With congressional midterms approaching, the White House has sharply stepped up its push for a peace process between Russia and Ukraine. Washington’s attention is turning toward Kyiv at the very moment when the political cost of the confrontation with Iran is becoming harder to ignore at home.

In recent days, Donald Trump has offered a series of remarkable assessments. “Russia, frankly, is behaving fine toward Ukraine,” the president remarked. Turning to negotiations, Trump argued that “it is time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.” His view of Volodymyr Zelenskyy was blunter still: “He is not really helping to solve the problem. I think he does not want it to stop.”

Vice President JD Vance went further on the question of alliances. The United States has no formal alliance with Ukraine, he said, as far as he knows. Ukraine is not in NATO, and Vance does not think it should be.

Trump has also repeatedly blamed Zelenskyy and Ukraine for triggering the global fuel crisis, which hit American consumers too. He has urged Kyiv more than once to stop striking Russian refineries. Critics note that the larger shock to U.S. energy markets came from the war with Iran, not from Ukrainian drones. Yet there is no sign that the White House line is about to change.

For Kyiv, that means pressure from two directions. Russia is squeezing on the front and in the rear. Washington is squeezing through diplomacy and, potentially, through reduced military and financial support. The Washington Post reports that the U.S. has not approved deliveries of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine from third countries. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has not rejected the requests, but he has not completed the approval process either.

On the ground, the reality is far less diplomatic. Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky said that in three months there has not been a single day without attacks on the energy sector, and that their number is several times higher than last year. Since July 16, he said, energy facilities have been hit 2,147 times. “Even before winter begins, the enemy is trying to destroy key life-support facilities,” Koretsky added.

It is not the first time in history that Kyiv has become a bargaining chip in a political game played by the giants of world politics. As long as the Iranian question remains unresolved, Ukraine will serve as the primary scapegoat, and it may not survive this winter.

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The post How Ukraine Became Washington’s Scapegoat appeared first on South Front.

Just over a year after the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk, the organization is teaming up with Students for Life of America (SFLA) to launch a tour focused on discussing feminism and abortion with college students. The tour will be the first-ever partnership between the two groups.

The tour, which is being called "Feminists Lied: Prove Me Wrong," is kicking off on Tuesday with eight events scheduled at campuses across the country, including University of North Texas, Grand Valley State University, University of Cincinnati, Boise State University, University of New Mexico, University of Arizona, Southern Oregon University and University of Washington.

The organizations say that the campus tour is aimed at challenging "the claim that feminism and 'reproductive rights' have helped women more than they’ve harmed them."

"There’s a lot of young women who have bought the lies of the second wave and third wave of feminism, and are actually walking around hurt on college campuses unaware of where the pro-life movement really stands with women, all that we do to serve women and families facing unplanned pregnancies and beyond," SFLA President Kristan Hawkins told Fox News Digital.

INSIDE CHARLIE KIRK’S EFFORT TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIVE VOICES

Hawkins is set to speak at the events and ask the students a fundamental question at the heart of the debate topic: "Have women been told the truth about career, equality, empowerment and motherhood?"

"If men do not have to sacrifice their children in order to succeed, why should women?" Hawkins said in a statement announcing the tour. "A society that values women should treat motherhood as an essential contribution worthy of honor, not a liability. Students deserve to hear that case, and we are going to make it on their campuses."

The "Feminists Lied: Prove Me Wrong" events will mirror Kirk’s famous "Prove Me Wrong" sessions during which he would debate college students and allow them to ask questions about various controversial topics. He was in the middle of one of these events on Sept. 10, 2025, when he was shot and killed.

Since his death, TPUSA has kept Kirk's spirit alive through the Pick Up the Mic initiative, bringing debates and open conversations with a full roster of speakers, including Hawkins.

"Charlie and I were friends, and so it means a great deal to me to be on campuses with his chapters at Turning Point and to really continue doing the work that he set out to do," Hawkins told Fox News Digital.

OPINION: I’M A UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT. OUR PROFESSION SHOULD FINISH WHAT CHARLIE KIRK STARTED

Hawkins said that prior to Kirk's death, the two had been trading stories and photos of their visits to various college campuses where they would speak with students, and she believes it is "extremely important that we continue this free speech work" that Kirk started.

Hawkins rejected criticism of college visits like hers as a form of "rage bait," saying that they are not meant to merely incite division and spark anger, but rather to change minds in meaningful ways.

"These videos, these conversations that we're having, not only do they change [the] minds of the 100-plus students who are gathered who can actually hear the conversation happening in real time, they change tens of thousands of minds of young people online," Hawkins said.

Hawkins told Fox News Digital that she has seen the results of these conversations for herself in real life. She said that she has held children whose mothers were thinking about getting an abortion and changed their minds after watching videos of debates online.

"There's not a doubt in my mind that these conversations are important for saving lives and changing minds," Hawkins said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Hawkins is no stranger to campus debates. Over the course of 20 years, she has built a national network of Student for Life campus groups across all 50 states. This past spring, she embarked on the "Abortion is Human Sacrifice" tour, which was also aimed at discussing the issue of abortion with college students.

Hawkins told Fox News Digital that it doesn't matter whether she is at an Ivy League or a community college campus, the conversations often involve the same arguments from pro-choice advocates.

"It really doesn't matter, to be honest with you, if I'm at Harvard or if I'm in a community college or a high school, the questions about abortion are about the exact same, no matter where you go," she said. "You will always get a question about children in foster care, as if a child being in foster care somehow justifies the violence of abortion against a million children a year. You will hear horrific stories about sexual assault and rape, and sometimes these are very deeply personal stories."

Ultimately, Hawkins believes that the key to winning over the hearts and minds of those on the other side comes down to the question of "what is inside a woman?"

"If what's inside a woman is a meaningless clump of cells that is not a human person, then there is no permission needed for abortion, abortion's fine, abortion is nothing," Hawkins said. "But if what's inside of the woman is unique, all-living human being who is completely unique and unrepeatable, then we need to have a conversation about that human being because all of those things that you hear as a justification for abortion under circumstances, those stop being justifications for harming another member of our human species."

