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The Loop: Flash flood in central NSW and Victoria, Istanbul blast has 'smell of terror', and Black Panther sequel clears big numbers for opening weekend — as it happened

This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happens.

Key events

Live updates

By Peta Fuller

Pinned

That's it for The Loop today

Thanks for joining us this morning. If you're catching up, here's what we've covered:

You can keep up-to-date on other news on the ABC's website, by subscribing to our mobile alerts, and by watching news Channel or listening to local radio here.

By Peta Fuller

Coming up: G20 starts tomorrow in Indonesia — so what is it?

Anthony Albanese is on his way to Bali for it, but Vladimir Putin will skip it — so what's on the agenda for the major international summit?

The war in Ukraine – and its impact on inflation, energy and food security – is set to dominate this year's event.

And Mr Albanese will talk to the "B20" tonight (that's the business version at the summit), with Elon Musk, Bill Gates and other big business names there.

Need more? Get up to speed with this:

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

More than '400 Russian war crimes' found in newly freed Kherson

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says investigators had uncovered more than "400 Russian war crimes" and found the bodies of both servicemen and civilians in areas of Kherson region freed from Russian occupation.

He said "stabilisation and the restoration of law" had been established in 226 settlements affecting more than 100,000 residents, while Russian soldiers and mercenaries are being arrested.

Despite celebrations after Russia's retreat,  Kherson's mayor has warned of a humanitarian crisis, as people are surviving without the most basic resources.

Stanislav Stoikov, a volunteer for Ukraine's army, says the city has been cut off from a reliable flow of food:

"You can see people now taking a lot of food because there was nothing here. But there is one piece of good news: they say they still have gas. This is good, so they will be able to survive the winter," Stoikov said.

By Peta Fuller

Slovenia gets first female president

Liberal rights advocate Natasa Pirc Musar has won a runoff to take the top job in the European nation.

A prominent lawyer, Ms Pirc Musar had represented former US first lady Melania Trump in copyright and other cases in her native Slovenia.

She said she will seek to bridge the deep left-right divide in the Alpine nation of 2 million.

By Peta Fuller

Moderate flood warning for Werribee River to Melton Reservoir

The SES says the heavy rain is clearing, but up to 36mm has already fallen after storms over the past few hours — and showers are expected this afternoon:

By Peta Fuller

SA power outages would've cost millions, minister says

South Australia's Energy Minister, Tom Koutsantonis, says power outages over the weekend and this morning would've cost businesses millions of dollars, due to a disruption of services and food wastage.

Mr Koutsantonissaid the government will be looking to see that insurance claims are paid out to business owners.

He says there is some scope for converting power line systems to underground, but not all of them:

"We have an annual scheme called PLEC which undergrounds power lines each and every year, but if you were to underground the entire power network in SA it would cost the state more than $75 billion which would be a dramatic expense."

Close to 35,000 homes and businesses remain without power, you can read more here:

By Peta Fuller

Freight train derails near Geelong

The ABC's Melissa Brown has this report:

"Dozens of containers have been smashed and substantially damaged after eight wagons derailed between Inverleigh and Gheringhap at 5:30am. 

The State Control Centre says no one has been injured and there were no dangerous goods on board. Vision shows water over the tracks but authorities are yet to determine the cause.

The train has stopped just short of a level crossing which police say is now re-opened. Rail safety investigators are travelling to the scene."

By Peta Fuller

Staff at five Queensland unis prepare for strike action

The National Tertiary Education Union says staff are being exploited and university management are stalling negotiations at Griffith, QUT, the University of Queensland, Central Queensland Uni and James Cook Uni.

Griffith Uni branch president Kim Walder says the pay rise offered to Griffith staff doesn't keep up with cost of living pressures:

"The workers have had enough with dying under struggling intensifying workload. And where we have been presented with offers such as Griffith Uni, it's short of inflation like we've been offered under 3 per cent the next four years."

By Peta Fuller

Russell celebrates career first win at Sao Paulo Grand Prix

We know Australia's Daniel Ricciardo crashed out on the first lap — but it was a big day for British racing driver George Russell.

Russell claimed his first F1 win in Brazil's Grand Prix

On his team's radio, the Mercedes driver let out a big whoop before saying: "This is just the beginning guys."

