Midday News Bulletin 19 November 2024

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Source: SBS News

In this bulletin, child abuse detectives have laid two additional charges against broadcaster Alan Jones; Anthony Albanese raises the status of Taiwan in talks with China's president; and Matildas star Sam Kerr and her pregnant partner targeted by homophobes on social media.


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TRANSCRIPT

In this bulletin;
  • Child abuse detectives have laid two additional charges against broadcaster Alan Jones
  • Anthony Albanese raises the status of Taiwan in talks with China's president
  • Matildas star Sam Kerr and her pregnant partner targeted by homophobes on social media
Child abuse detectives have laid two additional charges against broadcaster Alan Jones.

The 83-year-old was arrested and granted conditional bail on Monday after police laid 24 charges involving eight alleged victims.

They now say that following legal advice, they have charged Jones with an additional two counts of assault with act of indecency in relation to a ninth alleged victim.

Jones is maintaining his innocence with his lawyer Chris Murphy saying his client will assert his innocence appropriately in the courtroom.

Alan Jones is due back in court next month.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he raised the status of Taiwan during his talks with China's president at the G20 in Brazil.

They discussed subjects including two-way trade, the war in Ukraine and climate change.

Mr Albanese says he also referred to Australia's stance on Taiwan when speaking with President Xi Jinping.

"We support the bipartisan support that is there for one-China policy. We also support that status quo, that is no unilateral action and that's been a consistent bipartisan position for a long period of time."

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The Federal Opposition says it would impose its own caps on international student numbers rather than support the federal government's plan to cap foreign student numbers at 270,000 people.

Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume says a limit on international students would not solve issues on immigration.

She told the ABC what the government is proposing is piecemeal and does nothing to address the structural problems.

"We will place caps on international students, but we'll do it in such a way that we deal directly with the education providers. We don't feel that there's been any adequate consultation, particularly with those private providers ore regional universities and they are so important in our education system."

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Two 19-year-old women are in hospitals in Thailand with suspected methanol poisoning.

They were both flown to Bangkok after falling ill in Laos after a night out drinking.

Forensic pathologist David Ranson has told Channel Nine that even a small amount of methanol can kill.

"What happens is the methanol is actually converted in the body to a really more dangerous substance, going through to formaldehyde, which is sort of like embalming fluid and through to formic acid which then attacks the cells of the body and kills them, and this causes blindness, kidney damage."

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A Queensland-based mining equipment supplier is the first recipient of money from a fund set up by the federal government to keep manufacturing in Australia.

Russell Mineral Equipment in Toowoomba has received $40 million from the National Reconstruction Fund which the government says will help ensure the business stays in Australia.

The fund is set up to provide taxpayer money to local manufacturing firms that have the potential to expand.

Industry Minister Ed Husic says the Queensland firm has been approached by overseas investors trying to convince it offshore.

"RME have been exporting to some many different countries employing hundreds of Australians and often have been approached by overseas investors, trying to lure them offshore. They've been adamant they want to stay in Australia, they want to grow and the NRF is now teaming up with them to make that happen."

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Matildas captain Sam Kerr has been subjected to homophobic abuse after announcing she is having a baby with her fiancée Kristie Mewis.

The 31-year-old superstar revealed the news on her Instagram account with a post which read: "Mewis-Kerr baby coming 2025!"

Her announcement came with a picture of the couple kissing and showing off Mewis' baby bump.

While there were congratulatory posts, there was also homophobic abuse which led the pair to turn off comments on their social media accounts.

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