This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happened.
Key events
Live updates
That's all for The Loop!
By Brianna Morris-Grant
Thanks for joining us today!
Very soon we'll have a separate live blog launching to mark the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine — talking to experts, reporters and people on the ground about the war.
If you're just getting caught up, here's some of what we've covered (tap the link to go straight to the post):
- Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges ahead of Rust hearing
- North Korea says it test-fired long-range cruise missiles in waters off its eastern coast
- Ukraine's first lady calls war a 'year of hell' on first anniversary since Russian invasion, as the country reports almost 100 attacks in 24 hours
- Australia has pledged more than 90 new sanctions on Russian individuals and organisations, as well as additional support to Ukraine
- Former FTX boss Sam Bankman-Fried is facing more criminal charges, bringing the total to 12 so far
- Fireworks have lit up the night over Moscow to mark Russia's Defender of the Fatherland day
- Singer Lewis Capaldi has experienced a Tourette's flare up on stage, prompting fans in Germany to finish his final song for him
White supremacy blamed for majority of extremist killings in US
By Brianna Morris-Grant
Mass shootings in the US accounted for most extremism-related fatalities last year in the country with over 80 per cent of those murders committed by white supremacists,
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) labelled 25 murders in 2022 as "extremist-related," with 18 of those "committed in whole or part for ideological motives."
White supremacists commit the highest number of domestic extremist-related murders in most years, but in 2022 the percentage was unusually high.
According to the ADL report, 21 of the 25 murders were linked to white supremacists.
"All the extremist-related murders in 2022 were committed by right-wing extremists of various kinds," the ADL report said.
North Korea says it test-fired long-range missiles
By Brianna Morris-Grant
North Korea says it test-fired long-range cruise missiles in waters off its eastern coast on Thursday, adding to a provocative streak in weapons demonstrations as its rivals step up military training.
The launches came as the United States and South Korea held a simulated military exercise, aimed at sharpening their response to North Korean nuclear threats.
The agency said the exercise involved four missiles, which flew for nearly three hours, drawing oval and figure-eight shaped patterns above the sea, and showed that they can hit targets 2,000 kilometers away.
US and South Korean officials haven't confirmed the exercise occurred.
Florida man executed for 1990 murder
By Brianna Morris-Grant
The US state of Florida has executed a man for a 1990 murder in which he he escaped from prison and stabbed a woman to death in a shopping mall parking lot in an attempted carjacking.
Donald Dillbeck, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:13 pm on Thursday local time after receiving a lethal injection.
The execution was Florida’s first in nearly four years and the third under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
Dillbeck went about his normal routine Thursday morning before meeting with a spiritual advisor.
He ate his last meal, which was fried shrimp, onion rings, mushrooms, butter pecan ice cream, pecan pie and a chocolate bar. None of his relatives came to visit him.
Australia's climate change position draws Pacific Island nations closer, Penny Wong says
By Shiloh Payne
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia is developing a closer relationship with Pacific Island nations due to her government's position on climate change.
An Australian delegation has joined Pacific leaders in Fiji this week for the Pacific Islands Forum, hosted by Fiji's new Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
Fiji will formally hand over to Cook Islands as chair of the regional Forum.
Senator Wong says her government recognises that Australia's climate policy formation needs to be a two-way street.
"We've been out in the region, we've engaged more, we've listened more, we've obviously got a much more sensible and ambitious position on climate which is the central issue, the most important national security and economic issue facing Pacific islands," Senator Wong says.
Winter weather sows more travel chaos across US
By Brianna Morris-Grant
Winter storms have shut down large parts of the United States including Portland, where residens say the second snowiest day in the city's history.
The snow hit during evening rush hour, leaving motorists trapped on freeways for hours.
Australia announces additional military support for Ukraine
By Brianna Morris-Grant
PM Anthony Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have condemned the "illegal and immoral" invasion of Ukraine in a joint statement.
