Global Pulse

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  • Uganda confirms new Ebola cases, linked to DR Congo

    Uganda confirms new Ebola cases, linked to DR Congo

    Ugandan health officials announced Saturday that three new positive Ebola cases have been detected in the country, all linked to an ongoing, rapidly spreading outbreak centered in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo that the World Health Organization has already designated a public health emergency of international concern. This update brings Uganda’s total number of confirmed Ebola infections to five since the virus first crossed the country’s border and was detected locally on May 15.

    Health authorities have publicly identified the three newly confirmed patients: a Ugandan long-haul driver, a Ugandan frontline healthcare worker, and a female patient from the DRC, where the outbreak originated. In an official statement posted to the social platform X, the Ugandan Ministry of Health confirmed that all three patients are still alive as of Saturday’s update.

    The new diagnoses come just one day after the WHO upgraded the overall risk level of the DRC Ebola outbreak to its highest classification, “very high,” for the DRC itself. The UN health agency also noted that the regional risk level across central Africa remains “high,” while the global risk level is still categorized as “low.”

    Ebola is an extremely virulent viral pathogen that spreads exclusively through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. In severe cases, it triggers catastrophic systemic symptoms including unstoppable internal bleeding and complete organ failure, with high mortality rates for unmanaged cases. According to the latest WHO data, the DRC has recorded 82 confirmed Ebola cases and seven confirmed deaths from the current outbreak, alongside nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 additional suspected fatalities.

    Outbreak investigators say the epidemic spread undetected for an unknown period before it was officially identified. Complicating response efforts further, the outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain, for which no specifically approved vaccines or targeted therapeutic treatments currently exist.

    Days before the new cases were announced, on Thursday, Uganda enacted strict border control measures, suspending all public cross-border passenger and cargo transport to and from the DRC, after confirming the country’s first two Ebola cases. Both of those initial cases involved Congolese citizens who crossed the border into Uganda, and one of those patients died from the infection.

    Contact tracing has revealed clear transmission links between the initial cross-border cases and the three new diagnoses. The infected Ugandan driver was operating the vehicle that carried the first ill Congolese patient into Uganda, while the Ugandan healthcare worker contracted the virus while providing care to that same infected cross-border patient. The third new case, the Congolese woman, had traveled to Kampala to receive treatment for abdominal pain, was discharged in apparent good health on May 14, and tested positive for Ebola after she returned to the DRC.

    Ugandan health authorities stated that all known close contacts of the confirmed cases have already been identified and are currently under active, close medical monitoring to catch any new potential infections early.

    WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned Friday that the ongoing response to the outbreak in the DRC faces unprecedented challenges. The epicenter of the epidemic lies in the eastern DRC, a region that has been torn by decades of persistent conflict between dozens of armed rebel groups and government forces, leaving it unstable and largely cut off from formal state services. This remote, insecure environment has forced response teams to work under extreme conditions to slow virus transmission and track down the contacts of all confirmed infected people.

    The outbreak was first detected in the DRC’s Ituri province, and has since spread into areas of South Kivu that are currently controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia. State healthcare infrastructure has been largely non-existent in rural parts of Ituri for decades, and local residents have grown increasingly critical of the Congolese national government for what they say is an unacceptably slow and under-resourced response to the crisis. Meanwhile, the M23 militia, which controls the affected parts of South Kivu, has no prior experience managing a large-scale outbreak of a deadly disease like Ebola, which has killed more than 15,000 people across Africa over the past 50 years.

  • Pope condemns environmental harm in Italy’s ‘Land of Fires’

    Pope condemns environmental harm in Italy’s ‘Land of Fires’

    On a historic Saturday visit to one of Europe’s most devastating environmental disaster zones, Pope Leo XIV delivered a blistering rebuke of the criminal networks and systemic negligence that have turned southern Italy’s Campania region’s ‘Land of Fires’ into a public health crisis that has plagued local communities for nearly 40 years.

