This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happens.
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:
- Medibank has confirmed "additional files" containing customer data believed to have been stolen from its systems have been published on the dark web
- Elon Musk has 'killed' Twitter's new grey verificiation label, hours after launch
- In one of Russia's most significant retreats since its invasion of Ukraine, the country has ordered troops to withdraw from the west bank of the Dnipro River
-
Brazilian singer Gal Costa, one of the most distinctive voices from the country's Tropicalia movement, has died at the age of 77
- There's been more crypto turmoil, with major exchange Binance calling off its acquisition of FTX
I'm out — catch you again tomorrow.
By Tom Williams
The healthcare industry continues to be the main target of data breaches
In addition to Medibank, I received a letter yesterday from MEDLAB saying my data was breached in Feb! Another Medical info breach..whatever next..
- Susan Fay
You're right, Susan.
Pathology company ACL said a cyber attack on its subsidiary Medlab happened back in February, with more than 200,000 people's data accessed and some posted to the dark web.
Our technology reporter Ariel Bogle has a story out today about how healthcare industry continues to be the industry reporting the most data breaches to the privacy regulator.
You can have a look at the data here:
By Tom Williams
More crypto turmoil as major exchange Binance calls off acquisition of FTX
Major cryptocurrency exchange Binance has pulled out of its plan to acquire its rival FTX, creating more volatility on crypto markets.
Binance signed a non-binding agreement on Tuesday to buy FTX's non-US unit to help cover a "liquidity crunch".
"As a result of corporate due diligence, as well as the latest news reports regarding mishandled customer funds and alleged US agency investigations, we have decided that we will not pursue the potential acquisition of FTX.com," Binance said in a statement.
FTX Chief Executive Officer Sam Bankman-Fried told employees in a Slack message viewed by the Reuters news agency that Binance had not previously expressed reservations about the deal.
Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao said on Twitter it was a "sad day".
The turmoil over FTX has hit crypto prices. Bitcoin, the biggest cryptocurrency by market value, was last down 13% on the day at $US16,277.
FTX.com is also facing scrutiny from US regulators over its handling of customer funds, as well as its crypto-lending activities.
By Tom Williams
Actor Warren Beatty sued over alleged sex with minor in 1973
A woman who claims Bonnie and Clyde actor Warren Beatty coerced her into sex with him almost 50 years ago when she was a teenager has filed a lawsuit against him seeking damages.
Kristina Charlotte Hirsch alleges in the suit that she met Beatty on a movie set when she was 14 or 15 years old.
The suit alleges Beatty — who would have been aged around 35 at the time — "used his position and status as an adult and a Hollywood movie star to coerce sexual contact with Plaintiff on multiple occasions".
Hirsch was "initially thrilled" by the situation and understood it to be a romantic relationship, the submission said.
Hirsch is seeking compensation for psychological, mental and emotional distress, in a suit that does not name Beatty, but refers to him as the actor who had been nominated for an Oscar for playing Clyde in Bonnie and Clyde.
Beatty's legal representatives did not immediately return AFP requests for comment.
AFP
By Tom Williams
Joe Biden says Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter 'worth being looked at'
US President Joe Biden says billionaire Elon Musk's acquisition of social media platform Twitter is "worth being looked at".
At his first press conference since yesterday's US midterm elections, Biden was asked whether Musk was a threat to US national security, and whether his acquisition would be investigated given it was partially funded by investments from entities linked to foreign governments.
"I think that Elon Musk's cooperation and or technical relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at," Biden said.
"Whether or not he is doing anything inappropriate, I'm not suggesting that.
"I'm suggesting that it's worth being looked at, and that's all I'll say."
By Tom Williams
Hubble detects Supernova explosion that ripped star apart 11.5 billion years ago
A team of astronomers have detected a supernova created by the death of a supergiant red star around 11.5 billion years ago.
Light from the star's cataclysmic death made its way through space and time to eventually be captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2010.
But it was not discovered until a team of scientists, led by Wenlei Chen of the University of Minnesota, trawled through Hubble's archives.
The discovery is the first detailed look at how one of these explosions evolved in early stars.
"This could be the earliest core-collapse supernova [yet discovered]," Dr Chen said.
Supernovas create some of the most powerful explosions in the cosmos, but are hard to catch as they happen.
You can learn more in the NASA video below.
By Tom Williams
Biden says Russia's retreat near Kherson highlights 'real problems' for Moscow
US President Joe Biden says Russia's order to evacuate troops from the west bank of the Dnipro River near the Ukrainian city of Kherson showed Moscow was having "real problems" with its military.
