This is The Loop, your quick look at this morning's news as it happens.
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By Kelsie Iorio
Thanks for joining our live wrap of today's key headlines.
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:
- Peru's congress has removed President Pedro Castillo from office and replaced him with the vice-president after he tried to dissolve the legislature
- Thousands of homes and businesses were left without power across south-east Queensland after an overnight storm, which also caused a large sinkhole on Coronation Drive ahead of morning commuter traffic
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British PM Rishi Sunak says he'll take more action "to protect the lives and livelihoods" of Britons during months of planned strikes by rail, health and postal workers
- Time magazine has named Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy their 2022 Person of the Year, saying he won global accolades for his courage in resisting Russia's invasion
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Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko has warned of a winter "apocalypse" in Ukraine as Russian strikes continue to target critical infrastructure
Just in: Elizabeth Holmes' former partner sentenced to nearly 13 years' jail in Theranos case
By Kelsie Iorio
A judge has sentenced former Theranos executive Ramesh 'Sunny' Balwani to nearly 13 years in prison for his role in the company’s blood-testing hoax.
The sentence is slightly longer than that given to Elizabeth Holmes, the company's founder and CEO, who was his lover and accomplice in one of Silicon Valley’s biggest scandals.
The Theranos scandal revolved around the company’s false claims to have developed a medical device that could scan for hundreds of diseases and other potential problems with just a few drops of blood taken with a finger prick.
While on the witness stand in her trial, Holmes accused Balwani, 57, of manipulating her through years of emotional and sexual abuse. Balwani's attorney denied those allegations.
Reporting with AP
Just in: US government to appeal ruling that would lift asylum restrictions
By Kelsie Iorio
The US government says it's appealing a court ruling that would lift restrictions on people seeking asylum that have become the cornerstone of border enforcement in recent years.
The enforcement rule first took effect in March 2020, denying migrants' rights to seek asylum under US and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The Homeland Security Department said it would file an appeal with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, challenging a November ruling by US District Judge Emmet Sullivan that ordered President Joe Biden's administration to lift the asylum restrictions.
The restrictions were put in place under former President Donald Trump at the outset of the COVID pandemic.
It was authorised under Title 42 of a broader 1944 law covering public health and has been used to expel migrants more than 2.4 million times.
Reporting with AP
Australia on track for nuclear submarine announcement next year
By Shiloh Payne
Defence Minister Richard Marles has met with his US and UK counterparts in Washington to discuss the AUKUS security pact.
North America Correspondent Barbara Miller says it was the first in-person meeting of the three AUKUS defence ministers.
"There's still no detail of how and when Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines or of how a capabilities gap will be addressed in the interim," she says.
"But Richard Marles said things are on track for an announcement early next year.
"The Defence Minister now travels to Japan – where plans for closer military co-operation will be on the agenda."
Update: Peru swears in new president
By Kelsie Iorio
Peru's Congress has sworn in a new president in a day of sweeping political drama that saw the former leader, Pedro Castillo, ousted in an impeachment trial hours after he attempted a last-ditch bid to stay in power by trying to dissolve Congress.
Vice President Dina Boluarte was sworn in as president through 2026, making her the first woman to lead in Peru.
She called for a political truce to overcome the crisis, said a new cabinet inclusive of all political stripes would be formed, and lambasted Castillo's move to dissolve Congress as an "attempted coup".
Reporting with Reuters
Just in: Ukraine says 10 people have died after Russian shelling in Kurakhove
By Kelsie Iorio
Ukrainian President (and TIME's Person of the Year, in case you didn't see that earlir) Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian shelling has killed at least 10 people and injured multiple others in the eastern town of Kurakhove.
In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy described the attack on the town as "very fierce and absolutely calculated".
"These were peaceful people, ordinary people," he said.
"On the market, a (grain) elevator, a petrol station, a bus station and on a residential building. At this time, the list of dead stands at 10, with many injured."
Kurakhove is in Donetsk region, which has seen some of the heaviest fighting since Russia first sent troops into Ukraine in February.
Zelenskyy also said four policemen had been killed by a Russian mine while engaging in work to stabilise the energy grid in southern Kherson, with another four being treated for injuries.
