By Marco Hugo Barsotti MHB 
Welcome to am1575news, the news bulletin of France24 and Radio Centrale Milano for Monday 31 August 2026 in podcasting, on the medium wave and on franciaoggi.com. In the editorial office in Nice Marco Hugo Barsotti, from Paris Rachel Costa.
News from France
School updates 2026‑2027: cell phone ban, preparatory class, financial education and other reforms
From Monday 1 September 2026 more than twelve million students and eight hundred and fifty thousand teachers return to school to discover a range of changes governed by the new 2026‑2027 school calendar.
The most discussed provision is the ban on smartphone use in high schools. The law, approved in July by Parliament and promulgated by President Emmanuel Macron, provides for a total prohibition of mobile phones starting from the first day of classes. The government, through spokesperson Maud Bregeon, confirmed the possibility of introducing exceptions for students with disabilities, for preparatory classes or for BTS students, while school heads will be able to determine any permitted use in outdoor spaces. The custody procedures and sanctions will be defined in internal regulations.
Another novelty is the permanent establishment of the “prépa‑seconde” class. After the experimental phase started in 2024, a decree inserted it into the Education Code, offering a year of reinforcement between the end of middle school and entry into second year for those who have not yet obtained the baccalaureate diploma or need to consolidate their skills. Currently the measure is present in about a hundred high schools, with the possibility for students to continue in the same track or to reorient.
From September, fourth‑grade middle school groups will introduce financial education courses, with the Educfi passport issued in collaboration with the Bank of France. Students will have to attend training modules and a test that verifies the ability to manage a current account, use the main means of payment and awareness of over‑indebtedness. The goal declared by the Minister of Education, Edouard Geffray, is to provide all young people with the keys to economic autonomy.
The ministry also announced the creation, starting in 2027, of a Concours général for middle schools, reserved for a maximum of 10 % of students per subject among French, mathematics, history‑geography, arts and coding. The exams, scheduled for January, will follow the model of the traditional general competition for high schools.
The annual bullying questionnaire will be expanded to include, for the first time, questions on sexual and gender‑based violence. Minister Geffray emphasized that ten million students, from preschool to high school, will be involved in an anonymous survey, with the option to provide their name to be put in touch with a reference adult.
On the occasion of the national commemoration of 11 November, all students, from first grade to high school, will take part in a ceremony dedicated to the “Dead for France”. The minister reiterated the importance of knowing historical roots to guide the future.
The exam calendar will undergo a further change: almost one hundred percent of the brevet and baccalaureate exams will be held in the morning in 2027, to reduce risks associated with extreme heat. Some professional baccalaureate exams will be conducted in climate‑controlled environments if necessary.
From an assessment perspective, the grading of written papers will include an accurate barometer of language level, with correction elements for spelling and grammar made public after 10 September. Teaching will also need to focus more on overall language development and scientific reasoning, eliminating “gap‑fill texts” in favor of producing complete sentences.
School curricula will be updated at all levels: from preschool, with a requirement to know 2 500 words, to secondary education, with revisions of physical education, history‑geography, foreign languages and sciences. Moral and civic education will be restructured for classes from CE2 to the third year of high school.
Finally, a July decree will allow the transfer of primary, middle or secondary school students when the behavior of one of the parents seriously compromises the normal functioning of the institution. The minister defended the measure, emphasizing the need to protect teaching staff from potential threats.
Franceinfo, 31 August 2026
Fact Check by Gemma4.
Head of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, confirms his primary candidacy for the 2027 presidential elections
The general secretary of the French Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, officially announced on Sunday evening, on TF1’s news program “20 Heures”, his entry into his party’s primary ahead of the 2027 presidential race. “I am a candidate for the presidency of the Republic,” Faure declared, adding that he intends to “bring a fairer France”, “rebuild, recombine, repair” the country’s vulnerabilities.
With his candidacy Faure positions himself alongside other left‑wing figures who have already announced participation in the internal race: Val‑de‑Marne deputy Raphaël Glucksmann, former minister Jérôme Guedj, Paris mayor Philippe Brun and former candidate Ségolène Royal. Glucksmann described Faure’s path as “a moment of clarification” during the “Franc‑jeu” episode on France 2 and France Inter.
