Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's former spokesperson urged him Sunday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin face-to-face in Moscow, arguing that his past business and political connections in the Russian capital from years back could help him negotiate a peace deal there.

Iuliia Mendel, who served as Zelenskyy's spokesperson from 2019 to 2021, told Fox News Digital that the former comedian had also made his first millions in Russia and should perhaps leverage those ties to pursue lasting peace.

"When Zelenskyy was an entertainer, he often performed in Moscow," Mendel said, adding that the Ukrainian president "knows a lot of people from Putin's elite."

"He actually professionally grew in Moscow and earned his first millions in Moscow, and today he pretends that he has nothing in common with them," Mendel said.

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"He needs to go to Moscow and needs to agree on compromises that are acceptable," she said, before adding that Zelenskyy "doesn't need to play his maximalist games and to play this noble actor."

Mendel's criticism came as Ukraine, Russia and the United States prepared for another round of technical-level peace talks, potentially in Abu Dhabi or Switzerland, in November.

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have helped lay the groundwork for renewed negotiations that officials hope could finally lead to direct talks between the two leaders.

Before entering politics, Zelenskyy had built a successful entertainment career. Beginning in the late 1990s, he performed with the comedy troupe Kvartal 95, competed on the Russian-language comedy program KVN and later worked as an actor, writer and producer in television and movies. 

From the late 1990s, he performed on Russian stages and at private parties and appeared in movies shown across former Soviet republics, Mendel claimed. 

She said that after Russia annexed Crimea and launched its war in Donbas in early 2014, Zelenskyy traveled to Russia to work on the comedy film "Eight New Dates" which was released in Russian theaters in 2015.

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According to a report by Business Insider, many of Zelenskyy's movies were also in Russian and were marketed to a Russian audience, David Dodson, an American movie editor who worked with Zelenskyy told the outlet.

"He was a well-loved comic, actor and performer in Russia, but after [the 2013-14] Maidan [Revolution], everything changed," Dodson said.

"People need to realize that Volodya’s movies were very big in Russia. Most of his market was in Russia. He’s always been a popular comedy star in Russia," Dobson also clarified to GQ when asked if he directed the former actor in "Eight First Dates" in Russia, released in 2012.

In 2013, the movie received the Russian National Movie Awards as the Best Russian Comedy of the Year.

In 2019, Zelenskyy also promised to relinquish ownership of a Cyprus-registered company operating a film studio in Russia after investigative journalists revealed that he and his business partners still owned three Russian companies, according to the Kyiv Post.

Zelenskyy's entertainment career made him a household name in Ukraine and other former Soviet republics before he entered politics and won Ukraine's 2019 presidential election with roughly 73% of the runoff vote on promises to fight corruption and pursue peace in eastern Ukraine.

Mendel argued that Zelenskyy's promise to bring peace at the time stands in stark contrast to the devastating war that has crippled the country and defined much of his presidency.

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"Zelenskyy became the president with 73% record support," Mendel said. "Because he promised to bring peace to Ukraine."

"And now he has been presiding for almost five years (over) the largest war in Europe since World War II. This shows a lot."

"When his country is bleeding, he needs to make a peace deal for his people," she said before adding that the leader "needs to put the interests of his people first, just for Ukraine to exist as an independent state."

Whether Zelenskyy should travel to Moscow has, in fact, become a flashpoint in efforts to arrange direct peace talks.

In 2025, Putin offered to host Zelenskyy for talks in Moscow, but the Ukrainian president rejected the invitation as Russian forces continued attacking Ukraine.

"He can come to Kyiv," Zelenskyy told ABC News at the time, saying he could not visit Moscow while Ukraine remained under Russian missile attacks.

In September, on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Russian journalists pressed Zelenskyy on when he would visit Moscow. He replied, "On a missile."

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Mendel, however, argued that personal animosity between the two leaders has become the main obstacle to diplomacy.

"Today there are diplomatic efforts to try to stop this brutal and bloody war that Russia started," she said.

"But what we see now is a personal opposition between Zelenskyy and Putin that continues to grow into constant escalation in which people suffer tremendously, Ukraine's infrastructure, energy grid, and businesses are in ruins, and refugees are fleeing."

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. More than four years later, peace negotiations are deadlocked over territory, security guarantees and the terms of a lasting ceasefire.

Moscow has demanded territorial concessions from Ukraine, including areas Russian forces do not fully control.

