Political crisis in France as PM ousted | Morning News Bulletin 9 September 2025

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Source: SBS News

In this bulletin, The French Prime Minister toppled by a no-confidence motion; at least 17 people dead after confrontations between police and protesters in Nepal; and in Rugby Union, Wallabies star Tom Lynagh cleared to play in the sold-out second Test against Argentina


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  • The French Prime Minister toppled by a no-confidence motion
  • At least 17 people dead after confrontations between police and protesters in Nepal
  • And in Rugby Union, Wallabies star Tom Lynagh cleared to play in the sold-out second Test against Argentina
France's parliament has voted to oust the country's Prime Minister, Francois Bayrou, who has lost a confidence motion and will be expected to tender his resignation.

It comes as part of the opposition party's plan to bring down the government in the face of increasing national debt and a deepening political crisis.

The 74-year-old, who has been Prime Minister since December last year, addressed parliament shortly before lawmakers voted to oust him.

French translated to English VO: "The government is proposing a plan to the country a debt reduction plan so that France can escape in a few years the inexorable tide of debt that overwhelms it. In four years, which is a reasonable timeframe in the life of a country and its inhabitants, it's not that we will no longer have debt, but our debt will no longer increase. And here's the plan: to reach the threshold of three percent of annual public deficits by 2029, a threshold beyond which the debt no longer increases."

French President Emmanuel Macron's office says he will appoint a successor in the next few days.

Opposition parties are calling for new elections.



The United Nations is calling for an investigation after 17 people were killed during protests against a government crackdown on social media in Nepal.

Police used rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannon and batons when a large crowd rushed the parliament building in defiance of a police barricade.

The protests come in response to government restrictions on access to several social media platforms, imposed after companies failed to comply with registration requirements.

The government says social media users with fake IDs have been spreading hate speech and fake news, as well as committing fraud online.

This protester witnessed the violence outside the parliament.

Nepali translated to English VO: "A while ago, the police fired bullets which missed me but hit a friend who was standing behind me. He was hit in the hand. The firing continues until now from inside (the parliament) …we can still hear the sound of firing. My friend who was standing on the road was shot at the head. The police have been firing indiscriminately, targeting above the knee…are they permitted to do so?"



Opposition leader Sussan Ley has reiterated the Coalition's support for the Indian Australian community, while saying she regrets the comments about Chinese spies made by a Liberal senator during the federal election.

Ms Ley met Indian community leaders in Melbourne yesterday as she seeks to repair damage caused by Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijimpa Price's remarks on migration and Indian Australians.

Ms Price also alleged senior Liberal Alex Hawke had berated her staff, telling them that she could end up like another female Liberal MP, if she didn't apologise.

It's believed he was referring to Liberal Senator Jane Hume, who hinted that Chinese Australians volunteering for Labor could be spies, just days before the federal election.

Mr Hawke denies the allegations, and Ms Hume says she's surprised about the remarks.

Speaking to SBS Mandarin and SBS Chinese, Ms Ley says she understand the important values of migration to Australia.

"We value incredibly every migrant community that comes to this country, because they have chosen to come here, and the contribution they made makes Australia a better place, and brings value and livelihoods and happiness."



Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan says she will work with the South Sudanese community to address gang violence, after the stabbing attack which killed two boys, in what police say could be a case of mistaken identity.

The brutal deaths of 15-year-old Dau Akueng and a 12-year-old have shocked the country.

Detectives say the attack appears to have been targeted, but two boys were not members of a crime gang.

In a statement, the Premier offered her condolences to the victims' families, saying she had met South Sudanese community leaders.

She says solutions in the fight against violent crime must come from the community and she will hold further discussions, which also include the state's Youth Justice and Police Ministers and police representatives.



And in rugby union,

The Wallabies have received a boost ahead of their Rugby Championship rematch against Argentina in Sydney this Saturday - with flyhalf Tom Lynagh cleared of concussion.

Lynagh left the field in the second half with hamstring tightness, and also underwent a head injury assessment.

After the match, coach Joe Schmidt said he had failed and would not be available for the sold-out second Test.

But yesterday the 22-year-old playmaker passed a third assessment and was given the green light to play.

The Wallabies beat Argentina 28-24 with a comeback win six minutes into injury time, after Lynagh was replaced by veteran James O'Connor.

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