While the conversations may have stayed the same, the demographics, according to Hawkins, are changing. She noticed that Gen Z men tend to be more pro-life than millennial men. However, Gen Z women still tend to be pro-choice, according to Hawkins. The pro-life advocate wants to help these young women understand how feminism has failed them.

"When I'm on campus today, when I am on campus this semester, a lot of my conversations are going to be towards the women and really addressing the lies that the second wave, the late second-wave feminists, the third-wave feminists, told women, that they needed abortion in order to be free and equal. That that was going to make us happy and responsibility-free, and it hasn't worked and by any measure by looking anxiety rates, depression rates, SSRI use, that hasn't worked," Hawkins told Fox News Digital. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Young women are increasingly unhappy," she added. "They are not doing okay and we need to back up the conversation and ask the question of ‘why?’"

File image.

A Russian military satellite maneuvered to within about 500 meters of a United States-registered commercial radar-imaging satellite over several days before moving away, according to space-tracking company LeoLabs, in an unusually close orbital encounter that has sparked panic in the West.

Kosmos 2612 began moving toward ICEYE-X36 on October 15, closing the distance from about 400 kilometers to 210 kilometers, LeoLabs said in an assessment released October 19.

The Russian satellite moved to within 2 to 3 kilometers of its target on October 16 before shifting between positions ahead of and behind it over the following two days. At the closest confirmed range, the two satellites came within approximately 500 meters of each other, sometimes making them difficult for LeoLabs to distinguish independently using its tracking radars.

Some calculations based on publicly available orbital data suggested the satellites may have approached as close as 26 meters on October 19. However, that distance has not been independently confirmed.

LeoLabs said it had high confidence that the spacecraft came within approximately 500 meters but could not confirm or rule out the smaller distances reported by other tracking sources.

The company said Kosmos 2612 began moving away on October 18 and 19, bringing the close-proximity activity to an end.

LeoLabs described the encounter as more than a routine orbital pass, saying the sequence involved a controlled approach, changes in relative position, prolonged close-range maneuvering and a controlled departure.

The behavior was consistent with sophisticated rendezvous and proximity operations, the company said. Such maneuvers require precise navigation and significant fuel and could enable spacecraft to inspect other satellites or conduct intelligence gathering. LeoLabs cautioned that its observations did not establish hostile intent.

ICEYE-X36 is owned by ICEYE’s U.S. subsidiary. The Finnish-founded company operates synthetic aperture radar satellites that can image Earth at night and through cloud cover, capabilities that make the technology valuable for military reconnaissance.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry expanded its cooperation with ICEYE in January to secure continued access to high-resolution satellite imagery. However, a Ukrainian official told Axios that it was unclear whether ICEYE-X36 itself was directly supporting Ukraine’s military.

ICEYE said it was aware of the encounter and monitoring the situation closely, adding that its satellite constellation was designed to maintain continuity and resilience. No physical damage to ICEYE-X36 was reported.

Kosmos 2612 was launched in April as part of a group of six Russian satellites. Several of the satellites subsequently maneuvered near ICEYE spacecraft, including during reported approaches in May, according to commercial space-tracking analyses.

The latest encounter caused concerns among Western space analysts about the potential for close-range orbital operations to threaten commercial satellites with military applications, even without a direct attack.

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• Kyiv Accuses Pentagon of Stalling Patriot Deliveries
• Ukraine Pushes More Reserves to Orekhov Front

The post Russian Satellite Came Within Meters of U.S.-Registered Satellite Causing Panic In West appeared first on South Front.

La giornalista Christiane Amanpour a giugno 2027 lascerà definitivamente la CNN, dove lavora dal 1983. Al contempo, già a fine 2026, terminerà la sua esperienza lavorativa anche presso l’emittente PBS. Questa decisione, che non comporta un ritiro a vita privata della giornalista, ma semplicemente una rimodulazione dei propri impegni professionali, arriva in concomitanza con l’inizio di una nuova fase per CNN.

L’all-news ora come il tutto gruppo Warner Bros. Discovery è stata stata acquisita da Paramount Skydance, finendo per ricadere sotto il controllo di David Ellison, considerato da molti particolarmente vicino all’amministrazione Trump, nonostante lui abbia cercato di smentire, parlando solamente di un “buon rapporto” intrattenuto con l’attuale presidente degli Stati Uniti, così come fatto in passato con il suo predecessore Joe Biden.

Christiane Amanpor nel corso degli anni novanta è diventata l’inviata di guerra più famosa al mondo grazie al lavoro svolto prima nel corso della prima guerra del Golfo, poi in seguito raccontando gli orrori che vennero commessi in Bosnia. L’esperienza nei Balcani la espose anche alla critiche di chi sosteneva che la giornalista americana, figlia di un iraniano musulmano e di un’inglese cattolica, si identificasse troppo a favore delle vittime bosniache musulmane.

L'articolo Christiane Amanpour lascia la Cnn dopo 43 anni: “Abbiamo lottato insieme per cercare i fatti, le prove e l’umanità” proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.

Era decollato regolarmente alle 7:00 del mattino dello scorso 10 ottobre il volo United Airlines 1900, ma all’improvviso un evento inaspettato ha cambiato la sua rotta. L’aereo, decollato dall’aeroporto internazionale di Seattle-Tacoma e diretto a Newark, in New Jersey, stava sorvolando il Minnesota e si trovava a 35.000 piedi di altezza, quando il personale di bordo si è reso conto che una donna era rimasta bloccata all’interno del bagno, non riuscendo ad aprire la porta per uscire.

Dopo aver tentato per circa 15 minuti di aprire la porta, seguendo quelle che sono le procedure indicate, l’equipaggio di bordo del Boeing 737 MAX ha comunicato al pilota che l’operazione per permettere alla donna di uscire dal bagno non aveva avuto successo. Così il pilota ha deciso che venisse disposto un atterraggio di emergenza per consentire poi l’apertura della porta del bagno.

