The World This Week

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


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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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