Australia
Japan plans to launch the Martian Moons eXploration probe to study the moons of Mars, particularly Phobos. The mission is intended to collect samples and return them to Earth in 2031.
A gun buyback program has been launched in New South Wales, offering compensation of up to 10,000 Australian dollars. This follows the mass shooting at Bondi Beach, where 15 people were killed.
The Constitutional Council declared the ban unconstitutional, as it violates young people's freedom of speech. The Macron administration will continue to pursue the reform until the end of his term.
Meta deactivated 756,000 accounts belonging to Australians under 16 on Facebook and Instagram. Australia was the first to introduce a social media ban for children, but more than 80% continued to use them.
A group of 32 countries, including 29 European states, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, condemned Iran for sentencing participants in the protests to death. Since the beginning of the year, at least 56 people have been executed in Iran on charges related to national security.
A late-summer monsoon brought cooler temperatures, helping to avoid further heat stress. The area of live coral cover in the northern and central parts of the reef increased slightly.
A forest fire broke out near Vancouver, prompting an evacuation warning for 35 homes in the suburb of Anmore. The fire is almost contained, and international rescuers have arrived to fight it.
During the regional "Golok FA Cup 2026" tournament in Thailand, lightning struck a footballer, killing him instantly. Nine other players sustained injuries of varying severity.
Japan's Defense Minister stated the need to strengthen defense capabilities with a sense of urgency. The new "white paper" points to China's increased activity and Russia's cooperation with North Korea.
The Pacific state of Nauru changed its name to the Republic of Naoero to restore its traditional designation. The international code will change from NRU to NRO, and residents will be called dei-Naoero.
Apple removed Telegram from the App Store after detecting materials of sexual violence against children, but restored the app the same day after blocking the user. Telegram stated zero tolerance for such content.
In the city of Kiama, Australia, a book from 1858, found walled up in a fireplace, was returned to the public library. The publication is considered overdue by approximately 150 years.
India increases imports of palm, soybean, and rapeseed oil due to delays in sunflower oil exports from Russia and Ukraine. Sunflower oil prices in the country have risen by 6% due to supply disruptions.
The UN International Organization for Migration reports a rise in the recruitment of hundreds of thousands of people to work in online scam centers. Victims are lured by fake job advertisements through social media and then held by force.
In France, a forest fire created a pyrocumulonimbus that generated lightning and new ignitions. This rare phenomenon in Europe destroyed 420 sq km of forests and forced the evacuation of 220,000 people.
Today, a large-scale outage occurred in ChatGPT's operation, as evidenced by Downdetector data. Users are complaining about the inability to load conversations and access chat history.
ASEAN ministers expressed concern over the resumption of hostilities in the Middle East. The Houthis announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, threatening global energy supplies.
French lawmakers are set to approve a bill on Tuesday banning access to social media for children under 15. This puts France at the forefront of similar efforts in the EU.
On July 21, the world marks International Junk Food Day and "Be Someone" Day. According to the new church calendar, Orthodox Christians in Ukraine honor the memory of the prophet Ezekiel.
On the 12th anniversary of the downing of flight MH17, Ukraine honored the memory of the 298 victims and emphasized the need to hold Russia accountable. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that justice is impossible without punishing the aggressor.
Beijing stated its adherence to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. China denies accusations of influencing the presidential elections in the United States.
A group of Ukrainian servicemen took part in the annual parade on the Champs-Élysées. They marched at the end, receiving warm applause.
New Zealand actor Sam Neill has died at the age of 78. The family reported that the death was sudden and unexpected.
The SBU carried out a series of long-range strikes on strategic facilities of the Russian Federation, including oil depots and refineries. An airfield in Crimea and drone warehouses in Donbas were also hit.
Japan, the US, the Philippines, and 11 other countries stated that China's claims have no legal basis. China rejected the statement and expressed protest to Japan.
The national teams of Haiti and Turkey lost to Brazil and Paraguay respectively, losing their chances to advance to the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Paraguay defeated Turkey 1-0, and a Paraguayan player received a red card under the new FIFA rule.
34-year-old Emma Husen, who starred in the spin-off of the series "EastEnders", is accused of attempting to import 320 kg of methamphetamine. The drugs, hidden in bags of charcoal, were discovered by Australian border guards.
World leaders supported the US-Iran deal. Israel has reportedly not yet signed the agreement and maintains a military presence in so-called "security zones" in Lebanon, as well as in Gaza and Syria.
The USA will play Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup in Los Angeles on June 13. Katy Perry will perform at the opening ceremony, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend.
The US and 21 other countries demand that Iran cease attacks on individuals abroad. Tehran's intelligence services are accused of using organized crime for terrorist acts.