Kyiv has rejected ceding sovereign territory and insists that any agreement include enforceable security guarantees against another Russian attack.

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Mendel went on to praise President Donald Trump's efforts to break the diplomatic deadlock, calling him the first Western leader to "challenge the status quo" and consistently push for an end to the war.

"For this reason, many Ukrainians place great hope in his ability to bring peace," she said.

"A sustainable peace deal cannot be reached solely between Zelensky and Putin; it requires the involvement and initiative of a strong third party to halt the ongoing devastation."

On Friday, the White House announced that first lady Melania Trump had helped broker a temporary ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in southern Ukraine's Kherson region, to allow humanitarian aid deliveries, demining operations and civilian evacuations.

An estimated 1,700 to 2,000 people remain in the devastated front-line town, many of them facing severe shortages of food, medicine and other essentials.

The White House said the ceasefire would begin Oct. 29, although Ukrainian and Russian officials have indicated that operations could begin Oct. 27.

Pope Leo also reportedly spoke with Zelenskyy and Putin about the humanitarian crisis, according to Vatican News.

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"Melania Trump has become synonymous with the words of a saver and a hero, since she has brokered the deal for Oleshky," Mendel said. "This is something that is going to save around 2,000 people and that neither Ukraine nor Russia could have solved for months and months."

"That is why, you know, what Melania Trump has done is actually a case to show that where two men are fighting, a woman can actually save lives," she added.

"And this is the new approach that would show that peace really should focus on human lives, not on maps and territories."

Mendel also criticized the influence of Zelenskyy's longtime ally Andriy Yermak on his diplomatic approach, arguing that the Ukrainian president has favored confrontation over compromise.

"Mr. Yermak was teaching Zelenskiy to be a strong man in diplomacy. And what today we see is actually diplomacy that doesn't exist," she said.

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"It's a diplomacy of humiliation, diplomacy of constant threats, diplomacy of demands," Mendel added.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado made returned to her home country on Sunday after nearly a year abroad, re-entering a political landscape transformed by the U.S. ouster of Nicolás Maduro.

"I'm here. With you all," Machado wrote on social media, announcing her return for the first time since December. Her homecoming comes as Venezuela remains under the leadership of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a longtime Maduro ally backed by the Trump administration, with no presidential election scheduled.

President Donald Trump, asked about Machado's return by reporters in Port Huron, Michigan, said he was unaware of the development but expressed hope for her safety.

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"I don't know anything about it, but I think she's a very nice woman," Trump said. "She gave me her Nobel Prize. So how can I say anything else? And I hope she's safe. She's a very nice woman. But we're doing really well in Venezuela."

Machado, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 for her peaceful opposition to Maduro's government, did not disclose her exact location or provide details about how she returned.

Fellow opposition leader Edmundo González, who ran for president in 2024 after Machado was barred from seeking office, confirmed her arrival on social media and said he would join her "very soon."

"Today is a very important day for Venezuelans. Our sovereign voice returns with her to lead and guide this process!" González wrote on X. "You know it, this is until the end."

Machado's return comes nearly 10 months after U.S. forces captured Maduro in January, removing the longtime leader from power.

Rodríguez, Maduro's former vice president, has remained in power with the Trump administration's support, despite exceeding the period she was initially authorized to serve as acting president.

Trump has repeatedly praised his administration's relationship with Rodríguez, highlighting agreements involving Venezuelan oil production and other business ventures with American companies.

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In September, Trump said it was too soon to consider holding democratic elections in Venezuela, with U.S. officials prioritizing economic stabilization. Machado and her allies, meanwhile, have pushed for an election date, arguing that democratic governance is essential to the country's long-term stability.

Her return could complicate relations between the Venezuelan opposition, the interim government and Washington. Reuters reported in June that U.S. officials had asked Machado to delay her return.

Machado spent much of 2025 in hiding after being briefly detained following an opposition protest that January. She later secretly left Venezuela and resurfaced in Norway in December to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Meanwhile, a faction of the Venezuelan opposition and Rodríguez's government held another round of talks this month focused on reforms to the country's Supreme Court and electoral authorities ahead of eventual elections, Reuters reported.

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Machado's political movement has not participated in those negotiations.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Siobhan MacDermott, a 56-year-old tech founder based in Menlo Park, California. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I've never been underqualified for any job that I've applied to.

I was vice chair at Bank of America and principal at EY. I held senior roles in cybersecurity at AVG and McAfee. I've sat in boardrooms with Fortune 500 CEOs, advised governments, and built practices from scratch.

