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Apple Announces Major App Store Changes on iOS in Brazil

By: BeauHD
18 June 2026 at 20:00
Apple is allowing iPhone developers in Brazil to distribute apps through authorized alternative marketplaces and use third-party payment systems following action by the country's competition regulator. "In other words, developers in Brazil will be able to circumvent the App Store and Apple's in-app purchase system, but there are still fees," reports MacRumors. Apple will collect commissions ranging from 5% on externally distributed apps to as much as 26% for some App Store transactions using its payment system. From the report: Alternative app marketplaces will have to be authorized by Apple and will need to meet ongoing requirements. For apps that are still distributed through the App Store, developers will be able to include an alternative payment processing method in their app and/or link users to a website to complete a transaction. These changes are available on iOS 26.5 and later, and they are the result of regulatory action from Brazil's competition regulator. Apple has added a new page on its website with additional details for developers in Brazil. Apple said these changes introduce privacy and security risks for users, including children. The company has introduced safeguards to mitigate these risks, including a notarization process for iOS apps, an authorization process for app marketplaces, and limitations on external links and alternative payments for users under the age of 18. Apple has already allowed alternative app stores and/or third-party payment systems on iOS in the EU, Japan, and South Korea, and it will likely be forced to do so in the UK and Australia too, due to similar regulations in those countries.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

TODAY: Planning for the Future of Astrophysics & the ASTRA Initiative, 18 June 2026

18 June 2026 at 18:04

TODAY: Planning for the Future of Astrophysics and the ASTRA Initiative, June 18th, 2026

10:00am – 11:30am PT

Dear Astrophysics Strategic Technology & Research Accelerator (ASTRA) community members this serves as a reminder for those attending AAS248. This session is in-person only.

AAS248 Block Schedule: https://submissions.mirasmart.com/AAS248/Itinerary/EventDetail.aspx?evt=70

Summary

NASA’s astrophysics fleet of observatories push the limits of human vision and understanding, exploring the most profound questions of our existence while driving innovations that transform the extraordinary into the everyday and reinforce U.S. leadership in space. This special session, organized by the NASA Astrophysics Division, will provide insight into the ASTRA Initiative, share initial findings from the May 2026 Innovation for Astrophysics Missions Workshop, and will discuss plans for the September 2026 Astrophysics community science (Ad ASTRA) workshop. Talks will be followed by a panel to address questions from the community.

TimeSessionLocation
10:00am ‑ 11:30amSpecial Session: Planning for the Future of Astrophysics and the ASTRA Initiative Pasadena Convention Center ‑ 
Ballroom G

ASTRA Initiative Special Session

TimeTopicSpeaker
10:00am ‑ 10:10amIntroduction from the NASA Astrophysics Division DirectorShawn Domagal‑Goldman, NASA HQ
10:10am ‑ 10:25amThe ASTRA Initiative: Overview & Path ForwardJessica Gaskin, NASA HQ
10:25am ‑ 10:40amInnovation for Astrophysics Workshop: Initial FindingsKendra Short, JPL
10:40am ‑ 10:55amAd ASTRA Community Science WorkshopPeter Kurczynski, NASA/GSFC
10:55am ‑ 11:30amPanel DiscussionFrancesca Civano, NASA/GSFC

Wishing you the best,

Dr Ron Gamble
Cosmic Origins Support Scientist, NASA GSFC

Dr Bernard Kelly
PhysCOS Support Scientist, NASA GSFC

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This cropped horizontal image has layers of semi-opaque rusty red colored gas and dust that starts at the bottom right and goes toward the top left. There are three prominent pillars rising toward the top left. The left pillar is the largest and widest. The peaks of the second and third pillars are set off in darker shades of brown and have red outlines.

The post TODAY: Planning for the Future of Astrophysics & the ASTRA Initiative, 18 June 2026 appeared first on NASA Science.

The first long-duration resident of the ISS, a cosmonaut, has died

18 June 2026 at 15:34

Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev, who served twice as a crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS), including during the final US space shuttle mission in 2011, has died at the age of 56.

With Samokutyaev's death on Wednesday, he becomes the first former ISS long-duration resident to die in the 26 years that the space station has been a home to 155 other cosmonauts and astronauts as expedition crew members. The cause of his death is unknown.

