Hello. It's Friday, March 25 and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of today's news headlines.
Let's start here
A full-scale search is continuing for Shayla Phillips who was last seen on Wednesday in the backyard of her family home on the Tasman Peninsula.
The four-year-old was last seen playing with her neighbours' two dogs at her Stormlea home. One dog returned to its owners and the other was found about 700 metres from the property, but there has been no sign of Shayla.
Temperatures in the area dropped to the low teens overnight, and police say there are growing concerns for the girl's wellbeing.
Police say additional resources from Victoria were due to arrive overnight to help with the search.
One thing you’ll be hearing about today
ATAGI is set to recommend a "winter" COVID-19 jab for some of the most vulnerable Australians ahead of a feared surge in cases as the weather cools down.
People eligible for the fourth dose will include:
- People aged 65 and over
- Indigenous people 50 and over
- Immunocompromised people
- Aged and disability care residents
Australia changed its definition of "fully vaccinated" against COVID to require three doses of a vaccine in February — but health authorities are eager to move away from "numbered" doses and make this "winter" jab more akin to receiving a seasonal flu vaccine.
News while you snoozed
- The Socceroos can no longer automatically qualify for the World Cup after an uninspiring 2-0 loss to Japan overnight. They now face the intercontinental play-offs as a second chance to qualify, the first step of which will be against the third-placed team from the other Asian group, followed by a knock-out game against a South American side
- NATO says it will strengthen its forces on its eastern flank, send more military aid to Ukraine and tighten sanctions against Moscow following leaders holding an "extraordinary" meeting on the one-month anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
What Australia has been searching for online
Dustin Martin. Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has confirmed the playmaker is taking time away from the club on personal leave and is in doubt for its match against GWS on Sunday.
Harry Styles. Yes, the clear best 1D alumnus* has lit up the internet with the announcement of a new solo record. Harry's House is due out in May, just days before the first show of a massive world tour hitting the UK, Europe and South America.
*This is up for debate, just not with me.
One more thing
Donald Trump is suing his 2016 election rival Hillary Clinton and several other Democrats, alleging they tried to rig the vote by tying his campaign to Russia.
The lawsuit covers a long list of grievances the former Republican president repeatedly aired during his four years in the White House after beating Ms Clinton, and comes as he continues to falsely claim that his 2020 election defeat was the result of widespread fraud.
"Acting in concert, the Defendants maliciously conspired to weave a false narrative that their Republican opponent, Donald J. Trump, was colluding with a hostile foreign sovereignty," the former president alleged in a 108-page lawsuit filed in a federal court in Florida.
The suit alleges "racketeering" and a "conspiracy to commit injurious falsehood", among other claims.
You're up to date
Thanks for joining us.
ABC/wires