Then, in early 2024, when I was 54, I had to relocate from New York City to California for family reasons, leaving the management consulting job I'd held as a partner at The Consello Group. I didn't anticipate what could happen when someone tries to re-enter the institutional world in their 50s — particularly as a woman in a career space that doesn't fit neatly into a job description.

The most surprising barrier has been the gap between what I've actually done and what the market knows how to categorize. I'm worried because I'm not sure where the economy is heading, but I'm an absolute eternal optimist.

I'm not going to accept anything other than staying hopeful.

I felt like my job application was going into the ether

It's been frustrating to watch organizations that desperately need exactly what I've built not hire me.

When I started my job search, I reached out to my network to try to figure out what I could do, who'd vouch for me, and where open positions were. A lot of senior roles were being downsized, but I had a lot of people who initially wanted to help me find something.

The strategies that were a complete waste of time were LinkedIn Easy Apply, recruiter calls that went nowhere, and any process that involved a 45-minute competency-based interview with someone who'd never heard of the big companies I've worked for.

I spent the better portion of every day for over a year applying and looking for jobs. I obsessively searched on LinkedIn for new positions, applying over and over again on the site, company websites, emails, and more, but getting nowhere.

I sent out countless résumés and barely got any responses. These are jobs that I know I'm qualified or overqualified to do, but sometimes I didn't even get the courtesy of the automated "thank you for applying" response.

It was like my application went into the ether. I'd try to find the head of HR for these companies on LinkedIn and reach out to them because I wanted the feedback.

I started trying to think of interesting ways to get attention

The strategy that worked the best during my job search was bypassing HR entirely and using direct outreach to CEOs and board members.

I'd send them letters not even related to a job, but more of an observation of their company to get their attention. I tried to be crafty, saying, "Based on my external assessment of your company, here are some things that I think you should be doing as you think through your next quarter."

Reaching out to CEOs got me in the door, but then they'd send me down to somebody who was pretty junior who'd say, "You're overqualified for this job." They'd courtesy interview me because they'd been told to, but it didn't go beyond that.

Sometimes a CEO would send me to HR, and HR would look at my skill set and say, "It doesn't quite match."

That happened quite a few times.

I adjusted my LinkedIn profile to get a better response, and that helped

I changed my gender to male and back to female a bunch of times to see if it made a difference — I didn't change my pronouns, just my actual gender. I felt like I had more responses on LinkedIn being thought to be male than female.

I also think being in Silicon Valley, you age out a lot faster than you do in other parts of the US, and it's definitely a highly male- dominated space. I had those two things working against me from the get-go.

So I removed the first six years of my career from my work experience on LinkedIn, and I took the dates off of my degrees so that people couldn't tell my age. This made me seem seven to 10 years younger, potentially. Once I took those dates off, I felt like I got more engagement on the site.

My job search in Silicon Valley went nowhere, so I decided to pivot and launch my own venture

I started my company out of necessity, and also out of intellectual boredom. I felt like my brain was starting to rot.

It happened about a year into job searching, when I started feeling financial pressure and frustration. I didn't want my full-time job to be looking for a job. My search wasn't looking like it was going anywhere in the foreseeable future, especially out in Silicon Valley. If you're a computer scientist or an engineer, there are jobs available, but I couldn't find a lot out here not in that space.

I started thinking, what am I good at? What do I know? What are all the pieces that I could put together? What problem can I identify that needs to be solved? That came together pretty quickly, and I launched two companies — Khaos Holdings, a strategic risk-intelligence company, and TeenAegis, a child-safety intelligence business, in January.

We're raising capital, and if the capital comes in, that will be the end of my job search. If the capital doesn't come in, then I'll keep searching — but I've decided that whatever I do will be adjacent to the problem I'm trying to solve now.

One good thing came out of the 2 years since my last job

Being out of work for two years shifted my retirement timeline eight to 10 years from digging into savings. However, since my job search started, I've really homed in on what I want to do with the rest of my career.

The journey I went on was a little bit of a midlife crisis. I asked myself, "What's my purpose in life?" as opposed to "What job do I want to have?" and then identified what skill set could bring me to that.

What led me to where I am was really thinking through questions like: What are all the issues that matter to me? What legacy do I want to leave? How do I want to think about my future for the next 10 or 15 years? How do I want to show up every day?

