Radio National Breakfast

Internationally acclaimed playwright and director, Chair of Creative Australia and a Professor of Indigenous Practice at Queensland University of Technology Wesley Enoch, shares his Summer reading list with Barbara Miller.Currently reading:

• Flesh - David Szalay (Booker Prize winner, 2025)

Summer list:

• Ghost Cities - Siang Lu (Miles Franklin winner 2025)
• Mouthing - Orla Mackey
• Moby Dick - Herman Melville

The United Nations Security Council will meet for urgent discussions on the situation in Venezuela.  UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says the US military capture of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro sets a "dangerous precedent".Some have pointed to America's actions in 1989 to depose the Panamanian military leader Manuel Antonio Noriega - that move was condemned by the UN Security Council and deemed a violation of international law and independence.

So, can America justify what it has done in Venezuela... and what does it say about the state of international law if it can't?  

• Guest: Ben Saul, Challis Chair of International Law at the University of Sydney and United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter Terrorism
• Producer: Isadora Bogle

Donald Trump says the US will fix Venezuela's oil industry, sell "large amounts" of oil, and use the proceeds to pay for rebuilding the country. But oil analysts say Venezuela is unlikely to see any meaningful rise in production for years - despite having the world's largest oil reserves - because of decades of mismanagement, economic sanctions, and crumbling infrastructure.

Guest: Dr Francisco Monaldi, Director, Latin America Energy Program, Rice University (Baker Institute)

Producer: Anne Barker

There are questions whether the United States has breached the UN Charter, following its operation to capture and depose Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela's President. While the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he wants to see International Law respected, he also welcomes a peaceful transition to democracy in the South American country. 

• Guest: Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation, Minister for Science
• Producer: Isadora Bogle

The tariff argy-bargy that dominated international trade in 2025 shows no sign of abating, with beef exporters suddenly in Beijing's sights.

Last week, China announced new trade measures to protect its domestic beef industry, including an added 55 per cent tariff on beef imports that exceed quotas from several countries, including Australia.

China's commerce ministry also said it was suspending part of a free trade agreement with Australia covering beef.

• Guest: Kevin Hogan, Shadow Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism
• Producer: Isadora Bogle

Research has found that 1 in 20 Australian students have experienced sexual assault in a university context. New legislation has came into effect which changes how universities deal with sexual violence.

Under the mandatory National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence, universities will be compelled to "prevent and respond to" gender-based violence and enforce compliance with national standards and requirements.

From the adrenaline of a military special operation, to a US Federal District Court - that's the next stop for deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.US Attorney-General sent a warning on social media that Maduro and his wife will now quote 'face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts'.What does Maduro's future hold and what is the case that US prosecutors will make?

Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the two managers of a bar, where a fire on New Years' Eve killed around 40 people, and left more than 100 injured. The pair are suspected of "homicide by negligence" over the deadly blaze at the ski resort of Crans-Montana

Guest: Camille Kundig, journalist at Swiss Info, the international online service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation

Producer: Anne Barker

What next for Venezuela after the US carried out a series of night-time raids targeting military bases and key infrastructure.

As news of the explosions in and around Caracas filtered out a team of elite counter terrorism operatives from the US army's Delta Force entered the President's compound and extracted him and his wife, whisking them to the US where they now face drug and weapons charges.

The raid followed weeks of heightening tensions between the US and the Latin American leader – but it still took many by surprise.

• Guest: Brian Naranjo, Former Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S Embassy in Caracas
• Producer: Tyler Hall

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