Biden told reporters it was interesting that Russia had waited until after the US congressional election to announce the withdrawal.
"It's evidence of the fact that they have some real problems with the Russian military," he said.
He said the withdrawal would allow both sides to recalibrate their positions over the winter, but it remained to be seen whether Ukraine was prepared to compromise with Russia.
By Tom Williams
Elon Musk 'kills' new Twitter label, hours after launch
Twitter has launched — and then almost immediately scrapped — a new grey "official" label for some high-profile accounts, as new owner Elon Musk tries to convince advertisers that changes at the social media platform won’t harm their brands.
"I just killed it," Musk tweeted, hours after the new tag was added to government accounts as well as those of big companies and major media outlets.
"Please note that Twitter will do lots of dumb things in coming months," he added.
"We will keep what works & change what doesn't."
The botched rollout came after thousands of Twitter workers were laid off, and ahead of the controversial introduction of a revamped subscription model in which the site's famed blue checkmark would be made available for a monthly fee of $US7.99.
The blue tick has been a mark of an account's authenticity and doubts emerged that public figures or media outlets would pay for it.
The grey "official" tag was seen by observers as a workaround to solve that problem.
By Tom Williams
Medibank confirms more customer data released onto dark web
Health insurer Medibank has confirmed that "additional files" containing customer data believed to have been stolen from its systems have been published on the dark web overnight.
The alleged hackers started releasing customer data in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and Medibank had warned that more was likely to be released.
Medibank CEO David Koczkar said the continued release of personal information was "disgraceful".
"We take the responsibility to secure our customer data seriously and we again unreservedly apologise to our customers," he said.
"We remain committed to fully and transparently communicating with customers and we will be contacting customers whose data has been released on the dark web.
"The weaponisation of people's private information in an effort to extort payment is malicious, and it is an attack on the most vulnerable members of our community.
"These are real people behind this data and the misuse of their data is deplorable and may discourage them from seeking medical care."
Medibank revealed earlier this week it had rejected hacker demands it pay a ransom in return for the data not being released.
By Tom Williams
Want the latest on the US midterm elections?
US President Joe Biden is about to speak, as the US Senate remains too close to call a day after the midterms.
Head through to our US midterms live blog below, for all the latest from our reporters and experts in Australia and the US:
By Tom Williams
Gal Costa, influential Brazilian singer, dies aged 77
Brazilian singer Gal Costa, one of the most distinctive voices from the country's Tropicalia movement, has died at the age of 77.
"It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we communicate the death of singer Gal Costa," said her official Twitter account.
"We appreciate everyone's love at this difficult time."
There have been tributes from many of Brazil's biggest names in politics and entertainment.
President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Costa was "one of the greatest singers in the world".
"Her talent, technique and daring enriched and renewed our culture, shaped and marked the lives of millions of Brazilians," Lula tweeted, along with a photo of the two embracing.
By Tom Williams
Hackers expected to release more Medibank customer data
Hackers are expected to release even more Medibank customer data, after leaking the private medical records from around one hundred high profile drug and mental health patients.
The ABC has been told stolen data from up to five million customers is already posted on the dark web — and Medibank is expecting worse to come.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is backing medibank's decision not to pay any ransom, while the AFP is promising to be relentless in pursuing those responsible.
The group began releasing Medibank data on the dark web in the early hours of Wednesday morning under a "good-list" and a "naughty-list".
The ABC understands from multiple reliable sources that the "naughty" list includes around a hundred individuals, many with well-known surnames, who have undergone treatment for drug or alcohol use, or for mental health issues such as eating disorders.
Medibank said it expected the criminials to continue to release files on the dark web.
The company revealed earlier this week it had rejected hacker demands it pay a ransom in return for the data not being released.
By Tom Williams
What are the chances the Medibank hackers will be caught?
Nigel Phair, Director of the UNSW Canberra Cyber Centre, has told ABC News Breakfast that the chances of the Medibank hackers being caught is "more possible than probable".
"We don't know who they are or their jurisdiction, but it doesn't mean it's impossible, it just means it's a more lengthy and involved investigation," he said.
"The AFP have got lots of tools and techniques at their disposal. They've got lots of international partners who I'm hoping are looking at this and looking at the remnants of how this attack took place, the tools that were used, and then looking to say, 'Oh, yeah, we think it's this group here, and they're likely to be doing that.'
