By Marco Hugo Barsotti MHB 
Welcome to am1575news, the news bulletin of France24 and Radio Centrale Milano for Saturday October 3, 2026 in podcasting, on medium waves and on franceoggi.com. In the editorial office in Nice Marco Hugo Barsotti, from Paris Rachel Costa.
News from France
League of Nations: also defeated by Italy, the Bleus hope for encouraging signals
Friday October 2 at the Stade de France France drew 1‑1 against Italy in the league phase of the Nations League, giving fans a disappointing evening after the home debut of the new coach, Zinedine Zidane. After the difficult victories in Turkey (1‑0) and the most convincing success in Belgium (1‑0), the Bleus met the first setback of this era.
Zidane, interviewed by TF1, said that the team “deserved more” and that, although disappointed not to have secured the three points, “the content is good: the pressing and the one‑on‑one duels were exemplary”. His comment was shared by coach Jérémy Jacquet, who emphasized the speed with which the players internalized the new high‑pressing scheme, despite the continual lineup changes. Defender Maxence Lacroix also sensed an “evolution” in understanding Zidane’s instructions.
On the offensive side, however, France struggled to create real chances against a well‑organized Italian defence. The attack showed a lack of spontaneity, with the centre‑forwards often stuck and unable to trouble goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Zidane explained that against Italy “you have to take the spaces”, but the team was held back by a five‑man defensive block, which limited penetration opportunities.
The only point in favour of the French was Michael Olise’s shot from outside the area, which hit the crossbar, fueling fans’ enthusiasm. However, chances remained scarce and, in the 48th minute, a penalty taken by Désiré Doué was saved by Donnarumma.
Zidane defended Ousmane Dembélé’s performance, despite the striker role not allowing him to have a decisive impact on the match. The coach praised his presence on the field, describing it as “everywhere” and “without major criticism”. Other players, such as Pierre Kalulu, acknowledged the difficulty of finding space against the Italian defensive line, while appreciating the defensive effort of their teammates.
The general feeling in the squad is that, despite the result, the team is on the “right track”. As highlighted by Désiré Doué, the Bleus are capable of creating danger, but need to improve effectiveness against solid opponents.
franceinfo, 03/10/2026
Fact Check by Gemma4.
To lower fuel prices, G7 countries will release up to 100 million barrels in four months, announces Emmanuel Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron concluded, at the G7 meeting held on Friday October 2, a series of decisions aimed at containing the recent surge in fuel prices. He announced that the group’s countries will make available “up to 100 million barrels” of strategic reserves of diesel and crude oil within the next four months, an operation coordinated with the International Energy Agency (IEA).
In his statement, Macron emphasized that the choice is “coordinated” and “aimed at reducing pressure on pump prices”, especially for diesel, whose demand has been amplified by tensions in the Middle East. He also stated that no export restrictions or bans will be imposed among G7 members.
The French president confirmed the announcement with a tweet in which he declared: “We have decided to make strategic reserves more flexible and to release diesel and crude oil supplies under IEA supervision.”
U.S. President Donald Trump also praised the European initiative, calling it “a very sensible action” by Europe in drawing from its own reserves to bring prices down. Trump clarified that the idea of banning diesel exports to the European Union was never on the table, thus answering questions raised by an AFP journalist.
The measure comes amid rising prices, fueled by wars in the Middle East and a constantly increasing global energy demand. Last March, IEA member states agreed to gradually release 400 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves, but so far only a portion of these quantities has actually been placed on the market.
The “substantial” diesel stocks should therefore be made available within the next 20 days, with the aim of easing tension in the global market and providing relief to European consumers.
source: franceinfo, 2 October 2026
Fact Check by Gemma4.
Rachel’s Editorial – The great show of “downward” (but not too much)
I will now read you my editorial of today.
Macron loves big numbers, especially when they serve to mask the inability to solve a problem. “We will release up to 100 million barrels in four months”, announces the President with the confidence of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat: the audience applauds, but no one knows whether the rabbit is real or plush.
Yet the phrase is one of those that make headlines vibrate: “up to” – why not “exactly 100 million”, “in under four months” – why not “both weeks”? Where does the certainty come from that these barrels, once poured into the market, can truly drive down pump spending, when the biggest weight on prices consists of taxes, margins and speculation?
Donald Trump’s cameo does not improve the script. A former American president who approves the European move, as if it were a theory of relativity: “Europe did well to take from itself”. The twist of a “no export limitation” is almost comic, when the EU’s rigid quotas are enough to show that the market is a carousel of rules rather than freedom.
In the end, we are left with the most pressing question: consumers, tired of hearing about flying barrels, will they really see the pump drop by a few cents, or will they have to keep counting hundreds of euros on their wages? If the real problem is price policy, then the last barrel released will be just another anecdote in a chronicle of delusions.
Koan of the day
A monk asked the Master: “If the G7 releases one hundred million barrels, will gasoline really go down in our cars?”
The Master replied: “The barrel is an echo that reverberates in the authorities, but the price is a shadow that depends on the sun of demand; one can disappear, the other remains as long as people are thirsty.”