Russia denies deliberately attacking civilians but cities across Ukraine have been pummelled by Russian forces.
Reporting with Reuters
Update: Diversions in place around Brisbane sinkhole, drivers urged to avoid the area
By Kelsie Iorio
Your thoughts: Staff 'ghosting'
By Kelsie Iorio
I had to chuckle at the story of small businesses being ghosted by their own staff. For decades potential staff have been ghosted by businesses who exploited them by making them work a week free to see if they were suitable for the job only to not/never get the job because the next recruit was already lined up to provide free work. My local pizza shop has permanently got a ‘driver needed’ sign in the window for more than 15 years. My guess is he’s never hired a potential staff to the job. Seems like the tables have turned.
- Coffee Maker
Thanks for sharing your experience on this one, Coffee Maker.
For those who haven't seen it, our friends from ABC Gold Coast published this story earlier this morning about small businesses saying they're being "ghosted" by staff who just don't show up for work — something they say poses a significant threat to their bottom line.
I reckon there are a few people out there who have stories similar to Coffee Maker's here about unpaid job trials, internships or even lengthy job application processes only to be "ghosted" by employers (but that's a whole other can of worms).
Just in: Britain approves first new coal mine in decades despite climate targets
By Kelsie Iorio
Britain has approved a new deep coal mine for the first time in years — a decision that drew criticism from opponents who say it will hinder climate targets.
The Woodhouse Colliery, to be developed by West Cumbria Mining in northwest England, seeks to extract coking coal which is used in the steel industry rather than for electricity generation. It's expected to create around 500 jobs.
The project, unveiled in 2014, has come under criticism from the British government's own independent climate advisory panel as well as opposition parties, climate activists and organisations, including Greta Thunberg and Greenpeace.
"This coal will be used for the production of steel and would otherwise need to be imported," a spokesperson for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said.
"It will not be used for power generation.
"The mine seeks to be net zero in its operations and is expected to contribute to local employment and the wider economy."
The majority of the coal produced is expected to be exported to Europe.
Reporting with Reuters
Developing story: Investigation continues into suspected salmonella outbreak
By Kelsie Iorio
NSW Health and food safety authorities are continuing to investigate a suspected salmonella outbreak linked to a Central Coast venue, which hosted an Aboriginal Languages conference last week.
Reporter Bridget Murphy says more than 200 people attended the conference at Crowne Plaza in Terrigal:
"New South Wales Health says 69 attendees are known to be unwell — 27 of them have confirmed salmonella infections and 31 attendees are known to have attended emergency departments.
"The NSW Food Authority says it's investigating the cause of suspected food-borne illnesses stemming from the function, and the venue has voluntarily closed the kitchen. The closure has been formalised through a prohibition order under the Food Act 2003."
In October, an ACT Health investigation revealed the likely cause of an outbreak of gastroenteritis at a Canberra doughnut bar — that report found there was evidence "suggestive of faecal contamination" collected on-site, and the spread of the virus was most likely a result of a worker's lapse in hand hygiene.
Update: Power out, extreme heat to come and a big ol' sinkhole
By Kelsie Iorio
Thousands of homes and businesses are without power across south-east Queensland after an overnight storm brought more than 250,000 lightning strikes.
The storm had moved offshore by 6.30am, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting extreme heat for this afternoon — Brisbane is forecast to hit 37C between 1pm and 4pm.
This picture of a sinkhole that opened up in the inbound lanes of Coronation Drive was shared online:
Queensland Police warned earlier of significant delays as authorities try to repair the road. There's been no official update on the status of those repairs, so I'd continue to avoid the area if you can.
Just in: Search called off for missing Queensland pilot in the US
By Kelsie Iorio
Venice police have called off the search for an amateur pilot originally from Queensland who is missing, presumed dead, after a light plane crash in the US that killed his wife and daughter.
Christian Kath, 42, was piloting a hired single-engine Piper Cherokee with his wife Misty and 12-year-old daughter Lily on Saturday night when the plane went down in the Gulf of Mexico outside Florida.
Authorities say a mayday call was never made.
Misty and Lily's bodies were recovered on Sunday along with the wreckage, but Mr Kath is still missing.