Mr Albanese said: “This is a most sombre occasion for the people of Ukraine. One year on from Russia's unprovoked, unjustified and unlawful full-scale invasion, the costs of Russia's aggression are incalculable.”
“In the face of Russia's aggression, the Ukrainian people—led so resolutely by President Zelenskyy—have displayed extraordinary strength and courage. We continue to stand with Ukraine.”
In the joint statement, the government announced additional military assistance to Ukraine and further sanctions on Russia.
"The Australian Government will provide additional Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) to Ukraine.
"These systems provide a battlefield intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability for the Ukrainian Armed Forces as they continue to fight.
The government has imposed further financial sanctions and travel bans on 90 people including Russian ministers for "energy, natural resources, industry, education, labour, migration and health".
New York bike path killer's father says he loves son with 'all his heart'
By Brianna Morris-Grant
The father of a man convicted of killing eight people in a 2017 attack on a New York bike path has wept at the death penalty phase of his son's trial, saying he still loved him despite what he did.
Sayfullo Saipov has been found guilty of murder and terrorism charges for driving a truck onto the path alongside the Hudson River with the goal of joining militant group Islamic State.
His father, Habibulloh Saipov, testified on his son's behalf as his lawyers attempt to spare him from execution.
He said his son's life would still have meaning to him if he spent the rest of his days in prison because it would give him time to come to terms with what he had done.
Ukraine reports dozens of Russian attacks in last day
By Brianna Morris-Grant
Ukraine's military says it has seen nearly 100 Russian attacks in the north-east and east over the past 24 hours.
The military situation in the country's south is quite dangerous in some places while conditions in the east are very difficult, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address this morning.
Ukrainian MP Yevheniia Kravchuk said Ukrainians are remaining iddefiant and hopeful of defeating Russia.
But she said the continual attacks show the war is far from over.
She told ABC NewsRadio's Thomas Oriti that Ukraine needs to be firm with the aggressor for the sake of the rest of the world.
"We really are doing everything to have 2023 as the year of our victory so we can start rebuilding our country and of course justice has to prevail," she said.
"I'm realistic of course and I'm sure that if we get enough of the weapons we ask it is possible."
"We are united, not just as Ukrainians but all of the civilised world."
“No matter what, Ukrainians will keep fighting. It's existential war – it's not a war about one small piece of land.”
- You can hear the full interview here:
Cate Blanchett travels to Germany for Berlinale International Film Festival
By Shiloh Payne
She swept up the best leading actress BAFTA on Monday and now Cate Blanchett is in Berlin at the 73rd Berlinale International Film Festival.
Blanchett is there attending the screening of her latest film Tár.
Crocodile to be removed after boat ramp attack
By Brianna Morris-Grant
Wildlife officers have travelled to a Far North Queensland waterway to remove a crocodile that attacked a man at a boat ramp.
The 37-year-old was attacked at the Ayton boat ramp at Bloomfield, south of Cooktown, about 5.30pm on Wednesday.
He remains in a stable condition after being airlifted to Cairns Hospital.
Queensland's Environment Department says rangers from Cairns will work with police and the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council to remove the crocodile.
The area is part of a zone where crocodiles displaying dangerous behaviour are targeted for removal.
Ukraine prepares for fresh attacks to mark invasion anniversary
By Brianna Morris-Grant
Ukraine is preparing for fresh attacks to coincide with the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Europe Correspondent Isabella Higgins, on the ground in capital Kyiv, said some schools and medical facilities in Ukraine have been closed in anticipation.
"The country's intelligence service says Russia is preparing missile strikes," she said.
"Still, a number of small public ceremonies have been planned to commemorate the service and sacrifice of fallen soldiers.
"In Russia, President Vladimir Putin says Moscow will look to deploy new multi-warhead intercontinental ballistic missiles this year.
"It comes days after he pulled out of a nuclear-arms control treaty with the US."
- We'll be speaking more with Isabella Higgins later today as part of a live blog marking the anniversary.
