TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to SBS News In Easy English. I'm Catriona Stirrat.
Kevin Rudd's resignation as Australia's ambassador to the United States will be the end of his public life.
The former Labor Prime Minister and Foreign Minister will conclude his posting on March 31 to become the global president of the international relations group, the Asia Society, and to head the society's Centre for China Analysis.
Current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denied fractured relationships between the ambassador and the Trump administration - including a tense exchange between Mr Trump and Dr Rudd during a bilateral meeting - influenced his decision to step down a year early.
"Kevin Rudd will tell you privately what he has said publicly and what drove him to write the book... that the relationship between the United States and China - the two big superpowers - is, he thinks, the most important one that will define the mid part of this century. He sees this as a continuation of his public service, not just to Australia but to the global community."
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Australia's government has issued a warning to Iran as the death toll from anti-regime protests soars to more than 500.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the Iranian government as an "oppressive regime" which should be replaced by democracy, while Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Iran's crackdown on protests was increasingly brutal as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tries to retain power.
"What I would say to that regime is not only is the world calling on you to stop killing your people. But a regime that requires the murder of its own people to maintain authority is not a regime with any legitimacy."
Meanwhile members of Australia's Iranian community say they're feeling numb and helpless as they watch from overseas.
President of the Australian-Iranian Community Organisation, Siamak Ghahreman, says many have struggled to contact family back home due to an internet blackout.
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A national day of mourning will be held on 22 January for the victims of the Bondi terror attack.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the date has been selected after consultations with Sydney rabbi Yehoram Ulman, whose son-in-law, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was one of the victims.
Flags will be flown at half mast in all Commonwealth buildings around Australia on the day.
He says further details will be announced at the end of this week.
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A new study has found that Australian teenagers who never use social media are at higher risk of low wellbeing than their peers who spend some time online.
The research by the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics has also found that those on social media at the highest levels are also at elevated risk for poorer wellbeing.
The study analysed three years of data from more than 100,000 Australian children spanning years four to 12, with a focus on after-school trends.
The report recommends public health measures move from simple time-based limits to promotion of balanced and "purposeful" digital engagement as part of a broader strategy.
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To sport and cricket news,
Australian women's captain Alyssa Healey has defended her decision to retire from the sport at the conclusion of the India series in March.
The 35 year old will finish her career with more than 7000 international runs and 275 dismissals to her name - and if she plays five of the seven matches with India she will reach 300 internationals.
The wicketkeeper-batter has been playing for Australia for 15 years after making her debut as a teenager, and has been full-time captain since Meg Lanning retired in 2023.
She says the time has felt right to step away.
"Been doing it a long period of time. I've loved every minute of it but I felt like - every contest I wanted to be a part of and I wanted to compete has probably drained me a little bit more over the years... I guess the opportunity to finish at home was something that I really wanted to do. And to be completely honest, if I had have fought my way through to the World Cup that's probably not doing the right thing by my team mates - and probably the country as well."
That was SBS News In Easy English. I'm Catriona Stirrat.
