By Marco Hugo Barsotti MHB 
Welcome to the international news bulletin from FranceToday and Radio Central Milan for Thursday October 8, 2026 on FranceToday.com in podcasting and on Medium Wave at 1575 kHz.
From Paris this is Rachel Costa.
Student protests in France: school blockades and demands to lower diesel prices
The French high‑school demonstrations have resumed across the country, with blockades in Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Students are calling for an immediate reduction in the diesel price and more resources for schools. The government, through the Transport Minister, has announced the creation of an “emergency plan” that envisages the release of strategic fuel reserves to curb the increases.
The French government will use 10 million barrels of diesel from strategic reserves
The Prime Minister and the Trade Minister have stated that starting on November 1 the government will take delivery from distributors to organise a rapid distribution of diesel at a lower price. The intervention was justified by the wave of student protests and the rise in pump prices, which is hitting low‑income families the hardest.
Rachel’s Editorial – Golden Diesel: the magic of strategic reserves
Here France brandishes 10 million barrels of diesel as if they were Halloween candy. But do we really wonder who, in the dead of night, decided that the answer to student protests is to open a diesel tap? Perhaps the Trade Minister found the manual “How to Solve Protests with Fuel” on Amazon and managed to glance at it in two minutes.
And then we get to the “lower price”. Who is supposed to believe that injecting diesel from secret stockpiles can, by magic, lower the cost for the pump attendant and, consequently, the family’s wallet? The answer is: nobody, except the very agencies that love to see themselves as protagonists of a financial drama. It’s like saying a spare screw can repair a collapsed bridge: it works only in the imagination of press releases.
But let’s not forget the weasel of “rapid distribution”. Imagine distributor employees lining up to open the barrels while the government whispers “yes, but let’s pretend it’s for families”. It sounds more like a sitcom script than a rational policy. And we, astonished viewers, keep asking: where is the real emergency plan, and why is no one talking about it on television?
Finally, the wave of student protests – why would students care about pump prices? Maybe because their parents still have a wallet on the table, or because their anger echoes a deeper crisis. In any case, the government prefers to dress the response in a dose of “here is the diesel” rather than address the roots of the protest. It’s a bit like putting a blindfold on an elephant’s eye and thinking you’ve saved it.
Koan of the day
A monk asked the Master: “Why does the government release diesel from the reserves when the pumps are shouting about price?”
The Master replied: “Because it is easier to pour fire onto an empty tank than to light a poor house’s lamp.”
The monk persistently asked: “What if the tank empties, but families remain in darkness?”
The Master smiled: “True darkness is not the lack of light, but the absence of courage to seek light elsewhere.”
But back to the news.
Donald Trump rules out attacks on Iran before mid‑term elections
In a statement on a social network, the former President of the United States said that the United States will not undertake military actions against Iran before the mid‑term elections scheduled for November. Trump emphasized that national security remains a priority, but defended the decision not to intensify hostilities in the Middle East during this electoral period.
EU 2027 Budget at risk: Defence Minister warns of consequences for purchasing power
The French Defence Minister declared that if Parliament does not approve the 2027 budget, the armed forces will no longer be able to make new weapons purchases. The lack of funds could halt the modernisation of the armed forces and jeopardise France’s operational capabilities in the near future.
Oil prices rise after Iranian vessel attacks fuel tanks
Tensions in Iran have prompted oil companies to temporarily suspend operations on some shipping routes, causing Brent and WTI prices to climb. Market analysts note that concerns over a possible military escalation are pushing investors toward the energy sector, contributing to persistent volatility.
French diesel reserves: 10 million barrels released to contain the price crisis
The Economy Minister confirmed that strategic diesel reserves will be drawn down in several phases starting in November. The operation, coordinated with distribution companies, aims to reduce pump prices by roughly 12–18 cents per litre, a relief expected by consumers and businesses bearing the inflationary impact on transport costs.
Why the SaaSpocalypse Isn’t Over For Workday – Exclusive analysis
A report from The Information describes how Workday is facing a new wave of competitive pressure in the enterprise software market. Despite recent acquisitions, the company must manage the loss of customers to more integrated, AI‑based solutions, and the report examines the strategies Workday is considering to maintain its market share.
Weather Paris, Monaco Monte Carlo and Milan for Thursday October 8, 2026
Paris – cool and clear day, according to expert Régis Crêpet
In the Parisian morning the sky is lightly clouded, delicate light filtering through thin clouds. Temperature hovers around 11 °C, feeling like 10 °C, with a wind of 15 km/h that occasionally gusts up to 35 km/h. In the afternoon the sun becomes more present, but remains wrapped in slight cloud passages, temperature rises to a maximum of 16 °C. The feels‑like temperature stays comfortable, around 14 °C, with no sign of precipitation. In the evening the sky becomes more overcast, but temperature remains steady around 13 °C, wind eases to 10 km/h with moderate gusts. At night the sky is very cloud‑filled, the minimum holds at 11 °C, no rain is forecast.
Monaco Monte Carlo – a mild day with a slight chance of rain
At sunrise in Monte Carlo the sky is halfway between clouds and clearings, the fresh air brings a temperature of 19 °C. The wind blows from the west at about 15 km/h, with gusts reaching 35 km/h, creating a gentle sea‑breeze along the promenade. In the afternoon the thermometer gradually climbs to 22 °C, the sun becomes more dominant but clouds remain scattered. The chance of rain stays at 30 % in the evening hours, with brief showers that could interrupt the calm. At night temperatures drop to 20 °C, wind remains moderate and clouds become denser. During the night the sky can become very cloud‑filled, the minimum stays at 19 °C, with a slight chance of residual showers.
Milan – unstable weather with light rain, according to expert Daniele Berlusconi of 3BMeteo
The Milanese morning is wrapped in a very cloudy sky, with light rain beginning at around 16 °C. The wind is practically absent, coming from the north, but the early hours see gentle gusts of 3–4 km/h. In the afternoon clouds remain dense, rain becomes more frequent, accumulating about 7 mm, while temperature reaches 21 °C. The wind stays weak, from north‑northeast at about 6 km/h, without creating turbulence. In the evening the skies clear slightly, temperatures hover around 21 °C, wind remains mild. At night the sky is cloudy but without marked precipitation, the minimum settles at 16 °C, with a slight nocturnal cooling.
Rachel’s Weather Editorial – “Heat is always to blame, even in October”
Paris hit 16 °C, wind 15 km/h, no rain. And immediately experts shout “climate change”. I recall the ’80s, when in October temperature lingered around 15 °C and nobody uttered alarm words. Monaco reached 22 °C with a mild 30 % chance of rain. Even then journalists were already looking for a culprit, forgetting that the ozone hole was their big fear of the time. Milan, with its 21 °C and 7 mm of rain, became the definitive proof of a “global catastrophe”. Forget that in the ’70s Milan experienced respectable autumn rains without any panic. Today everything turns into an alarm, and sensational headlines vanish with the subscribers of big newspapers. The reality is simple: it’s October, it’s time for leaves and light rain, not for shelf‑stable ecological proclamations.
Koan of the day
A monk asked: “What is the true face of time today?”
Zhaozhou replied: “Paris’ sky is clear, but the wind blows like a forgotten memory.”
The monk responded: “And in monk, do the clouds delight in hiding?”
Zhaozhou concluded: “The clouds hide because even they do not want to be labeled.”
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.
Source: AudioVisione – AM 1575 News