A daily 5 minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability.
Welcome to SBS News in Easy English, I'm Ciara Hain.
The government has appointed lawyer and businesswoman Jillian Segal as Australia's first antisemitism envoy.
It was expected the position would be announced alongside an Islamophobia envoy, which the government says will be announced shortly.
Ms Segal will advise the government on issues relating to antisemitism and social cohesion, and engage with the community to increase understanding.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says combating antisemitic feeling is especially important in the wake of the current conflict in the Middle East.
"It is important that we combat discrimination in all of its forms. We have seen, since October 7 last year, a significant rise in antisemitism in Australia. That is why the government has made the decision to appoint a special envoy on anti-Semitism, and I'm very pleased that Jillian Segal has agreed to take up that role."
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The federal government has, for the first time, published an advisory that attributes malicious cyber activites to a group acting on behalf of China.
The Australian Signals Directorate says the notorious A-P-T-40 group has been targeting Australian government and private sector networks, and says it will continue to do so.
A-P-T-40 is considered a Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage group.
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The federal government is committing an extra $6.3 million to bolster banking infrastructure in the Pacific region.
The money is aimed at improving financial security by encouraging Australian banks to stay in the region.
It comes amidst an increased push by Australia to devote resources to the region to counter China's attempts to win influence there.
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Australia has joined international condemnation of Russia's latest fatal missile attacks on Ukraine- most notably, one on a children's hospital in the capital, Kyiv.
At least 41 civilians, including two children, have been killed in rare daytime air attacks across the country.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the attacks are abhorrent, and Australia continues to support the Ukrainian people.
Ukraine's President, Volodomyr Zelenskyy, is vowing revenge for the attacks.
"Ukrainian, then translated "Beyond any doubt, we are going to rebuild everything that these terrorists have destroyed. And beyond any doubt, we are going to answer these savages from Russia. Everybody that was injured will get all necessary help, and we pledge to work on bringing Russia to justice for the terror, and Putin for his orders to carry out these strikes."
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In rugby league,
Queensland hooker Ben Hunt says playing at home brings the best out of his side, as they looks to bounce back from a 20 point loss in next week's third and deciding game of the State of Origin series against New South Wales in Brisbane.
Coach Billy Slater has reshuffled Queensland's backline for the final game, with Kayln Ponga and Dane Gagai returning to the side after their loss in game two.
Hunt says Queensland is comforted by the fact they have previously bounced back from a game two defeat to win game three in Brisbane and win the series.
"It's definitely a pretty bad defeat down in Melbourne and, something that, you know, we were looking at and looking to improve and you know, we were there in that same year 2022, we had a pretty bad loss in game two I believe and then come to Brisbane and obviously won in a tight game and I think it's going to be like that come Wednesday night. It's going to be a real, real tight battle. It's going to be a tough game and one that both teams are going to be up for."
I'm Ciara Hain, this is SBS News in Easy English.
