Jack GramenzUpdated May 28, 2026 — 7:02am,first published 6:42amWhat you need to know todayBy Welcome to our live and rolling coverage of news around Australia and the world.Here’s what you need to know today.Rescuers gather, trying to reach people who have been trapped in a cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos.Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin via APThe Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has revealed the NSW firearms registry had no in-house intelligence capability in the years before the Bondi Beach terror attack.A NSW man with a “serious history of violence” has become the first charged under the state’s Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders.An analysis of Defence spending warned AUKUS has become the “centre of gravity” for the defence program and up to 80 per cent of spending in 12 priority areas remain unapproved.Five villagers who became trapped in a flooded cave in central Laos more than a week ago have been found alive by divers, but two others are still missing.Latest Posts7.02am‘We’re working on it’: Premier unsure if drone show returns to VividBy Jack GramenzNSW Premier Chris Minns is hopeful Sydney’s Vivid festival drone show will return, after a “pretty embarrassing” failure that sent 89 devices into Darling Harbour.The incident during the 7.30pm Star-Bound drone show on Monday night cancelled a later show that night and four others scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday.Vivid Sydney drone shows were cancelled after “unforeseen technical difficulties”.Nine NewsThe issue was caused by an unforeseen change in the “radio frequency environment”, UK drone show operator Sky Magic said. The company called it an “anomaly” that had not been encountered during previous site visits and rehearsals.Minns said he had received a report on the incident and was hopeful the show would return as scheduled on Sunday.6.37amFive men found alive after week trapped in flooded caveBy Zach HopeXaisomboun Province, Laos: Rescue divers have found five villagers trapped for more than a week in a flooded Laos cave alive and in decent health, with efforts continuing overnight Wednesday to locate the remaining two.The men had been missing since at least May 20 after going into the cave complex in the mountainous central province of Xaisomboun to fossick for gold. Families of the men told this masthead it had begun to rain early that day, and the group had been warned not to go “but they didn’t listen”.Rescuers gather, trying to reach people who have been trapped in a cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos.Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin via APLate on Wednesday afternoon, news reached the desperate relatives and villagers gathered at the staging ground at Phanchai Village that five of the men had been found.“I came back here and the people were cheering,” said Mun Duang Somdi, the mother of one of the men who had been found. “I was very happy”.Pinned post from 6.34amWhat you need to know todayBy Welcome to our live and rolling coverage of news around Australia and the world.Here’s what you need to know today.Rescuers gather, trying to reach people who have been trapped in a cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos.Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin via APThe Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has revealed the NSW firearms registry had no in-house intelligence capability in the years before the Bondi Beach terror attack.A NSW man with a “serious history of violence” has become the first charged under the state’s Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders.An analysis of Defence spending warned AUKUS has become the “centre of gravity” for the defence program and up to 80 per cent of spending in 12 priority areas remain unapproved.Five villagers who became trapped in a flooded cave in central Laos more than a week ago have been found alive by divers, but two others are still missing.6.30amDefence ‘trade-off’ as $53b spending spree back loadedBy Facing the most threatening geopolitical environment since the end of World War II, Australia’s defence force is set to carry the load of deterrence with less in the short term.The Australian Strategic Policy Institute released its analysis of the 2026/27 defence budget on Thursday after the 2026 National Defence Strategy earmarked an additional $53 billion in funding over the next decade.AUKUS has become the “centre of gravity” for the defence program and the country remained “heavily dependent” on US production, technology and decisions, the report warned.APIt found about four cents of every extra dollar stemming from the announcement was appropriated for next financial year.The remaining 96 cents sat in forward estimates promises, decade out-year profiles, contingency reserves and unspecified alternative financing plans.6.19amMatthew Perry’s assistant, who injected him with ketamine, jailedBy Los Angeles: The personal assistant who injected Friends star Matthew Perry with a fatal dose of the hallucinogenic drug ketamine was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison, bringing to a close the prosecution of five people who admitted to playing roles in the actor’s death.Judge Sherilyn Garnett delivered the sentence for Kenneth Iwamasa, who found Perry floating face down and lifeless in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home in October 2023.Kenneth Iwamasa, who found Perry floating face down and lifeless in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home in October 2023.AP Photo/Jae C. HongFederal prosecutors said Iwamasa injected Perry with ketamine at the actor’s request before leaving the residence to run errands. Perry was dead when Iwamasa returned.“I am so sorry to all of you,” Iwamasa said in court, turning to face the Perry family.6.16amFormer US attorney-general reveals cancer diagnosisBy Former US attorney-general Pam Bondi has revealed she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after she was sacked by President Donald Trump in April.Bondi told CNN she was “doing well” and undergoing treatment, including having surgery a few weeks ago. Axios first reported her diagnosis.Donald Trump sacked Kristi Noem (left) and Pam Bondi (centre) in April, despite their devotion to him.BloombergBondi oversaw the Justice Department’s release of the so-called Epstein Files and is due to be questioned about the matter by the House Oversight Committee on Friday (Washington time).Related: Pam Bondi fire as US attorney-general 6.12amIntelligence gaps in firearms registry posed major risk to safetyBy Alexandra Smith and Amber SchultzThe troubled NSW Firearms registry had no in-house intelligence capability in the years before the Bondi Beach terror attack, which prompted internal warnings of a significant risk to public safety, the royal commission has heard.The firearms registry, which NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley described as a “shambles” in the weeks after the December 14 massacre, was left without a senior intelligence analyst from November 2021, when the position was terminated, until December 2023.Gun ownership has been in focus following the Bondi Beach terror attack.When the role was reintroduced, it remained unfilled until February 2025, the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion was told on Wednesday.Gun ownership laws have been the focus of state and federal governments following last year’s Bondi attack, where 15 mostly Jewish people were gunned down at a Hanukkah festival. One of the gunmen, Sajid Akram, legally owned six guns at the time of the massacre.Akram applied for a NSW gun permit in 2020, which was granted three years later even though he lived with his son, Naveed, who had been investigated by ASIO for his suspected links to terrorist sympathisers in 2019.Read more: Intelligence gaps in firearms registry posed major risk to safety1 of 1