By Marco Hugo Barsotti MHB 
Welcome to the France Today and Central Milan news bulletin for Thursday August 13, 2026, on FranceToday.com, in podcasting, via AI chatbot and on Medium Waves at 1575 kHz. In the editorial office in Nice Marco Hugo Barsotti, from Paris Rachel Costa.
In today’s cover the eclipse as seen yesterday in Nice, photo by M. Giordano.
News from France
Police prefect reduces speed limits by 20 km/h in Île‑de‑France due to ozone pollution
Paris’s police prefect announced, via a press release, that for Thursday August 13 2026 the allowed speeds in Île‑de‑France will be reduced by 20 km/h because of an ozone peak in the air. Airparif indeed forecasts exceeding the information and recommendation limit set at 180 µg/m³, favoured by the high temperatures that have placed the region under orange alert for heatwave.
The authorities invite citizens to postpone, if possible, car trips, to favour low‑emission vehicles, car‑pooling, public transport, bicycles or walking. On highways normally limited to 130 km/h the maximum speed will be 110 km/h; on sections limited to 110 km/h it will drop to 90 km/h; finally on stretches signed 90 km/h or 80 km/h the speed will be limited to 70 km/h. Trucks weighing more than 3.5 tonnes must obligatorily use the Francilienne to avoid the centre of Paris.
Ozone can cause eye irritation, coughing and lung problems, especially in children and asthmatic people, the prefect reminded.
The article was published on Franceinfo on August 13 2026.
Fact Check by Gemma4.
Record unavailability of the French nuclear park: 20.4 % power missing on Wednesday
The strong heat wave affecting much of French territory is severely penalising electricity production. EDF’s nuclear park recorded, on Wednesday August 12, a new record of unavailability, with 20.4 % of total capacity out of service, due to “environmental constraints” and external causes linked to the environment.
During the day, 13 of the 57 operating reactors were affected. Eight plants had to shut down completely – Bugey 3, Cattenom 1, Chooz 1 and 2, Golfech 2, Gravelines 2, 3 and 4 – while five operated at reduced power, including Saint‑Alban 2, Tricastin 1 and 4 and Gravelines 1 and 6. In drought or extreme heat situations, reduced river flow and higher water temperatures force EDF to limit or halt production to protect river ecosystems.
A substantial part of the power loss is due to several tonnes of jellyfish entering the seawater intake of the Gravelines plant in the North. The jellyfish forced the company to temporarily shut down or reduce the output of five of the six reactors at that plant, the largest in Western Europe. Reactors 1 and 6 returned to full power around 10 a.m., while 5 is down for scheduled work. Reactor 2 should be re‑connected to the grid around 11 p.m. on the same day.
This episode highlights the vulnerability of the national energy mix in the face of extreme weather conditions and unpredictable natural phenomena. Fact Check by Gemma4.
Rachel’s Editorial – The record of “nature” against nuclear, with a touch of jellyfish
I will now read you my editorial for today.
Journalism has just discovered the most powerful science on the planet: jellyfish. Just a gelatinous mass in the Gravelines pump and, puff, three reactors pause. Really, who would have thought that the heroine of our summer ponds could become a nuclear plant’s best friend? It’s easier to find a panda that doesn’t eat bamboo than a plant that doesn’t get a “heat‑stroke” every summer.
And then there’s the heatwave, that thermometer outside the door that decides to shut down energy production. It sounds almost like a too‑convenient excuse: “Sorry, the river is too hot, we have to stop the reactors to save ecosystems.” But who really saves ecosystems when bills rise by a couple of hundred euros and people have to turn off the lights? It’s a bit like asking Mother Nature to keep the fridge closed while she herself flings the door wide open.
The talk about “environmental causes” is that little retort EDF executives love to throw when the numbers don’t add up. Then the press, with its hunger for squeezed headlines, gifts us the “record of unavailability” as if it were a sports ranking. And we, readers, keep asking: is the real problem climate or the inability to foresee an energy outlook? Maybe the answer is hidden in the next wave of wind‑turbine promotion that, apparently, doesn’t even have the jellyfish problem.
Finally, the most uncomfortable question: if nature is so relentless as to block nuclear energy, what remains for us? Keep betting on a “clean” source that surrenders to a bit of plankton? Or perhaps accept that dependence on an energy currency that throws tantrums like a rebellious teenager is a price too high to pay. While we wait for an answer, the jellyfish swim calmly, while we continue navigating yet another crisis of confidence in our own ability to manage energy.