Officials to label spotted owl as endangered
By Brianna Morris-Grant
United States wildlife officials have announced a proposal to classify one of two dwindling California spotted owl populations as endangered.
It comes after a lawsuit by conservation groups required the government to reassess a Trump administration decision not to protect the brown and white birds.
The California population “does not have a strong ability to withstand normal variations in environmental conditions, persist through catastrophic events, or adapt to new environmental conditions throughout its range,”
Russia isolated at UN on one year anniversary of war
By Brianna Morris-Grant
The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly isolated Russia, marking one year since Moscow invaded Ukraine by calling for a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace".
The assembly again demanded Russia withdraw its troops and stop fighting.
Just a day after China's most senior foreign policy official, Wang Yi, visited Moscow and pledged a deeper partnership with Russia, Beijing abstained on the vote.
It's the fourth time it has done so on such action since the Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year.
The resolution was adopted on Thursday with 141 votes in favor and 32 abstentions. Six countries joined Russia to vote no.
Russia marks Defender of the Fatherland Day with fireworks
By Shiloh Payne
Fireworks have lit up the night sky over Moscow to mark Russia's Defender of the Fatherland day.
The public holiday was known in Soviet times as 'Red Army Day' and falls on the eve of the first anniversary of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The Kremlin casts the war in Ukraine as a "special military operation" to protect Russia's own security in what it sees as an existential confrontation with the West.
Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24 last year, a decision that Western powers and Ukraine have branded an imperial-style land grab.
Ohio train crew tried to stop before derailment
By Brianna Morris-Grant
The crew operating a freight train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, did not receive a critical warning about an overheated axle until just before dozens of cars went off the tracks, federal safety investigators say.
An engineer slowed and stopped the train after getting a “critical audible alarm message," according to a preliminary report.
The crew then saw fire and smoke and alerted dispatch of a possible derailment, the report said.
More than three dozen freight cars — including 11 carrying hazardous materials — derailed on the outskirts of the town, sparking evacuations as fears grew about a potential explosion of smoldering wreckage.
Officials seeking to avoid an uncontrolled blast intentionally released and burned toxic vinyl chloride from five rail cars, sending flames and black smoke high into the sky.
Alligator rescued in New York ate a bath plug
By Brianna Morris-Grant
Wildlife officials have discovered the alligator rescued from a New York City lake had swallowed a bath plug.
The 1.5 metre female alligator is still too weak to eat on its own and is being tube fed, weighing just 6.8kg.
X-rays since the rescue show it ate the 10cm plug, but officials say the animal is too weak for vets to try and remove it.
The alligator was spotted by a park maintenance worker last weekend.
Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty to Rust shooting
By Brianna Morris-Grant
Actor Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of film Rust in New Mexico.
Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter over the October 2021 tragedy, in which a gun he was rehearsing with discharged and killed Halyna Hutchins.
His lawyers have successfully argued one of the charges against him should be downgraded.
The first hearing in the case is set for Friday local time, but he has asked the court to waive his first appearance.
Ukraine's first lady calls war 'a year of hell'
By Brianna Morris-Grant
Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska says the country will today commemorate a year of successful resistance.
"A year of full-scale war is a terrible date to mark. Because it is a year of attack, aggression, and murders," she said.
Ms Zelenska was speaking remotely to an anniversary event held at a Ukrainian refugee shelter in Lithuania.
"Today we are not commemorating a year of war, but we are celebrating a year of resistance to aggression, a year of courage, a year of mutual assistance and rescue of each other, a year of humanity, and a year of friendship," she said.
"I am sure that soon we will be able to share with you the most valuable thing - the victory. Our common victory."
Today we will also be marking the one year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, speaking to reporters and people on the ground about how it all unfolded and what life is like there now.
- You can also read more about how experts say the way potentially end in this special report by Lucia Stein.
BREAKING: Magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes north of Indonesia
By Brianna Morris-Grant
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake has struck north of Halmahera island in Indonesia.
The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) say the quake was at a depth of 100 km.
