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National
Tom Williams

Manhunt for three escaped Queensland prisoners, deadly Cyclone Mocha hits Myanmar, and NBA star Ja Morant suspended over new gun video — as it happened

This is The Loop, your quick catch-up for this morning's news as it happened.

Key events

Live updates

That's all for The Loop this morning

By Tom Williams

Thanks for joining me today. If you're catching up, here's a bit of what was covered (click the link to jump straight to the post):

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.

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ATO says it's cracking down on landlords and more this tax time

By Tom Williams

Key Event

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has announced three key areas it's closely examining in this year's tax returns.

They are:

  • Rental property deductions

  • Work-related expenses

  • Capital gains tax

The ATO says it has found that nine in 10 rental property owners are getting their returns wrong by either leaving rental income out or making inappropriate deductions like overclaiming expenses or claiming for improvements to private properties.

The ATO says it will be using a new rental property data matching program to check tax returns more closely.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh says people need to do the right thing.

"We encourage rental property owners and their registered tax agents to take extra care this tax time and review their records before lodging their return," he says.

(Pexels: Timo Miroschnichenko)

For work-related expenses, the ATO says it will be looking at people claiming working from home deductions even if they are back in the office.

For capital gains tax (CGT), the ATO says people need to calculate a capital gain or capital loss for each asset they dispose of, unless an exemption applies.

"Generally, your main residence is exempt from CGT, however if you have used your home to produce income, such as renting out all or part of it through the sharing economy, for example Airbnb or Stayz, or running a business from home, then CGT may apply," Loh says.

"Don't fall into the trap of thinking we won't notice if you sell an asset for a gain and don't declare it."

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Thailand's opposition parties dominate preliminary election results

By Tom Williams

Thailand's opposition parties have recorded a stunning election result in a challenge to country's military-backed government.

The liberal Move Forward party and the populist Pheu Thai Party are far out in front with 99 per cent of votes counted, but it is far from certain that either will form the next government, with parliamentary rules written by the military after its 2014 coup skewed in its favour.

To rule, the opposition parties will need to strike deals and muster support from multiple camps, including members of a junta-appointed Senate that has sided with military parties and gets to vote on who becomes prime minister and form the next administration.

You can read more about the election results here:

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iPhone text-for-help satellite service launches in Australia

By Tom Williams

Tech giant Apple has launched its Emergency SOS feature in Australia today, which means lost hikers, injured climbers and car crash victims will be able to send for help even if they are outside mobile phone range, as long as they have a recent device.

The feature lets iPhone 14 users send messages to fire and rescue, ambulance or police services using satellite coverage, and launched in the US and Canada last November.

(Apple)

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland says the government welcomes the launch of the new capability.

"This will go a long way in helping emergency services respond to, protect, and ultimately, keep individuals safe from harm," she says.

"Australians are encouraged to familiarise themselves with this feature and whether their device supports it."

Other companies such as Google and chipmaker Qualcomm are also reportedly planning to launch similar services.

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Australia's Jason Day breaks five-year PGA Tour title drought

By Tom Williams

Key Event
(AP)

Australian golf star Jason Day has broken a five-year PGA Tour title drought with an emotion-charged Mother's Day victory at the $US9.5 million ($14.3 million) AT&T Byron Nelson Championship in Texas.

A year after losing his mum Dening to cancer and tumbling outside the top 100, Day denied Scottie Scheffler the chance to return to world number one in a tense shootout at TPC Craig Ranch.

In a poignant tribute, Day's caddy sported a bib with his mother's birth name Adenil and the former world number one honoured her memory with his first tournament win since the 2018 Farmers Insurance Open.

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Sam Kerr leads Chelsea to third straight Women's FA Cup

By Tom Williams

Australia's Sam Kerr has led Chelsea to their third straight Women's FA Cup, scoring the lone goal in the final against Manchester United in front of a record crowd at Wembley.

Kerr's 68th-minute strike, poking home Pernille Harder's cross, proved decisive as Chelsea won the trophy for the third straight year to remain in contention for a league and cup double.

You can read more about the game here:

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Queen Elizabeth II and Paddington are among the BAFTA TV award winners

By Tom Williams

Key Event

The BAFTA TV awards have wrapped up in London, with the likes of The Traitors, Derry Girls, Bad Sisters and even Paddington Bear taking home awards for the best in British TV.

Kate Winslet won the BAFTA for leading actress for her role in I Am Ruth, while Anne-Marie Duff won supporting actress for her portrayal of Grace Williams in drama series Bad Sisters.

Kate Winslet, winner of the leading actress BAFTA for I Am Ruth. (Reuters: Maja Smiejkowska)

Ben Whishaw won leading actor for his portrayal of Adam Kay in autobiographical drama This is Going to Hurt, while Adeel Akhtar won the BAFTA for supporting actor for his role in the crime drama Sherwood.

Derry Girls won in scripted comedy, with Sister Michael actress Siobhán McSweeney winning for female performance in a comedy programme.

Entertainment performance was won by Claudia Winkleman for The Traitors, which won for reality and constructed factual.

But the memorable moment award, the only award voted for by the public, was won by Paddington and Queen Elizabeth II's Party at the Palace sketch for the late monarch's jubilee …

… and Paddington is pretty excited about it.

You can see the full list of winners and nominees at the Baftas website.

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Search continues for SA teacher feared dead after shark attack

By Tom Williams

Locals in the small town South Australian Eyre Peninsula town of Elliston are supporting each other in the wake of what's believed to be a fatal shark attack on Saturday.

Simon Baccanello remains missing and is feared dead.

The teacher was taken while surfing with a dozen other people at Walkers Rocks Beach.