In the beginning, I was going to apply to anything that I could qualify for that would get me some money. Now I'm not going to do that because I don't think that's going to actually be fulfilling or make me happy. My sense of stability has required a deliberate reframe — from "security comes from a salary" to "security comes from what I've built and what I know."

I'm determined to make this work, but I also realize it may not

The hardest thing is maintaining a positive attitude day after day. If my company doesn't work out, then it's not like I can stop trying.

Taking mental health breaks is important because it's overwhelming, lonely, and hard. You lose your sense of self-worth when you're in this position; people look at you like, "Oh, you're the person who's still looking for a job." So it's hard to continue to put yourself out there.

Still, I do believe there's light at the end of the tunnel. It's just the question of how long the tunnel is.

Do you have a story to share about navigating your career in your 50s? If so, please reach out to the editor, Manseen Logan, at mlogan@businessinsider.com.

Após duas décadas de avanços e recuos, o Centro Interpretativo do Estado Novo - Regime e Resistência abriu portas na Escola Cantina Salazar, com coordenação científica da Associação Ephemera, fundada por Pacheco Pereira

• Over the past decade, I've traveled solo to all 50 US states and most major US national parks.
• Although I've found beauty in every state, there are some that I want to visit over and over again.
• I love traveling to places like New Mexico, Montana, New Hampshire, and Arizona.

Over the past decade, I've successfully visited all 50 US states solo, and have even made it to most of the major US national parks along the way. Because of this journey, I'm often asked which states I'd recommend to travelers.

Although most international travelers gravitate toward states like Florida and New York, I've found fantastic beauty and history in every state.

However, these are the 10 I always return to.

New Mexico boasts a surprising variety of stunning landscapes.

New Mexico is always at the top of my list of recommendations. Nicknamed "the land of enchantment," it lives up to its moniker — and then some.

Those who haven't visited New Mexico may think of the state as a mostly barren desert, but it's actually the diverse landscapes that keep me coming back.

From the otherworldly dunes of White Sands National Park to the snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains, there's beauty to be found around every corner.

Outside the natural beauty, the state is chock full of history, art, food, wine, and culture.

California is full of diverse landscapes and experiences.

Every time I visit California, I feel like I'm entering a completely different reality.

The sheer size and diversity of the state are impressive, and it has gorgeous beaches, cities, forests, deserts, mountains, and even volcanoes.

I love road-tripping up the coast, visiting Yosemite National Park, taking a boat to the Channel Islands, and wine tasting in places like Napa and Sonoma.

Montana is a must-visit state for any outdoor enthusiast.

With its vast open spaces, majestic mountains, and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, Montana is a must-visit state for any outdoor enthusiast.

The state is home to the breathtaking Glacier National Park and parts of Yellowstone National Park. The sky is vast and open, the mountains are towering, and the lack of development makes me feel like I'm entering another world entirely.

I've returned to West Virginia multiple times.

Although it may not get as much attention as some of the other states on this list, I've returned to West Virginia multiple times since my first visit.

The state's natural beauty is stunning, from New River Gorge National Park to ample lush forests, underground caverns, historic small towns, and over 200 waterfalls.

Wisconsin is home to beautiful scenery and great dining options.

Wisconsin has so much more than first meets the eye, from the natural beauty of the Apostle Islands and the 15,000 lakes in the state to the classic cheese curds, breweries, and wineries that dot the landscape.

I love spending time along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, dining at one of the state's famous supper clubs, and exploring the many Wisconsin state parks.

There's no place quite like the Maine coast.

There's so much to love about Maine, but my favorite part of the state is the coast. With jagged and dramatic cliffs, lighthouses, and lobster shacks, visiting the Maine coast is an unforgettable experience.

It's easy to find peace in the state that sees the first sunrise of the year and is home to Acadia National Park, which is one of the country's most-popular national parks.

I love to road trip up the coast, stopping in beautiful towns like Kennebunkport, Bar Harbour, and Lubec.

As my home state, Colorado will always hold a special place in my heart.

I couldn't write a list like this without including my home state of Colorado. The state has so much to offer, from beautiful views to fun activities.

On the Front Range, I enjoy hiking in Boulder and exploring Cheyenne Cañon. I like to spend the night at the The Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs before heading over to Great Sand Dunes National Park.

In the Rockies, I love driving Independence Pass to Aspen, as well as exploring the underrated Grand Mesa, which is the biggest flat-top mountain in the world. I also enjoy taking road trips to the charming mountain towns of Telluride, Buena Vista, and Steamboat Springs.

