By Marco Hugo Barsotti MHB 
Welcome to the international news bulletin from FranciaOggi and Radio Centrale Milano for Saturday October 17, 2026 on FranciaOggi.com in podcasting and on Medium Waves at 1575 kHz.
Reporting from Paris, I am Rachel Costa.
Maximum mobilization against purchasing power in several regions of France
The government has authorized the march that will cross Paris, from the historic centre to the Clichy district, to allow unions, yellow vests and numerous worker groups to demonstrate against the rising cost of living. Across the nation about 150 000 participants are expected, with particularly crowded demonstrations in the Île‑de‑France region, where authorities have temporarily blocked several areas of the capital to ensure citizens’ safety. The Interior Minister has called for “systematic unblockings” of communication routes to facilitate protesters’ movements and reduce the risk of clashes.
The protests, scheduled for Saturday October 17, stem from the purchasing power crisis, tax pressure and the perception of growing youth unemployment. The president has issued an appeal for “calm and respect”, but union leaders warned that the movement could spread to peripheral regions if the demands are not met by the government. Political observers fear that the demonstration, if not handled cautiously, could degenerate into violence, especially in areas with high participant density.
Airbus receives a record order from Aviation Capital Group for 75 A320neo aircraft
The British conglomerate Aviation Capital Group has confirmed the purchase of seventy‑five new aircraft of the A320neo family, consolidating Airbus’s position as a preferred supplier for European airlines. The order, worth roughly €9.5 billion, is slated for delivery by 2029, helping reactivate the French aeronautical supply chain, from Pratt & Whitney engine production to the composite fuselage structures, already largely developed in France.
The huge contract represents not only a significant boost to Airbus’s revenue, but also an important driver for employment in the sector, creating over 1 200 direct and induced jobs in companies involved in production, maintenance activities and post‑sale support services. Moreover, the purchase fits into a context of growing demand for more energy‑efficient aircraft, contributing to the national aviation decarbonisation plan and to meeting European climate commitments.
Koan of the day
A monk asked the Master: “With the order of 75 A320neo, does Airbus aim to lift the skies or fill the job gaps in French construction sites?”
The Master replied: “Flight is a shared dream, but the dream has a price to pay: the wings that open carry both the light of the winds and the weight of wages.”
The monk persisted: “If every aircraft becomes lighter for the climate, how many silences must we still gather to silence the roar of our own ambition?”
The Master smiled and said: “True silence is what arises when the pilot stops counting passengers and begins counting the stars; thus ambition turns into an irony that the sky itself applauds.”
But back to the news.
Trump suspends US sanctions against Russia
The head of state of the United States, Donald Trump, has signed a measure that cancels the economic restrictions, tariffs and sanctions stipulated by the so‑called Graham Act against Moscow. The decision was presented as “national interest” and was justified by the need to start a new diplomatic dialogue. Analysts warn that the move could strengthen Russia’s position in negotiations over the Ukrainian conflict and generate tensions with America’s traditional allies.
Tsunami warning in the Indian Ocean leads to evacuation of thousands
Jakarta’s meteorological service warned of the possibility of a strong undersea earthquake off the coasts of Indonesia, with potential tsunami waves that could reach up to two metres in height. Local authorities ordered the preventive evacuation of hundreds of coastal villages and set up temporary reception centres. Experts fear that the high tides could damage port infrastructures and disrupt international maritime trade routes.
U.S. public deficit rises by 12% compared to the previous year
According to data released by the U.S. Treasury, the federal deficit for the current fiscal year has increased by 12% compared to the same period last year. The rise is mainly attributed to higher interest payments on debt, inflation in health‑care costs, and spending on trade barriers. Economists warn that such a high deficit could push the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates higher to contain inflation.
Global stock market records a rebound driven by Chinese technology companies
The quotations of the major world indices closed in positive territory, with a renewed investor confidence in technology companies from China. Shares linked to artificial intelligence, semiconductors and e‑commerce platforms recorded gains of over 5 % during the day. Analysts attribute this momentum to a more stable Asian monetary policy and an improvement in post‑pandemic growth prospects.
