The Loop: Aussies warned of holiday travel disruptions, International Rugby League bans transgender women, and boy hears for first time

Hi there. It’s Tuesday, June 21, and you’re reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of today’s news.

One thing to know: We’re being warned to expect more issues at airports

If you’ve got travel plans in the coming months, be warned that airports and airlines are still experiencing problems at peak times.

7.30’s Jason Om and Alison Xiao report that Australian air travelers have been warned to expect more disruptions over the next 12 monthsincluding while the industry scrambles to fill critical worker shortages ahead of the July school holidays.

Long queues faced travelers at Sydney Airport on the long weekend in June.,ABC News: Kamin Gock,

Already this year customers have of flight delays, cancellations, missing baggage, hourslong queues at airports, inability to reach call center staff, and allegations of unfair terms and conditions on flight credits.

Even Labor MP Stephen Jones had a go at Qantas today:

Adding to the confusion, Qantas has said it will no longer require passengers to wear masks on some of its outbound international flights, but they will remain mandatory on domestic flights.

In a statement last week, the company said it was continuing to push for consistent mask rules.

What else is going on: The Reserve Bank has downplayed the chance of a recession

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe said today that while inflation was rising, he did not see a recession on the horizon for Australia.

Here are some of his comments:

News you may have missed

International Rugby League (IRL) has banned transgender women from its matches “until further research is completed to enable the IRL to implement a formal transgender inclusion policy”. It comes as numerous sports review their policies after swimming’s governing body FINA Voted to restrict the participation of transgender athletes in elite women’s competitions earlier this week
Elon Musk‘s transgender daughter has filed a request to have her name legally changed. The 18-year-old says she wants to change her name in accordance with her gender identity and because she no longer wants to be related to her biological father. Here’s what we know about the situation

A close-up image of Elon Musk, wearing a dark suit with white shirt and white bow tie. — Elon Musk tweeted, ‘I love all my kids so much,’ over the weekend, which was Father’s Day in the US.,Reuters: Andrew Kelly,

The trial of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins‘s alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann was meant to go ahead next week, but was delayed today after a court heard that media coverage and social media discussion about the case risked his chances of a fair trial. A new date is yet to be set

Here’s what Australia has been searching for online

Adam Bandt and the Australian flag, The Greens leader had the Australian flag removed from behind a lecturer prior to giving a press conference on Monday. The move has been praised by some but criticized by others further right on the political spectrum. Here’s what the ABC’s Isobel Roe reported during the press conference:

One more thing

Here’s a cute clip of a four-year-old boy in Saudi Arabia hearing for the first timefollowing a four-hour cochlear implant operation.

Wajdi Al Nasiwho was born deaf and has never uttered a word, giggled with delight after hearing sounds through an earpiece.

It came after two years of checks and tests on the reliability of his auditory nerve and cochlea.

Play Video. Duration: 23 seconds — Wajdi Al Nasi is able to hear for the first time following an operation.

You’re up to date!

We’ll be back on Wednesday with more.

ABC/wires