The World This Week: Israel v Iran Special
46:48
From the show
It's been a week of escalating global tensions. Israel launched a series of targeted strikes on Iran—code-named 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 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: defense spending is no longer optional—it's existential.
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Euronews
35 minutes ago
- Euronews
Trump hosts military parade amid 'No Kings' protests across US
The grand military parade that US President Donald Trump had been wanting for years barrelled down Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC on Saturday with tanks, troops and a 21-gun salute. It played out against the counterpoint of protests around the country by those who decried the US leader as a dictator and would-be king. During the parade, which coincided with Trump's 79th birthday, he sat on a special viewing stand south of the White House to watch the display of American military might, which began early and moved swiftly as light rain fell and dark clouds shrouded the Washington Monument. The procession, with more than 6,000 soldiers and 128 Army tanks, was one Trump tried to make happen in his first term after seeing such an event in Paris in 2017, but the plans never came together until this year, when the parade was added to an event recognising the Army's 250th anniversary. Hours before the parade started, demonstrators turned out in streets and parks around the nation to sound off against the Republican president. They criticized Trump for using the military to respond to people protesting his deportation efforts and for the muscular military show in the US capital. In Washington, anti-war protesters unfurled signs that said 'Homes not drones' not far from a display of armoured vehicles, helicopters and military-grade equipment on the National Mall set up to commemorate the Army's birthday. Vendors outside the festival sold gear marking the military milestone. Others hawked Trump-themed merchandise. Doug Haynes, a Navy veteran who voted for Trump, attended the daylong festival to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday, but said that the parade 'was a little over the top.' Pointing at a nearby tank, Haynes said that having them roll down the street is a 'very bold statement to the world, perhaps.' 'No Kings' rallies unfolded in hundreds of cities, designed to counter what organisers said were Trump's plans to feed his ego on his 79th birthday and flag day. Organisers said they picked the name to support democracy and speak out against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The parade was added just a few weeks ago to the planned celebration of the Army's birthday and has drawn criticism for its price tag of up to $45 million and the possibility that the lumbering tanks could tear up city streets. The Army has taken a variety of steps to protect the streets, including laying metal plates along the route. The daylong display of America's Army comes as Trump has shown his willingness to use the nation's military might in ways other US presidents have typically avoided. In the last week, he has activated the California National Guard without the governor's permission and dispatched the US Marines to provide security during Los Angeles protests related to immigration raids, prompting a state lawsuit to stop the deployments. A previously calm demonstration in downtown LA quickly turned chaotic as police on horseback charged at the crowd, striking some with wood rods and batons as they cleared the street in front of the federal building. Officers then fired tear gas and crowd control projectiles at the large group, sending demonstrators, hot dog vendors and passing pedestrians fleeing through the street. Some have since regrouped, ignoring an LAPD dispersal order. 'Less lethal has been approved. Less lethal may cause discomfort and pain. It is advised that all persons leave the area,' police said in a post on X. 'It was a total 100% over-reaction. We weren't doing anything but standing around chanting peaceful protest,' said Samantha Edgerton, a 37-year-old bartender. Marines appeared for the first time at a demonstration since they were deployed to city on Friday with the stated mission of defending federal property. Dozens of Marines stood shoulder to shoulder in full combat gear, hands on their rifles, beside other law enforcement, including Department of Homeland Security officers at the National Guard. Directly in front of them, hundreds of protesters jeered in English and Spanish, telling the federal troops to go home. Iran and Israel traded rounds of strikes late Saturday in the latest salvo since a surprise attack a day earlier aimed at decimating Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme. Israeli citizens were instructed to take shelter in protected spaces as Iran launched a new round of retaliatory attacks. 'Millions of Israelis are running to shelter in northern Israel due to projectile fire from Iran,' the Israeli military said in a post on X. The Magen David Adom emergency service said one woman was killed, with over a dozen others wounded, when a two-story home in the north was hit. Within the hour, Israel's military said people could leave shelters. Both Israel's military and Iran state television announced the latest round of Iranian missiles as explosions were heard near midnight, while the Israeli security cabinet met. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in a statement said that Iranian missiles targeted facilities of production of fuel for Israeli jetfighters. It said Iran will fire further missiles if Israeli strikes continue. The countries have been trading blows a day after Israel's blistering attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites. Israel's military quickly noted that it was also striking 'military targets' in Tehran. 'Tehran is burning," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on social media, and Iranian state television said explosions were heard in the city's east and west. Jordan said it has closed its airspace. Oman's foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, said on social media the sixth round of indirect nuclear talks on Sunday 'will not now take place." Although the talks are off for now, 'we remain committed to talks and hope the Iranians will come to the table soon," said a senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomacy. Israel and Iran signalled further attacks, despite urgent calls from world leaders to deescalate and avoid all-out war. In what could be another escalation if confirmed, semi-official Iranian news agencies reported an Israeli drone struck and caused a 'strong explosion' at an Iranian natural-gas processing plant. It would be the first Israeli attack on Iran's oil and natural gas industry. Israel's military did not immediately comment. The extent of damage at the South Pars natural gas field was not immediately clear. Such sites have air defence systems around them, which Israel has been targeting. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only, and US intelligence agencies have assessed that Tehran was not actively pursuing the bomb. But its uranium enrichment has reached near weapons-grade levels, and on Thursday, the UN's atomic watchdog censured Iran for not complying with obligations meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Aragchi said Saturday the nuclear talks were 'unjustifiable' after Israel's strikes. His comments came during a call with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
