Friday, 19 June - The beat of a different drum

June 19, 2026

Good morning, it’s Friday, 19 June. In your Squiz Today…

  • A peace deal is signed early between the US and Iran

  • The Albanese Government changes up its CGT reforms for small businesses

  • And a saucy beef brisket…

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🙋🏻‍♀️ This newsletter was written by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Alice Dempster and Sophie Felice

Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“We fully recognise that we should be more cautious and thorough in the early planning and review process of the drum performances.”

Said Lululemon after putting on a yoga event on the Great Wall of China, which featured a Japanese drum instead of a Chinese one. It was billed as an opportunity to celebrate the country's culture on its most iconic landmark, but the missed beat caused the faux pas to go viral… Oops...

Signed, sealed, still to be delivered

The Squiz

After being at loggerheads for almost 4 months, the US and Iran sprang a surprise move yesterday, signing off early on a peace deal to bring the war in the Middle East to an end. The signing of the 14-point memorandum of understanding was due to take place at a ceremony in Switzerland today… Instead, US President Donald Trump put pen to paper at a dinner during the G7 in Versailles, France, and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian signed it digitally. The details were then released, with Trump hailing it as a "major win" for America and saying he got the deal done to prevent a "worldwide depression". But Iran was also taking it as a win, calling it "a record of US failure”.  

What’s in the deal?

It’s essentially another 60-day ceasefire extension while firmer arrangements are put in place. We’ve found out more about the terms - you can read them here… They include Iran agreeing to not develop a nuclear weapon, and to open the Strait of Hormuz. In exchange, the US will lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports - that happened overnight - and remove sanctions, allowing the regime to sell oil again globally, which will bring relief to their economy. Trump also says frozen Iranian funds will be given back, and the US will set up a US$300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran, funded by the Gulf states if the regime "demonstrates good behaviour". And fighting between Israel and Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon has to stop from both sides. 

How has it gone down?

For one, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says he’s not bound by the deal’s terms, so it’s already looking shaky on that front… And foreign policy experts reckon Trump’s lowered the bar by allowing room for Iran to enrich uranium for civilian use when he went into the war determined to destroy their stores of it. But the President defended the deal, saying he “didn’t want to see an economic catastrophe” and pointed out that oil prices were already dropping. Still, he pulled no punches about taking action if Iran breached the terms, saying: "We're going to bomb the hell out of them if they violate the agreement”. As for what’s next, US Vice President JD Vance will begin nutting out the details with Iran’s Chief Negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Geneva today…

Something's stirring under Wynyard

HBO Max has turned Sydney's old Wynyard station tunnels into a free, immersive House of the Dragon experience over today and tomorrow. Imagine being guided through hidden passages to the Dragon Pit, where you find out if you'd survive a dragon... Not a bad way to get ready for season 3 - it kicks off Monday, 22 June.

Squiz the Rest

Ukraine fires back

In the largest attack on Moscow since the start of its war with Ukraine, the Russian capital came under fire from nearly 200 Ukrainian drones overnight, which injured at least 17 people and damaged an oil refinery. It was part of a wider attack of 1,000 drones and 4 missiles launched across Russia in retaliation for a strike on Ukraine's capital Kyiv last week, which set alight the UNESCO-listed Dormition Cathedral. The attack on the 1,000yo site killed at least 5 people and wounded more than 2 dozen, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this latest attack on Russia was "justified" in response. He said his country doesn't want the war, "but if Ukraine burns … Moscow will burn too". 

Labor sweetens its Budget reforms for small businesses

After weeks of pressure from business groups and the start-up sector, the Albanese Government has agreed to change up its Capital Gains Tax reforms for small businesses. Currently, businesses with an annual turnover under $2 million get a 50% discount on capital gains made through selling active assets (like office buildings, equipment, and goodwill…). That threshold’s set to be lifted to $10 million, meaning 98% of existing businesses will benefit. They’ve also put out a consultation paper on a new 50% CGT discount for early investors, founders and staff of start-ups. And they’ve backtracked on discretionary testamentary trusts in people’s wills, which will now be exempt from a planned 30% tax on trusts. Treasurer Jim Chalmers reckons the tweaks are “standard operating procedure” but Coalition leader Angus Taylor says the Budget is “in chaos”.

Project Sunrise is ready for take off

Fasten your seatbelts and secure your tray tables, Qantas’ first direct flights from Sydney to London and New York are due to begin from October next year. The service is called Project Sunrise, and it’ll mean planes (and of course, passengers) being in the air for 22 hours non-stop. The national carrier has ordered specially modified Airbus A350s that hold extra fuel and have reduced capacity so the cabin is a bit roomier and comfortable for customers. And they’ll also have a wellness space for people to stretch and walk around while they’re in the air. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson says the onboard service has been “tailored to suit every customer in every cabin through every stage of the journey”. Complimentary deodorant, anyone…? Tickets are set to be pricey - about 20% more than usual, and they'll be on sale from February 2027… 

Let’s go, Socceroos 

Set your alarm clock and get your (brekkie) snacks ready - the countdown is on until our second FIFA World Cup match against the USA tomorrow morning. We’re going in as underdogs after months of spicy chat from the Americans, who are said to be the ones to beat in our group - but don’t count us out… Just like this unlikely breakout star, we’re far from done touring the US… We jumped a few spots in the FIFA rankings after our shock win over Turkey, which impressed many - apart from these commentators. Still, Oz goalie Patrick Beach says whatever people say, the Socceroos know they are outsiders “but we just don’t worry about that stuff”. As the teens say: facts... You can watch the game at 5am AEST on SBS or SBS on demand. 
*Want to know more about the new faces in our World Cup Socceroos squad? Check out our latest Squiz Shortcut… 

