A news bulletin for English language learners
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to SBS News in easy English. I'm Tee Mitchell.
The US Geological survey says two powerful earthquakes in Venezuela may have killed as many as 10,000 people.
International teams are arriving to help with the search, as survivors being pulled from the rubble.
At least 188 deaths have been confirmed, with more than 1,500 injured.
The United Nations is warning the recovery will take months.
This is UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
"But this will be a long haul. There will be the immediate response to the devastation of the earthquake, but it will continue for months to come. And as I mentioned and you mentioned as well, there were already a lot of people who need of humanitarian aid. The Venezuelan people will require the solidarity of the international community.”
-
Plan International is calling for full humanitarian access and accountability in Gaza.
It comes after an independent UN report found Israel has deliberately killed Palestinian children
The humanitarian group says the international community must demand accountability.
Dr Unni Krishnan is Plan International’s Global Humanitarian Director.
"Australia is a signatory to global initiatives, such as rights of the child, and therefore needs to take action. Australia must also advocate for unhindered humanitarian access and help ensure life saving aid reaches children and families started in Gaza. Australians, you have a long history of standing in solidarity with people in war zones. The children of Gaza deserve no less. A child's worth does not change because of where they are born."
The Israeli government has rejected the UN findings, calling the report 'deeply flawed'.
-
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says tensions over Iran are putting pressure on the NATO alliance.
He says some allied countries have made it difficult for the US to use military bases in the region.
Mr Rubio says the right to use those bases is one of the key reasons Washington supports the NATO alliance.
He says Iran poses a grave threat to parts of Europe, as well as the United States.
“If you speak about the NATO alliance, one of the reasons why I’ve been a strong supporter of our presence in NATO is because it allows us these basing rights that allow us to project power and protect our interests. But if you’re not going to be allowed the use of those bases by these countries, then it puts into question the entire alliance. And as far as the president is concerned, he thinks that Iran poses as grave threat to parts of Europe than it does to the continental United States.”
-
A parliamentary inquiry into racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is underway.
The inquiry has heard racism, hate and violence are increasing and evolving, including online.
It is also looking at the threat posed by ideologically motivated extremism towards First Nations people.
Karren Mundine is the CEO of Reconciliation Australia.
The group collects data through its national survey, the Australian Reconciliation Barometer.
Ms Mundine says it's clear racism has been increasing, but there has also been progress through Reconciliation Action Plans - or RAPs - in workplaces.
"Data released this week from the Centre of Indigenous People and Work, which found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island employees with RAPs are more likely to report culturally safe workplaces, feel confident sharing their identity at work. Benefit from stronger organisational supports and systems. And experience lower levels of racism. This data does highlight that the impact of structural approaches for mechanisms for action and accountability are really important."
-
Police are investigating after a man was shot by officers in Sydney’s south-west.
He was taken to hospital with critical injuries.
The incident happened at a unit complex in Fairfield.
Police say a 27-year-old man charged at officers before a constable fired several shots.
