This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happens.
Key events
- We're about to hear from the PM and Victoria's Premier
- Huge delays at Sydney Airport
- A dirty bomb, 'civil war': Threats to law enforcement after last week's Trump raid
- One big thing from overnight: Salman Rushdie 'feisty' sense of humour remains, son says
- More news while you snoozed: Fear of threat to FBI after Trump raid
- News Australia is searching for: Cam Smith's penalty
Live updates
By Peta Fuller
That's all for The Loop this morning
The PM's media appearance in Melbourne has just started (a bit later than they planned) but we'll bring you the latest from that as it comes.
You can keep up-to-date on the ABC News website, by watching News Channel or listening to local radio here, and by subscribing to our mobile alerts.
We'll be back tomorrow morning to cover the latest updates.
By Peta Fuller
Sydney Airport latest: Passengers frustrated at delays
While we're waiting for the PM to speak, let's get a quick update on the Sydney Airport situation.
The ABC's Jake Lapham is at Sydney Airport and has just said the peak "may have passed."
Here's what he found out from passengers:
"I spoke to one who flew in for the Swans game yesterday and said that she's horrified at the lines still months on throughout the pandemic. These lines are something that passengers have become accustomed to, but it seems like there's no easy solution for the staff shortages."
By Peta Fuller
We're about to hear from the PM and Victoria's Premier
Should start around 10am AEST.
By Peta Fuller
NY Governor condemns 'cowardly attack' on Rushdie
The governor of New York says her state will always stand up for freedom of thought, after the attack on Salman Rushdie.
Speaking at the same venue as the attack, Governor Kathy Hochul says a man with a knife will never silence a man with a pen.
"I will tell you right now, as your governor, New York state, will always stand up to protect freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and we condemn the cowardly attack on Salman Rushdie."
The 75-year-old author was seriously injured after he was stabbed as he prepared to address a literary event at the Chautauqua Institution on Friday.
By Peta Fuller
Huge delays at Sydney Airport
Passengers at Sydney's domestic airport are experiencing long delays, with lines for security snaking outside the terminal.
A Sydney Airport spokesperson says some security lanes have been unable to open due to staff sickness.
Passengers are being brought forward according to flight priority.
By Peta Fuller
BREAKING: Senior NSW Labor frontbencher steps down amid bullying claims
Walt Secord said he had asked Opposition Leader Chris Minns to "let me stand aside" after a "long reflection".
He issued an apology last week after an ABC investigation uncovered bullying allegations against him by several unnamed people.
Mr Secord has spent more than 30 years in the Labor Party and was serving as the opposition spokesman for police, counter terrorism, arts and heritage and the north coast.
By Peta Fuller
A year on from the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, what's happening with visas?
Since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban last year, about 200,000 humanitarian visa applications have been received in Australia.
Just under half are yet to be considered.
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said this morning that the government has put on extra staff to try and process the claims quickly, but can't say when the backlog will be cleared.
"We have put on additional staff to deal with the backlog and also additional staff to deal with issues that relate to family reunion, affecting people from Afghanistan as well. The backlog is being progressed quite quickly. And the only answer I can give you, as soon as possible."
By Peta Fuller
A dirty bomb, 'civil war': Threats to law enforcement after last week's Trump raid
Law enforcement officials in the US are warning there's an increased level of threat after last week's Mar-a-Lago raid, former president Donald Trump's residence.
The FBI and US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have both issued the warnings in a memo.
Among concerns cited were "a threat to place a so-called dirty bomb in front of FBI Headquarters and issuing general calls for 'civil war' and 'armed rebellion,'" CBS reported.
"The FBI and DHS have observed an increase in threats to federal law enforcement and, to a lesser extent, other law enforcement and government officials following the FBI's recent execution of a search warrant in Palm Beach, Florida," the memo said.
US agencies have identified "multiple articulated threats and calls for the targeted killing of judicial, law enforcement, and government officials associated with the Palm Beach search, including the federal judge who approved the Palm Beach search warrant."
The warrant was made public on Friday after the unprecedented search on Monday showed Mr Trump had 11 sets of classified documents at his home, and that the Justice Department had probable cause to conduct the search based on possible Espionage Act violations.
