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It took less than 10 minutes. At 9.30am on Sunday, four men arrived in a truck outside the Louvre in Paris. They drove right up under a balcony and put out a ladder with a furniture hoist. Two of them casually went up to the balcony and cut through the reinforced glass of a window. On the other side of the glass was the Apollo gallery, the most ornate and arguably the most beautiful room in the museum, Helen Pidd hears. Using an angle grinder, they broke into cases holding France’s crown jewels, before escaping back down the ladder and disappearing on motorbikes. The art detective Arthur Brand has spent his life hunting down stolen Picassos, artefacts and even Oscar Wilde’s ring. He explains what may have motivated the thieves to choose such a high-profile target and why time is of the essence if the jewellery is to be found in one piece

Millions of people across the US attended No Kings protests against Donald Trump last weekend. The president publicly denied he wanted to be a king, but he posted an AI-generated video of himself dressed as one, flying a fighter jet and dumping excrement on protesters. Jonathan Freedland speaks to the political scientist Barbara Walter about the tactics the Trump administration is using against protesters

After finally meeting with Donald Trump, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese passed another political test and returned home with a win. Domestically, the Coalition continued to battle over net zero and generate its own headlines for all the wrong reasons. Bridie Jabour talks to editor Lenore Taylor, national news editor Josephine Tovey and head of newsroom Mike Ticher about what Albanese’s and Sussan Ley’s two very different weeks tells us about the state of Australian politics

After just 40 days at the reigns of Nottingham Forest FC, Australia’s much-celebrated English football manager Ange Postecoglou was sacked on Saturday. It means ‘Ange’ now takes away the unfortunate title of the shortest-ever permanent managerial appointment in the history of the English Premier League. Sports writer Martin Pegan speaks to Reged Ahmad about the events that led to the move and what next for one of the most polarising figures in football.

After a storm of new allegations and headlines, Buckingham Palace has confirmed that Prince Andrew – King Charles’s younger brother – will no longer hold his royal titles. It’s the latest development in a controversy that’s haunted the British monarchy for years. In this episode of our global news podcast Today in Focus, Helen Pidd and Zoe Williams unpack the scandal that shattered royal tradition, and why so many questions remain unanswered

The former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has confirmed his intention to quit the Nationals, further fuelling suspicions he could join Pauline Hanson at the far right of the parliament. It’s not the first time the member for New England has made headlines, but the move raises questions about the direction of the Coalition – particularly when it comes to climate policy. Political reporter Dan Jervis Bardy speaks to Nour Haydar about why the well-known backbencher says he wants to quit the Nationals and what this says about the Coalition’s looming crisis over net zero

The long-awaited meeting between Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump has taken place at the White House. It’s being hailed as a success for the prime minister, who left with an endorsement for Aukus and his leadership – but what else did we learn? Political reporter Josh Butler speaks to Reged Ahmad from Washington about what it was like in the room as the two leaders met face-to-face, what it means for Australia’s relationship with the US and THAT comment about Kevin Rudd

Earlier this month Australian Surya McEwen was among hundreds of humanitarians and activists onboard an aid flotilla bound for Gaza when the fleet was intercepted by the Israeli military. McEwen joins Nour Haydar to talk about what it was like being inside Israel’s Ketziot prison and why he continues to fight for Palestine

Anthony Albanese is set to have his first face-to-face meeting with the US president at the White House. Reged Ahmad speaks to former ambassador to the US and former Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos – a man who’s been in the room with Donald Trump – on what Australia should be offering this most unpredictable of presidents.

The BBC hit series Traitors is a show that depends on being able to accurately spot a liar, but are any deception detection methods actually backed up by science? Madeleine Finlay speaks to Timothy Luke, a senior lecturer in the department of applied psychology at the University of Gothenburg, to find out whether sweating, nervous tics and reduced eye contact really can alert us to deception – and if not, what can?

Live from the South by Southwest festival in Sydney, Bridie Jabour talks to the editor, Lenore Taylor, head of newsroom Mike Ticher, and senior audio producer Miles Herbert about how Anthony Albanese will navigate meeting Donald Trump as Australians watch America’s authoritarian turn

The Gaza ceasefire has really only just begun but fractures are already appearing. Middle East writer William Christou speaks to Reged Ahmad from Jerusalem on the mammoth task of rebuilding and if this truce can be turned into a long-lasting peace

The Australian blueberry industry has experienced rapid and unprecedented expansion in recent years. And while the increase in production means cheaper prices, and more choice at the checkout, there is a dark side to the industry unseen to shoppers. Investigative journalist and NSW state correspondent Anne Davies speaks to Nour Haydar about growing concerns over treatment of workers, and the use of pesticides in the intensive farming of the fruit

As Israeli and Palestinian families waited for loved ones to be released, Trump met world leaders to continue ceasefire talks. Will Christou, Dan Boffey and Jason Burke report on an extraordinary day in the Middle East

Last week, independent senator and former elite athlete David Pocock was banned from the parliament’s social sports club after raising concerns about its association with gambling lobbyists. Senior reporter Henry Belot speaks to Reged Ahmad about how he broke the story and what the saga says about how lobbyists access politicians

A former heavy metal drummer who cites Margaret Thatcher as an influence, Sanae Takaichi could make history this week if chosen to become Japan’s first female prime minister. Japan correspondent Justin McCurry speaks to Reged Ahmad about the rise of the polarising politician and her tough approach to China

Following months of negotiations, Israel and Hamas have agreed on the first phase of a 20-point “peace plan” to end the war in Gaza. Nour Haydar speaks to global affairs correspondent Andrew Roth about how the deal was brokered, what it means on the ground in Gaza and whether Donald Trump will stay interested for the long haul

Recent opinion polls indicate support for the populist right party One Nation has doubled since the last election. Around the globe, far-right politicians pushing nationalist anti-immigration policies are also on the rise – including Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, and Donald Trump in the US. So could Pauline Hanson’s One Nation grow to pose a similar threat to Australian politics? Nour Haydar speaks with deputy editor, Patrick Keneally, and head of newsroom, Mike Ticher, about the rise of the populist right and the lessons for Australia

Over the coming week, hundreds of thousands of Australians will cast their vote in an election unlike any other. In the fifth bird of the year competition Guardian Australia and Bird life Australia celebrate the diversity and wonder of our unique and native bird life. Deputy editors Gabrielle Jackson and Patrick Keneally and Bird Life Australia’s Sean Dooley tell Reged Ahmad about the scandals of elections past, why the poll matters and which bird will get their vote

Its Senate estimates week in Canberra, but all eyes are on Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, the former SAS soldier with leadership aspirations. Nour Haydar talks to political editor Tom McIlroy and political reporter Krishani Dhanji about Hastie’s recent resignation to the backbench, the pressure that puts on the opposition leader Sussan Ley, and how close we are to a leadership spill