No matter where you find yourself in Colorado, there's no shortage of incredible natural beauty and outdoor adventure.

New Hampshire boasts some of the best skiing and hiking in the Northeast.

The Northeast is famous for its fall foliage, but I can't help but think that New Hampshire is sometimes overshadowed by its neighbors, Maine and Vermont.

I was stunned by its natural beauty during my first trip to the state. From the White Mountains to Franconia Notch State Park, the state boasts some of the best skiing and hiking in the Northeast.

Utah is home to five major national parks.

Utah is a state that you have to see to believe. With five major national parks, 46 state parks, 15 ski resorts, and hidden gems at every turn — you'll never get bored here.

I love visiting Moab to hike in Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse Point State Park before heading south to Bryce Canyon National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, and Zion National Park.

I also like making stops in Park City and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.

Arizona is the perfect escape for adventure and relaxation.

Arizona is well known for the Grand Canyon, but the state has much more to offer. From Flagstaff's high-altitude forests to Sedona's iconic red rocks, Arizona's diversity is surprising and worth a trip.

I love hiking among the cacti in Sedona or Scottsdale before heading to one of the many resorts to jump in a pool or hit the spa — the perfect escape for adventure and relaxation.

This story was originally published on April 5, 2024, and most recently updated on October 23, 2026.

Carros de quatro classes diferentes nos cinco primeiros lugares
Duas motos mais rápidas separadas por 17,1 segundos

Sob temperaturas anormalmente altas para a época, os concorrentes da 40.ª edição da bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500 enfrentaram as desafiantes pistas do Alto Alentejo no primeiro dia de competição. João Ferreira e Filipe Palmeiro, em Toyota Hilux EVO, foram os mais rápidos entre os participantes nos automóveis. Micael Simão, em KTM 500 EXC, ditou as leis entre os pilotos de moto, enquanto Tomás Paulo, em Yamaha YFZ450R, impôs um ritmo inalcançável pelos adversários dos quads. Já nos SSV, Roberto “Beto” Borrego é o melhor na categoria mais equilibrada até ao momento.

O dia começou com o habitual prólogo, nas imediações de Portalegre. Nos cerca de cinco quilómetros do percurso, João Ferreira e Filipe Palmeiro registaram o melhor tempo e garantiram a prioridade de escolher a posição em pista para o setor da tarde. Contudo, com a pista muito seca, Ferreira sentiu que “o troço parecia ainda mais sinuoso”. Ainda assim, garantiu o melhor tempo.

Viria a perder o estatuto de líder quando Sean Haran e Martin Hales, em Polaris RZR Pro R, passaram pela tomada de tempos com um tempo mais baixo e assumiram o comando da classificação. Esta situação não durou muito. Os ingleses não respeitaram uma neutralização que tinham de cumprir no decorrer do setor seletivo e foram penalizados em 3m24s. Com isso, foram relegados para fora do top-10. 

“Na primeira parte do setor, só queríamos sobreviver e passar sem bater. Correu tudo bem, sem erros e a verdadeira prova só começa amanhã”, acrescentou João Ferreira.

Concluída a primeira etapa, Luís Cidade e Valter Cardoso colocam o BRP Can-Am Maverick R no segundo lugar, a 25,3s da liderança. Isso permite-lhes entrar na segunda etapa na discussão pela vitória. À procura do quinto triunfo em Portalegre, Ricardo Porém (Taurus EVO Max) termina o primeiro dia no terceiro lugar, mas já mais longe dos da frente. No total, são 54,6 os segundos que o separa do topo da classificação. 

Nas contas reservadas aos concorrentes do evento nacional, Lino e Fábio Carapeta, em Ford Ranger, estão na frente da tabela classificativa com quase dois minutos de vantagem sobre Sérgio Matos e Sebastião Dominguez, em Toyota Hilux. 

Simão lançado à procura do “bis”

Nas motos, Micael Simão está à procura do segundo triunfo na carismática prova de TT e, para já, destaca-se dos restantes. Como resultado, Simão foi o mais rápido no prólogo e voltou a obter a melhor marca no primeiro setor seletivo.

