So reports the N.Y. Times (Mark Arsenault) yesterday, discussing former MIT cellular biology professor David Sabatini's victory on the defamation claim (and defendant's loss on her harassment and retaliation counterclaim). More details:

[Sabatini] was forced out of his lab in 2021 after an internal Whitehead [Institute] investigation concluded he had a past sexual relationship with a younger and less experienced colleague, Kristin Knouse, over whom he had a career-influencing role. The investigation also found that his lab had maintained a sexualized atmosphere. Dr. Knouse said that the relationship was coerced.

But Dr. Sabatini denied his lab had an improper atmosphere. He maintained that his relationship with Dr. Knouse had been consensual and that Dr. Knouse had schemed to get him fired and disgraced after he became interested in another woman….

After he was pushed out of M.I.T. and the Whitehead, he had talks with New York University about a job. But N.Y.U. staff members and students protested in the streets against his hiring in 2022, and the university did not hire him.

In 2023, he was hired by the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, in Prague, and later opened a Boston-area branch of that institute….

According to the Boston Globe (Madyline Swearing, Bryan Hecht & Tonya Alanez), "In 2023, New York hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman and an anonymous donor pledged $25 million over five years to help Sabatini get back into science." The Globe also reports that the jury consisted of "seven women and six men," for whatever that's worth.

Here's an excerpt of what Sabatini alleged (quoting a Massachusetts appellate decision in the case, later reversed as to Knouse's counterclaim by the Massachusetts high court):

Sabatini and Knouse met in 2012. At the time, Sabatini was a tenured member of the department of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and ran his own laboratory at Whitehead, a research institute affiliated with MIT that receives funding from private resources such as the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and public resources such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH). {As pertinent here, Whitehead and HHMI have a relationship whereby HHMI provides funding for, and in some instances employs, individuals working at Whitehead. At all relevant times, both Whitehead and HHMI employed Sabatini. In addition, NIH provided grants that funded Sabatini's research at Whitehead.}

Knouse was enrolled in an inter-institutional M.D./Ph.D. program at Harvard and MIT, where Sabatini was one of her instructors and served on her thesis committee. While Knouse was a doctoral student, she and Sabatini sometimes socialized.

Then, in 2018, Knouse started a fellowship at Whitehead, and she and Sabatini began a sexual relationship. While the relationship ended in 2019, Knouse sent text messages to Sabatini in January 2020 seeking to rekindle their relationship. Sabatini responded, asking Knouse to stop and stating that he wanted peace and needed space to figure things out.

In early 2020 through the fall of 2020, Knouse began telling colleagues, both at Whitehead and MIT, that Sabatini had sexually harassed her. In October 2020, Knouse reported the alleged sexual harassment to Lehmann. Around that time, Whitehead hired a consultant to conduct a diversity survey at Whitehead. During the survey, some Whitehead employees reported concerns about Sabatini. In response, Whitehead hired the law firm of Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP (HAS) to investigate the culture within Sabatini's laboratory. The HAS investigators spoke with Knouse and other members of the Whitehead community. In interviews with the HAS investigators, Knouse repeated her allegations that Sabatini had sexually harassed her.

On August 13, 2021, HAS sent a report to Whitehead finding that Sabatini had committed sexual harassment. Whitehead forwarded the report to MIT and HHMI. On August 19, Whitehead provided Sabatini with a copy of the report. On August 20, Sabatini resigned after learning that Whitehead was about to terminate his employment. {Before Sabatini resigned, his coemployer at Whitehead, HHMI, terminated his employment. MIT placed Sabatini on leave.}

And here's what Knouse alleged (quoting the Massachusetts high court decision); the jury verdict suggests that the jury largely believed Sabatini's story rather than Knouse's:

Sabatini was a laboratory director at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research (Whitehead) and a tenured professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2012 when he met Knouse, then a graduate student at Harvard University and MIT. Sabatini was one of Knouse's instructors at MIT and served on her dissertation committee.

During a discussion in 2016 concerning whether Sabatini would endorse Knouse's application for an upcoming fellowship at Whitehead, Sabatini expressed concern that Knouse took herself too seriously and asked Knouse whether she ever had "fun," "fuck[ed] around," or had sex. Knouse responded that she did have fun and quickly left the conversation. Subsequently, Sabatini recommended Knouse for the fellowship and supported her grant application, both of which she secured.

Knouse joined Whitehead as a fellow in 2018. That year, Knouse and Sabatini began a sexual relationship that ended in 2019; thereafter, Sabatini continued to make sexualized comments to her. Knouse asserts that she struggled under this dynamic. Sabatini, whose laboratory was next to Knouse's, was the director of the Whitehead fellows program, and he served as a mentor and reviewer of her work. Knouse feared the potential consequences that losing an influential mentor would have on her career and believed she could not terminate the relationship without professional repercussions. She "began to withdraw from the scientific community" and "experience[d] debilitating feelings of entrapment and hopelessness."

Around this period, the results of a 2020 culture survey of Whitehead "suggested that Sabatini either personally engaged in sexually explicit and inappropriate discussions or fostered an environment that tolerated—or promoted—such inappropriate discussions and that he threatened those who might report his conduct." The survey results "amplified complaints" raised by two women, who had trained in Sabatini's laboratory, and by Knouse, who contemporaneously disclosed to the director that she had felt harassed during her fellowship but, fearing retaliation, did not provide any further details.

In response, Whitehead hired an independent legal team to investigate. The investigators determined, inter alia, that Sabatini had "engaged in and otherwise tolerated sexist and sexualized work discussions with his lab," and that engaging in such discussions "was an implicit part of succeeding in" Sabatini's laboratory. They also concluded that there was a "culture of fear and retaliation" within the laboratory. They reported that Sabatini had "engag[ed] in sexual relations with a Whitehead Fellow" and violated several Whitehead policies, including its sexual harassment policy.

Sabatini resigned from his Whitehead position. MIT announced that it was placing Sabatini on leave to perform its own investigation.

Sabatini's claims against Whitehead had earlier been dismissed (see, e.g., this decision).

Lisa Arrowood, Shayne Kinsella, and Sarah Sousa (Arrowood LLP) represent Sabatini.

The post $6M Verdict in #TheyLied Defamation Lawsuit Brought Over Sexual Harassment Allegations appeared first on Reason Magazine.

A cinque chilometri dai sobborghi meridionali di Zaporizhzhia: è la distanza – secondo il Ministero della Difesa russo -a cui le avanguardie russe si sono attestate dopo aver attraversato il ...

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The Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) will celebrate Cuban Culture Day, (October 20) with a national event titled “Art and Homeland” (in spanish Arte y Patria), scheduled to take place from Monday, October 19, to Friday, October 30. The program includes panel discussions, concerts, exhibitions, exchange forums, and activities centered on artistic creation, history, and the defense of national identity.

RELATED:

Cuba Backs Writer María Elena Llana’s Candidacy for the 2026 Cervantes Prize

The event draws inspiration from the National Anthem, composed by Pedro “Perucho” Figueredo—a piece whose notes accompanied a decisive moment in Cuban history and remain a symbol of independence and emancipation.

“What better way to celebrate our national identity—that deep-rooted sense of ‘Cubanness’—than through art and music?” stated Magda Resik Aguirre, First Vice President of UNEAC, in remarks to the organization’s communications team.

Representatives from the UNEAC presidency and leadership will participate in the *Fiesta de la Cubanía* (Festival of Cuban Identity) in Bayamo—a city intrinsically linked to the birth and establishment of the national anthem as a patriotic symbol. The gathering will also commemorate the 65th anniversary of the writers’ and artists’ organization.

“Art and Homeland” is part of the Faithful Art (Arte Fiel) campaign, which honors the centenary of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz and the 65th anniversary of UNEAC. It also incorporates celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the Hermanos Saíz Association (AHS), an institution dedicated to promoting Cuban culture, social engagement, and artistic excellence.

🎼🥁El espacio Detras de la Portada que mensualmente organizan la Sección de Musicología y la Asociación de Músicos de la Uneac, dedicará su próxima edición al DVD La Familia, de Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.#ArteFiel #65Uneac#MuñequitosDeMatanzas pic.twitter.com/cO5sGAiilb

— UNEAC (@UNEAC_online) October 17, 2026

The text reads, “The “Behind the Cover” (Detrás de la Portada) event, organized monthly by the Musicology Section and the Musicians’ Association of UNEAC, will dedicate its next edition to the DVD La Familia by Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.”

The program includes discussions on the fight against racism and racial discrimination. The panel “Fidel and the Cuban Color: Racism and Discrimination 140 Years After the Abolition of Slavery” will be organized by UNEAC’s José Antonio Aponte Commission. Additionally, there will be a panel dedicated to the novel Paradiso by José Lezama Lima, marking six decades since its first publication.

The program will begin on October 19 at Sala Villena with a panel dedicated to Paradiso and the presentation of the DVD La Familia—produced by BisMusic from a concert by Los Muñequitos de Matanzas at the 2023 Jazz Plaza Festival. The group will subsequently give a special performance in the gardens of UNEAC.

On October 21, the printmaking exhibition Roots (in spanish Raíces) will open, followed by a gathering of *trova* musicians celebrating Cuban culture. The following day will feature the presentation of the Domingo Ravenet Curatorial Award and the opening of the exhibition Cartographies of Destiny (in spanish Cartografías del destino) by Santiago Rodríguez Olazábal.

From October 26 to 30, juries will convene to evaluate the admission of new members to UNEAC, both through its various associations and provincial committees. This process is part of the “Fidel Castro Ruz Centenary Special Growth” initiative and will include young creators from the AHS (Hermanos Saíz Association) who have established a solid body of excellent work.

The closing event on October 30 will include a segment titled “Chamber Music in Cuba” and a performance by Ernán López-Nussa alongside the ensemble Raptus, as part of the 15th Chamber Music Festival.

Resik noted that the organization will adjust schedules and venues to maintain its connection with the public and local communities, “We are fulfilling a duty we have as creators—to dedicate ourselves to the people, to our audience, and to the Cuban public”,explaining.

#Cuba | Havana says talks with Washington remain stalled as US oil restrictions worsen fuel shortages and disrupt essential services, including healthcare.
Cuba continues to call for dialogue ahead of the October 29 UN vote on the blockade.#OilBlockade #teleSUREnglish pic.twitter.com/fycySzWm5T

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) October 16, 2026

At least nine people died and another 16 were injured this Saturday in Saudi attacks in the province of Taiz, in southwestern Yemen, Houthi media reported amid the military escalation with the coalition led by Saudi Arabia.

At Least 67 Dead in Yemen Due Saudi Attacks: At Least Nine Killed in Saudi Attack on Southwestern Yemen

The Al Masirah television channel reported that “nine people – including women and children – have died and another 16 have been injured in a new atrocity committed by the coalition’s air force” led by Riyadh.

It accused the coalition of attacking “civilian homes” with four bombings in the Humayr al Jabal area, in the Maqbanah district, located in the northwest of Taiz province.

The channel added that “several civilians remain trapped under the rubble of their homes,” while rescue efforts are “being hampered.”

🇸🇦⚡️🇾🇪 ⚠️ Saudi attacks on Taiz's old airport after Yemeni forces made progress on various fronts in western Taiz. pic.twitter.com/6rnwgtJaZd

— #Inside_News (@insider_der) October 17, 2026

So far, the military coalition has not commented on the matter, and the attack could not be independently verified.

For its part, the Yemeni Army claimed to have launched 1,417 “precise and direct attacks in the last 24 hours, using combat aircraft, drones, field artillery and multiple rocket launch systems” against the Houthis, as part of the “Dawn of Yemen” counteroffensive.

Military spokesman Majid al Nuzaili stated in a statement that the operations resulted in approximately “800 casualties – among dead and injured, as well as the destruction or disabling of more than 190 vehicles.”

He assured that in Taiz the Armed Forces “heroically repelled successive waves of attacks, while combat aviation precisely struck the positions and reinforcements of the militias, inflicting serious losses in both personnel and equipment,” but maintained that these attacks “are strictly limited to legitimate military targets.”

