Mission

• The International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) 2026 begins in Seoul on July 6, featuring a record-breaking 23,918 submissions, more than double the previous year's count. • The conference program focuses heavily on agentic AI and autonomous agent safety, reflecting these topics as the current central preoccupations of the field. • Demand for the event is exceptionally high, with in-person main conference registration already sold out and 6,352 papers accepted for presentation.

• A royal commission has identified social media as the "most significant vector" for the spread of antisemitism. • In separate diplomatic developments, Australia and Vanuatu have officially signed a new security pact to strengthen regional ties. • The Reserve Bank of Australia's Deputy Governor stated that bond market support provided during the pandemic likely offered only a "marginal" benefit.

Bondi attack inquiry broadcasters will be called as commission focuses on traditional and social mediaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRepresentatives from the ABC and SBS will be called as witnesses to the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion, after complaints were made to the inquiry about their coverage of the Middle East.On Monday, counsel assisting Richard Lancaster SC said some submissions to the royal commission – established after the Bondi terror attack – are “highly critical” of the public broadcasters’ reporting on the Middle East conflict. Continue reading...

• NASA is investing $30 million in the "Swift Boost" mission, scheduled to launch on June 27, to rescue the aging Swift observatory. • The nearly 22-year-old telescope is currently being dragged toward Earth's atmosphere, risking a premature reentry and destruction. • This first-of-its-kind rescue operation is critical to preserving the observatory's ability to monitor cosmic events from space.

• NASA is testing a new refueling device designed to enable in-orbit cryogenic refueling between two spacecraft. • This technology addresses one of the most difficult engineering challenges in spaceflight, as transferring cryogenic fuels in zero gravity has not yet been achieved. • The capability is critical for next-generation deep space exploration, allowing spacecraft to top off fuel tanks in Earth orbit before traveling further into the solar system.

• European cinemas generated nearly €6.9 billion in box-office revenue in 2025, demonstrating financial resilience despite an overall decline in admissions. • Local productions remained a critical driver for sustaining theater attendance across multiple European territories, according to a report by UNIC. • The industry continues to evolve through strategic events like the Sorrento Industry Days and the CinemaHora Forum in Moldova to support new filmmakers.

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the annual session of the Peacebuilding Commission in New York to mark the body's 20th anniversary. • Guterres warned that the world is currently experiencing more conflicts than at any time since the Second World War, driven by rising geopolitical tensions and deepening inequalities. • He highlighted that intensifying climate shocks and the rapid advancement of unregulated new technologies are further destabilizing global security.

• NASA is utilizing the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission to study smoke and aerosols during a record-breaking North American fire season. • The mission employs three specialized instruments, including the Hyper-Angle Rainbow Polarimeter 2 and the Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration, to analyze atmospheric composition. • According to project science lead Andrew Sayer, these tools provide critical data on aerosols from diverse regions to better understand their environmental impact.

• Cinema admissions and box office revenues across Europe declined in 2025, with revenues dropping 1.2% to €6.9 billion according to a report by UNIC. • Despite the general downturn, several countries saw box office increases, including Germany, the UK, Poland, Norway, and Saudi Arabia. • The data highlights a fragmented recovery for the film industry, where specific regional markets are outperforming the broader European trend.

• The European Commission has released a tax simplification package featuring proposals for the direct taxation Omnibus and a Recast of the Directive on Administrative Cooperation (DAC). • The Omnibus Proposal specifically updates the Tax Merger Directive's scope and definitions to align with the previously introduced Mobility Directive. • This move is significant as it integrates tax measures into cross-border restructuring operations, addressing a gap left by the original Mobility Directive.

• Startup Katalyst Space is partnering with NASA to attempt a first-of-its-kind rescue mission to save the aging Swift space telescope. • The Arizona-based company developed a 935-pound robotic spacecraft called LINK in just 250 days to facilitate the operation. • The mission is critical because LINK must physically interact with and stabilize the observatory, which was not originally designed for such interventions.

Aemo modelling shows electricity use will nearly double by 2050. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live politics blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Krishani Dhanji with the main action.There will be plenty of politics to come but we start with good news: thanks to the recent boom in batteries connected to the national power grid, we’re going to save money on new transmission lines. That’s despite our power use being expected to nearly double in the next decade or so. Continue reading...

• President Lee Jae Myung called for a thorough investigation into the National Election Commission on the 23rd, specifically citing budget waste and hiring irregularities. • Lee emphasized that because the Commission is a constitutionally independent body, the government lacks the authority to intervene in its management or control. • The move follows a rebuke from the National Assembly's special committee on state affairs, which questioned whether the Commission was engaging in collective misconduct.

• NASA has selected the Dynamic Atmosphere-Ionosphere Explorer (DAPHNE) mission concept to investigate the relationship between Earth's atmosphere and space weather. • The mission will specifically research how atmospheric dynamics and space weather influence the surrounding space environment. • This study is critical for improving our understanding of atmospheric waves and auroras, which can impact satellite communications and navigation systems.

