A daily 5 minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability.
Welcome to SBS News in Easy English, I'm Kerrin Thomas
The United Nations has condemned Israel’s latest attack on a suburb in southern Beirut, saying it is deeply concerned by the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon.
The strike hit an apartment in Choueifat, near Beirut’s international airport, amid escalating tensions in southern Lebanon where Israeli troops have crossed the Litani River.
Israel's attacks against Hezbollah have killed at least 14 people across the south, while Hezbollah has claimed multiple drone and rocket attacks targeting Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric says both he Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the Head of the Peacekeeping Force in southern Lebanon, Major General Diodato Abagnara, are trying to ease tensions.
“We, again, urge all to respect the cessation of hostilities and stop any further attacks. We reiterate that civilians, and civilian infrastructure, must never be targeted. We condemn the loss of civilian life."
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Environment Minister Murray Watt has criticised the Liberal Party after the election of former prime minister Tony Abbott to the federal presidency of the party.
The leader role is part of the Liberal Party’s organisational wing, but remains influential within the party.
Mr Abbott served as prime minister from 2013 to 2015 and remains a prominent conservative figure.
Senator Watt says the opposition had failed to respond to voters after recent election setbacks.
"This is the man who, as Prime Minister, delivered savage attacks on health budgets, led the charge against net zero, made himself the Minister for Women, and, of course, appointed Prince Philip as a Knight of Australia. ... By electing him as their president, the Liberal Party have shown that they continue to be locked in the past themselves."
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New modelling suggests South Australia’s harmful algal bloom could continue in the coming months.
Independent oceanographer Dr Jochen Kaempf says the bloom is likely to move through Spencer Gulf, as authorities confirm elevated levels of harmful algae at Boston Bay on the lower Eyre Peninsula.
Dr Kaempf says the model suggests there could be a second wave of the bloom, which has caused mass marine deaths and badly affected fisheries and tourism.
”You know, this is now the second time that I'm the first one out there actually alerting people. Look, you have to watch out again, you know, you have to get your monitoring ready, start your measurements again, you know, you can't just say it's not there.”
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To sport,
The Socceroos are heading to Los Angeles for a World Cup warm-up against Mexico.
Australia has left its training camp in Sarasota, Florida for the clash with El Tri at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, the venue for the 1994 men’s World Cup final and the 1999 women’s decider.
Players are still fighting for a place in Australia’s final squad, with coach Tony PopoviC needing trim his extended 29-man squad to 26 before submitting the final list to FIFA on 1 June.
Former Socceroo Archie Thompson says he understands the pressure facing players trying to impress Popovic ahead of selection, after going through a similar battle before the 2006 World Cup under Guus Hiddink.
I'm Kerrin Thomas, this is SBS News in Easy English
