Pope Leo XIV in France: Pope Leo XIV has arrived for a four-day state visit—the first in 18 years—kicking off with meetings in Paris and a packed agenda that blends peace appeals, AI ethics, and the Church’s response to clergy abuse, with huge crowds expected for a Saturday open-air Mass at Place de la Concorde/Champs-Élysées. Middle East security & energy: President Macron says France will deploy troops, radar and air-defence systems to protect Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea oil hub of Yanbu amid Houthi attacks, stressing it’s about safeguarding infrastructure and easing energy-market pressure. Ukraine-Russia diplomacy: Macron floated a “double moratorium” idea—no strikes on Russian oil refineries and no fighting in the Black Sea—while warning Russia may be preparing a new mobilization. Defence cooperation: France and Ukraine are accelerating joint work on interceptor drones and air-launched weapons, and France has supplied Ukraine with MICA missiles and 30mm ammunition for Mirage 2000s. Politics & sanctions: Britain, France and Canada plan sanctions targeting Israeli settlement-related trade and services in the occupied West Bank. Weather: Another warm weekend is forecast, with Paris expected around 29–30C and wildfire risk still elevated in the south. Sports: Zinedine Zidane begins his France coaching era with Nations League opener vs Türkiye, saying he feels “immense emotion” and expects a tough test.