L’aeroporto designato per l’atterraggio di emergenza era quello di Chicago O’Hare, verso il quale quindi è iniziata la discesa del velivolo. L’aereo aveva già raggiunto i 27.000 piedi di altezza, quando la donna di 69 anni rimasta intrappolata nel bagno è stata finalmente liberata. Così l’aereo ha potuto evitare di effettuare l’atterraggio di emergenza, che era già stato disposto. I passeggeri sono quindi potuti atterrare regolarmente a Newark Liberty, circa quattro ore e mezza dopo la partenza da Seattle.

L'articolo Una donna rimane chiusa nel bagno dell’aereo: piloti costretti ad effettuare un atterraggio di emergenza proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was due to meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Tuesday in a bid to rescue relations that have sunk to new lows as Donald Trump has courted Moscow and Kyiv has complained about Washington withholding vital defences.

Witkoff arrived in Oslo for the talks, hosted by the leaders of Norway and Finland. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was expected to attend remotely.

Zelenskiy met Norway’s King Haakon VIII before talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Finnish President Alexander Stubb ahead of his meeting with the US delegation.

Kyiv says Washington has lately failed to provide early warning of Russian missile launches, throttled SpaceX’s Starshield satellite links that guide Ukrainian drones, and failed to deliver air defences paid for by European allies.

Washington denies deliberately hindering Ukraine’s war effort. But Trump, who has waived sanctions on Russia in what he says is an effort to lower US fuel prices, has repeatedly rebuked Zelenskiy, and called for him to be replaced.

In the latest comments expressing warmth towards Moscow and coldness towards Kyiv, Trump said on Monday: “Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine.” He said Zelenskiy, who has rejected Russia’s maximalist conditions for ending its war, was “not helping matters much”, and that Kyiv should find “somebody else to negotiate”.

RUBIO SAYS US MISSILES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DELIVERED YET

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged on Tuesday that a consignment of US air defence missiles bought by European countries for Ukraine may not have been delivered, but denied that the US had changed policy.

“The important takeaway for you is that there has not been some deliberate political directive to go out and harm Ukraine,” he told journalists during a visit to India.

The Kremlin said it was hoping to set up a meeting soon between Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin, an indication that Witkoff could make the latest of several visits to the Kremlin after meeting Zelenskiy.

As US ties with Ukraine have deteriorated, Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian cities, particularly targeting power stations and fuel, despite a call from Trump for both sides to spare each other’s energy systems.

Russia bombarded cities in western Ukraine overnight, targeting electricity systems and knocking out power across swathes of the country that had previously been spared.

Ukraine held back for several days last week from hitting Russian oil refineries in deference to Trump’s request, but has resumed strikes after Russia showed no sign of complying. Both sides have also struck data centres.

Trump has repeatedly condemned Ukrainian attacks on Russia while saying little about Russia’s far more severe attacks on Ukraine, which have grown even more deadly as Kyiv says US support has been withheld for its air defences.

Ukrainian officials said a Russian drone had struck near a petrol station on a highway heading south from Kyiv on Tuesday, killing three people and setting cars ablaze.

An attack on a warehouse near the capital also killed three. Footage released by Ukraine’s emergency services showed firefighters battling a huge blaze, surrounded by twisted wreckage.

Energy facilities were attacked in seven Ukrainian regions overnight, knocking out power, and the western Lviv region was struck again during the day. Three other people were reported killed in Kramatorsk in the east.

ZELENSKIY SPEAKS TO RUBIO

Zelenskiy said he had spoken with Rubio about ballistic missile interceptors, early warning of Russian attacks and “the situation with Starlink/Starshield, which needs to be restored”.

“Of course, all of this comes against the backdrop of our diplomatic efforts to end this horrific war and the constant killing of people,” Zelenskiy said in a post on X.

The deterioration of relations began 10 days ago when Trump lifted sanctions on Russian diesel in a deal agreed with Putin, which he said would help reduce prices. High fuel costs since Trump launched strikes on Iran have hurt his Republicans before midterm legislative elections on November 3.

Trump has since repeatedly berated Zelenskiy over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, which Kyiv says are one of its few ways of fighting back after nearly five years of intensive Russian bombardment.

Over the weekend, Trump issued a broad waiver for tougher sanctions on Russia that were meant to have begun this week.

Washington denies withholding intelligence from Kyiv or imposing curbs on Starshield, the military-grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink communications system.

Kyiv says the satellite receptors no longer work when mounted on fast-moving objects such as drones. SpaceX boss Elon Musk has said Starshield is controlled by the US government and any limits on its use are ultimately up to Trump.

Western European countries view defending Ukraine from Russia’s invasion as an existential issue and have strongly backed Zelenskiy, seeking to head off a deeper rupture between Washington and Kyiv.

The United States under Trump has largely stopped providing weapons to Ukraine but lets European countries buy them on Kyiv’s behalf. It also provides intelligence and technology that Europe cannot match.

A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had yet to approve the latest shipment of US weapons bought for Ukraine under the programme.

This is the newest update of the ‘U.S. Carrier Strike Groups Locations Map’ exclusive series showing the approximate locations of U.S. Carrier Strike Groups. SouthFront: Analysis & Intelligence tracks locations of U.S. aircraft carriers using the available open-source information. No classified information was used in production of the map.

click to see the full-size image

Carrier strike group (CSG) is an operational formation of the United States Navy. It is centered on an aircraft carrier and a carrier air wing of 65 to 70 aircrafts. It’s composed of roughly 7,500 personnel, an aircraft carrier, at least one cruiser, a destroyer squadron of at least two destroyers and/or frigates. A carrier strike group also, on occasion, includes submarines, attached logistics ships and a supply ship. Carrier strike groups comprise a principal element of U.S. power projection over the world’s oceans

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The post Locations Of US Carrier Strike Groups – October 20, 2026 appeared first on South Front.

