The World This Week

This week, the war in Gaza appeared to get closer to a 60-day truce. The past seven days also saw a corruption trial facing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed by an Israeli court. The move came hours after US President Donald Trump took to social media, claiming the case was a witch hunt and would interfere with the Israeli prime minister's urgent diplomacy to negotiate a deal for Gaza.   While diplomats talked up a chance for a ceasefire, Israeli fighter jets significantly increased their missile fire across the strip.  Since Saturday, at least 300 Palestinians have died, according to the Hamas-run health authorities, with a beachside cafe that’s been seen as a rare place for respite destroyed, killing dozens of people. Israel says Hamas militants were the target.  Meanwhile, the UN's special rapporteur for the occupied territories Francesca Albanese delivered one of the most damning assessments of Israeli actions in the conflict so far, repeating her stance that a genocide is taking place, which Israel vehemently denies. Going further, Albanese – an independent expert appointed by the UN to investigate human rights issues – labelled the global companies who deal with Israel as complicit, and called the sole provider of aid, the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, nothing but a death trap. The US government is calling for Albanese to be dismissed, calling her anti-Semitic.  Stateside on Independence Day, Trump signed his self-titled "One Big Beautiful Bill", with critics calling him a reverse Robin Hood. We also take a look at what's behind the sentencing of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in Algiers. His five-year jail term was upheld on appeal this week. Produced by Gavin Lee, Charles Wente, Henri-Pierre Mafulu, Aurore Laborie and Laura Burloux.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

For the first time, leaders of France, the UK, and Canada have issued an explicit threat of sanctions if Israeli forces don’t halt their renewed offensive to seize full control of Gaza. The warning came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that “minimal” humanitarian aid would resume – a move the UN has dismissed as a drop in the ocean.

President Donald Trump made the first overseas tour of his second term this week to the Middle East, where Riyadh royalty rolled out a lavender carpet ahead of a 600-billion-dollar pledge of Saudi investment for US contracts. Qatar next, where The Beast was surrounded by a caravan of camels, while the man inside watched a ceremonial sword-dance spectacle. Then onwards to the UAE to the sound of drums and the swishing of hair, more big money deals announced too. A trip that made headlines for a surprise meeting with Syria’s warlord turned President; and questions over why Trump left Israel off the itinerary; and on the ethics of accepting the gift of a winged palace from Doha.It’s also been a week where President Zelensky called President Putin’s bluff. He was awaiting talks in Turkey, the setting the Russian leader had chosen for negotiations, rather than accepting an unconditional ceasefire. Putin was a no show, stand-in props sent instead according to Kyiv. Moscow had barely had the time to call Zelensky “a clown” in response by the time President Trump intervened. “Nothing’s going to happen”, he suddenly declared to reporters, “until Putin and I get together”. We’ll assess when and where the stage is being set for that. And it’s the week where the 78th Cannes Film Festival kicked off … Juliette Binoche heads up this year’s jury. A new dress code too, no nudity or gowns with long trains. And honorary Palme D’or has already been awarded to Robert De Niro, who used his acceptance speech to criticise President Trump and the big tip for this year's best film award is the Japanese drama “Renoir”.Produced by Luis Miguel Cabrera, Jean-Vincent Russo, Rebecca Gnignati and Laura Burloux. 

In a week that marked US President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office, national security adviser Mike Waltz wasn't celebrating, as he was moved being aside. The first cabinet casualty of the president's second term, Waltz's departure appears to be a direct result of Signalgate, when he accidentally added a journalist to a group chat planning attacks on Yemen's Houthi rebels. We assess the first 100 days and Trump's so-called "muzzle velocity strategy" of flooding the media space with continuous announcements. It perhaps comes as no surprise that he’s given himself full marks.This week has also seen the political comeback of the year so far, thanks partly to the threats and trolling from Trump. Canada's Liberal Party came out on top in elections there, despite being discarded by analysts as down and out at the start of the year. Tariffs and trade wars triggered by their big neighbour, and Trump’s threats to annex them seem to have helped galvanise a patriotic pushback. Mark Carney's task was to distance himself from predecessor Justin Trudeau, while Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre had to distance himself from claims of being a mini Trump. Voters opted for Liberal ex-banker Carney, who expressed his happiness at party headquarters in the form of dance.And it’s been a rare week of good news in Ukraine, or at least that's how it’s being presented by negotiators in Kyiv and Washington. A critical minerals deal has been concluded with the US, one that was first proposed by the Ukrainians to President Joe Biden last autumn. It morphed under Trump into an IOU agreement: critical minerals for repayment of past US aid. After the Oval Office spat, and with Ukrainian hopes of a security guarantee out of the question, terms were dropped and better concessions agreed, which Kyiv sees as a good deal, given the circumstances. We assess what it means for the conflict.Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera, Juliette Laffont, Charles Wente, Laura Burloux and Guillaume Gougeon.

