AAP Rolling News Bulletin for May 29 at 2230
Ebola (BUNIA)
The World Health Organization says there are 906 suspected cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including 223 suspected deaths that are being investigated.
An outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is continuing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with cases also reported in Uganda.
There have been 125 confirmed cases of Ebola in the DRC, including 17 confirmed deaths in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.
There have also been seven confirmed cases of Ebola in Uganda, three of which were imported from the DRC, and one death.
However, no community transmission has been reported, the WHO said.
The rate of people who died among those confirmed to have the infection ranges from 30 per cent to 50 per cent, said Anais Legand from the High Threat Pathogens Team which is part of WHO Health Emergencies Programme.
China Aust (SINGAPORE)
China's decision to send only academics to Asia's biggest defence forum is a missed opportunity at a moment when countries need more "strategic reassurance" from Beijing, Defence Minister Richard Marles says.
Speaking ahead of the three-day Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Mr Marles said the meeting was an "incredible opportunity" for defence ministers and policymakers from around the world to exchange ideas and develop relationships.
"We've seen China engage in the biggest conventional military build-up in the world since the end of the Second World War, and that has not happened with a strategic reassurance for other countries," Marles told Reuters in an interview.
Officials in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
For the second year running, China's Defence Minister Dong Jun has skipped the meeting and Beijing has said it planned to send a delegation consisting mainly of experts and scholars from the People's Liberation Army.
Economy (CANBERRA)
The divide between people who earn income from investments and those who work for a living could be exacerbated by the artificial intelligence revolution, economists at Australia's largest business lender warn.
While the adoption of AI is expected to boost productivity, without policy intervention the benefits will likely be unevenly felt across the economy, NAB chief economist Sally Auld and senior economist Taylor Nugent found in a research note released on Friday.
Essentially, AI could result in the economic pie getting larger but workers not receiving a larger slice.
"While economists often concentrate on the efficiency gains of AI, there are potentially significant distributional consequences," wrote Dr Auld and Mr Nugent.
"Indeed, one concern that many hold with the rise of AI is the risk that without careful policy decisions, AI may amplify income and wealth inequalities.
Ukraine (BUCHAREST)
NATO member Romania says a drone injured two people in a southeastern city during an overnight Russian attack on neighbouring Ukraine, the first time in the war that a drone had hit a densely populated area in Romania and caused injuries.
The incident in Romania, also a member of the European Union, was likely to increase tensions on NATO's eastern flank at a time when Ukraine's allies are worried about Russia's war on its neighbour spilling over its borders.
The drone hit the roof of a 10-storey block of flats in Galati and caused an explosion, authorities said.
Romania, which shares a 650km land border with Ukraine, has experienced Russian drones breaching its airspace 28 times since Moscow began attacking Kyiv's ports across the Danube river, Romania's defence ministry said.
Valentine (SYDNEY)
A beloved radio presenter has been remembered for his kindness and artistry in a memorial service that paid tribute to his whimsical nature.
Best known for presenting the Afternoons show on ABC Radio Sydney for more than 20 years, James Valentine died in April after a two-year battle with cancer.
The 64-year-old chose to end his life using voluntary assisted dying after he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in March 2024.
A public memorial held at Sydney's Town Hall in his honour on Friday paid tribute to his broadcasting and music career as hundreds lined up around the block.
Unlike typically sombre funerals, the upbeat and entertaining service was punctuated by loud cheers and laughs from the audience.
Comedian HG Nelson, who contributed to a segment on Valentine's radio show, opened proceedings with a rousing comedic routine that had the crowd in stitches.
Amazon (MELBOURNE)
Amazon could be on the hook for a hefty fine over allegations the retail giant sold children's backpacks that fell foul of safety warning requirements.
Australia's consumer watchdog on Friday launched Federal Court proceedings against Amazon over the toddler backpacks that included a detachable light-up unicorn plush toy containing button batteries.
Required button battery warning labels were missing from the products or the plastic outer packaging, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleges.
The watchdog claims the backpacks were in the possession or control of Amazon in its Australian fulfilment centres between June 22 and November 1, 2022.
Forty-one were purchased by local buyers through Amazon's Australian website and 267 in its centres as of November 1, 2022, it said.
Legal: Witheridge (BRISBANE)
A social media stunt that treats churches like video games has gone from TikTok to the dock, landing an alleged teenage "speedrunner" in court.
Zeppelin Witheridge, 18, has been accused of using a police car as a BMX ramp after a viral challenge went awry at the Church of Scientology in Brisbane's CBD.
Chaotic scenes erupted after hundreds of people gathered at the church for a "Scientology speedrun" on May 9.
The social media trend involves people racing into Scientology buildings to see how far they can get before security catches up, then uploading the footage for everyone to rate.
In gaming, a speedrun is about clearing a level as fast as humanly possible.
A "Scientology speedrun" treats real-world buildings like maps, security guards as non-playable characters and doorways as checkpoints, with likes and shares as the prize.