File image.

The post Kyiv Accuses Pentagon of Stalling Patriot Deliveries appeared first on South Front.

A MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle prepares to land after a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson)

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on October 20 it had shot down a United States MQ-9 Reaper combat drone over the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the interception marked the 54th Reaper destroyed since the start of the war.

In a statement, IRGC said its Aerospace Force used a new air defense system integrated into Iran’s national air defense network to bring down the drone. The Corps did not identify the system or provide details about the engagement.

The U.S. Air Force has not publicly disclosed a comprehensive tally of its MQ-9 losses in the conflict, according to a September report by the Congressional Research Service. The report cited an August news report, based on U.S. government sources, that put American losses at 45 Reapers at that time.

Manufactured by General Atomics, the MQ-9 is a turboprop-powered drone used for intelligence gathering, surveillance and precision strikes.

The drone has a wingspan of 20.1 meters, can operate at altitudes of up to 15,240 meters and can carry guided missiles and bombs. The Congressional Research Service puts its unit cost at $30 million to $50 million, depending on the exact configuration.

The reported interception underscores that Iranian air defenses remain a credible threat to U.S. warplanes, particularly drones.

Despite their advanced sensors and long endurance, Reapers operating over contested areas remain vulnerable to ground-based air defense systems.

The latest shootdown comes amid a sharp rise in attacks on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where at least 15 vessels were struck over a 10-day period.

A recent Reuters report, citing two senior Iranian officials, that Tehran was stepping up attacks and changing tactics to keep oil prices high and influence the November 3 U.S. midterm elections, in an apparent effort to increase pressure on President Donald Trump ahead of the vote.

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• Iran Used Submarines to Arm Yemen’s Houthis
• Tanker Attacks Spread Beyond Hormuz as U.S. Refrains From Responding (Video)

The post Iran Shoots Down 54th U.S. Reaper Drone Since War Began appeared first on South Front.

US envoy Steve Witkoff is joining negotiations in Norway before an expected visit to Moscow, but American pressure on Ukraine, uncertainty over military assistance and renewed economic dealings with Russia raise questions about Washington’s approach to ending the war.

The latest American diplomatic initiative on Ukraine comes at a particularly difficult moment in relations between Washington and Kyiv. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is taking part in talks in Oslo on Tuesday, 20 October, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, before an anticipated visit to Moscow for discussions with Vladimir Putin.

The Norwegian government has confirmed that the meetings will include Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will participate remotely. The meeting was requested by Zelenskyy, with Norway and Finland providing the diplomatic setting.

Yet the significance of the Oslo discussions lies less in the gathering itself than in the political circumstances surrounding it. Washington is seeking an agreement with Moscow while simultaneously becoming more confrontational towards Kyiv. Recent American decisions affecting military assistance, intelligence cooperation and Russian energy exports have introduced serious doubts about how the administration intends to use its considerable negotiating leverage.

Washington’s pressure on Kyiv

The immediate difficulty concerns the growing discrepancy between American diplomatic assurances and the practical conditions under which Ukraine is expected to negotiate.

Zelenskyy has accused Washington of delaying military deliveries, restricting intelligence sharing and limiting access to the Starshield satellite communications system. The Ukrainian president suggested that these developments reflected a political decision to reduce support at a particularly sensitive stage of the war. American officials have disputed allegations that assistance is being deliberately restricted.

Among the disputed deliveries are Patriot air-defence interceptors purchased by European NATO members through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List programme. Zelenskyy has indicated that shipments remain subject to authorisation by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

These are operational matters with immediate consequences. Ukraine relies on American intelligence, communications infrastructure and air-defence equipment to counter Russian missile attacks. Any interruption affects Kyiv’s military calculations, irrespective of whether Washington formally acknowledges a change in policy.

The political message is equally consequential. Trump has publicly questioned Zelenskyy’s willingness to negotiate and suggested that Ukraine might need somebody else to conduct talks with Russia. Such remarks place additional pressure on the Ukrainian leadership while leaving Moscow’s territorial demands largely untouched.

Russia’s incentives remain unchanged

The central weakness in the American diplomatic approach is the assumption that renewed engagement with Putin will necessarily produce meaningful Russian concessions.

Moscow has repeatedly treated negotiations as an opportunity to pursue political objectives that its armed forces have not achieved on the battlefield. Russian demands concerning Ukrainian territory and restrictions on Kyiv’s future security arrangements remain incompatible with Ukraine’s sovereignty.

An agreement reached under these conditions could suspend hostilities without resolving the underlying conflict. Russia would retain the capacity to rebuild its forces, while Ukraine could find its military options constrained by commitments made in exchange for an uncertain ceasefire.

The Trump administration’s recent economic dealings with Moscow further complicate the negotiations. Washington’s arrangements concerning Russian diesel have attracted criticism from Kyiv and European governments, particularly because Russian energy revenues remain an important source of financing for the war.

Trump has also pressed Ukraine to curtail attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, reflecting American concerns about fuel prices. For Moscow, relief from attacks on refineries would preserve economically important facilities that Ukraine has demonstrated an increasing ability to reach.

Any arrangement limiting such operations without corresponding Russian concessions would alter the military and economic balance in Moscow’s favour.

The broader American proposals reportedly include possible post-war economic cooperation with Russia. Their implications extend beyond Ukraine: commercial normalisation could offer the Kremlin substantial benefits before the conditions for a stable European security settlement have been established.

Europe’s influence depends on its willingness to use it

European participation in the Oslo process is therefore more substantial than a question of diplomatic representation.

Britain, France, Germany and Poland, alongside the European Union and NATO, are expected to be involved in the wider discussions. European governments would almost certainly bear much of the financial and military responsibility for implementing any settlement, including Ukraine’s reconstruction and long-term security.

They also possess considerable economic leverage through sanctions, financial restrictions and decisions concerning frozen Russian assets. Those instruments would form part of any serious negotiation over Moscow’s future relations with Europe.