During the interview Faure emphasized the need to unite the left against the right and the far right, excluding an internal contest “only among left‑wing forces”. He also recalled the experience of François Hollande, nicknamed “Monsieur 3 %”, who despite weak polls managed to capture the Élysée, reiterating that “nothing ever happens according to plan”.
Faure concluded that, at the end of the primary, socialists, ecologists, ex‑insoumis and communists should continue to collaborate, highlighting the goal of building “a collective left‑wing identity”. source: franceinfo, 30 August 2026 Fact Check by Gemma4.
Rachel’s Editorial – The socialist circus is back in town
I am now reading you my editorial of the day.
The our beloved Olivier Faure has finally decided to launch himself into the presidential race, just as TF1’s “20 Heures” was broadcasting the night’s ice‑cream. But is a televised announcement really necessary to confirm what political observers had already guessed for months? Perhaps the real show is seeing how many times the same phrase “I want a fairer France” can be repeated without the audience falling asleep.
And then we find ourselves counting the candidates as if they were candies at a birthday party: Faure, Glucksmann, Guedj, Brun, Royal… and each time the party changes its name more often than hair‑style trends. Isn’t it perhaps a somewhat elegant excuse to hide the inability to define a coherent political line? Journalism, with its devotion to “who’s who”, seems to have forgotten to ask: “What is the real program?”
The Elabe poll indicating 3.5 % of the vote served to remind us that even the “Champions of August” can emerge from nowhere, provided they cite Strasbourg, Hollande and some quote from “Le Parisien”. But how many of us trust a statistic that looks more like another variety‑show sketch? When the number becomes the sole weapon, politics risks turning into a pop‑up competition.
Finally, Faure promises to “rebuild, rebâtir, réparer” everything, but seems to forget that the real enemy is not the right nor the far right, but a left that fights only with the left. The question is: how many times will we have to witness this fratricidal duel before someone finds the courage to propose something truly new?
Koan of the day
A monk asked the Master: “If the head of the Socialist Party announces his candidacy, is it really a sign of hope or simply another background noise in the political carousel?”
The Master replied: “It’s like a drum beating in a desert; the sound fills the air, but no one knows if there is really a melody to follow.”
The monk persisted: “And this melody of hope, where can it lead us, if candidates change names more often than a chameleon changes colour?”
The Master smiled and said: “The chameleon thinks it confuses the eyes, but true change is in the heart of the observer; the truth is that no one is ever truly lost, only forgotten.”
But let’s return to the news.
The EU no longer enchants: Brussels defeated after Icelandic rejection to resume negotiations for accession
Brussels suffered a hard blow on Sunday, when Icelandic voters rejected with 52.84 % the referendum on resuming negotiations for entry into the European Union. The island, which is already a member of the European Economic Area and the Schengen area, thus confirmed its intention not to deepen ties with the Union further.
European Council President Antonio Costa told Kristrun Frostadottir, Iceland’s prime minister, that the EU “fully respects the democratic choice” of citizens. However, disappointment was evident in Brussels. Green MEP Saskia Bricmont commented that “the EU no longer inspires dreams”, while centrist MEP Sandro Gozi described the result as a “warning that Europe must take seriously”.
According to European representatives, the result highlights a loss of the bloc’s attractiveness. Sandro Gozi emphasized that the Union’s pull cannot be taken for granted and must be rebuilt, especially by reducing bureaucracy. Some MEPs also stressed the need to earn the trust of candidate countries, otherwise the enlargement process risks stagnating.
Iceland was seen as an ideal candidate for enlargement, given its economy rich in natural resources and strategic position in the North Atlantic. The EU had announced willingness to make concessions on sensitive issues, particularly fishing rights, a sector that accounts for 40 % of Icelandic exports.
The result instead fueled enthusiasm among Eurosceptic groups. Far‑right French leader Marine Le Pen interpreted the vote as proof of a “Europe of free and sovereign nations”. Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, also praised the Icelanders for defending their independence.
The last EU enlargement dates back to 2013, with Croatia’s accession. In recent years, progress in negotiations with the Western Balkans has been slow, and the accession of new nations remains uncertain. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to travel to Greenland in September, but the goal of consolidating the EU’s presence in the Arctic region is now shadowed by the Icelandic result.
BFM Business, 31 August 2026
Fact Check by Gemma4.
