A five minute bulletin for English language learners
Listen to Australian and world news and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
Australia will send a team of specialist drone operators in coming days to Nepal’s search and rescue effort, as 38 Australians remain missing in the floodzone.
The team, including members of Fire and Rescue New South Wales and the Queensland Fire Department is part of a 15-person Disaster Assistance Response Team.
The Federal Government has also increased in humanitarian aid for support of the disaster by $3 million, totalling $11 million so far.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia will deliver a new upgrade to Palau's battery storage, to support the country's renewable energy transition.
The battery upgrade is part of a $16.4 million dollar investment Australia has made in Palau's energy grid.
Palau President Surangel Whipps Junior said the project is more than a decade in the making.
"And so this project wouldn't be possible, really, without the relationship between solar pacific, AIFFP and most importantly the Australian Government and the Australian tax payers for your commitment to the Pacific and partnerhip, to make sure we are able to transition."
The United States has rejected claims it is hijacking Venezuelan resources, after signing a major oil deal with the country.
The deal grants the US control of about one-fifth of the South American country's oil reserves.
Venezuela's Interim President Delcy Rodriguez says the deal will benefit Venezuelans, by increasing oil production and bringing jobs and higher wages.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the US has no intention to steal Venezueala's oil.
"The resources, the oil in Venezuela is indeed owned by the people of Venezuela. All of the production contracts of the private companies, including the one the United States government is participating in, they're all agreements with the government of Venezuela on certain revenue splits for the production. Private companies are bringing the money to produce the oil. But the benefits, the royalties and the taxes all go to the government of Venezuela and the people of Venezuela."
The 13th edition of the Queer Screen Film Festival has begun in Sydney.
The week-long celebration of the LGBTQI+ community features a program of 28 stories from international and local filmmakers.
Queer Screen CEO Benson Wu says the festival celebrates sexuality and gender identity through queer storytelling on screen.
"When you look at mainstream of mainstream film festival, often they kind of focus on more revenue driven content or identity. So I think for us to exist is to kind of tackle every different queer community Lgbtqia+ and pansexual, intersex, transgender storytelling. I think those are so important. Often they've been overshadowed."
Alex de Minaur is holding up Australia's title hopes at the US Open, putting away Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri in straight sets in the first round.
The world number seven has advanced with a 6-2 6-2 6-4 victory to set up a second-round clash late today.
Former champion Daniil Medvedev and US contender Alex Michelsen are already safely through to round three.