The world said goodbye to Pope Francis this week. Tens of thousands of mourners queued to pay their respects as he lay in state in Saint Peter's Basilica over three days of mourning. We discuss his life and legacy, the geopolitics of his papal funeral and look ahead to the conclave that will follow.  Also this week, Russian forces launched the heaviest assault on Ukraine's capital since last summer. Seventy missiles and 145 drones hit a civilian district in Kyiv, in a week that began with a sudden announcement from the Kremlin of a 30-hour Easter truce, seen as peace posturing propaganda by European leaders.US President Donald Trump claimed he has his own private deadline in mind before he will walk away from efforts for a "real truce" in Ukraine, making a personal appeal to Vladimir Putin. "Vladimir, STOP", Trump wrote on social media, adding that he’s not happy with Russian strikes, this in an apparent change of tone.It’s also been a week of renewed tensions between India and Pakistan, after the deadliest attack on civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir for 25 years. Militants posing as police shot and killed 25 Indian tourists and one Nepalese citizen in a Himalayan mountain retreat. Kashmir, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan, has been a flashpoint for insurgency for decades, but attacks on tourists are rare. Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera, Aurore Laborie, Charles Wente.

A week on from Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff's meeting with Vladimir Putin, Witkoff has been in Paris for transatlantic talks. We assess the state of play for Ukraine. We also look at the significance of US-Iran nuclear talks – the first major level of engagement in years. We then discuss the significance of the UK Supreme Court’s landmark ruling: the terms "woman" and "sex" refer to biological sex. Finally, we look at reactions to the first female space flight in six decades.

In a week where US President Donald Trump played fast and loose with world markets, his global tariff threats became a reality, with brutal and immediate economic fallout. Dozens of countries reached out to negotiate – or, as Trump described it – begged and pleaded to have the import taxes on supposed friends and foes removed. We also saw supposed friends within the Trump administration become public foes, as Elon Musk called trade adviser Pete Navarro "dumber than a sack of bricks". Musk did swiftly apologise … to the bricks.  And while Washington's brinksmanship with Beijing remained, the rest of the world was given a partial reprieve of 90 days.This week also saw the end of five months of political limbo in Europe's biggest economy. Germany's government had been stuck in neutral since the coalition collapsed in November, but after winning February's election, chancellor-to-be Friedrich Merz has at last struck a deal between his centre- right party and the centre-left Social Democrats. But there's been a timely reminder of the thin ice the new coalition is skating on. A poll released this week shows the far-right AfD in ascendency. It's now regarded, for the first time, as the country's most popular party.Finally, this week has seen the United Arab Emirates brought to the International Court of Justice, accused of complicity in genocide in Sudan. In the middle of a civil war, the Sudanese military rulers are accusing the UAE of providing direct financial and political support to Sudan's rival faction, the Rapid Support Forces, and claiming that in doing so, Doha has enabled the RSF to carry out widespread atrocities in Darfur. The UAE denies the claims.Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera, Juliette Laffont, Charles Wente.

