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Here's today's free edition. This is the World in Brief from The Economist.

Our top stories.

President Emmanuel Macron named Michelle Barnier as France's

next Prime Minister as he tries to end two months of political paralysis.

The EU's former Brexit negotiator will face the daunting task of stitching together a government

after inconclusive legislative elections in July.

Mr Barnier, a veteran of the Conservative No Republic Party, has served as a cabinet minister four times.

More weak job data landed in America.

The private sector added 99,000 jobs in August, down from 110,000 last month and the fewest since

2021, according to ADP, a payroll firm. The disappointing numbers come a day after American job openings

were reported to be at their lowest level in over three years. A cooling labour market

adds to pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in September.

Andrei Sabihya became Ukraine's foreign minister in the largest cabinet reshuffle since Russia's invasion in 2022.

The career diplomat replaces Dimitro Kalabha, who had used the office to get more military aid from Western allies.

Volodome Zulenski, the President, once a revamped government to bring new energy to his country's

war effort and, no doubt, his own falling popularity.

The Biden administration secured the release of 135 political prisoners from Nicaragua.

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