Céline Dion: the place loved by Michael Jackson and Katy Perry where she spent the summer
Céline Dion did not wait for her arrival in Paris on 28 August to prepare her concerts. The Canadian artist spent the summer of 2026 at the famous Palms Studio, located inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, a historic recording and rehearsal complex for the greatest music icons, from Michael Jackson to Britney Spears to Katy Perry. In that facility the singer worked “non‑stop” together with Jean‑Jacques Goldman, who is overseeing Dion’s return from her two‑and‑a‑half‑year tour, and spent weeks rehearsing the new shows that will be presented in Paris starting 12 September. The rehearsals took place both in Las Vegas and in Montréal, in “top secret”, according to the daily Le Parisien.
At the same time, Dion took advantage of the proximity of her residence in Henderson, where she has lived for more than twenty years in an ultra‑private area called South Shore, located a few kilometres from her studio. The neighbourhood is surrounded by a private lake, between desert and mountains, and has a private airport, making it possible for the star to lead a quiet life away from the hustle of Las Vegas. The choice of Palms Studio proved strategic: in addition to allowing Dion to perfect her performances, the environment has been a crossroads of collaborations with world‑famous artists, thus confirming her role as a benchmark in the international music industry. Gala, 30 August 2026
Fact Check by Gemma4.
Welcome to the international news bulletin from FranceToday and Radio Centrale Milano for Monday 31 August 2026 on FranceToday.com in podcasting and on Medium Wave at 1575 kHz.
From Paris, this is Rachel Costa.
United States strikes Iran: the first attacks in more than a month
U.S. armed forces launched an aerial operation against two Iranian missile launchers on the island of Larak, in the Gulf of Hormuz area. The attack, the first of its kind in more than thirty days, was justified by Washington as a response to Persian provocations against international shipping routes. The move sparked a strong reaction in Tehran, where authorities announced a counter‑strike against U.S. military targets in Jordan.
The energy market experienced an immediate rise: Brent oil prices surpassed ninety dollars per barrel, reflecting investors’ concerns about global supply stability. Analysts fear that an escalation of further air strikes could fuel a volatility spiral in the markets, with repercussions on energy needs of businesses and consumers worldwide.
Icelandic citizens reject EU membership
In Sunday’s vote, the Icelandic population voted 52.8 % against the resumption of negotiations for EU entry. The result was received by Brussels as a “diplomatic defeat”, but Icelandic authorities defined the decision as an expression of popular will to maintain current autonomy.
The referendum was widely promoted by parties fearing an economic sovereignty loss, while EU supporters highlighted potential commercial benefits. With the vote concluded, the Icelandic government will have to renegotiate relations with the Union, focusing on sectoral trade agreements rather than full accession.
Oil price exceeds ninety dollars following the first U.S. attacks on Iran
The fuel market reacted immediately to the United States’ military actions against Iran, pushing Brent prices above the ninety‑dollar per barrel level. Operators indicated that tension in the Gulf region, crucial for the transit of about a third of global oil trade, is fueling a wave of concerns about possible supply interruptions.
Energy experts warned that, if hostilities persist, price effects could be more lasting, influencing industrial production costs and household bills in many economies. Authorities in several countries are closely monitoring the situation, assessing possible measures to mitigate the impact on consumers.
Oil rises after U.S. attacks on Larak: impacts on global markets
After U.S. armed forces struck Iranian military installations on the island of Larak, oil prices gained more than one percentage point, pushing futures toward the highest peak in recent months. Stock market operators recorded a contraction in equity markets, especially in energy‑related sectors, while investors sought refuge in safer assets.
Authorities in major producing countries expressed concern over the stability of supply flows, warning that further escalations could trigger a prolonged price hike. Market analysts suggest closely monitoring diplomatic statements to assess the likelihood of a new wave of tensions, which could amplify volatility in coal and gas prices.
Singapore incentivizes families to counter demographic crisis
The Singapore government has launched a cash incentive package and tax breaks aimed at supporting couples with young children, hoping to reverse the declining birth‑rate trend. Measures include monthly contributions for the first three years of a child’s life and discounts on childcare services, in response to growing concern over the slowdown in population growth.
According to authorities, the average cost of raising a child has risen dramatically in the last ten years, prompting many families to postpone or forgo additional children. Demographic experts warn that, without intervention, the country’s labour force needs could shrink, undermining long‑term economic competitiveness.
