This week’s world news briefing – Gaza bloodshed, glacier collapse, a royal speech, and a populist surge in Eastern Europe
T’is the season of Hay fever and allergies, strawberries and holiday preparation. Invigorating and energising people. Now that we’re spruced up with a bit of sun, lets get to the news this week.
It is hard to start any week without focussing on conflict, Gaza, it is a failure of politicians of as President Macron said last week ‘a example of western double standards’.
But it’s not all bad, it may seem hard to appreciate this, but humanity is winning. The resilience of the Palestinians are changing the hearts of billions, ironically in this David vs Goliath battle. Journalists like Piers Morgan, leaders like Keir Starmer and others are all changing their stance towards Israel. Thousands are protesting on social media and on the streets.
In other news, this week has seen Trump doing his usual, tariffs, enunciating words to make that sound fabulous and taking credit for anything he can, most recently the peace agreement between Pakistan and India.
🌍 World News Briefing – 29th May 2025
This week we have featured news on Gaza bloodshed, glacier collapse, a royal speech, and a populist surge in Eastern Europe, all with sentiment analysis and media reactions from news analysts and social media.
The red carpet was out as a royal voice reinforces the relationship between the UK and Canada, the absolutely daft US aid distribution method in Gaza, and nature in all its might, a collapsing glacier in Switzerland spotlighting the need for climate change. In Eastern Europe ahead of pivotal elections.
There’s two marathons for running enthusiasts the first is a short in little tiny Luxembourg 5km on Saturday 31st. And then there’s the road running trail marathon 42.5km in Stockholm.
Running is good, taking on such competition forces you make positive life choices, and work hard towards, what may seem an impossible goal!
And what’s more, there is growing evidence demonstrating that exercise can be effective in improving the mental well-being of the general public, largely through improved mood and self-perceptions.
🌼 Flower of the Week
Peony
The soft pink petals of the peony, May’s flower of prosperity, bloom in gardens across the northern hemisphere — a sharp contrast to the stark realities shaping headlines.
🐦 Bird of the Week
Swift
High above, the swift, a migratory bird that rarely lands, cuts through the skies from Africa to Europe, covering up to 800 km a day. A powerful reminder of resilience and rhythm — something our fractured world sorely needs.
Israel announced plans for 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, drawing fierce international criticism. Simultaneously, Israeli gunfire at a US aid distribution site in southern Gaza left at least one dead and 48 wounded. The IDF stated the shooting was accidental, but humanitarian agencies say the attack fits a pattern of deliberate targeting.
These two developments mark a significant escalation in the Gaza crisis, further isolating Israel diplomatically. Washington has called for restraint but stopped short of condemning the West Bank expansion.
The UN says the expansion undermines the possibility of a two-state solution and increases civilian vulnerability in Gaza. This weekend Israel blocked an Arab delegation from entry to the West bank, who were due to discuss the development of a Palestinian State.
Media Comparison (3 lines each):
France 24: Emphasises the growing humanitarian crisis, using terms like “deliberate” and “escalation.”
Al Jazeera: Labels the actions as “genocidal,” focusing on the illegality of settlements under international law.
BBC: Frames the attack as “controversial” and includes IDF justification prominently in their coverage.
Political Reactions:
🇮🇱 Netanyahu (X) reaffirmed Israel’s “sovereign right to defend its borders.”
Popular Tweet from human rights activist Julie Fox: “If you still think this isn’t a genocide, you’re not paying attention.”
Sentiment: 🔴 Highly negative — civilian harm, human rights violations, and political defiance dominate the tone.
Swiss Glacier Collapse Buries Alpine Village
The collapse of the Plaine Morte glacier has buried much of the Swiss village of Blatten under tonnes of ice and debris. Early reports confirm at least 11 missing and widespread destruction.
Scientists have warned for years that rising temperatures would destabilise Alpine glaciers, but this collapse is among the most destructive in living memory. Although climate change grabs the headlines, there are other issues which could have caused the land slide, most notable a natural movement of the earth as glaciers and snow mountains have been falling before climate change became an issue.
Media Comparison:
Euronews: Highlights climate change as the core cause.
France 24: Emphasises human impact and rescue efforts.
The Guardian: Connects the event to Europe’s broader heatwave patterns.
