The Latest Breaking News from RFI

Credit rating agency Moody’s has downgraded France’s seven largest banks this week – just days after lowering the country’s own sovereign credit rating. The move signals rising borrowing costs for France, adding to a €3.2 trillion debt burden and deepening the pressure on an already fragile government.

French soldiers have been asked to leave Chad by 31 January, sources close to the government in Paris say – a deadline that RFI was able to confirm with Chadian authorities.

West African leaders are giving the three Sahel countries led by military governments six months to reconsider their decision to quit the regional bloc Ecowas, as security issues and movements of populations cause concern among its 12 remaining members.

President Emmanuel Macron declared a national day of mourning in the French overseas territory of Mayotte, and announced an emergency fund for uninsured cyclone victims – as people in remote areas reported receiving no assistance since the disaster struck five days ago.

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear a “This I Believe” essay from RFI Listeners Club member Helmut Matt from Herbolzheim, Germany. Just click the “Play” button above and enjoy!

Anti-whaling activist and Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson, freed after five months in custody in Greenland, will head to France in the coming days, following Denmark’s refusal to extradite him to Japan.

The French archipelago Mayotte lies devastated this week after an unprecedented cyclone struck the country's poorest department – its impact magnified by chronic infrastructure failings and a migration crisis that saw thousands avoid emergency shelter for fear of deportation.

Cyclone Chido has claimed at least 34 lives and caused widespread destruction across Mozambique, the National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management confirmed on Tuesday. The powerful storm, which made landfall earlier this week, has left thousands displaced and severely damaged infrastructure, including homes and roads.

French President Emmanuel Macron says he will visit the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte "in the coming days" and declare a "period of national mourning". This comes as rescue teams struggle to clean up from the worst cyclone to hit the archipelago in nearly a century.

A unique exhibition – "Dancing in the Light" – is blending light-inspired artworks with dance performances, thanks to the participation of a dozen international choreographers.

A Paris exhibition invites visitors to dive into the ocean and explore the intersecting perspectives of artists and scientists who, for 20 years, have studied and documented marine life and the challenges it faces.