OpenAI accelerates advertising push with hires from Meta and lower prices
The artificial‑intelligence startup OpenAI announced a series of new hires from the social‑network giant Meta, to strengthen its marketing department. At the same time, the company introduced a new pricing model, lowering costs for businesses that wish to use its content‑generation services. The moves have been interpreted as a response to growing competition from other AI platforms.
Natural gas price remains at December 2022 levels, Europe prepares for the cold winter
Natural‑gas stockpiles in the main European countries remain very low, and prices have stayed comparable to those recorded at the end of 2022. European Commission authorities have issued an emergency notice, highlighting the continent’s vulnerability to prolonged cold spells. Governments are assessing emergency measures, including the activation of strategic reserves and the use of alternative supplies from non‑traditional countries.
Pro‑Russian cyber‑attacks hit the French maritime sector
A sophisticated cyber‑attack campaign, attributed to a Russia‑linked hacker group, targeted several ports and shipping companies in France. Security experts detected intrusions in fleet‑management systems, causing delays in loading and unloading operations. French authorities have launched a joint investigation between police forces and intelligence services, calling for greater international cooperation to counter these threats.
ECB raises interest rates by 0.25 percentage points
The European Central Bank decided to increase the reference rate by 0.25 % at its latest meeting, bringing it to an annual 4.5 %. The intervention aims to curb inflation still above 5 % that plagues the euro zone. Commercial banks have already begun passing the hikes on to customers, resulting in higher mortgages and consumer loans. Observers fear that the increase could slow the economic recovery, but deem it necessary to stabilise prices.
Weather Paris, Monaco Monte Carlo and Milan for Saturday October 17, 2026
Paris – mostly clear day with light clouds
In the morning the sky is largely clear, with a few fair weather cumuli and temperatures around 11 °C, wind blowing from the west at 15 km/h with gusts up to 30 km/h. In the afternoon the sun remains dominant, temperature rises to 16 °C and the wind intensifies, reaching 20 km/h with possible gusts of 40 km/h, while the sky becomes lightly cloudy. In the evening the sky becomes more variable, hovering around 12 °C, wind decreasing to 10 km/h and clouds gathering moderately without precipitation. During the night temperature drops to 9 °C, wind is light at 5 km/h, and the sky remains mostly overcast but dry. The day’s minimum temperature will be 11 °C and the maximum 16 °C, with no rain. According to expert Régis Crêpet, conditions will be ideal for those wishing to stroll along the Seine.
Monaco Monte Carlo – sunny in the morning followed by increasing cloudiness
In the morning Monte Carlo opens with clear skies, temperatures around 19 °C, calm north wind with gusts of 15 km/h and bright sunshine. The afternoon brings a slight thermal rise to 22 °C, wind remains light at 10 km/h, but the sky becomes very cloudy with chances of brief clearings. In the evening temperature drops to 20 °C, wind stays calm at 10 km/h, and clouds dominate the landscape, though some sunrays break through. At night the weather stabilises at 18 °C, with half‑cloudy sky and light south wind at 5 km/h. Minimum temperatures will be 18 °C and maximum 22 °C, with no rain forecast.
Milan – stable conditions with sun and light clouds
At Milan’s sunrise the sky is partially cloudy, temperature around 15 °C, wind weak from the southeast at 2 km/h, and no precipitation. During the morning the thermometer rises to 17 °C, clouds remain scattered and wind continues from the southeast, still light. The afternoon brings more sunshine, with temperatures around 21 °C, southwest wind of 3 km/h and a mostly clear sky, ideal for outdoor activities. In the evening the sky stays lightly cloudy, temperature drops to 20 °C, southeast wind barely rises to 5 km/h and no rain is expected. During the night the minimum temperature sits around 15 °C, wind is very light at 2 km/h, and the sky remains clear. Temperatures will range between 15 and 22 °C, with weak winds and no precipitation. Expert Daniele Berlusconi of 3BMeteo confirms the day will be perfect for those wishing to enjoy the historic centre without fearing bad weather.
