Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Friday, May 26. For the second successive day, get ready for a sunny day with temperatures of around 21 degrees across the city. Enjoy your day!
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Here’s what’s making news this morning:
Modern cigarette filters increase the risk of lung cancer
Cigarette filters introduced in the 1960s to reduce the health risks associated with smoking have actually increased the likelihood of lung cancer, researchers say.
The study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute upends the perception by smokers that they are consuming a safer product and is already leading to calls for governments to regulate the design of cigarettes. Read more (SMH)
Federal government withheld vital information from Lindt siege inquest
The federal government knocked back a request from NSW Coroner Michael Barnes for more information about Defence capabilities which could be deployed during a domestic terrorist attack, the Lindt siege report reveals.
Mr Barnes says the Commonwealth "resisted the provision of further information", meaning he could not determine if the "traditional roles of domestic police forces and the ADF [Australian Defence Force] in Australia ought to be reconsidered" . Read more (SMH)
Boy charged over stabbing had assaulted teacher: court
A 12-year-old boy who alleged stabbed a 10-year-old child over a pair of shoes in an inner-city apartment block had already been charged with assaulting his school teacher, a court has heard.
The youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, allegedly stabbed the younger boy in the torso at a Waterloo unit block about 12.15pm last Saturday.
Police allege the youth was trying to steal a pair of Nikes when he stabbed the boy with a knife, causing a 2.5-centimetre laceration. Read more
Stolen ute driving on wrong side of Princes Highway before fatal crash
A stolen ute that smashed at high speed into a vehicle in Sydney's inner west early on Thursday morning, killing two men, had crashed into another car minutes earlier while travelling on the wrong side of the highway.
The driver of the grey four-wheel-drive ute has been arrested and is being treated in hospital following the fatal crash at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Canal Road in St Peters just after 4.30am.
Earlier in the morning, police had been pursuing the ute through Sydney's inner east, but terminated the chase when it became too dangerous. Read more (SMH)
One Nation senator rejects party's Muslim ban
Newly installed One Nation senator Peter Georgiou has rejected his party's opposition to Muslim migration, a central tenet of leader Pauline Hanson's policy platform.
Senator Georgiou, who replaced his brother-in-law Rodney Culleton in the Senate after Mr Culleton's election was declared invalid, is the son of Greek migrants and has previously described former Labor prime minister Paul Keating as a politician he admires. Read more.
Police launch fresh search in Royal National Park for body of Matthew Leveson
Police have returned to a national park in Sydney's south in the search for the body of missing man Matthew Leveson.
For the third time in six months, detectives this week descended on a small area of bushland in the sprawling Royal National Park in the hope of finding any trace of Mr Leveson.
Officers returned to the site near Waterfall on Monday to make sure they had not missed anything in the fruitless searches in November and January. Read more.
Search for koalas in Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury
The NSW Government is investing a further $63,000 into its iconic koala project in a bid to better understand the often elusive marsupial across the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury local government areas.
The Blue Mountains Koala Project, which is being led by Dr Kellie Leigh from the not-for-profit organisation Science for Wildlife, is in partnership with the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), universities and San Diego Zoo Global. Read more.
Raelene Castle resigns as Bulldogs CEO
Raelene Castle has resigned as Canterbury CEO and will finish her tenure at the end of the season.
Castle, who has has been in the role for four years, said it was time for her to consider her "next challenge".
The former New Zealand netball boss is one of the most influential women in the game and is expected to remain in sports administration. Read more (SMH)
Josh Dugan discusses Dragons exit
All Josh Dugan wanted was a bit of respect.
The manner in which St George Illawarra handled its contract negotiations left a sour taste in the mouth of the NSW Origin representative.
Dugan has a great appreciation for the club that provided him with a career lifeline after a series of off-field indiscretions in the nation's capital. Read more (SMH)
Sharks, Dragons juniors to get taste of State of Origin
Young St George Illawarra star Jai Field will give Dragons fans another glimpse of the future when he plays for NSW in the under-20s State of Origin match against Queensland.
The young Blues take on the junior Maroons as the prelude to Origin I in Brisbane on Wednesday night. Read more.
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Cricketer blames pet parrot's death for drink-driving offence
New Zealand cricketer Doug Bracewell has been sentenced to 100 hours of community service for a third drink-driving offence after blaming the killing of a pet cockatoo by dogs for his decision to drive home drunk from a function.
The 26-year-old fast bowler was pulled over by police in March and returned a blood-alcohol reading more than three times the legal limit. Read more (SMH)
Homer Simpson to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
Despite being mainly known for his softball exploits, Homer Simpson is set to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this weekend.
25 years after the airing of 'Homer at the Bat', one of the most-beloved episodes of The Simpsons of all time, the occasion is being marked this weekend with a ceremony at the spiritual home of baseball in Cooperstown, New York. Read more (SMH)
