World

The Hong Kong government announced on Monday that individuals who refuse to provide phone or computer passwords in investigations related to national security could face up to a year in prison or a fine of up to HK$100,000 (approximately $12,700). This rule is part of a series of amendments to Hong Kong's national security law, which was imposed by China in 2020 following massive pro-democracy protests in the semi-autonomous city.

Hungary has dramatically increased its reliance on Russian crude oil since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, despite European Union efforts to limit imports of Russian fossil fuels into the bloc. A new report from the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) reveals that in 2025, Russian crude accounted for up to 93% of Hungary's oil imports, a significant rise from 61% in 2021. The report also highlights Budapest's deepening dependence on Russian gas and nuclear energy, describing Hungary as "the most significant remaining stronghold of Russian energy dependence" in Europe.

Slovenia's parliamentary election on Sunday resulted in a near-perfect tie between the ruling liberal Freedom Movement of Prime Minister Robert Golob and the opposition right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) led by populist Janez Jansa. With approximately 99% of votes counted, Golob's party secured 28.5% of the vote, while the SDS garnered 28.1%, a margin of less than half a percentage point. This razor-thin difference leaves the outcome uncertain and sets the stage for complex coalition negotiations, with smaller parties expected to act as kingmakers in forming a government.

A Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130 military aircraft crashed while taking off from Puerto Leguizamo in Colombia's southern Amazon region, bordering Peru, on Monday, according to the Defense Ministry. Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez described it as a "tragic accident." Preliminary figures from General Carlos Fernando Silva indicate the plane was carrying 114 passengers and 11 crew members, with 48 survivors reported.

A regional Air Canada Express jet collided with a ground vehicle after landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Sunday evening, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24. The incident prompted a full shutdown of the airport and widespread flight disruptions, with the New York Police Department confirming the collision.

Extremist Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank have carried out a series of attacks on Palestinian villages, setting fire to homes, vehicles, and agricultural fields while causing extensive property damage. The violence erupted after the death of 18-year-old settler Yehuda Sherman on Saturday, who was reportedly struck by a vehicle driven by a Palestinian. Israeli police are investigating whether the incident was deliberate or accidental.

Since Donald Trump entered politics, critics have argued that a direct confrontation with Iran under his U.S. presidency would lead to chaos, endless war, and global instability. Yet today, the world is witnessing swift and decisive assertions of American power, purportedly leading to a clear military victory over a terrorist state that has long threatened both U.S. and global peace and security.

US President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that the United States and Iran have held “very good and productive conversations” over the past two days regarding a “complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.” He characterized these talks as a significant step toward conflict resolution.

The United Nations' weather agency (World Meteorological Organization) warned in its report that Earth's climate is more out of balance than at any time in recorded history. According to the organization, our planet is gaining much more heat energy than it can release, driven by emissions of warming gases such as carbon dioxide.

Police in Nigeria's Delta state have arrested 15 people following allegations of sexual assault during the Alue-Do fertility festival in the city of Ozoro. Videos circulated online show groups of young men openly chasing, stripping, grabbing, and assaulting women in public spaces, in some instances while being filmed by onlookers.

The representative business forum "Italy – Central Asia (C5) + Azerbaijan" commenced its work at the InterContinental Tashkent hotel in the capital. The event, dedicated to innovations for sustainable agroecosystems, regenerative agriculture, and digitalization, brought together agriculture ministers and leading experts from the region on a single platform to seek answers to global food security challenges.

Global financial markets experienced sharp volatility following statements by US President Donald Trump regarding negotiations with Iran and a delay in strikes. Trump claimed on social media that the US and Iran had held talks about a "COMPLETE AND TOTAL" resolution of hostilities, and based on the "tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed and constructive conversations," he had instructed the military to postpone any strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days. This decision was allegedly "subject to the success of ongoing meetings and discussions."