AAP Rolling News Bulletin for May 22 at 1500
Ministers (BRISBANE)
A state premier has been blindsided by a federal police probe into a senior minister, saying he found out about the investigation after media broke the news.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said he was passed a note in a budget meeting telling him Tim Mander had been reported to the Australian Federal Police about enrolment status concerns, a day after the minister was informed.
Mr Mander - the Olympics minister - announced late on Thursday he would stand aside from cabinet as federal police decided whether to launch a full-blown probe.
He had been investigated after enrolling to vote at a staffer's home during the breakdown of his 40‑plus year marriage.
The Australian Electoral Commission referred the matter to federal police on Tuesday, and Mr Mander was reportedly informed on Wednesday night, while on a ministerial visit to New Zealand, but did not tell the premier.
Ukraine (MOSCOW)
Russia has launched nuclear-capable missiles and issued nuclear munitions to some units as part of major nuclear exercises amid heightened tensions with NATO over the Ukraine war and drone activity in the Baltic.
Russia is conducting some of the biggest nuclear exercises in years, involving 64,000 people to drill its forces in "the preparation and use of nuclear forces in the event of aggression".
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and top generals the use of such weapons would always be an exceptional and extreme measure of last resort.
"Given the growing tensions in the world and the emergence of new threats and risks, our nuclear triad must continue to serve as a reliable guarantor of the sovereignty of the Union State of Russia and Belarus," Putin said in the Kremlin.
Budget (CANBERRA)
Controversial tax changes in the budget are a "step in the right direction" but the Greens want the government to go further before pledging to give their support.
The progressive minor party's vote is crucial to Labor's hopes of getting legislation through the Senate, given the coalition has vowed to repeal the changes to investor tax breaks if elected.
While the government has faced significant blowback from small business owners and landlords over the changes to the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing, Greens economics spokesman Nick McKim said Labor hadn't gone far enough.
"Faced with a once in a generation opportunity to shift more of the tax burden onto super wealthy people, and in particular super wealthy property speculators, Labor blinked," he told ABC Radio on Friday.
NATO (HELSINGBORG, SWEDEN)
The White House is "very upset" with NATO members for "going into hiding" during the Iran war, US secretary of state Marco Rubio says.
America's top diplomat levelled his latest criticism as he headed to a meeting of the military alliance in Sweden.
US President Donald Trump has fiercely criticised NATO members for not doing more to help the US-Israeli military campaign. He has said he is considering withdrawing from the alliance and questioned whether Washington was bound to honour its mutual defence pact.
NATO officials have stressed the US did not ask the 32-member alliance to take part in the Iran war, but many members have honoured commitments to allow US forces to use their airspace and bases on their territory.
Terror Aust (CANBERRA)
A second group of Australian women and children with links to the terrorist group Islamic State have left a refugee camp in Syria.
The group departed the Al-Roj camp on Thursday, according to the ABC, ahead of their reported return.
It is expected they will head towards the capital Damascus for flights returning to Australia, but the timing remains unclear.
It comes after a group of four women and nine children with ties to Islamic State arrived in Australia earlier in May after leaving the same refugee camp.
Three of the women in that group were arrested upon their arrival and remain in custody.
Two are facing charges relating to slavery, and the other was charged with joining a terrorist organisation and travelling to a declared conflict zone.
Mideast Aust (CANBERRA)
Australian activists detained in Israel after trying to deliver aid to Gaza have been deported to Turkey following a "shameful" video of an Israeli minister taunting detainees.
The 428 Global Sumud Flotilla participants - including 11 Australians - were released overnight after being intercepted by Israeli forces at gunpoint in international waters on Tuesday.
A statement from the flotilla's Australian contingent said members were being forensically examined in hospital in Istanbul and will meet with lawyers to document their experience.
They will then return to Australia in coming days.
Federal minister Tanya Plibersek confirmed Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials were providing assistance to Australians on the ground in Turkey who were part of the flotilla.
"(DFAT is providing) the usual consular assistance, and my hope is that they'lll be on their way home safely," she told ABC Radio on Friday.
Climate Copenhagen (COPENHAGEN)
Australia and Turkey have flagged they will put vehicle electrification in the fast lane at the 2026 United Nations climate summit, as the world grapples with the fallout from fuel shortages stemming from conflict in the Middle East.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen and his Turkish counterpart, Murat Kurum, co-hosted a ministerial meeting of 40 countries in Copenhagen on Wednesday and Thursday that will help shape the agenda of the COP31 conference in Antalya.
The annual Copenhagen talks are a pit stop on the way to the main summit and a chance to road test fresh ideas in an informal setting.
Mr Bowen and Mr Kurum nominated electrification as their big-ticket priority.
The transport sector accounts for 15 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions, the UN says.
Mideast (PARIS)
Israel has begun deporting hundreds of activists from an aid flotilla that was intercepted en route to the Gaza Strip, the Adalah rights organisation says as criticism mounted over the treatment of the participants detained in Israel.
