Hi there. It's Wednesday, October 12 and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of today's news.
One thing to know: Today is the 20th anniversary of the Bali bombings
On this day 20 years ago, terrorist bombings in Bali killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.
More than 200 others were also injured.
Two decades on, the impacts of the attacks are still being felt by those who were personally affected.
Commemorative services were held across the country, including at parliament house in Canberra.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended a service in Sydney, alongside the New South Wales premier, Dominic Perrottet, and federal opposition leader Peter Dutton.
The PM described the bombings as "an act of malice and calculated depravity", while also acknowledging that alongside tourists and residents, a number of Australian sporting teams were in Bali at the time, enjoying end-of-season holidays.
"We think of them with the ache of knowing they should still be here, their senses filled with everything we feel now," he said.
"So many futures were stolen that night. We think of every conversation never had, every moment of love never known.
"We think of those who survived, and those who helped — what they saw that night will never leave them."
Parts of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania are bracing for heavy rain
There is going to be more rain in parts of Australia's south-east, with authorities predicting Thursday will see the largest falls of the week in some areas.
Victoria and Tasmania are forecast to receive the brunt of the torrential rain this time around, but flooding continues in New South Wales.
Here's what's expected in those states:
- In Victoria, heavy falls are expected to develop first around the Mallee, the Wimmera and the northern country, and then move down to Melbourne. Rainfall totals for Thursday are expected to be 20–60 millimetres, with Melbourne expecting 30–50mm, with possible heavier falls in the afternoon and evening, potentially leading to flash flooding
- In New South Wales, the heaviest falls are expected through the south of the state, in particular, the Riverina and towards the Broken Hill area, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. The rain is expected to push through on Thursday and into Friday, getting to Sydney and the coast by Friday morning
- In Tasmania, locals are being urged to prepare for falls during the 36-hour period to Friday morning of between 180 to 220mm around the north-west and north-east, with between 30 and 60mm forecast in the south-west. In southern Tasmania, between 15 and 30mm of rain is forecast
Here's the BOM's latest video update:
News you might have missed
- Today NASA confirmed that the spacecraft it deliberately crashed into an asteroid in September managed to nudge the rocky moonlet out of its natural orbit, altering it by 32 minutes. It's the first time humanity has changed the motion of a celestial body. NASA chief Bill Nelson said the DART mission was "a watershed moment for planetary defence and a watershed moment for humanity"
- Adnan Syed, who was the subject of the popular Serial podcast, has had charges against him dropped after DNA testing ruled him out as a suspect in the 1999 killing of his ex-girlfriend. Mr Syed, now 42, was 17 when he was arrested and accused of the crime. He was convicted in 2000, but released last month after a judge overturned his conviction
- Parts of Australia's 2021 census data were released today, and they show technology and healthcare are the country's fastest-growing sectors, with the health and community services workforce growing by 50 per cent in the decade to August 2021, and the tech workforce expanding by 164 per cent over that same period.
Here's what Australia has been searching for online
- blink-182. The American punk rockers are getting their classic line-up of Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker back together for the first time in almost a decade, and heading out on tour, including some Australian arena shows in early 2024
- Angela Lansbury. The Irish-British and American actor whose career spanned eight decades, has died at age 96. She was perhaps best known for her iconic detective role as Jessica Fletcher in the long-running TV series, Murder, She Wrote.
One more thing: The Fat Bear Week winner has been crowned
After more than a million votes (and quite a few salmon), Fat Bear Week has come to an end, with the crowning of its 2022 champion.
ICYMI, the publicly-voted competition — which tracks bears in an Alaskan national park as they fatten up for their winter hibernation — came down to two finalists.
Male bear (and 2020's Fat Bear Week champion) 747 was up against female bear 901.
While the voting was close, 'Bear Force One' prevailed, with 747 claiming 68,105 votes to 901's tally of 56,876 votes.
ALL HAIL OUR FAT BEAR KING!
You're up to date!
We'll be back tomorrow with more.
ABC/wires