Gustavo Gaudêncio, em Honda CRF 250RX, foi quem melhor réplica deu ao líder e parte para o segundo dia de competição a 17,1 segundos de Simão. Bernardo Megre, em KTM 450 EXC, ocupa a terceira posição, a 41,9 segundos do primeiro classificado. 
“Correu bem. Vim muito cauteloso. Falhei imensas curvas e tive algumas saídas em frente porque o percurso seguia de frente para o sol ainda um pouco baixo. Isso dificultou-me a visão. Também não terei feito a melhor escolha (de óculos). Acabei por vir com cautelas, também para guardar alguma energia para amanhã. São quase 300 quilómetros e o objetivo é atacar para lutar pela vitória”, afirmou Micael Simão. 

Tomás Paulo não dá hipóteses a ninguém

Tomás Paulo foi o grande protagonista entre os quads. Depois de ter vencido o prólogo por 4,7 segundos sobre Luís Fernandes (Yamaha YFZ450R), voltou a ser superior no primeiro setor seletivo e termina o primeiro dia de competição da bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500 na frente, com 1m51,6s de vantagem sobre Fernandes que ocupa a segunda posição. 

O seu andamento foi de tal forma vivo que seria o primeiro classificado numa hipotética classificação conjunta entre motos e quads. 

“Foi uma etapa boa. Uma etapa gira, apesar do pó. Nós, os quads mais rápidos, apanhamos algumas motos. Torna-se um bocado mais difícil de passar nas zonas encadeadas. Mas nada é impossível. Basta ter um bocadinho de paciência porque a prova é para todos. A etapa foi muito boa. Gostei bastante. Que venha mais, amanhã”, disse Tomás Paulo. 

“Beto” Borrego quer continuar a fazer história

O prólogo na categoria dos SSV foi o mais renhido de todas as incluídas na bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500. Roberto “Beto” Borrego e Domingos Cunha, em Polaris RZR Pro R, venceram por apenas 0,3 segundos. O resultado neste primeiro desafio terá servido de tónico e o piloto de Ponte de Sor voltou a ser o mais forte no setor da tarde. Chegou ao final do dia com 53,9 segundos de vantagem sobre Tiago Guerreiro e Carlos Paulino, que competem com um carro igual. 

“O balanço do primeiro dia é positivo. Não arriscámos muito. Adotámos um ritmo forte e constante. Não queríamos abusar nesta etapa. Amanhã é que é o dia principal. O carro está excelente. A equipa fez um ótimo trabalho. Estamos todos de parabéns. Não acho que estivesse muito duro. Nós e a máquina sofremos mais quando há lama. Eu sou um fã de piso seco e, por isso, para mim estava excelente. O nosso objetivo é vencer e atingir um resultado ainda melhor em Portalegre que são as dez vitórias”, afirmou Roberto “Beto” Borrego. 

Ainda nesta categoria, os líderes do campeonato, Pedro Antunes e Nuno Batalha (Polaris RZR Pro R) ocupam a terceira posição, a 1m04,2s dos líderes. 

Muitas competições em simultâneo

No primeiro dia de corrida na 40.ª edição da bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500, houve inúmeros motivos de interesse para os adeptos do todo-o-terreno seguirem. Além das categorias já referidas, na zona do prólogo realizaram-se diversas corridas da Mini Baja. Mais de meia centena de jovens pilotos, com idades compreendidas entre os 8 e os 16 anos, discutiram os melhores lugares, sempre com o respeito pelo próximo e o desportivismo como princípios orientadores da participação na competição. 

Nos automóveis, para comemorar as 40 edições da clássica alentejana, vários clássicos e carros do Troféu UMM apresentaram-se à partida. Entre os primeiros, Pedro Correia da Silva e Luís Resende, em Toyota Land Cruiser, terminaram na frente da classificação, enquanto na prova exclusiva do modelo português, João Couto e João Santos são os melhores. 

Amanhã, o dia volta a ser preenchido. A competição começa bem cedo, logo às 7h50, com as primeiras motos a arrancarem para o setor seletivo do dia. As categorias Promoção e Hobby serão as primeiras em ação e abrem caminho para os concorrentes que fazem a distância completa. No total, serão mais de 270 quilómetros contra o cronómetro. Nos automóveis, haverá dois setores seletivos para percorrer. O vencedor será conhecido ao cabo de praticamente 360 quilómetros. 

Com colaboração do Ganinete de Impressa da Baja Portalegre 500

O preconizado corte de 50% na retenção de IRS em novembro, fará com que um salário de 1.000 euros fique sujeito a 34 euros de IRS para o conjunto do vencimento e subsídio de natal, em vez de 70 euros, segundo veicula o Notícias ao Minuto com base na publicação de hoje em Diário da República (DR).