The past week will be, according to US President Donald Trump, "remembered forever" for what happened on Wednesday, April 2. "Liberation Day", as he called it, saw the US leader announce sweeping tariffs on friend and foe alike. There's no denying the magnitude of a move that is causing international panic and a slump in the global stock markets. Any company making products outside of the US will now have to pay increased costs to export them – although notably, that doesn't include Russia. Western analysts say the maths behind the tariffs all seem a bit totted up on the "back of a fag packet". Trump claims it's about fairness for Uncle Sam, and is warning others not to strike back.Meanwhile, it's been a surprising week in French politics. A criminal court in Paris has ruled Marine Le Pen ineligible to run for public office for the next five years, effective immediately, after being found guilty of embezzling €4 million of EU Parliament funds. The far-right opposition figurehead was, until now, the front runner in France's 2027’s presidential elections. "Unbelievable", Le Pen uttered, as she stormed out of court before the judge had even finished reading the sentence. With her political dreams upended, and now forced to wear an electronic tag for the next two years, her anger was visible on Monday night primetime television.It's also been a week that’s seen Hungary roll out the red carpet for a leader wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu chanced his first European trip since being indicted in November, in the knowledge that his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban was withdrawing from the ICC and wouldn't be obliged to arrest him on arrival.And it's been a week that’s seen a crisis on top of a crisis in Myanmar. The nation is suffering from the effects of the biggest earthquake in a century, and the military regime is using the aftermath of the natural disaster for military advantage: bombing rebel-held areas, according to the UN, as well as reportedly blocking the flow of humanitarian aid and firing on a Chinese Red Cross convoy that was trying to help victims of the earthquake. The overall death toll has now reached more than 3,000.Produced by Ilayda Habib, Aurore Laborie and Alessandro Xenos. 

This week has seen the biggest unrest in Turkey in a decade. Mass street protests have taken place there in the face of a heavy government crackdown, where large gatherings have been banned, social media has been limited, and almost 2,000 people have been arrested. It's also been a week that's exposed a huge lapse in the internal comms of the Trump administration, where the world became privy to the casual banter during the coordination of a bombing raid in Yemen. The scandal has become known as Signalgate, after journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to the Signal chat.It's also been a week of confusion, conflicting statements and setbacks for any kind of peace deal in Ukraine. On Tuesday, the White House announced it had brokered separate agreements with Moscow and Kyiv to cease hostilities in the Black Sea, aiming to ensure safe navigation. But within hours, the truce was in trouble. Meanwhile, leaders of the new coalition of the willing met in Paris to support Ukraine. Trump's key interlocutor on the conflict suggested they were all playing at being Winston Churchill.Produced by Gavin Lee, Theophile Vareille, Juliette Laffont, Laura Burloux, Charles Wente.

This week, a high-stakes call between the Russian and US leaders shaped the Ukraine conflict, with Russia claiming a diplomatic victory while key issues remained unresolved. Meanwhile in Gaza, Israeli air strikes reignited violence, killing over 600 Palestinians, including children, and deepening PM Binyamin Netanyahu’s political crisis. Plus, the Trump administration deported hundreds of alleged gang members to El Salvador, setting up a showdown with the US judiciary. Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera, Guillaume Gougeon, Charles Wente and Laura Burloux.

This week, our set of experts gathered around Gavin Lee to take a look at the latest in the Ukraine-Russia ceasefire proposal, clashes and mass killings in Syria and Donald Trump's tariff war against the EU and its neighbouring countries.  It has been a week of suspicion and distrust with the sudden prospect of a ceasefire in Ukraine. Proposed after Ukrainian negotiators were forced to the table for talks with the US in Saudi Arabia, and coming days after discovering their most important ally had switched off intelligence sharing and military support. The ball is now in Russia’s court according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and for 48 hours it was. The Kremlin considered its response. When it came, it first sounded like a breakthrough. “We agree…”, Russian president Vladimir Putin said, before adding that “there are nuances needed”. Nuance means a very slight difference, a subtle distinction. Ukraine’s interpretation was that it was Russian manipulation.It has also been a week that we see some of the worst sectarian violence in Syria for years, taking place in the coastal strongholds of former dictator Bashar al Assad.And it has been a good week for Mark Carney, the man once dubbed the Rock Star banker. Polls suggested that he hardly was a recognisable face in his country two months ago, with 75 per cent of the public not knowing who he was. Now he is the prime minister, overwhelmingly voted in by liberal party members to replace the resigning and tearful Justin Trudeau. Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera, Meiqi AN

