TOP NEWS

Political situation in France
Sources: Macron considering calling new elections this fall

French President Emmanuel Macron has consulted his inner circle and asked whether it is a good idea to dissolve parliament and hold new elections already this fall, informed sources tell Bloomberg.

Macron's idea is said to be that his party can take advantage of his own increased international profile in recent times.

No decision has been made and another option being discussed is to hold new elections next year in connection with the municipal elections.

A new election is not without risks, and one is that it is Marine Le Pen's National Rally that could instead take control of the government.

Emmanuel Macron's second and final term as president ends in 2027.

Political situation in Israel
Spy chief: Netanyahu asked me to monitor opponents

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to use the domestic intelligence service Shin Bet to monitor political opponents. This is stated by Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar in a written statement.

In connection with the anti-government protests, Netanyahu is said to have demanded that the Shin Bet spy on protesters. He is also said to have demanded Bar's loyalty in a possible conflict with the country's Supreme Court.

Netanyahu's office writes in a statement that Bar's letter is "full of lies".

Russian invasion  Sanctions
Source: EU investigates how Russian gas can

The European Commission is investigating whether legislation could prohibit companies in the Union from signing new contracts for deliveries of Russian fossil fuels, a senior EU official told Reuters.

The Commission is also investigating whether there may be opportunities for companies to terminate existing Russian gas contracts without having to pay penalties, the official said.

The proposals come as a number of EU member states would stop a complete blockade of Russian oil and natural gas, writes Reuters.

Russian gas deliveries through pipelines have fallen sharply since 2022, but instead deliveries of Russian liquefied natural gas have increased.

Trump's USA  The First Time
The fights have started again: "Fundamentally frivolous"

The internal fights and stabbings that were seen during Donald Trump's first term have now returned, notes the AP.

The White House is not "one big happy family," says the far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, who recently had a meeting with Trump.

- The advisers do not get along with each other. The heads of agencies do not get along with each other, says Loomer in a recent interview with journalist Tara Palmeri.

John Bolton, one of Trump's former national security advisers, says that the drama is due to the people around Trump lacking experience and a common ideology.

- The only thing they have in common is the conviction that they should show personal loyalty to Trump, Bolton tells the AP and continues:

- That's what got them the job. It may actually be what keeps them in the job. But it shows how fundamentally unserious they are.