US-Kyiv rift over Russia sanctions, French unrest and Gulf fighting mark a turbulent week
Washington's pause on new Russia sanctions and a deepening rift with Kyiv ran alongside Russian strikes on Ukraine's power grid. Mass cost-of-living protests turned violent in France, fighting spread in Yemen and around Saudi Arabia, and the US and Iran both claimed control of Hormuz. A school roof collapse in Peshawar killed 34 children.
Ukraine resumed strikes on Russian refineries, and on Thursday it accused the US over Starlink limits. On Friday Trump called the refinery strikes 'a disgrace' while Zelensky sought European backing in Brussels. On Saturday Trump paused a new sanctions package as Russian strikes cut power to 1 million people in Ukraine. On Sunday the US announced a 60-day pause on Russia sanctions, drawing bipartisan criticism, and Ukraine launched over 1,000 drones at Russia.
France braced on Friday for mass protests as the student movement widened. On Saturday cost-of-living demonstrations drew more than half a million people, and hundreds were arrested amid looting and fires. A town hall in Limoges was set ablaze. Macron said 'nothing justifies' the violence after what was described as France's worst unrest in years.
Houthi missiles hit Yemen's presidential palace in Aden on Thursday, killing two, and Saudi Arabia called the attacks war crimes. Yemen said two missiles were fired at Aden airport on Friday, and Saudi sporting events were cancelled. On Saturday Saudi-led forces downed four drones, Egypt weighed helping and the UAE re-entered Yemen. On Sunday Gulf states condemned the Houthi attacks and Saudi-led forces struck around Taiz.
On Thursday the US was reported to be weighing use of its largest conventional bomb in Iran. Ship attack reports near Hormuz hit a record high on Friday as oil exports slowed. On Saturday Trump said the US blockade had stopped Iranian ships, and the US and Iran both claimed control of Hormuz as two vessels were hit by mines. On Sunday Iran named a new defence minister.
A school roof collapse in Peshawar killed at least 20 children on Thursday, and the toll later rose to 34 as families demanded justice. On Saturday a fire in Bangladesh and a Kolkata stampede killed at least 27 people. On Sunday a truck killed 13 at a Hindu festival in India, a day after the stampede that killed 17.
Israel halted commercial goods entering Gaza on Friday, and Hamas denied tax claims. UNICEF cited 340 child deaths in Gaza since the ceasefire. Drone strikes killed six in Gaza on Saturday as settler attacks on West Bank farmers continued. On Sunday settler attacks on diplomats and a US journalist drew condemnation, and US officials pressed Israel.
Albania's Rama refused to resign on Thursday after a third day of violent protests. India detained thousands of Gen Z protesters. On Saturday Albanian police fired rubber bullets as the Tirana protests entered a fifth day. On Sunday fire hit Albania's Supreme Court.
Kenya recorded a third Ebola case, of the Bundibugyo strain and linked to the first patient, on Friday. On Saturday it confirmed four more cases, bringing its total to seven. By Sunday reports said Ebola was spreading in Kenya while DR Congo faced its deadliest outbreak.
Written by Claude from the reports on this page and on the map. Check the linked sources for full details.