What is Happening in the Eastern European Elections? Upcoming elections in Poland and Romania are poised to shift power toward far-right parties promising anti-EU reforms and tighter immigration laws. Both nations have seen a rise in economic discontent, and polls show support for populist candidates at record highs. Hungarian elections are also on the horizon as EU leaders invest in Orban’s rival Peter Magyar.
Populist Surge Looms in Eastern Europe Elections
Brussels is watching closely, as gains for right-wing blocs could disrupt EU unity on Ukraine and economic recovery policies.
Global Outlook
Far right populist leaders in EU tend to have alignment with Trump, which is a growing influence in the EU, with Meloni, Orban and the German AfD lobbying for Trump in the EU parliament. Which is why Elon Musk is so invested in disrupting Eastern Europe elections.
Media Comparison:
France 24: Warns of a “political earthquake.”
BBC: Maintains neutrality but notes “rising uncertainty.”
El País: Expresses alarm over Romania’s potential democratic regression.
Political Reactions:
🇵🇱 Donald Tusk urged voters to defend “European values.”
Poland, which holds the second round of its presidential election on June 1
King Charles’ Speech in a Fractured World
During a state visit to Canada, King Charles addressed global instability, ( which speech analysts have suggested was a statement directed to Trump) urging world leaders to “rebuild trust and empathy.” In a rare personal tone, he reflected on shared British-Canadian history and called for unity in the face of rising authoritarianism.
King Charles’ Speech in a Fractured World
The speech comes amid criticism of UK foreign policy’s dependence on U.S. military, and just days before Canada votes in a crucial federal election. This was a bold statement by the Royals’Hands-off our Canada’, knowing that it would irk Donald Trump, in the middle of negotiations.
Media Comparison:
France 24: Focuses on the King’s message of empathy and climate leadership.
BBC: Frames the speech as symbolic, noting its timing ahead of Canadian elections.
The Guardian: Highlights tension between Charles’ speech and UK government’s global stance.
Political Reactions:
🇬🇧 Rishi Sunak praised the King’s message as “timely and dignified.”
Lebanon’s new PM Nawaf Salam delivered a striking address at the UN, demanding both Israel and the U.S. withdraw from Middle East operations. Citing international law and regional instability, Salam stated Lebanon would “not serve as a proxy battlefield.”
The speech received applause from the Global South bloc, but was condemned by Washington as “divisive.” Analysts see this as Lebanon’s pivot away from Western alliances, however, the French have doubled down on their support for Lebanon.
Israel has occupied land in southern Lebanon and is pressing the Knesset to create more settlements in southern Lebanon, which would also be illegal under International law.
Media Comparison:
CNN: Describes the speech as “assertive” and diplomatically bold.
France 24: Highlights historical grievances and links to Syrian conflict fallout.
Al Jazeera: Frames it as a long-overdue stand against Western occupation.
Political Reactions:
🇱🇧 PM Salam (X) shared the full transcript with the caption: “Lebanon chooses sovereignty.”
🇺🇸 US State Dept said Salam’s remarks “misrepresent historical partnerships.”
Popular Tweet with 1.2M views: “Finally, a leader who dares say it.”
Sentiment: 🟡 Mixed — assertive sovereignty vs international pushback.
Last week was all about Gaza, but this week is all about domestic policies; specifically focussed on Business. The British PM has been especially focussed on taking the far-right fight to Nigel Farage.
He has recognised his real threat in the next election, and that no longer is the leader of the opposition Kemi Badonech.
HIs social media team are pushing trade deals that aren’t finalised.
US president Trump is in a bit of a pickle, domestically, most of his trade policies are in the courts, Harvard is not backing down, and the blowback of his tariffs could be seen with the bump in the markets, once a judge paused his tariffs.
Globally, his promise of peace in Ukraine isn’t maturing, he’s at loggerheads with Israel over Gaza, and is now desperate to secure a deal with Iran. He needs to pull a rabbit out of the hat.
The Crown Prince has been busy working towards Saudi’s vision for the future, both diplomatically and brand building.
He has also had a call with Canadian PM and received a personal letter from Vladimir Putin. Both of which were focussed on closer ties.
Syrian Leader
President Ahmed al-Sharaa is building global alliances with the west, to ensure legitimacy for his leadership. The US flag has been raised in Damascus signing a $7 billion energy deal and tabling a peace-pact with Israel.
