Iran has claimed it is closing the Strait of Hormuz — through which about 20% of global oil passes — citing Israeli violations of the ceasefire deal. US Central Command denies Iran controls the strait, saying "traffic continues to flow." The standoff comes as both Israel and Hezbollah accuse each other of violating the ceasefire announced Friday, with at least 20 people reportedly killed by Israeli strikes since then. Fresh US-Iran talks are set to take place in Switzerland today, as the fragile deal shows signs of unravelling.
Italy's Giorgia Meloni has hit back at Donald Trump after he questioned her popularity and repeated his claim she "begged" for a photo at the G7. In an Instagram statement, Meloni called the attacks "senseless" and said "being your friend has certainly not helped" her popularity. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has cancelled a trip to the US early next week. The rift highlights growing tension between the two countries since Trump's military action against Iran.
A Ukrainian drone strike hit an oil refinery in south-east Moscow — one of the largest aerial assaults on the Moscow region since the full-scale invasion began. Thick smoke billowed over the skyline, and an 8-year-old girl was killed by a fire caused by the strikes. BBC's Steve Rosenberg reports that Muscovites now face an "abnormal new normal" as the front line creeps closer to the capital, with drone attacks on the city becoming increasingly frequent.
President Trump unveiled a new Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet donated by the Qatari royal family last year, valued at ~$400m and modified into a "flying White House." The Air Force says commissioning flights will begin shortly. The gift sparked bipartisan backlash when announced, with critics arguing it may be unconstitutional. Trump plans to donate the jet to his presidential library once he leaves office.
After Andy Burnham's stunning by-election victory in Makerfield, support for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is rapidly evaporating within Labour. BBC's Laura Kuenssberg reports the reasons to switch leader are "compelling" — Burnham has shown he can beat Reform, is popular in the country, and has swathes of MPs eager to back him. Starmer insists he will fight on, but many in his party believe the outcome is inevitable. The UK could soon have its seventh prime minister in 10 years.
Mona Khalil, 76, who spent more than 25 years protecting endangered sea turtles on Mansouri beach in southern Lebanon, has died from injuries sustained in an Israeli strike two weeks ago. Her conservation work turned the beach into one of the eastern Mediterranean's most important nesting sites for loggerhead and green sea turtles. Her death came as Israeli air strikes intensified across southern Lebanon despite the fragile ceasefire.
The US has announced it will halt funding for HIV programmes in South Africa, where more than eight million people are living with HIV — the highest number of any country in the world. The decision follows the Trump administration's allegations of Afrikaner persecution in South Africa, which have been disputed by the South African government.
The H5N1 strain of bird flu has been detected in a brown skua seabird in Western Australia's Cape Le Grand National Park, near Esperance — the first confirmed case on the Australian mainland. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said authorities had been preparing "for a long time." A second suspected case in a southern petrel is being investigated. Anthony Albanese has described the detection as "concerning." The H5N1 strain has now reached every continent. A study released this week found it killed over 75% of a seal colony on Heard Island last year.
The federal government has extended the fuel excise discount for another month beyond the original June 30 expiry, but with conditions — the cut will be smaller than the current rate. The extension provides some relief at the pump but won't fully maintain the current discount level that has been in place since the budget.
Australia were undone by the United States in Seattle, with selection mistakes and a horror start costing the Socceroos dearly. Ex-Socceroos say Tony Popovic's selections "hurt Australia." The team now has a week to find answers, with a blockbuster showdown against Paraguay looming. Despite the loss, qualification remains in Australia's hands.
The NSW government has announced cheaper public transport fares as part of a pre-election pitch, with Treasurer Daniel Mookhey emphasising fiscal discipline as key to electoral success. The move comes as Sydney faces a "big mortgage effect" dragging the NSW economy into the slow lane.
ABC analysis suggests Labor may have found an effective counter to Pauline Hanson's rising popularity by focusing on health policy and childcare — areas where One Nation's positions are weakest. Hanson's "scary" parental leave views are being highlighted as out of step with mainstream Australia, while Labor leans into popular health and early education commitments.
Australia Zoo has called police on a traditional owner visiting the property, prompting criticism from Indigenous leaders who say the move goes against Steve Irwin's inclusive legacy. The incident highlights ongoing tensions around Indigenous access to cultural sites on private land in Queensland.
Europe is experiencing extreme heat with more records set to fall, while Australia marks the winter solstice — the shortest day of the year. The contrast highlights the growing climate extremes affecting both hemispheres.
