AAP Rolling News Bulletin for May 24 at 0030
Ukraine (KYIV)
A Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at another Russian oil terminal, officials in Russia's Krasnodar region say, in what appeared to be the latest attack on Moscow's vital oil industry.
Authorities in the city of Novorossiysk said falling drone debris sparked a fire at an oil terminal, injuring two people, without naming the facility.
Russia's Astra news outlet said Ukrainian drones struck the Sheskharis oil terminal and depot, the terminus for Russian state-controlled pipeline company Transneft's main oil pipelines in the region.
Images posted by Astra appeared to show smoke rising above the oil terminal, but they could not be verified.
Ukraine did not immediately comment on the attack.
Ukraine has expanded its mid- and long-range strike capabilities, deploying drone and missile technology that it has developed domestically to battle Russia's four-year-old invasion.
Ebola (KAMPALA)
Uganda has confirmed three new cases of Ebola, bringing the total number of infections in the current outbreak there to five, the health ministry says, as authorities step up contact tracing to contain the spread.
The World Health Organisation has declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain a public health emergency of international concern, and said the risk of a national epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo is "very high".
Nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths have been recorded in Uganda's neighbour, the centre of the outbreak.
The WHO has said late detection, the absence of a vaccine or virus-specific therapeutics, widespread armed violence and high mobility among the population make Congo especially vulnerable.
The new cases reported in Uganda on Saturday include a driver who transported the country's first confirmed patient and a health worker exposed while caring for that patient.
PollVic (MELBOURNE)
Optimism is radiating from a state premier and her soft launch of an election campaign centred on economic growth and a vow to keep up the good fight.
Jacinta Allan addressed party faithful at Labor's Victorian state conference on Saturday, unveiling plans to fund a new generation of apprentices to address significant workforce shortages.
Doing so, she drew on the experience of her father, Peter Allan, who worked as a linesman at the State Electricity Commission.
The commission was revived by former premier Daniel Andrews in 2023 after it was privatised during Liberal Jeff Kennett's time as premier in the 1990s.
Mr Allan lost his job as a result of the commission's commercialisation.
"The SEC was a skilled job for life - then the Liberals got elected," Ms Allan said.
Senegal (DAKAR)
Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has sacked Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government, according to a statement read on the national broadcaster.
The decision follows months of mounting strains between the two allies-turned-rivals.
Sonko, a charismatic figure with a large youth following, had backed Faye in the 2024 election after a defamation conviction barred him from running.
The secretary general of the presidency said in the statement that the government had been dissolved.
The statement was read out on broadcaster RTS on Friday, local time.
Mideast (ROME)
Activists released from Israeli custody after being detained on a flotilla trying to bring aid to the Gaza Strip were subjected to abuse, organisers say, with several hospitalised with injuries and at least 15 reporting sexual assaults.
Israel's prison service denied the allegations, and Reuters was not able to verify them independently.
Germany's foreign ministry said some of the country's citizens had been injured and that some accusations were "serious".
A legal source in Italy said prosecutors there were investigating possible crimes including kidnapping and sexual assault.
"The allegations raised are false and entirely without factual basis," an Israeli prison service spokesperson said in a statement.
"All prisoners and detainees are held in accordance with the law, with full regard for their basic rights and under the supervision of professional and trained prison staff," it said.
Iran (TEHRAN)
Pakistan's military chief Asim Munir has arrived in the Iranian capital as a part of the ongoing mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, the Pakistan military says.
The visit comes after Iran's foreign ministry confirmed this week that exchanges of proposals with the US are continuing "through Pakistan".
Iran is reviewing a new US proposal aimed at ending the conflict, foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Thursday.
There is a sense of optimism within Pakistani security circles that a preliminary agreement between the US and Iran is within reach.
Sources said Munir had been due to travel to Tehran on Thursday but waited for the go-ahead from the Iranian negotiators that an initial agreement could realistically be reached.
Spain Protest (MADRID)
At least seven police officers have been injured in clashes with protesters as tens of thousands of people marched through Madrid, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez after a series of corruption scandals.
A small group of protesters tried to break through barriers around Sanchez's residence during Saturday's rally, which was otherwise largely peaceful.
Police detained a group of masked people on the main road approaching the Moncloa Palace, where the Socialist leader lives with his family, images on Spanish television showed.
Three people were arrested, police said.
Demonstrators carried banners marked with "Resignation of the socialist mafia" and other slogans, alongside scores of gold and red national flags in the "March for Dignity", organised by the Spanish Civil Society association.
Pope (ACERRA)
Pope Leo has called out companies who seek "dizzying" profits at the cost of environmental pollution on a visit to an area in Italy known as a hotbed for illegal dumping of toxic waste.
