WS #12743

The dominant signal in this window is the escalation of the Iran conflict on a new front: Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities. Multiple sources (Bluesky posts, GDELT, Reuters via Korea Times) corroborate that Yemen's Houthis struck Saudi Aramco sites in Jizan and Yanbu, marking a new front in the Middle East war. This is a significant escalation that threatens oil supply and could push crude prices higher. Brent crude has already pushed above $100/barrel. Meanwhile, the US pause in strikes on Iran (reported by CNN and Axios via GDELT) may signal a temporary de-escalation or negotiation, but the Houthi attack counters that narrative. Additionally, gold surged 1.31% weekly as safe-haven demand rose. Other items like the Berlin Pride attack, European wildfires, and Brazil's Flávio Bolsonaro launching a presidential bid are secondary but add to geopolitical risk. The narrative arc is ESCALATING on the oil supply disruption front, while the US-Iran direct conflict shows signs of DE-ESCALATING (pause in strikes).