The couple has a second daughter, aged 10, who was not on the flight.
ICYMI: Eden Hazard retires
By Kelsie Iorio
Belgium's Eden Hazard has retired from international football.
The 31-year-old Real Madrid winger made his international debut as a 17-year-old in 2008 and went on to score 33 goals in 126 international appearances.
"I have decided to put an end to my international career," he said on social media.
"The succession is ready. I will miss you."
The call comes after Belgium failed to progress to the World Cup's knockout stage.
Developing story: Sunak says he'll 'protect lives and livelihoods' as more strikes planned
By Kelsie Iorio
British PM Rishi Sunak says he'll take more action "to protect the lives and livelihoods" of Britons during months of planned strikes by rail, health and postal workers.
Britain is facing strikes by thousands of public-sector nurses in England and ambulance workers in England and Wales, who plan to walk out this month over pay and conditions — that's in addition to industrial action across a range of other sectors.
The government has repeatedly said it could not afford inflation-linked wage rises that would drive prices even higher.
Sunak said in parliament the government had been reasonable and has "accepted the recommendations of an independent pay body, giving pay rises in many cases higher than the private sector."
"But if the union leaders continue to be unreasonable then it is my duty to take action to protect the lives and livelihoods of the British public," he said.
"And that is why ... since I became prime minister, I have been working for new tough laws to protect people from this disruption."
Reporting with Reuters
Coming up: Second Test against the West Indies starts today
By Kelsie Iorio
Steve Smith will captain Australia's cricket team in the absence of Pat Cummins in the second Test against the West Indies starting in Adelaide today.
Cummins has been ruled out with a quad injury he suffered during Australia's win in the series opener in Perth, and will be replaced in the bowling attack by Scott Boland.
Smith's captain call-up comes as David Warner announces his decision to abandon his attempts to have his permanent leadership ban lifted.
In a lengthy social media post shared yesterday, Warner cited concerns with the review process set up by Cricket Australia and says he's not prepared to put himself and his family through a public trial into his role in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal:
Cricket Australia says it's disappointed with the outcome but respects Warner's decision.
ICYMI: Volodymyr Zelenskyy named TIME Person of the Year
By Kelsie Iorio
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was named TIME magazine's Person of the Year overnight, with editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal calling the decision the most "clear-cut in memory".
Some previous winners include Elon Musk, Greta Thunberg, Angela Merkel, Mark Zuckerberg and Barack Obama.
Update: Police involved as Peruvian president ousted
By Kelsie Iorio
Peru's national police service has shared some updates on Twitter, including this one which urges people to "respect the political constitution and remain calm":
The account shared another update that appeared to show a picture of police speaking to ousted president Pedro Callisto, but that tweet has since been deleted.
Update: Peru's VP to take over from ousted leader
By Kelsie Iorio
Peru's legislature has called Vice President Dina Boluarte to take office after Congress voted to oust President Pedro Castillo in an impeachment trial.
That ousting came just hours after Castillo said he would dissolve the legislature by decree and threw the Andean country into a full-on constitutional crisis.
Castillo's ministers, armed forces, police and the US ambassador had criticised his move to shut down Congress outside normal legal channels.
"The United States categorically rejects any extra-constitutional act by President Castillo to prevent Congress from fulfilling its mandate," US ambassador to Peru, Lisa Kenna, said on Twitter.
Reporting with Reuters
Just in: If you have to drive into Brisbane city for work this morning... don't go this way
By Kelsie Iorio
Much of Brisbane has experienced some pretty wild weather overnight — wild enough to open a huge sinkhole on one of the city's busiest roads.
Developing story: Peruvian president dissolves Congress, then gets removed via impeachmnt
By Kelsie Iorio
Peru's congress has voted to remove President Pedro Castillo in an impeachment trial with 101 votes in favour, six against and 10 abstentions.
Castillo said he would dissolve the nation's Congress on Wednesday and called for new legislative elections, trying to beat lawmakers to the punch as they prepared for a third attempt to remove him.
Congress then voted to oust him and appointed his vice president to lead the nation.
The national ombudsman's office said in a statement before the congressional vote that after years of democracy, Peru is in the midst of a constitutional collapse "that can't be called anything but a coup."