This week, the US tightened the screws on Ukraine, pausing military aid until Kyiv shows more willingness to negotiate – starting with handing over half its rare earth resources to America. Moscow welcomed the shift, calling it “aligned with the Kremlin’s vision,” while Ukraine scrambled to smooth things over with a letter to Trump.  Trump also kicked off the biggest protectionist move since 1930, slapping heavy tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Markets tanked, and The Wall Street Journal called it “the dumbest tariff war in history.” By week’s end, signs of a rollback emerged, and Justin Trudeau hit back with his own “Dear Donald” letter. In Turkey, a major breakthrough: the PKK declared a ceasefire after its jailed leader called for disarmament, signalling an end to a four-decade conflict that claimed over 40,000 lives. A rare good news story – one that could also extend Erdogan’s rule.Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera and Guillaume Gougeon.

There have been unprecedented scenes in the White House this Friday: a fierce row unfolding in front of cameras at the Oval Office between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian leader was described as "disrespectful" by both Trump and US Vice President JD Vance, who also accused him of playing to the media. Four international correspondents discuss the unprecedented fallout with FRANCE 24's Gavin Lee and talk through the "excruciating" scenes at the Oval office. Plus our White House correspondent Fraser Jackson reports live as events unfold. We ask: what are the implications for Zelensky and the security of his country? Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera, Lila Paulou and Nick Rushworth.

Three years after ending all official communications with Moscow, the US government is suddenly back in Russia’s orbit. The two nuclear powers sat down in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to find a path to ending the Ukraine war and more besides. The talks were no longer about how to deal with the aggressor in the conflict, but how to normalise relations and make Russia a potential partner for future energy deals. So what of Ukraine?  Left out of talks, Ukraine's president is picking up scraps of detail via the press. His biggest ally, the US, is now his biggest problem. Volodymyr Zelensky suggested Donald Trump was living in Vladimir Putin's disinformation space. Trump’s defence was to attack, accusing Zelensky of being a dictator. "Moscow holds the cards in the conflict," said Trump. But does Moscow have the president’s ear? It's been a week where Europe was forced to rapidly rethink its own defences and consider how to remain a relevant voice in Ukraine after also being sidelined in the talks. Emergency meetings were held in Paris. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it a once-in-a-generation moment for national security, and offered to send British peacekeeping troops to Ukraine in the future. There was no room at the table for Hungary or Slovakia, their leaders being on friendly terms with Putin. Slovak PM Robert Fico said Europe should stop crying with unnecessary nervousness, referencing the shock caused by the US Vice President's recent blunt critique of Europe, which had the head of the Munich Security Conference in tears.This week has also seen the final TV debate of the German election campaign. The conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz is odds-on favourite to be the next chancellor. Merz is a helicopter-flying multi-millionaire and a longtime bitter rival of former chancellor Angela Merkel. But analysts say he's capable of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time and has to avoid conversationally slipping on a banana skin if he's to win.Meanwhile, current Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he still thinks he can triumph, even if others have written him off. There's much focus, too, on the continuing rise of the far-right AfD party, who are expected to double their vote, having garnered notable support from US VP JD Vance, as well as Elon Musk and his X algorithm. Migration and the economy are key voter issues, with Europe's biggest economy sliding closer towards recession. We examine the key issues and profile the contenders.

This week, Moscow got what it wanted. A Trump-Putin call ended with talk of visits and no NATO future for Ukraine. As Vladimir Putin steps back in, Volodymyr Zelensky risks being shut out and the EU warns of a behind-the-scenes deal. In Gaza, the truce nearly collapsed as Hamas delayed hostage releases, citing Israeli violations. Donald Trump launched an ultimatum: free them all or "let all hell break loose". Hamas dismissed the threat, but stuck to the plan. Freed hostages spoke of starvation and abuse. Meanwhile, at the Paris AI summit, US VP JD Vance pushed for no regulation, while Emmanuel Macron warned of AI's "Wild West" risks, yet seized the business opportunity. Safety concerns barely got a mention. Produced by Gavin Lee, Luis Miguel Cabrera and Guillaume Gougeon.