"And then we've gotta lure them, if they're in a jurisdiction that's not complementary to Australian law enforcement, we need to lure them out."
By Tom Williams
Coming up today: Convicted murderer Chris Dawson is back in court
Ten weeks after being found guilty of murdering his wife Lynette 40 years ago, Chris Dawson will be back in court to argue over the length of any jail time imposed.
At midday in the NSW Supreme Court, Justice Ian Harrison is set to hear submissions from prosecutors and Dawson's legal team about what sentence the convicted murderer should be given.
On August 30, the judge delivered a judgment outlining why the now 74-year-old was guilty of killing his wife and disposing of her body.
Mrs Dawson went missing from the couple's Bayview home in Sydney's northern beaches four decades ago. Her body has never been found despite extensive police searches.
The case was made famous by The Teacher's Pet podcast.
Dawson has consistently denied any involvement in his wife's disappearance, claiming she simply up and left her family home and children without a trace.
Justice Harrison rejected this version of events as "ludicrous".
Dawson has already filed an appeal of his conviction.
By Tom Williams
Also from overnight: Russia announced a major retreat from Kherson
In one of Russia's most significant retreats since its invasion of Ukraine, the country's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered troops to withdraw from the west bank of the Dnipro River, in the face of Ukrainian attacks near the illegally annexed city of Kherson.
In televised comments, General Sergei Surovikin, in overall command of the war, said it was no longer possible to supply Kherson city.
"Having comprehensively assessed the current situation, it is proposed to take up defence along the left [eastern] bank of the Dnipro River," said Mr Surovikin, standing at a lectern and indicating troop positions on a map whose details were greyed-out for the TV audience.
"I understand that this is a very difficult decision, but at the same time we will preserve the most important thing — the lives of our servicemen and, in general, the combat effectiveness of the group of troops, which it is futile to keep on the right bank in a limited area."
With the war now nearing the end of its ninth month, Ukraine's officials say they remain sceptical of the statement.
By Tom Williams
News while you snoozed
US basketball star Brittney Griner is on her way to a Russian penal colony after being transferred from a detention centre outside Moscow, her legal team said.
Neither Griner's exact whereabouts nor her final destination were known, they added.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist was arrested in February at a Moscow airport with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is banned in Russia.
She was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony on charges of possessing and smuggling drugs.
Griner had pleaded guilty, but said she had made an "honest mistake" and had not meant to break the law.
A man has been detained by police after eggs were thrown at King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, as they greeted the public in the northern English city of York.
Footage on social media shows four eggs flying past the King and Camilla and smashing on the ground as they arrived for a traditional ceremony.
They appeared to be unmoved by the incident and carried on with the engagement.
Police officers rushed in to drag away a protester who was shouting slogans.
By Tom Williams
Here's the news Australia is searching for online
- T20. Pakistan has beaten New Zealand by seven wickets to reach the T20 World Cup final. They will now take on England or India at the MCG, the same venue where they won the ODI World Cup in 1992
- Meta. Facebook's parent company is laying off 11,000 people as it contends with faltering revenue and broader tech industry woes. CEO Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement in a letter to employees, blaming the cuts on his decision to aggressively expand the company
By Tom Williams
One more thing: Octopuses are 'throwing' stuff at each other
Australian researchers have observed octopuses throwing things at each other, but aren't exactly sure why they are doing it.
The creatures are apparently hurling silt, shells, and algae, and females are doing it more often.
Underwater cameras off the NSW south coast filmed about 10 octopuses for more than 20 hours, and at least half of them launched 'throws'.
One female was even seen repeatedly flinging silt at a male after he kept trying to mate with her.
Here's what the 'throw' looks like:
University of Sydney Professor Peter Godfrey-Smith says the animals aren't throwing in the human-sense — instead, they gather material up in their arms and hold it in their arm web.
They then propel whatever they're holding forward, sometimes several body-lengths away, by using their siphon, which is a funnel next to their head.
"Only a minority of cases appear to be targeted," Professor Godfrey-Smith said.
"I'd speculate that a lot of the targeted throws are more like an attempt to establish some 'personal space', but this is a speculation, it's very hard to know what their goals might be."
The researchers also saw octopuses throwing the remains of meals out to clean their dens, and hitting fish with their throws.
By Tom Williams
Let's set you up for the day
Goooooood morning. I'm Tom Williams and this is The Loop for the morning of Thursday, November 10.
From hackers releasing more Medibank data to Russia's major retreat and the Australian research on octopuses 'throwing' stuff at each other, here's what you need to know to get going today.
