A daily 5 minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability.
Welcome to SBS News in Easy English. I'm Greg Dyett.
The United Nations Secretary-General has called Vladimir Putin’s decision to order Russian nuclear forces to be put on high alert a “bone-chilling development”.
Antonio Guterres has announced the U-N would provide another $40 million for humanitarian aid for Ukraine.
Speaking in New York, he's warned the prospect of nuclear conflict is a possibility.
"Raising the alert of Russian nuclear forces is a bone chilling development. The prospect of nuclear conflict, once unthinkable, is now back within the realm of possibility."
The federal government has expressed confidence in legal proceedings against Russia over the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight M-H 17.
The Australian and Dutch governments are trying to convince Russia to pay compensation over the 2014 incident which killed 298 passengers, including 38 Australians.
They are asking the International Civil Aviation Organisation to suspend Russia's voting rights.
The federal opposition says the government is not doing enough to bring down the cost of living.
There is speculation the government might reduce a tax on the price of petrol.
But Prime Minister Scott Morrison says any decision to cut the tax on fuel won't be announced until the federal budget on March 29th.
Opposition Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers says the government has done a poor job well before the recent rise in the cost of petrol.
"Well, there's a range of things you can do to ease the cost of living pressures on Australian families. I've already identified: getting power bills down, making childcare cheaper, getting real wages growing again."
In golf, Australian Cameron Smith has achieved the biggest victory of his career, winning the Players Championship in Florida.
Smith has beaten Indian Anirban Lahiri by one stroke to win the tournament.
The 28-year-old Queenslander wins five million dollars prize money, and is now set to move into the top five in the global golf rankings.
I'm Greg Dyett and this is SBS News in Easy English.
