ABC News Daily

Music has always been a powerful form of protest, but rap band Bob Vylan could be facing criminal charges after leading a chant at Glastonbury calling for ‘death’ to the Israeli military.

The incident was shown on the BBC and the broadcaster, festival organisers and the UK Prime Minister have all raised concerns about anti-Semitism.  

Today, British music journalist Dorian Lynskey on the controversy and when protests by musicians go too far. 

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Dorian Lynskey, British music journalist, author and podcaster

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has set his sights on bold economic reform with options to be discussed at a meeting of some of the nation’s best policy minds next month. 

It’s called the economic reform roundtable, but is a big shake up of the tax system, for example, even possible in the current political climate? 

Today, the ABC’s finance expert Alan Kohler on why these experts would be better off talking about artificial intelligence and even a hike to the GST. 

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Alan Kohler, ABC finance expert

Parents send their young children to childcare trusting they’ll return home each day safely. 

But families are in shock after a Victorian childcare worker was charged with 70 offences, including sexual assault and producing child abuse material. The alleged victims were as young as 5 months old. 

The staff member had worked at 20 different centres and held a valid Working with Children Check. 

Today, Caroline Croser-Barlow from The Front Project, which works to improve early childhood education, on whether the system is safe and how governments can fix it. 

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Caroline Croser-Barlow, CEO of The Front Project

After the strikes against Iran, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is turning his focus back to the conflict in Gaza. 

Talks are planned between Netanyahu and the US president at the White House next week, as Donald Trump insists “we’re going to get a ceasefire”. 

Benjamin Netanyahu also faces public pressure in Israel to bring the hostages home, but is it really time to strike a deal with Hamas?

Today, Hussein Ibish from the Arab Gulf States Institute on whether new talks with the US could deliver a lasting ceasefire.

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Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute

The countdown is on to the start of the social media ban for Australian children aged under 16. 

It’s due to start in December, but which platforms are banned and how users will have to prove their age is yet to be revealed. 

Today, the ABC’s national technology reporter Ange Lavoipierre on the many unanswered questions. 

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Ange Lavoipierre, ABC’s national technology reporter

How often do you use AI chatbots?  

They’re becoming part of our everyday lives. But when you pump in a question into something like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, do you ever think about the energy it uses? 

Today, Gordon Noble from the Institute of Sustainable Futures at UTS on the power hungry data centres driving AI, the water used to keep them cool and the cost for the environment. 

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Gordon Noble, research director at the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney

Donald Trump was elected on the promise of putting America first and staying out of foreign conflicts. 

So the US President’s decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities caused the first and very public split among his Make America Great Again base, with influential figures like Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon leading the charge against US involvement.

Today, senior political correspondent for the Wall Street Journal Molly Ball on the fighting MAGA factions and what it means for Trump. 

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Molly Ball, senior political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal

One of Iran’s closest allies outside the Middle East is Russia. 

So, why did Vladimir Putin decide not to come to Tehran’s aid and provide military support as Israel and then America worked to destroy its nuclear program? 

Today, Anna Borshchevskaya from the Washington Institute, an expert in Russia’s policy in the Middle East, on what the war means for Moscow and whether Putin might help Iran to rebuild its nuclear capacity.

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Anna Borshchevskaya, senior fellow at the Washington Institute

Donald Trump has announced a ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war, declaring it should be called “The 12 Day War”. 

But there was confusion over whether Iran and Israel had agreed in the hours following the social media post.

It came not long after Iran fired missiles at an American military base in Qatar, retaliating against the US bombing of its key nuclear sites.  

Today, Jonathan Panikoff from the Atlantic Council’s Middle East program on whether peace will hold.  

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Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Program

After the US bombing of key nuclear facilities, Donald Trump is now raising the prospect of regime change in Iran. 

He wants to Make Iran Great Again and says it’s not ‘politically correct’ to discuss the idea, but he asks ‘why wouldn’t there be a regime change?’. 

Today, Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group on the three options now open to Iran’s leaders and why surrender is not the one they’ll go for. 

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Ali Vaez, director of the Iran project at the International Crisis Group