Holidays and commemorative dates:
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking – in 1987, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the annual celebration of June 26 as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. This decision underscores the commitment of the international community to step up action and cooperation to create a drug-free world. According to the World Drug Report (2022), about 284 million people between the ages of 15 and 64 use drugs. In particular, young people are more prone to drug use, and the level of consumption among them is higher now than in previous generations. The UN General Assembly recognizes that despite the efforts of the international community, the drug problem remains a serious threat to the health, safety and well-being of people, especially young people, as well as to the national security and stability of states.
This day is an important occasion to raise public awareness of the dangers associated with drugs and the need for collective efforts to overcome this global problem. Organizations around the world conduct a variety of activities aimed at education and prevention, supporting rehabilitation programs and providing assistance to those already affected by drug addiction. In addition, there are actions and campaigns aimed at reducing stigmatization and discrimination of people struggling with addiction.
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture – aimed at eradicating torture and ensuring the effective functioning of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which entered into force on 26 June 1987. To date, 174 countries have signed the Convention. Torture is strictly prohibited under international law and cannot be justified under any circumstances, including war, political instability or emergencies.
The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture reminds us of the need to protect human rights and ensure justice for those affected by this crime. Organizations and activists around the world organize actions and events aimed at supporting victims of torture, providing them with medical and psychological assistance, as well as drawing attention to cases of human rights violations. In addition, forums, conferences and seminars are often held on this day, where methods of preventing torture, legal aspects and international cooperation in this field are discussed.
Day of the Crimean Tatar flag – has been celebrated since 2010 and symbolizes the unity, continuity of generations of Crimean Tatars and their struggle for freedom and the right to self-determination. The flag was first adopted in December 1917 by the first Kurultai of the Crimean Tatar people in Bakhchysarai. During the Soviet era, when the Crimean Tatars were repressed, the flag was not used. It was restored on June 30, 1991 at the second Kurultai in Simferopol. The flag of the Crimean Tatars is a blue cloth with a yellow coat of arms (temga) in the upper left corner. The blue color is traditional for the Turkic peoples and was used even on the flags of the Crimean Khanate. The coat of arms on the flag – tarak-temga (coat-of-arms-crest) – is the ancestral sign of the Herai dynasty, the ruling dynasty of the Crimean Khanate.
After the occupation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, the flag became a symbol of resistance to occupation and repression. It is raised not only in Crimea, but also throughout Ukraine and the world, reminding of the struggle of the Crimean Tatars for their rights. This day is important for everyone who supports the Crimean Tatar people in their struggle for rights and freedoms. Numerous events dedicated to the raising of the flag, exhibitions, cultural events and solidarity actions are organized. In particular, the events are often attended by representatives of the Crimean Tatar diaspora, human rights defenders and activists who discuss current issues and problems faced by the Crimean Tatar people.
Cosmetologist’s Day – initially this day was celebrated by cosmetologists in the USA as the National Cosmetologist Day. Over time, this event gained international importance, and now the Day of the Cosmetologist is celebrated all over the world. The word “cosmetology” began to be used in the 20s of the 20th century, although cosmetology practices existed as far back as ancient Rome. Modern cosmetologists continue these traditions, helping people improve their appearance with the help of modern methods and technologies.
Information about cosmetologists can be found in the history of Ancient Rome, where they were called cosmetologists, and they were engaged in the creation of ointments and other skin care products. In ancient Egypt, women used various skin care products, such as sand and ash mixtures for washing, and iris juice for a blush on the cheeks. The first known guide to cosmetology was found in an Egyptian tomb – it was a papyrus more than 20 meters long, containing recommendations for skin care.
Modern cosmetology covers a wide range of procedures and technologies aimed at maintaining the beauty and health of the skin. Cosmetologists work on improving the appearance, using modern methods of skin care and treatment. Modern cosmetologists perform numerous procedures, such as facial and body skin care, wrinkle removal, acne treatment, and many others.
Toothbrush birthday – the first electric toothbrush appeared in Switzerland in 1959. However, the first mass production of regular toothbrushes was organized by William Edis on June 26, 1780, so this date is considered the birthday of the toothbrush. Historically, the first toothbrushes were used in the Ancient East and were made from trees that contained essential oils. Modern toothbrushes continue to develop, new technologies and materials appear that provide more effective tooth care.
