Australia

The crew of the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission unfurled the flag of Ukraine with the UNITED24 logo in space at an altitude of 1400 km.

The Australian government has introduced a bill to ban social media for people under 16. Violators face fines of up to USD 32 million and the introduction of biometric verification.

Australian scientists have recorded the highest coral mortality in 39 years of observations, with up to 72% of corals dead on 12 reefs. At one northern site, about a third of hard corals died due to rising water temperatures.

At the Governor's Award ceremony, Nicole Kidman had to take off her shoes because of the uncomfortable height of the lectern. The 57-year-old actress presented the award to Juliet Taylor in the Ray Dolby Ballroom in bare feet.

83-year-old Alan Jones, an influential Australian radio host, is accused of sexually abusing 8 people. The incidents took place from 2001 to 2019, and he faces 24 charges.

The Australian Senate voted to convict Aboriginal Senator Lydia Thorpe, who publicly opposed King Charles III. The vote of no confidence deprived her of the right to represent the House in delegations.

Japanese troops will begin regular training in northern Australia in 2025. US rotational forces will join the exercises as part of a strategy to strengthen the security of the three countries.

A selection of exciting science fiction films about human interaction with artificial intelligence and space adventures. The films include Robot's Child, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Her, Ex Machina, and After Young.

Queen Camilla resumes public duties after suffering a respiratory infection. Her schedule will be adjusted to avoid unnecessary stress, including shortening the duration of events.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is withdrawing his children's book Billy and Epic Escape from sale after criticism for stereotyping Indigenous Australians. Penguin Random House UK stops selling the book in the UK and Australia.

Google searches for moving to Canada increased by 1270%, to New Zealand by 2000%, and to Australia by 820%. Immigration lawyers report a sharp increase in requests from Americans.

Kevin Rudd, Australia's ambassador to Washington, D. C., has deleted his previous critical comments about Donald Trump. The Australian Prime Minister spoke with Trump about the AUKUS agreement and security issues.

The Australian government is preparing a bill to ban social media for people under 16. The new rules may come into force as early as the end of 2025, including an age verification system.

Australia will provide Ukraine with 14 fast and maneuverable boats worth $14 million. This is part of the military aid that has totaled more than $1.3 billion since the beginning of the war.

The Australian Ministry of Defense has canceled a multibillion-dollar military satellite project with Lockheed Martin. Instead of a single-orbit system, the country will focus on developing a multi-orbit system to improve defense capabilities.

Australia has supplied Ukraine with JDAM-ER planning bombs, which were withdrawn from the air force's inventory in 2021. The first use of these munitions by Ukrainian MiG-29s was recorded in March 2023.

A 110-year-old crocodile Cassius, 5. 48 meters long, has died in Australia's Marineland Melanesia Zoo. The reptile had lived in captivity for 37 years and was considered the largest crocodile in captivity.

Canada is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia over the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories. The sanctions will apply to the country as a whole and to individual officials involved in the abduction of children.

Australia has become the 41st country to join the International Coalition for the Return of Deported Ukrainian Children. Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets emphasized the importance of this step in the fight for the rights of Ukrainian children.

The new Great Seal of Australia no longer contains a mention of the monarch, breaking a 120-year tradition. The change in design drew criticism from the opposition for “hidden republicanism.

Radiohead's frontman interrupted his performance in Melbourne due to an argument with an audience member about the conflict in Gaza. After a short break, the musician returned to the stage and continued the concert.

Former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö recommends that the EU create its own intelligence service. The proposal is part of a review of the bloc's war and crisis preparedness presented to Ursula von der Leyen.

On October 28, the South Korean delegation will present information to NATO on the deployment of DPRK troops in Russia. After the meeting, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will hold a press conference.

The Pentagon has approved the sale of NASAMS air defense systems and radar systems to Taiwan. The delivery includes advanced AMRAAM surface-to-air missiles successfully tested in Ukraine.

China has launched a diplomatic “charm offensive” against US allies amid a possible Trump victory. Beijing is seeking to improve relations with Japan, India, Britain and Australia over economic concerns.

The expected transition to La Niña in the Pacific Ocean is postponed until November-December with a 60% probability. El Niña may persist until March 2025, which will affect global weather conditions.

The European Parliament will consider a proposal for a €35 billion loan to Ukraine from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets. This is part of a $50 billion G7 package to support Ukraine.

Roksolana Pidlasa explained that Orban could not block the EU's €35 billion allocation to Ukraine. All that is needed to disburse the funds is a simple majority vote in the EU Council, not a unanimous decision.

Lydia Thorpe, an Indigenous senator, protested against King Charles III's visit to the Australian parliament. She accused the monarchy of genocide and demanded the return of stolen lands and a treaty.

Secret documents on the Israeli Air Force's preparations for an attack on Iran have been leaked online. The United States has launched an investigation into the leak, which could exacerbate tensions in the region.