SBS News in Easy English 15 August 2024

A high-angle photo shows a small inflatable boat with people in it, positioned next to a large whale. The whale is partially tangled in a fishing net, and a rescue effort appears to be underway.

Rescuers help a whale caught in a shark net off the coast of Queensland. Source: AAP / Jerome Delay

A five minute bulletin for English language learners




The United States is expecting the Gaza ceasefire talks to proceed as normal, despite the absence of Hamas at the negotiations.

The ceasefire agreement seeks to secure the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

However, disagreements over the sequence of actions and other key issues continue to hinder progress.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says CIA Director Bill Burns and US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk will represent the United States at the talks in Qatar.

"The United States is going to be there tomorrow. And we are ready we are ready to continue these discussions. And, as I've said before, and as of my colleagues from NSC (National Security Council) have said many times before, we are working 24 seven around the clock to get this done, to get this deal done."

The government is set to wipe more than $3 billion of student debt for more than 3 million Australians.

The government in May also announced financial support for students during their placement, including in nursing, teaching and social work.

Education Minister Jason Clare says the legislation aims to assist students in the cost of living crisis and also ensure students don't miss out on university.

"Last year, when there was a big spike in inflation and a big spike in hex indexation that hit a lot of Australian students and a lot of Australians with student debt really hard. They felt it. They thought it was unfair, and so did we. So we've responded."

The Assistant Minister for Trade has condemned the Opposition's lack of support for the government's Future Made In Australia plan.

The government's plan aims to invest in jobs and opportunities that progress net zero goals to reduce emissions and prioritise cleaner energy.

Tim Ayres says the Coalition's opposition to the plan is not in the national interest.

"Because Australians know it's in the national interest to pass the future made in Australia legislation. Australians know we need to bring back good manufacturing jobs in our outer suburbs and in our regions, and Australians know that Peter Dutton's not capable of anything else but negative partisan politics."

South Australia is introducing new laws to protect people from artificial intelligence videos and images online.

The state is criminalising AI content known as deepfakes, which are digitally created and altered material shared without consent.

South Australia's Attorney-General Kyam Maher and Premier Peter Malinauskus outlined the laws.

MAHER: "Up to two years in jail or $10,000 fine, and both of those double if the victim's under 17 years of age."

MALINAUSKUS: "I think everybody needs to move faster than what we are because the technology is moving faster than anyone could reasonably expected."

Double Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has said she does not "feel like I'm in my body", following her return to tennis after a maternity break.

Osaka resumed competing on the WTA Tour in January after the birth of her first child in July 2023, but the four-time grand slam winner has failed to go beyond the quarter-finals at any tournament this season.

Osaka made the comments on Instagram following defeat to American Ashlyn Kreuger in the second round of qualifying for the Cincinnati Open.

She added that it's a "strange feeling" and "mentally draining" to be missing balls and hitting softer than she used to.

Osaka revealed she had suffered depression after withdrawing from the French Open in 2021.

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