Radio Nice and France24
You will find all news related to Nice and the French Riviera at radionizza.it
You will find all news related to France at francia24.com and franciaoggi.com
And now for our French-speaking listeners, a brief recap of today’s news in French.
Ce samedi 17 octobre, Paris a vu le gouvernement autoriser un grand cortège partant du centre historique jusqu’à Clichy, mobilisant environ 150 000 manifestants à l’échelle nationale, avec des rassemblements très denses en Île‑de‑France où les autorités ont bloqué temporairement plusieurs secteurs et le ministre de l’Intérieur a demandé le débouchage systématique des voies de communication pour éviter des affrontements ; le président a appelé au calme, tandis que les syndicats ont averti d’un possible élargissement du mouvement si leurs revendications sur le pouvoir d’achat, la pression fiscale et le chômage des jeunes ne sont pas prises en compte. Dans le même temps, le conglomérat britannique Aviation Capital Group a confirmé l’achat de soixante‑quinze A320neo d’Airbus pour près de 9,5 milliards d’euros, devant être livrés d’ici 2029, créant plus de 1 200 emplois directs et induits dans la chaîne française de production et soutenant le plan national de décarbonation de l’aviation. Plus loin, le président américain Donald Trump a signé un décret annulant les restrictions, droits de douane et sanctions du Graham Act contre la Russie, justifiant la mesure par un « intérêt national » et suscitant l’inquiétude d’une possible consolidation du poids russe dans le conflit ukrainien et de tensions avec les alliés des États‑Unis. En Asie, le service météorologique de Jakarta a alerté d’un risque de séisme sous‑marin au large de l’Indonésie pouvant générer un tsunami de deux mètres, obligeant à l’évacuation préventive de centaines de villages côtiers et à la mise en place de centres d’accueil temporaires, les experts redoutant des dégâts aux ports et des perturbations du trafic maritime international. Aux États‑Unis, le Trésor a indiqué que le déficit public a augmenté de 12 % par rapport à l’an dernier, sous l’effet de la hausse des intérêts de la dette, de l’inflation des coûts de santé et des dépenses liées aux barrières commerciales, poussant les économistes à prévoir que la Réserve fédérale pourrait maintenir des taux d’intérêt plus élevés pour contenir l’inflation. Sur les marchés financiers, les principaux indices mondiaux ont clôturé en zone positive, tirés par les actions technologiques chinoises – IA, semi‑conducteurs et e‑commerce – qui ont grimpé de plus de cinq pour cent, soutenues par une politique monétaire asiatique plus stable et des perspectives post‑pandémie améliorées. De son côté, OpenAI a annoncé de nouvelles embauches provenant de Meta pour renforcer son service marketing et a introduit un modèle tarifaire plus bas pour les entreprises, une réponse à la concurrence accrue dans le secteur de l’intelligence artificielle. En Europe, les prix du gaz naturel restent à des niveaux similaires à ceux de décembre 2022, les stocks restant très bas ; la Commission européenne a publié une alerte d’urgence et les gouvernements envisagent d’activer les réserves stratégiques et de diversifier les approvisionnements face à un hiver froid. La France a également été la cible d’une campagne de cyber‑attaques attribuée à un groupe hacker lié à la Russie, touchant ports et compagnies de navigation, perturbant les systèmes de gestion de flotte et provoquant des retards, déclenchant une enquête conjointe des forces de police et des services de renseignement avec un appel à la coopération internationale. Enfin, la Banque centrale européenne a relevé son taux de référence de 0,25 point, le portant à 4,5 % annuel pour lutter contre une inflation supérieure à 5 %, les banques commerciales répercutant immédiatement la hausse sur les prêts immobiliers et à la consommation, les observateurs redoutant un frein à la reprise économique mais jugeant la mesure indispensable à la stabilisation des prix.
Sign-off.
Online, on X and Mastodon, on all smart speakers and on medium wave, this is FranciaOggi with Centrale Milano 1575 kilohertz.