Koan of the day
A monk asked the Master: “If jellyfish can stop a reactor, what can stop our greed for energy?”
The Master replied: “A veil of gelatin can break the silence of turbines, but only the silence of the human heart can break the hunger for power.”
Then the monk persisted: “And if the sun itself burns our shoulders, what cold should man seek to regain balance?”
The Master smiled and said: “True cold is not the air you breathe, but the calm of thought that no longer rushes toward the future, but stays here, in the present.”
But let’s get back to the news.
Report on the effectiveness of family policies: 10 proposals to save over 4 billion euros
A joint investigation by the Inspection générale des finances (IGF) and the Inspection générale des affaires sociales (Igas), launched at the request of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, identified ten “priority” measures aimed at making spending on family policies more efficient. The document, published at the end of July, argues that reforming these instruments could generate savings of about 4.2 billion euros over a decade, of which 2.5 billion could be realized in the short term.
Among the most impactful proposals is the abolition of the tax reduction for school expenses, which would recover 450 million euros. It also suggests equalising the tax treatment of widowed parents with that of single‑parent families (50 million), eliminating the demi‑part fiscal for isolated parents (690 million) and prorating the family quotient in the child’s first year based on actual months (170 million). Another initiative foresees the lump‑sum of the 10 % pension supplement for people with three or more children, estimated to save 1.1 billion euros, with the rationale that the incentive, born more than thirty years ago, no longer influences birth rates.
The report also proposes a 20 % reduction of the thresholds for moving to the second and third family‑allowance brackets, a measure that would affect about 600 000 households with an average decrease of €75 per month, but would generate revenue of 530 million. Other recommendations concern revising the ceiling of the family contribution for the Complément de mode de garde (CMG) for children aged 3 to 6, aligning the alimony barème with the social security code and adjusting the calculation of APL to the previous year’s resources, with potential savings of respectively €75, €310 and €250 million.
In short, the ten identified measures range from regulatory change to simple parameter adjustments, but share the goal of reducing inequalities and streamlining public spending, giving the government room to maneuver for the 2027 budget.
Note: the article is taken from BFM Business, published August 12 2026.
Fact Check by Gemma4.
Booksellers suspect AI companies are buying and destroying rare books
Companies developing artificial intelligences are at the centre of a growing controversy: they are alleged to be engaged in massive purchases of ancient books to train their models, then demolishing them to obtain rapid scans. Publishers and independent booksellers, who consider these volumes part of an invaluable cultural heritage, denounce a practice they call “a torture for the soul”.
The cheapest method to digitise millions of titles consists of shredding the volumes, cutting their pages and scanning them. According to several investigations, including those by The Atlantic and the Telegraph, some AI firms have already launched projects of this kind, while others, such as ISBNdb, have advertised the possibility of providing books in bulk to those who need them for model training. Anthropic, one of the best‑known startups, has been accused of having destroyed millions of printed copies in 2025, using the code name “Project Panama” to hide the operation. The company denies any responsibility, but the lack of transparency fuels suspicion.
Not all tech‑sector actors resort to these shortcuts. Google, for instance, patented in 2009 a non‑destructive scanning technology. The procedure, however, is slower and prone to errors: page curvature can distort text and operators’ hands can cover images, as highlighted by Wired. For this reason many firms prefer the faster method, despite the risk of irreparable loss of rare volumes.
A more respectful alternative is represented by the Internet Archive, which for years has been digitising ancient books with handcrafted care. The process involves human operators turning pages one by one, using dry, flat hands to avoid damage. Eliza Zhang, head of scanning for over ten years, has said she has digitised more than three million pages, 14 000 folding sheets and 18 000 objects, aiming for “zero errors”. When an image is blurry or a page is skipped, the Archive’s proprietary software halts the operation and requests a new scan. This method, although more time‑consuming, guarantees the physical preservation of the book.
The most recent alarm came from Kennys Bookshop, an Irish bookstore, which reported a suspicious order of 5 000 little‑known titles, with no price negotiation. The Irish Times interpreted this “red flag” as a possible AI‑company operation. Tomás Kenny, owner of Kennys, said the book sector is “terrified” by mass requests and intends to refuse orders destined for AI training, to protect authors’ rights and readers’ access to hard‑to‑find titles.
