The World This Week

• From escalation to ceasefire in Iran, 'Daddy' Trump, Bezos' wedding carnival

  This week has seen unprecedented US intervention in Iran, in a pre-dawn operation code-named "Midnight Hammer". It's also seen another high profile message leak on the Signal app and deadly protests in Kenya.  Seven "silent assassins", the US B-2 Spirit bombers flew 18 hours from Missouri into Iranian airspace, to fire 14 of the world's most powerful bombs at the main enrichment site at Fordo and at Natanz. The overall attack involved 125 fighter jets, several strategic feints, and submarine fire. Not a shot was fired in response. "Complete and utter obliteration" claimed President Donald Trump. Iran hit back later at the US, with ballistic missiles targeting the American base at Qatar, though it telegraphed in advance. Some 24 hours later, a ceasefire was agreed between Iran and Israel. It's holding so far, after a questionable start and presidential outrage at both sides.  This week has also seen another high profile message leak on the Signal app. This time a private thank you note, a "Dear Donald" message sent by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, that said "Congratulations for your decisive action in Iran, something no one else dared to do" and "Flying into another big success at The Hague. It was not easy but we’ve got them all signed onto 5 percent! Europe is going to pay in a BIG (capital letters) way, and it will be your win."  The leaker: Trump, of course, who published it on Truth Social ahead of the NATO summit. No harm done, said Rutte, the so-called Trump whisperer, who later went on to allude to him as "Daddy". Plus, it's been a week that's seen thousands of Kenyans protesting against police brutality and government corruption in cities across the country. Security forces barricaded President William Ruto's office, as police fired water canon, tear gas and reportedly live fire too, as they clashed with demonstrators in Nairobi. At least 16 people were killed. The protests marked a year since a grassroots movement first took to the streets of the capital, against the president's planned tax law – a movement that spread nationwide after the deaths and disappearances of some of the demonstrators.  Produced by Gavin Lee, Charles Wente, Siobhan Silke, Aurore Laborie and Laura Burloux.

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• Israel-Iran war, Trump's decision, G7, Bezos wedding protests

  In a week of escalating conflict between Israel and Iran that's been decades in the making, assassinations, air strikes and missile attacks have pushed the region to the brink. Iran is striking back, with seven days of air raid sirens across Israel and a hospital hit in Beersheba. As the crisis deepens, US President Donald Trump faces a pivotal choice: whether to join the fight and unleash the only weapons capable of destroying Iran’s underground nuclear site at Fordow. A decision is promised within two weeks.  Meanwhile, across Europe, protests erupted over "over-tourism". Demonstrators in Spain, Portugal, and Italy took to the streets with slogans like “Your Holiday, Our Misery.” In Barcelona, tourists were targeted with water pistols. In Venice, the arrival of Jeff Bezos for his three-day wedding sparked outrage. “No Space for Bezos” read the signs. Produced by Gavin Lee, Charles Wente, Antonia Cimini, Guillaume Gougeon and Laura Burloux.

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• The World This Week: Israel v Iran special

  It’s been a week of escalating global tensions. Israel launched a series of targeted strikes on Iran – codenamed Operation Rising Lion – aimed at crippling Tehran's nuclear capabilities. Iran has vowed a swift response. In the United States, protests erupted in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement, as federal officers intensified roundups of undocumented migrants – part of President Donald Trump’s broader plan for mass deportations. Meanwhile in Ukraine, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa came under heavy fire. Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults yet, striking the capital with a wave of 315 drones and ballistic missiles. And in Europe, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte delivered a stark warning in London: defence spending is no longer optional –it’s existential. Produced by Gavin Lee, Charles Wente, Siobhan Silke, Guillaume Gougeon and Laura Burloux.

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• Ukraine's 'Spider's Web', Gaza, The Trump-Musk feud, Elon's new city

  This week, Ukraine launched Operation Spider's Web. Some 18 months in the planning and personally overseen by President Volodymyr Zelensky, simultaneous drone attacks were launched across Russian airfields, destroying its fighter jets and strategic bombers. The Ukrainian intelligence service claimed 40 planes had been left burning on the tarmac. Russia described it as terrorism and President Vladimir Putin vowed revenge. It's also been a week that’s seen two new presidents elected. A hard-right nationalist in Poland won by a whisker in the runoff vote. It was the opposition-backed candidate, Karol Navrovski, a historian and amateur boxer, who prevailed, dealing a blow to the centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his chances of reforming the country. Meanwhile in South Korea, Lee Jae-myung won a snap election following the downfall of his disgraced predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol after his disastrous attempt to declare martial law last December. The new leader, who on the night that troops tried to take over the National Assembly had rallied people to come out on the streets, now pitches himself as the unifier of a divided country.It's been a back to the future week for President Donald Trump, who is once again banning citizens of several countries from entering the US. Those nations include Iran, Libya, Somalia and Yemen, with echoes of 2017, both on the grounds of protecting against terrorism. This time Trump referred to Sunday's attack on an Israeli peace March in Colorado, which was carried out by an Egyptian suspect. Notably, Egypt wasn't on the list. And it’s been a week when relations between Trump and Elon Musk fell apart quicker than a Space X Falcon 9 launch. We also take a closer look at Starbase, Musk's controversial new city in Texas.Produced by Andrew Hilliar, Aurore Laborie and Gavin Lee. 

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• Gaza aid, 'TACO Trump', Musk 'offboarded', Macron and 'le slap'

  This week saw Israel attempt a new plan to distribute food in Gaza, bypassing the UN and using American private contractors known as the Gaza Humanitarian Fund. But it was suspended on day one after looting, chaos and security measures were overwhelmed by desperate crowds. Meanwhile, the once-steadfast support of Israel's key allies has seen a diplomatic erosion, with private outrage turning to public condemnation. It's also been the week that Elon Musk said goodbye to the Trump administration and left his role at the White House. The world's richest man said his time has come to an end at the Department of Government Efficiency, just days after his public critique of Trump's so-called big beautiful tax bill, calling it too expensive and undermining the point of DOGE. Washington insiders quoted sources suggesting Musk had been seen as a bit of nuisance in the Trump inner circle. White House officials told reporters he was "offboarded" on Wednesday night. Finally, it was a week that created an inadvertent legacy moment for French President Emmanuel Macron on a visit to Southeast Asia: a push in the face from the first lady. The moment is likely to be included in every future look back at the president's career. Pay no attention to the couple behind the plane's curtain, it was just "play fighting", the French president said. Produced by Siobhan Silke, Aurore Laborie and Gavin Lee. 

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