By Marco Hugo Barsotti MHB 
Welcome to the international news bulletin from FranciaOggi and Radio Centrale Milano for Friday October 9, 2026 on FranciaOggi.com in podcasting and on Medium Wave at 1575 kHz.
Reporting from Paris, I am Rachel Costa.
The Education Minister promises 3,000 teachers to calm protests in high schools
The French government announced the immediate deployment of approximately 3,000 substitute teachers to the high schools most affected by disruptions caused by student protests. The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Edouard Geffray, during a visit to a high school in Val-de-Marne, where he emphasized the need to ensure educational continuity. Authorities have activated an IT system to identify institutions with the most severe disruptions and have already identified 114 centers in “red situation” and 400 in “orange situation”.
The measures, presented as a first concrete step, aim to meet the demands of the General Directorate of Education, which has faced growing pressure from parents, teachers, and unions. The minister guaranteed that, within the coming weeks, substitute teachers will be operational to support classes and reduce tensions in classrooms. The provision has been welcomed by some families, but student groups continue to call for deeper reforms of the education system.
Middle East War: negotiations with Washington cannot progress without the lack of pressure and threat, says the Iranian president
The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Massoud Pezeshkian, stated that negotiations to end the conflict in the Middle East can only advance if the United States cease exerting pressure and threats against Tehran. During an address to the United Nations General Assembly, Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of a dialogue free from coercion to achieve a lasting solution.
According to his words, the continuation of sanctions and military threats hinders any diplomatic progress. Iran has also demanded respect for national sovereignty and the cessation of external interference as essential conditions for further negotiations. International analysts warn that the situation remains highly volatile and dependent on the moves of the main actors involved.
Rachel’s Editorial – “Zero-Dose Diplomacy: the art of speaking without threatening”
Let’s read the great enigma right away: Iran asks Washington to stop being threatening, as if asking a bear to stop growling were a reasonable proposal. But really, is it possible that instead of sanctions one could offer a coffee and a handshake? The rhetoric seems more like a street‑theatre script than a concrete strategy, and we journalists are left staring at the curtain without knowing whether there is anything serious behind the scenes.
And then, why does the article limit itself to quoting the General Assembly speech without providing any indication of who, among Washington’s allies, cares most about “coercion”? The bias is so evident that we could almost feel we are in an episode of “Who Broke the Silence?”. The reader wonders whether journalists have uncovered the source of pressure loss (probably a repentant press office) or simply decided to repeat the old anti‑imperialist mantra at zero volume.
International analysts, cited at the last minute, warn of a “highly volatile” situation. But isn’t that phrase perhaps the most elegant way of saying “we don’t know anything”? A volatility that, like our ability to discern power narratives, seems to depend more on our desire to believe pre‑packaged scripts than on real data. How many times have we heard talk of “volatility” without anyone asking why the involved parties cannot simply sit down at the table?
Finally, the Iranian request for respect of sovereignty sounds like an invitation to tea with the world’s greats, but reality is more akin to a chess game with missing pieces: the United States has the king, Iran the queen, and the rest of the world is forced to watch the game from afar, wondering if someone has forgotten to move the pieces. In the end, the true drama is that, despite the words “dialogue free of coercion”, the stage remains lit by bombs of words and threats of silence.
Koan of the day
A monk asked the Master: “If a country demands to no longer be threatened, but continues to challenge those who threaten it, where does the real pressure reside?”
The Master replied: “Pressure is like the shadow of the wind: if the wind is silent, the shadow disappears, but the ground remains dry.”
The monk persisted: “Then, when two nations live in apparent peace, but both hide blades under the table, what truth governs their silence?”
The Master replied: “Silence is the greatest noise when the blades are invisible; the irony is that everyone hears the sound of their own ego.”
But let’s return to the news.
The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Navi Pillay for the defense of human rights
The Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to South African jurist Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, recognizing her for her commitment to promoting peace and international law. Pillay, who has served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has been at the center of numerous investigations into alleged war crimes, including genocide accusations against Israel in the Gaza Strip.
The recognition was welcomed with enthusiasm by the international community, which highlighted the jurist’s crucial role in holding world powers accountable for human‑rights violations. The award ceremony in Oslo will include the presence of prominent figures, including the United Nations Secretary‑General, who emphasized the importance of Pillay’s work for global justice.
OpenAI in revenue crisis, Delta Airlines profits in the spotlight
The morning program “Morning Squawk” reported growing concern over OpenAI’s revenue, the artificial‑intelligence company founded by Elon Musk, due to slower‑than‑expected growth. According to the latest estimates, annualized revenue is approaching $50 billion, a figure below market expectations, fueling doubts about the sustainability of the business model.
Meanwhile, Delta Airlines released its third‑quarter results, indicating a downward revision of its 2026 outlook due to rising fuel prices. Nevertheless, the CEO maintained a positive outlook on flight demand, emphasizing the importance of operational‑efficiency strategies to mitigate the impact of energy costs. The two cases show how different sectors, from technology to aviation, are vulnerable to global economic fluctuations.
