France plans to send troops, radars and defenses to Saudi energy sites amid Houthi attacks, but says troops won’t directly engage the Houthis. India’s Cockroach Janta Party threatened protests unless the elections chief is fired by Saturday; Xi announced two pandas for Atlanta.
The US backed out of planned strikes against the Houthis last weekend, while UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged aerial-refueling support to Saudi Arabia this week. Macron framed France’s offer as a way to improve energy security and lower gas prices. France already has forces in the region; he did not rule out further assistance if the situation evolves, and Houthi attacks on French troops could draw Paris into the wider conflict.
The Cockroach Janta Party is an online satirical protest movement, not an actual political party. It accuses elections chief Gyanesh Kumar of meddling with voter lists to benefit the ruling BJP; the government denies the charge. Congress called for nationwide protests against Kumar Friday. The movement’s July demonstrations over college entrance-exam mismanagement ultimately led the government to sack the education minister. Xi announced the pandas at his Washington summit with President Donald Trump, where no major deals emerged; they will be Zoo Atlanta’s first since 2024.