    Known alternately as the ‘Triangle of Death’, the territory stretching around the city of Acerra, roughly 15 kilometers northeast of Naples, has been exploited since the late 1980s as an illegal dumping and incineration ground for hazardous industrial waste. Most of the toxic material originates from wealthy industrial regions in northern Italy, where corporate entities avoid the steep costs of compliant waste disposal by paying off the local Camorra mafia to eliminate the waste illegally. The illicit operation has buried or burned everything from asbestos panels and used vehicle tires to barrels of concentrated industrial chemicals, leaching heavy metals, dioxins, and asbestos into local soil, groundwater, and air across decades.

    Today, the region is home to roughly three million residents, and public health data has consistently recorded cancer rates far above the Italian national average, alongside elevated rates of fetal and neonatal developmental malformations. Multiple Italian parliamentary inquiries launched since 2013 have confirmed widespread official negligence, and in some cases, direct political complicity with the criminal waste racket. A 2018 Senate report formally labeled the crisis an ecological catastrophe driven by organized crime and years of government inaction. Most recently, Europe’s highest human rights court ruled in 2025 that the Italian state had failed in its legal duty to protect local residents, ordering the national government to implement comprehensive remediation measures within a two-year deadline.

    Arriving in Acerra’s Piazza Nicola Calipari via popemobile, Pope Leo drew thousands of excited local worshippers and onlookers. For many residents, the pontiff’s visit marked a rare high-profile moment of global attention for a crisis that has long been overlooked by national and international leaders. ‘The pope is maybe the only person who can awaken the conscience a little bit of all the people who have harmed this territory,’ 60-year-old local worshipper Giuseppina De Francesco told Agence France-Presse during the visit.

    Speaking to clergy and family members of pollution victims at Acerra’s cathedral, the U.S.-born pontiff condemned what he called ‘a deadly mix of obscure interests and indifference toward the common good, which has poisoned the natural and social environment.’ He noted that the contaminated land ‘has paid a heavy price. It has seen many of its children buried. It has borne witness to the suffering of children and innocents.’ Pope Leo also extended recognition to local environmental activists, honoring their ‘courageous commitment’ that he described as pioneering work to raise public awareness of the ongoing poisoning of the region.

    The pontiff’s trip was deliberately timed to coincide with the 11th anniversary of *Laudato Si’*, the landmark climate change encyclical released by his predecessor Pope Francis. That 2014 document, which denounced humanity’s unbridled and exploitative treatment of the natural world, was widely praised by climate scientists for its commitment to evidence-based environmental advocacy. Echoing the core message of his predecessor’s manifesto, Pope Leo emphasized that ‘In life, we understand that the more fragile beauty is, the more it requires care and responsibility.’

  • North Korean side wins final in South Korea

    North Korean side wins final in South Korea

    In a groundbreaking moment for both inter-Korean relations and women’s Asian football, North Korean club side Naegohyang has captured the 2025 Asian Women’s Champions League crown, securing a 1-0 victory over Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the final held in Suwon, South Korea.

    Founded in 2012 with a name translating to “My Hometown”, Naegohyang made history long before the final whistle even blew: this tournament marks the club’s first appearance in the continental competition, and their entry required a landmark border crossing from North Korea into the South, a rare occurrence amid long-strained relations between the two nations.

    The winning goal came just before the halftime break from captain Kim Kyong Yong, whose strike proved enough to hold off the Japanese side and claim the trophy. After the final whistle, the team celebrated their victory by parading the North Korean national flag — a display that is normally classified as taboo under South Korea’s National Security Act, though exceptions are granted for specific international sporting events.

    Following the win, Naegohyang head coach Ri Yu Il expressed the overwhelming emotion of the squad’s historic achievement. “Today, as we face a historic moment advancing into the world as the top team in Asia, the emotions and passion we feel are simply indescribable,” Ri said. “The trophy ceremony has already concluded and now we face the task of confronting various new challenges ahead of us.”

    With their continental title secured, Naegohyang has qualified for the 2026 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, the global tournament that brings together the top club champions from each of football’s six continental confederations.

    Due to longstanding travel restrictions between North and South Korea, no official traveling supporters from North Korea were able to attend the Saturday final. Even so, roughly 1,200 members of South Korean civic groups, with backing from Seoul’s Unification Ministry, turned out to watch the match.