Portrait of cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev. Credit: Roscosmos

"The leadership and staff of the Roscosmos State Corporation extend their sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Aleksandr Mikhailovich," officials with Russia's space agency said in a statement.

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© NASA

The first long-duration resident of the ISS, a cosmonaut, has died

18 June 2026 at 15:34

Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev, who served twice as a crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS), including during the final US space shuttle mission in 2011, has died at the age of 56.

With Samokutyaev's death on Wednesday, he becomes the first former ISS long-duration resident to die in the 26 years that the space station has been a home to 155 other cosmonauts and astronauts as expedition crew members. The cause of his death is unknown.

Portrait of cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyaev. Credit: Roscosmos

"The leadership and staff of the Roscosmos State Corporation extend their sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Aleksandr Mikhailovich," officials with Russia's space agency said in a statement.

Read full article

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© NASA

PhysCOS Activities at AAS 248 – 18 June 2026

18 June 2026 at 12:21

PhysCOS Activities at AAS 248 – Thursday, 18 June 2026

18 June 2026

Dear Physics of the Cosmos (PhysCOS) community members-

If you’re attending the American Astronomical Society’s 2026 Summer Meeting (AAS 248) in Pasadena CA, please join us for the following PhysCOS-organized activities (all times Pacific):

Thursday 18 June

  • 10a ‑ 11:30a, Ballroom G: (Special Session) Planning for the Future of Astrophysics and the ASTRA Initiative

Additionally, the following activities may be of special interest to the PhysCOS community:

Thursday 18 June

  • 10a ‑ 11:30a, Ballroom F: Gravitational-Wave Astronomy in the Next-Generation Era
  • 10a ‑ 10:40a, Ballroom C: High Energy Astrophysics

And please drop by the PhysCOS table in the Exhibit Hall!

For more information on PhysCOS throughout the meeting, check out our meeting webpage.

Wishing you the best,

Dr Francesca Civano & Dr Brian Humensky

PhysCOS Chief Scientists, NASA GSFC

Dr Bernard Kelly

PhysCOS Support Scientist, NASA GSFC

American Astronomical Society

The 248th Meeting of the AAS

The 248th AAS meeting (joint with the High Energy Astrophysics and the Laboratory Astrophysics Divisions) will be held 14-18 June 2026 in Pasadena, California.

Learn More
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American Astronomical Society (AAS)

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This cropped horizontal image has layers of semi-opaque rusty red colored gas and dust that starts at the bottom right and goes toward the top left. There are three prominent pillars rising toward the top left. The left pillar is the largest and widest. The peaks of the second and third pillars are set off in darker shades of brown and have red outlines.

The post PhysCOS Activities at AAS 248 – 18 June 2026 appeared first on NASA Science.

Blue Origin begins rebuilding New Glenn pad

18 June 2026 at 12:01
Isaacman LC-36

Blue Origin has started rebuilding a launch pad severely damaged in a New Glenn explosion less than three weeks ago as it works to resume launches by year’s end

The post Blue Origin begins rebuilding New Glenn pad appeared first on SpaceNews.

Setor tecnológico português abranda contratações, mas mantém-se como o segundo com melhores perspectivas no país

18 June 2026 at 09:58

Segundo o Experis Tech Talent Outlook, a Projeção para a Criação Líquida de Emprego no setor das TI em Portugal fixa-se nos 32% para o terceiro trimestre de 2026, uma queda de 18% face ao trimestre anterior. A automação surge como o principal motivo apontado pelas empresas que preveem reduzir equipas.

The post Setor tecnológico português abranda contratações, mas mantém-se como o segundo com melhores perspectivas no país appeared first on Tek Notícias.

Tim Cook says RAM expenses are ‘unsustainable’ and Apple is going to raise prices

17 June 2026 at 22:42
Blue iPhone 17 Pro in a TechWoven case

Apple is planning to raise prices in response to the ongoing memory shortage. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Apple CEO Tim Cook says "price increases are unavoidable:"

We're doing our best to mitigate the huge increases that are being passed to us, and we've been trying to shield our customers from the increases, but the situation has become unsustainable.

Cook doesn't say when Apple plans on raising prices or which products will be affected. The company has already stopped selling the Mac Studio with 512GB of RAM in March and later raised the starting price of the Mac Mini to $799 after dropping the cheaper $599 option f …

Read the full story at The Verge.

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