EU warned Slovakia against foreign agent law for NGOs

The European Commission warned Slovakia that it will launch immediate legal action if the government pushes ahead with a proposed law requiring NGOs that receive funding from abroad to label themselves "organisations with foreign support", Reuters reports.

A plane crashed in Nepal immediately after takeoff. The pilot is the only survivor

A plane crashed on Wednesday immediately after it took off from the capital of Nepal. 18 people died, and the pilot, the only survivor, was injured, AP writes.

Russia passes bill expanding list of foreign organizations that can be deemed undesirable

The bill providing for the possibility to recognize any foreign organizations, including those whose founders are foreign government agencies, as undesirable in Russia, has passed on July 23 the second and third readings in the State Duma lower house of parliament.

Taiwan is bracing for a powerful typhoon. Flights cancelled, day off for employees, and schools were closed

Taiwan hunkered down on Wednesday for the arrival of a strengthening Typhoon Gaemi, with financial markets shut, flights cancelled and one person killed, while the military went on stand-by amid torrential rain, Reuters reports.

Kamikaze drone attacks in Ismail: port infrastructure and a residential building damaged

Russia's massive nighttime bombardment by Shahed kamikaze drones in the city of Ismail in the Odesa region caused significant damage to port infrastructure and to a five-story residential building. According to the information provided by the state administration of the Ismail region, the attack happened in violation of the rules of conduct in war. This deliberate action led to serious damage to the port infrastructure in Ismail, writes Ukrinform.

Romanian MEP Diana Sosoacă was banned from entering Ukraine

The Romanian MEP, Diana Ivanovici-Soșoacă, was banned from entering Ukraine for three years, being accused of having close ties with the Kremlin regime. Soșoacă is the leader of the far-right party SOS, separated from another far-right party - AUR or Alliance for the Union of Romanians.

Hungary issues an ultimatum to Ukraine for the unblocking of EU funds intended for armaments

Hungary will continue to block the 6.5 billion euro funding program for military aid to Ukraine from the European Peace Fund until Kiev resumes supplies of Russian oil. A statement to this effect was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Peter Szijjártó, in an interview for ATV Hirado. He pointed out that Hungary and Slovakia's energy supply is under threat because 33% and 40-45% of their crude oil imports come from a Russian company and the oil transits through Ukraine.

July 21 hottest day ever recorded globally

Last Sunday was the hottest day ever registered globally, according to preliminary data published on Tuesday by the EU's climate monitor, AFP reports.

Etna eruption forces closure of Catania Airport

The airport at Catania in Sicily, on Tuesday suspended all flights as ash from an eruption at nearby Mount Etna entered the airspace, AFP reports.

Microsoft blames the European Union for the recent huge computer outage

Up to 8.5 million Windows devices were affected by Friday's IT outage after Crowdstrike's antivirus update went awry. Microsoft says the European Union is to blame for the world's biggest IT outage on Friday following a faulty security update, writes Euronews.

France is ready for the Olympics, President Emmanuel Macron

President Emmanuel Macron visited the Olympic village on Monday. An important part of the athletes and Olympic delegations arrived here. Meanwhile, a far-left MP claims that Israeli athletes are not welcome in Paris and demands that they participate under a neutral flag. Kremlin criticizes the fact that not all Russian journalists were accredited to follow the Olympic Games in France, RFI reports.

Russian lawmakers demand punishment for troops using smartphones in Ukraine war

Russia's lower house of Parliament, the Duma, has proposed disciplinary detention for up to 10 days for troops using devices with camera and geolocation functions in combat zones such as Ukraine, Russia's TASS state news agency reported.