    A small controversy emerged after the match, when Ri and goal scorer Kim walked out of the post-match press conference after a South Korean reporter referred to their country as the “north side” in a question. Ri later pushed back on the incident, noting that the squad had remained laser-focused on the competition throughout their stay. “All of our players focused solely on winning today’s match, putting in the effort while cherishing every minute and second,” Ri explained. “I did not have the time or room to concern myself with various other issues.”

    Ahead of the tournament, South Korea’s Unification Minister Choo Dong-young framed the club’s participation as a potential turning point for cross-border ties, saying the match would set a “positive precedent” for future inter-Korean engagement.

    Context around the event stretches back decades: the Korean War concluded in 1953 without a formal peace treaty, leaving the two nations technically still at war. While multiple efforts have been made to warm relations over the years, ties have deteriorated sharply in recent years. North Korea has repeatedly labeled South Korea its “most hostile state” and announced it would no longer pursue formal reunification. Current South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has made improving inter-Korean relations a core policy priority of his administration.

  • Ukrainian drone attack triggers fire at a Russian oil terminal

    Ukrainian drone attack triggers fire at a Russian oil terminal

    As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth year, a wave of cross-border drone attacks has intensified over recent days, hitting two key targets in 24 hours: critical Russian energy infrastructure and a college dormitory in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine, leaving multiple casualties and prompting sharp rhetoric from Moscow.

    On Saturday, regional authorities in Russia’s southern Krasnodar Krai confirmed that a Ukrainian drone assault sparked an overnight blaze at an oil terminal near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. According to local officials, falling wreckage from the downed drone ignited the fire, which also left two people injured. Officials did not immediately release the official name or exact location of the affected facility, but independent Russian news outlet Astra identified the terminal as Sheskharis, a major storage and export hub operated by Transneft, Russia’s state-run pipeline monopoly. The site serves as the final terminus for Transneft’s primary oil export pipelines running through southern Russia. Photographs shared by Astra show thick plumes of smoke rising above the terminal grounds, though the authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified. Ukraine has not yet issued an official statement confirming or denying responsibility for the Novorossiysk attack.

    This drone strike is part of a growing pattern of sustained attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, which analysts note is a core source of funding for Moscow’s ongoing invasion. In recent months, Kyiv has ramped up strikes on Russian oil and gas assets, a shift that comes as Ukraine has expanded its domestic development and deployment of mid- and long-range drone and missile systems to target Russian military and economic assets deep behind front lines. Attacks on key energy facilities linked to the Kremlin’s war budget have become a near-daily occurrence, according to open-source conflict tracking.

    In a separate development, pro-Moscow administrators in occupied Luhansk Oblast announced Saturday that the death toll from a Ukrainian drone strike on a college dormitory in Starobilsk, carried out overnight Friday, has risen to 11. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the attack during comments Friday, labeling it a deliberate “crime” against civilians and claiming that no military or law enforcement installations were located near the college building. Putin also ordered Russia’s top military leadership to draft a package of retaliatory measures in response to the strike.

    Russia requested an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to address the Starobilsk attack, where the two countries traded sharp accusations over the incident. Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.N. Melnyk Andrii rejected Russian claims that Kyiv committed a war crime, dismissing the accusations as a “pure propaganda show.” He reaffirmed that Ukraine’s May 22 cross-border operations exclusively target infrastructure that supports Russia’s occupation and war effort.

    This escalation in drone operations on both sides comes amid ongoing international diplomatic wrangling over military and political support for Ukraine, with multiple Western powers debating new aid packages and potential pathways for peace talks. The Associated Press continues to cover all developments in the Russia-Ukraine war at its dedicated hub.

  • Lionel Scaloni remains calm and cool as Argentina prepares to defend its World Cup title

    Lionel Scaloni remains calm and cool as Argentina prepares to defend its World Cup title

    As Argentina counts down to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, all eyes are fixed on head coach Lionel Scaloni, the quiet architect of the nation’s 2022 global title who is now chasing an almost unprecedented back-to-back championship. The iconic image of his icy composure after Gonzalo Montiel’s decisive penalty sealed Argentina’s third World Cup crown against France in 2022 remains etched in football fans’ memories: instead of erupting in celebration, Scaloni stood motionless and silent on the touchline, seemingly numb to the historic achievement he had just helped deliver. It was only minutes later, when a player embraced him and whispered the words “We are world champions,” that the coach finally broke down in tears. That unflappable temperament, it turns out, is no accident — it has been honed by a daily routine far from the roar of football stadiums.