After the wake of the Kashmiri conflict with Pakistan, Modi is trying to divert attention away from the recent spat. His country needs stability for the millions of unemployed IT professionals before the election.
Benjamin Netanyahu, is the face of genocide, he knows his days are numbered. The West is already diverting support for his opposition as he (his gov’t) continue to deny genocide, starvation and innocent deaths. Dubiously claiming to have killed 30,000 Hamas fighters, out of the 56,000 Palestinians killed, with 80%, women and children.
✍️ Quote of the Week
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
As elections, wars, and fakes rage on — his words echo louder than ever.
Help for the allergy sufferer
As the pollen count rises, here are the expert-recommended hay fever cures that stopped me sneezing – and the one that made it worse.
Vaseline – a less icky barrier balm
“A thin layer of petroleum jelly inside the nostrils helps trap pollen before it enters the nose,” says GP and author Dr Roger Henderson.
Turns out the Vaseline trick actually works, genuinely calming my nose down. Alan found it effective but “disgusting”, noting that it smells of a petrol forecourt, which may be to some people’s taste but not ours. It’s also slimy and makes your nostrils glisten snottily in the light, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they key point, it works.
Israeli Cyber warfare Exposed: The Hidden Graphite Scandal
A shocking and underreported story has been exposed by the WTX News team surrounding the illegal practices of Israeli surveillance firm Paragon and its espionage-grade software Graphite. The zero-click spyware, which means it can spy on your phone without you having to click to install it, was used to infiltrate journalists’ phones — with a specific focus on targeting critics of Israel and those reporting on the genocide in Gaza.
Spyware software Graphite allows total device control
According to Al Jazeera Israel’s war on Gaza has killed 232 journalists – an average of 13 per month – making it the deadliest conflict for media workers ever recorded.
Israel implicated in Italy hacking scandal
Israeli backed Hackers breach sensitive government and police data in Italy
Italian law enforcement wiretapped hackers contracted by Israeli intelligence. In covert recordings, officials were caught assigning Paragon’s operatives tasks in exchange for cash. The investigation showed that the spyware software Graphite allows total device control without the user having to enable it by clicking a link — and it even cracks encrypted apps like Signal, WhatsApp and Telegram.
Ivan Scalfarotto, a senator from the opposition centrist Italia Viva party, told POLITICO that the role of foreign actors in the scandal added “a further worrying dimension to a phenomenon that presents strategic risks for the country.”
A delegation of MEPs from the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE) arrived in Rome on Friday 30 May to investigate the developments of Paragon spyware scandal to report for their next meeting on June 4th in Brussels.
It is the most dangerous spyware software and can bypass Apple and Android phone encryption, making them vulnerable to cyber attacks.
This was no rogue operation
It was founded in 2019 by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and by former Unit 8200 commander Ehud Schneorson, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein. Since 2010, Israel has moved many intelligence operations into the private tech sector, shielding the government from international backlash and opening it up to potential new clients.
It can bypass WhatsApp end to end encryption
This software is used on Palestinians, a stateless population without legal protection — turning Gaza and the West Bank into open-air test labs.
Documents from 2014 show the commander of Unit 8200 reservists admitting to blackmail tactics against Palestinians, using illegal intimate personal data from their phones as leverage to coerce and detain Palestinians.
With $6 billion in cyber exports in 2014 alone, Israeli software commands over 30% of the global cybersecurity market — and Paragon’s client list includes law enforcement and the IDF in Israel, Europe, and the US.
No-one is safe – Israeli cyber arms industry expose
Israeli intelligence has not given up on its cyber warfare software, in fact Ehud Schneorson now leads Israeli cyber security software called Nash, who on their website claim to serve ‘NASH is a company specializing in cybersecurity solutions for businesses, with key customers in the tech and financial sectors’, so in real terms selling spying software to banks.
Cyber security firms in Israel originate from the disgraced spyware firm Pegasus. The company that exposed for spying on 50,000 people of influence including US politicians and around the world. Among them are government ministers, human rights activists, journalists and heads of state, including French President Emmanuel Macron.
The evolving landscape of leadership means leaders today must be able to prepare for future challenges, cultivate diverse networks and challenge established norms.