However, European influence remains constrained by continuing dependence on American military technology and equipment. The controversy surrounding Patriot deliveries illustrates the problem: European governments can finance weapons for Ukraine without necessarily controlling when those weapons are released.

As EU Today previously examined, Washington’s negotiations with Moscow have consequences for European security that cannot be separated from the future of Ukraine.

European governments consequently face a difficult calculation. They wish to preserve American involvement, but excessive accommodation of Washington’s demands could leave them financing security arrangements over which they exercise limited control.

Norway and Finland have helped bring the Ukrainian and American delegations together at a moment when their relationship is deteriorating. Whether that produces progress will depend partly on Moscow’s response, but also on whether Washington is prepared to maintain the military and economic pressure necessary to make Russian concessions possible.

Witkoff’s anticipated journey from Oslo to Moscow will offer an early indication of the administration’s priorities. Putin will be assessing the terms Washington is prepared to offer, while Kyiv remains concerned about restrictions affecting equipment it needs to defend its cities.

For the Ukrainian leadership, the danger is that negotiations intended to end Russia’s invasion could become a process in which the country resisting that invasion is asked to make the most immediate concessions.

Non cambierà l’inquilino della Casa Bianca, ma gli equilibri politici a Washington sì. E di conseguenza il potere che il presidente Usa avrà negli ultimi due anni nello Studio Ovale. Repubblica vi racconterà il voto passo passo

Click to see full-seize image. (FBI)

A former OpenAI engineer accused of planting a hidden recording device in an executive conference room maintained frequent contact with a Saudi royal who sought to recruit him for an artificial intelligence role in the kingdom, United States prosecutors said on October 19, raising new questions about possible official Saudi role in the spying scandal.

Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, exchanged messages with an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family as recently as October 5, four days before his arrest, according to a detention memorandum filed by federal prosecutors.

In one exchange, the royal wrote, “Saudi needs you more then the US!” and Alfozan replied, “100,” according to the prosecutors.

The royal’s identity has not been disclosed. Prosecutors allege the communications reflected an effort to recruit Alfozan to work on artificial intelligence in Saudi Arabia, where he had been pursuing professional opportunities while employed at OpenAI.

Prosecutors also cited assistance from Saudi officials in arguing that Alfozan could flee the U.S. if released. A Saudi military official paid for a business-class flight for Alfozan’s wife and infant son, who left San Francisco for Doha, Qatar, on October 10, according to the filing.

His wife told investigators that she intended to move permanently to Saudi Arabia with their son and that Alfozan eventually planned to join them.

Before his arrest, Alfozan had booked a one-way flight to Riyadh for October 12, coinciding with a planned two-month parental leave. Prosecutors argued that his financial resources and apparent support from a foreign government without an extradition treaty with the United States made him a serious flight risk.

The case began after OpenAI employees discovered a concealed audio recording device on September 30, inserted into a USB port behind a television in an executive conference room at the company’s San Francisco offices. The device, which investigators said had been installed around September 28 and contained encrypted recordings, was wrapped in toilet paper.

According to the criminal complaint, the room was regularly used for discussions involving confidential research, product plans, commercial strategy and government engagements.

Prosecutors said government officials attended meetings there around the time the device was installed, heightening concerns about the potential exposure of sensitive discussions.

Investigators cited office surveillance footage showing Alfozan close to the conference room despite lacking authorization to access it. Footage from October 5 allegedly showed him looking behind the television where the device had been placed.

OpenAI security personnel also found a second, similar recording device in a bag containing his identification and other belongings, according to the complaint.

The investigation uncovered additional digital evidence. A chatbot account associated with Alfozan’s wife, which prosecutors said shared multiple identifiers with his own account, had submitted prompts about constructing and concealing an audio recorder, improving live listening and encrypting stored files.

Investigators also cited his inquiries into office locations, meeting-room calendars and scheduled gatherings involving company executives and external partners.

Alfozan was arrested on October 9 and subsequently dismissed by OpenAI, where he had worked as an engineer since July 2025. The company referred the matter to the FBI after discovering the device.

OpenAI has said it found no evidence that the incident resulted in the theft or extraction of model weights, source code or customer data. The case has nevertheless drawn attention to the risks surrounding the protection of advanced artificial intelligence research as governments and technology companies compete for strategic advantages.

Alfozan’s lawyer, William Pernik, has challenged the prosecution’s argument that his client would flee if released. He said the planned travel was for family and immigration reasons, noting that the tickets had been booked in advance and that Alfozan did not leave after learning that OpenAI had discovered the device.

Pernik asked the court to release him under home detention, GPS monitoring and a bond supported by the Saudi consulate.

Alfozan has been charged with using or attempting to use an electronic device to intercept oral communications, an offense punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He has not been charged with espionage or theft of trade secrets, and prosecutors have not alleged that the Saudi royal directed the placement of the recorder.

The spying attempt may have been to gain a financial edge rather than steal AI technology. Inside knowledge of OpenAI’s investment plans, commercial partnerships, negotiations and business strategy could potentially help Saudi royal-linked interests anticipate market movements, secure more favorable terms in major deals or gain an advantage over competitors. Such intelligence could carry substantial economic value without revealing a single line of OpenAI’s code.

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Dalla Francia all’Italia, fermo restando che il diritto di manifestare è assolutamente sacrosanto nelle democrazie liberali, la dimensione di queste manifestazioni ormai coinvolge studenti, famiglie, lavoratori dei settori più diversi colpiti dal caro energia, dalla globalizzazione e da tutta una serie di fattori: sono il sintomo di un disagio sociale che nell’Europa esiste perché l’Europa non vive più una crescita economica. Vede attaccate le fondamenta, ovvero la sua capacità manifatturiera, la sua capacità di innovazione tecnologica, e la sua competitività è messa a rischio. Tutto questo degenera in forme di violenza che sembrano avere l’unico scopo di destabilizzare le democrazie occidentali che noi rappresentiamo. È legittimo quindi interrogarsi su chi stia soffiando sul fuoco. Lo dice a Formiche.net l’ambasciatore Luigi Mattiolo, presidente italiano di Villa Vigoni, Centro italo-tedesco per il dialogo europeo, già Primo Consigliere alla Rappresentanza Permanente d’Italia presso l’Onu, ambasciatore a Tel Aviv, ad Ankara, a Berlino oltre che Consigliere Diplomatico del governo del Presidente del Consiglio italiano Mario Draghi.