The first toothbrushes looked like wooden sticks containing essential oils, sharpened on one side and soaked on the other. The Chinese attached the bristles of a Siberian pig to a bamboo stick, thus creating a prototype of the modern toothbrush. In Europe, the toothbrush became popular in the middle of the 17th century. In 1840, France and Germany began to produce toothbrushes, the shape of which was more similar to the modern one.
Microbiologist Louis Pasteur expressed the opinion that most dental diseases are caused by microbes that multiply on moist natural bristles. In 1938, with the invention of nylon, natural bristles were replaced with synthetic ones, which significantly improved the hygienic properties of this tool. Modern toothbrushes are equipped with various functions, such as timers, pressure sensors and different cleaning modes, which helps to maintain the health of the oral cavity at a high level.
World Cold Day – first observed on June 26, 2019, World Cold Day celebrates the birth of Lord Kelvin Thomson, who created the temperature scale. This celebration was founded in 2018 by the Secretariat of the international event in the English city of Derbyshire and supported by UNIDO. World Cold Day highlights the importance of refrigeration technologies in preserving food, medicine and other goods, as well as their role in reducing energy costs and protecting the environment.
This day draws attention to the role of refrigeration technologies in the modern world. They play a key role in the preservation of food, medicine and other important goods, ensuring their safety and durability. Refrigeration technologies are also important for protecting the environment and reducing energy consumption. To support the organization and implementation of World Refrigeration Day, a dedicated website, worldrefrigerationday.org, has been developed, where volunteers can register to receive news about the event.
Events on this day:
1709 – by order of the Russian Tsar Peter I, Zaporizhia (Chortomlytsia) Sich was destroyed, whose Cossacks supported Hetman Ivan Mazepa in his alliance with the Swedish King Charles XII against the Russian Tsar Peter I.
1906 – the first French Grand Prix car race in history started.
1924 – the eight-year occupation of the Dominican Republic by American troops ended.
1925 – the premiere of Charlie Chaplin’s film “The Gold Rush” took place in Hollywood, in which he was the screenwriter, director, producer and performer of the main role. In 1953, the “Gold Rush” was recognized as a public property of the United States.
1936 – the Focke-Wulf Fw 61 helicopter, designed by the German aircraft designer Heinrich Focke, made its first flight. On June 25, 1937, the helicopter set two records – a height of 2440 meters and stayed in the air for 1 hour 20 minutes 49 seconds.
1941 – during the Second World War, Finland, as an ally of Germany, declared war on the Soviet Union.
1941 – near Minsk, a crew under the leadership of 34-year-old pilot Captain Mykola Gastello on a downed DB-3F plane carried out a fiery ram — directed a burning machine at a German mechanized column.
1945 – at a conference in San Francisco, representatives of 50 states signed the Charter of the United Nations.
1948 – American physicist William Shockley, who worked at Bell Labs, filed a patent for the bipolar transistor. The first working Germanium-based prototype was produced the following year.
1960 – the British colony of Somaliland (now Somalia) gained independence.
1960 – Madagascar gained independence from France.
1975 – Citing a “deep and conspiratorial conspiracy”, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in the country and authorized mass arrests of political opponents. This was her reaction to the June 12 decision of the Supreme Court to disqualify her from political activity for six years for rigging the 1971 elections.
1976 – the tallest building in the world at that time — the Canadian National Tower with a height of 553.34 meters — was opened in Toronto.
1978 – the first artificial satellite Seasat 1, specially designed for oceanographic research, was launched in the USA. It worked in orbit around the Earth at an altitude of 800 kilometers until October 10, when it failed due to a short circuit in the equipment.
1979 – Muhammad Ali announced his decision to resign as world heavyweight champion and sent a letter to the World Boxing Association (WBA) about this. This was his third and last statement about ending his professional career as a boxer.
1993 – because of the Iraqis’ attempt to kill former US President George W. Bush during his visit to Kuwait, the current president, Bill Clinton, ordered missiles to be fired at the Iraqi intelligence headquarters in the suburbs of Baghdad. Twenty-three Tomahawk missiles, worth a million dollars each, were fired from the boats Peterson in the Red Sea and Chancellorsville in the Persian Gulf, destroying buildings and causing civilian casualties, according to Iraqi reports.
2012 – Montenegro officially began negotiations on joining the European Union.
2012 – American astronomer Mark Showalter discovered Styx, the fifth, smallest moon of Pluto – it makes one revolution around the planet in 19 days.
2015 – The US Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage throughout the US.