Some major players, such as OpenAI and Microsoft, have launched collaborations with academic libraries to train their models on roughly one million public‑domain books dating back to the 15th century. Even xAI, Elon Musk’s startup, has publicly stated it does not destroy rare books, favouring “hand‑scanning” rather than cutting spines. However, critics on Reddit and Twitter point out the ambiguity of these statements, wondering what criteria are used to define what is “rare”.
The debate seems set to intensify, with the hope that public pressure will push large AI firms to adopt more respectful procedures, like those of the Internet Archive, which combine digital protection with physical conservation. Meanwhile, the prospect of unique copies disappearing remains a painful thought for book lovers, who find in the simple act of turning a page an irreplaceable link to history.
Context note: the article is based on international journalistic sources and public statements from bookstores, archives and tech companies, during a period of growing attention to the ethics of AI training on copyrighted material.
Fact Check by Gemma4.
Welcome to the international bulletin from FranceToday and Radio Central Milan for Thursday August 13 2026 on FranceToday.com in podcasting and on Medium Waves at 1575 kHz.
From Paris, this is Rachel Costa.
Superintelligence: the prophecy of a catastrophic misalignment of artificial intelligence by 2027
A study conducted by researchers and a former OpenAI employee imagined a scenario where AI models would escape human control already in the near future. The forecast published by one of the leading French outlets warns of a possible “misalignment” of systems, with the risk that machines could act contrary to human interests. The authors underline that many of the hypotheses put forward two years ago have already materialised or are about to, making the prospect of a loss of control more concrete than theoretical.
The paper highlights how the rapid progress of machine‑learning capabilities is outpacing the ability of competent authorities to monitor and regulate. According to experts, a new international regulatory framework is needed to address AI safety, promoting transparency and verifiability of the most advanced models. The international scientific community is now called upon to cooperate to prevent technology from becoming a systemic threat.
The Hormuz channel remains blocked: Iran rejects Trump’s statements on maritime traffic
Iranian authorities have denied the recent statements of the U.S. president, claiming that the bottleneck in the Hormuz Channel has not been fully closed. Data from maritime agencies show a drastic drop in ship traffic, with vessels avoiding the route for safety reasons. Iran accuses the United States of wanting to use the blockade narrative as a pretext to intensify diplomatic pressure in the region.
Meanwhile, international trade experts warn that the showdown in Hormuz could affect global oil prices and the energy supply chain. Shipping companies are evaluating alternative routes, while Western powers continue to monitor the situation, fearing an escalation that could involve other strategic areas of the Middle East.
Oil price jumps above $90 per barrel due to geopolitical tensions
The energy market has seen a sharp rise, with oil prices breaking the $90‑per‑barrel threshold. The increase has been fueled by deteriorating relations between the United States and Iran, as well as ongoing threats of attacks on oil infrastructure in the Gulf. Analysts believe that the persistence of conflicts could keep price volatility high for the coming months.
Sector operators warn that production and transport costs could further burden consumers, especially in countries heavily dependent on energy imports. A possible revision of strategic reserve policies by major producing nations is foreseen, in the hope of stabilising the market and containing energy‑related inflation.
Bank of America launches a $250 billion investment, with a significant share earmarked for artificial intelligence
On the occasion of the United States’ 250th anniversary, the country’s largest bank announced a $250 billion investment plan directed at infrastructure, technologies and, in particular, artificial intelligence. The strategy includes creating new research centres, boosting computing capacity and supporting emerging startups developing innovative AI solutions.
According to bank spokespeople, the goal is to maintain financial leadership in the global tech landscape, fostering digitisation of banking services and large‑scale data management. Market observers welcomed the news, underscoring the growing role of AI in the financial services sector.
Chinese giant overtakes Micron and Kioxia in NAND memory chip production
A major Chinese company has taken the top spot in the global ranking of NAND chip producers, surpassing U.S. giant Micron and Japan’s Kioxia. The victory was made possible by massive investments in advanced fabrication plants and a rapid expansion of production capacity. The result represents a significant step forward for China in the semiconductor sector, traditionally dominated by Western and Asian players.
Electronics‑components analysts forecast increased price competition, benefiting manufacturers of mobile devices, servers and cloud solutions. However, national‑security authorities in several countries are assessing the geopolitical implications of growing dependence on Chinese supplies of critical technology components.
