A daily 5 minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability.
Transcript:
This is SBS News in Easy English.
I'm Claire Slattery.
Australia will join other western nations and impose sanctions on Russia, as punishment for its actions in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says targeted travel bans and financial sanctions will be imposed on individuals in Russia's national security council.
Broader sanctions will be extended to the separatist Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The P-M says these restrictions will bring Australia into line with the United States and United Kingdom, who announced sanctions overnight.
"This invasion is unjustified, it's unwarranted, it's unprovoked and it's unacceptable. Australians always stand up to bullies and we will be standing up to Russia, along with all of our partners, like-mindeds and all of those who believe it is absolutely unacceptable that Russia could invade its neighbour."
Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine will be available for children aged six to 11-years-old from tomorrow.
The roll out of Moderna for kids can start after the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation ((ATAGI)) gave its final approval for the use of the vaccine in this group. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says it's an important step forward.
"It's the same formula. It's half of the adult primary dose. But it's the same as the adult booster dose. So we have Moderna in over 4,000 points of presence around the country."
A 60-year-old woman has been found dead in a submerged vehicle on the Sunshine Coast as flash flooding in the region continues.
An emergency warning is being issued with Queensland police urging people not to drive through floodwaters. It comes as parts of New South Wales have also experienced flash flooding with more than one month's worth of rain falling in Sydney in 24-hours.
The State Emergency Service responded to over 200 requests for help overnight. // New South Wales Police has announced a half-a-million dollar reward for information over the disappearance of Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez.
The 18-year-old vanished on a night out in the northern New South Wales beach town of Byron Bay, nearly three years ago. State authorities hope the reward will lead to the discovery of Mr Hayez's whereabouts or information about the circumstances of his disappearance.
Tonga's main internet connection to the rest of the world has finally been restored, more than five weeks after a huge volcanic eruption and tsunami severed a crucial undersea cable. Three people in Tonga died and dozens of homes destroyed in the January 15th disaster.
Tonga Cable, the state-run company that owns the power line, says it was reconnected on Tuesday and is now working again.
Tonga Cable will now repair a second severed cable that connects some outer islands to the main island, and runs close to the undersea volcano.
In sport, The United States' women's national soccer team has won a landmark equal pay settlement with the sport's governing body.
The settlement comes after a six-year legal battle, and will see U.S. Soccer, pay men and women equally for all future games.
The deal - worth $24 million U.S. dollars - is one of the largest in U.S. soccer history, and will see a large amount of back pay to current and former players.
It's an unexpected win for the playing group, whose equal pay claim was dismissed by a judge in 2020.
I'm Claire Slattery. This is SBS News In Easy English.