Caro energia, black bloc, non solo a Parigi, ma purtroppo anche a Milano, ed elezioni alle porte in mezza Europa: è la tempesta perfetta? E come potrà difendersi l’Unione europea?

Innanzitutto concordo con questa definizione di tempesta perfetta, perché effettivamente siamo in una fase in cui ci sono tre fattori esogeni che colpiscono in pieno l’Europa. Il primo, ovviamente, è l’atteggiamento dell’attuale amministrazione americana con riguardo alla difesa euro-atlantica e agli evidenti tentativi di trovare un accordo sull’Ucraina con la Russia, sulla testa dell’Ucraina e sulla testa dell’Europa. Il secondo è la minaccia russa sia che sia ibrida, sia che sia inafferrabile, o anche retorica, ma comunque è sicuramente una minaccia, ed è sicuramente un fattore profondo di destabilizzazione in Europa, visto che ha portato un conflitto che non intende interrompere, evidentemente, nel cuore del continente. Il terzo è la Cina che comunque continua ad agire abbastanza spudoratamente sulle catene di valore di materiali critici e mette in difficoltà profonda l’industria e la capacità manifatturiera europea, con una esportazione direi massiccia se non selvaggia e di beni di consumo a prezzi assolutamente stracciati.

Su tutto questo poi impatta la crisi ucraina…

L’intervento di Zelensky al Consiglio europeo è stato particolarmente preoccupante, non solo perché ha coinciso con una fase in cui l’Ucraina è colpita al cuore nelle sue infrastrutture energetiche e nei suoi obiettivi, che ormai di militare non hanno nulla, ma sono semplicemente legati all’evidente disegno di scoraggiare e demoralizzare e terrorizzare la popolazione civile. Bensì c’è un’Ucraina che lamenta un appoggio strategico americano a dir poco a intermittenza, malgrado i 90 miliardi stanziati l’anno scorso dall’Unione Europea, che ormai, è bene ricordarlo, è l’unica che si fa carico dei costi della difesa ucraina in questa fase. Per cui Zelensky ha denunciato un buco l’anno prossimo di 30-35 miliardi: al momento non si vede dove l’Unione europea potrebbe andare a prendere quel denaro, a meno di non mettere mano alle riserve valutarie russe.

Con quali inconvenienti?

Si aprirebbe un autentico vaso di Pandora e personalmente capisco le perplessità del Belgio che, attraverso il meccanismo di Euroclear, finisce per essere quello giuridicamente responsabile in prima battuta della gestione e della protezione di quelle riserve. Ci sarebbe inoltre un discorso di credibilità dell’Europa come rifugio e detentore di riserve valutarie di qualunque Paese al mondo: ciò potrebbe avere delle ripercussioni gravissime e sarebbe per certi versi senza precedenti. In passato le riserve valutarie di un Paese sono state utilizzate molto spesso, ma si trattava di Paesi sconfitti, dopo un accordo di pace inevitabilmente penalizzante nei loro confronti. Ma non è questo ancora lo scenario, come sappiamo. E in più poi mi ha anche colpito questa annotazione che non voglio chiamare minaccia, perché non lo è, ma diciamo una pesante annotazione di Zelensky che ha detto chiaramente che in caso di sconfitta l’Unione europea dovrebbe far fronte a un’ondata migratoria di profughi. Francamente non penso che sarebbe altrimenti, perché dopo quattro anni di guerra e di martirio non so quanto i cittadini ucraini siano così pronti a cadere sotto il giogo della Russia vincitrice: quindi è chiaro che questo fenomeno andrebbe affrontato.

Come arriva l’Europa?

Nello scorso Consiglio europeo non sono stati fatti grossi passi avanti. Ha affrontato innanzitutto una situazione polarizzata, basta guardare alle violenze che hanno caratterizzato purtroppo le manifestazioni. Dalla Francia all’Italia, fermo restando che il diritto di manifestare è assolutamente sacrosanto nelle democrazie liberali, la dimensione di queste manifestazioni ormai coinvolge studenti, famiglie, lavoratori dei settori più diversi colpiti dal caro energia, dalla globalizzazione e da tutta una serie di fattori: sono il sintomo di un disagio sociale che nell’Europa esiste perché l’Europa non vive più una crescita economica. Vede attaccate le fondamenta, ovvero la sua capacità manifatturiera, la sua capacità di innovazione tecnologica, e la sua competitività è messa a rischio. Tutto questo degenera in forme di violenza che sembrano avere l’unico scopo di destabilizzare le democrazie occidentali che noi rappresentiamo. È legittimo quindi interrogarsi su chi stia soffiando sul fuoco. Ma non è tutto.

Ovvero?

Se non si risolverà il terzo fattore di crisi, il bilancio dei prossimi sette anni, sarà credo sempre peggio. A seconda di quanto si troverà un compromesso tra questi grandi Paesi, potrebbe essere ancor più difficile trovare un compromesso, fare delle rinunce, “vendere” alle proprie opinioni pubbliche l’accordo trovato. Se ci fossero dei cambi di coalizione di governo in grandi Paesi europei come Francia e Spagna potrebbero trovarsi al potere delle forze politiche che viceversa hanno tutto l’interesse a mortificare ulteriormente il bilancio comunitario, mettendo assolutamente a repentaglio tutti quelli che sono gli obiettivi di cui parliamo da anni, come l’innovazione, la transizione e la difesa e quant’altro.