    Longtime acquaintances of Scaloni trace his remarkable emotional control to his post-playing career hobby: long-distance cycling. Picked up on the advice of his friend, former Spanish tennis star Carlos Moyá, the 48-year-old dedicates two to three hours every day to pedaling, whether it be through the mountainous terrain of Mallorca — the Spanish island he calls home — or along the quiet trails of his native Pujato, in northwest Argentina. For Scaloni, cycling is far more than a fitness activity: it is a mental reset and a form of therapy that allows him to work through tactical plans, analyze opponents, and stay grounded amid the pressure of international football.

    “On the bike, you can think about your team, your opponent, how to prepare for the match. It really clears my head. It’s a good escape … it helps me lower my expectations, be calmer,” Scaloni explained in recent interviews.

    That calm has been tested repeatedly throughout his tenure as Argentina’s head coach, a role he never expected to hold long-term. After Argentina’s humiliating round-of-16 exit from the 2018 Russia World Cup, Scaloni — a former Argentina international with zero prior experience managing a professional club — stepped into the role on an interim basis, while the Argentine Football Association (AFA) courted high-profile candidates such as Mauricio Pochettino and Diego Simeone. At the time, even Argentine legend Diego Maradona dismissed him, sneering, “Scaloni? He can’t even direct traffic.”

    Undeterred by the widespread criticism of his inexperience, Scaloni steadily built a cohesive, hungry team. He led Argentina to the 2021 Copa América title, navigated a successful 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign, and silenced doubters again in Qatar after a shocking opening-match loss to Saudi Arabia. Mid-tournament, he revamped his lineup, giving opportunities to young rookies including Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, and Julián Álvarez, and drew out the best performance of Lionel Messi’s long World Cup career, ultimately lifting the sport’s biggest prize.

    Today, Scaloni prepares to make history as only the third Argentine coach to lead the national side into consecutive World Cups, following legendary champions César Luis Menotti (1978, 1982) and Carlos Bilardo (1986, 1990). The youngest of the three, however, rejects any comparison to the iconic managers who came before him, noting “They have established careers, they defined an era.”

    Now, the challenge of repeating as champion looms larger than ever. No men’s World Cup champion has successfully defended their title since Brazil in 1962, and Scaloni faces no shortage of obstacles: his star player Messi, 38, is nearing the end of his international career; the AFA is mired in off-field turmoil, with leadership facing corruption accusations and widespread internal anger over league format changes and refereeing calls. Even World Cup preparation has drawn criticism: the AFA has arranged warm-up friendlies against low-ranked sides, including Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Angola, Mauritania, and Zambia, with two final pre-tournament matches scheduled against non-qualifiers Honduras and Iceland in June.

    Scaloni, for his part, has refused to publically air grievances. While he shocked fans in November 2023 by hinting at a potential exit after a qualifying win over Brazil — later clarifying he was overwhelmed by serious health issues affecting his elderly parents, amid unconfirmed rumors of friction with players over off-field behavior — he has remained in the role and stayed true to his no-nonsense approach. He has made clear to his squad that winning the 2022 title does not guarantee anyone a spot on the 2026 roster, demanding constant focus and hunger from his players.

    “I don’t dwell on past achievements; you always have to keep looking ahead,” he said in late 2025. “With this jersey, you don’t have time to relax and think your place is secure.”

    His approach has paid off in the years since Qatar: Argentina claimed back-to-back Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, and finished top of South American 2026 World Cup qualifying, even with Messi missing multiple matches due to injury. 20 of the 26 players from the 2022 title-winning squad, including Messi, have been included in Scaloni’s preliminary 55-man roster for the upcoming tournament.

    Jorge Valdano, a 1986 World Cup champion with Argentina, praised Scaloni’s work in an interview with the Associated Press, noting “Argentina has achieved the best thing a national team can achieve: being a team. It’s a team with very clear leadership, that of the coach and Leo Messi, and players who haven’t lost their hunger.”