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the military coalition led by Saudi Arabia announced this Saturday on his X account that they intercepted and destroyed four drones in the Riyadh, eastern and southern Saudi regions in recent hours, without specifying concrete points.

The Yemeni Army maintains its counteroffensive against the rebels, which has air cover from Saudi Arabia, a country that in turn is the target of Houthi attacks for its participation in the Yemeni war since 2015 at the head of a military coalition in support of the internationally recognized government.

O interesse pelo cinema começou cedo. Por volta dos 5 anos, as brincadeiras do menino já tinham montagem de filmes com histórias de super-heróis. Enquanto ia gostando dessa brincadeira, Miguel Figueiredo Viglio deu o primeiro passo para conhecer mais a arte do cinema e resolveu, aos 7 anos, fazer um curso de stop motion, que é uma animação feita quadro a quadro.

“Aí comecei a fazer os filmes em stop motion com brinquedos que eu tinha e fui me aprimorando”, contou em entrevista à Agência Brasil

Notícias relacionadas:

• Recife vai sediar maior festival de animação do Brasil, o Animage.
• Duelo de Guitarras, da TV Brasil, termina com perfil do campeão.
• Mostra Internacional de Cinema de SP começa nesta quinta-feira.

Hoje com 14 anos, o jovem tem certeza de que quer seguir na carreira, embora saiba que é um caminho árduo. “É difícil, mas sei que vou trabalhar com uma coisa que eu gosto e com pessoas que também gostam da mesma coisa".

Miguel Viglio é um dos concorrentes no Festival Internacional Pequeno Cineasta (FIPC), que ocorre deste domingo (18) até o dia 24 de outubro, em três espaços culturais da cidade do Rio de Janeiro: Teatro Municipal Carlos Gomes, Instituto Cervantes e Jardim Botânico. A programação é gratuita.

Em casa, Miguel conta com o incentivo da mãe Chica Amoreira, que orgulhosa lembrou os prêmios que o filho já conquistou em festivais. Entre as premiações, somente com o filme Circo dos Horrores, com o qual vai concorrer nesta edição do FIPC, tem Melhor Filme no festival FECEA no Rio Grande do Sul, em 2025; Troféu Geração no Festival do Rio, no mesmo ano; Melhor filme pelo Júri Popular no festival É Tudo Criança, em Minas Gerais, em 2026.

Fora do Brasil, foi finalista no CineClub Dei Picoli, na Itália, em 2025, no Madeira Curtas Short Film, de Portugal em 2026 e no REC film festival da Alemanha também em 2026.

Daniel Nini, de 16 anos, é mais um concorrente no Festival Internacional Pequeno Cineasta. O interesse pela arte o levou para atuar como ator. Depois do teatro, veio a vontade de fazer cinema porque gostava muito de ver filmes.

“Com 10 anos eu me toquei que poderia estar nos filmes e realizar filmes. Aí comecei a ver muita coisa para pegar bagagem cultural e tentar botar em prática os meus próprios roteiros”, disse à Agência Brasil.

No início, recorreu ao celular, que era o que dispunha na época para realizar o seu filme. “Nessa época eu não tinha câmera, quando eu peguei feito por telefone, pensei que nada ia ser aproveitado, porque o som também não estava com uma qualidade muito boa , mas com a mágica da edição, ainda mais vendo na tela grande, ficou ótimo. Fiquei muito feliz com o resultado”, contou Daniel.

que também é ator e com o tempo conseguiu comprar os equipamentos necessários com o dinheiro que ganhava com as suas atuações.

Júri

Uma outra característica do festival é que as crianças e adolescentes também participam da escolha dos vencedores. O Júri Oficial é formado por jovens das mesmas faixas etárias dos competidores, na faixa etária entre 8 e 17.

A responsabilidade de ter que julgar as produções é grande, afinal pode representar um marco para quem está começando na carreira. Participante do Júri Oficial, Carina Ki considerou uma experiência muito importante.

“Quando eu soube que eram de 13 a 17 pensei que era uma coisa meio experimental porque são crianças fazendo, mas fiquei muito impactada com a criatividade e todas as técnicas que elas usaram. As crianças se esforçaram muito para fazer. Fiquei muito impressionada com o talento delas”, disse.

“Eu tenho o projeto de estudar cinema no futuro, então, foi uma oportunidade muito importante, para mim, ter contato com produções de outros adolescentes”, concluiu.

Para a cineasta, produtora, educadora audiovisual e idealizadora do FIPC, Daniela Gracindo, o diferencial deste festival é que não são adultos falando sobre crianças e adolescentes. São eles que assumem as câmeras para contar as suas histórias.

“Eles ficam se sentindo mais participativos com protagonismo, porque a opinião deles importa. Já muda completamente a postura daquela criança que senta na cadeira sabendo que vai eleger o filme que vai ser premiado. A postura dela na cadeira de cinema é outra”, avaliou Daniela.

11ª edição

O Festival Internacional Pequeno Cineasta chega a 11ª edição com mais atividades e maior interesse de crianças e adolescentes pela arte do cinema. A ideia surgiu quando Daniela produzia uma homenagem ao avô Paulo Gracindo.

Na época, o pai Gracindo Jr., com quem realizava o documentário, tinha uma produtora, onde a cineasta queria dar aulas de cinema e teatro. Foi assim que em 2009 uma turma com equipe infantil de alunos entre 9 e 13 anos inaugurou a Oficina Pequeno Cineasta, que acompanha crianças e jovens em todas as etapas da realização de um filme, indo da ideia e do roteiro à atuação, direção, filmagem e edição.

A partir daí surgiu a primeira edição do festival em 2010 e, que segundo Daniela, ainda era bem mais tímida.

“Cada edição que eu faço é uma potência tão grande de troca de cultura, de conexão, de conseguir se aproximar da criança, porque a gente tem esse espaço qualificado onde elas podem e devem se expressar por meio da sétima arte”, apontou Daniela.

Ao longo dos anos o convívio com as crianças e adolescentes foi aumentando e se fortalecendo por meio de Oficinas Pequeno Cineasta que já foram realizadas no Rio de Janeiro, em São Paulo, em Santa Catarina, no Rio Grande do Sul e até fora do Brasil, como na Guiana Francesa e na Argentina. 

“Por ver todo esse resultado e conseguir abrigar crianças que nunca entraram em uma sala de cinema e ficam estonteadas só com a sala, imagina quando elas veem que uma outra garota ou garoto, como elas, fizeram aquele filme que está na tela. O impacto é muito grande para todos”, disse Daniela.

Produções

Este ano, o festival vai exibir 68 filmes realizados por jovens de 8 a 17 anos. As produções foram selecionadas a partir de 467 inscrições de 41 países e dez estados brasileiros. São ficções, documentários e animações, que conforme a organização, “mostram como essa geração enxerga questões que vão de amizade e preconceito à inteligência artificial, cyberbullying e crise climática”.

Níveis de competição

Além de quatro categorias: Nacional e Internacional Criança para realizadores de 8 a 12 anos; e Nacional e Internacional Jovem para adolescentes de 13 a 17 anos, a competição das obras se dá em três mostras especiais: Oficina Pequeno Cineasta, Filmes Hispânicos e Sustente Sua História, que é dedicada a produções sobre sustentabilidade e meio ambiente.

Variedade

Os temas dos filmes selecionados passam por afetos, perdas, amizade, preconceito, trabalho, inteligência artificial, violência, cyberbullying, crise climática e a relação entre humanidade e natureza.

Os vínculos humanos são abordados em A Night Without You (Malásia), Orpheus & Eurydice (Estados Unidos) e Passagens (Niterói, Rio de Janeiro). Já em The City (Ucrânia) e Paani (Estados Unidos) os cineastas tratam da resiliência diante de guerras, deslocamentos e eventos climáticos extremos.

A crise climática é tema em Axinos (Grécia), Concreto (Contagem, MG) e Yanomamis: Guardiões da Floresta (Brasil), enquanto O Espelho e Segundo Plano, os dois de Porto Alegre, e Por Culpa de la IA (Espanha) exploram a solidão, pressão social, violência e os efeitos da tecnologia.

Intercâmbio

A abertura, no dia 18, às 11h, no Teatro Municipal Carlos Gomes, Centro do Rio, reserva um encontro especial entre cineastas do Brasil e da Guiana Francesa. Na cerimônia, serão exibidos seis curtas realizados em Saint-Georges, por cerca de 80 crianças e jovens, produzidos durante oficinas desenvolvidas entre 2025 e 2026, além de um minidocumentário sobre o processo de criação.

Na segunda-feira (19), haverá no Instituto Cervantes, em Botafogo, das 15h30 às 17h, a Mesa Redondinha. O evento será um encontro de jovens cineastas do Brasil e da Guiana Francesa para assistirem aos filmes produzidos pelos dois grupos. Também terá conversar com o público sobre escolhas narrativas, temas, desafios de realização e as diferentes maneiras de transformar experiências em cinema. 

Ainda na segunda e no dia seguinte, o Instituto Cervantes recebe, das 9h às 13h, o workshop Cinema na Sala de Aula, destinado a professores, educadores e interessados em desenvolver práticas audiovisuais com crianças e jovens. A educadora, realizadora e pesquisadora argentina Irene Blei, é quem vai ministrar a atividade com oito horas de duração.

Irene é inovadora na educação audiovisual, ela criou e dirigiu historicamente a Oficina de Cine El Mate, a primeira escola de cinema infantil e juvenil de Vicente López, na Argentina.

Escolas

As ações do festival atravessam os seus espaços e chegam às escolas e comunidades educativas de todo o país por meio do Pequeno Cineasta na Escola.

As instituições inscritas tem acesso gratuito, durante o período do festival, às mostras competitivas e podem organizar sessões com seus alunos e enviar os votos para o Prêmio do Júri Popular. Para a organização, a iniciativa favorece a formação de plateia e transforma o cinema em ponto de partida para conversas sobre temas contemporâneos dentro da escola.

“É primordial para a infância e a juventude nesse sentido, não de ser um youtuber, um tiktoker, pode ser também, mas a ideia do projeto Pequeno Cineasta é que eles se aprofundem na linguagem e se tornem críticos e saibam o que estão recebendo, fazendo e sejam alfabetizados nessa linguagem”, relatou Daniela.

Ao longo das edições, o festival reuniu produções de 54 países e alcançou mais de 80 mil pessoas, “promovendo autoria, direito à expressão, formação de público e diálogo intercultural”.

O encerramento da programação deste ano será no Instituto Cervantes, das 16h às 18h, quando haverá a premiação dos vencedores e uma homenagem a Gracindo Jr, que morreu no dia 2 de setembro, em casa no Rio, aos 83 anos.

O Festival Internacional Pequeno Cineasta tem apoio institucional da Prefeitura do Rio, por meio das Secretarias Municipais de Cultura e de Educação, do Sistema Nacional de Cultura e do Ministério da Cultura.

Manchester City bounced back from their midweek setback in Europe to maintain their perfect Premier League start with Erling Haaland’s double propelling them to a 3-2 home win over Ipswich Town on Saturday.

Paris Saint-Germain inflicted a first meaningful defeat on Enzo Maresca’s side in the Champions League on Wednesday but City shrugged off a gallant Ipswich side to make it seven wins from seven to cement their place at the top of the table.

Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 in Saturday’s early action thanks to Pedro Neto’s brace although the London club’s win was overshadowed by an injury to goalkeeper Emi Martinez.

Liverpool came from a goal down to beat Brentford 2-1 away although they were helped by the previously unbeaten hosts being reduced to 10 men shortly before halftime when Yehor Yarmolyuk was shown a straight red card for a head butt.

Victory lifted Liverpool above Brentford into fifth place with 12 points behind Chelsea in fourth on 13.

Fulham moved off the foot of the table with their first league win of the season — 1-0 at home to Hull City.

Dark clouds remain over the Etihad Stadium with Manchester City’s fate still unknown after they appealed a ruling that the club breached 114 Premier League financial rules.

City have always denied any wrongdoing.

But on the pitch it is very much business as usual, especially for Norwegian goal machine Haaland.