Callan Boys takes the temperature of one of Sydney's most enduring steakhouses. With soaring columns, 17 steaks on the menu and art deco panache, the review asks whether Neil Perry's flagship still delivers after nearly two decades in the Sydney dining scene.
The founder of Newtown institution Rolling Penny is back with a new day-to-night venue called Nest. The menu features duck-fat potatoes and a broad all-day offering, marking a welcome return from a well-known local hospitality figure.
The popular farm-to-table group has opened a new flagship restaurant in Burradoo, housed in a revamped heritage farmhouse. Headed by a former Quay chef, the venue offers a full farm-to-plate experience in the Southern Highlands, backed by billionaire investment.
A heritage-listed terrace in Glebe will soon become Bar Kisa, a venue heavy on romance, cake and Eastern European-inspired flavours. The team behind it promises wine, snacks and a fun take on a shandy, influenced by the women they love.
Vietnamese Australian flavours shine at this eastern suburbs newcomer. Salted cream coffee and bacon-and-egg banh mi for breakfast, then family-recipe pho, Hanoi-style fish burgers and sparkling yellow-rice wine for dinner. A genuine day-to-night operation.
The Grounds of Alexandria team has opened a fun new Sydney CBD diner serving classic double cheeseburgers and soft-serve sundaes. Honey pancakes and Coke floats headline a menu that embraces nostalgia without taking itself too seriously.
Sydney's hospitality sector is bracing for a brutal winter, with soaring costs, reduced consumer spending and the lingering effects of the cost-of-living crisis squeezing margins. The piece paints a sobering picture of an industry fighting for survival, with closures mounting across the city.
Good Food's drinks column highlights winter-appropriate wines, including a recommended pairing for sticky date pudding. A useful read for anyone looking to update their cellar list for the colder months.
Creative Australia has unveiled nine new scholarships for outstanding emerging artists, supporting the next generation of creative practitioners across multiple disciplines. The scholarships are part of Creative Australia's ongoing investment in arts development and talent pipelines. Applications and eligibility details are available via the Creative Australia website.
Creative Australia has released a new 10-part video series aimed at improving board financial literacy across the arts and cultural sector. The series covers governance fundamentals, financial reporting, budgeting and risk management for arts organisations — a practical resource for boards navigating funding challenges.
Creative Australia's latest research shows record levels of arts attendance across the country, but the cost of participation is increasingly a barrier for lower-income Australians. The data underscores the importance of accessible funding and subsidised programming to maintain broad cultural participation.
The beloved children's show Bluey will be translated into an Australian Indigenous language for the first time, marking a significant step for Indigenous language preservation and representation in mainstream media. The initiative has been welcomed by Indigenous language advocates as a way to reach young children with culturally relevant content.
The Australian production of Beetlejuice the Musical has ended its run earlier than scheduled, with the ABC reporting the early closure. The news comes amid a challenging period for live theatre in Australia, with rising production costs and softer ticket demand affecting major musical productions.
John Jumper — a Nobel laureate and the driving force behind AlphaFold at Google DeepMind — has left to join rival AI company Anthropic. The move is a major talent coup for Anthropic and a significant loss for DeepMind, signalling the fierce competition for top AI researchers. Jumper's expertise in protein folding and scientific AI could accelerate Anthropic's work on AI safety and scientific discovery.
Simon Willison reports that GLM-5.2 is likely the most powerful text-only open weights LLM available. The model represents a significant step forward for open-source AI, challenging the assumption that cutting-edge language models require proprietary infrastructure. Worth watching for anyone tracking the open-weight model landscape.
Baseten, the AI inference startup, is reportedly raising $1.5 billion just months after its last mega-round, reflecting the intense demand for inference infrastructure. The massive raise underscores how capital-intensive the AI infrastructure layer is becoming, and the market's bet that inference — not just training — will be the next battleground.
OpenAI is bolstering its leadership team with high-profile hires in the lead-up to its anticipated IPO, signalling preparations for life as a public company. The additions span financial, operational and technical roles, as OpenAI navigates the transition from private research lab to publicly listed AI giant.
Snap has spun off its AI video team into a new standalone company called Dotmo, citing the high costs of maintaining AI video research. The move reflects the growing trend of tech companies externalising AI R&D units to manage costs while still benefiting from the technology through partnerships or equity stakes.