    Argentina kicks off its 2026 World Cup Group J campaign in Kansas City on June 16 against Algeria, followed by matches against Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27. Scaloni retains the same calm demeanor that carried his side to glory four years ago, fully aware of the weight of expectation from Argentine fans who demand another title and will not accept disappointment.

    “We’re doing well, we’re eager. We’re aware that our opponents will play us differently because we’re the reigning champions,” Scaloni said. “The important thing is that we’ll be there. After that, it’s football, and anything can happen.” “To win a World Cup, a lot of things have to come together, not just playing well. It’s very difficult, but not impossible.”

  • The remains of 4 Italian divers killed in a Maldives cave dive have been repatriated

    The remains of 4 Italian divers killed in a Maldives cave dive have been repatriated

    A tragic deep-sea diving accident off the coast of the Maldives has claimed six lives total, including five Italian divers and one Maldivian recovery diver, and the remains of the four remaining Italian victims have finally been flown home nearly two weeks after the incident, a Maldivian government spokesperson confirmed Saturday.

    The disaster unfolded on May 14, when a group of five Italian divers set out to explore an uncharted underwater cave in the Vaavu Atoll region of the Maldives. The group descended far past the Maldives’ official recreational depth limit of 30 meters, reaching the cave mouth at 50 meters and eventually penetrating to the cave’s innermost chamber around 60 meters below sea level. Shortly after entering the cave, all five divers went missing, cutting off contact with surface teams. On the day of the disappearance, recovery crews retrieved the body of the group’s diving instructor, Gianluca Benedetti, just outside the cave entrance, and his remains were immediately returned to Italy.

    What followed was a complex, high-stakes recovery operation that itself turned deadly. When a Maldivian military diver assigned to the mission, Mohamed Mahudhee, died during an early recovery attempt, the operation was temporarily halted amid safety concerns. To overcome the extreme depth and challenging cave conditions, three specialized Finnish deep cave diving experts were brought in to join the mission. Last week, the expert team successfully located the four remaining bodies clustered together in the cave’s deepest chamber.

    The victims have all been formally identified: the group included Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa; her 24-year-old daughter Giorgia Sommacal; Federico Gualtieri, a practicing marine biologist; Muriel Oddenino, a marine researcher; and lead instructor Benedetti. Maldivian authorities have already revealed key inconsistencies in the group’s dive permit application: while the trip did receive official approval, the submitted proposal did not disclose the exact location of the cave the team planned to explore, and at least two of the five divers were not listed on the official researcher permit submitted to regulators.

    In a press statement Saturday, Maldives President’s Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef announced that two separate formal investigations have been launched into the tragedy. The first probe will examine the circumstances that led to the deaths of the five Italian divers, while the second will specifically investigate the on-duty death of Mahudhee during the recovery effort. Shareef added that Italian authorities have agreed to share any autopsy findings from the repatriated remains to support the Maldivian investigations. Early Saturday morning, the four remains were officially repatriated to Italy, bringing a painful chapter of the tragedy to a close as authorities work to uncover what went wrong.

  • US Federal Reserve gets new chief

    US Federal Reserve gets new chief

    On a Friday ceremony held in the White House East Room, Kevin Warsh officially took office as the 17th Chair of the United States Federal Reserve, marking the start of his four-year term at the helm of the world’s most influential central bank. The oath of office was administered by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, with the event hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump. Attendees included a roster of high-profile guests: senior White House administration officials, sitting members of Congress, sitting Supreme Court justices, and leading figures from the American business community.

    In remarks ahead of the swearing-in, Trump emphasized his expectation that Warsh would maintain full institutional independence from the executive branch. “I want Kevin to be totally independent. I want him to be independent and just do a great job,” Trump told the assembled audience. “Don’t look at me, don’t look at anybody. Just do your own thing and do a great job, okay?” Per CNBC reporting, this White House swearing-in marks the first time a Fed chair has taken office at the presidential residence since Alan Greenspan’s 1987 inauguration, a break from recent tradition that has drawn attention from political and financial observers.