Phil Foden gave City a short-lived lead cancelled out by Daizen Maeda, but Haaland restored the home side’s advantage before halftime with a header from Mateo Kovacic’s cross.

Haaland then gave his side some breathing space with his second in the 69th minute, powering past Ipswich’s Abdoul Ouattara before a low finish into the corner.

He was denied a hat-trick by an offside decision and Ipswich got a lifeline when Zian Flemming tucked away a penalty in stoppage time but City bagged the points.

Feisty first half

Chelsea have had a knack of scoring early this season but were kept at bay by hosts Everton in a feisty and physical first half that produced five yellow cards.

However, Xabi Alonso’s visitors needed just 43 seconds after the restart to go 1-0 up when Jorrel Hato cut the ball back from the byline to find Neto who swept home.

Martinez’s clash of heads with Jarrad Branthwaite caused a lengthy stoppage with paramedics coming onto the pitch. The Argentina keeper was eventually strapped to a stretcher and taken off, leading to 11 minutes of stoppage time.

Chelsea doubled their lead in the 90th minute when Neto pounced on a loose ball after Jordan Henderson’s free kick was blocked by the wall, finding the bottom corner with a composed finish as Everton suffered their first defeat of the season.

“What we know is he (Martinez) left the stadium conscious and right now he is in the hospital doing precautionary tests,” Alonso said. “It was concussion but more than that I saw only one clip. Hopefully it won’t be too bad but we need to wait.”

Martinez’s knock gave 21-year-old keeper Mike Penders the chance to make his Premier League debut and he helped Chelsea keep a clean sheet in the league for the first time in 23 games.

“We need a clean sheet, to be honest. I think we did a very good game. Emi deserved this, Mike did as well,” Alonso added.

Liverpool deservedly fell behind at Brentford with Keane Lewis-Potter putting the hosts in front.

Brentford were good value for their lead but Yarmolyuk’s rush of blood to the head when he clashed with Jeremy Jacquet at a Liverpool corner changed the game.

After referee John Brooks was invited to check a VAR monitor he brandished the red card at Ukrainian Yarmolyuk who trudged off to applause from the home fans.

Liverpool huffed and puffed after the break but Victor Munoz finally levelled in the 62nd minute when he cut in to beat keeper Caoimhin Kelleher with a left-foot finish.

Alexander Isak won it for Andoni Iraola’s side eight minutes later with a clinical strike from Bradley Barcola’s assist.

Brentford ended with nine men after Vitaly Janelt got a second yellow card for a foul on substitute Rio Ngumoha.

Elsewhere, Alex Iwobi’s 33rd-minute strike for Fulham was enough to earn their new manager Alvaro Arbeloa a long-overdue league win and move Fulham up to 15th.

With a flight deck packed with carrier-based aircraft, including stealthy fifth-generation F-35Cs, the USS Theodore Roosevelt pulled into Yokosuka, Japan, on Friday. Roosevelt is the first non-resident U.S. carrier to visit the key naval port, strategically located on the east side of Japan, in more than four years. Yokosuka is home to the USS George Washington and America’s only forward-based Carrier Strike Group (CSG).

The Roosevelt, which serves as the flagship of CSG 9, escorted by guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin and destroyer USS Decatur, completed the journey from San Diego in 19 days − maneuvering around a typhoon in the Western Pacific − and will participate in the upcoming combined exercise Keen Sword 27. Meanwhile, the USS George H.W. Bush departed Thailand after a five-day port call and returned to the Middle East, and the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived home after a nearly eleven-month combat deployment.

Here’s TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed CSGs and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs), using publicly available open-source information. Check out last week’s report here.

Theodore Roosevelt Docks In Yokosuka, Japan; First Visiting Carrier In Four Years

Roosevelt and Chosin chopped into the U.S. 7th Fleet-Pacific Command (PACOM) area of responsibility (AOR) and arrived at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka on the morning of October 16. The CSG will spend a few days in port before beginning participation in exercise Keen Sword, a “premier joint-bilateral field training exercise designed to increase readiness and interoperability between the Japan Self-Defense Forces and U.S. military forces,” according to the 7th Fleet press release. The brief visit allows the crew to complete maintenance, resupply, and disembark for liberty before resuming routine operations.

“Our crew is honored to visit Yokosuka and experience the rich culture and hospitality of Japan,” the commanding officer of Roosevelt, Capt. Will Mathis, said in the release. “Port visits like this are vital for crew morale and mission readiness, allowing our Sailors to rest, recharge, and prepare to operate seamlessly alongside our allies during exercise Keen Sword.”

The five-ship CSG, the composition of which a Navy official confirmed to TWZ, is currently operating on a disaggregated basis − a common practice employed by strike groups with multiple ongoing missions. The duo that departed the U.S. at the end of September linked up with another element of the group, Pearl Harbor-based guided missile destroyer USS Decatur, as they were steaming westbound past the Hawaiian Islands, based on public Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. Decatur arrived in Yokosuka the day after Roosevelt but was not mentioned in the press release.

USS Carl M. Levin, also stationed in Hawaii, was the first ship from the group to deploy, according to DVIDS, the military’s content-sharing platform. Levin departed on September 9 and is operating at an undisclosed location. USS Paul Hamilton, the final ship assigned to CSG 9 to deploy, left San Diego on October 10 after onloading ammo at Bravo Pier and moored at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on October 15, AIS data shows. Henry J. Kaiser class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe supported the group’s transit across the Pacific, conducting multiple replenishments-at-sea (RAS), and recently entered the East Sea/Sea of Japan via the Tsugaru Strait before going dark on AIS.

Multiple reports indicated that medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) Seahawk (2) deployed with the group, which would represent a significant operational achievement and the first time a drone boat was assigned to a CSG, but the MUSV quietly slipped out of Point Loma on October 8, more than ten days after Roosevelt. Seahawk reappeared on AIS and docked in Hawaii for a couple days before continuing its journey westbound in the Pacific on October 16. If Seahawk is assigned to CSG 9, it is currently disaggregated, and whether it will join Roosevelt to participate in exercise Keen Sword 27 is unknown.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao seemingly confirmed the deployment, saying during a panel at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) convention that “the Teddy Roosevelt carrier strike group just deployed on October 8 with a medium sized unmanned surface vessel. This is the first carrier strike group to ever deploy with a large size unmanned surface vessel.” However, Roosevelt was more than halfway to Japan on the date referenced. “This is a force multiplier, imagine having more guns out there,” he added.

TWZ reached out to the Secretary’s office for clarification and to confirm the deployment but did not receive a response. “Seahawk’s operations represent continued progress in the Navy’s efforts to integrate unmanned systems into Fleet operations. As with any emerging capability, we continue to learn, adapt, and refine how these systems are employed,” a Navy official told us.

Abraham Lincoln’s Homecoming

Surrounded by small boats, with hundreds of spectators lining the channel in San Diego Bay and thousands more watching online, the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived home from a historic ten-and-a-half-month combat deployment. The flagship of CSG 3 and her crew of more than 5,000 Sailors and Marines served as the tip of the spear in the war against the Iranian regime, first during Operation Epic Fury and then the subsequent blockades, and set a new record for the most consecutive days at sea without a port call.

Lincoln pulled into Naval Air Station North Island and moored at Berth Lima on October 8, 321 days after casting off on November 21, 2025. Sailors in dress whites manned the rails as the carrier transited the bay, escorted on both sides by small boats and jet skis flying American flags, while family and friends eagerly waited pierside for their return. The video below, shared by the Pentagon, captures the moment.

Lincoln now lays claim to the second-longest deployment in the modern carrier era, falling just five days short of the 326-day post-Vietnam record held by the USS Gerald R. Ford. The flattop traveled over 93,000 nautical miles during the cruise − more than four trips around the Earth, a post by the public affairs officer highlighted − and conducted 72 replenishments-at-sea, received 20-plus million gallons of aviation fuel, and flew more than 14,000 sorties that totaled 28,500 flight hours, a press release from the Navy highlighted.

The release confirmed for the first time that Lincoln broke the previous record of 206 days set by USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during the COVID pandemic for days spent underway between port visits, as TWZ first reported. “The ship’s 208 uninterrupted days at sea between Guam and Oman, and its 286 consecutive days at sea between departing San Diego and arriving in Thailand, are record-breaking marks for modern aircraft carriers.”

Lincoln’s cruise took her through both U.S. 7th Fleet and U.S. 5th Fleet AORs. During Operation Epic Fury, which began on February 28 and lasted almost 40 days, Lincoln took up station in the northern Arabian Sea as Commander, Task Force (CTF) 50 and pressured Iran’s southern flank. When major combat operations wound down, the carrier and her air wing patrolled and enforced the blockade line during both rounds that followed.

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, the “Navy’s premier next-generation air wing that served as the primary offensive power” for CSG 3, flew 14,037 sorties − including 4,000 combat missions − and dropped more than 1.37 million pounds of ordnance on thousands of targets while employing 1,499 precision weapons. “This concentrated firepower significantly degraded Iranian Navy capabilities,” a separate statement noted.

“The rapid mobilization and combat execution of CVW-9 during Operation Epic Fury demonstrated the unmatched flexibility of a U.S. Navy carrier strike group,” Capt. J.W. Stigi, commander of CVW-9, said in the statement. “Pairing fifth-generation F-35C stealth and sensor fusion with fourth-generation workhorse strike and electronic attack platforms, Team Shogun destroyed Iran’s conventional Navy and secured vital maritime chokepoints in support of our commander’s objectives.”

Kill marks painted on the island superstructure show CSG 3 destroyed 106 one-way attack drones fired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), 34 Iranian Navy and IRGC ships, 23 inbound cruise missiles, and 10 enemy submarines. The strike group dropped 1,463 air-to-ground munitions in total, a Sailor explaining the marks said in a video on social media.

George H.W. Bush Leaves Thailand And Returns To The Middle East

The USS George H.W. Bush and her destroyer escort, USS Delbert D. Black, departed Phuket, Thailand, on October 9 after a five-day liberty visit. “Nearly 5,000 Sailors from across the strike group experienced the sights and sounds Thailand has to offer, deepening their understanding of the Thai people and strengthening interpersonal bonds,” according to a press release.

“The Sailors and I had an amazing time in this beautiful country, and I sincerely thank the people of Thailand for their incredible welcome,” Capt. Justin T. Issler, the commanding officer of George H.W. Bush, said about the stop. “This port visit to Phuket was a tremendous opportunity for the crew. We are grateful to our Thai allies for hosting us, and we look forward to continuing our mission here in 7th Fleet, alongside Thailand and our other regional allies and partners.”

Bush dropped anchor approximately two nautical miles south of Ao Makham Deep Sea Port on October 4 after 187 consecutive days at sea. After leaving Phuket, the carrier stopped broadcasting AIS while steaming due south at 10 knots. Imagery on DVIDS confirms that the CSG returned to the Middle East and operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR to “support maritime security and stability,” joining the George Washington CSG once again as the second strike group in the region.

Destroyer USS Mason, which deployed as the integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) commander for the CSG but has disaggregated at times, arrived in Singapore on October 5, likely for a port call. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer departed on October 9 and was last tracked heading northwestbound in the Malacca Strait, likely to rejoin the CSG. The other two destroyers assigned to the CSG, USS Ross and USS Donald Cook, remained in 5th Fleet during the visit.

F-35C Lightning II Operates from A Ford Class Carrier For The First Time

Marking a major milestone, an F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter made the first arrested landing aboard a Gerald R. Ford class carrier, the Navy’s newest and most advanced class of aircraft carriers that are being built to replace the aging Nimitz fleet. The trap was made by Lt. Cmdr. Robert Mason with the “Salty Dogs” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 aboard the future USS John F. Kennedy in the Western Atlantic on October 13. The first catapult launch followed the next day, pictures on DVIDS showed.

VX-23, based out of Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, is part of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division and was putting Kennedy through the ongoing Aircraft Compatibility Testing to assess the “operational capabilities of the ship’s aircraft launch and recovery equipment.” A team from the Patuxent River-based F-35 Integrated Test Force, detached to the ship, conducted the evaluation using a specially instrumented example of the jet. One of the two pictured was externally equipped with an inert Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bomb.

