TOP NEWS

Political situation in France
Support for the far-right grows ahead of the Paris election

The French far-right party Reconquêtes mayoral candidate in Paris, Sarah Knafo, looks set to advance to the second round of next month's election. This is according to a recent opinion poll, reports Politico. If so, it would be the first time in the capital, where the far-right party has previously had difficulty gathering support.

According to the poll, Knafo receives ten percent of the support, which is the minimum level to advance. This also means that she is on a significant rise, as she only received six percent in the corresponding poll in December.

The poll suggests that five candidates could make it to the second round, which is a record. The favorite is the socialist Emmanuel Grégoire, who receives 33 percent in the poll.

Russian invasion  Negotiations
Ukraine's plan B in peacetime: A giant army of its own

Ukraine needs to be able to defend itself when it can't rely on any security guarantees from the US and Europe, the country's NATO ambassador Aljona Getmanchuk tells Politico.

- The longer the war goes on, the more convinced Ukrainians become that they must rely first and foremost on themselves, she says.

Even in peacetime, Ukraine could remain a heavily militarized country. To stand up to Russia alone, a huge standing army, heavy investments in the latest robot and drone technology, and a significant domestic arms industry are needed, writes Politico.

Among the preparations, the agreement with Sweden is mentioned, where Ukraine can buy up to 150 Gripen E fighter jets from Saab.

Mette-Marit's Epstein Contact
Organizations: Cards on the Table from the Royal House

Three Norwegian organizations that are under the patronage of Crown Princess Mette-Marit are demanding that the Royal House lay its cards on the table regarding her contacts with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Norwegian media report.

In a joint open letter, the organizations – Førdefestivalen, Hamsundagene and Nynorsk Kultursentrum – write that the new information is "serious and worrying".

Earlier on Wednesday, the Progress Party demanded that the government appoint an independent review of the contacts that people in high positions in culture, business and politics have had with Epstein, VG reports.

Trump's USA Mid-year elections
Panic in Republicans as Latino voters flee the party

There is now great concern among American Republicans regarding the support of important Latino voters ahead of the autumn mid-year elections, Politico reports. This after a Democratic candidate won a local by-election in a district in Texas that is normally largely dominated by Republicans.

The election was decided primarily by a major shift in party sympathies among Latino voters, a change that several broader polls have also pointed to.

Internally within the party, voices are now being raised that the Republicans need to revise their tough immigration policy.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to a change of this magnitude,” writes Florida’s Republican governor Ron DeSantis on X, for example. 

Stop from the church: Meloni is not supposed to be an angel

The angel holding a map of Italy was suspected of resembling Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni when Bruno Valentinetti finished restoring his previous paintings in a church in Rome.

The 83-year-old artist himself claims that the inspiration is actually his own “old flame”. The diocese of Rome, however, expressed “disappointment” when La Repubblica first reported on his new painting on a fresco.

The main character has also commented.

“No, I definitely do not look like an angel,” writes Giorgia Meloni on Instagram, adding a crying emoji.

In the latest twist, La Repubblica reports that church and state have agreed to have the fresco painted over.