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New French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has dropped his predecessor’s proposal to abolish two public holidays aimed at reducing the national deficit.

Lecornu, who took office on September 10, said he wants to focus on stability and dialogue with opposition parties rather than divisive measures, Reuters reported.

He now faces the challenge of forming a government, preparing the 2026 budget, and steering through a fractured parliament after France’s credit rating was downgraded to A+. Lecornu pledged a pragmatic approach, stressing that his priority is “neither instability nor stagnation.”

More than 100,000 people marched through central London on Saturday in one of the UK’s largest right-wing demonstrations in recent years, led by anti-immigration activist Tommy Robinson under the banner Unite the Kingdom, Reuters reported.

Police estimated about 110,000 joined the march, while a nearby counter-rally by Stand Up to Racism drew around 5,000 participants. Officers reported clashes as Robinson’s supporters attempted to breach cordons and reach opposing groups, with several police assaulted. Reinforcements, including mounted units, were deployed.

The march capped a tense summer marked by protests outside migrant housing. Demonstrators waved Union Jacks, St George’s Crosses, and some US and Israeli flags, with a number wearing MAGA hats. Many carried placards targeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer and demanding deportations, according to Reuters.

At least 18 people, mostly teenagers, were killed when Myanmar’s military bombed two private schools in Kyauktaw township of Rakhine state, western Myanmar, according to local media and the Arakan Army (AA).

The AA said a fighter jet dropped two bombs on the schools while students were inside. More than 20 others were injured, several critically, and nearby homes were also damaged, Al Jazeera reported.

UNICEF condemned the “brutal attack”, warning of rising violence against children and families in Rakhine.

Myanmar has been in conflict since the 2021 military coup, with air strikes intensifying as resistance groups, including the AA, gain ground. Rakhine, bordering Bangladesh along the Bay of Bengal, was also the scene of the 2017 military crackdown that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee, according to Al Jazeera.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised the youth of Nepal for their role in rebuilding the country after days of violent protests. Speaking in Manipur, he said young Nepalis have been cleaning and repainting damaged streets, a gesture he described as a sign of the nation’s resilience. Modi noted that he had personally seen images of their efforts on social media, ANI reported.

From the historic Kangla Fort in Manipur, Modi also congratulated Sushila Karki on becoming Nepal’s interim Prime Minister, hailing her as the country’s first woman to hold the post. He called her appointment a milestone in women’s empowerment and expressed confidence that she would steer Nepal towards peace, stability, and prosperity.

“Nepal, in the lap of the Himalayas, is our close friend. On behalf of 1.4bn Indians, I extend my best wishes to Prime Minister Sushila Karki,” Modi said, underlining the cultural and historical ties that bind the two nations, according to ANI.

Earlier in the day, Modi also sent a message on social media reaffirming India’s commitment to Nepal’s peace and progress. The Indian government welcomed the formation of the interim government, pledging to work closely with Kathmandu for the well-being of both peoples.

Karki took charge on Friday after the fall of KP Sharma Oli’s government, which collapsed under the weight of Gen-Z–led protests against corruption and restrictions on social media. Backed by the youth movement, she now faces the task of restoring order and leading Nepal toward general elections scheduled for March 2026.