This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news, as it happened.
Key events
Live updates
By Tom Williams
Stay in The Loop
That's all for The Loop this morning — thanks for being with us!
We'll be back tomorrow, but in the meantime, you can stay up to date on the ABC News website and by subscribing to our mobile alerts.
If you're just joining us, here's what you need to know:
- North Korea has launched another ballistic missile, after one flew over Japan earlier this week
- Sydney is set to break its annual rainfall record, as western NSW flooding worsens
- Actor Alec Baldwin has reached a settlement over last year's shooting on the set of the film Rust
- Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has declined to put up a defence in his Sandy Hook trial
- A Russian cosmonaut has launched into space from the US, alongside the first Native American woman to travel to space
By Tom Williams
UN Security Council members condemn North Korea's missile launches
The UN Security Council has met to discuss North Korea's renewed ballistic missile launches.
In a joint statement, nine members have condemned Pyongyang's actions including the US, Britain, France, Albania, Brazil, India, Ireland, Norway and the United Arab Emirates.
The US has accused China and Russia of enabling North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
"The DPRK (North Korea) has enjoyed blanket protection from two members of this council," said US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
"In short, two permanent members of the Security Council have enabled Kim Jong Un."
China and Russia have previously vetoed a push to impose more UN sanctions on Pyongyang over its ballistic missile launches.
By Jessica Riga
Biden to storm-ravaged Florida: 'We're not going to leave'
US President Joe Biden has surveyed the devastation of hurricane-ravaged Florida, promising to marshal the power of the federal government to help rebuild as he comforted local residents.
He was joined by Republican governor Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 foe.
But both men declared they were putting politics aside for now.
"Today we have one job and only one job, and that's to make sure the people in Florida get everything they need to fully, thoroughly recover," Biden told residents.
"It's going to take a hell of a long time, hopefully without any snags in the way," he said.
"Later, after the television cameras have moved on, we're still going to be here with you."
By Tom Williams
Campers moved to higher ground ahead of Bathurst 1000
The severe weather in New South Wales is raising concerns over the safety of racegoers for this weekend's Bathurst 1000.
More than 200,000 motorsport fans are heading to Mount Panorama amid warnings the region could receive more than 115mm of rain between now and race day.
30,000 campers are expected to watch the race, and some have already been moved to higher ground.
Here's some of what reporter Hamish Cole told ABC News Breakfast:
"The concern for a lot of these people is their camp in and around Bathurst and the central west...
"In preparation for the flooding that we are expecting, they have moved campers to higher ground. One of the main camp sites Police Paddock houses 1,000 people. That has been moved this week to higher ground in order to ensure safety.
"Nonetheless, for the campers that are here, I spoke to a number of them and for one, Rob Gill, while the rain is annoying, it won't dampen his experience this weekend."
Practice begins for drivers today, and organisers say the big race will still go ahead on Sunday.
By Tom Williams
BREAKING: North Korea has launched another ballistic missile
South Korea says North Korea has launched a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters.
South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said the launch happened on Thursday morning, but gave no further details about how far the weapon flew.
The missile launch was the sixth in 12 days and the first since North Korea fired an intermediate-range missile over Japan on Tuesday.
The Japan Coast Guard also said North Korea may also have fired a second missile, adding that they appeared to have landed already.
The launch comes two days after North Korea fired an intermediate-range missile over Japan for the first time in five years, in an apparent response to US military drills with South Korea and Japan.
That launch led South Korean and US forces to fire missiles into the sea off South Korea's coast, as part of their military drills.
Separately on Thursday, North Korea condemned the US for repositioning an aircraft carrier in the waters off the Korean peninsula.
By Tom Williams
Former ACCC boss says government should increase taxes on oil and gas companies
The former head of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says taxes must be increased to pay for the services the public demand.
Rod Sims is warning the federal government cannot deliver the improvements to child care, aged care and healthcare that Australians expect, unless revenue is increased.
Mr Sims is urging the government to reconsider its opposition to a mining and carbon tax, and to increase taxes on oil and gas companies.
Here's some of what he said on ABC News Breakfast this morning:
"I mean, over 70% of Australia's taxation comes from income and company tax. And yet, we're not taxing our oil and gas enough. We're not taxing minerals enough... We don't have a land tax.
"And, of course, crucially, when we're trying to have a transition to a low carbon economy, we don't have a carbon tax."
By Tom Williams
Sydney to break rainfall record, while western NSW flooding worsens
Meteorologists are predicting Sydney's annual rainfall tally will hit a record high by the end of this weekend.
Three rain bands have converged on New South Wales this week, bringing totals of 100mm of rain to several towns.
ABC meteorologist Tom Saunders says he expects a new record yearly total in Sydney by Sunday.
