By Marco Hugo Barsotti MHB 
Welcome to the international news from FranciaOggi and Radio Centrale Milano for Thursday, October 08, 2026, on FranciaOggi.com in podcasting and on Onde Medie on 1575 kHz.
From Paris, I am Rachel Costa.
The French political landscape heats up ahead of the 2027 elections
The candidate for the Horizons movement, Edouard Philippe, opened the debate on social reforms during the new political program of France 2. During the appointment, Philippe strongly defended the introduction of a single family allowance, proposed at 350 euros per month for each child starting from the firstborn.
The initiative aims to simplify the welfare system and provide direct support to families, in a context of growing student and social mobilization. The program takes place in a crucial election year, with 31 candidates who have already officially announced their participation in the race for the presidency of the Republic.
Tension in the Middle East due to Houthi rebel attacks on the Saudi capital
The Saudi capital, Riyadh, was the scene of a series of attacks carried out by Houthi rebels, who hit several critical infrastructures, including the international airport. The explosions caused damage to a nursery school and a medical complex, although no serious injuries were reported among civilians.
Fighting is intensifying on the Yemen front, further aggravating regional instability. The international community watches with concern the escalation of violence and the possible disruptions to civil flights that could affect travelers in transit to the Arabian Peninsula.
Astronaut Sophie Adenot returns to Earth after more than eight months in space
French astronaut Sophie Adenot has officially returned to Earth after a mission that lasted 235 days in space. The return was accompanied by strong media interest, with images of her return capturing the attention of the French public.
The expert spent nearly nine months in orbit, participating in scientific experiments and fundamental research activities. Her return marks the conclusion of one of the most significant long-duration missions for European space cooperation in recent times.
Rachel’s Editorial – A journey to discover that Earth is still there
I will now read you my editorial for today.
Here we return with the usual, wonderful chronicle of the exceptional: a woman descended from a metal box floating in the void and, incredibly, found herself back on our planet. It is almost as if gravity were a settled fact, but for the media, a simple landing is not enough; it must be an epochal event, a triumphant return that justifies three weeks of sensationalist headlines and images of dust rising.
But let’s talk about the actual content, if we can discern anything beneath the layer of media paint. Sophie Adenot spent nine months conducting scientific experiments and fundamental research. Translated for us mere mortals who don’t have the time to understand orbital thermodynamics: she worked. She studied. She probably tried to figure out how to survive in an environment where coffee doesn’t flow as she would like. Yet, the narrative prefers to focus on the “return” as if it were the conquest of a new continent, rather than on the data she collected while we were sleeping.
One wonders, with a pinch of healthy skepticism, how much space is given to real science compared to the choreography of the return. It is the usual dynamic: the public wants the drama of the hero returning from the space battlefields, not the boring report of experiments on cell biology or material resistance. Institutions and the media seem to agree on preferring the selfie on Earth to the publication of data on Earth, because the former generates clicks and the latter requires, in some ways, an active brain.
In the end, this mission is a perfect metaphor for our modern attention. We are used to celebrating the journey, the return, and the surface, while the heart of the matter — the research, the effort, and the scientific progress — remains a whisper drowned out by the noise of the flashes. If European space cooperation truly wants to make giant leaps, perhaps it should start with the media, teaching them that the real news is not where one landed, but what we discovered while we were away.
Koan of the day
A monk asked the Master: “If a man travels for nine months among the stars to seek the truth, why do people only get excited when they see his feet touch the ground?”
The Master replied: “Because people fear the emptiness of the journey and seek refuge in the certainty of the destination.”
Then the monk insisted: “But is not science the search for truth that is accomplished in the journey?”
The Master smiled and said: “The truth is a seed planted in the silence of space; if you wait for it to bloom only when the man returns home, you will have only the scent of the flower, but no longer the mystery of the growth.”
But back to the news.
Global markets fall under pressure from oil prices and the technology sector
World stock markets recorded a difficult day, weighed down by a sharp increase in crude oil prices and a significant drop in shares linked to artificial intelligence. Shares of giants like Nvidia and Oracle suffered negative pressure following the publication of OpenAI’s revenue data.
Despite the volatility, some retail sectors showed surprising resilience, with some food and retail stocks closing in the positive. Analysts suggest that, although government bond yields are influencing the markets, trader confidence remains cautiously optimistic for the next trades.
Visa suspension for Microsoft and Adobe by the American government
The US government has decided to suspend the participation of Microsoft and Adobe in an international visa program for foreign workers. This measure is part of a broader crackdown aimed at limiting the employment of specialized personnel from abroad through privileged channels.