The Russian ghost fleet expands: now counts 1,300 tankers, seven times larger
According to the latest BFMTV investigations, the so‑called Russian “ghost fleet” has undergone a considerable expansion, reaching a total of approximately 1,300 tanker vessels. The fleet, managed by offshore companies and backed by international insurers, now uses the Chinese renminbi for transactions, making it harder to track the operations.
Energy‑geopolitics experts warn that this growth makes the fleet more resilient to Western sanctions, worsening tensions in the oil market. The French government has expressed concern about the impact this proliferation of ships could have on maritime security and global energy prices, especially ahead of a possible demand surge during winter.
Paul Krugman warns: France could be “too big to be saved”
Nobel laureate in economics Paul Krugman published an editorial in which he criticizes the handling of France’s public debt, arguing that the country risks becoming too cumbersome for traditional bailout measures. Krugman highlighted the high level of spending on pensions and generous salaries for public employees, which, in his view, make the debt burden on the national budget unsustainable.
The commentator urged the government to undertake structural reforms to reduce the deficit and improve the economy’s competitiveness. Krugman’s remarks, amplified by international media, have reignited the internal political debate on the need for fiscal reforms and the future of the French economy’s European integration.
The AI race in China intensifies with the arrival of new large language models
An in‑depth investigation by The Information showed how major Chinese players, including video‑game giant MiHoYo, are heavily investing in the development of large language models for artificial intelligence. These companies aim to create systems competitive with OpenAI and Anthropic, seeking to become global leaders in the AI sector.
The report highlighted that the Chinese strategy includes strong government support, both financial and regulatory, to accelerate IA research and commercialization. Experts predict that within the next two years China will have a range of advanced models, markedly increasing pressure on Western companies that dominate the market.
The French‑German agreement on the “MGCS” assault tank: a crucial step for European defence
BFMTV reported that Germany has decided to re‑enter the joint next‑generation assault tank project, called “Main Ground Combat System” (MGCS), which also involves France. After a period of uncertainty, the two countries have confirmed the continuity of the programme, marking an important advancement in European defence cooperation.
The new tank, equipped with hybrid combat capabilities and next‑generation gun systems, is expected to enter service by the middle of the next decade. Military authorities emphasized that the project is essential to ensure the European Union’s strategic autonomy in a context of rising geopolitical tensions.
Weather Paris, Monaco Monte Carlo and Milan for Friday October 9, 2026
Paris – cloudy day with possible showers
The morning presents an overcast sky and a light breeze of about 15 km/h, with occasional gusts up to 40 km/h. Temperatures reach 14 °C, feeling cooler due to the wind effect. In the afternoon the sky remains very cloudy, with a few scattered clearings and a 45 % chance of rain. Temperature rises to 16 °C, but it feels around 13 °C because of the wind. Evening brings dense clouds and an increased chance of rain at 65 %, with small drops interspersed with brief clearings. Night brings a cool 14 °C, light southeast wind and residual precipitation, while humidity stays high. The analysis was confirmed by expert Régis Crêpet.
Monaco Monte Carlo – mild climate with little rain
In the morning temperatures range between 17 and 18 °C, with half‑cloudy sky and a light breeze of 15 km/h. Wind can reach gusts of 30 km/h but without significant effect on thermal perception. Mid‑day the sun peeks through the clouds, warming thermometers to 20 °C, while the rain risk drops to 25 %. In the afternoon the sky becomes clearer and temperatures stay stable around 19 °C. Evening is clear, with temperatures around 18 °C and almost no wind, making the air pleasantly cool. During the night temperature falls to 16 °C, the sky is clear and no precipitation is expected.
Milan – dry and mild weekend
Milan’s morning wakes up with partially cloudy sky, temperature of 16 °C and a light north‑west wind of 3 km/h. The weather stays stable in the early afternoon, with temperatures rising to 22 °C, widespread sun and few scattered clouds. In the afternoon conditions remain dry, the wind stays light and the feel is of pleasant warmth. Evening the sky thickens with scattered clouds, temperature drops to 19 °C and the wind remains weak, but with a chance of light rain of 0.7 mm. Night brings a cool 17 °C, light north‑east wind and a slight residual rain, while humidity rises. The analysis was provided by expert Daniele Berlusconi of 3BMeteo.
Weather Editorial by Rachel — Uncanny heat in autumn
Paris records 16 °C at the end of October. It’s not the fault of climate change, everyone says. The same 16 °C in Paris could be seen in the ’70s, when the “ozone hole” was the big concern. Monaco records 20 °C, a figure that in the ‘80s was considered a summer evening, not an autumn one. Milan rises to 22 °C, with light winds, while in October 1992 Milan reached similar temperatures without people shouting “climate change”. The old ozone‑hole alarms have disappeared, but sensationalist headlines remain. Today journalists aim for drama, while readers drift toward digital subscriptions, leaving newsrooms shouting about clouds and winds. How ironic, isn’t it?
Koan of the day
Un monk asked: “What is the true face of time today?”
Zhaozhou replied: “Time is like a sheet of paper, white in the morning, stained at sunset.”
A monk asked: “And the rain?”
Zhaozhou concluded: “Rain is only the silence of the air deciding to speak.”
And that 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