O montante final a reter em novembro para refletir a descida intercalar do IRS em 2026, por despacho do Governo publicado hoje em DR, estabelece que, nesse mês, as entidades pagadoras de salários e pensões, em vez de cobrarem a percentagem habitual de IRS, só retêm metade desse valor.

Como o corte se aplica quer ao vencimento mensal quer ao subsídio de natal, que é sujeito a retenção de forma separada, a quantia de IRS a entregar ao Estado em novembro relativamente ao conjunto das duas remunerações – salário e subsídio – será semelhante àquela que em condições normais se aplicaria apenas ao salário mensal. As diferenças decorrem de arredondamentos a que as regras da retenção obedecem.

Saliente-se que o NM divulga os cálculos realizados pela Lusa os quais permitem visualizar esses efeitos em diferentes níveis de rendimento, como poderá observar adiante.

Confira as diferentes simulações dos salários

No caso de um trabalhador solteiro sem filhos que ganhe 1.000 euros brutos por mês, a retenção na fonte atual é de 35 euros.
Em novembro, com o corte de 50%, a retenção sobre o salário baixa para 17 euros – não para 17,50 euros, uma vez que o Código do IRS prevê que “a importância apurada mediante aplicação das taxas de retenção é arredondada para a unidade de euros inferior”.

Como o subsídio de natal é idêntico ao vencimento mensal, a retenção a fazer de forma autónoma sobre essa componente remuneratória também será de 17 euros.
Dessa forma, o valor global a reter de IRS nesse mês será de 34 euros. Sem o ajustamento agora fixado pelo Governo, seriam retidos 70 euros, 35 relativos ao salário e outros 35 ao subsídio.

A simulação é igual para um trabalhador casado com alguém que também aufere rendimentos.
Ou seja, num vencimento de 1.200 euros brutos por mês, a retenção mensal, atualmente nos 96 euros, baixa em novembro para 48 euros. Sobre o subsídio, a retenção será igualmente de 48 euros, colocando o total do IRS a entregar nos 96 euros.

Num vencimento bruto de 1.500 euros, a retenção passa de 168 euros para 84 euros, aplicando-se um valor idêntico ao subsídio.

Já para um rendimento mensal bruto de 2.000 euros, a retenção reduz-se dos atuais 301 euros para 150 euros, a que se soma uma cobrança igual sobre o subsídio de natal.

Para um trabalhador que recebe 3.000 euros brutos mensais, a entrega de IRS de novembro, em vez de 663 euros, recua para 331 euros, aos quais acrescem outros 331 euros sobre o subsídio de natal.

E num salário bruto de 5.000 euros por mês, a retenção mensal baixa de 1.452 euros para 726 euros, cobrando-se o mesmo sobre o subsídio.

Os cálculos são semelhantes para trabalhadores solteiros com filhos, com a diferença de que o valor de IRS a entregar é menor consoante o número de dependentes.

E acerca das pensões?

Numa pensão de 1.000 euros brutos mensais, de um reformado casado com alguém que também aufere rendimentos, o IRS a reter em novembro sobre a pensão será de 10 euros, em vez dos 20 habituais, sendo o pensionista chamado ainda a entregar 10 euros relativos à retenção do subsídio de natal.

Um pensionista com uma reforma de 1.500 euros, em vez de entregar 151 euros, fará uma retenção de IRS em novembro de 75 euros, a que acrescem 75 euros sobre o subsídio de natal.

Numa pensão de 1.800 euros, o valor a reter em novembro, em vez de 223 euros, será de 111 euros, acrescendo outros 111 sobre o subsídio de natal.

Um pensionista que receba 3.000 euros brutos, e que atualmente retém 678 euros por mês, irá entregar 339 euros em novembro, mais 339 sobre o subsídio de natal.

É de referir que tanto os salários como as pensões até aos 920 euros não fazem retenção na fonte, porque se encontram isentos de IRS por via do mínimo de existência, que exclui de tributação os rendimentos mais baixos.

A redução da cobrança de IRS em 50% só se aplica em novembro, para refletir nesse mês a descida das taxas gerais do 1.º ao 6.º escalão de rendimento.
Em dezembro, voltam a aplicar-se as taxas normais fixadas desde o início do ano, ou seja, sem a redução de 50%.