The Navy took preliminary acceptance of Kennedy, which is still considered a Pre-Commissioning Unit, on September 29. This process allows the service to conduct at-sea testing and build underway proficiency while the shipbuilder, Huntington Ingalls Industries, completes final system checks ahead of expected delivery in spring 2027. Kennedy got underway on October 13 and returned to her homeport of Naval Station Norfolk three days later.

The lead ship of the class, the USS Gerald R. Ford, does not currently embark F-35Cs and will need upgrades to field the Navy’s most advanced jet. Back in 2019, TWZ warned that the stealth jet wouldn’t fly from the troubled class for years. Because of this, Congress required that Kennedy be equipped to embark F-35Cs, which led to additional delays for the Navy’s next carrier.

Big Deck Fleet At A Glance

Overall, three U.S. carriers are deployed, three are working up in various states of readiness, three are in maintenance availabilities, one is post-deployment, one is being used primarily for training before deactivation next year, and another will be delivered in 2027. Two amphibious ready groups are deployed, one is forward-deployed, three are working up or in port, and three are in maintenance.

Note: Positions are general approximations. Non-deployed LHA/LHD amphibious warships are not shown.

Contact the author: ian@twz.com or @ianellisjones

The post Where Are The Aircraft Carriers?: October 17, 2026 appeared first on TWZ.

Frankreich erlebt einen Samstag der Gewalt. Am Place de la République in Paris steigen schwarze Rauchwolken über brennenden Fahrzeugen und Müllcontainern auf.

Vermummte Demonstranten werfen Feuerwerkskörper, Pflastersteine und andere Gegenstände auf Polizisten. Die Sicherheitskräfte antworten mit Tränengas und Wasserwerfern.

Geschäfte werden geplündert, mehrere Menschen bei den Zusammenstößen verletzt. Die Polizei versucht zudem, kleinere Gruppen daran zu hindern, zu Regierungsgebäuden vorzudringen. Nach Angaben der Nachrichtenagentur AP wurden landesweit mindestens 272 Menschen festgenommen. 

Die Gewalt beschränkt sich nicht auf die Hauptstadt. In Lyon geriet ein Tourismusbüro in Brand. In Marseille wurden Geschäfte und eine kommunale Polizeiwache beschädigt, Demonstranten drangen zeitweise in den Eingangsbereich des Rathauses ein.

Auch aus Rennes, Toulouse, Montpellier und Grenoble melden die Behörden gewaltsame Zwischenfälle. In Paris werden zudem mehrere Metrostationen auf behördliche Anweisung geschlossen, darunter Stationen in der Nähe wichtiger Regierungsgebäude.

"Wir haben die Schnauze voll"

Hinter den Protesten steht mehr als der Ärger über einzelne Rechnungen. Benzin, Lebensmittel und Energie sind für viele Haushalte zu einer schweren Belastung geworden. Beschäftigte beklagen stagnierende Einkommen, während Schüler und Studenten gegen schlechte Bedingungen an Schulen und Universitäten mobilisieren. Hinzu kommen Forderungen nach höheren Löhnen und Renten sowie nach dem Erhalt öffentlicher Dienstleistungen.

Die Mobilisierung begann zunächst mit Aufrufen gegen hohe Kraftstoffpreise. Die Schülerproteste verliehen ihr neuen Schwung. Inzwischen versuchen Aktivisten, junge Demonstranten mit früheren Teilnehmern der Gelbwestenbewegung, Rentnern und Beschäftigten zusammenzubringen. Auch die Gewerkschaft CGT unterstützt die Proteste. Sie verlangt höhere Löhne und Renten, niedrigere Preise und den Schutz öffentlicher Einrichtungen.

Die Bilder erinnern an den Winter 2018 und 2019, als die Gelbwesten Frankreich mit Protesten gegen höhere Kraftstoffkosten und soziale Ungleichheit erschüttert hatten. Damals war aus dem Widerstand gegen die Steuerpolitik eine breite Bewegung gegen die politische Führung und die wachsende Kluft zwischen wohlhabenden und einkommensschwachen Bevölkerungsschichten geworden.

Auch diesmal tauchen gelbe Warnwesten auf Frankreichs Straßen auf. Über TikTok und andere Plattformen organisieren Aktivisten neue Proteste. Eine veröffentlichte Karte verzeichnet mehr als 1.000 mögliche Sammelpunkte im ganzen Land. Geplant sind Aktionen an Kreisverkehren, Tankstellen, Bahnhöfen und anderen strategischen Orten. In Paris untersagten die Behörden einzelne geplante Routen, während andere Gruppen zu spontanen Aktionen an wechselnden Orten aufriefen.

Ob aus den neuen Protesten eine Bewegung von der Wucht der Gelbwesten entsteht, ist noch offen. Die gelben Westen stehen jedoch erneut für den Unmut über steigende Lebenshaltungskosten und die wirtschaftliche Belastung vieler Franzosen. Anders als bei reinen Schüler- und Studentenprotesten richtet sich die Mobilisierung an ein breiteres Publikum. Eine gemeinsame Führung fehlt bislang, doch die Erinnerung an die Gelbwesten zeigt, wie schnell sich lokale Aktionen zu einem landesweiten Aufstand ausweiten können.

Präsident Emmanuel Macron hatte bereits am Freitag zur Ruhe aufgerufen und Respekt vor Menschen und Eigentum angemahnt. Die Behörden bereiteten sich auf einen gewaltsamen Protesttag vor. Innenminister Laurent Nuñez machte nach Angaben von AP zunehmende Gewalttaten, Angriffe auf Polizisten und Plünderungen zum Thema. Das Ministerium schrieb die Ausschreitungen vermummten Gruppen zu und verwies auf Akteure der extremen Linken.

Der massive Polizeieinsatz ist allerdings selbst umstritten. Die Schülerproteste der vergangenen Wochen wurden von schweren Verletzungen begleitet. Nachdem ein 15-Jähriger eine Hand verloren hatte, setzte Nuñez den Einsatz eines bestimmten Typs von Polizeigranaten gegen die jungen Demonstranten aus. Die Auseinandersetzung um die Verhältnismäßigkeit der Polizeigewalt verschärft das Misstrauen zwischen Jugendlichen und Sicherheitskräften.

Für Macron kommt die Eskalation wenige Monate vor der Präsidentschaftswahl 2027. Die Regierung muss Plünderungen und Angriffe eindämmen, während immer mehr Bürger ihrem wirtschaftlichen Frust Luft machen. Mit Polizeikräften lassen sich Barrikaden räumen und Randalierer festnehmen. Hohe Rechnungen, niedrige Einkommen und der Ärger über marode Schulen verschwinden dadurch nicht.

Frankreich erlebt an diesem Samstag mehr als brennende Autos und verwüstete Geschäfte. Die Gewalt auf den Straßen trifft auf einen Unmut, der weit über Schüler und Studenten hinausgeht. Die Bilder aus Paris, Lyon und Marseille zeigen, wie rasch wirtschaftlicher Frust in gewaltsame Zusammenstöße mit der Polizei umschlagen kann. Für Macron droht damit eine neue soziale Krise, während der politische Countdown bis zur Wahl 2027 läuft.

Mehr zum Thema – In Frankreich bilden sich die Voraussetzungen für den Zusammenbruch der EU

Par Eric V.

Comme d'habitude dans nos colonnes, j'ai couvert la manifestation de ce jour et je vous en reporte des images au plus près de ce qui s'y est passé. Nous sommes loin de pouvoir faire tous les comptes à 20 heures, et la nuit qui s'annonce a de nombreuses "chances" d'être très violente. Mais voici un premier point forcément parcellaire !

Premier point, essentiel : je tiens la manifestation d'aujourd'hui pour une insurrection, ou une première étape vers une insurrection contre l'ordre établi. Beaucoup aiment à y voir des violences urbaines, ou des pillages. Bien sûr, il y a eu des pillages, il y a eu des violences. Mais ce serait, de mon point de vue, passer à côté de la nature du mouvement que de ne pas voir l'événement dans son ensemble : une jeunesse en dehors du "système" , accompagnée de radicaux, a parcouru Paris pour défier et contester l'ordre en place, ce qui n'exclut, pour certains, le pillage de magasins en bonne et due forme.

Deuxième point, tout aussi essentiel : la Préfecture de Police n'est pas parvenue à imposer un trajet clair aux manifestants, de telle sorte que très vite la mobilisation s'est éparpillée en une multitude de cortèges sauvages, dont l'un semble ce soir vouloir prendre l'Élysée. Nous ne sommes donc pas face à une manifestation classique, mais face à une sorte de guérilla urbaine.

Troisième point, encore plus essentiel : les forces de l'ordre étaient manifestement trop peu nombreuses à Paris (reste à comprendre pour quoi) et manifestement mal équipées. Selon les informations recueillies sur place, à 15h30, des compagnies entières étaient en rupture de munition, et ne disposaient plus que de matraques pour repousser des manifestants ou des émeutiers bien plus nombreux et bien plus déterminés.

Dans ce contexte, comme on dit au football, les manifestants ont clairement dominé le match.

Enfin, et surtout, le mouvement a attiré des gens de tous horizons et de tous âges, pour l'essentiel tout à fait pacifiques et venus simplement exprimer leur grogne. Ce point est capital, car la manifestation n'a pas attiré que des lycéens ou des étudiants, ni des casseurs. Elle était massivement faite de gens ordinaires qui voulaient s'exprimer sans violence.

L'étrange stratégie policière

Reste que de nombreuses questions seront à poser sur cette journée. Au premier chef sur la stratégie policière, qui n'a pas manqué d'étonner.

Dès 12h, des troubles ont éclaté entre les premiers participants, dont des Gilets Jaunes historiques comme Jérôme Rodriguez, et la police, place de la République. Immédiatement, la place a été nassée par la police, et ceux qui se trouvaient dans la nasse ont entamé une tournante de charges : tantôt, les manifestants chargeaient la police et s'essuyaient du gaz lacrymogène, tantôt la police les chargeaient et les repoussaient de l'autre côté de la place.

Dans le même temps, la police interdisait l'accès à la place pour ceux qui n'étaient pas arrivés assez tôt (la manifestation devait débuter à 14h). Les gens affluaient en masse de toutes les rues convergents vers la place. Empêchés d'accéder à la République, ces manifestants se sont répandus dans Paris, souvent dans des cortèges sauvages. Certains prenaient la route de la Bastille, d'autres du Marais, d'autres encore... de l'Élysée.

C'est ainsi que la stratégie policière a produit le désordre : au lieu de les canaliser dans une manifestation mobile, elle les a dispersés et livrés à eux-mêmes.

15h : les premiers désordres, sans intervention policière

Cette stratégie de dispersion des manifestants a conduit à de rapides désordres. Partout, des petits groupes de casseurs et de provocateurs profitaient de l'absence de la police pour dresser des barricades et incendier le matériel urbain qu'ils trouvaient à proximité. Ce fut notamment vrai dans le Marais totalement abandonné par la police.

La police est restée cantonnée place de la République, où des émeutiers semaient la terreur et le chaos, et a laissé les "quartiers" adjacents aux insurgés, souvent à la recherche d'un but pour manifester.

Dans cet étrange contexte, les rues comptaient encore des manifestants sincères et pacifiques, mais il devenait évident que les perturbateurs prenaient le dessus.

17h : l'heure du pillage et de la casse

Vers 17 heures, une police épuisée, manquant de munitions, et déforcée car de nombreuses unités étaient parties à l'Élysée pour protéger le Palais menacé par des manifestants déterminés à en découdre, faisait péniblement face à des nuées de voyous place de la République et alentour.

Là, le spectacle du chaos faisait peine à voir :

Dans tous les cas, le pouvoir a donné le sentiment d'être sur la défensive, et désormais alourdi pour un corps préfectoral incapable de faire respecter l'ordre le plus élémentaire.

60,000 security personnel were deployed across India’s national capital on October 10.​ This included the police of Delhi and neighboring states, as well as paramilitary forces pulled from regions of India affected by armed insurgencies.

