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Former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro granted asylum in Hungary amid prosecution for alleged power abuse. Ziobro, a key figure in the nationalist Law and Justice party, accused of misusing victims fund and buying Pegasus spyware. He claims political persecution and vows to fight from exile until Polands rule of law is restored.

Pope Leo XIII, the first American pontiff, held a private meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the Vatican, amidst political turmoil in Venezuela. Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, discussed the situation with Pope Leo, who has expressed concern over the crisis and called for human and civil rights protection. The meeting comes after U.S. forces arrested former President Nicolas Maduro and appointed his vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, as interim leader, leaving many opposition figures in exile or imprisoned.

France launches voluntary national military service for young citizens, aiming to recruit thousands aged 18-25 for a ten-month program. The initiative, announced by President Macron, seeks to bolster defense without mandatory service, focusing on national security missions. The first group of 3,000 will start in September, with numbers expected to reach 10,000 annually by 2030. The program aims to create a hybrid military, blending professionals with volunteers, and offers participants the option to return to civilian life, join reserves, or commit full-time to the forces. The estimated cost for the program is €2.3 billion through 2030.

Cyprus corruption scandal escalates as Presidents chief of staff resigns following leaked video, alleging campaign finance violations, access to the president, and potential sanctions evasion. Officials deny claims, seeking international help to uncover the source, as the country prepares to lead the European Union.

Reform UKs Richard Tice calls for a shake-up in UKs economic forecasting, proposing to replace the Office for Budget Responsibility with a rotating panel of top economic experts. Tice criticizes the OBRs inaccurate predictions and advocates for a more competitive and accurate forecasting system.