercise by Russia," Air Force Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said.
"So in this regard, Russia is complying with its arms control obligations and its transparency commitments to make those notifications."
The US government agency didn't give further details about the drills, but they are expected to include test launches of ballistic missiles.
That said — the White House says they haven't seen evidence that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon.
By Kate Ainsworth
What Australia has been searching for: Federal budget
- Federal budget: If you missed it last night, Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered Labor's first budget since its election victory in May. Most of the big announcements were election commitments, and focused on measures to help families, housing and the environment.
If you want to keep up with all of the reaction and analysis to last night's federal budget, my colleague Bridget Judd has you covered with a blog on the very subject below:
By Kate Ainsworth
One thing from overnight: Adidas has cut ties with Kanye West
Adidas has ended its partnership with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West over his offensive and anti-Semitic remarks.
"Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech," the company said.
"Ye's recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company's values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness."
It means Adidas will immediately stop production of its line of Yeezy products, which is likely to cost Adidas around $390 million to their bottom line.
Adidas had been facing pressure on social media to cut ties with the rapper over his controversial comments.
