Meta Platforms Inc. has deactivated nearly 550,000 accounts in Australia due to a law banning social media for children under 16. This applies to Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, according to Bloomberg.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that after the development of a peace plan and security guarantees for Ukraine, Russia must demonstrate its interest in ending the war. The 20-point peace plan was discussed by Zelenskyy and Trump in 2025.
Tropical Cyclone Koji has hit Queensland, Australia, leaving 15,000 households without power. The natural disaster caused destruction and critical rainfall, threatening floods.
On January 10, 2026, Indonesia temporarily restricted access to the Grok chatbot due to the risk of disseminating pornographic content. The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Technologies considers the creation of sexualized deepfakes a threat to the safety of citizens.
A state of disaster has been declared in Victoria, Australia, due to three emergency-level bushfires. Authorities have been granted expanded powers to evacuate and fight the fires.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highly praised the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris on January 6, where 27 heads of state, the EU, NATO, and other representatives were present. He emphasized the importance of joint declarations and the readiness to deploy coalition forces for real security.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed Russian strikes on Ukraine with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and received a promise of assistance. The parties also mentioned the terrorist attack on Bondi Beach, where Ukrainians died.
From 2026 to 2028, Earth will experience a cascade of double solar eclipses, including three total and three annular solar eclipses. This is a repetition of a pattern last observed from 2008 to 2010.
In Switzerland, investigators are identifying charred bodies after a bar fire that killed about 40 people at a New Year's Eve party. Among the first identified is a 16-year-old Italian golfer.
This refers to advanced weapon systems, including ballistic missiles and drones, for cryptocurrency. This would allow Tehran to circumvent Western financial restrictions.
A study of magmatic rocks in Western Australia has shown that the Earth's crust began to form actively a billion years later than previously thought. A comparison of these rocks with lunar samples confirmed the identical initial composition of the Earth and Moon 4.5 billion years ago, supporting the Giant Impact theory.
Australian Russell Allan Wilson was killed on December 12 during combat operations in the Donetsk region, fighting for Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. He was supposed to get married a week after his last mission.
The first to welcome 2026 were Oceania and Asia, where celebrations are accompanied by pyrotechnic shows and traditional rituals. New Zealand greeted the year with a five-minute fireworks display over Sky Tower, while Sydney honored the victims of the terrorist attack with a minute of silence and projections on the Harbour Bridge.
Japan, South and North Korea officially entered the New Year. Traditional ceremonies were held in Seoul and Japan, and a large-scale fireworks display in Pyongyang.
Residents of Australia and New Zealand welcomed the New Year 2026, thousands of people took to the streets of cities, including Canberra and Wellington. In Sydney, where a terrorist attack previously occurred, about 1 million people watched the fireworks under close police supervision.
Since PURL was launched in August, 24 countries have joined it, and the total amount of contributions is $4. 3 billion. This allows for the purchase of American weapons, including missiles for Patriots, and strengthening Ukraine's defense.
The European Union plans to impose a 20th package of sanctions against Russia on the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. Measures will include travel restrictions, asset freezes, and sanctions in the energy and banking sectors.
New Year on the planet lasts almost a day, starting from the Line Islands in the Pacific Ocean and ending in Samoa. Find out the exact time of the 2026 New Year celebration in different countries of the world according to Kyiv time.
Netflix has released the trailer for the film "The Peak" starring Charlize Theron and Eric Bana, where Theron plays a woman who gets caught in a deadly game with a serial killer. The film is set to premiere on April 24, 2026.
New research reveals that the first humans settled Sahul (Australia and New Guinea) about 60,000 years ago via two main migration routes from Southeast Asia. This confirms the "long chronology" of settlement and refutes assumptions about the displacement of the first settlers by later waves of migration.
Western sanctions have reshaped India's oil trade, reducing its reliance on Russian oil. Imports from Russia decreased by 17.8% in January-October 2025, while imports from the US increased by 83.3% and from the UAE by 8.7%.
Russia has postponed plans to triple its annual liquefied natural gas production due to international sanctions. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that achieving the goal of producing 100 million tons of LNG per year would be delayed by several years.
A car with the words "Happy Chanukah" was set on fire in a Melbourne suburb early on Christmas morning. The suspected antisemitic incident occurred less than two weeks after a terror attack in Sydney that killed 15 people.
Santa Claus and his reindeer have embarked on a round-the-world journey to deliver gifts, having already made stops in New Zealand and Australia. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is tracking his route.
The US dollar weakened on Wednesday, poised for its biggest annual drop since 2017, as investors anticipate further Fed rate cuts. The euro and pound sterling strengthened, reaching new three-month highs.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha discussed with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong another Russian attack and emphasized the importance of international solidarity. The parties coordinated further steps to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities, noting a new package of military aid from Australia.
In California, a shark attacked a group of 17 swimmers, leaving a 55-year-old woman missing. The US Coast Guard is conducting a large-scale search operation, and beaches are closed.
Shipments of liquefied natural gas from Russia to China more than doubled compared to last year, reaching 1. 6 million metric tons in November. This allowed Russia to overtake Australia and become the largest supplier after Qatar, offering the cheapest LNG among 12 suppliers.
The Parliament of New South Wales convened an urgent session to adopt radical changes to gun legislation after the terror attack on Bondi Beach, where 15 people died. The new bill will limit the number of firearms to four or ten for farmers.
Switzerland is considering strengthening the protection of children from risks on social media, including a complete ban on access to platforms for minors. Minister Baume-Schneider expressed openness to such a step, inspired by Australia's experience.
