Morning News Bulletin 12 May 2024

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Source: SBS News

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.


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TRANSCRIPT
  • 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.
  • Essendon makes an impressive comeback against Greater Western Sydney.
More than 1300 residents remain without power in the aftermath of a tornado that swept through the Western Australian town of Bunbury.

Residents are also being warned of potential asbestos contamination after forty homes were damaged by the 60 metre wide tornado.

Around fifteen young people and staff were left unharmed when the tornado severely damaged the Bunbury Police and Citizens Youth Club.

Western Australia's Police Minister Paul Papalia says while none were physically injured, the event was traumatic for everyone.

"None have been physically injured but it is undeniable that they have been traumatised in many ways. There were around fifteen neurodiverse children in the building at the time participating in activities inside the gymnasium side of the building, that's the side that was damaged"

Locals are being told to watch out for power lines, fallen trees and other hazards.

Israel has made further evacuation orders for residents sheltering in Rafah as it presses ahead with it's military invasion into the region.

Despite warnings from the international community, including it's closest ally the United states, Israel says it will proceed with an invasion into Rafah.

More than one million people have sought refuge in Rafah during the seven-month-old war, and Israeli military says so far 300,000 Gazans have moved towards Al-Mawasi.

Pediatrician Mohammad Abu Al-Kas says there is no where left for them to go.

"We were in Gaza (city) and they told us to evacuate to Khan Younis, then from Khan Younis they told us to go to Rafah, and they currently told us to evacuate to Mawasi, to leave Rafah."

Russian authorities say their forces have taken five border villages in Ukraine's Kharkiv region.

Ukrainian officials say Russia launched a new cross-border offensive against its second largest city on Friday, prompting the evacuation of 1,800 people.

The Russian Defence Ministry says in its briefing that forces have taken the village of Keramik in the Donetsk region.

India's Opposition says the country's election commission is enabling Prime Minister Narendra Modi to continue violations by failing to act on complaints of religious hate speech, and misrepresentation.

More than half-way through India's six week long national elections, the congress party led opposition says in a letter to the commission that no meaningful action has been taken.

The Election Commission in India is responsible for ensuring political parties do not violate election rules against promoting division along religious, caste or linguistic lines in the multi-ethnic nation.

Retired law professor and political commentator Sheikh Showkat Hussain says media and freedom of expression in the country is limited.

"Actually, if it is a success story as Modi's party has been trumpeting it everywhere, then they should have come and fought elections over here and sought the mandate of the people or endorsement of the people. They are sceptical themselves and they are scared of fighting elections directly."

Controversy continues to surround this years Eurovision grand final as Dutch singer Joost Klein is expelled following complaints from a female member of production.

The European Broadcasting Union says it is investigating an incident involving the 26 year old singer whose song Europapa made him a favourite ahead of the finals.

The 68th version of the song contest, which is always billed as a non-political event, has already experienced controversy this year amid protests about Israel's participation in the event.

Historian and leading academic authority on the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, Dean Vuletic, says the event has always had political elements.

"Politics has always influenced Eurovision. Whenever you have countries competing against each other, things are bound to get political and I think that's why Eurovision is so interesting. It's been held annually since 1956 and every year it's reflected the political zeitgeist in Europe."

Essendon has made an impressive comeback taking a 20 point victory over Greater Western Sydney at Marvel Stadium.

The Bombers came back from a slow start in Saturday's match to win over the Giants 82 to 62.

The win is particularly sweet for Essendon after their round 23 loss last year, when the Giants killed their finals hopes by defeating them by a whopping 126 points.

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