    At 56, Warsh succeeds Jerome Powell, who led the Federal Reserve through post-pandemic recovery and a historic inflation surge starting in 2018. Powell, who will retain his seat on the Fed’s Board of Governors after stepping down from the chair role, has already signaled he will remain active in central bank governance.

    In his first public remarks as chair, Warsh reaffirmed the Federal Reserve’s core statutory mandates: fostering stable prices and maximizing sustainable employment. “When we pursue those aims with wisdom and clarity, independence and resolve, inflation can be lower, growth stronger, real take home pay higher and America can be more prosperous. And no less important, America’s place in the world is more secure,” Warsh stated. Outlining his policy and institutional agenda, he committed to leading what he called a “reform-oriented Federal Reserve,” saying the body would draw lessons from both past successes and missteps, move beyond rigid, outdated analytical frameworks and models, and uphold strict standards of integrity and accountability in all its operations.

    Warsh brings deep prior experience at the central bank: he served as a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors from 2006 to 2011, and after leaving the institution, he held academic appointments at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the conservative think tank the Hoover Institution.

    Warsh’s inauguration comes amid a period of heightened tension between the Trump White House and the Federal Reserve, with the administration pushing repeatedly for looser monetary policy to pair with its signature policy agenda of tax cuts and broad financial deregulation designed to accelerate U.S. economic growth. Over the past 12 months, the Trump administration has moved repeatedly to exert greater political influence over the central bank’s decisions. Most notably, Trump attempted to remove Biden-appointed Board member Lisa Cook over unproven fraud allegations, and directed the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into outgoing chair Jerome Powell connected to a Fed headquarters building renovation project. A federal judge later ruled that the investigation was an explicit attempt to pressure Powell into cutting interest rates or resigning from his post.

    That investigation was ultimately halted after Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina threatened to block Warsh’s Senate confirmation vote unless the probe was dropped, clearing the path for Warsh’s appointment.

    Going into his term, Warsh has positioned himself as an advocate for institutional change at the Fed, publicly calling for “regime change” that would overhaul how the central bank measures and communicates economic data to markets and the public. He has also signaled openness to lowering interest rates, while pushing back against claims he would defer to the White House on monetary policy. Warsh has repeatedly stated he will rely on his own independent judgment when setting policy, and will not take direct instructions from the executive branch.

    The new chair takes office at a critical moment for U.S. monetary policy. As of April 2026, the Federal Open Market Committee has held its benchmark federal funds rate steady at a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, keeping borrowing costs elevated to pull persistent inflation back down to the central bank’s longstanding 2% target. However, recent economic data has upended market expectations for imminent rate cuts. A U.S. Labor Department report released earlier this week showed annual consumer price inflation hit 3.8% in April, the highest reading recorded since May 2023. The sharp rise in price pressures has been fueled in large part by global energy market disruptions: tanker traffic disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, sparked by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, have driven sharp increases in global crude oil and retail gasoline prices, creating new headwinds for the Fed’s inflation fight.

  • Senegal’s president sacks prime minister Sonko after months of tensions

    Senegal’s president sacks prime minister Sonko after months of tensions

    West African nation Senegal has been thrown into sudden political turmoil this week, after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced the immediate dismissal of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the full dissolution of the country’s sitting government. The dramatic move, which followed months of growing public and private friction between the two top political leaders, was formalized in a surprise presidential decree read live on national television by a senior aide to Faye.

    The decree explicitly confirmed that Sonko’s tenure as prime minister had been terminated, alongside the end of service for all sitting cabinet ministers and state secretaries that made up the administration. News of the dismissal quickly sparked public reaction, with Sonko — a firebrand populist who retains massive popularity among Senegal’s large youth demographic — taking to social media to share a measured response, saying he would “sleep with a light heart” following his exit from office.

    The political split comes at a particularly fragile moment for Senegal, which is already grappling with severe economic headwinds. Data from the International Monetary Fund shows the country’s total public debt has ballooned to 132% of its gross domestic product, putting growing pressure on the new administration that took power just over a year ago.