They sealed off central Delhi to stop protesters opposing the mass disenfranchisement of 130 million voters from reaching Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site on Parliament Street.​

The railways cancelled over 250 trains to Delhi. “So far as I remember, it has never happened in the history of Indian Railways that so many trains were cancelled just because of a protest or agitation,” said Shiv Gopal Mishra, general secretary of the All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF).​

Scores of activists already travelling to the national capital from other states of India were detained on moving trains and forced to alight at numerous railway stations in multiple states. Many grassroots activists in several other states were placed under preventive detention in their homes ahead of the protest. Paramilitary forces were deployed at checkpoints on Delhi’s borders, where vehicles were searched for any signs of protesters, placards, etc.​

Within the national capital, 45 metro train stations were closed. Internet and telecommunications were down in the four-kilometer radius of Jantar Mantar. Around Parliament Street alone, where Jantar Mantar is located, over 3,000 security personnel were deployed, with multi-layer barricades, each manned by about a hundred.​

Even outside this garrisoned zone, police held up commuters entering central Delhi at numerous checkpoints, causing traffic jams while enquiring about their purpose of travel before letting them through, to ensure they were headed to work, not to protest.

Communists fight back

Evading this anticipated hurdle, hundreds of activists from the Students Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) had already positioned themselves the previous night just over three kilometers northeast of Jantar Mantar at HKS Surjeet Bhavan.​

A memorial to the freedom fighter and veteran communist leader, HKS Surjeet, it serves as an education center of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPIM] and also hosts SFI’s Central Committee office.​

The Delhi Police's midnight attempt to intimidate students at the SFI Central Committee office in HKS Surjeet Bhawan was promptly rebuffed by the CPI(M) party leaders there. pic.twitter.com/x45gOglsCk

— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) October 10, 2026

“But the police knew we were there,” recalled SFI activist Asikul. The police had tried over the last two nights to enter the premises to take stock of the preparations, but were stopped. Activists worried the police could barricade the gates and stop this mobilization of hundreds from stepping out to protest the following morning.​

Quietly, after midnight, student activists slipped out of HKS Surjeet Bhavan in groups of five, one after another, with cover stories for travel reasons if intercepted on the way. By six in the morning, about 250 of them had relocated to the CPIM’s national headquarters, AKG Bhavan, to the west of Jantar Mantar.

Back at HKS Surjeet Bhavan, where hundreds more stayed behind, barricading began between 10 and 10:30 am, just 100 meters from its gate, recalled Aman Saini, the Delhi State Secretary of the DYFI.

About 300-350 activists stormed out of the gates and made it through before the barricades could cut them off. Waving red flags and holding placards calling for the dismissal and arrest of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, they marched barely a kilometer before facing a police cordon. The police lined up shoulder to shoulder, batons held horizontal to block the protesters’ way forward.​

Continuing to march, the protesters headed straight into the cordon. A tussle ensued amid chorus chants of ‘vote chor, gaddi chhod’, demanding the “vote thief” CEC’s resignation. As the protesters in the front line grappled with the police – each engaging multiple officers by dropping to the ground and resisting detention – others broke through the cordon and sprinted ahead.

Barely 300 meters ahead, a line of barricades blocked the road. Protesters stormed ahead and engaged the police. Slipping through the tussle, “I pulled the barricade from below and shoved its top. Thaad! – it fell over,” explained Aman.​

Wrangling themselves free from the security personnel, many more dashed ahead, several slashing their feet against the metal of the fallen barricade, only to turn left on Minto Road and drop another barricade.

They had covered nearly half the distance to Jantar Mantar, reaching within 150 meters of the Connaught outer circle, one curve away from Parliament Street hosting the protest site.

“But the barricade there was re-enforced. We had almost managed to pull one down when the police charged at us with batons,” added Aman. Having lost numbers at each of the previous barricades, “we were only about 50 left. So they managed to detain us and shove us into buses. At least six of us were injured.”​

Those who had evaded detention at the previous barricades, but were unable to push ahead, regrouped outside HKS Surjeet Bhavan and started sloganeering. Police, accompanied by paramilitary, charged with batons and detained them, and even allegedly tried to break into the premises, but were held back at its gate.

Paramilitary at the party gates

The contingent of activists who had relocated to AKG Bhavan under the cover of darkness did not have it any easier. They had only managed to stretch the security personnel and their barricades across two fronts. A paramilitary force began assembling outside its gates around 10 am, roughly the same time as the barricading began at HKS.​

Several members of CPIM’s Central Committee (CC) and Politburo, including current and former Members of Parliament, many of them grey-haired, were staying at the AKG Bhavan for a CC meeting. They joined the students as they marched out.​

“Some 20 people were detained right outside the gate – almost the whole frontline. The rest of us behind them pushed through. We kept running,” recalled Asikul.

About 15-20 minutes into the march, SFI activist Noel was detained. “I was not taken to a detention bus, where others were held. I was held alone in a bus used to transport the police. There I was beaten for two hours,” he said, sharing pictures of the injuries he sustained on his face.

“Two of my comrades realized that I was being held alone. So they intentionally got themselves detained near my bus and joined me. They also got beaten up,” he added. Later, when the police started marching them to the detention bus, allegedly prodding them forward by jabbing the blunt ends of their batons into their backs, “we managed to escape.”

Meanwhile, others had pushed ahead. Among them were SFI National Joint Secretary Aishe Ghosh and the DYFI’s national president, AA Rahim. They marched about a kilometer from AKG Bhavan before being apprehended at the roundabout near Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. The SFI alleged that “Aishe Ghosh was assaulted by male police personnel in the absence of women officers.” ​

A showdown ensued. Dropping to the road and bracing in a huddle, Aishe and other female activists held ground as female police personnel who arrived later grappled with them, eventually dragging them away to detention buses, about 1.5 km away from Jantar Mantar.

Other activists, including Asikul, had strode ahead, breaking through three barricades, and reaching within 400 meters of Jantar Mantar. “We were not able to break through the fourth. We were only about 35 left,” said Asikul.

“Using chokeholds and baton charges, they detained us. Some managed to escape detention by breaking out through a bus window,” an increasingly popular mode of resistance by the younger generation of activists, determined to make detentions as costly and as strenuous as possible.​

Detention at the stadiums

Asikul and the rest of the detainees were driven almost 50 km to Bawana in northwest Delhi and held at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium, where hundreds more were already being held. Among them was 77-year-old Manik Sarkar, a senior communist leader and Tripura state Chief Minister from 1998 to 2018. He was accompanied by the northeastern state’s current opposition leader, Jitendra Chaudhury. Veteran trade unionist and former Member of Parliament (MP) Tapan Sen, along with other ex-legislators, were also held there.

“There was not a drop of water in any tap in the toilet. We were not even provided with clean water to drink. When we demanded, we were asked to drink from” an old, ill-maintained leaky tank in the premises, said SFI activist Utkarsh, who was also held here. “We challenged the police to drink that water. They refused.” ​

When detainees began falling sick, Utkarsh and other activists warned the senior police officer in charge of this detention of consequences for mistreating a former Chief Minister and ex-MPs. They reminded him of his responsibility if one of these elderly political leaders fell seriously ill. Only then did the police “finally provide us with water and some snacks.”

Seven other stadiums in the city, along with several other public facilities, were reportedly turned into detention centers that day, when security personnel detained over 7,000 people from the streets of the national capital, including protesters, journalists and even pedestrians suspected of being protesters.

More than 7 km south of Jantar Mantar, near the INA market, outside barricaded central Delhi, police detained protesting activists of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), led by Neha Bora, one of the most recognizable faces of the protest movement.

Detentions were also reported in Raj Ghat, about 4.5 km northeast of Jantar Mantar, where the Revolutionary Workers’ Party of India (RWPI) and its affiliated mass organizations had organized a protest.

At the airport, almost 15 km to the southwest of Jantar Mantar, the police boarded a plane as soon as it landed from Mumbai – even before the passengers could disembark – to detain Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka from their seats. They are the top leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). 

“Cockroaches”

The pressure group started as a satirical protest on social media in May, after the Chief Justice of India said: “There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment or have any place in profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, RTI activists and other activists.”  ​

The CJP has since become a material force, playing a key role in the protest against exam paper leaks that forced the Union Education Minister to resign in July. ​

About two months after his resignation, an investigation by the Indian Express newspaper exposed irregularities in the conduct of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar. Several times, his two fellow election commissioners had flagged their concerns about his potentially illegal and unconstitutional decisions.

These pertained to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, still underway after already deleting the names of 130 million people from India’s voter rolls – in an unprecedented shrinking of India’s electorate. Opposition parties have long alleged that this exercise is meant to help the ruling far-right Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, consolidate its hold on power.  

Earlier this month, on the birth anniversary of Gandhi on October 2, protests began, calling for the scrapping of the SIR and the CEC’s resignation. On October 7, the CJP called on youngsters to take Jantar Mantar again on October 10.

In response to its call, thousands of youngsters, most in their late teens and early 20s, kept arriving in small groups to central Delhi throughout the day, only to be whisked away by the police.​

Detention as deterrence

“These youngsters, who were not part of any cadre-based organization, were particularly harassed by police because they identified them as vulnerable. They were threatened, their phones and keys were snatched,” said DYFI’s Delhi State Vice President, Rikta Krishnaswamy, who was held with hundreds of them at a makeshift detention center in Jafar Kalan, over 45 km west of Jantar Mantar.​

Bundled into a bus at the final barricade reached by the march from HKS Bhavan that morning, Rikta was brought here by midday, when “the electrician was still installing the fan. We were held until evening with nothing to eat – not even a cup of tea. The police are trying to make detention as much of a deterrent as possible.”

But the protesters were not deterred. The very next day, DYFI activists, including several central committee members, gathered at Connaught Place, a 15-minute walk from Jantar Mantar, which remained cordoned off, even as the overall restrictions on movement in central Delhi had eased.​

Custodial torture, sexual harassment

Soon after they began staging a protest, security personnel swarmed in. The detained protesters “were not taken to any police station,” according to a petition alleging custodial torture, filed in the Supreme Court by AA Rahim, the youth organization’s national president and an MP.

“Instead, while still near Connaught Place, the bus was driven to a closed and heavily guarded space in front of the Daryaganj restaurant, away from public view, out of the reach of the media and without any CCTV cameras. There, the detainees were sorted according to gender and then forcibly shifted into a specialized police van divided into five separate cells.”​

These vehicles “functioned as unrecorded, mobile places of detention, wholly outside the safeguards of the Constitution,” added the petition. “Inside the cells of the van, the detainees were beaten on the face, kicked on the backbone with boots and struck on the head. Several of the personnel wore no name badges.”

At a press conference on October 12, women activists of the SFI showed bruises and alleged sexual harassment by security personnel.

But even the alleged custodial torture and sexual harassment has not deterred the protests, which are widening, drawing in more sections of society into the agitation.

Farmers and workers to join the agitation​

Representatives of India’s largest and oldest farmers’ union, the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), the All India Agricultural Workers’ Union (AIAWU), the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), along with SFI and DYFI leaders, met at the HKS Surjeet Bhavan on October 14.​

Several public intellectuals and artists also participated in this meeting of mass and class organizations’ leaders, where they jointly formed the All India Platform of People Against SIR. This platform announced October 23 as a Nationwide Street Action Day Against SIR. 

Condemning the central government’s denotification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site on October 12, the platform gave a slogan to turn every street and every village into Jantar Mantar.

Ernesto Nuno Cabrita, empresário e guia turístico ligado à divulgação da história e do património de Faro, morreu na sexta-feira, 16 de outubro. O seu falecimento motivou, este sábado, mensagens de pesar do município, de associações e de amigos, que recordam os passeios pela cidade, a paixão pelas motas e a boa disposição com que recebia quem se cruzava consigo.

A morte ocorreu na sequência de um acidente de mota em Caliços. Como o POSTAL noticiou, o alerta para o despiste foi dado às 20h22, segundo o oficial de dia ao Comando Nacional da GNR, citado pela Lusa. A mesma fonte indicou que a vítima mortal era o condutor do motociclo e que não houve feridos.

