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TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin
- The WHO moves to calm fears in Tenerife over a deadly huntavirus outbreak
- Boycott calls over Israel’s Eurovision entry overshadow the contest’s 70th edition
- And in sport, Daniel Dubois reclaims world champion status with a heavyweight win over Fabio Wardley
The head of the World Health Organisation has sought to reassure residents on Tenerife, saying hantavirus is “not COVID”, as a cruise ship linked to the outbreak prepares to arrive at the Spanish island.
The WHO, Spanish authorities and cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions said nobody on the MV Hondius is currently showing symptoms of the virus.
Three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers who left the ship are infected with hantavirus.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreezius arrived on the island late on Saturday to coordinate the disembarkation of passengers and some crew.
He said it's understandable that the trauma of the COVID pandemic is still fresh in people's minds.
"This disease is not COVID, and we have said it many times. And when we say this, we don’t take it lightly. The concern is legitimate because we have all experienced COVID, especially in 2020, and that trauma is still in our minds. So people will have questions, people will have concerns, and that's what I tried to address in my message to the people of Tenerife. We hear you, we understand."
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The Mayor of Toura - a town in southern Lebanon - says some of the older locals did not have the means to leave the town, after receiving evacuation orders by the Israeli military.
Mohammed Haidar's comments came as rescuers there continue to search for bodies under the rubble of a destroyed building in the town, following a series of Israeli strikes in the region.
Arabic translated to English VO: “This is like what you see here, a civilian family, an old man named Hassan Qassem Haidar, over 75-years-old, and his wife the same, an old woman, and in the family there was a woman with her daughters, civilians, they have nothing to do with anything, they were living here in the middle of the village and they did not leave (the town), because they did not have homes outside, they didn't have the means, they do not have the ability, and the man is disabled."
At least 17 people have been killed after Israel's airstrike in Lebanon on Wednesday.
Despite a ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump on April 16, hostilities between Israel and military group Hezbollah continue.
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The Austrian capital Vienna is preparing for the onset of Eurovision fever with events planned for thousands of fans starting later today (Sunday May 10), in advance of the song contest's grand final on May 16.
But calls for a boycott over Israel's participation are casting a shadow over the 70th edition of the event.
Spain, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Slovenia have decided not to take part in this year's edition in protest over Israel's participation.
They have criticised Israel over its bombardment of Gaza in retaliation for the October 2023 attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
More than 1,000 artists or groups have also called for a boycott, including Peter Gabriel and Massive Attack.
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Voters in the regional federal seat of Farrer have decisively chosen a non-coalition candidate for the first time in its history.
One Nation's David Farley steamrolled to victory in the rural southern NSW electorate, claiming 59 per cent of the two-candidate-preferred vote.
Independent Michelle Milthorpe was the only candidate to pose a serious challenge.
Farrer was held by former Liberal leader Sussan Ley for a quarter of a century before her resignation in February after Angus Taylor ousted her as party head.
National Party leader Matt Canavan said that voters had obviously come out to give the coalition a kicking, but that they would be ready for the next federal election in two years time.
"I'm focused on winning for the Australian people, I'm focused on putting forward a really strong election platform within two years' time amd I'm hoping of course to win a majority for the Liberal and national Party, that's what i'm focused on. What the Australian people give to us in a parliament, we then have to deal with after that."
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And in sport,
Daniel Dubois has become a two-time heavyweight world champion, beating Fabio Wardley in an eleventh-round stoppage in Manchester.
The all-British title fight lived up to its billing, with both men trading heavy shots before Dubois took control.
Wardley was making the first defence of his WBO heavyweight title.
Dubois had promised Wardley would not hear the final bell, and delivered with one of the biggest wins of his career.
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