TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to SBS News in Easy English. I'm Biwa Kwan.
Victoria is a step closer to becoming the first state in Australia to sign a treaty with Indigenous Australians.
The First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria has provided official notification that it is willing to formally commence negotiations on a legally binding treaty.
Australia is the only Commonwealth nation that does not have a treaty with its Indigenous peoples.
Treaty negotiations are the most progressed in Victoria, although other Australian states and territories have begun a Treaty process.
The co-chair of First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria is Gunditjmara man Rueben Berg.
He says the goal is to deliver long-term solutions for First Nations Australians - which he says will also improve the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
"But not just for the First Peoples' community of Victoria. Treaty will deliver benefits for all Victorians. So we encourage all Victorians as well to follow in our journey - and support us on this. We're very much focused on some structural reform to make sure that decision-making of government, about First Peoples can be transferred to First Peoples. That we can hold government account, and that we can provide direct advice to government. Those are the key things we're focusing on first part of these negotiations."
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Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia will continue to support efforts to hold Russia accountable for the downing of flight MH17 a decade ago.
Australian officials and families have gathered at Parliament House in Canberra on the 10th anniversary to remember the lives lost.
All 298 people on board the plane died when it was shot down by a Russian-made missile, while flying over the conflict-hit eastern Ukraine.
Those who died were from 17 countries - and included 38 Australians.
A Dutch court in November 2022 found two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist guilty of their murders - and there is a separate legal case underway before the International Civil Aviation Organization Council.
Ms Wong says Australia will be doing all it can to pursue the legal case.
"And the findings of this same court unequivocally and conclusively established Russia's responsibility for the downing of MH17. So while we are appalled that Russia has withdrawn from the action that Australia and the Netherlands initiated in the International Civil Aviation organisation, the case will continue. And we will not be deterred in our commitment to hold Russia to account."
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The International Monetary Fund is warning that interest rates in countries like Australia could be higher for even longer, due to persistent inflation.
It comes as the Reserve Bank of Australia waits for the latest inflation data to come out later this month before it decides in August whether to lift interest rates or not - from its current level of 4.35 per cent.
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the IMF's warning is a clear reminder that the final part of the journey to bring inflation down will be hard.
IMF economist Jean-Marc Natal says international factors are playing a big role in inflation in countries like Australia.
"Upside risks to inflation stemmed from a lack of progress on services disinflation, renewed trade tensions, and geopolitical uncertainties. These risks may result in higher for even longer interest rates."
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And to sport, in cycling, Belgium's Jasper Philipsen has achieved a hat trick of stage wins at this year's Tour de France.
But his main rival for the best sprinter's green jersey , Biniam Girmay, has crashed near the finish of stage 16.
Two-time champion Tadej Pogacar retains the overall lead.
Girmay says he is physically okay after crashing through a roundabout with 1.5km to go before the end of stage 16.
It has taken him out of contention for a fourth win.
The Eritrean cyclist earlier in the race won stage three, making history as the first Black African cyclist to win a Tour de France stage
Girmay says he is glad that he is still able to ride - and he is determined to take it to the finish line.
"It's narrow. Every roundabout and then suddenly, I don't know who is front of me, we touch our handle bars. He goes inside me and then I don't have nothing to do, I just break full (suddenly). But yeah, I just find myself on the ground. But luckily I'm okay, I'm able to ride, so that's a good thing for me. I don't care if I lose this jersey or I keep (it), I just like to arrive in this without any troubles. Still now not finished yet, so I'm try to fight until (the finish line at) Nice."
I'm Biwa Kwan and that's SBS News in Easy English.
