Midday News Bulletin 21 March 2024

A tornado leaves hundreds of residents in Western Australia without power; Israel orders further evacuations as it continues it invasion in Rafah; A disqualification at the Eurovision Song Contest threatens to overshadow grand final fanfare; and Essendon makes an impressive comeback against Greater Western Sydney.

Anthony Albanese says Australia's vote in favour of Palestine becoming a full U-N member is not an attack on Israel, or Jewish Australians...the federal government unveils a big budget housing pledge- but industry casts doubt on whether it can deliver... and the Sydney Roosters admit signing David Fifita will make it harder for them to keep another of their big stars

Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Simon Birmingham condemns Australia's move to support Palestine's United Nations membership; New South Wales to become the last Australian state to formally apologise to people criminalised under homosexuality laws; and world champion Nina Kennedy has vaulted back into Diamond League competition.

The federal government set to unveil an $11.3 billion housing package; the Federal Court extends video ban on Elon Musk-owned social media platform X; and Leverkusen extend their unbeaten run to 49 games, sealing their spot in the Europa League final.

The High Court rules that indefinite detention of non-citizens is legal in some circumstances; Members of the Pasifika community criticise the federal government's future gas policy; and in cycling, Australian Luke Plapp in a three-man breakaway in stage six of the Giro d’Italia.

Hundreds of immigration detainees remain behind bars after a High Court ruling; Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the federal budget will include a vision on achieving net zero; and in sport, the start of the Olympic Torch 11-week journey through France.

Australia's Air Defence Force Chief calls Chinese actions towards an Australian helicopter 'unsafe' and 'unprofessional'; thousands flee as Israel resumes its military operation in Rafah; and the Mariners prepare to take on Sydney FC in the first semifinal of the A-League Men's.

The prime minister refutes China's spying accusations after aircraft near miss; criticism of the environmental impact of the federal government's fresh commitment to gas, and in sport, another AFL player suspended for a homophobic slur during a game.

Australia's government to ramp up gas projects to support net zero transition by 2050; Fiji's former prime minister sentenced to a year in prison, and in sport, coach Jo Yapp names her first Wallaroos team to take on Canada in the Pacific Four series.

The United States pauses a shipment of bombs for Israel; Manhunt underway after a woman was allegedly stabbed by a man known to her outside a gym; and the Olympic flame lands on French soil.