Município recorda um homem que vivia Faro com orgulho

Numa publicação nas redes sociais, o Município de Faro lamenta o falecimento “prematuro e inesperado” de Ernesto Cabrita, destacando o seu trabalho como empresário e guia turístico e a ligação à cidade cuja história, identidade e memórias partilhava com os visitantes.

A autarquia sublinha o espírito empreendedor e a forma entusiasta como promovia Faro, contribuindo, através da sua atividade, para dar a conhecer o concelho.

“Ficando a memória de um homem que vivia Faro com genuíno orgulho e paixão”, escreve o município, que apresenta condolências à família, aos amigos e às pessoas que acompanharam o seu percurso pessoal e profissional.

Os passeios turísticos em tuk-tuk e, mais recentemente, numa réplica do Ford T surgem também nas recordações partilhadas por quem o conhecia.

“O Ernesto era Faro”

O deputado Cristóvão Norte recorda uma relação construída ao longo de muitos encontros, desde os tempos do liceu até à participação em listas autárquicas, passando pelas conversas no café e na rua.

Na homenagem, evoca ainda Ernesto Cabrita como copiloto de ralis de Rui Ginjeira e uma expressão que se tornou a saudação entre ambos: “Dá-lhe, dá-lhe, dá-lhe!”

“O Ernesto estava sempre por aí, como se fizesse parte da paisagem humana de Faro. Para mim, fazia”, escreve Cristóvão Norte, que lembra também o orgulho com que o guia lhe explicou os pormenores da réplica do Ford T.

O testemunho destaca a generosidade, o entusiasmo e a capacidade de proporcionar bons momentos a quem o rodeava. “Tinha essa raríssima qualidade de distribuir boa disposição”, afirma, encerrando a despedida com as palavras: “Até sempre, Ernesto. O Ernesto era Faro.”

Moto Clube, confraria e comerciantes prestam homenagem

O Moto Clube de Faro confirmou o falecimento do seu sócio e membro, descrevendo-o como “uma pessoa especial, de sorriso fácil, sempre alegre e bem-disposto”.

Na nota de pesar, o clube recorda um profundo conhecedor de Faro, das suas gentes e memórias, que gostava de partilhar esse conhecimento. Destaca igualmente a sua companhia nas viagens de mota, “sempre pronto a partilhar a estrada e os bons momentos”.

A Confraria Marinha da Ria Formosa, da qual Ernesto Nuno Cabrita também fazia parte, assinala o seu compromisso com a preservação e valorização do património marítimo, cultural e ambiental da região.

A organização, que indica 16 de outubro como a data do falecimento, recorda o guia turístico e responsável pelo projeto Look Al – Cultural Experience como um membro dedicado. “A sua partida priva-nos de um homem de causas, de um amigo e de um confrade exemplar”, escreve.

Também a Associação do Comércio da Baixa de Faro salienta o contributo de Ernesto Cabrita para divulgar a riqueza cultural e patrimonial da cidade. Na sua mensagem, descreve-o como “um defensor incansável do nosso património, de um amigo e de um dinamizador exemplar”.

A equipa das Ruínas Romanas de Milreu juntou-se às manifestações de pesar, recordando Ernesto Nuno Cabrita como “um farense orgulhoso da história da sua terra e amigo de Milreu”.

Na publicação, a equipa refere que, ao longo de mais de duas décadas, Ernesto e o seu tuk-tuk levaram centenas de visitantes ao monumento. Destaca a simpatia e a boa disposição que marcaram essa relação, bem como “uma alegria que iremos recordar com carinho”.

A nota de pesar termina com a apresentação de condolências à família e aos amigos.

Das voltas de mota às histórias contadas aos visitantes

As homenagens de amigos recuperam episódios de convivência e diferentes facetas do guia turístico.

Jorge Carvalho da Silva partilhou a recordação de um passeio de mota ao Alto do Malhão e destacou a capacidade de Ernesto Cabrita para contar histórias e prender a atenção de quem o ouvia.

“Conhecias Faro como poucos e, ao volante do teu Tuk Tuk, levavas os turistas a descobrir a nossa cidade”, escreveu. Na mesma publicação, recordou os encontros em Bordeira, nas charolas, e o início do ano vivido entre rimas.

Marta Correia evocou o empreendedor farense ligado à Look-Al e aos passeios em tuk-tuk, associando-lhe a expressão “#AskErnesto”. Na sua homenagem, escreveu que deixou “um legado de histórias, paixões, sorrisos e abraços”.

Manel DaCulatra recordou a amizade com Ernesto e o contributo do guia turístico para dar a conhecer a história de Faro. Na sua publicação, descreveu-o como um homem inteligente, culto e apaixonado pelo que fazia.

“No turismo histórico de Faro, deixaste a tua marca, partilhando o teu conhecimento e ajudando a dar vida à história da nossa terra”, escreveu.

Para além do percurso profissional, a homenagem destaca o caráter, a humildade e a amizade sincera de alguém que deixou uma marca na vida de quem o conheceu. “Faro perde alguém que conhecia e valorizava a sua história. O turismo perde um homem que fazia a diferença. E eu perco um amigo de quem gostava muito e cuja ausência vou sentir”, afirmou.

“Parte o homem, fica a memória. Parte a presença, fica a saudade”, acrescentou, encerrando a despedida com as palavras: “Faro ficou mais pobre. Eu também. Até sempre, pequeno grande homem.”

O restaurante “O David”, em Faro, juntou-se às manifestações de pesar, lembrando alguém que passou de cliente a amigo e ajudou a divulgar o estabelecimento junto de outras pessoas.

“Tu foste muito mais do que um cliente, Ernesto”, lê-se na publicação. O restaurante agradece a amizade e o apoio, descrevendo a morte como uma perda inesperada.

Paulo Castro, numa outra mensagem, recorda o sorriso e o contentamento com que Ernesto Cabrita saía para trabalhar no seu “Ford T”, levando a cultura farense aos turistas que visitavam a cidade.

Publicações questionam lomba, mas causas do despiste não estão esclarecidas

Além das homenagens, algumas publicações nas redes sociais levantam dúvidas sobre a segurança rodoviária no local.

Paulo Castro e Augusto José Guerreiro associam o acidente a uma lomba que descrevem como estando instalada numa curva. Guerreiro, numa publicação identificada com a localização de Caliços, questiona também a inclinação da via e o desgaste do piso, defendendo que as lombas deveriam ter sido colocadas nas retas anteriores, para obrigar os veículos a reduzir a velocidade antes da curva.

Nos comentários surgem opiniões divergentes. Alguns participantes contestam a localização da lomba e questionam a sinalização, enquanto outros defendem a sua função de redução da velocidade e salientam a necessidade de adaptar a condução às condições da estrada.

Estas apreciações não constituem uma conclusão sobre as circunstâncias do acidente. A informação da GNR divulgada pelo POSTAL confirma o despiste e a morte do condutor, mas não identifica as causas nem estabelece uma ligação entre a lomba e o acidente ou atribui responsabilidades.

Leia também: Despiste de motociclo em localidade de Faro deixa um morto

Guatemalan lawyer and former anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa was shot dead this Saturday by several hitmen in a sports complex in the capital of Guatemala, while playing soccer, official sources reported.

Guatemala Reports 137 Bodies Abandoned in Plastic Bags, Sheets and Sacks in 2026: Former Anti-Corruption Prosecutor of Guatemala Murdered on a Soccer Field

Solórzano Foppa, who was director of Criminal Analysis (2013-2016) of the Public Ministry and head of the Superintendency of Tax Administration (2016-2018), gained notoriety for leading criminal intelligence in high-impact investigations —including key expert reports in the ‘La Línea’ case that forced the resignation of President Otto Pérez Molina in 2015— and for taking on the defense of imprisoned journalist José Rubén Zamora Marroquín.

🚨 #URGENTE | Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa, exfiscal del Ministerio Público y exsuperintendente de Administración Tributaria (SAT), figura entre las dos víctimas mortales reportadas tras un ataque armado ocurrido esta mañana en el interior de Campo Marte, zona 5 de la Ciudad de… pic.twitter.com/eZ9oLUP8Nj

— Canal Antigua (@CanalAntigua) October 17, 2026

The armed attack occurred this Saturday morning at the Campo Marte facilities, a busy sports complex located in the east of the Guatemalan capital, when armed men burst onto the field where the victim was playing sports and shot him at point-blank range.

In the incident, a second person, not immediately identified by the authorities, also died, while police officers and forensic experts cordoned off the scene to begin investigations.

During his time at the tax institution, Solórzano Foppa promoted judicial interventions and inspections that forced important companies and industries to pay millions in evaded taxes, which allowed for historical collections in the fight against tax evasion and fraud.

In 2023, he was arrested and prosecuted for obstruction of criminal action and unfaithful sponsorship, in a case directly linked to the legal defense of Zamora Marroquín, founder of the defunct newspaper ‘elPeriódico’.

Pakistan has extended its airspace ban for Indian aircraft for another month, until Nov 24, according to a Notice to Airmen (Notam) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA).

The previous extension of the ban was set to expire on Oct 24.

“Pakistan airspace not available for Indian registered aircraft and aircraft operated/owned or leased by Indian airlines/operators, including military flights,” the Notam said.

According to the notice, the extension came into effect at 7:45pm on Saturday and will remain until 04:59am on Nov 24, 2026.

The country’s airspace is divided into two flight information regions (FIRs) — Karachi and Lahore, according to a Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) document from 2022.

Saturday’s Notam applies to both the Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR) FIRs.

India and Pakistan closed their airspaces to each other’s airlines in late April 2025, when tensions between them escalated in the wake of a deadly attack in India-occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

On April 24, Pakistan’s top brass had announced a series of measures, including the closure of its airspace to all India-owned or Indian-operated airlines with immediate effect, as it retaliated against New Delhi’s slew of aggressive measures against the country.

New Delhi, without evidence, had alleged that Islamabad backed the Pahalgam attack. However, Pakistan had strongly denied any involvement and offered a neutral probe. The nuclear powers had the fiercest air battle in May, in which Pakistan said it downed seven Indian fighter jets.

Since then, Pakistan has extended the airspace ban several times, forcing Indian carriers to use longer and costlier routes.

For Air India, the country’s only carrier with a major international network, fuel costs rose by as much as 29 per cent and journey times by up to three hours on some long-haul routes, according to a document submitted to Indian officials last October.

The airline, owned by Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, estimated the Pakistan airspace closure’s impact on its profit before tax at $455 million annually — a significant amount given its fiscal 2024-25 loss stood at $439m.

Police and protesters clashed violently in Paris and other French cities on Saturday on the sidelines of nationwide marches against soaring inflation, with one demonstrator’s hand blown off, multiple blazes set, and looters breaking into dozens of stores to strip them bare.

With just months to go before the two-round elections in April and May to choose Macron’s successor, the demonstrations follow weeks of high-school student blockades demanding better learning conditions.

Macron and his government were criticised by many of the demonstrators, who numbered 500,000 across the country, according to the CGT union. Authorities did not immediately give their estimate of the numbers.

Police used tear gas and water cannon against masked protesters in Paris and other cities who were throwing projectiles and aiming fireworks. Several parked cars were torched in the capital, and more than 130 arrests were made.

In the southern city of Saint-Etienne, a male protester had his hand blown off by a police crowd-control grenade, a police source told AFP. His maiming came after a 15-year-old lost his hand on October 5 to a police stun grenade during another protest in the city of Lens.

The protests geared up with a handful of gatherings nationwide on Saturday morning, AFP reporters said.

In Lyon, protesters set ablaze a tourist office in the city centre, and smashed their way into town halls in the cities of Marseille and Lille, where they vandalised the premises before leaving.

Dozens of shops were looted, including many in Marseille, among them a Hermes boutique, an Apple store in Lille, several shops in Nice and at least one mobile phone outlet in Paris, AFP journalists saw.

A crowd of more than 300 protesters tried to move up Paris’s Champs-Elysees, home to flagship luxury stores. As police firing tear gas blocked their way, they yelled, “All cops are bastards”.