The current total is fast approaching the high mark of 2,194mm set in 1950, having passed 2,111mm late last week.
In western NSW, the State Emergency Service says more people are being isolated by the day as flooding worsens — you can keep reading about the situation at the link below.
By Tom Williams
Petrol costs could rise, after OPEC+ alliance cuts production
The OPEC+ alliance of oil-exporting countries has decided to sharply cut production to support sagging oil prices, a move which could deal the struggling global economy another blow.
Energy ministers cut production by a larger-than-expected 2 million barrels per day starting in November, after gathering for their first face-to-face meeting at the Vienna headquarters of the OPEC oil cartel since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group said the decision was based on the "uncertainty that surrounds the global economic and oil market outlooks".
Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman stressed the group's stated role as a guardian of stable energy markets.
"We are here to stay as a moderating force, to bring about stability," he told reporters.
By Tom Williams
Alec Baldwin reaches settlement over Rust shooting
The family of a cinematographer shot and killed by Alec Baldwin in October last year on the set of the film Rust has agreed to settle a lawsuit against the actor and the movie's producers.
Baldwin, who was also a producer on the film, was pointing a gun at Halyna Hutchins when it went off, killing her and injuring the director, Joel Souza.
On Instagram, Baldwin said he was "grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation":
The project is expected to resume in January.
By Tom Williams
Also from overnight: Vladimir Putin has signed laws absorbing four Ukrainian regions into Russia
In defiance of international law, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed laws absorbing four Ukrainian regions into Russia.
It comes after both houses of the Russian parliament ratified treaties annexing the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, and claiming them as part of Russia.
Here are the four regions which Russia has claimed as its own:
While it does not fully control any of the four regions, the Kremlin says it will defend its territory by any means it can, including nuclear weapons.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by announcing a fast-track application to join NATO and ruling out talks with Russia.
By Tom Williams
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has declined to put up a defence in Sandy Hook trial
American conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has decided not present any defence at a defamation trial in Connecticut over how much he should pay for promoting the lie that the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax.
The jury is being asked to decide how much Jones should give the families of eight victims and an FBI agent who all testified they have spent almost a decade being targets of harassment by those who believe the shooting didn't happen.
Jones was found liable by default last year for defaming them and intentionally inflicting emotional distress.
His lawyers rested without putting on evidence or witnesses on Wednesday, after attorneys for the families wrapped up their case.
Jones's lawyers had earlier indicated they would have him testify on Wednesday to bolster his arguments that the damages awarded to the plaintiffs should be minimal.
But Jones said he would likely be held in contempt if he took the stand again, because the judge would not allow him to say he is "innocent".
By Tom Williams
News while you snoozed
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Greenpeace campaigners have heckled UK Prime Minister Liz Truss a few minutes into a speech at a Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. Holding a banner which read "Who voted for this?", they could be heard shouting, "Who voted for fracking?". Greenpeace is calling on the PM to take stronger action on climate change
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Veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade was dropped twice in the final over as Australia secured a three-wicket victory over the West Indies with one ball to spare in the T20 international on the Gold Coast overnight
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Nobel week continues, with scientists Carolyn Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and K Barry Sharpless being awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering reactions that let molecules snap together to create desired compounds and which offer insight into cell biology
By Tom Williams
Here's what Australia is searching for online
- Hans Niemann. The American chess grandmaster, who is at the centre of the sport's biggest scandal, has been accused of cheating more than 100 times on a major online platform. Chess.com has released a 72-page report that highlights more than 100 games where the platform believes Niemann cheated
- ADHD. Searches for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are up, after long-awaited clinical guidelines on the identification, diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in Australia were released yesterday. Released by the Australian ADHD Professionals Association, it's hoped an estimated 1 million Australians who have been diagnosed with ADHD will benefit from the uniformity of support and treatment offered in the 111 recommendations
By Tom Williams
One more thing: A Russian cosmonaut has launched to space from the US
For the first time in 20 years, a Russian cosmonaut has launched to space from the United States.
Anna Kikina is on her way to the International Space Station alongside NASA and Japanese astronauts, despite tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"We're so glad to do it together," said Kikina, offering thanks in both English and Russian. "Spasibo!"
Also on the flight is Marine Col. Nicole Mann, the first Native American woman to travel to space.
The crew's launch was handled by SpaceX.
The astronauts and cosmonaut are due to arrive at the space station 29 hours after their departure from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, and won't be back on Earth until March.
By Tom Williams
Let's set you up for the day
Hi, I'm Tom Williams and this is The Loop.
From conspiracy theorist Alex Jones declining to put up a defence in court to protesters interrupting the UK prime minister and a Russian cosmonaut launching to space from the US, here's what you need to know this morning.