The search for the 46-year-old's body will continue today.

SA Education Minister Blair Boyer says the Education Director will be based at Baccanello's school for the foreseeable future, to ensure that appropriate supports are in place for his colleagues and students.

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Manhunt underway after three men escape a Queensland prison

By Tom Williams

Key Event
(AAP: Queensland Police)

A manhunt is underway after three men escaped from a Queensland prison on Sunday.

The men escaped from Palen Creek Correctional Centre, which is about 100 kilometres southwest of Brisbane.

Authorities are now on the hunt for Daniel Ian Badcock, 32; Osiah Pilton, 20; and Antonio David Mene, 28.

  • Badcock was serving a one year sentence for possession and weapons charges. He is described as having a medium build, with a diamond tattoo on the left side of his face and the word 'Opmerta' tattooed over his right eye. He has other tattoos including the word 'Outlaw' on his left shin and knuckle dusters tattooed onto his right hand
  • Pilton, who was serving one year and nine months for a break and enter offence, is described as having black hair and eyes with the word 'Mum' tattooed on his left arm above the wrist, and a diamond tattoo on his left leg
  • Mene who was serving three years for vehicular offences, is described by police as being Torres Strait Islander, about 170 cm tall with the outline of his last name tattooed on the inside of his right arm

Police have urged anyone who has seen the men not to approach them but to call triple zero.

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Serbians surrender more than 13,000 weapons since recent mass shootings

By Tom Williams

(AP: Serbian Presidential Press Service)

Authorities in Serbia say residents have turned over around 13,500 weapons since an amnesty opened on May 8 in the wake of two mass shootings.

Stacks of guns, cartons of hand grenades and some anti-tank rocket launchers were displayed on the weekend, after the government government declared a one-month amnesty period for citizens to surrender unregistered weapons.

The crackdown came after two shootings in two days earlier this month which left 17 people dead, many of them children.

(AP: Serbian Presidential Press Service)

The violence led tens of thousands of people to march through the Serbian capital, Belgrade, last week.

Protesters gathered in front of the Parliament building before filing by the government's headquarters and onto a highway bridge spanning the Sava River, where evening commuters had to turn their vehicles around to avoid getting stuck.

(AP: Darko Vojinovic)
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Türkiye appears headed for a runoff presidential election

By Tom Williams

Türkiye looks like it's on the way to a run-off presidential election, with the parties of both President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and opposition rival Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu both claiming the lead as votes are counted.

But sources in both camps admit they may not clear the 50 per cent threshold to win outright.

Both sides are dismissing the other side's count, and no official results have been announced, with a runoff on May 28 beckoning.

​​​​​​​The vote is one of the most consequential elections in Türkiye's history, and could end Erdoğan's 20-year rule.

You can keep reading this story here:

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Cyclone Mocha has killed at least three people

By Tom Williams

Key Event
(AP)

After passing over Bangladesh's Saint Martin's Island, Cyclone Mocha has hit Myanmar, tearing roofs off buildings and killing at least three people.

The cyclone made landfall on Sunday afternoon in Myanmar's Rakhine state near Sittwe township, with winds of up to 209 kilometers per hour, Myanmar's Meteorological Department says —making the storm a dangerous category five cyclone.

The extent of the damage in Sittwe isn't clear just yet.

Earlier yesterday, high winds crumpled mobile phone towers, cutting off communications in much of the area.

(India Meteorological Department via AP)

In videos collected by local media before communications were cut off, deep water races through streets while wind lashes trees and pulls boards off roofs.

Myanmar's military information office says the storm damaged houses, electrical transformers, phone towers, boats and lampposts in Sittwe, Kyaukpyu, and Gwa townships. It says the storm also tore roofs off of sport buildings on the Coco Islands.

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NBA star Ja Morant suspended over new gun video

By Tom Williams

Key Event
(AP: Jae C. Hong)

In basketball, NBA star Ja Morant has been suspended by the Memphis Grizzlies after he appeared to be holding a gun in another social media video that was streamed live on Instagram.

It's the second time in less than three months that Morant has been seen on social media holding what appeared to be a weapon. The first led to an eight-game suspension which cost Morant about $US669,000 ($1 million) in salary.

It's unclear what sanctions he might face for the second video.

The Grizzlies, who are now out of the NBA playoffs, say Morant is suspended from all team activities "pending league review".

The NBA says it is aware of the new video and is "gathering more information".

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News Australia is searching for: Eurovision 2023 winner

By Tom Williams

Key Event

In case you missed it yesterday — the Eurovision grand final saw Sweden take out the top prize, with Australian synth-metal band Voyager finishing in ninth place.

Sweden's Loreen won the most votes with her song Tattoo.

Australia's Voyager performed their song Promise, and were thrilled by their final result.

"Who would have thought that an independent, progressive metal band from Perth, WA, would take a top 10 position at the world's biggest song contest?!!" the band wrote on social media.

"We are incredibly grateful for this absolutely WILD journey — we wouldn't have done this without you!"

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One more thing: Watch platypus return to Sydney's Royal National Park

By Tom Williams

Key Event

Platypus have been returned to the Royal National Park in Sydney for the first time since they disappeared 50 years ago.

Environmentalists have been working on improving water quality and controlling pests to make the national park safe for platypus again.

First proposed by ecologists from the University of New South Wales three years ago, the plan will see six female and four male platypuses released, bringing the founding population to 10.

 "This is a landmark project that will not only restore the platypus to its rightful place in the Royal National Park but also aims to set the framework for future conservation efforts," says lead researcher Dr Gilad Bino from UNSW.

Here's the moment the first one was returned to the park's waters on the weekend:

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