Trump announced on Truth Social that the 14-point MOU "scheduled to get signed" on Sunday, adding the Strait of Hormuz would be "open to all" immediately after. Pakistan confirmed it is "preparing for the electronic signing." But Iran cast doubt on the timing โ Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said "it will not be tomorrow." Trump warned that if things don't "work out quickly, easily and smoothly," the US has "the ultimate alternative." The deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz for oil and LNG shipping, lift the US blockade, and begin a 60-day negotiation period on Iran's enriched uranium โ which US officials insist must be "destroyed on site and removed." Israel is not involved in the talks.
Israel struck about 20 locations in southern Lebanon after ordering evacuations, with at least one killed in the Tyre district. The strikes come as Pakistan and Iran both signal a US-Iran peace deal is imminent โ Iran's foreign minister said the agreement also envisages an end to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. US officials had previously suggested Lebanon may not be part of the deal, but Iran reportedly insisted. The war began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February, prompting Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz and attack Israeli and US-allied targets in the Gulf. Despite an April ceasefire, tit-for-tat strikes have continued.
Anthropic has disabled its newly released Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models after US authorities raised unspecified national security concerns just days after public release. The company said the government believes it found a "jailbreaking" method that bypasses security safeguards. Anthropic reviewed the technique and found only "previously known, minor vulnerabilities." The company had self-proclaimed the model was "too powerful to release," and the UK's AI Security Institute found it could exploit cyber defences 73% of the time. The Trump administration has previously labelled Anthropic a "supply chain risk" โ the first such US designation for a domestic company.
Workers removed Trump's name from the Kennedy Center facade in Washington DC after a federal judge ordered its removal by June 12. The venue said it has fully complied โ the name no longer appears on the building, website or other materials. Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in May that the centre cannot be renamed without congressional approval. A last-minute Trump administration appeal was rejected, and crews used scaffolding and plastic sheeting to obscure the removal overnight. The case stems from Trump's 2025 takeover of the board, where he appointed himself chairman and added his name to the JFK memorial.
Trump announced the US Southern Command "executed" Niรฑo Guerrero, leader of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, in a "swift and lethal kinetic strike." Venezuela confirmed the death, calling it a "joint operation." Guerrero was charged in a New York federal court in December with racketeering conspiracy. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strike hit a Tren de Aragua compound. The US had previously designated the gang as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and deported thousands of members. Trump's post said the operation was "coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela."
The 2026 World Cup opened in the US with a vibrant LA ceremony featuring Katy Perry, Future, Tyla, Anitta and Blackpink's LISA. The tournament is the largest ever โ 48 nations across the US, Canada and Mexico. Canada hosted its own ceremony in Toronto with Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublรฉ; Mexico City featured Shakira and Burna Boy. The US opened against Paraguay. Canada gained its first ever World Cup point with a draw against Bosnia. The Socceroos face Tรผrkiye in Vancouver today after Popovic embraces underdog status.
A 35-year-old woman was pulled from the water at Coogee Beach on Saturday morning with "serious arm and leg injuries" after a shark attack. Members of the public commenced first aid before she was airlifted to hospital. Eyewitness Nicola Logan described seeing a "massive pool of blood" in the water. Several beaches in the area were closed as a precaution. Since records began in 1791, Australia has recorded almost 1,300 shark attacks, with more than 260 fatalities.
Tony Popovic is leaning into the underdog mentality as Australia prepares to face Tรผrkiye in Vancouver. Turkish captain Hakan รalhanoฤlu declared his team would dominate because they're "more talented." Popovic responded calmly: "All we can do is try and spoil the party." Australia has qualified for six straight World Cups but advanced out of the group stage only twice โ in 2006 and 2022. Popovic was part of the 2006 squad that scored Australia's first ever World Cup goal. The Socceroos face a tough group with Tรผrkiye, USA and Paraguay.
In an epic piece by ABC's Elle Marsh, the resurfacing of the 30-year feud between Tony Abbott and Pauline Hanson is examined. Hanson wept in Perth recalling the "witch hunt" Abbott initiated against her in the 1990s, which landed her in prison. The timing is awkward: Abbott, as Liberal Party president, is reportedly open to a strategic alliance with One Nation โ the same party he tried to destroy. A young staffer in Abbott's office, David Oldfield, secretly helped create One Nation in 1997 while on Abbott's publicly-funded payroll. Abbott told him to "stay away from her" but Oldfield persisted โ eventually becoming one of One Nation's founders.
