The Loop: Australia reveals sanctions for Russia, Dominic Perrottet grilled over Sydney rail shutdown, baby Levi born at 2:22pm on 22/2/22

Hi. It's Wednesday, February 23 and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of today's news. 

Let's start here

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia will join other western nations to impose financial sanctions on Russia as punishment for its actions in Ukraine.

He also says visa applications submitted by Ukrainian nationals wanting to come to Australia will be moved to "the top of the pile", and that a full-scale invasion of Ukraine was "likely to occur" within 24 hours.

Catch up on the PM's update here:

Scott Morrison says Russian leaders are "behaving like thugs and bullies".

This all comes as satellite images reveal the situation on Ukraine's borders, showing that Russia appears to have the country surrounded.

More on Russia-Ukraine:

• Ukraine's President said he was calling up some of his country's military reservists but added there was no need for a full military mobilisation
• Civilians and soldiers on the ground in Ukraine are reacting with a mixture of fear, resignation and determination to Russia ratcheting up the conflict
• Invasion? Incursion? How do we describe what Vladimir Putin and Russia are actually doing in Ukraine? Stan Grant explains it for us
• You can follow the latest information as it comes through with our live blog too

What else is going on

• Premier Dominic Perrottet says he should have been consulted before bureaucrats shut down NSW's passenger rail network, and that he is seeking advice on whether the decision broke the law. It comes after Transport Minister David Elliott yesterday admitted he went to bed and let subordinates make the call on Sunday night

Dominic Perrottet still says he backs the decision to shut down Sydney's rail network.

• Children aged six to 11 years can get a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from tomorrow (stock permitting) after it was given the final approval from federal regulators. TGA head John Skerritt says the green light made Australia one of the first places in the world to approve Moderna for that age group

News alerts you might have missed

• SA has recorded a spike in new COVID-19 cases after the opening weekend of the Adelaide Fringe with 1,958 people testing positive
• A 60-year-old woman has died in floodwaters on the northern Sunshine Coast. Her car was found this morning after waters receded

Signed up for alerts via the ABC News app yet? If not, you should. Find out more here.

What Australia has been searching for online

• The Foo Fighters. Seemingly out of nowhere, Dave Grohl's band has been locked in for a one-off show in Geelong, of all places, next week. 

• Mark Lanegan. In much sadder rock and roll news, the Screaming Trees vocalist and Queens of the Stone Age member has died aged 57 at his home in Ireland.

One more thing

As a joke with her husband, Adelaide mum-to-be Jess set an alarm on her phone for 2:22pm yesterday on the off-chance that she may be giving birth around that time — on Tuesday, February 22, 2022.

You wouldn't believe it, but that's exactly what happened.

Jess and husband Jake welcomed little Levi into the world at 2:22pm on 22/2/22.

"We were even joking with the midwives how funny it would be if it were 2:22pm or 2pm or 2:02pm or 2:12pm so it was a bit of a shock," Jess says.

Jess says she was initially a "little bit nervous" because Levi had been undersized during the pregnancy, but both she and bub are doing well.

Despite the date being dubbed by some as "Richie Benaud Day", Jess admits she wasn't in the least bit tempted to call the baby Richie.

You're up to date

Thanks for reading.

ABC/wires