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

More than 100 warnings in NSW as SES says floods to continue 'for months'

There won't be much let up from the weather — with New South Wales SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns telling ABC's News Breakfast:

"The predictions we have, this is going to continue for months. Some of these communities are going to keep on getting impacted as the rain comes and there's predictions that it's going to be quite a wet summer," he said.

Right now there are more than 100 warnings across the state, with areas of "particular concern" around the communities of Molong, Ugora, Canowindra, and Condoblin.

By Peta Fuller

Social media, CCTV captures Istanbul bomb blast

Here's Middle East correspondent Allyson Horn:

Istanbul terrorised after bomb blast

By Peta Fuller

Russia's attacks have 'not declined', Zelenskyy says in latest update

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that fighting in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region was as intense as it had been in recent days, in his nightly video address:

"The level of Russian attacks has not declined. And the level of our resilience and courage is at its highest. We will not allow them through our defence."

By Peta Fuller

'Do not attempt to drive through it': Victorian SES plea after more than 400 requests for help

We've also just heard from Tim Wiebusch, SES Victoria's chief officer, on ABC News Breakfast who said they've responded to more than 400 calls for help overnight — 140 in the Mornington Peninsula area alone.

He's also calling on those in the Mornington and Mount Martha areas to *not* to drive through waters:

"We've seen 40mmto 50mm in just a couple of hours this morning, that's resulted in flash-flooding, 140 requests for assistance just in that area alone, 23 flood rescues in that area.

 So again, we can't emphasise enough this morning — if you come across water across the roads, do not attempt to drive through it.

It may be the last decision you make."

By Peta Fuller

First Iran protester sentenced to death

Iran's judiciary has issued the first death sentence against a demonstrator since protests swept through the country following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody two months ago.

The court says the protestor committed a range of offences, including setting fire to a government building.

The Revolutionary court has handed down jail terms to five others for similar violations — ranging from five to 10 years.

Authorities are cracking down on demonstrators calling for an end to clerical rule and abolishing the morality police.  

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

Flash flooding hits Victoria

With a town cut off in NSW, similar flash flooding is happening in Victoria.

Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms overnight caused widespread flash flooding across the state.

In Melbourne, 36mm was recorded at Point Cook while 27mm fell in Clayton — and Mount Martha on the Mornington Peninsula has been one of the hardest hit areas for flash flooding.

Mount Hotham has received one of the highest rainfall totals with 76mm.

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

One thing to know now: Bomb blast in Turkey has 'smell of terror'

A bomb rocked a major pedestrian avenue in the heart of Istanbul on Sunday, killing six people. The wounded toll has now climbed to 81.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the blast a "treacherous attack" that it had the "smell of terror", adding perpetrators would be punished.

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

More news from overnight: Flash flooding in NSW cuts off town

The Australian Defence Force has been called in as flash flooding hit the NSW central west — and the SES carried out 33 flood rescues overnight.

Molong, north of Orange, has been completely cut-off by floodwater overnight, with residents told to move to higher ground.

Low-lying areas of Canowindra have been issued with an evacuation order with renewed rises in the Belubula River.

Andrew Edmonds from the SES says there were almost 500 requests for assistance across New South Wales overnight.

"We had two children rescued in Albury, they were playing in a storm water drain and at Woodstock we were called to assist six vehicles who were in floodwater after a bridge washed away so it's been a very busy night for NSW SES." 

By Peta Fuller

News Australia is searching for: Ricciardo crashes out in Brazil GP

  • Brazilian Grand Prix:  Aussie Daniel Ricciardo's second-last race for McLaren ended after he crashed out on the opening lap . It wasn't the only drama on the track, with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton also taking a hit:

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

One more thing: Black Panther's sequel sets record

The sequel to the 2018 Oscar-nominated superhero film Black Panther has set a box office record in its opening weekend in the US and Canada.

Wakanda Forever sold more than $260 million in tickets — the highest-ever total for a film released in November. And it was a touch stronger than the first film on its opening day.

Internationally, it brought in an additional $220 million.

So do the critics think they pulled off a Black-powered blockbuster without Chadwick Boseman? Take a read of the ABC's Keva York's verdict:

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