This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happens.
Key events
Live updates
That's all for The Loop this morning
By Tom Williams
Thanks for joining me this morning. If you're catching up, here's a bit of what's been covered (click the link to jump straight to the post):
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Lisa Millar calls out 'disgusting' social media abuse
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Ukraine says it's 'absolutely not involved' in Nord Stream attacks
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Minister for Indigenous Australians says gap is closing too slowly
- Bindi Irwin details her 10-year experience with endometriosis
- US President Joe Biden plans new taxes on the rich to help save Medicare
You can keep up-to-date with other news on the ABC's website, by subscribing to our mobile alerts, and by watching News Channel or listening to local radio here.
Minister for Indigenous Australians says gap is closing too slowly
By Tom Williams
The latest Closing the Gap report reveals 11 out of 15 targets are not on track.
The Productivity Commission data shows healthy birth weights for Indigenous children are no longer on track to meet the 2031 target.
Another area of concern is the suicide rate among First Nations people which has increased to 27.1 people per 100,000, up from 25.1 in 2018.
As AAP reports, Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said the gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians wasn't closing fast enough.
Burney said the data showed "encouraging" increases in employment and land rights, but in other areas figures were going backwards.
"It is particularly disappointing to see the target for healthy birth weights for babies has gone from being on track to not on track," she said.
"More of the same isn't good enough. We need to do things differently by working in partnership with communities to get better results."
Last month the federal government announced its implementation plan for Closing the Gap, which included more than $400 million in extra funding.
If you or anyone you know needs help:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- ReachOut at au.reachout.com
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
- Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) on 1800 008 774
- Head to Health at headtohealth.gov.au
Treasurer: There are 'encouraging signs' that inflation has peaked
By Tom Williams
Speaking on RN Breakfast this morning, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government saw "encouraging signs" that inflation peaked over Christmas, but was still concerned about how prices are impacting Australians.
"Inflation will moderate over the course of the next 12 to 18 months. We would like it to moderate quicker, as quickly as possible," he said.
"That's the thing that's putting pressure on households and pushing up interest rates.
"… Obviously I'm concerned about the position that Australians find themselves, particularly Australians with a mortgage."
You can listen to the full interview here:
Investigators open probe into rail operator Norfolk Southern after fiery Ohio derailment
By Tom Williams
Federal investigators in the US have announced a special investigation into rail operator Norfolk Southern following a fiery derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border in February and several other accidents.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it was also urging the company to take immediate action to review and assess its safety practices.
NTSB has said the crew operating the train that derailed on February 3 outside the village of East Palestine, Ohio, received a warning from a detector but couldn't stop the train before more than three dozen cars came off the tracks and caught fire.
Half of the town of about 5,000 people had to evacuate for days when responders intentionally burned toxic chemicals in some of the derailed cars to prevent an uncontrolled explosion, leaving residents with lingering health concerns.
Government officials say tests haven't found dangerous levels of chemicals in the air or water in the area.
Watch: RBA governor gives speech after yesterday's rate rise
By Tom Williams
Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe is giving a speech at the AFR Business Summit in Sydney this morning, after a 10th consecutive rate hike took the bank's official cash rate to 3.6 per cent yesterday.
The title of the speech is 'Inflation and recent economic data' and you'll be able to watch it live below from 08:55am AEDT this morning.
Bindi Irwin details her 10-year experience with endometriosis
By Tom Williams
Bindi Irwin, daughter of Australia Zoo's Terri Irwin and the late Steve Irwin, has detailed her experience with endometriosis — a disorder where tissue which normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus.
Irwin says she has struggled with "insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea" for 10 years due to the disorder, but felt a responsibility to share her story.
"I decided to undergo surgery for endometriosis," she said.
"Going in for surgery was scary but I knew I couldn't live like I was. Every part of my life was getting torn apart because of the pain.
"To cut a long story short, they found 37 lesions, some very deep and difficult to remove, and a chocolate cyst."
"Validation for years of pain is indescribable. My family & friends who have been on this journey with me for 10+ yrs — THANK YOU, for encouraging me to find answers when I thought I'd never climb out.
"Thank you to the doctors & nurses who believed my pain. I'm on the road to recovery & the gratitude I feel is overwhelming."
Harry Styles asks NZ crowd: 'Did everyone do the census thing?'
By Tom Williams
Here's one for the Harry fans.
UK popstar Harry Styles joked about having to complete New Zealand's 2023 census at his show in Auckland last night.
In between songs, Styles has told his 40,000 fans that they were all obligated to fill out the form — including him
Here's a clip from the moment:
US President Joe Biden plans new taxes on the rich to help save Medicare
By Tom Williams
US President Joe Biden has proposed new taxes on the rich to help fund his country's Medicare system, saying the plan would help to extend the insurance program's solvency by 25 years.
Biden wants to increase the Medicare tax rate from 3.8% to 5% on income exceeding $US400,000 ($600,000) per year, including salaries and capital gains.
"This modest increase in Medicare contributions from those with the highest incomes will help keep the Medicare program strong for decades to come," Biden wrote in The New York Times.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was quick to dismiss the plan, telling reporters Biden's budget agenda "will not see the light of day."
More than 65 million Americans rely on Medicare at a cost to taxpayers of roughly $US900 billion ($1.4 trillion) every year, and its number of enrollees is expected to continue growing as the US population ages.
