The Latest Breaking News from Radio France Internationale

French Prime Sebastien Lecornu vowed he would finally appoint a new government by the beginning of October, adding that it was "out of the question" that he would propose an austerity budget, in an interview published Friday.

As Moldova approaches its parliamentary elections of 28 September, it finds itself at the epicentre of an unprecedented Russian disinformation campaign that has fundamentally altered how information reaches its citizens. The shift from television to social media platforms has created new vulnerabilities that Moscow has been quick to exploit.

The separatist region of Transnistria has long been the thorn in the side of Moldova's pursuit of European Union membership – a fact thrown into sharp relief as parliamentary elections loom.

Anger over chronic water and electricity shortages has exploded into deadly unrest in Madagascar, prompting a night-time curfew in the capital. At least five people were killed in mass protests in Antananarivo on Thursday, hospital sources said.

The International Court of Justice said on Thursday that it had dropped a case concerning the detention of two French nationals held in Iran since 2022 – at France's request. The lawyer for one of the families says the time has come for more urgent action to have them released.

As French pharmacists call for a boycott of Covid-19 vaccine orders, professional bodies and unions have issued stern warnings over the threat to public health.

France, Germany and Spain are struggling to keep their ambitious next-generation fighter jet project on course, with Paris now warning it is prepared to forge ahead on its own if no agreement can be reached with Berlin and Madrid.

Since the war in Gaza erupted in 2023, governments around the world have been making their voices heard, whether they are staunch supporters of Israel or pleading the Palestinian cause. But Russia's position, which has received little media coverage, is harder to define.

France recognises Palestinian statehood but evacuations from Gaza are still suspended. French savings are at an all-time high, reflecting uncertainty about the future. And the story of the ten-day week put in place after the French Revolution.