Ritiene che proprio in un momento simile, caratterizzato dalle policrisi, così come le ha definite l’altro giorno la Presidente del Consiglio, ci sia l’opportunità per l’Ue di crescere, magari sanando le proprie deficienze. E in che modo visto che si trova con le spalle al muro?

Questa volta sì, l’Ue è proprio messa con le spalle al muro. Ma essere messi con le spalle al muro può significare soccombere oppure tirarsi fuori dall’angolo e quindi fare scelte che solo fino a un momento prima sembravano impensabili. Come? Penso al caro energia, che pesa di più ed è quello che è alla base del disagio sociale che, al di là delle violenze terribili e delle strumentalizzazioni nelle piazze, è un dato di fatto. Io mi auguro, leggendo le conclusioni del Consiglio europeo, che si prenda di petto la questione calmierando i prezzi, tornando su quello che è un cavallo di battaglia dell’Italia da molti anni cioè il disaccoppiamento del prezzo dell’energia elettrica dal prezzo del gas. Perché in questa fase il primo kilowatt di energia elettrica prodotto con le rinnovabili, nel nostro caso con l’idroelettrico, con l’eolico e soprattutto con il solare, lo paghiamo al prezzo dell’ultimo kilowatt prodotto con il gas: nelle conclusioni del Consiglio europeo si insiste perché la Commissione proponga delle soluzioni su questo fronte. In realtà non è che la Commissione le soluzioni non ce le abbia, è che manca la volontà politica di tutti gli Stati membri perché non tutti sono nelle medesime condizioni. Alcuni hanno una quota di rinnovabili molto maggiore della nostra e quindi non hanno poi questo grande interesse al disaccoppiamento, ma è arrivato il momento di studiare dei meccanismi comuni: uno potrebbe essere quello di restituire al bilanci nazionali gli extraprofitti fatti sui primi kilowatt, visto che sono stati venduti tutti al prezzo dell’ultimo kilowatt. Però è necessario anche lavorare sulla domanda, cioè fare una domanda aggregata fra Stati membri, come l’Unione europea è stata capace di fare nel caso dei vaccini per la pandemia che rimangono un esempio unico, devo dire finora anche non ripetuto, ma sicuramente replicabile sul fronte dell’energia. Infine non va dimenticata la capacità di accumulo.

Come procedere?

Attraverso batterie dieci o venti volte superiori a quelle che esistono sul continente europeo, saremmo finalmente in grado di immagazzinare l’energia elettrica prodotta da fonti rinnovabili in surplus e utilizzarla banalmente nelle fasce orarie in cui viceversa produciamo energia elettrica con il gas.

Le elezioni americane di metà mandato del 3 novembre potrebbero cambiare gli equilibri della politica industriale degli Stati Uniti, con conseguenze per i costruttori automobilistici e la filiera dei componenti. Una vittoria democratica alla Camera e al Senato, scenario considerato possibile dai sondaggi, darebbe al Congresso maggiori strumenti per intervenire sulle scelte dell’amministrazione Trump in materia di dazi, accordi commerciali e mobilità elettrica.

Secondo un’analisi della testata specializzata Automotive News, il ritorno dei democratici alla guida delle due Camere aprirebbe una fase di confronto con la Casa Bianca su alcune delle questioni che condizionano gli investimenti del settore. Trump conserverebbe il potere di veto, ma il Congresso potrebbe avviare indagini sulle politiche commerciali, convocare i responsabili delle agenzie federali e cercare di limitare l’autorità presidenziale.

Per l’industria automobilistica il primo nodo riguarda i dazi, che incidono sulle importazioni, sui costi di produzione, sui prezzi delle vetture e sull’organizzazione delle catene di fornitura. Un Congresso democratico potrebbe sottoporre a maggiori controlli le misure adottate dall’amministrazione, senza arrivare alla loro cancellazione. Anche tra i democratici, del resto, la difesa della produzione nazionale e dell’occupazione industriale resta una priorità.

Un passaggio sarà la revisione dell’USMCA, l’accordo commerciale tra Stati Uniti, Messico e Canada. I tre Paesi ospitano una rete di stabilimenti e fornitori nella quale componenti e veicoli attraversano più volte le frontiere prima di arrivare sul mercato. La revisione prevista nel luglio 2027 potrebbe modificare le condizioni degli scambi e incidere sulle strategie produttive dei gruppi presenti in Nord America: il Congresso potrebbe influenzare il negoziato, chiedendo maggiori garanzie e controlli.

L’altro fronte è quello dell’elettrificazione. La politica di Trump ha ridotto il sostegno normativo alla diffusione delle auto a batteria, mentre diversi costruttori hanno investito nella produzione di veicoli elettrici e accumulatori. Una maggioranza democratica potrebbe tentare di recuperare parte delle misure a favore della transizione, incontrando però i limiti imposti dal potere presidenziale.

A pesare sarà anche il risultato delle elezioni in California, che ha fissato l’obiettivo di arrivare al 100% di vendite di nuove auto a zero emissioni nel 2035, una scadenza adottata da altri Stati americani. La normativa è al centro di una controversia giudiziaria dopo gli interventi del Congresso contro l’autonomia regolatoria californiana. Il prossimo governatore, con il democratico Xavier Becerra favorito, avrà un ruolo nella definizione della strategia. Le sue dichiarazioni hanno alternato il sostegno all’obiettivo del 2035 alla richiesta di considerare costi e infrastrutture.

Un’altra occasione di confronto potrebbe arrivare nel 2027, quando gli Stati Uniti rischiano di raggiungere il tetto del debito federale. I democratici potrebbero utilizzare il negoziato per ottenere concessioni anche sulle politiche energetiche e sui trasporti.

Per i costruttori, l’esito delle elezioni non comporterebbe dunque un cambio immediato delle regole. Potrebbe invece incidere sui tempi e sui contenuti delle decisioni che riguardano importazioni, produzione e investimenti nell’elettrico. Questioni sulle quali l’industria deve programmare attività e risorse con anni di anticipo.