In the western city of Rennes, around 20 people set up a barricade using trash bins and large pallets on the outskirts of a shopping mall.

Christophe, a 47-year-old carpenter and former Yellow Vest protester who did not give his surname, said he was indignant after seeing what he viewed as police brutality against teenagers in recent weeks.

“We’ve reached the point where the repression is targeting our own children,” he told AFP.

‘Macron, resign’

The looting and confrontations with police were being carried out by masked youths on the sidelines of marches that were largely peaceful and which attracted people of all ages, including families with children.

Paris mayor Emmanuel Gregoire stressed that “the overwhelming majority of demonstrators” wanted to “march calmly”, but “acts of vandalism” were tarnishing their protest.

In Paris, tens of thousands marched across the east and north of the city in one major march, some shouting “Everyone hates the police” and “Macron, resign”.

One demonstrator, Jules Petrichor, 47, who had brought his son, said: “There was a good atmosphere and then suddenly they (the police) started gassing us, even though nothing was happening. Naturally that worsened things and the hot-heads got hot-headed.”

Another protester who gave his first name as Louis, 19, complained that police were trigger-happy any time there was a demonstration.

“We can’t protest any more, it’s frightening,” he said.

The country’s Yellow Vest movement, which eight years ago staged street protests against Macron’s government over planned fuel tax hikes, has called Saturday’s “yellow and youth” demonstrations. It has appealed to teachers and students, workers, pensioners and farmers to take part in the protests on the first day of half-term holidays.

The principal grievance was the cost of living — pushed up in part by the war in the Middle East — that has helped send inflation soaring in Europe as elsewhere.
But there were other issues too.

High school student Kamil Alahyan, 18, said he was protesting “for so many reasons — the elections coming up in 2027, politicians who lie, the ultra-rich who’ve been taking more and more wealth over the past 10 years”.

“For years we’ve had climate, economy and equality problems but the government is not doing anything about it,” said Agnes, a 50-year-old actor who did not give her second name.

Anae, a 24-year-old student who did not give her surname, said she was protesting because she did not have a “sustainable future”.

“Our planet’s burning. And we’ve got a government that doesn’t give a toss,” she said.

Le Pen blames ‘rioters’

Opposition politicians vying to succeed Macron have seized upon the protests.

Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, who has sided with the police, said on X: “Looting, pillaging, attacking police — rioters have once again sullied the October 17 demonstrations over the cost of living.” She claimed that the protesters’ demands had been “hijacked by the far left”.

Her far-left rival Jean-Luc Melenchon, insisted early Saturday that “everything is passing off peacefully”, while accusing television news of “flooding us with images of violence in dozens of cities”.

Several protesters sought to draw parallels with the French Revolution of 1789.

“It’s the Revolution — we’re taking the Bastille!” some shouted in Marseille during the forced entry of the mayor’s offices.

In the western city of La Rochelle, marchers streamed behind a placard reading: “Revolution or death.” And in the southern city of Montpellier, a giant blue sign reading “The people will win” was unfurled above a central square.

“The government is trembling and it’s right to tremble because when the French people are angry, they never let up,” Ryad Rani, the head of the LSU high school student representative body, told journalists in Paris.

Zu den größten Geldgebern für den Bau des Ballsaals im Weißen Haus zählen die Technologiekonzerne Nvidia und Apple, die jeweils 25 Millionen US-Dollar (rund. 22,2 Millionen Euro) beigesteuert haben. Das berichtet die Zeitung Washington Post (WP) unter Berufung auf interne Berichte, die der Redaktion vorliegen.

Bei dem Dokument handelt es sich um eine Tabelle zur Erfassung der Beiträge für die Spendenkampagnen. Nach Angaben der Zeitung enthält die Tabelle Herkunft, Datum und Betrag von 67 Spenden über 10.000 US-Dollar (ca. 8.900 Euro), die bis Ende des vergangenen Monats verzeichnet wurden. WP zufolge ergibt sich daraus eine Gesamtsumme von 333 Millionen US-Dollar (etwa 296 Millionen Euro) von privaten Spendern, was den öffentlichen Erklärungen der Regierung entspricht. Die Zeitung betont unter Berufung auf zusätzliche Unterlagen, dass einige Spender große Beträge auf einmal überwiesen, während andere Ratenzahlungen vereinbarten, die noch laufen. Neben den größeren Spenden gingen Dutzende kleinere Beträge für den Ballsaal ein, darunter einige in Höhe von nur zehn US-Dollar (rund 8,9 Euro). Sachspenden enthält die Liste nicht.

Die Washington Post selbst hat eine Liste von 57 Spendern veröffentlicht, die zugesagt haben, 100.000 US-Dollar (rund 89.000 Euro) oder mehr zu geben. In der Liste tauchen außerdem die Milliardärsfamilie Adelson und der Vorstandsvorsitzende des Telekommunikationsunternehmens Dish Network, Charles Ergen, auf. Wie die Zeitung schreibt, spendeten auch sie jeweils 25 Millionen US-Dollar. Zu den weiteren Geldgebern zählen Google mit 22 Millionen US-Dollar (etw. 19,5 Millionen Euro) und die gemeinnützige Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Foundation mit 20,27 Millionen US-Dollar (ca. 18 Millionen Euro). Jeweils zehn Millionen US-Dollar gaben die Lockheed Martin Corporation, Microsoft, RHI II LLC (Rechtsträger des Hypothekenkreditgebers Rocket Companies) und der KI-Entwickler Palantir.

Darüber hinaus finden sich unter den Spendern Amazon, Caterpillar, Comcast und T-Mobile, der Botschafter von US-Präsident Donald Trump in den Niederlanden, Joseph Popolo Jr., der frühere Chef der New Yorker Börse, Jeff Sprecher, und seine Ehefrau, das Kabinettsmitglied Kelly Loeffler sowie weitere Personen.

WP zufolge fehlt Trump selbst in der Spenderliste. Die Zeitung erinnert auch daran, dass Trump im vergangenen Jahr, wenige Tage nach Beginn des Abrisses des alten Ostflügels, gesagt hatte: "Es wird zu hundert Prozent von mir und einigen Freunden von mir bezahlt."

Wie das Blatt schreibt, belegt der Bericht keinen direkten Zusammenhang zwischen den Spenden und Entscheidungen der Trump-Regierung. Allerdings stamme der Großteil der Mittel von Unternehmen und vermögenden Personen, die "an Entscheidungen der Bundesbehörden interessiert sind". Unternehmen oder Führungskräfte von Firmen, die während Trumps zweiter Amtszeit Verträge mit der Bundesregierung gehabt hätten, machten, so die Washington Post weiter, etwa die Hälfte der Gesamtzahl aus.

Der Pressesprecher des Weißen Hauses, Davis Ingle, lehnte es im Gespräch mit WP ab, die Liste zu kommentieren. Er beschrieb die Spender jedoch als "breites Spektrum großartiger amerikanischer Unternehmen und großzügiger Menschen, die alle dazu beitragen, das Haus des Volkes für künftige Generationen besser zu machen".

Mit dem Umbau des Ostflügels des Weißen Hauses für den neuen Ballsaal begann Trump 2025. Später sagte der US-Präsident, das Militär baue unter dem Ballsaal sogar einen "riesigen Komplex". Nach seinen Worten solle es in dem Bunker Schutzräume, "sehr wichtige medizinische Einrichtungen" sowie modernste gesicherte Kommunikationsmittel geben.

Mehr zum Thema – Handelsstreit mit Kanada: Trump benennt Ontariosee in "Lake America" um

Os salários e pensões de novembro vão ser melhorados devido ao corte do IRS, conforme foi anunciado pelo Governo, mas os contribuintes devem aproveitar para guardar alguma folga extra para o acerto de contas com o Fisco, em 2027. É o que aconselha a porta-voz da DECO PROteste numa entrevista da jornalista Beatriz Vasconcelos para o Notícias ao Minuto.

Trocando por miúdos, a “DECO PROteste aconselha os consumidores a não confundirem este reforço pontual do rendimento disponível com um acréscimo definitivo do rendimento. Quem receber mais em novembro deverá ponderar reservar parte desse valor, sobretudo se costuma contar com o reembolso do IRS para fazer face a despesas futuras.”

Por outro lado, importa salientar que é igualmente importante analisar os recibos de vencimento ou de pensão, confirmar a aplicação das retenções, continuar a pedir faturas com NIF, acompanhar e validar as despesas no e-Fatura, e atualizar o agregado familiar até ao final do mês de fevereiro, se tiver havido alguma alteração, para assegurar o aproveitamento de todas as deduções legalmente previstas”, disse Magda Canas, porta-voz da DECO PROteste, ao Notícias ao Minuto.

“Não obstante a aproximação das retenções ao verdadeiro imposto a pagar sejam genericamente positivas, é possível que mais contribuintes tenham de pagar IRS em 2027.
O resultado dependerá dos rendimentos anuais, da situação pessoal e familiar, das deduções aplicáveis e do total de imposto retido ao longo do ano”, como explicou a representante da instituição.

De acordo com a explicação veiculada pela DECO PROteste, o Governo coloca mais dinheiro no bolso das famílias portuguesas em novembro, uma vez que a retenção do IRS na fonte vai ter um corte de 50% em novembro para refletir a descida intercalar do imposto aprovada no Parlamento, voltando a aplicar-se as taxas atuais em dezembro.

A DECO PROteste considera que “esta medida vai representar um alívio imediato para os orçamentos familiares, ao permitir que trabalhadores e pensionistas disponham de mais rendimento líquido num mês em que muitas famílias recebem também o subsídio de Natal”, salientou Magda Canas ao Notícias ao Minuto.

Porém, lembrou que “receber mais dinheiro em novembro não significa necessariamente ter uma redução do IRS”, sendo que as “contas finais serão apresentadas mais tarde, aquando da apresentação do IRS, em 2027”.
A responsável recordou também que a “retenção na fonte é um adiantamento do imposto e não o imposto definitivo”.

“A redução anunciada pelo Governo pretende antecipar os efeitos da descida das taxas de IRS aprovada para os rendimentos de 2026, com efeitos retroativos a 1 de janeiro. Em novembro, a retenção será reduzida para metade do valor habitualmente apurado, nos casos abrangidos pela medida. Mas em dezembro já não haverá extras”, sublinhou Magda Canas.

É oportuno lembrar que o Ministério das Finanças explicou, em comunicado, que “após a aprovação no parlamento da nova redução do IRS, com efeitos desde 01 de janeiro de 2026, o Governo decidiu reduzir em 50% as retenções na fonte aplicáveis aos rendimentos do trabalho e às pensões pagas durante o mês de novembro, incluindo o subsídio de natal devido nesse mês”.

O alívio procura traduzir, com efeitos retroativos ao início deste ano, o desagravamento das taxas de IRS nos primeiros seis escalões de rendimento.

Quando, em 2027, o fisco calcular o IRS sobre os rendimentos de 2026, em vez de usar como referência as taxas que estão atualmente em vigor, irá ter em consideração as taxas que vigorarão em 31 de dezembro de 2026, com a redução entre 0,3 e 0,5 pontos percentuais decidida pelo executivo até ao 6.º degrau do escalonamento.

Founded less than a decade ago in 2017, US defense technology company Anduril has reached a roughly US$90 billion valuation in a recent employee tender offer, placing its private-market value in the same range as, or above, the public-market capitalizations of long-established defense firms such as Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics.

According to a Bloomberg report, Anduril Industries Inc. opened a tender offer allowing its employees in 16 countries to sell shares at a valuation of about US$94.80 each, with the total offer capped at about US$ 1.3 billion. The subscription period is open from October 13 to November 9.

Unlisted companies often offer employees and others a chance to cash out shares they hold through tender offers to retain talent.

Notably, in recent years, AI-focused, venture-backed startups increasingly use tender offers rather than public listings to give employees access to cash.

AI startups such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Clay, ElevenLabs, and Harvey have used employee tender offers to stay private longer while still offering cash incentives to retain talent.