Adalah said all participants in the international Gaza Sumud Flotilla have been released from prison in Israel and were on their way to be deported, most of them from Ramon Airport in the south of the country.
The activists - including 11 Australians - were all deported from Israel on Thursday, the Israeli foreign ministry said.
The Israeli news portal ynet reported, citing Adalah, that four activists have already been flown out via Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said his country was conducting special flights to bring Turkish citizens as well as third country participants to Turkey.
In finance ...
Markets Aust (SYDNEY)
Australia's share market continues to recover on optimism about a potential peace deal between the United States and Iran, despite division remaining on key issues.
The S&P/ASX200 rose 41.4 points by midday on Friday, to be up 0.48 per cent to 8,663.1, as the broader All Ordinaries lifted by 45.2 points, or 0.51 per cent, to 8,886.
"Iran suggested that the latest US proposal 'has narrowed the gaps to some extent' between the two sides," Westpac economist Mantas Vanagas said.
"However, the two countries still appear to be drifting further apart on the two central issues - Iran's nuclear ambitions and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz."
ASX-listed miners were doing some heavy lifting heading into the weekend, with materials up 1.4 per cent with strong leads from BHP and Rio Tinto.
Guzman (SYDNEY)
An Aussie-born Mexican-themed fast food chain is pulling out of the United States in a spectacular turnaround on its American market ambitions.
Stock exchange-listed Guzman y Gomez made the announcement on Friday, saying its restaurants in Chicago will cease trading immediately.
The decision was made because the financial performance of the US business was not acceptable or meeting targets.
"I have always been confident in the differentiation of our food and guest experience, however this was not translating to an improvement in sales momentum," founder and co-chief executive Steven Marks said.
Guzman's US experiment lasted about six years, after it opened its first store in Chicago in January 2020.
"I realised this was going to take significantly more time and capital than we had expected," Mr Marks said.
In entertainment ...
Emily (LONDON)
Emily in Paris will come to an end after its sixth season, Netflix has announced.
The romance comedy-drama, starring Lily Collins, is currently filming the final season in Greece.
The series features Collins as Emily Cooper, a Chicago marketing executive who lands the job of a lifetime in Paris and sets off on a life-changing journey across Europe.
Emily in Paris creator Darren Star said in a statement: "Making Emily in Paris with this extraordinary cast and crew has been the trip of a lifetime.
"As we embark on the final season, I am so grateful to Netflix, Paramount, and, most importantly, the fans who have taken this incredible journey with us. We can't wait to share this last chapter with you.
Ivors (LONDON)
Singers Jacob Alon and CMAT have featured among the winners at the Ivors, Britain's annual awards for songwriters and screen composers, with the late George Michael and Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke honoured with lifetime recognition.
Spanish star Rosalia was named international songwriter of the year following her chart-topping album LUX, on which she sings in multiple languages. British rocker Sam Fender took songwriter of the year while DJ and record producer Calvin Harris won the music icon award.
Best contemporary song was awarded to Kae Tempest's I Stand on the Line while Don't Fall Asleep by Jacob Alon was named best song musically and lyrically. Alon also picked up the rising star award.
Best album went to Irish singer CMAT's Euro-Country while Lola Young's hit Messy triumphed in the most performed work category.
In sport ...
Soc ALM Grand (AUCKLAND)
An A-League Men grand final against his former side can only be described by Auckland FC coach Steve Corica as weird.
Corica's nearly two-decade history with Sydney FC weighs on his mind ahead of Saturday's sold-out grand final at Go Media Stadium in New Zealand.
Auckland are out to become the first Kiwi team to claim an ALM grand final, while the Sky Blues are eyeing a record-extending sixth championship.
Corica had guided Sydney FC to their two most recent grand-final wins in 2019 and 2020, and was also at the helm in the 2021 loss to then-coach Patrick Kisnorbo's Melbourne City.
But the Auckland coach's past with the competition's most successful club goes deeper.
Corica has been associated with the club since its inception in 2005, when he also scored the winning goal in that season's grand final win over Central Coast Mariners.
WC26 Aust (MELBOURNE)
Finally able to put his best foot forward with the Socceroos after years of injury hell, Mathew Leckie is adamant he's not slowing down and has plenty to give if selected for a fourth World Cup.
Leckie has never played under coach Tony Popovic due to recurring soft-tissue injuries.
But he returned for Melbourne City at the back end of the season before earning a call-up to the training camp after a mammoth 120-minute elimination final midfield shift against Auckland.
Leckie has been in the thick of Australia's gruelling pre-World Cup training camp, which the 35-year-old described as a "mini pre-season" in hot and humid Sarasota.
"It's been very different to what I was used to, obviously, it almost felt like it was my first time into camp again," Leckie said on Friday.
Ends Bulletin
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