French court clears way for Marine Le Pen presidential run

Marine Le Pen faces a complex path to the next French presidential election after a court upheld her embezzlement conviction, mandating an electronic tag that complicates her ability to campaign freely. Meanwhile, the NATO summit in Turkey highlights growing tensions over defense spending, with leaders urging European nations to increase investment while Ukraine continues to press for critical air defense support against Russian ballistic attacks. In Syria, security concerns persist following explosions in Damascus during President Macron’s visit, underscoring the instability facing the region. Domestically in the UK, Nigel Farage has resigned as an MP to trigger a by-election, framing the move as a challenge to the political establishment amidst financial scrutiny. Additionally, new research indicates a fertility tipping point for women at age 49, even with donor eggs, while the BBC Persian service continues to navigate severe restrictions to provide independent reporting within Iran.