Anduril’s tender offer will push the AI-focused defense company’s valuation to US$90 billion, up nearly 50 percent from its May valuation of US$60 billion.

Beneath this skyrocketing valuation lies the story of how the global defense market, and the U.S.’s famous defense-industrial complex in particular, has transformed beyond recognition in just a decade.

What Anduril’s US$90 Billion Valuation Tells Us

For generations, slow-moving, mammoth defense-industrial houses lobbied for lucrative Pentagon contracts and delivered hardware-centric defense platforms over decades-long procurement cycles.

This system created the U.S.’s distinct politico-military-industrial complex, dominated by legacy prime contractors, including the Big Five: Lockheed Martin, RTX, Boeing, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman.

Today, however, venture-backed startups increasingly dominate the U.S. defense market, offering software-defined autonomous weapons systems with AI integration.

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In this market, a defense product’s journey from concept to initial operational clearance (IOC) and front-line deployment takes years, sometimes even months, not decades.

For instance, the Zumwalt-class destroyers program traces back to the 1990s Surface Combatant for the 21st Century (SC-21) and DD-21 programs. Construction of the lead ship began around 2009; it was launched in 2013, commissioned in October 2016, and was finally accepted around 2020. The ships have since undergone multi-year modifications to carry hypersonic missiles.

Similarly, the B-2 Spirit program spanned two decades, from the 1970s to the 1990s; the F-35 Lightning II (Joint Strike Fighter) program also took nearly two decades, from early concept work in 1996 to Initial Operational Capability in 2015.

However, venture-backed firms such as Anduril, Shield AI, and Palantir focus on software platforms that can be updated iteratively, often paired with smaller or modular hardware, and use faster acquisition pathways.

For instance, Anduril was founded in 2017. It piloted its AI-powered Sentry surveillance towers on the U.S.-Mexico border around 2018, within a year of its founding, and later made them a program of record, deploying hundreds by the early 2020s.

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Similarly, Shield AI was founded in 2015. The company reported deploying its AI autonomy software stack, AI Hivemind, for the first time around 2018, within three years. Hivemind has since operated on dozens of platforms, including drones, F-16s in tests, helicopters, and, more recently, maritime and space systems, in GPS-denied, contested environments.

The Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programs of these defense AI startups are progressing much faster than the typical two-decade development cycle for traditional fighter aircraft.

For instance, Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury, a jet-powered, uncrewed autonomous combat aircraft with mission-autonomy software such as Hivemind and Anduril’s own Lattice, is already in testing.

The contrast is stark. While traditional defense platforms were hardware-centric, with development cycles spanning decades, these new software-centric Autonomous platforms emphasize rapid prototyping and continuous software updates, compressing development timelines to years, and even months.

Another advantage of these software-centric defense platforms is that their upgrades also take months, not years, enabling continuous updates.

The war in Ukraine has shown that the modern battlefield is changing every few months.

For instance, FPV drones first appeared in the war in Ukraine around May 2022; by September 2022, Kyiv had introduced maritime drones.

In 2024, Russia countered Ukraine’s Starlink-linked drones with its Fiber-optic drones, which were immune to jamming. By the end of 2024, these drones carried air-to-air missiles such as the R-73 and R-60. Ukraine also armed its naval drones with surface-to-air missiles.

By 2025, Ukraine had developed multiple drone interceptors that reversed the cost-benefit advantage drones had over traditional interceptor missiles.

Russia responded with jet-powered drones that can fly at 500-600 km per hour and is developing others that can exceed 800 km per hour.

This continuously evolving battlefield means traditional procurement cycles spanning decades no longer suit modern warfare, where systems become outdated within months.

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A hardware-centric approach can’t meet the demands of this evolving battlefield; therefore, the Pentagon increasingly prefers working directly with Silicon Valley-based AI defense firms.

Anduril’s US$ 90 billion valuation reflects this broader story. Anduril, however, is not the only AI defense firm cashing in on this trend.

Palantir, founded in 2003, is already worth nearly US$480 billion, more than any of the Big Five.

Palantir’s valuation is nearly seven times Northrop Grumman’s, more than five times General Dynamics’, nearly four times Lockheed Martin’s, three times Boeing’s, and nearly double RTX’s.

Similarly, Scale AI is worth US$29 billion, Shield AI around US$13 billion, and SandboxAQ and Applied Intuition around US$15 billion.

“Companies like SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril have been tapped for multi-billion-dollar contract awards from the Pentagon for communications, targeting, unpiloted vehicles, anti-drone defenses, and hypersonic weapons. The funds from these awards will flow to the companies over time, which should put them in the top ranks of Pentagon contractors by value of awards within the next several years,” a recent report from the Costs of War project said.

What sets Palantir and Anduril apart is that while most AI defense firms have only one product in their portfolios, such as autonomous aircraft, counter-drone systems, or data fusion software, these two firms are offering a range of products.

Anduril offers AI-powered software, autonomous drones, cruise missiles, drone interceptors, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), underwater drones, undersea sensor networks, autonomous rotorcraft, surface-to-air interceptor missiles, autonomous sensor towers for land, water, and sea, radars, infrared imaging, and more.

Earlier this month, Anduril won a contract worth up to US$2.9 billion with the U.S. Navy to boost submarine production. The company is also investing US$3.7 billion to scale a new shipyard in Maryland. The new facility will build components for the Virginia-class submarines.

Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey was also selected to lead “Project Meridian: The Future of Warfare,” a new 120-day initiative tasked with identifying the technologies and capabilities needed for future military dominance.

Anduril has also been selected to build the next generation of Army goggles, the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), which are “intended to give soldiers everything from night-vision capability to warnings of incoming airborne threats.”

However, Anduril’s most lucrative contract could be in border security technologies. The Big Beautiful bill commits over US$6 billion for various border security technologies. However, as Eurasian Times reported earlier, the bill’s conditions mean Anduril is the only firm that qualifies for these border surveillance tenders.

Anduril has also been called the Nvidia of the US defense market.

The sky-high valuation of Palantir and Anduril will also have a knock-on effect on other Silicon Valley-based AI-defense firms.

If these new tech defense firms maintain their growth momentum for another decade or so, then we might have to redefine the ‘Big Five’ of the US defense market.

• Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK. 
• He can be reached at ahlawat.sumit85 (at) gmail.com

The post The U.S. Defense Startup That Beat Northrop & General Dynamics: How Anduril Reached $90B Valuation in Less Than 10 Years appeared first on EURASIAN TIMES.

Security forces have responded to unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban forces along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Upper Kurram, state broadcaster PTV News reported on Saturday.

PTV News and state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), which cited security sources, said the Afghan Taliban forces opened fire to “facilitate terrorists” along the border in Taldah sector of Upper Kurram.

The army responded using heavy weapons, destroying several Afghan Taliban posts and forcing their personnel to flee from there, PTV News reported.

Meanwhile, APP quoted security sources as saying that several personnel of the Afghan Taliban were “reportedly killed during the Pakistan Army’s retaliatory action along the Ghuzgarhi border”.

The sources further said that in the Upper Kurram sector, the army targeted the Afghan Taliban’s Topsar post and Shipola base camp with artillery fire, reportedly completely destroying the latter.

The exchange of fire was still ongoing in the area, APP quoted security sources as saying.

The border skirmishes come a day after the Foreign Office (FO) said that talks with Afghanistan could not be unconditional, but also rejected suggestions that Islamabad was unwilling to engage with its neighbour and said it would welcome sincere efforts by friendly countries to help resolve the dispute.

“Pakistan is not shying away from discussions or dialogue, including with representatives of Afghanistan. Pakistan would welcome any sincere efforts by friendly countries that could help address our legitimate security concerns and promoting regional peace and stability,” FO spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said at the weekly media briefing.

The statement came after Russia recently renewed its readiness to mediate between the two countries, although Islamabad denied the existence of any such initiative.

“At present, I am not aware of any separate, formal Russian mediation initiative being under discussion,” Khan said.

Pak-Afghan tensions

Ties between the two neighbours have been strained in the past few years as Islamabad continues to voice its concern over cross-border terrorism.

September witnessed another bout of conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

On Sept 21, in response to recent major terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan conducted “calibrated” airstrikes in the border region with Afghanistan against terrorist hideouts, with the government saying more than 28 terrorists were killed.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the action as part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, which was launched on the night of Feb 26 in response to unprovoked cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban.

Days later, Pakistan shot down eight drones launched from across the border that had entered Pakistani airspace near the Torkham border and Kohat. It was also reported that the Afghan Taliban engaged in unprovoked firing the night before near Kurram as security forces foiled an attempt by terrorists to cross into Pakistan.

In retaliation for the drone incursion, Pakistan conducted “precision aerial and drone strikes” in 10 locations across Afghanistan.

A demarche was also delivered to the Afghan side on Sept 26 on account of the Sept 23 airspace violation by drones, the Foreign Office said.

On Oct 1, Pakistan again carried out “well-planned and calibrated” airstrikes against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, the information ministry said, which resulted in the deaths of “multiple terrorists”.

Protests over rising living costs and demands for increased education spending have swept the country for weeks.

The bell tower of the 143-year-old town hall in the French city of Limoges collapsed on Saturday evening after the building was set ablaze amid nationwide protests over the rising cost of living. The incident came as clashes between police and demonstrators escalated across France, with officers firing tear gas as tens of thousands took to the streets demanding economic relief and education reform.

The unrest followed weeks of student-led protests that began last month at a high school in Creteil, near Paris, over teacher shortages and deteriorating school facilities. Initially focused on education reform, improved learning conditions and increased funding, the movement has since converged with broader demonstrations against inequality and the rising cost of living. Labor unions have also joined the protests amid opposition to the government’s proposed 2027 budget and concerns over public spending cuts.

In Limoges, a city in west-central France, masked protesters set fire to the 19th-century town hall, AFP reported, citing a regional official. Videos circulating on social media show the building’s bell tower giving way and collapsing as flames engulf its supports.

The fire caused extensive damage, with the roof collapsing onto the lower floors and much of the facade destroyed. Local officials described the historic building as largely destroyed. No injuries were reported among those who had been inside.

🔴🇫🇷🔥 ALERTE INFO | Le clocher de la mairie de Limoges s’est effondré. https://t.co/gVB9oUXoB1

— French Report (@french_report78) October 17, 2026

“The roof has collapsed onto the lower floors, except in the west wing, and two-thirds of the exterior has already disappeared,” local prefect Maurice Barate said, as quoted by AFP.

Violent clashes were reported in Paris, Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse and Angers.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said 1,200 people had been arrested nationwide, while Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported that 150 police officers had been injured.

Footage from Paris showed police confronting protesters, while masked demonstrators threw objects and fireworks.

In Marseille, protesters broke into city hall, smashing open the door and spray-painting the walls, according to local newspaper La Provence. Fires were also reported in several cities, including at a tourist office in Lyon.

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged demonstrators to remain calm and respect people and property, while authorities have blamed violent incidents on what they describe as ultra-left groups.

Police tactics have also drawn scrutiny following reports of serious injuries among young protesters.

À la mairie du 7e arrondissement de Lyon, deux mariés font un clapping avec les manifestants, chaudement applaudis https://t.co/mWVjkHrnqF

— Lyon Mag (@lyonmag) October 17, 2026

Nunez has warned that security forces could use intermediate weapons, including stun grenades, if violence erupts during Saturday’s demonstrations.

Marseille : plusieurs dizaines de manifestants ont pénétré brièvement samedi dans le hall de la mairie, sur le vieux port, après avoir enfoncé la porte en criant "c'est la Révolution, on prend la Bastille". Ils ont été dispersés par des forces de l'ordre ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/QMtEYxYZTK

— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) October 17, 2026

The protests echo the 2018 Yellow Vest movement, mounting further pressure on Macron as high public debt pushes French borrowing costs to 20-year highs.

🔴 🇫🇷 FRANCE

Scènes de chaos à Marseille. La situation est hors de contrôle. La police est débordée. À suivre.⁰#Marseille #17octobre pic.twitter.com/zTInewabU1

— Geocrises FR (@geocrises) October 17, 2026