Salesforce revolutionizes pricing model for artificial intelligence
The cloud giant is introducing a new pricing system for its artificial intelligence suite, shifting from a fixed‑fee model to a consumption‑based approach tied to the results achieved by businesses. The change provides customized contracts in which customers pay based on the volume of data processed and the actual productivity of automated processes.
According to Salesforce executives, this change allows companies to more accurately assess AI’s added value, reducing waste and encouraging more targeted investments. The new model, however, raises questions about cost transparency and customers’ ability to monitor performance in real time.
Apple conquers hardware for artificial intelligence with the Mac
Apple unveiled a new generation of Mac computers optimized for artificial intelligence applications, integrating proprietary chips capable of handling machine‑learning workloads without resorting to external accelerators. The move marks an important step toward the company’s technological self‑sufficiency, which until recently relied on third‑party solutions for the most intensive AI tasks.
Analysts predict that Apple’s push into AI hardware could provide a competitive edge in professional markets, where processing speed is crucial. Moreover, the new Mac could spur a reassessment of hardware development strategies among other major industry players.
Weather Paris, Monaco Monte Carlo and Milan for Monday 31 August 2026
Paris – a day of contrast between sun and rain
The morning in Paris is cool with temperatures around 18, wind of 20 km/h and gusts that can exceed 45, no precipitation but moderate humidity, according to expert Régis Crêpet. In the afternoon, the sun tries to break through the clouds, bringing temperatures that reach 23, but the chance of rain rises to 65% accompanied by stronger gusts of 50 km/h. In the evening, the sky clears slightly, temperatures settle around 20 with milder winds of 15 km/h and no rain risk. During the night, temperatures drop to around 17, wind further calms to 15 km/h and conditions remain dry. In summary, the day will offer an alternation of sunny and stormy moments, with temperatures between 17 and 23. The wind will be stronger in the morning and afternoon, while precipitation will be concentrated in the afternoon.
Monaco Monte Carlo – bright sun and sustained heat
The morning in Monaco will have temperatures around 25, with a slight wind of 15 km/h and no rain, creating a pleasant start. At midday, the sun will dominate and temperatures will rise up to 28, with the same light wind and no risk of precipitation. In the evening, the sky will remain clear, temperatures will drop slightly to 26 and the wind will stay calm, with no rain in sight. During the night, temperatures will fall to 21, with very weak wind and dry conditions. The whole day will be characterized by temperatures between 25 and 28, light wind and total absence of precipitation. The Mediterranean climate will ensure a stable and warm climate from morning to night.
Milan – clear skies and sharply rising temperatures
At dawn in Milan, temperatures will be around 22 with clear skies and virtually no wind, according to expert Daniele Berlusconi of 3BMeteo. The morning continues with gradual warming, temperatures reaching 24 around 10 am, with a very weak south‑west wind. In the afternoon, the sun will dominate, temperatures will climb to 32, with light winds of about 5 km/h and no precipitation forecast. In the evening, the sky will remain clear, temperatures will fall to 30 and the wind will stay weak, with no rain risk. During the night, temperatures will stay around 28, the wind will be almost nil and the weather will stay dry. In summary, Milan will experience a sunny day, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 32 and virtually no wind or rain.
Rachel’s Weather Editorial – Is the climate always to blame?
How many times have we heard that climate change is the cause of every little cloud and every raindrop? It’s almost comical to think that a cloudy noon sky is the fault of a global phenomenon, when perhaps it is only the result of a passing breeze and a lump of local humidity.
We seriously wonder whether humanity has begun to paint every weather whim in red, turning normal climate variability into an apocalyptic drama. Perhaps it is time to ask whether our anxiety about the climate is no longer a theatrical work but the meteorological reality.
Koan of the day
A monk asked: “What is the true face of the weather today?”
Zhaozhou replied: “The sky is clear, the sun shines, but the wind carries away the fog.”
A monk asked: “So is rain an illusion?”
Zhaozhou replied: “Rain is a tear of the sky when the heart is light.”
A monk asked: “And the heat?”
Zhaozhou replied: “Heat is the fire of will that never extinguishes.”
Zhaozhou concluded: “The weather is what it is, without blame or excuse.”
And this is 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.