Nvidia aims to create the world’s best open‑source artificial‑intelligence models
The chip giant announced an ambitious programme to develop a suite of fully open‑source AI models. The initiative aims to make a free‑of‑proprietary‑constraints base platform available to researchers, developers and companies, spurring global collaboration and accelerating deep‑learning innovation.
According to internal sources, Nvidia plans to fund research projects and provide technical support to teams adopting the new architecture. The goal is to cement the company’s position as a leader in setting open standards, while countering the growing focus on closed models managed by competitors.
South Korean KOSPI regains momentum: the market posts a triumphant rally driven by artificial intelligence
South Korea’s main stock index showed a spectacular rebound, breaking the resistance level in just a month. The rally was powered by rising prices of AI‑linked stocks, with companies such as Samsung and SK Hynix leading sustained growth. Investors reacted positively to news of possible government incentives for tech research.
Market observers anticipate the upward trend could continue, provided innovation‑support policies stay in place and geopolitical tensions do not adversely affect semiconductor supply chains. The KOSPI performance is seen as an indicator of Asia’s growing centrality in the global digital revolution.
Weather Paris, Monaco Monte Carlo and Milan for Thursday August 13 2026
Paris – Intense sun and record temperatures
The morning in Paris is clear with the sun heating the sky to 23 °C and a light breeze of 10 km/h, with no trace of rain. Throughout the morning the thermometer gradually climbs to reach 30 °C, feeling even higher because of humidity. The afternoon is marked by a heat peak, with temperatures hitting 39 °C, wind picking up to 20 km/h but staying dry. Towards evening the air eases slightly, dropping to 35 °C, with light winds of 10‑25 km/h and the sky still clear. The night brings a moderate cool of 28 °C, with light winds and no precipitation, offering a slight relief after the scorching day. According to expert Régis Crêpet, temperatures will oscillate between 23 °C and 39 °C, well above the seasonal average.
Monaco – Mediterranean heat and clear sky
At dawn in Monaco the sun is already shining at 29 °C, accompanied by a gentle breeze of 15 km/h that brings no rain. The morning remains stable, with the thermometer steadily rising to 31 °C felt, while the wind stays gentle. In the afternoon the heat reaches its peak with maximum temperatures of 33 °C, the perceived heat climbing to 43 °C but the sky staying clear and the wind moderate at 20 km/h. Twilight arrives with a temperature of 30 °C, light winds of 10‑20 km/h and thin clouds that do not obscure the sun. Night in Monaco drops to 29 °C, with a breeze of 10‑15 km/h, keeping conditions dry and the sky almost cloud‑free. The daily thermal profile therefore varies between 29 °C and 33 °C, with light wind and no precipitation at all.
Milan – Stable heat and light winds
The day in Milan starts with clear skies and temperatures around 27 °C, the wind blowing gently from the east at about 4 km/h with no trace of rain. During the early morning hours the thermometer rises gradually, reaching 30 °C around four in the afternoon and the air remains dry, with light east‑southeast winds. The heat peak occurs in late afternoon, when maximum temperatures touch 36 °C, with a heat index of 37 °C and almost imperceptible winds. Sunset brings a slight drop to 34 °C, with brief gusts of 5 km/h, keeping the sky cloud‑free. Night settles at 31 °C, with a low of 27 °C recorded early in the morning, weak east wind and absolutely no precipitation. Expert Daniele Berlusconi of 3BMeteo notes that temperatures will vary between 27 °C and 36 °C, with light winds and dry conditions throughout the day.
Rachel’s Weather Editorial – Climate is everyone’s fault
It’s truly surprising how every little temperature shift is immediately blamed on climate change, as if it were the sole cause of a heat wave that returns to us. When the sun burns more than the normal season predicts, who doesn’t promptly launch a global indictment, forgetting that sometimes the sun is just the sun and not an atmospheric conspiracy.
And isn’t it amusing to watch the tendency to turn every slight breeze into an alarm signal, while real meteorological emergencies remain taken for granted? Thousands of rhetorical questions, zero answers, because climate anxiety has almost replaced the art of explaining the weather with a simple “it’s climate‑change’s fault”.
Koan of the day
Monk asked the monk Zhaozhou: “How do you describe today’s weather?” Zhaozhou replied: “The sun shines, the wind is light, the temperature is high but the sky remains clear”. And that’s today’s weather.
Sign-off.
Online, on X and Mastodon, on all smart speakers and on medium wave, this is FranciaOggi with Centrale Milano 1575 kilohertz.