French President Emmanuel Macron has headed to the Gulf as violent protests and unrest rock France, putting his government under mounting pressure. Protesters reportedly attempted to move towards the Élysée Palace, while shops and public buildings were looted or set ablaze during clashes. French authorities arrested thousands, and the government is considering local curfews to contain further violence. Macron condemned the unrest but refused to dismiss his interior minister, despite acknowledging security failures. The protests have been fuelled by soaring living costs and wider public grievances.

A tanker has been hit by multiple projectiles off the coast of Qatar, with casualties reported after the vessel came under attack in the western Gulf. The incident took place around 94 kilometres north of Madinat ash Shamal, according to maritime security information, raising fresh concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the region. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has warned of a renewed rise in attacks targeting commercial vessels around the Strait of Hormuz. The latest tanker strike is particularly significant because the vessel was targeted in the western half of the Gulf, an area where similar attacks have been comparatively rare in recent weeks. WATCH