LeMonde
2 hours ago
- LeMonde
Anti-Trump protesters rally across US on same day as military parade
Tens of thousands of protesters rallied nationwide on Saturday, June 14 against Donald Trump ahead of a huge military parade on the US president's 79th birthday – as the killing of a Democratic lawmaker underscored the deep divisions in American politics. "No Kings" demonstrators took to the streets in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, Atlanta and hundreds of other cities across the United States to condemn what they call Trump's dictatorial overreach. Trump's huge military parade will see tanks rumble through Washington for the first time in decades to mark the 250th birthday of the US Army – and the president's own. "I think it's disgusting," protester Sarah Hargrave, 42, told AFP at a protest in the Washington, DC suburb of Bethesda, describing Trump's parade as a "display of authoritarianism." Republican Trump, who has begun his second term by pushing presidential powers to unprecedented levels, boasted on his Truth Social network that it was a "big day for America!!!" He added that Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, for whom he has repeatedly expressed admiration, had "very nicely" called him to wish him a happy birthday. The two leaders also agreed on the need for an end to the Iran-Israel conflict – a war in which US forces are aiding Israel to shoot down Tehran's missiles. Both the conflict and the targeted shootings of two lawmakers in Minnesota cast a shadow over the grand spectacle in the US capital. Trump was quick to condemn the attacks outside Minneapolis in which former state speaker Melissa Hortman died along with her husband, while the other lawmaker and his wife have been hospitalized with gunshot wounds. Political violence The murders were the latest in a string of incidents of political violence, including an attempt on Trump's life in July last year. Officials were looking for Vance Boelter, 57, in connection with the Minnesota incident. "No Kings" flyers and a manifesto that named numerous officials were found in the car of the suspect, who impersonated a policeman, authorities said. Organizers cancelled "No Kings" protests in the state, but said they expected millions of people to take part in 1,500 cities in the rest of the country. Some protesters targeted Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida – while a small group even gathered in Paris. Thousands turned out in Los Angeles to protest Trump's deployment of troops in America's second-largest city following clashes sparked by immigration raids earlier this week. Trump has promised to use "very big force" if protesters attempt to disrupt the army parade in DC. But disruption could also come from thunderstorms forecast to hit the capital. Trump put on a brave face, saying on Truth Social: "Our great military parade is on, rain or shine. Remember, a rainy day parade brings good luck. I'll see you all in DC." $45 million The military parade is the biggest in Washington since the end of the Gulf War in 1991 and has led to accusations by Trump's opponents that he is behaving like a king. The procession will feature 7,000 troops, more than 50 helicopters and dozens of armored vehicles including giant Abrams tanks, with the display estimated to cost of up to $45 million. Soldiers will wear uniforms dating back through US history to its independence from Britain as they march past landmarks including the Washington Monument to end up at the White House. The parade is meant to end with the army's Golden Knights parachute team dropping in to present Trump with a US flag – on Flag Day, which marks the adoption of the Stars and Stripes. Trump has been obsessed with having a parade since his first term as president when he attended France's annual Bastille Day parade in Paris at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron. Critics have accused Trump of acting like autocrats in Moscow or Pyongyang. California's Governor Gavin Newsom, who slammed Trump for sending National Guard troops into Los Angeles without his consent, called it a "vulgar display of weakness."
LeMonde
2 hours ago
- LeMonde
France says it supports Harvard, welcomes foreign students
France's foreign minister on Saturday, June 14 said his country supported students and staff at Harvard, after President Donald Trump tried to ban foreign students from the prestigious US university. "We stand with universities facing the threat of government control, restriction to their funding, constraints on their curricula or research projects," Jean-Noel Barrot said during a commencement address at the high-profile HEC business school in Paris. "We stand with Harvard faculty, with Harvard students, facing unjustified stress and anxiety right now," he added in English. "Should US courts uphold decisions to ban international students, France will offer (them) a safe place to complete their degrees," he said. Universities and research facilities in the United States have come under increasing political and financial pressure under Trump, including with threats of massive federal funding cuts. Harvard has been at the forefront of Trump's campaign against top American universities after it defied his calls to submit to oversight of its curriculum, staffing, student recruitment and "viewpoint diversity." A US court last week put a temporary stay on Trump's latest effort to stop foreign students from enrolling at Harvard. A White House proclamation a day earlier had sought to bar most new international students at Harvard from entering the country, and said existing foreign enrollees risked having their visas terminated. The US government has already cut around $3.2 billion of federal grants and contracts benefiting Harvard and pledged to exclude the institution from any future federal funding. France and the European Union are seeking to encourage disgruntled researchers to relocate from the United States to Europe. European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said last month that the EU would launch a new incentives package worth 500 million euros ($580 million) to make the 27-nation bloc "a magnet for researchers." French President Emmanuel Macron in April unveiled plans for a funding program to help national universities and other research bodies cover the cost of bringing foreign scientists to the country.