Sci BlueOrigin (CAPE CANAVERAL)
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket has dramatically exploded on the launch pad during a test, in a setback for Jeff Bezos' space venture as it seeks to narrow the gap with Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Video posted by NASASpaceflight, a YouTube channel that livestreams launches from Florida, showed the New Glenn igniting on the pad around 9pm on Thursday before erupting into a massive fireball that billowed skyward, sending a towering plume of flames and smoke into the air.
Blue Origin said it had experienced an "anomaly", a term commonly used by rocket companies to describe a launch failure or explosion.
"We experienced an anomaly during today's hotfire test. All personnel have been accounted for. We will provide updates as we learn more," the company said on X.
In finance ...
Housing (CANBERRA)
Rival forecasts showing a dire outcome for renters from the government's tax changes are being dismissed by Labor as the work of "vested interests".
Health Minister Mark Butler said it was hardly surprising the real estate lobby would defend the status quo after property industry groups released modelling claiming the impact of the tax package would be worse for rent prices and housing supply than Treasury forecasts.
The modelling, conducted by economic consultancies Qaive and Tulipwood and released jointly by the Real Estate Institute, Master Builders, and the Property Council, showed the budget would cause 8700 fewer new homes to be built over the next four years.
Rents would be $9 a week higher, Australia's economy would be $864 million smaller and there would be 3800 fewer construction jobs than would otherwise be the case, the analysis found.
Legal: Dexus (SYDNEY)
A leading property investment firm will be forced to sell a major stake in Melbourne Airport after it leaked confidential business information to buyers.
Dexus suffered the setback on Friday after the NSW Supreme Court dismissed its attempt to retain at least part of its 27 per cent stake in Australia Pacific Airports Corporation (APAC), which owns Melbourne and Launceston Airports.
In 2024, the firm tried to find buyers for some of its shares in the corporation through an initiative titled Project Mercury.
The valuation of APAC was $13.8 billion, according to Dexus' own marketing material at the time.
During the sale process, the property investment firm provided confidential information to potential buyers and their advisers through a virtual data room.
In entertainment ...
Mirren (LONDON)
UK police are "reviewing footage" showing Helen Mirren being called a "evil Zionist bitch" by a man in London.
The footage started circulating on social media showing the Oscar-winning actor walking along a street in Tower Hill with her husband, American film director Taylor Hackford.
The video, which was filmed last year, showed the 80-year-old smiling and greeting the man filming and asking if he was OK.
However, he can then be heard swearing at Mirren over her support for Israel.
In the footage, the man said: "And there is Helen Mirren the avowed Zionist. You said Israel should last forever because of the Holocaust. And she was very happy the Palestinians' houses were gone.
"You are an evil Zionist bitch. And you (Hackford) as well, f*** you as well."
Legal: Austria Plot (WIENER NEUSTADT)
An Austrian court has sentenced a 21-year-old man who admitted planning a foiled Islamist attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024 to 15 years in prison, finding him guilty of various, mainly terrorism-related, offences.
Beran A, whose last name has not been made public in accordance with Austrian privacy rules, was arrested on August 7, 2024, the day before the first of three planned concerts by the US pop star in the Austrian capital.
All three dates were then cancelled, to the dismay of fans and of Swift, who wrote afterwards that it was "devastating".
While crowds of disappointed fans sang together in Vienna then to console themselves, neither Swift nor any "Swifties" appeared at the trial in Wiener Neustadt, a town south of the capital.
In sport ...
RL Sharks (SYDNEY)
A suspected broken arm to classy hooker Blayke Brailey has soured Cronulla's rousing 28-22 victory over Manly as the Sharks finally cracked the NRL's "Fozball'' code.
The Sharks burst Manly's bubble with some dazzling tries on Friday night, but the sight of Brailey trudging off midway through the second half was a major blow for his club and state.
The NSW hooker will await the result of scans before learning his fate ahead of State of Origin II in Melbourne on June 17.
With his superstar halves partner Nicho Hynes sidelined with a calf strain, Braydon Trindall delivered a playmaking masterclass to pilot the Sharks to back-to-back wins for only the second time in 2026.
Trindall bagged one try and had a hand or boot in three others as Cronulla wowed their home fans at Ocean Protect Stadium.
Ten Aust (MELBOURNE)
Incoming Tennis Australia CEO Andrew Abdo appears unlikely to take on the double workload of his predecessor Craig Tiley by running both the national organisation and the Australian Open tournament.
Abdo will finish up as chief executive of the NRL in mid-July and start at TA on August 3, with Tiley moving to his new position heading the United States Tennis Association along the same timeline.
Tiley has been the Open tournament boss for 20 years, securing the future of the grand slam event in Australia with its huge growth in popularity and footprint at Melbourne Park.
He has also held Tennis Australia CEO role since 2013 but Abdo appears unlikely to follow the same dual role path.
Abdo said that, while ultimately responsible for the tournament, he would consider the "organisational design" of Tennis Australia once he officially moved into his role.
Ends Bulletin
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