Midday News Bulletin 11 November 2024

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Source: SBS News

A minute's silence held to honour soldiers and veterans on Remembrance Day; Aldi executives questioned as part of the competition regulator's inquiry into supermarkets; Alex De Minaur loses to Jannik Sinner in his ATP Finals debut.


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TRANSCRIPT
  • A minute's silence held to honour soldiers and veterans on Remembrance Day
  • Aldi executives questioned as part of the competition regulator's inquiry into supermarkets
  • Alex De Minaur loses to Jannik Sinner in his ATP Finals debut
The president of veterans' charity RSL NSW, Mick Bainbridge, says he is heartened by seeing the increasing number of people attending Remembrance Day services.

The sails of Australia's iconic Opera House have been covered with red poppies, and commemorative ceremonies held around the country, to mark the date of the agreement that ended the fighting in World War One.

The day honours the soldiers and veterans who have served and fought for their country.

Mr Bainbridge says it is a time of somber reflection.

"I hope it continues to grow (attendance at Remembrance Day services). I think it is such an incredible thing for us to remember where we have been. It's not just my role in the RSL as president is to look after veterans. It is also to advocate against putting veterans in positions where they may risk life and limb. So I think it is a poignant reminder that we need to come together as a community and remember. And to keep in mind that we need to avoid these things in the future."

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A Senate inquiry into the federal government's bill on misinformation and disinformation has heard concerns about the definitions of misinformation and disinformation - and its effects on freedom of speech online.

The bill has passed the House of Representatives, but faces opposition in the Senate from the Coalition.

The proposed laws will give regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the power to monitor digital platforms; and require them to keep records about misinformation and disinformation on their networks.

Constitutional law expert Professor Anne Twomey says she sees a potential constitutional problem.

"But once you get beyond what's verifiably untrue to things like claims and opinions that are made during an election process. And once you say: oh, it's not just the electoral process but we say the electoral process is undermined if people told things that might mislead them then your right slap bang into political communication."

The committee is due to hand down its final report in the next fortnight.

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Executives from supermarket Aldi have told an inquiry run by the competition regulator it's able to provide lower prices because it has a narrow product range.

In February, Treasurer Jim Chalmers directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to hold an inquiry into pricing and competition in the supermarket sector.

Managing director of national buying at ALDI Jordan Lack says the cost of groceries has gone up significantly over the last few years.

"Our intent to have the lowest prices in market. We do that through a narrow product range. We believe an incremental range adds cost and complexity through our supply chain. Increasing the range requires bigger stores. It requires more handling through the supply chain. And we understand that every one of those decisions we take adds cost."

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Former Labor senator Chris Evans has been appointed Australia's first anti-slavery commissioner.

He will start the role in December and shape reforms laid out in a recent review of modern slavery laws.

That will including working with government to crack down on exploitative practices such as human trafficking, forced labour, forced marriages, deceptive recruiting and debt bondage.

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Pope Francis says he hopes the United Nations climate summit COP 29 contributes effectively to environmental protection.

Diplomats from across the world are gathering in Azerbaijan to discuss how to avoid increasing threats from climate change in a place that was one of the birthplaces of the modern oil industry.

The Pope says he sends his thoughts and prayers impacted by recent disaster and climate change events.

"I am close to the people of the island of Flores in Indonesia hit by the eruption of a volcano. I pray for the victims, their families, the displaced people. I also renew my thoughts for the inhabitants of Valencia and other parts in Spain who are dealing with the consequences of the flooding. I ask you a question: have you prayed for Valencia? Have you thought of sending any (financial) contribution to help those people?"

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In tennis,

Alex De Minaur has made his ATP Finals debut, with an eighth consecutive loss to world no.1 Jannik Sinner in Turin.

The Australian took an early lead before Sinner gained the upper hand, finishing the game with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Sinner says he is pleased with the result, particularly as he has not played a match in four weeks.

"I am very happy. I mean, I started off some unforced errors. He was playing great in the beginning of the match. So I just tried to stay there mentally knowing that hopefully at some point my tennis will arrive. Which then arrived quite early then. And you know, I started to return very well. Today, I am very pleased with the win and hopefully, this can give me confidence for the next one."

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