Radio National Breakfast

Comedian, writer, broadcaster, and filmmaker Dan Ilic shares his summer reading list.

Childhood favourites:

• Cardinal of the Kremlin - Tom Clancy
• Patritot Games - Tom Clancy
• Roald Dahl

Currently reading:

• The Lost Battles - Jonathon Jones

Summer list:

• Comedy Samurai - Larry Charles

Doubts are growing over the future of Adelaide's Writers Week as withdrawals mount following the removal of Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from the program.

The latest departures include four board members - who reportedly resigned after an extraordinary board meeting over the weekend. 

Favourable conditions in Victoria today should help firefighters, who spent the weekend battling devastating blazes across the state.

Three emergency warnings for bushfires remain in place this morning, two in the Walwa region in the state's north-east and one in Irrewillipe in the south-west.

Some 390-thousand hectares have been scorched with dozens of homes lost.

• Guest: Vicki Ward, Victoria's Minister for Emergency Services and Natural Disaster Recovery
• Producer: Kate Uebergang

Several states, led by Tasmania, are pushing back against the federal government's proposed national gun buyback saying the plan lacks detail and could cost them millions.

Tasmania's Police Minister says any buyback should be fully funded by Canberra warning it could cost Tasmanians around twenty million dollars - and impact legitimate gun owners.

He says his state does back tougher measures to keep firearms out of the wrong hands but that all reforms should be properly funded and with proper consultation with the states.

There are currently 10 "major fires" in Victoria and 15 current emergency warnings in place across the state

Yesterday, Victoria Police confirmed the remains of a person were found in the Longwood bushfire area, around 100 metres from a vehicle.

And further west on Sunday afternoon, residents in Natimuk were finally able to return to their community following the devastating fire that hit the region, destroying around 30 houses and 40 sheds.

Horsham Deputy Mayor Bec Sluggett lives in nearby Pimpinio. She evacuated her two teenage children on Friday morning before she and her husband returned to fight the fire with the local CFA.

• Guest: Horsham Deputy Mayor Bec Sluggett 
• Producer: Kate Uebergang

Venezuela's political future and that of its 29 million citizens remains very much in flux after the U-S assault on the country and capture of its president nine days ago.

What's more certain is the future of the country's oil stocks with US President Donald Trump declaring he was taking over the sales of 30 to 50 million barrels of previously sanctioned Venezuelan oil.

Today, Mr Trump urged Cuba to "make a deal" or face consequences - including the loss of 35,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil sent to the island each day.

So what does America's oil-based diplomacy mean for global security - and the efforts to reduce fossil fuel reliance?

New South Wales has just recorded its deadliest year on the roads since 2017, with 355 lives lost in 2025.

Authorities say speeding is the biggest killer — it was named a contributing factor in more than a third of those deaths.

One expert says more political courage is needed to introduce stronger enforcement laws to reduce speeding, and drink- and drug-driving.

• Guest: Raphael Grzebieta, Professor emeritus, Transport and Road Safety Research (TARS) Centre, UNSW and adjunct professor, Monash University.
• Producer: Oscar Coleman

The last fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces — or the SDF — have left the Syrian city of Aleppo following a ceasefire deal that allowed evacuations after days of deadly clashes.

Around 150,000 people fled the city after it was bombed by Syrian government forces in what they said were efforts to rid the city of SDF fighters.

It come as the US and its partner forces carried out large-scale strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria in retaliation for an attack on US forces in December.

• Guest: Heidi Pett, journalist based in Damascus
• Producer: Oscar Coleman

Authorities in Iran say they could intensify their crackdown on the biggest anti-government protests in years, blaming what they call "terrorists" and vowing to protect the Islamic regime.

One human rights group says at least 192 protesters have died since the demonstrations began two weeks ago — amid warnings the actual death toll could be several hundred.

US President Donald Trump has again warned he could intervene — saying America stands ready to help — as reports of violence and an internet blackout make the situation hard to verify.

Despite that, new videos suggest protests are still spreading across Tehran and other cities, with the exiled son of the former shah urging Iranians to turn the unrest into a full-scale revolt.

• Guest: Gregg Carlstrom is a Middle East Correspondent for The Economist
• Producer: Anne Barker

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