Lisa Millar calls out 'disgusting' social media abuse
By Tom Williams
ABC News Breakfast host Lisa Millar has publicly addressed "obnoxious commentary" she has received on social media in recent days.
Yesterday, on the eve of International Women's Day, the ABC asked for a more responsible approach by some media outlets when reporting on the online abuse of female journalists.
This morning, Millar addressed News Breakfast viewers directly, saying:
"The fact that what I wore on Monday attracted obnoxious commentary on Twitter — foul, disgusting, personal abuse that I wouldn't and couldn't repeat here — it was upsetting.
"That it then ended up online on some news sites, where the photos and the abuse were re-published made me angry.
"Thanks for all your support. You've been awesome, honestly. Some of you have actually been pretty funny, suggesting if we actually all turned up in pyjamas, you'd still be fans of the show!
"I am angry, though, on this International Women's Day. Angry on behalf of myself and also on behalf of other women, young women, who see those stories and see someone like me being violently abused day after day for whatever reason bullies can find.
"I worry it might make you think that no progress has been made and that it's not worth it to be a woman in the public arena.
"Well, on this International Women's Day, I want to tell you the response over that rubbish yesterday actually gives me a bit of hope. We are making progress. We are gonna make more progress, and there are so many awesome women who we can all look up to, so let's celebrate them today.
"And please, make a conscious decision today to be part of the solution. Play a part in making our communities a better, kinder place for everyone."
Indian curators are yet to decide on a fourth Test pitch
By Tom Williams
India's curators are keeping all options open for the fourth Test, preparing two potential pitches for the Border-Gavaskar series finale in Ahmedabad.
Australia remain uncertain about the pitch they will play on at the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium for the Test against India, starting on Thursday.
India coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma both had lengthy inspections of the centre wicket when the hosts trained at the Ahmedabad ground on Tuesday.
Pitch discussion has been a constant during the first three Tests, with India rolling out spin-friendly surfaces to suit their chances of toppling Australia.
But those tactics backfired during the third Test in Indore as Australia pulled off an upset nine-wicket win in a match that ended early on day three.
NT residents near Borroloola brace for flooding
By Tom Williams
Northern Territory residents near the town of Borroloola are preparing for possible flooding in their communities today.
The possible flood risk comes less than a week after a mass evacuation of residents from outback communities west of Katherine.
The Borroloola bridge was closed at 5pm last night, and some residents have been told to stock up on supplies as the river rises.
Melbourne Airport travellers facing possible delays as refuellers strike
By Tom Williams
Travellers may face delays at Melbourne Airport this morning, as plane refuellers go on strike to push for a better pay dea.
Today's stoppage is expected to mainly impact Qantas services and some freight companies, as well as some international carriers.
Qantas says flights will operate as normal, and they will work with Melbourne Airport and its partners to minimise any issues.
You can read more on this story here:
Ukraine says it's 'absolutely not involved' in Nord Stream attacks
By Tom Williams
A senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv was "absolutely not involved" in last year's attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines which carry gas from Russia to Europe, and has no information about what happened.
A New York Times report has cited US officials suggesting a pro-Ukrainian group was responsible for the blasts in September 2022, seven months into Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"Without a doubt, Ukraine is absolutely not involved in the excesses on the pipelines," Zelenskyy aide Mykhailo Podolyak said in a statement to the news agency Reuters. "It does not make the slightest bit of sense."
He added that Ukraine has no information about exactly who was involved but speculated that what he called Russian efforts to destabilise the region might have been to blame.
Russia said media reports about who might be behind the attacks underscored the need to answer Moscow's questions about what had happened.
Two Americans dead, two rescued after violent Mexico kidnapping
By Tom Williams
Two Americans have been found dead — and two others have been found alive — after a violent shootout and abduction that was captured on video, officials said.
The incident reportedly took place after the group of four embarked on a road trip to Mexico so one of them could get cosmetic surgery.
The US citizens were found in a rural area east of Matamoros called Ejido Longoreño on the way to the Gulf coast known as Bagdad Beach, according to a Mexican state law enforcement official.
Shortly after entering Mexico, the four were caught amid fighting between rival cartel groups in the city.
The Associated Press reports the surviving Americans are back on US soil after being sped to the border on the southernmost tip of Texas, in a convoy of ambulances and SUVs escorted by Mexican military Humvees and National Guard trucks with mounted .50-caliber machine guns.
It was not immediately clear if the two bodies were being returned to the US.
Officials said a Mexican woman also died in the crossfire.
News Australia is searching for
By Tom Williams
Interest rates.
The Reserve Bank raised interested rates yesterday for the 10th consecutive meeting, taking the cash rate target to 3.6 per cent.
It's the highest level for the central bank's benchmark interest rate since May 2012.
Borrowers and savers are now waiting to see if banks will pass on the rate increase.
Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe will give a speech to the AFR Business Summit in Sydney from 08:55am AEDT this morning.
The title of the speech is 'Inflation and recent economic data'.
One more thing: Today is International Women's Day
By Tom Williams
IWD organisers say today — Wednesday, March 8 — is a global day "celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women".
Here are a couple of interesting stories from this morning highlighting female talent:
- Tyler Mahoney is an unstoppable 25-year-old gold miner who's addicted to the hunt
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Ten of the most influential women in Australian sport
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Australia's first female federal politicians set to be part of new first for Canberra