Stonehenge lite

Just 5 kilometres down the road from the UK’s world-famous prehistoric stones, experts say they’ve found evidence of a simpler structure, which might have also been used to track the sun’s movements 5,000 years ago. It’s in a village called Bulford, but with just 2 holes in the ground remaining of it, it might not have the same tourist appeal as the bigger henge. Archaeologist Phil Harding led the excavation, and he thinks they used to hold wooden posts (which have now rotted away) that lined up with the sun on the summer and winter solstices - just like Stonehenge. The team also found pottery, flint tools and animal bone, which they reckon proves prehistoric people held gatherings there. And it’s good timing - the Winter Solstice in Oz is this Sunday.
*And if you’ve got little people who might want to learn more about how Solstices work, Squiz Kids has a Saturday Shortcut coming out on this tomorrow. You’re welcome…

Friday Lites - 3 things we liked this week

Regular Squizers will know that we take our font selection seriously, so we had a giggle at this video of comedian and graphic designer Elliot Ulm on the ABC, assigning states and politicians their own fonts. 

We enjoyed - in a Black Mirror sort of way - this interview with AI actress Tilly Norwood in The New York Times Magazine by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. Come for the strangeness and stay for the snark…

And if you’re up for a crowd-pleasing dinner, we’ve been making this pulled beef brisket by British chef Tom Kerridge for years. It’s a time investment, but the beef and barbecue sauce is the best we’ve tried. Stuff it in fresh rolls (store bought - we don’t have that much time…) with coleslaw, and your friends/family will be very happy campers.

Squiz the Day

Friday
8.15am (AEST) - KPMG leadership will appear before the federal parliamentary joint committee on corporations and financial services following a recent scandal over audit services - Canberra 

9.00am (AWST) - Glenda Joy McGregor, who was charged alongside author Craig Silvey over child exploitation material to appear in court - Joondalup

1.00pm (AEST) - Cricket: Bangladesh v Australia second T20I - Bangladesh, watch on Kayo 

The Senate committee inquiry into the Albanese Government's CGT and negative gearing tax changes is set to table its report

Motorsport: Supercars Championship (Sprint Cup), Darwin Triple Crown (until 21 June) - Darwin

Good Food & Wine Show 2026 begins (until 21 June) - Sydney 

ABS data release: Australian industry, 2024-2025 financial year; key facts about time spent on unpaid care and its value, September 2025

Dragon Boat Festival, commemorating the death of the Chinese poet Qu Yuan - celebrated in China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and part of Indonesia

Dano Festival - holiday in North and South Korea celebrating the beginning of summer 

Juneteenth public holiday in the US, marking the emancipation of enslaved African Americans

World Tapas Day

🍸 World Martini Day

Birthdays for Burmese politician, diplomat and author Aung San Suu Kyi (1945), author Salman Rushdie (1947), former UK PM Boris Johnson (1964), and actor Paul Dano (1984)

Anniversary of:

  • the first celebration of Father’s Day in Washington state (1910)

  • the British Royal Family renouncing its German names and titles and adopting the name of Windsor (1917)

  • The Rocky Horror Picture Show musical debuting in London (1973)

  • Garfield, created by Jim Davis, first appearing as a comic strip (1978)

  • the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for the illegal deportation of hundreds of children from Ukraine (2023)

Saturday
5.00am (AEST) - Football: FIFA World Cup USA v Australia - Seattle, watch on SBS 

5.05pm (AEST) - Rugby Union: Super Rugby final between the Hurricanes and Chiefs - Wellington, watch on Stan 

7.30pm (AEST) - Cricket: Women's T20 World Cup Group A - Australia v Netherlands - South Hampton, watch on Prime Video 

Term 2 Winter school holidays begin in the NT (until 13 July)

🥳 A birthday for Squiz founder Claire Kimball 

International Surfing Day

Matariki, a New Zealand national holiday, marking beginning of Māori new year in the  lunar calendar

Birthdays for Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson (1942), singer Lionel Richie (1949), and actor Nicole Kidman (1967),

Anniversary of:

  • Queen Victoria ascending the British throne at 18yo following the death of her uncle King William IV (1837)

  • Samuel Morse patenting his telegraph (1840)

Sunday
9.00am (AEST) - Coogee Community Swim following a recent shark attack at Coogee Beach. The event is aimed at helping locals regain confidence in the water and reconnect with the beach - Sydney

1.30pm (ACST) - Netball: Super Netball major semi-final between Adelaide Thunderbirds and Melbourne Vixens - Adelaide, watch on Kayo 

2.00pm (AWST) - Netball: Super Netball minor semi-final between West Coast Fever v Melbourne Mavericks - Perth, watch on Kayo 

6.00pm (AEST) - Cricket: Bangladesh v Australia third T20I - Bangladesh, watch on Kayo

House of the Dragon season 3 drops on HBO

Second round of voting in the Colombian Presidential election

Winter Solstice

MND Global Awareness Day, an international day of hope for a research turning point that will provide us with answers on a cause and a cure

🎶 World Music Day

Birthdays for author Ian McEwan (1948), former President of Indonesia Joko Widodo (1961), Prince William (1982), American whistleblower Edward Snowden (1983), and singer Lana Del Rey (1985)

Anniversary of:

  • the first Victoria Cross won during the Crimean War (1854)

  • the birthday of philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre (1905)