No new COVID-19 cases in South Australia
South Australia has announced no new cases of COVID-19 overnight, keeping the state’s current cluster at 23 cases.
3,200 South Australians remain in quarantine, in what Chief Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier calls a “double ring fence” around infections.
Professor Spurrier is urging South Australians to “be patient, be kind [and] stay at home.”
Report on Australian war crimes released
A report on war crimes potentially committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan has been released in Canberra this morning.
The report comes after a four-year inquiry investigating the conduct of Australian soldiers between 2005 and 2016 and has recommended a total of 36 incidents be referred to the Australian Federal Police for criminal investigation.
The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force has already called on the Federal Government to pay compensation to families of victims in Afghanistan.
Protesters march on Thai police headquarters
10,000 pro-democracy protestors marched on Thailand’s police headquarters in Bangkok overnight.
The march came in response to a violent clash between protesters and police outside the Thai parliament on Tuesday, in which six people were shot and many more injured.
Demonstrators have sprayed the police compound with paint and water pistols, to protest the use of teargas and chemical-laced water cannons during the Tuesday confrontation.
Democratic Republic of Congo officially Ebola-free
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has officially declared an end to its most recent Ebola outbreak.
New cases were recorded in the country’s west on June 1st and led to a total of 119 confirmed cases and 55 deaths.
The end of the outbreak marks the first time the nation has been Ebola-free for two and a half years.
12PM ZEDLINES - NOVEMBER 18
[IMAGE: Gustavo Basso/NurPhoto/Getty Images]
12PM Zedlines by Isabella Cheng
$35 million housing initiative for people with intellectual disabilities tackle the housing shortage
A $35 million dollar housing initiative for young people with disabilities tackles Queensland’s housing shortage.
The Queensland charity, The Endeavour Foundation helps people with intellectual disabilities who need support in-home, work, and daily life.
They plan to replace homes for 252 people across the state, creating 100 homes for Queenslanders.
Brisbane’s new KittyCats
Five new ‘KittyCats’ have started running cross-river, the new catamarans can transport up to 60 passengers providing transport to major areas in the inner-city.
The KittyCats, Brisbane’s latest ferries, will be filling in while Brisbane City Council fixes the wooden ferries.
The KittyCats are said to provide faster services than their wooden counterparts.
NSW Premier urges residents to think twice before travelling to SA
People in New South Wales have been urged to delay non-essential travel to South Australia as the state grapples with a potential second wave.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian insists the borders remain open but urges the public to ‘think about whether you want to go in the next few days’.
The cluster in north Adelaide has grown to 20 and federal authorities are keeping watch as investigations continue.
400,000 Robodebt victims voice concerned
A $1.2 billion settlement against the federal government was brought on by hundreds of thousands of Australian Robodebt victims wanting to hold the government accountable.
The 400,000 victims of the unlawful Robdebt are concerned the settlement is not enough.
The 400,000 victims will receive their share of $112 million in compensation after it was declared unlawful in Federal Court.
Bezos $10 billion pledge to protect the planet
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced he will give $791 million USD in grants to 16 organisations working to protect the environment.
Amazon CEO’s ‘Bezos Earth Fund’ is apart of his $10 billion pledge to fund scientists, activists and Non-government organisations to protect the Earths future.
He announced this in an Instagram post saying, he felt inspired by what they’re doing and excited to help them scale