By Marco Hugo Barsotti MHB 
Welcome to the international news bulletin from FranciaOggi and Radio Centrale Milano for Sunday October 11, 2026 on FranciaOggi.com in podcasting and on Medium Waves at 1575 kHz.
From Paris I am Rachel Costa.
The Ministry of the Interior initiates dissolution proceedings against the far‑right association «Egalité et Réconciliation»
The French government has activated a dissolution procedure against the organization «Egalité et Réconciliation», founded by far‑right figure Alain Soral. The initiative, announced by the General Directorate for Internal Affairs, is based on accusations of incitement to hatred, dissemination of racist speeches and violence against groups protected by law, as well as alleged violations of the regulations governing associations. The Interior minister emphasized that the decision stems from a series of investigations carried out by the judicial police, which have gathered evidence of connections between the association and international criminal networks.
The authorities have asked the administrative court to confirm the measure within the next thirty days, foreseeing the seizure of assets and the closure of offices. Some members of the leadership of «Egalité et Réconciliation» have already announced their intention to appeal the measure, claiming it is political censorship. Meanwhile, opposition groups have welcomed the decision as a strong signal of the State’s willingness to combat right‑wing extremism, while international observers await assessment of the measure’s impact on the French political landscape.
The Kurils: tensions between Russia and Japan reignite after Putin’s visit
Vladimir Putin’s recent trip to the Pacific archipelago has brought the centuries‑old dispute over the Kurils back into focus, four strategic islands contested by Moscow and Tokyo. Japanese authorities have reaffirmed their sovereignty over the so‑called “Northern Territories”, emphasizing that Russia occupied the islands at the end of World II. Interest in these islands has also grown due to rich marine resources and potential trade routes.
Putin’s statements have sparked mixed reactions in Tokyo, where opposition politicians have urged the government to strengthen diplomacy to avoid a new escalation. Meanwhile, Russian defense forces have intensified naval exercises in the area, signaling their intention to maintain strategic control over the region. International observers fear that the rivalry could further expand, involving regional alliances.
Rachel’s Editorial – Kurils: the ancient struggle for the Pacific’s smallest loot
I will now read you my editorial of today.
It is truly surprising how an archipelago of four islets can reignite the flame of the “Great War of Rhetoric” between Moscow and Tokyo. Putin returns to the scene with the confidence of a well‑informed tourist, but with the magnifying glass of someone who wants us to believe that the real threat is Japanese fishing boats, not missiles positioned kilometers away. The press, of course, immediately jumps into the drama: “Russia and Japan on the razor’s edge”. And we, B‑class spectators, applaud the squeaking sound of the helm.
But where do the facts end and the journalists’ script begin? The Japanese communiqué whispers “post‑war occupation” as if World War II were a few months’ winter. And Russia, with its naval exercises, responds with a military choreography that looks more like a “Dancing with the Stars” rehearsal adapted for submarines. Isn’t it already clear enough that the real “north territory” is the news space, where every leader’s language is sold at a premium?
Japanese opponents call for more diplomacy, yet they have forgotten to mention the word “diplomacy” in all their tweets. Meanwhile, regional allies look at each other like children with cookies: “I take that island, you take the other one”. International observers, with their habit of whispering “risk of escalation”, seem more concerned with filling their editorial columns with warnings than proposing concrete solutions. Where is the magic of a genuine agreement, if not in the ability to announce a new crisis every week?
And finally, the most impertinent question: why all these tensions over a handful of land and water, when the whole world seems so busy solving bigger problems – climate change, economic crises, pandemics? Perhaps it is easier for the media to turn a small rock into a mountain of headlines, because the real mountains, those of facts, are too heavy to lift. In the end, geopolitics is just a grand light show: we pay for the ticket, but the director is still undecided whether the plot is a drama or a comedy.
Koan of the day
A monk asked the Master: “If a power occupies an island to defend its security, is it truly a conquest or merely a defense against its own fear?”
The Master replied: “The wind that circles the island distinguishes not between guard and invader; it is the monk who decides whether to call it a storm or a breeze.”
The monk persisted: “Then, when newspapers turn that wind into a storm, what is the real danger for the soul of the people?”
The Master smiled and said: “The danger is believing that the sound of the wind is the song of a god; wisdom is recognizing that it is only the echo of one’s own breath.”
But let’s return to the news.
Attack on Riyadh Airport: dozens of victims and new Houthi threats
On Saturday night, a coordinated attack struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, causing the death of at least twelve people and injuring more than three hundred. The explosion, followed by a fire that engulfed one of the runways, was attributed to the Yemeni Houthi rebels, known for their operations against Saudi targets. Authorities immediately closed the airport and launched rescue operations.
The Saudi Interior minister condemned the attack as “an act of terrorism”, pledging a strengthening of security protocols at all airports in the kingdom. The incident reignites the debate on the Saudi‑led coalition’s ability to defend its infrastructure against an increasingly sophisticated threat, while the Houthis promise further actions in response to international sanctions.
U.S. electricians earn up to $300,000 building AI data centers
The artificial intelligence boom has generated an unprecedented demand for national‑scale data centers, prompting tech companies to build massive server complexes to power deep‑learning models. In this context, electricians specialized in the installation of high‑voltage systems have become one of the most sought‑after professions, with salaries that can exceed $300,000 per year.
Construction firms, especially those with contracts for cloud giants, offer compensation packages comparable to those of investment banks, including bonuses tied to timely project completion. Experts warn, however, that the shortage of qualified workers could slow the sector’s projected expansion, prompting companies to invest further in technical training.