Melbourne billionaire Adrian Portelli ("Lambo Guy") is suing former SA minister Andrea Michaels for defamation over comments she made about his rewards-club lottery business LMCT+. A South Australian woman won a $3.5m house through the lottery but was ineligible under SA gaming laws. Michaels called the situation "terrible" and "awful." Portelli's lawyers argue the comments implied he defrauds South Australians and suggested he's a con man. The filing says he has received death threats. The case had its first hearing in the SA Supreme Court on Friday.
Tony Parkes, the pioneering conservationist who helped save Australia's Big Scrub rainforest โ the largest remnant of lowland subtropical rainforest in NSW โ has died aged 96. Parkes was instrumental in protecting what remains of the once-vast rainforest that covered 75,000 hectares of northern NSW, of which less than 1% survives today.
A new day-to-night cafe in Newtown is bringing country hospitality to Sydney's inner west, offering all-day dining in a relaxed, intentionally slow-paced setting. Good Food's review highlights the shift toward experiential, decompression-focused dining โ worth noting for RSN territory as venues differentiate on atmosphere and service style rather than just menu.
A landmark Sydney institution has reached 70 years in business โ a rare milestone in the volatile hospitality sector. The restaurant has hosted everyone from Frank Sinatra to Rihanna. A testament to longevity in an industry where the SMH recently warned of a "bloodbath" winter. Relevant for RSN: these are the kind of venues with legacy wine programs and loyal sommeliers.
A new bar focusing on agave spirits has opened in Sydney, serving spicy margaritas and crispy fish skin tacos. The tequila-centric drinks program signals a growing trend in agave-led cocktail menus โ relevant for RSN's wine and spirits distribution network.
Sydney's winter dining scene features a six-course cheese-paired dinner โ the kind of curated culinary event that drives premium dining and wine sales in the colder months. A cheese judge hosts the experience, highlighting the trend toward specialist-led, limited-run dining events.
Khaled Sabsabi has unveiled the details of his Australia Pavilion installation at the Venice Biennale 2026, titled "conference of one's self." The immersive multisensory work features eight monumental canvas paintings (3m x 2m each) arranged in an octagon, with suspended video projectors casting imagery onto the painted surfaces and an analogue soundscape of everyday sounds on a 54-minute loop. Inspired by the 12th-century Sufi allegory The Conference of the Birds, the installation explores spirituality, migration and shared humanity. Sabsabi is also being presented concurrently in the International Exhibition โ a rare dual honour. Curated by Michael Dagostino (Director, Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney). Sabsabi, who migrated from Lebanon in 1976, has over 35 years of practice centred on social justice and lived experience.
Creative Australia, Creative New Zealand and the Oceania Centre in Suva, Fiji have launched a new tri-nation arts residency programme. One artist from each country will undertake a shared six-week residency in Suva (1 Oct โ 12 Nov 2026). The programme supports established Pacific creatives with a thematic focus on Climate Change โ identified as a pressing security issue for Pacific Island peoples. Creative Australia CEO Adrian Collette said the residency will "build enduring relationships between artists and communities" and "celebrate the creative voices that shape our region." This is a new funding/investment initiative supporting Pacific and Indigenous arts.
While a US story, the Kennedy Center fight is also an arts governance story with implications for Australian arts. Trump's name was removed from the iconic performance venue after a federal judge ruled its addition was unlawful without congressional approval. The case stems from Trump's takeover of the board in early 2025, where he replaced trustees and appointed himself chairman. A group called "Hands Off the Arts" rallied outside during the removal. The ruling reaffirms that cultural institutions designated as memorials cannot be unilaterally rebranded by political appointees โ a governance principle that resonates for Australia's publicly-funded arts bodies.
Creative Australia has acknowledged the passing of Herbert "Herb" Morsley Wharton AM, a respected First Nations author and poet whose work was grounded in deep connection to Country. Wharton's writing helped ensure Aboriginal contributions to Australia's pastoral history were recorded with pride and respect. He was known for his generosity as a cultural leader who opened doors for readers and writers alike.