    The break between Faye and Sonko is one of the most surprising political turnarounds in recent African politics, given the deeply intertwined origins of their rise to power. Faye, a relatively unknown political figure before 2024, would likely never have won the presidency without Sonko’s full-throated backing. Sonko, who built the left-wing Pastef party into a major opposition force and was the early favorite to win the 2024 presidential election, was ultimately barred from running over a controversial defamation conviction. Instead of abandoning the race, Sonko tapped Faye as his replacement and threw the full weight of his political machine behind his candidacy.

    Remarkably, the pair secured a shocking election victory just 10 days after both were released from prison, where they had been held on political charges ahead of the vote. But the good political fortune that carried them to power quickly fractured, with public and private tensions simmering for months. Reports from inside the ruling party have confirmed Faye repeatedly criticized Sonko for what he called “excessive personalization” of power within Pastef, while Sonko hit back by publicly accusing Faye of a “failure of leadership” for refusing to defend him against political attacks.

    The dismissal came directly after a heated parliamentary session Tuesday, where Sonko launched open, direct criticism of Faye’s leadership, pushing the long-running tensions into a public break. By Tuesday evening, hundreds of student protesters had gathered in the streets of Dakar, Senegal’s capital, to voice their support for Sonko, signaling that the political rift could deepen in the coming days as the country prepares for a new administration to be formed.

    The upheaval leaves Senegal at a crossroads, with unresolved economic challenges and a ruling movement now split between its two most popular leaders, raising questions about the country’s near-term political and economic stability.

  • Russian war drama among favourites for top Cannes prize

    Russian war drama among favourites for top Cannes prize

    The 79th Cannes Film Festival is drawing to a close this Saturday, with a star-studded awards ceremony set to crown this year’s Palme d’Or winner following two weeks of glitzy premieres, industry parties, and global cinematic showcases. Among the crowded field of standout competitors, one title has risen to the forefront of pundits’ predictions: *Minotaur*, a taut family drama from exiled Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev, rooted in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    The film centers on a cold, manipulative Russian businessman navigating the chaos of the country’s military mobilization for the war. In an interview with AFP, Zvyagintsev noted that his work carries a clear political message: “Those who agree that it’s time to put an end to this hell, and that it’s a nightmare and a disaster for Russia, those people will understand this film clearly.”

    While *Minotaur* holds the top spot among early favorites, it faces stiff competition from a diverse slate of international contenders. Critics also highlight *La Bola Negra*, a high-budget Spanish production exploring multiple queer experiences; the stylized black-and-white historical drama *Fatherland*; and *Fjord*, led by Norwegian star Renate Reinsve. Dark horses in the race include *A Man of His Time*, a historical piece following an ambitious official in France’s World War II collaborationist government, and *All of a Sudden*, the acclaimed quiet drama from Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi.

    Deciding the winner will be an international jury led by iconic South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, with panelists including Hollywood A-lister Demi Moore and Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao of *Nomadland* fame. The winner will be revealed during Saturday evening’s closing ceremony. Last year’s top honor went to *It Was Just an Accident*, a political thriller from jailed dissident Iranian director Jafar Panahi that examines torture and state violence in the Islamic Republic.

    Ahead of the main prize announcement, several awards have already been distributed across the festival’s parallel and side competitions. Iranian documentary *Rehearsals for a Revolution*, directed by exiled actress-filmmaker Pegah Ahangarani about political repression in Iran, took home the festival’s top documentary honor.

    In a historic moment for Nepali cinema, *Elephants in the Fog* — the first Nepali feature ever selected for Cannes official competition — claimed the Certain Regard section jury prize. Its entirely transgender cast celebrated the win with song and dance on stage, with lead actor Pushpa Thing Lama wrapping the Nepalese flag around director Abinash Bikram Shah’s neck during an emotional embrace. The Certain Regard top prize went to Austrian director Sandra Wollner for *Everytime*, described by jurors as a “gripping tale on grief.”

    In other early awards, 18-year-old Bradley Fiomona Dembeasset took home the best actor honor for his performance in *Congo Boy*, a crowd-pleasing rap drama following a Central African refugee that saw the young actor discovered during an open street casting in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. British director Clio Barnard’s *I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning*, a portrait of five childhood friends that was one of the United Kingdom’s only feature entries at this year’s festival, claimed the top prize at the parallel Directors’ Fortnight section.