The silent custodians of AI safety come into the spotlight
While large artificial intelligence models continue to astonish with their capabilities, a new category of professionals is emerging: the “gatekeepers” of safety. These specialists, often with backgrounds in academic research and cybersecurity certifications, are tasked with assessing risks of bias, privacy violations, and potential malicious uses of emerging technologies.
Leading companies, including the most well‑known cloud platforms, are creating dedicated teams to monitor and verify compliance with ethical guidelines throughout the lifecycle of AI products. Experts estimate that, within the next five years, demand for these safety roles will grow by over 200 percent, shifting focus from development alone to responsible oversight of applications.
The race of AI models in China becomes ever more crowded
China’s artificial intelligence landscape is rapidly evolving, with numerous startups and large tech groups racing to launch new language and vision models. The government has recently allocated additional funds to accelerate research, but internal competition is already so intense that many companies find it hard to stand out.
Industry analysts note that the proliferation of competing models is driving a “data and compute arms race”, with consequences both positive in terms of innovation and worrisome for managing the overpopulation of algorithms. Chinese authorities, while encouraging growth, are beginning to introduce stricter guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability in the deployment of these advanced systems.
Flash floods in Nepal destroy homes and infrastructure
A violent surge of heavy rains caused severe floods in the Budhi Gandaki River region of central Nepal, overwhelming entire communities and causing bridges and roads to collapse. Local authorities declared a state of emergency, mobilizing rescue teams and providing temporary shelters to hundreds of displaced families.
Climate experts link the extreme event to accelerated climate change, emphasizing the need for investment in more resilient drainage systems and more careful urban planning. The population, hit by a second disaster after last year’s fires, is urging the government to allocate sufficient resources for reconstruction and prevention of future natural disasters.
Two GIGN gendarmes seriously wounded in shootings in Guadeloupe
In a criminal operation in Guadeloupe, two GIGN members were seriously injured by gunfire during a raid. The intervention, aimed at dismantling a local criminal organization, escalated into a gunfight that required support units to secure the area. The wounded were swiftly transported to a hospital for intensive care.
Authorities stated that the assailants have been identified and arrested, but warned that the area remains under a high level of surveillance. The case reignites the debate over the presence of special forces on French overseas territories and the effectiveness of counter‑terrorism operations in the context of ultra‑peripheral territories.
Weather Paris, Monaco Monte Carlo and Milan for Sunday October 11, 2026
Paris – a mild day under the lens of Régis Crêpet
The morning wakes wrapped in a light veil of fog, temperature around 11 °C, feels like 10. The wind is almost absent, with gusts barely reaching 15 km/h. Around 10 am the sky clears a bit, but remains mostly cloudy, with temperatures rising to 13 °C. The afternoon brings a thicker cover, with a high of 16 °C, but no precipitation; the wind picks up to 10 km/h with gusts up to 30 km/h. Evening descends under a cloud cover, temperature around 14, light wind of 10 km/h. Night ends at 11 °C, overcast sky, calm wind, no rain.
Monaco Monte Carlo – clear with a touch of breeze, according to the local bulletin
In the morning the sky is gently variable, with temperatures around 18 °C, a weak northwest wind of 5 km/h. The sun peeks around noon, pushing the temperature to 22 °C, feels like 29 °C under the sun’s influence. The wind remains moderate, 10 km/h with gusts of 15 km/h, and the sky stays mostly clear. In the afternoon the sky becomes more variable, with scattered clouds but no rain threat; the temperature reaches 23 °C before beginning to drop. Evening the breeze becomes more noticeable, 12 km/h, and temperatures fall to 20 °C. Night closes under a cloudy sky, 18 °C, wind almost absent, no precipitation.
Milan – the forecast by Daniele Berlusconi of 3BMeteo
Milan’s morning presents several light clouds, temperature 14 °C, a weak northeast wind of 2 km/h. The sky remains slightly clouded for most of the morning, with a light fresh feeling. Noon brings a slight rise: 20 °C, wind from east‑southeast at 3 km/h, minimal breezes. In the afternoon the thermometer climbs to 22 °C, the wind stays weak at 4 km/h, and clouds increase without producing rain. Evening opens to brief clearings, temperatures around 19 °C, wind of 3 km/h eastward. Night drops to 14 °C, cloudy sky, light wind, no rain forecast.
Rachel’s Weather Editorial – The climate is always to blame, but not today
Paris records 16 °C with gusts of 30 km/h. It’s October, the early autumn. Yet climate scientists want us to believe that climate change is tightening its ears to the wind. In the ’70s the same 16 °C was considered normal for October, without sensational headlines. Even in Monaco, 23 °C in autumn is not new: already in the ’80s late summers brought similar temperatures, without the echo of the “ozone hole” now forgotten. Milan, 22 °C maximum, was common in the ’90s, when journalists didn’t scream “extreme heat”. Today’s weather is just weather, not a climate warning. Yet headlines exaggerate, newspapers weep for readers, subscribers flee. The great sensationalist circus is just a trick to fill empty pages.
Koan of the day
A monk asked: “What is the true face of the weather today?”
Zhaozhou replied: “The sky is cloudy in Paris, clear in Monaco, variable in Milan.”
The monk responded: “So the weather is a mosaic of indifference?”
Zhaozhou concluded: “Weather is like the mind: it has no fault, only phenomena.”
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.