Then the monk persisted: “And if the stocks disappear, what will be the real price of fuel for the ordinary person?”
The Master smiled and said: “The true price is the patience of those waiting in line, and the irony is that the greatest wealth is to turn on the faucet of hope without paying the bill.”
But let’s return to the news.
ECB’s fear: it must save France from the debt crisis to avoid contagion in the euro zone
The European Central Bank risks being drawn into the vortex of the French sovereign debt crisis, while rising bond yields intensify pressure on monetary policy officials. The fear is that the stabilization tool created in 2022, the Instrument de protection de la transmission (IPT), could end up financing the deficit of a member state, in this case France, violating its original mission.
Last Friday the 10‑year spread between German and French government bonds hit the highest level since 2011, pushing French yields toward 5 %. The peak triggered growing speculation about a possible ECB intervention via the IPT, initially designed to assist Italy during its sovereign debt crisis and to ensure uniform transmission of monetary policy throughout the euro area.
The IPT mechanism allows the institution to purchase sovereign bonds when markets show “unjustified and disorderly” dynamics, deemed a threat to monetary policy transmission. The question now is whether this tool can be activated for France, whose spread is again approaching thresholds not seen since 2012, and whether this could prevent possible contagion to other Eurozone countries, such as Italy, whose debt exposure remains high.
Lead strategist at Danske Bank, Piet Christiansen, told Bloomberg that the widening of contagion is “justified by the fiscal position and political uncertainty”. He added that ECB intervention is complex: “If it hampers monetary policy transmission, it is the ECB’s duty to intervene; if not, we let the market set prices without interventions.”
Experts point out that a possible rise in French rates is partly attributable to ineffective public finance management. However, resorting to the IPT would be admissible only if the market were considered “disordered”. Such an action could be perceived as targeted financing of sovereign debt, contrary to ECB rules.
So far policymakers have not expressed a clear stance. Bundesbank president Joachim Nagel reiterated that the ECB’s sole objective is to stabilize inflation around 2 %. Meanwhile, ECB president Christine Lagarde expressed optimism in Dublin last month, when the spread was more contained, but also acknowledged the growing pressures on France.
The debate remains open: a possible ECB intervention with the IPT appears increasingly likely to avoid a broader contagion, but would involve a delicate balance between respecting monetary rules and the need to stabilize European bond markets. BFM Business, 2 October 2026
Fact Check by Gemma4.
A lovely complicity! Charlene of Monaco and her daughter Gabriella opt for almost identical, elegant and luminous silhouettes
For the state visit of Italian President Sergio Mattarella and his spouse Laura Mattarella, held on Friday 2 October 2026 in Monaco, Princess Charlene and little Gabriella chose a unique coordinated look. Charlene displayed a cream‑coloured pantsuit, complemented by elegant beige stiletto pumps, while Gabriella wore a pink‑powder suit consisting of a short round‑neck jacket and straight, fluid trousers, paired with matching ballet flats. The two silhouettes, light and luminous, highlighted the stylistic awareness that seems to be passed down in the princely family. The choice of coordinated outfits confirmed, once again, the shared taste between mother and daughter for elegant lines and delicate tones. Gala, 02/10/2026
Fact Check by Gemma4.
Welcome to the international bulletin from FranceToday and Radio Centrale Milano for Saturday October 3, 2026 on FranceToday.com in podcasting and on Medium Waves at 1575 kHz.
Reporting from Paris, I am Rachel Costa.
ECB Alarm: the French debt crisis could drag the Eurozone
The assessment of France’s debt sustainability has become the central issue for the ECB, which warns of a possible contagion in the euro area. Bond investors have responded with a rise in long‑term rates, pushing the spread over German bonds to record levels. Analysts fear that the increase in yields makes financing for other countries with similar fiscal problems more costly, threatening the stability of the European bond market. The French government now must balance the need for structural reforms with market pressure to avoid a deterioration of international confidence.
G7 releases diesel reserves to curb soaring energy prices
The G7 group of countries agreed to place millions of barrels of diesel and fuel on the market to counter the supply squeeze caused by the conflict in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East. The decision, taken following pressure from the U.S. president, aims to bring down consumer prices in Europe and stabilise transport markets. Energy experts warn that the intervention is temporary and that broader coordination among producing nations will be needed to ensure long‑term supply security.
Resistance against data centres threatens the global expansion of AI
Communities across continents, from Europe to Asia, are opposing the proliferation of large data centres demanded by the AI explosion. Protests focus on environmental costs, electricity demands and territorial impact. Activist groups denounce that the race for high‑speed computing is creating development inequalities between regions, leaving poorer areas behind. Tech companies are seeking more sustainable solutions, but public debate indicates that AI growth could be slowed by increasingly forceful social pressures.
Artificial intelligence is revolutionising Wall Street professions
Trading platforms are integrating advanced algorithms to automate operations that previously required human analysts. This transformation has already reduced trade execution times and increased the accuracy of market forecasts. However, experts note that the growing reliance on AI is creating new skill requirements for financial professionals, including the ability to manage risk models based on unstructured data. Investment banks have launched intensive training programmes to adapt their staff to the new technological landscape.
