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The North Korea-Russia relationship
Analysis: Their "bromance" is a pure transaction

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un's relationship is rooted in need. One has something the other wants – Putin wants artillery shells and Kim wants money, writes the BBC's Laura Bicker.

"In fact, historically there hasn't been much trust between the countries and the talk of a 'bromance' can be preempting things."

Outwardly, the Kremlin's official line is that other countries need not worry about the visit and the security pact expected to be signed, writes Ivor Bennett for Sky News.

"Behind the scenes, however, they will be delighted by the concern the visit is causing. It is at most two diplomatic middle fingers to the West.”

The announcement of Putin's visit to North Korea has raised concerns in Washington, writes Stephen Collinson for CNN.

In March, Joe Biden's chief of intelligence, Avril Haines, said that Russia's need to replenish military supplies led Putin to give North Korea "far-reaching concessions," he continues.

"But the US doesn't seem to know what Kim will get in return."

There is speculation about money, energy infrastructure – or, what is feared most of all: nuclear weapons and robotics expertise, Collinson writes. 

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The Israel-Hamas warThe attacks
Task: The IDF observed as Hamas trained for the act

Just weeks before Hamas' terrorist act on October 7, 2023, Israel's military had fresh information about plans for an attack. This is learned by the Israeli public service channel Kan.

According to a document seen by Kan, IDF forces had observed militant fighters from Hamas practicing attacks on Israeli military positions and civilians in kibbutzim. The IDF also reportedly knew that Hamas was training its units to take hostages.

The Times of Israel writes that the IDF mistakenly assumed that the high-tech border security would stop Hamas.

Already at the end of last year, the New York Times reported that, the year before, Israel had a 40-page document that described Hamas's plans step by step.

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The new election in France
French center swings both ways: “Plague or cholera”

With less than two weeks to go before the new French election, President Emmanuel Macron's bloc is in third place in opinion polls, behind the far right and the new left alliance.

This has caused the tone of the governing center to harden, writes AFP. The leader of the center party Democratic Movement, Francois Bayrou, describes the choice between the left and the National Assembly as "plague or cholera".

At the same time, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal claims that both sides would lead France "straight into bankruptcy" if they emerged victorious from the election.