France offers troops to help secure Saudi Arabia’s energy sites
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that the country plans to help Saudi Arabia protect energy infrastructure from escalating Houthi attacks. Macron said he would send soldiers, radars, and defense systems, but that they would not “engage in” any direct conflict with the Houthis. The announcement, which Macron presented as a move to improve energy security and lower gas prices, comes after the US backed out of planned strikes against the Houthis in Yemen last weekend. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham also pledged his support in the conflict this week, announcing plans to provide aerial refueling support to the Saudis. However, Macron’s announcement marks an expansion in support for Riyadh – and a greater risk. Although France already maintains a military presence in the region, Houthi attacks on French troops could put Paris in danger of getting drawn into the wider conflict. Macron, for his part, did not rule out additional military assistance if the situation evolves.
India’s “Cockroaches” target another top official
The “Cockroach Janta Party,” an online-based satirical protest movement, has threatened to hit the streets again unless the government fires national elections chief Gyanesh Kumar by Saturday. Kumar is accused of meddling with voter lists to help the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – a charge the government denies. Although the CJP isn’t an actual political party, these roaches are to be reckoned with: in July, CJP-led demonstrations about the mismanagement of college entrance exams ultimately forced the government to sack the education minister, an unprecedented success for protesters during the 12-year rule of PM Narendra Modi. On Friday, the opposition Congress party called for nationwide protests against Kumar — but if the roaches join the fray this weekend, things could come to a head quickly.
China sends in the pandas
No major deals emerged from this week’s much-anticipated summit in Washington between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. There was, however, panda diplomacy. Xi announced that China will send two giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta, the first there since 2024. Beijing has loaned pandas abroad as a symbol of goodwill since the 1970s, but the practice has declined in recent years as tensions have chilled with countries tied to the West. The UK and the Netherlands lost their pandas in 2023, while Japan said goodbye to its last two this year amid tensions over Taiwan. As Ian Bremmer explained this week, Xi hopes to portray China as a stable partner as US alliances come under strain. Pandas may work on Trump, who enjoys pageantry – but is also leaving office in two years. Who’s to say the next US president will be as taken with China’s furry charm offensive?