SpaceX’s AI unit becomes a cloud computing operator
SpaceX’s artificial intelligence division announced the creation of a cloud platform designed to provide low‑latency computing capacity for critical applications. The move follows growing demand for AI infrastructure from companies that need to process large volumes of data in real time. The new service leverages the satellite constellation to guarantee global connectivity, promising to reduce costs compared with traditional terrestrial data centres. Market observers see this initiative as a potential turning point in the competition among major cloud providers.
The SEC loosens crypto rules to stimulate innovation
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has introduced a series of amendments to the rules governing digital assets, aiming to foster the development of new blockchain‑based financial products. The new provisions lower registration requirements for token offerings, allowing startups to raise capital more quickly. The action comes after months of industry pressure, which argued that strict regulation was stifling innovation. Observers warn that, while encouraging growth, deregulation could increase fraud risks if not accompanied by adequate oversight.
The conflict in Ukraine pushes Russian forces to intensify attacks on Kyiv
Recent weeks have seen an escalation of artillery and drone operations by Russian troops in the Ukrainian capital. The attacks hit civilian infrastructure, causing power outages and damage to residential buildings. Local authorities reported numerous injured and an increase in people displaced to safer parts of the city. Western allies condemned the escalation, promising further sanctions and increased military support to Ukraine to counter Russian pressure.
The new G7 push on diesel stockpiles aims to stabilise European markets
The joint plan of G7 countries to release strategic diesel stockpiles represents a coordinated response to the energy crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine. Authorities have announced a gradual release of tonnes of fuel to avoid sudden price shocks. The measure was welcomed by transport unions, which feared a rise in freight costs. Analysts believe that, although the intervention is temporary, it could give governments time to negotiate long‑term supplies and reduce dependence on Russian oil.
Weather Paris, Monaco Monte Carlo and Milan for Saturday October 3, 2026
Paris – The sky swings between sun and clouds
Cool morning, 13 °C, half‑cloudy sky and a light wind of 15 km/h; drops have not yet appeared.
In the early afternoon the thermometer rises to 23 °C, the sun shines but the sky gradually clouds over and the wind strengthens to 20 km/h.
Late afternoon sees very dense clouds, temperature around 20 °C and gusts touching 25 km/h, with a slight rain risk of 25 %.
Evening becomes gloomier, 20 °C, wind slightly stronger at 25 km/h and a 25 % chance of rain.
During the night temperatures drop to 17 °C, wind remains at 25 km/h and rain risk rises to 30 %.
According to expert Régis Crêpet, the thermal oscillations are typical of this autumn period.
Monaco Monte Carlo – Fog in the morning and sun at noon
At waking the temperature is 22 °C, the sky is covered but beginning to clear, wind 15 km/h and a 50 % chance of rain.
Mid‑day the thermometer reaches 25 °C, the sky is very cloudy and then variable, with wind pushing to 30 km/h but no precipitation.
In the late afternoon the temperature falls to 21 °C, wind eases to 20 km/h and the sky becomes clearer, without rain.
The night brings 20 °C, moderate wind of 20 km/h and an almost dry sky, ideal for a promenade along the waterfront.
Milan – Stable sun and temperatures above average
The morning opens with 19 °C, predominantly clear sky, almost no wind from the northeast at 4 km/h and no rain.
The heat intensifies towards midday, reaching 23‑24 °C, with light wind from the east‑southeast around 3‑5 km/h and slightly cloudy sky.
In the afternoon the temperature hits the day’s maximum, 25 °C, very light wind of 4‑5 km/h from south‑southeast, and no trace of precipitation.
At sunset the level drops to about 22 °C, wind remains light and the sky stays clear, perfect for an evening in the city.
The night becomes cooler, 18‑20 °C, wind of 3‑4 km/h from east‑north‑east and sky still clear, no rain risk.
Daniele Berlusconi’s comment from 3BMeteo highlights the air stability and temperatures slightly above the historical average for this October.
Rachel’s Weather Editorial — Autumn heat, or guilty of change?
Paris reached 23 °C at the end of October. It’s not the first time, the seventies saw similar temperatures at the end of September, without anyone shouting “climate change”. Monaco, with 50 % rain in the morning and winds of 15 km/h, recalls the torrential rains of the eighties that were attributed to the “ozone hole”. Milan, with a peak of 25 °C and almost no wind, is a picture of a normal autumn of the nineties. Yet headlines are invented on the spot: “record heat” or “rainstorm”. The thermometer does not lie, history does. The past has already written these numbers, but the press turns them into drama to sell copies. Sensationalist journalism is in decline, like the subscriptions of major dailies; perhaps it is time to give space to a soberer narrative, even if the weather remains the same.
Koan of the day
A monk asked: “What is the true face of time today?”
Zhaozhou replied: “A Paris sky that swings between sun and clouds, a light breeze that brushes the towers.”.
A monk asked: “And monk?”
Zhaozhou concluded: “A morning wrapped in rain, an afternoon opening to the sun, the wind whispering sea secrets.”.
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