L'articolo Auto, dazi ed elettrico. Cosa potrebbe cambiare negli USA dopo il voto di Midterm proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.

Come ogni anno l’appuntamento promosso dalla Niaf con la floridissima comunità italoamericana, nell’ambito delle celebrazioni del Columbus Day, rappresenta anche l’occasione per fare il punto sulle relazioni bilaterali tra Italia e Stati Uniti. Relazioni che rimangono solidissime, nonostante le recenti divergenze tra Trump e Meloni. Lo dice a Formiche.net il capodelegazione di FdI al Parlamento europeo Carlo Fidanza.

Qual è lo stato delle relazioni Italia-Usa dopo le recenti polemiche?

Il lavoro sulle cose concrete non si è mai fermato, anche grazie all’ottimo contributo dell’ambasciata italiana negli Usa guidata dall’ambasciatore Marco Peronaci e dell’ambasciatore americano a Roma Tillman Fertitta, così come dell’impegno di realtà consolidate come l’American Chamber of Commerce italiana. Continua il flusso di investimenti da un lato e dall’altro. E i due governi hanno positivamente concluso l’accordo sulla Pax Silica, con l’adesione dell’Italia a questa alleanza strategica sui minerali critici che è davvero decisiva se vogliamo realizzare le transizioni senza aumentare la nostra dipendenza dalla Cina.

Quale può essere ruolo geopolitico dell’ Italia?

L’Italia continua a credere nella Nato che oggi più che mai deve trasformarsi da alleanza militare ad alleanza geopolitica, coinvolgendo i Paesi likeminded che sono ancora fuori dall’orbita cinese. L’Italia porta in dote la sua proiezione nel Mediterraneo, la straordinaria intuizione del Piano Mattei per l’Africa, la solidità dei rapporti con i Paesi del Golfo, un protagonismo crescente in America Latina grazie all’allineamento politico con i nuovi governi conservatori del continente, in attesa di ulteriori buone notizie dal Brasile. Questo è il frutto della stabilità del nostro governo e della straordinaria abilità di Giorgia Meloni.

Qual è lo stato di salute del nostro export verso gli Usa?

I dati del nostro export sono eccezionali e crescono anche negli Usa nonostante i dazi. Soffriamo un po’ sul food and wine ma cresciamo grazie alla straordinaria capacità di adattamento della nostra manifattura e grazie ai risultati del settore farmaceutico. Su quest’ultimo, però, bisogna intervenire per limitare i danni derivanti dall’applicazione da parte americana del principio della Most Favoured Nation, che rischia di compromettere competitività e ricerca.

Quali i settori più promettenti?

Oltre alla farmaceutica e alle scienze della vita, ovviamente rimaniamo fortissimi nella meccanica. Abbiamo possibilità di sviluppo importanti nella difesa, estendendo questo concetto allo spazio e al dominio sottomarino, senza dimenticare la cantieristica navale su cui Fincantieri vanta ormai una presenza consolidata negli Usa. E poi abbiamo la grande opportunità di ritagliarci un ruolo nella super-intelligenza fisica, a partire dalla robotica umanoide, che è il luogo dove la super-intelligenza generativa incrocia la manifattura in cui siamo maestri. Senza dimenticare la primogenitura che Giorgia Meloni ha avuto nel porre il tema della governance globale dell’AI, a cui ha dedicato parte importante del G7 italiano, e che ora si arricchisce di una nuova opportunità promossa da AmCham Italy: fare di Milano non soltanto l’hub italiano dell’AI ma la sede di una nuova agenzia mondiale per la governance etica della super-intelligenza.

Cosa deve fare l’Ue?

Il consolidamento degli accordi di Turnberry è fondamentale. Abbiamo sempre sostenuto, a ragione, che un accordo anche non perfetto sarebbe stato meglio di un non accordo e di una conseguente guerra commerciale. L’Ue si è dotata di salvaguardie aggiuntive. Bisogna continuare a lavorare su settori come acciaio e alluminio e anche sulla lista dei prodotti alimentari esclusi dai dazi al 15%. E dobbiamo maneggiare con cura il grande elefante nella stanza, quello della tassazione digitale e delle multe alle Big Tech. Regole chiare e semplificazione sono la risposta. Infine, non dobbiamo sottovalutare l’impatto potenziale che le nuove norme doganali varate dall’amministrazione Usa a fine settembre possono avere sui nostri esportatori, soprattutto sulle Pmi.

L’autonomia strategica europea come va perseguita?

L’Ue fa bene a provare a costruire filiere con una percentuale maggiore di Made in Europe, ma l’autonomia strategica deve rimanere aperta, differenziata per settori in base alla nostra possibilità di costruire catene del valore realmente europee e non soltanto francesi, come vorrebbe qualcuno. Di più, l’autonomia strategica europea non deve essere una ripicca quotidiana contro un alleato ritenuto non più affidabile ma una politica industriale intelligente. Il contrario di quello che l’Ue ha fatto con il Green Deal, che ha massacrato le nostre imprese consegnandoci alla Cina. Da qui la coraggiosa battaglia di Giorgia Meloni contro il sistema Ets. Ecco, sulla transizione green qualche schiaffone arrivato da Trump credo debba aiutare l’Europa ad aprire gli occhi.

Ucraina e Iran: il contributo italiano e le mosse di Bruxelles.

Meloni ha espresso chiaramente il nostro giudizio su questo accordo e il sostegno alla tregua reciproca sulle infrastrutture energetiche. Mi auguro che, superate le midterm, si possa tornare a ragionare di una spinta forte alla pace in Ucraina senza umiliare Kyiv. E poi si deve trovare un modo dignitoso per chiudere questa avventura in Iran mettendo il regime di Teheran nelle condizioni di non nuocere. Il peso della doppia crisi geopolitica si sta rivelando troppo elevato, per l’Europa e per l’Italia in particolare.