Hello. It's Friday, May 6 and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of today's news.
Let's start here
A 106-metre luxury superyacht — believed to belong to sanctioned Russian oligarch Sulieman Kerimov — has been seized by Fijian authorities on behalf of the United States.
The Amadea has been the subject of legal proceedings since it arrived in Fiji in mid-April as the public prosecutor sought to register a US warrant for its seizure and the yacht's owners tried to prevent the enforcement action — but a seizure warrant has now been executed and the Amadea has been impounded.
It's a very valuable seizure and it comes as the US Congress is debating exactly what to do with all of Russia's expensive toys.
Something you'll be hearing about today
The family of a toddler in intensive care after being left on a childcare bus say they will fight to make sure it doesn't happen to another child.
Police believe Nevaeh Austin was left on the bus around 9am on Wednesday, and was only found when staff went to use it for the after-school pick-up around six hours later.
Nevaeh's grandmother Pamela Parker says her family "would not rest" until those responsible were held accountable.
"You expect that child to come home happy, healthy — maybe dirty or a little bit hungry — but you expect them to come home," Ms Parker said.
It comes just two years after a three-year-old boy was found dead on a Goodstart Early Learning Centre minibus in Cairns in February 2020.
The childcare centre director and driver of that bus is serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter last year — a former educator who was also on the bus was found not guilty of manslaughter just last month.
Investigations into this latest incident are ongoing.
News while you snoozed
- The World Health Organization says nearly 15 million people have died either of COVID-19 or due to its impact on overwhelmed health systems in the past two years — more than double the official death toll of 6 million
- Police in Washington DC have erected a metal fence blocking access to the Supreme Court and separating rival demonstrators protesting for and against abortion rights
One to watch
Thousands of commuters are expected to be affected by a widespread cancellation and disruption of more than 80 bus routes due to a strike in Melbourne's north and south-east today. More than 1,000 drivers from the Dyson and Ventura bus companies are expected to take part in the industrial action.
Meanwhile, in Sydney, some bus drivers are turning off Opal Card readers this morning in protest over rates of pay. Some passengers in the Inner West and select routes at Olympic Park, Strathfield, Rockdale and the CBD are set to ride buses for free.
What Australia has been searching for online
- Tom Cruise. The 59-year-old actor flew himself to the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in a helicopter, because of course he did.
- Anthony Albanese. The Opposition Leader was on Q+A last night and said "gotcha game playing" was putting people off politics.
One more thing
We're hearing more and more about "ghost" candidates running in the federal election, particularly for Pauline Hanson's One Nation.
A ghost candidate refers to someone who has nominated as a candidate for a seat but is not seen or heard from by the constituents of that electorate.
They’re totally legal, but some voters think it’s a bit strange.
The team from ABC Investigations have broken down what the deal is and what you need to know about it — check it out here.
You're up to date
Thanks for reading.
ABC/wires
