Ex-French PM Dominique de Villepin launches party with view to 2027 presidential run

Senior figure has set up Humanist France and is attracting support due to his criticisms of Israel’s actions in Gaza

The former French prime minister and foreign policy chief Dominique de Villepin has launched a political party called Humanist France, with a view to a possible bid for the French presidency in 2027.

De Villepin, who was prime minister under the rightwing president Jacques Chirac from 2005 to 2007, is best known for his dramatic speech to the United Nations in 2003, setting out France’s opposition to a US-led Iraq war and warning of the “incalculable consequences” of military action in the region.

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Trump backtracks on ‘regime change’ talk in Iran – Politico

  1. Trump backtracks on ‘regime change’ talk in Iran  Politico
  2. Trump hints at regime change in Iran amid questions over damage from U.S. strikes on nuclear sites  CBS News
  3. MAGA erupts over Trump’s Iran ‘regime change’ talk  The Hill
  4. Trump and His Advisers Can’t Get the Message Straight on Regime Change in Iran  Vanity Fair
  5. Trump Wants to ‘Make Iran Great Again’  The Atlantic
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How Iran is using the war with Israel to ramp up repression by arresting ‘spies’ – France 24

  1. How Iran is using the war with Israel to ramp up repression by arresting ‘spies’  France 24
  2. Iran executes 3 more prisoners over allegedly spying for Israel, state media say  AP News
  3. Iran says 700 arrested for wartime ties with Israel; 3 alleged Mossad agents hanged  The Times of Israel
  4. Iranian paramilitaries go on the hunt for Mossad agents  Financial Times
  5. Iran executes three more prisoners over allegedly spying for Israel, its state-run IRNA news agency says  ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
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Trump says whether he’ll commit to NATO mutual defense guarantee ‘Depends on your definition’ – AP News

  1. Trump says whether he'll commit to NATO mutual defense guarantee 'Depends on your definition'  AP News
  2. Trump heads to NATO summit as Europe agrees to heed his defense spending demands  Fox News
  3. NATO Leader’s Aim? Give Trump What He Wants: A Win on Military Spending.  The New York Times
  4. President Trump Departs for NATO Summit  C-SPAN
  5. Trump to attend NATO summit after US strikes on Iran and a ceasefire in question  ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
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NATO summit sidesteps question of Trump ending military aid to Ukraine – The Washington Post

  1. NATO summit sidesteps question of Trump ending military aid to Ukraine  The Washington Post
  2. Trump says he will probably meet Zelenskiy at NATO summit  Reuters
  3. NATO chief: Ukraine’s path to alliance still ‘irreversible’  politico.eu
  4. Zelensky plans to meet Trump at NATO summit in The Hague  The Kyiv Independent
  5. NATO chief says Ukraine remains vital at summit despite Zelenskyy's absence from leaders' meeting  AP News
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Pope Leo XIV sends telegram to victims of Damascus bombing – Vatican News

  1. Pope Leo XIV sends telegram to victims of Damascus bombing  Vatican News
  2. Suicide bomber kills at least 22 in Greek Orthodox church in Syria during Divine Liturgy  AP News
  3. Bishop Zaidan Urges Prayers for Syria Amid Sectarian Violence  usccb
  4. Syrian Christian leader chides president over deadly church bombing  Reuters
  5. Shadowy jihadist group claims Damascus church attack, as government blames ISIS  The Times of Israel
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WHO says attack on Sudanese hospital killed more than 40 civilians

Five health workers reportedly among the dead in West Kordofan as paramilitary RSF blames Sudanese military

The head of the World Health Organization has condemned an attack on a hospital in Sudan that he said had killed more than 40 civilians, as the country’s civil war, which has caused the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, rages on.

The attack on al-Mujlad hospital in West Kordofan happened on Saturday close to the frontline between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The WHO’s local office, which did not assign blame, said six children and five health workers were among the dead and that there were “dozens of injuries”.

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Germany backs major NATO defense spending boost — but not to please Trump – politico.eu

  1. Germany backs major NATO defense spending boost — but not to please Trump  politico.eu
  2. Germany to Spend Record Amount on Its Military and Infrastructure  The New York Times
  3. Germany's Merz says Europe must end US defense 'free-ride'  DW
  4. German cabinet passes 2025 draft budget with leap in defence spending  Reuters
  5. Can Germany afford a 5% NATO defense spending target?  CNBC
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Israel killed at least 14 scientists in an unprecedented attack on Iran’s nuclear know-how – AP News

  1. Israel killed at least 14 scientists in an unprecedented attack on Iran’s nuclear know-how  AP News
  2. Nuclear Scientist Mohammad Reza Seddighi Saber Killed In Israeli Strike: Report  NDTV
  3. Operation Narnia: Iran's nuclear scientists reportedly killed simultaneously using special weapon  The Times of Israel
  4. Top Iranian Nuclear Scientists Killed By Secret Israeli Weapon: Report  The War Zone
  5. Nuclear scientists have long been targets in covert ops – Israel has brought that policy out of the shadows  The Conversation
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