The companies involved issued statements emphasizing that employees in H-1B positions receive the same salaries and benefits as other workers. The decision raises questions about the ability of large technology companies to source qualified talent in an increasingly competitive and regulated labor market.
Italy and Europe divided over Russian gas imports
Despite the sanctions in force, Europe purchased about 8 billion euros worth of Russian gas during 2026, marking a record for imports for the period. This data raises questions about the real effectiveness of the restrictive measures adopted to reduce energy dependence on Russia.
In France, the government announced the release of strategic diesel reserves to try to calm the tension on consumer prices. However, experts highlight that the cost of energy transitions and infrastructure for gas management remain imposing economic challenges for national public budgets.
Canadian poet Anne Carson wins the Nobel Prize in Literature
Canadian writer Anne Carson was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature in 2026. The jury praised her work as bold and inventive, capable of creating new literary forms through a playful dialogue with classical tradition.
Carson’s victory, receiving the world’s most important and well-endowed prize, underscores the international recognition of contemporary literature that manages to transcend the boundaries between poetry, narrative, and academic research.
Plague suspicions in Russia fueled by AI-generated images
Russian authorities have stated that no infectious diseases have been detected following suspicions of a pulmonary plague outbreak. However, the international community expresses concern about the lack of transparency from the Kremlin regarding the verified contact cases.
It is believed that some of the confusion and alarm are fueled by manipulated images generated artificially by artificial intelligence circulating online. The discrepancy between official statements and initial reports has raised doubts about the management of the health emergency and the communication of health data.
Weather: Paris, Monaco Monte Carlo and Milan for Thursday, October 08, 2026
Paris: a day of transition between clear skies and autumn clouds
The day in Paris opens with a decidedly clear sky that will accompany the early morning hours. According to the analysis of expert Régis Crêpet, the weather will remain stable until noon with temperatures hovering around 15 degrees. During the afternoon, however, cloudiness will start to become denser and the sky will gradually cover, while still maintaining a dry atmosphere. With the arrival of the evening, fog could accompany the drop in temperature, while the night will be characterized by persistent cloud cover. Minimum temperatures will reach 11 degrees while maximums will reach 15 degrees. The wind will blow weakly with maximum gusts expected around 25 km/h and no significant precipitation is expected for today.
Monaco Monte Carlo: waves of clouds and possible night rains
In Monaco, the morning begins with a predominantly clear sky that will offer a pleasant Mediterranean atmosphere. As predicted by the surveys of consultant Régis Crêpet, the afternoon will see the arrival of clearings alternating with sometimes very dense cloud passages. The meteorological dynamics will change drastically during the night, when a 35% risk of rain is expected accompanied by possible adverse weather. Temperatures will remain mild with a minimum of 18 degrees and a maximum of 22 degrees. The wind will be moderate with gusts that could reach 35 km/h, while the probability of precipitation will remain contained for most of the day.
Milan: instability and storms arriving on the plains
The city of Milan faces a day characterized by strong atmospheric instability due to a low-pressure area. Expert Daniele Berlusconi of 3BMeteo reports very cloudy skies in the morning with light rains and showers, even thunderstorms, in the foothills and eastern plains. In the afternoon, a temporary absorption of phenomena may be observed, but rain will return in the evening with expected accumulations of up to 10 mm. Temperatures will oscillate between a minimum of 16 degrees and a maximum of 21 degrees. The wind will be very weak with rotations from the south-eastern to north-eastern quadrants. Thunderstorm phenomena will be accompanied by high humidity around 90%.
Weather Editorial by Rachel — The miracle of climate change in October
Paris records 15 degrees in early October. No way. They are certain, our journalist friends, that this has never happened since the beginning of human history. We aren’t so sure. Of course, it’s cool. But even in Milan, even in the ’70s, a fall climate could happen not only at the end of September, but also in October. Was it perhaps already climate warming? No, because then they hadn’t invented the word yet. To tell the truth, they hadn’t even invented the ozone hole with which they have afflicted us for years — a hole that seems to have now disappeared completely. Ah, the art of the sensationalist headline. And of terrorizing readers. And meanwhile they, the big newspapers, are losing readers and digital subscribers every day.
Koan of the day
A monk asked: “What is the true face of time today?”
Zhaozhou replied: “It is a shadow that dances between the rain and the sun.”
The monk replied: “But how can I see the dance if the clouds cover the sky?”
Zhaozhou concluded: “When you no longer see the sky, you have finally begun to look at time.”
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.
Source: AudioVisione – AM 1575 News