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Yemen's Houthis enter the war in the Middle East | Morning News Bulletin 29 March 2026

A machine gun mounted on a police vehicle next to a billboard depicting Houthi launching missile and drone attacks in Yemen.

A protest by Houthi soldiers is held in Sana'a to show support for Iran on 27 March 2026. Source: Getty, SBS

Yemen's Houthis enter the war in the Middle East; Pope Leo XIV becomes the first pontiff to visit Monaco in nearly 500 years; and in sport, Lachlan Kennedy defeats Gout Gout at the Maurie Plant Meet to retain his title.


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TRANSCRIPT:

  • Yemen's Houthis enter the war in the Middle East
  • Pope Leo XIV becomes the first pontiff to visit Monaco in nearly 500 years
  • Lachlan Kennedy defeats Gout Gout at the Maurie Plant Meet to retain his title

Yemen’s Houthi rebels say they have entered the Middle East conflict, launching missiles towards Israel.

There were no reports of casualties or damage in Israel resulting from the Houthi operation.

The move by Iran-aligned forces is raising fresh concerns for global trade, after traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been heavily disrupted.

There are now concerns the Houthis could resume attacks on vessels in the Red Sea as they did during the Gaza conflict.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea says the attack is part of a broader campaign.

"The Yemeni Armed Forces have carried out their first This operation involved a salvo of ballistic missiles targeting sensitive military objectives of the Israeli enemy in the south of occupied Palestine. The operation coincided with the heroic operations carried out by our Mujahideen brothers in Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon."

 

Mr Sarea adds that the group will continue its attacks until what he calls the 'aggression against all resistance fronts ceases.

 

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The exiled crown prince of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, says he is ready to lead a transition away from the Islamic Republic, telling a gathering of US conservatives he will call on Iranians to rise up when the right moment comes.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas, Mr Pahlavi says he hopes the US military operation against Iran continues so that it paves the way for an end to the country's leadership.

He asked supporters to imagine a different future for Iran.

"Imagine an Iran that, instead of exporting terrorism, is promoting freedom, freedom to its people, stability to its neighbours, national security and economic opportunity for the United States and the free world. Can you imagine Iran going from death to America to God bless America?"

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Pope Leo XIV has urged residents of Monaco to use their wealth and influence for good and reject what he called the "idolatry of power and money" that is fuelling wars around the world.

 "Idolatry makes people slaves of each other, but purification from idolatry sanctifies them. It is a gift of grace that makes people children of God, and brothers and sisters to one another. This gift sheds light on our present, for the wars that stain it with blood are the fruit of the idolatry of power and money. Every life cut short wounds the body of Christ. Let us not grow accustomed to the clamour of weapons and images of war."

Pope Leo made a one-day trip to the Mediterranean enclave, becoming the first pope to visit since Pope Paul III came in 1538.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene met the Pontiff at the Monaco heliport, just down the coast from the marina that is home to the mega-yachts of the rich and famous.

Monaco’s population of 38,000 is heavily Catholic and multinational, with only a fifth of the population actually citizens of the principality.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised that Australia will be over prepared, if fuel supplies continue to be impacted by the war.

 

The government is proposing the use of public funds to underwrite private companies to buy additional fuel, with the legislation set for consideration in Parliament on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Opposition has reiterated calls for the government to halve the fuel excise for three months, as well as the heavy road user charge.

Mr Albanese says the government is taking steps to be "over prepared" in the face of uncertainty.

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Australians have joined millions of people around the world in switching their lights off for one hour at 8:30pm on Saturday, marking the 20th anniversary of Earth Hour.

 

Beginning in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour was spearheaded by the World Wildlife Fund and aimed to rally the public behind the climate cause.

In the inaugural year, ore than 2.2 million people and 2000 businesses in Sydney took up the cause and stayed in the dark for an hour.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres says Earth Hour began as a simple gesture, but has become a global signal.

"But let it be more than a shot in the dark. Let it be a spark for change. demand faster emissions cuts, a rapid and just transition from fossil fuels to renewables, and real support for communities already facing the worst impacts. Speak up, mobilise, help power a safer, fairer future for all."

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And to sport, in athletics, Lachlan Kennedy has beat Gout Gout in the Maurie Plant Meet 200 metres, for the second year in a row, retaining his title in the event.

The 22-year-old recorded a season-best time of 20.38 seconds to beat a fast-finishing Gout, who powered to the end, but fell just 0.05 seconds short of Kennedy's time.

Gout appeared to slip in wet conditions early in the race before picking up speed in the last 40 metres.

This was how the race was called on Channel Seven.

"We've been here before Kennedy in front. Gout coming hard, hard, hard. We've seen it before. But he has done it again. He's brilliant. He really is."


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