Australian Teens Stay Online, Russian Strikes in Mali, Xi Calls for More AI in the Military

🇦🇺 It doesn’t look like Australia’s social media ban for under-16s has had much impact so far. According to a new study, before the ban, 86% of teenagers used at least one age-restricted social media app. Three months later, that figure had only fallen to 81%. Researchers said tech companies failed to create effective age checks.

• Context: Australia was the first country in the world to introduce a social media ban for teenagers. The policy was extremely popular with the public, so other governments rushed to replicate it. Malaysia has already introduced its own ban, France and the UAE are in the process, and other countries like the UK and Greece are expected to follow suit soon.

🇫🇷 France says the wildfires are now under control. The largest fire broke out more than a week ago near Bordeaux and became France’s biggest wildfire since 1949. 240 homes were destroyed and 224,000 people were evacuated, though most have now been allowed to return home.

🇮🇷🇨🇳 Iran has reportedly agreed to buy 300-400 Chinese-made portable air-defence missile systems. The first shipment is expected within weeks. The weapons would be shipped from western China and transit through Pakistan, although Pakistan denied any involvement. China also denied the report, while Iran didn’t comment. The agreement has reportedly been signed, but delivery schedules and quantities could still change.

• Context: President Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi had assured him China wouldn’t become involved in the conflict.

🇺🇸 The US has called on all countries to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC). On July 24, Venezuela told the UN that it was leaving the ICC, and Chad followed with the same announcement three days later. The US welcomed both decisions. Around three weeks ago, Marco Rubio announced a major campaign against the court, with the end goal “to disable the ICC’s ability to operate.” President Trump said Rubio is trying to protect Benjamin Netanyahu and “various other people.” In 2024, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

• Context: The ICC investigates and tries individuals charged with genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. Countries voluntarily join the ICC. The US is not an ICC member.

🇨🇳 Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for greater use of AI in the military. Speaking at a Communist Party leadership meeting, he also stressed the need for stronger political control of the military and further action against corruption.

• Context: The push comes as more governments are looking into incorporating autonomous weapons and AI systems into their militaries.

🇷🇺🇲🇱 Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Russian state-controlled militia Africa Corps of carrying out airstrikes in Mali that killed eight civilians. Africa Corps claims it targeted militants. HRW said it found no evidence that any Islamist fighters were killed.

• Context: Following the 2021 coup in Mali and the withdrawal of French troops, the new military government started increasingly relying on Russian forces. Russia’s support is mostly motivated by the ambition to secure natural resources and expand geopolitical influence.

🇺🇬 Uganda has declared itself Ebola-free. The country recorded 20 cases, and health officials said there is no evidence the virus is continuing to spread.

🇨🇩 Meanwhile, the situation in DR Congo continues to worsen. The World Health Organization says it’s now the country’s largest Ebola outbreak on record, with more than 3,600 confirmed cases and nearly 1,600 deaths.

• Why are the numbers so different in both countries? Experts say Uganda’s success was the result of years of preparation. Authorities quickly set up treatment centres, isolated patients, traced 831 contacts (99% of whom completed a 21-day follow-up) and imposed border restrictions. By contrast, Ebola had already been spreading undetected for weeks in DR Congo before the outbreak was identified. Most cases are spreading in eastern Congo - home to ongoing conflict and mass displacement.

🇷🇺 A Russian court has confiscated 123 properties previously belonging to the Jehovah’s Witnesses and transferred them to the Russian state.

• Context: Russia banned the Jehovah’s Witnesses as an “extremist organisation” in 2017. Since then, many of its members have been jailed. The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2022 that Russia’s ban on the group was unlawful.