By Marco Hugo Barsotti MHB 
Welcome to am1575news, the news from Francia24 and Radio Centrale Milano for Friday, October 30, 2026, in podcasting, on medium waves and on franciaoggi.com. In the newsroom in Nice is Marco Hugo Barsotti, and from Paris is Rachel Costa.
Francia24: Halloween night, black blocs invite the Gilet Jaunes processions to degenerate, the government deploys 70,000 police officers – Edouard Philippe testifying as a assisted witness – Weather and all the other news from France
News from France
Protests of October 31: 70,000 officers, processions banned in city centers
Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez announced on Thursday, October 29, that 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilized for the protests on Saturday, October 31, “the same volume” as a week ago, but without the forces deployed then in Orléans for the Rassemblement National congress. Special units BRI, Raid, and GIGN are also in the field, along with all available drones and helicopters, and 26 Centaure armored vehicles; leave has been revoked and rest periods suppressed in barracks and police stations to ensure maximum personnel.
Nuñez anticipates “a day with a very high risk of disorder”, due to the multiplication of calls to protest and social media messages inviting people to “let processions degenerate”. To avoid the violence of previous weekends, particularly on October 17, prefects will not authorize processions in city centers but rather in peripheral areas, and will verify that organizers have an order service in place.
Editorial
Regarding Nice, the authorized procession will start from Place Massena to arrive at Place Garibaldi: how this can be defined as a procession in a peripheral area escapes us.
Special surveillance for Halloween night, which in the past has already been an occasion for urban violence: numerous calls to gather in the evening are circulating on social media, especially from the far-left, with “particularly violent” messages of a revolutionary and insurrectionary tone. Those gatherings will be banned by the prefects and, if they take place, dispersed; Halloween will not be “a legitimate reason to cover one’s face”. The minister promises “extreme firmness” and zero tolerance for excesses, with controls at city entrances being “higher than on October 24”.
Source: Le Monde, October 29, 2026
Fact Check by Gemma4.
Edouard Philippe heard as a assisted witness in the Le Havre inquiry
Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe was heard throughout the day on Thursday, October 29, by investigative judges regarding the inquiry into the misappropriation of public funds, favoritism, and moral harassment within the Le Havre agglomeration community. The decision to classify him as a assisted witness represents a less incriminating legal position than that of a suspect, marking a significant step in the investigations launched following a whistleblower’s report in 2023. Philippe’s lawyer, Emmanuel Marsigny, welcomed the news, calling it a positive decision that confirms the absence of guilt on his client’s part.
The judicial matter arose from the reports of Cornelia Findeisen, former deputy general director of the Le Havre Seine Métropole urban community, who denounced illegal practices attributed to some local officials. Despite the opening of a judicial inquiry by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office, Edouard Philippe reiterated his total innocence and full willingness to cooperate with justice. The new legal status could, however, undergo changes should new elements emerge during the continuation of the investigations, while the whistleblower’s defense remains waiting to evaluate the reasons that led the judges to this choice.
Source: AFP and franceinfo, October 29, 2026
Fact Check by Gemma4.
Editorial by Rachel – Witness assist, not guilty announced
I am now reading my editorial for today.
A candidate for the Presidency of the Republic heard for an entire day by the judges as a assisted witness: one step below being a suspect, something that resembles, more or less, our notice of guarantee. Yes, that very paper that in the press of the peninsula was enough to start nine-column headlines, first-page trials, and convictions in newsstands, with absolutions relegated, years later, to a small blurb on page thirty.
Well, we will not join that chorus. Not out of sympathy: for his ideas, Edouard Philippe remains a thousand miles away from David Lisnard, and we say this without embarrassment. But a political opponent is fought in the polls, not in judicial news. For now, the judges have chosen the less incriminating status, the whistleblower is waiting to understand the reasons, and the investigation moves forward. The rest is the work of the magistrates.
Besides, if a single hearing were enough to become guilty, in France only kindergarten children would be eligible for office. And not even all of them: some of them have already stolen a classmate’s snack.
Koan of the day
A monk asked the Master: “Is the witness heard by the judge already guilty?”
The Master replied: “The journalist who writes it certainly is.”
The monk insisted: “And if one day the witness becomes a defendant?”
The Master smiled: “Then you will write about it that day. Today is today.”
But let’s get back to the news.
Massive cyberattacks against Binance: losses estimated at 6.3 billion dollars
The cryptocurrency exchange platform Binance has been the victim of a cyberattack of enormous proportions, with damage estimated at approximately 6.3 billion dollars. In response to the emergency, the company promptly announced that it will cover the entire amount of the losses suffered. Currently, about 3 billion dollars in assets have been frozen on the blockchain thanks to collaboration with specialized partners. Stablecoin issuers, such as Tether and Circle, have also taken steps to block 1.6 billion and 800 million dollars respectively in connection with the attack. The news has caused strong volatility in the markets, with a crash in major digital assets and the temporary suspension of all deposits and withdrawals on the platform.
