Orban's peace mission in Beijing; France's leftist surprise

• Viktor Orban, Hungary's Prime Minister, arrived in Beijing on Monday for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The news was conveyed by the Prime Minister's press secretary, Bertalan Havasi, citing the MTI agency. "[Prime Minister Viktor Orban's] The peace mission continues," said Havasi. The Hungarian Prime Minister, accompanied by Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, is expected to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine. The head of the Prime Minister's political cabinet, Balazs Orban, said that the Prime Minister considers it his duty that the European Union, under the Hungarian presidency, take active measures regarding the war in Ukraine. The visit to Beijing marks the third unexpected move by Orban, who described his trips as a "peace mission." Previously, Orban visited Kyiv and Moscow, actions that were met with criticism from other European Union countries.

• France was still grappling with the shock of the victory of the New People's Front in the French parliamentary elections. Unexpectedly, the left-wing movement surpassed President Emmanuel Macron's camp, with the favoured National Rally coming in third place. The French mobilised and pushed back against Marine Le Pen's forces. The group, expected to win the most seats in the new parliament, ended up in third position. The leftist alliance, formed three weeks before the elections, won. Even with the support of right-wing Republicans, Marine Le Pen will not gain power in France. The victorious NPF can count on 182 seats, President Macron's party on 168, and Le Pen's party on 143 parliamentary seats. Centre-right parliamentarians will occupy 45 seats.

• The Operational Command of the Armed Forces reported the scrambling of Polish and Allied fighters overnight from Sunday to Monday. The order to launch the aircraft resulted from increased Russian aviation activity over western Ukraine. Strikes were conducted on targets located in western Ukrainian territory.

• In Asia, monsoon rains led to many tragic events. According to Asian News International, 62 people died, and 90 were injured in disasters and accidents last night. Floods destroyed homes and bridges in Parbat and nearby towns of Dolakha and Gorkha. Traffic in various regions was halted due to floods and landslides caused by the rain. Monsoon rains occur every year from June to September and cause enormous damage.

• The state of Texas in the USA was preparing overnight for the arrival of storm Beryl. The National Hurricane Center warned of destructive winds, storm surges, and rainfall. Some of the state's most significant ports were closed Monday morning, and residents were warned of potential widespread power outages. Beryl caused the death of at least 10 people in the Caribbean before being downgraded to a tropical storm when it hit the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Michael Brennan, the director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center, warned residents affected by Hurricane Beryl to find safe shelter by Monday "as hazardous conditions will persist even after the centre of Beryl moves through."