• Professor Neta Crawford of the University of St Andrews argues that the US-led military actions against Iran were unnecessary and have caused widespread global harm. • Crawford highlights a critical but often overlooked consequence of the conflict: the significant military emissions produced during warfare, which contribute to global climate degradation. • The discussion, conducted with Srijana Mitra Das at Times Evoke, questions whether the conflict in West Asia is truly over or if its effects are continuing to spread.

• European EV manufacturers are shifting focus toward smaller, more affordable electric cars designed specifically for narrow city streets to challenge the dominance of oversized SUVs. • Smart Europe's director Xuan-Zheng Goh highlights that designing small cars is more complex than large ones, requiring strategic engineering to maintain style and functionality. • This shift is made financially viable by the steadily falling cost of batteries, allowing makers to produce compact models that remain profitable.

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the mutual interest between the EU and US in ensuring Europe has access to the best AI models while maintaining safety and responsibility. • The discussion occurred during a recent meeting with G7 leaders and tech companies to coordinate the deployment of artificial intelligence technologies. • These comments follow a US government order forcing Anthropic to disable its most advanced models, including "Mythos," for foreign nationals due to security concerns.

• NASA has selected the Dynamic Atmosphere-Ionosphere Explorer (DAPHNE) mission concept to study the complex interactions between space weather and Earth's atmosphere. • The mission will specifically research how atmospheric dynamics and space weather influence the surrounding space environment, focusing on phenomena like auroras and atmospheric waves. • This research is critical for improving our understanding of the space environment, which can impact satellite communications and global navigation systems.

• NASA’s Fermi mission has identified two supernova remnants that likely originated from a pair of binary stellar siblings. • The first star's explosion ejected its companion star from their orbit, sending it hurtling through space for thousands of years before it also detonated. • This discovery provides rare insight into the life cycles of binary star systems and the violent dynamics of supernova events.

Progressive Jewish group calls for more focus on the threat from the far right and the recognition of a diversity of views within the communityFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFar-right extremism and the conflation of Jewish identity with Israel are the main drivers of antisemitism in Australia, the Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) says.In its submission to the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion, the liberal Jewish group calls for more focus on the “often overlooked” threat from the far right, and recognition of the diversity of views within the Jewish community instead of the “tendency to treat Jews collectively as representatives of Israel”. Continue reading...

• Relativity Space has announced plans to develop and launch a private Mars orbiter mission scheduled for 2028. • This initiative marks a strategic shift for the company as it moves toward privately developing complex planetary missions. • The project demonstrates a growing trend of commercial aerospace firms expanding their capabilities beyond Earth's orbit to explore deep space.

Four states file alongside FTC, claiming WPath made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minorsThe Federal Trade Commission and four states sued the World Professional Association for Transgender Health on Wednesday, in the latest push by Donald Trump’s administration and others to limit gender-affirming care for transgender minors.The suit alleges the group, known widely as WPath, made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minors and that its members profited off the claims. Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas filed along with the FTC. Continue reading...

• The local action-horror film 'Colony' maintained its top position at the South Korean box office during the weekend of June 12–14. • The film earned $2 million over the three-day period and officially surpassed the 5 million admissions milestone. • This continued dominance highlights the film's strong commercial appeal and popularity among domestic audiences.

• Astrobotic has unveiled the Griffin-1 lunar lander, designed to support NASA's Moon Base mission. • The lander is engineered to transport one of the heaviest payloads ever delivered to the lunar surface, including an Astrolab rover. • This mission is critical for advancing lunar exploration and establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon.

Ahead of ‘same job, same pay’ hearings, former call centre worker Nathan Brunne says pay gap is structural and widens at senior levelsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWorkers at the Australian Taxation Office’s outsource call centres are paid up to 40% less than their public service counterparts on the same phone lines, according to submissions lodged ahead of landmark “same job, same pay” hearings.The pay gap, detailed by Nathan Brunne, a former worker on the ATO phone lines employed by the private equity-backed Probe Operations, widens at more senior call centre roles, with team leaders at outsource operators paid about $31 an hour compared with more than $52 at the tax office. Continue reading...

• India is restructuring its IndiaAI Mission to treat artificial intelligence as a core network capability and critical digital infrastructure rather than a simple application-layer technology. • The overhaul is driven by strategic concerns regarding India's over-reliance on foreign frontier models for essential digital systems. • This shift focuses on integrating AI into telecom infrastructure, specifically targeting 6G research and development (R&D) and AI-native networks.

• The Sentinel Mission provides a step-by-step look at space exploration, covering mission planning and launch. • The process involves raw telemetry being converted into calibrated data, and then into usable science products. • This data is then used to produce peer-reviewed findings, contributing to scientific knowledge and understanding.

• NASA and international partners are preparing for the departure of the 34th SpaceX Dragon resupply spacecraft from the International Space Station. • The mission focuses on returning critical scientific research samples and hardware to Earth for further analysis. • This operation supports the ongoing effort of continuous human habitation aboard the station, which has lasted for over 25 years.