Exposição percorre quatro espaços do concelho e coloca imagens históricas lado a lado com recriações feitas por jovens olhanenses

A exposição fotográfica “Olhão antes e depois” foi inaugurada  sábado, 10 de outubro, nos Mercados Municipais de Olhão, dando-se aí início a um percurso por quatro espaços do concelho — Mercados Municipais, Ria Shopping, Escola Secundária Dr. Francisco Fernandes Lopes e Casa Municipal da Juventude de Olhão Hugo Charrão —, onde estará patente até 13 de novembro.

Com curadoria de Luís Torres e integrada na programação cultural do Bicentenário da Câmara Municipal de Olhão, a exposição coloca lado a lado imagens históricas da cidade e recriações fotográficas realizadas por jovens olhanenses, propondo um olhar sobre a evolução urbana de Olhão e convidando a comunidade a percorrer a cidade através do tempo.

A mostra nasceu do desafio lançado a alunos do 10.º ano da área de Multimédia da Escola Secundária Dr. Francisco Fernandes Lopes para recriarem, nos dias de hoje e nos mesmos locais, uma seleção de cerca de 50 fotografias históricas de Olhão. Participaram no projeto os alunos Miguel Sousa, Samuel Ventura e Maria Moniz, bem como Charline Fournier, elemento do Clube de Fotografia da Casa Municipal da Juventude Hugo Charrão.

Para concretizar o trabalho, foram utilizadas fotografias com cerca de 70 a 80 anos, pertencentes ao Arquivo Municipal de Olhão, e imagens com 40 a 50 anos, provenientes do arquivo pessoal de Luís Torres. Depois de um processo de pesquisa e levantamento, os participantes percorreram as ruas da cidade e procuraram reproduzir os enquadramentos originais, recriando as imagens nos mesmos locais e permitindo uma comparação direta entre diferentes épocas.

O resultado é uma exposição distribuída por quatro núcleos expositivos, que propõe um percurso pela cidade através das suas transformações e permanências. O confronto entre as fotografias históricas e as imagens atuais permite observar a evolução urbana de Olhão, mas também recuperar lugares, edifícios e espaços que fazem parte da memória coletiva da cidade.

No dia da inauguração, o percurso pelos quatro núcleos começa nos Mercados Municipais, às 10:30, seguindo para o Ria Shopping, às 11:15, para a Escola Secundária Dr. Francisco Fernandes Lopes, às 11:45, e terminando na Casa Municipal da Juventude de Olhão Hugo Charrão, às 12:15.

A exposição poderá ser visitada até 13 de novembro, nos quatro espaços, de acordo com os respetivos horários de funcionamento.

Com esta iniciativa, o Município de Olhão pretende valorizar a criatividade e o envolvimento dos jovens olhanenses e, simultaneamente, promover junto da comunidade um maior conhecimento da história contemporânea e da evolução urbana da cidade. O projeto terá ainda continuidade, estando prevista a sua passagem pelas várias freguesias do concelho.

Integrada no programa comemorativo dos 200 anos da Câmara Municipal de Olhão, “Olhão antes e depois” aproxima diferentes gerações através da fotografia e proporciona uma viagem visual entre o Olhão de ontem e o Olhão de hoje.

A Câmara Municipal de Loulé adjudicou a empreitada para a manutenção e reabilitação da primeira fase do Pavilhão Gimnodesportivo Carlos Gravata, em Quarteira.

Os trabalhos incidirão prioritariamente na remodelação profunda dos balneários deste pavilhão que faz parte da Escola EB2,3 D. Dinis.

A intervenção foi adjudicada por um valor total que ronda os 750 mil euros. O projeto prevê a execução dos trabalhos num prazo de 4 meses. No entanto, para salvaguardar o normal funcionamento das atividades escolares e desportivas, os trabalhos fora da zona dos balneários deverão estar concluídos até ao final de agosto.

Diariamente são centenas os jovens e crianças que aqui vêm praticar diferentes modalidades, não só no contexto do desporto escolar, mas também associativo. Considerando que este recinto desportivo se encontra em estado acentuado de degradação, esta obra assume um caráter urgente para a Autarquia, visando dotar a infraestrutura desportiva escolar de condições modernas e de conforto para todos os estudantes e utentes do espaço que aqui praticam desporto.

“Trata-se de uma obra aguardada há anos e que irá finalmente avançar para melhorar as condições da prática desportiva nesta freguesia. É um investimento significativo e prioritário para o bem-estar da nossa comunidade, em particular dos nossos jovens, e para o futuro do desporto em Quarteira”, sublinha o presidente da Autarquia, Telmo Pinto.