On a visit to Acerra, south of Rome, the first US pope urged the world to "reject temptations of power and enrichment linked to practices that pollute the land, water, air, and social coexistence".
Leo said he wanted to come to the area near Naples known as the "Land of Fires", where the European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2025 that authorities had failed to protect residents from waste dumping since at least 1988, to "gather the tears" of families who had lost loves ones to related illnesses.
In finance ...
US Fed (WASHINGTON, D. C.)
Kevin Warsh has been sworn in as the new head of the Federal Reserve, marking a new chapter after a strained relationship between the world's most powerful central bank and US President Donald Trump.
Speaking after taking the oath of office at the White House, Warsh pledged to be "reform-oriented," saying he would carry out his duties with "energy and purpose".
He said the coming years could "bring unmatched prosperity that will raise living standards for Americans from all walks of life".
Trump, who selected Warsh for the post, had repeatedly and unsuccessfully pushed for lower interest rates while criticising previous Fed chair Jerome Powell.
The president argues that lower borrowing costs would boost economic growth, investment and consumer spending but critics warn that cutting rates too aggressively could further fuel inflation.
Ethical NF (SYDNEY)
Driven by consumer demand, compulsory super and strict greenwashing regulations, Australia's record on ethical investment is well regarded.
Or at least it was.
Amid concerns over performance and a US-led anti-woke backlash, the nation's appetite for putting hard-earned savings into companies with a conscience has fallen off a cliff.
Driven mostly by younger investors, support for funds dedicated to strong environmental, social and governance, or ESG, frameworks was riding high until 2021.
Now, the sector is suffering green fatigue.
Trading has dropped 60 to 70 per cent, according to an examination of the 250 most-traded instruments on popular investment-tracking platform Sharesight.
"What we've found with ESG, in particular, is just a real drop in enthusiasm for the asset class," says Douglas Morris, chief executive of the Sydney and Wellington-based company.
In entertainment ...
Hardy (LONDON)
Tom Hardy has reportedly been axed from MobLand.
The actor will not appear in the proposed third series following "clashes with producers" while creating the second season of the Paramount+ crime drama, in which he plays fixer Harry Da Souza, according to a report.
Matthew Belloni, the former editorial director of The Hollywood Reporter, wrote in his Puck newsletter: "I'm told Paramount recently opted not to pick up Hardy for season three after his clashes with producers Jez Butterworth and David Glasser, among others, during the recent production of season two."
The entertainment journalist also claimed: "Hardy was apparently late to set a bunch, constantly asked to give notes on scripts, attempted to change dialogue, and expressed his displeasure that a series initially built around him was increasingly becoming an ensemble showcase for Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and other co-stars."
Cyrus (LONDON)
A tearful Miley Cyrus has thanked her family after being honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Flowers singer was recognised at a ceremony in Hollywood and couldn't keep her emotions in check when it came to thanking her loved ones for their support.
Cyrus was accompanied at the ceremony by her mother Tish Cyrus, sister Brandi Cyrus and fiance Maxx Morando.
"To my family, my future family, parents, my mom, my siblings, my friends, my collaborators, thank you for loving and supporting not only the choices that I make, but my fears, and then facing them with me," she said.
"Today is something that I'll never forget and I'm always going to cherish. I love you all so much, thank you."
In sport ...
Soc ALM Grand (AUCKLAND)
Auckland FC have claimed a historic A-League Men championship title with a 1-0 grand final win over Sydney FC.
New Zealand international and club inaugural signing Cam Howieson was the hero at a sold-out Go Media Stadium, firing the match-winner in the 60th minute.
Auckland became the first New Zealand team to win an ALM grand final, doing so in front of a raucous 28,374-strong crowd on home soil on Saturday.
A Sydney FC great, Auckland coach Steve Corica claimed his third championship after leading the Sky Blues to back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2020.
Corica is the first coach in the ALM era to win three grand finals, with Ange Postecoglou winning two National Soccer League championships and two in the modern league.
Super Reds (PERTH)
Jock Campbell has scored a try with just two minutes remaining as the Queensland Reds overcame a huge scare to beat Moana Pasifika 33-31 and all but secure a Super Rugby Pacific finals berth.
The Reds led 26-7 early in the second half of Saturday's match in Auckland, but Moana piled on the next three tries to take the lead as a boilover loomed.
Down by five points and with the clock ticking over to the 79th minute, the Reds made the most of a scrum by swinging the ball to fullback Campbell for the levelling try.
Ben Volavola made no mistake with the conversion from straight in front, with the Reds holding firm for victory.
"They came home with a wet sail. It was a set play for us, and thankfully it worked," Campbell told Stan after the match.
Ends Bulletin
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