    While this year’s edition drew its usual share of A-list Hollywood stars from John Travolta to Cate Blanchett, major U.S. studios were notably absent from the lineup. No major American production house opted to premiere a big-budget blockbuster at Cannes this year, following the same absence from the February Berlin International Film Festival — a gap that has sparked industry discussion about why leading studios including Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. are stepping back from major European film events.

    Beyond the race for the Palme d’Or, two key industry issues dominated conversation throughout the 11-day festival: the rising role of artificial intelligence in filmmaking production, and ongoing gender imbalance in the industry. Just five out of the 21 films competing for the festival’s top prize this year are directed by women, a statistic that has drawn renewed criticism from advocates calling for more equitable representation in global cinema.

  • FozBall fires again: New hero emerges as depleted Sea Eagles survive late scare to knock off the Titans

    FozBall fires again: New hero emerges as depleted Sea Eagles survive late scare to knock off the Titans

    For the Manly Sea Eagles, the narrative used to be simple: when star fullback Tom Trbojevic was sidelined, the team collapsed. But under first-year coach Kieran Foran, that long-held narrative is being rewritten, thanks to a breakout performance from an unlikely hero that sealed a tense 12-10 victory over the Gold Coast Titans on a rain-soaked Sydney night.

    Manly headed into the clash missing no fewer than four of their most impactful players. Tom Trbojevic was already out of action, while two other established fullback options—Lehi Hopoate (suspension) and Tolu Koula (State of Origin representative duty)—were also unavailable. To make matters worse, star forward Haumole Olakau’atu and winger Jojo Fifita were also watching from the stands. For a side that once relied entirely on their superstar fullback to deliver results, the odds of extending their recent winning run looked stacked against them.

    Step up Clayton Faulalo, the Sea Eagles’ fourth-choice fullback playing just his second senior NRL start in the position. The young utility produced two moments of individual magic that changed the course of the game. In the first half, he delivered a pinpoint, sharp pass to fill-in winger Blake Wilson that set up the opening try of the match. Later, he ran a brilliant line onto a perfectly timed inside ball from Ben Trbojevic to cross the line himself, stretching Manly’s lead and putting the Titans on the back foot.

    With just 21 minutes left on the clock, Faulalo absorbed a heavy hip drop tackle but shook off the impact to see out the full 80 minutes. By the final siren, he had racked up an impressive 238 running metres, turning in a career-best performance that has already sparked speculation he could become a targeted signing for rival clubs when his contract comes up in 2028.

    For the Titans, the match was supposed to be a celebration for one of their most beloved stalwarts. Mo Fotuaika entered the game poised to become the Gold Coast’s most capped player in club history, earning the record with his 174th appearance, breaking Mark Minichiello’s long-standing mark. But any hopes of a fairy tale upset quickly faded, as the visitors produced one of their most lethargic, error-ridden performances of the season.

    The Titans’ bad luck started early, when an opening try from Jaylan De Groot was ruled out for an earlier knock-on. By the final whistle, the side had conceded 16 unforced errors, even with key Manly stars sidelined. While they got a late consolation try through AJ Brimson in the final minute to set up a nervous closing few seconds, they could not complete the comeback, falling just short of what would have been a shocking comeback win. Even with their starting wingers each running for more than 200 metres, the Titans forward pack failed to step up in the absence of captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, leaving the side stuck in second-last place on the premiership ladder heading into their upcoming bye.

    For Manly, the win pushes them back into the top four on the NRL ladder, and extends their extraordinary run of form under Foran: the club great-turned-coach has now notched seven wins from just eight matches in charge, an incredible start to his senior coaching tenure. The result is even more notable given Foran only signed with the Titans as a player just 10 months prior to taking the Manly coaching job.

    There was one sour note for Manly to end the night, however. Ben Trbojevic, who ran for 122 metres and was one of Manly’s most dangerous players on the left edge, suffered a head clash in the second half while carrying the ball. Initially classified as a category two concussion, the injury was later downgraded to category one—but the star back-rower will still be forced to miss the Sea Eagles’ next clash against the Cronulla Sharks this coming Friday, joining brother Tom on the sidelines in a major late setback for Foran’s side.