Source: News outlet, March 7, 2025
Fact Check by Gemma4.
Diesel price drop expected for November 1st
The French government has planned a reduction in the price of diesel between 12 and 18 cents per liter starting November 1st through the release of 10 million barrels from strategic reserves. This operation involves the company Sagess selling the barrels accumulated before the conflict in the Middle East to distributors and refiners at a price of 28 cents per liter, a figure significantly lower than the current market price of about 1.10 euros. To prevent operators from having to immediately restock at high prices, the oil reserve obligation is reduced from 29.5% to 27%. A decree mandates that the economic advantage be transferred throughout the entire distribution chain to the final consumer, who must clearly see the price reduction at fueling stations. The measure concerns diesel for non-road uses destined for farmers, fishermen, and construction sites, but excludes gasoline. To ensure uniform application of the reduction even in the smallest and most isolated service stations, the State has arranged a zero-interest loan of up to 5,000 euros to support their liquidity. Source: French news outlet, October 2024. Fact Check by Gemma4.
Welcome to the international news from FranciaOggi and Radio Centrale Milano for Friday, October 30, 2026, on FranciaOggi.com in podcasting and on Medium Waves at 1575 kHz.
From the newsrooms in Nice and Paris.
Rachel’s commentary
What wonderful news, France is really solving every problem in the world with a few barrels of diesel. Of course, excluding gasoline is a brilliant touch of class so as not to disappoint anyone. But who could have thought that a decree was needed to bring prices down?
Mysteries in the world of cryptocurrency: massive attack on Binance
An unprecedented cyberattack has hit the Binance exchange platform, with a capital flight involving approximately six billion dollars. According to analysis experts, the operation was orchestrated by a hacker unit linked to North Korea, which acted with devastating speed.
The cryptocurrency sector is shaken by profound instability as markets react to the crash in Bitcoin’s price. The news has generated panic among investors, with billions of dollars currently frozen awaiting security verification of the funds.
French politics: tension rises between unions and authorities
A new Saturday of protests is being prepared in France, which will see the mobilization of unions, students, and social movements across the national territory. The demonstrations, which take place in a climate of high tension with the authorities, will also bring the Yellow movements to the streets to defend the right to mobilize.
The future of Christine Lagarde at the European Central Bank
Christine Lagarde has announced that she will leave the presidency of the European Central Bank on February 7, 2027, anticipating the end of her official nine-month mandate. The decision marks the end of an exceptional journey at the helm of the world’s major economic institutions.
The movement of the French presidentess is seen as a strategic move that offers the Elysée the opportunity to influence the choice of her successor before the next electoral deadlines. A competition is currently beginning among the most prominent names in the European economic landscape to take control of Frankfurt.
Speculations concern high-profile figures among European Central Bank officials and other international experts. The choice of successor will become a crucial element for the financial stability of the Eurozone in the coming months.
The unknown of the European presidency
The news of Lagarde’s departure is already fueling debates in European capitals. But of course, France will surely know how to impose its candidate without much discussion: Parisian influence is truly unstoppable. Or perhaps it is just another political coincidence?
Geopolitical crisis in the Middle East: the difficult Israeli scenario
The elections in Israel have delivered a picture of profound political uncertainty, with Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp in the lead but lacking a sufficient majority to govern. The final results from the Electoral Commission indicate a significant growth of Arab lists, altering parliamentary balances.
The political debate is now focused on negotiations for the formation of a government coalition. While the opposition accuses the Prime Minister of attempting to delegitimize the electoral process, the country finds itself in a phase of institutional stalemate.
The coming weeks will be decisive in understanding if a synthesis can be found between the various factions. The stability of the region depends directly on the outcome of these negotiations between the various political blocs.
The technology market under pressure after the Alphabet crash
The value of Google has plummeted by approximately five hundred billion dollars following a day of extremely negative trading for the markets. The massive sale of shares has heavily hit the global technology index.
Demographic legacy and the real estate market
The imminent arrival of a massive succession of real estate assets linked to the baby boomer generation is beginning to transform the housing market. An analysis of one thousand cities indicates that the influx of new properties will put pressure on prices in many residential areas.
This phenomenon will create a lasting imbalance between supply and demand. Experts predict that many cities will experience a significant reduction in property values due to this demographic shock.
The impact of new technological assets
The real estate sector is preparing for a radical change in the next fifteen years. But it is incredible how demography can be so unpredictable: surely these cities will not have problems of overproduction. A fascinating paradox, don’t you think?
Welcome to the weather report from AM 1575 News for Friday, October 30, 2026, available online, via AI chatbot podcast, and on medium waves at 1575 kHz. From Paris, I am Rachel Costa.
Weather Forecasts – Paris, Monte-Carlo, Milan, New York for Friday, October 30, 2026
Source: AudioVisione – AM 1575 News