Your noon Briefing: Senate orders release of religious review

Welcome to your noon digest of what’s been making news and what to watch for.

Hello readers. Here is your noon roundup of today’s top stories and a long read for lunchtime.

Former Federal Liberal MP Phillip Ruddock arrives at the State Funeral for Sir Laurence Street, former Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court and Lieutenant-Governor of NSW, at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Thursday, July 5, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING

‘Release religious review’

The Senate has ordered the government to publicly release the report compiled by the Ruddock Review into religious freedom. Keep up with all the latest from parliament in our live blog, PoliticsNow.

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Eric Lobbecke Op Ed Cartoon for 20-09-2018. Version: Ozoped Artwork (1280x720 - Aspect ratio preserved, Canvas added)COPYRIGHT: The Australian's artists each have different copyright agreements in place regarding re-use of their work in other publications.Please seek advice from the artists themselves or the Managing Editor of The Australian regarding re-use.

Women new forgotten people

There was a point during Tony Abbott’s eight-minute speech on Friday night at the Balgowlah RSL when almost a third of preselectors for his seat of Warringah felt like “calling for Ruth”, writes Niki Savva. It had nothing to do with gender wars. For those unfamiliar with old Australianisms, they were in danger of throwing up.

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Aerial photos of Sydney CBD, Harbour and Barangaroo at sunrise. Sydney Harbour with Mrs Macquarie's Chair the the left, Kirribilli at the bottom right, Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Picture: Toby Zerna

Middle market hit

Many of Sydney’s premium suburbs continue to fire, and the cheaper Local Government Areas are performing well. This time, it’s the middle markets being hardest hit, writes Nerida Conisbee.

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Momena Shoma

‘Easy target’

A Bangladeshi student has pleaded guilty to stabbing her Melbourne homestay host in February in an act of terrorism to advocate violent jihad. Momena Shoma stabbed Roger Singaravelu at Mill Park on February 9, just one day after she moved into his family home. Ms Shoma had arrived in Melbourne on February 1 and had stayed with another family before moving to Mill Park.

“I had to do it … it could have been anyone … he just seemed like a very easy target. I had to push myself. I wouldn’t even hurt a rat … I just felt like if I don’t do it, I will be sinful, I will be punished by Allah.”

Momena Shona

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BEIJING, CHINA - JUNE 21: Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill (L) meets China's President Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on June 21, 2018, Beijing, China. (Photo by Fred Dufour-Pool/Getty Images)

The long read: China casts spell on PNG

When Papua New Guinea hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit, its biggest international event since gaining independence 43 years ago, the star of the show will be Chinese President Xi Jinping — the new giant bestriding the Pacific, writes Rowan Callick.