By Peta Fuller
A flood warning for Victoria
Residents are being urged to be on alert after an emergency warning was issued for major flooding in parts of Gippsland in Victoria's east.
Major flooding is occurring in the Moe River at Darnum, where authorities say people are in danger and should move to higher ground.
By Peta Fuller
Russia and North Korea to strengthen ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin has told North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that the two countries will "expand the comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations with common efforts," according to Pyongyang's state media.
In a letter to Kim for North Korea's liberation day, Putin said that closer ties would be in both countries' interests, and would help strengthen the security and stability of the Korean peninsula.
By Peta Fuller
UPDATE: Man charged over Canberra shooting incident
A 63-year-old man from New South Wales has now been charged with firearm offences, after allegedly firing several rounds inside Canberra Airport yesterday.
He'll appear in court this morning, facing charges of discharging a firearm at a building, unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm near a person causing alarm.
Police will oppose bail.
By Peta Fuller
Woman's body found in North Queensland bush being treated as homicide
The body of a 44-year-old woman was discovered on Saturday afternoon by a group of teenagers in Bluewater, north of Townsville.
Homicide detectives believe the woman was attacked by someone she knew and have declared the area a crime scene.
Police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
By Peta Fuller
US congressional delegation touches down in Taiwan
A small delegation led by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey flew into Taipei a week after the Chinese military wrapped up live-fire drills near the island.
Here's the ABC's East Asia correspondent, Bill Birtles:
The Chinese exercises, which included firing missiles over Taiwan, came in response to a visit by Nancy Pelosi — the highest ranked US visitor in 25 years. This latest visit of four American politicians is more routine and unlikely to anger China's government as much. But nationalism over China's claim to Taiwan is running deep, and this latest visit will likely again fuel accusations that the US is provoking Beijing.
By Peta Fuller
One big thing from overnight: Salman Rushdie 'feisty' sense of humour remains, son says
The author is now off a ventilator and on the "road to recovery" his agent confirmed, two days after the author of The Satanic Verses suffered serious injuries when he was stabbed in New York.
Literary agent Andrew Wylie cautioned that although Rushdie’s “condition is headed in the right direction,” his recovery would be long.
His son, Zafar Rushdie, stressed his condition was still critical:
"Though his life changing injuries are severe, his usual feisty and defiant sense of humour remains intact."
The family also issued a statement, thanking those who lept in to help after his attack:
By Peta Fuller
More news while you snoozed: Fear of threat to FBI after Trump raid
There's growing concern in the US about threats against federal law enforcement officials following the FBI's search of Donald Trump's home.
Here's the ABC's North America correspondent Jade Macmillan:
US media outlets are reporting that the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have warned of a spike in violent threats being posted online. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar says Donald Trump and some of his supporters are inflaming the situation by attacking the integrity of law enforcement agencies. Republican representative and former FBI agent Brian Fitzpatrick has also called for calm – including from the former president.
And at least 41 people have died after a fire broke out inside a packed church in Egypt's capital, Cairo.
The fire blocked an entrance, causing a stampede.
Security sources have told media that most of the people killed were children.
By Peta Fuller
News Australia is searching for: Cam Smith's penalty
- Cameron Smith: The Aussie golfer's push for world number one has become a bit tougher after he was penalised two shots at the St Jude Championship in Memphis. Why? His ball was still touching the red hazard line when he was taking a penalty drop. A win will deliver him that number one ranking
- Canberra Airport: The airport reopened late yesterday after a man allegedly fired several rounds inside the terminal — he'll face court today. He allegedly went into the airport around 1:30pm, sitting by the windows before shooting the gun. No-one was hurt.
By Peta Fuller
One more thing: A sad end for Freya, the crowd-drawing walrus
The 600kg walrus was *very* popular in Norway, with people posing for pictures with the animal.
And while they're protected, and officials had said they'd hoped she'd leave of her own accord, she was euthanised.
Norway's Directorate of Fisheries said Freya was put down early Sunday "based on an overall assessment of the continued threat to human safety."
This was Freya earlier this year:
