At least 800,000 people demonstrate nationwide as police make 135 arrests. A protester suffers multiple finger amputations.

Massive protests against the administration of President Emmanuel Macron proceeded peacefully for much of Saturday in several French cities.

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Police brutality, however, changed the atmosphere of the day as security forces began cracking down on demonstrators. By 1 p.m., French police had made 135 arrests amid beatings of citizens.

At least 800,000 people demonstrated across France on Oct. 24. However, tensions erupted in Paris and Marseille “during the dispersal of demonstrations,” TF1 Info reported.

The Haute-Garonne prefecture reported that a young man suffered a serious hand injury at the end of a demonstration in the Arenes neighborhood.

🔴️️ À Bordeaux, des manifestants lèvent les mains pour montrer leur caractère inoffensif, la police les charge et les gaze sauvagement

Partout en France, le mouvement populaire s'est amplifié. Les mêmes foules massives ont défilé pour exiger le blocage des prix, l'abrogation… pic.twitter.com/C9Cvuy2MB5

— L'insoumission (@L_insoumission) October 24, 2026

The text reads, “In Bordeaux, protesters raise their hands to show they pose no threat; the police charge at them and brutally gas them. Across France, the grassroots movement has gained further momentum. Massive crowds have taken to the streets to demand a price freeze, the repeal of the Parcoursup system, wage increases, and the inclusion in the budget of the 10 billion euros requested by high school and university students to address their demands.”

The protester was evacuated by firefighters after several of his fingers were amputated. Videos show that a grenade thrown by police caused the young man’s injuries. Authorities said they would conduct an investigation to determine what happened.

At a news briefing, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 136 public order incidents had been recorded nationwide during Saturday’s demonstrations, which have drawn tens of thousands of French people into public spaces across the country so far.

“In Nantes, a police officer chokes a young man and slams his head against a wall, while his partner threatens to fire a less-lethal rubber-ball launcher at residents protesting… the Macron administration continues its repression through police brutality,” L’insoumission reported.

À Grenoble, la sauvagerie policière frappe une fois de plus. La préfète de l’Isère devra rendre des comptes après avoir modifié le tracé du cortège et imposé des couvre-feux à Grenoble.

Désormais, la police du ministre de la Violence, Laurent Nuñez, balance des gaz lacrymogènes… pic.twitter.com/jMPdskG8rP

— Allan Brunon (@allanbrunon) October 24, 2026

The text reads, “In Grenoble, police brutality has struck once again. The Isere prefect will have to answer for her actions, having altered the route of the demonstration and imposed curfews in Grenoble. Now, the police force under the ‘Minister of Violence’—Laurent Nuñez—is deploying tear gas and sowing chaos at a sanctioned demonstration. This government of incompetents is in its death throes.”

The security forces’ aggression against citizens occurred despite several cities authorizing demonstrations for Saturday, including Lille, Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Grenoble, Marseille, Toulouse, Amiens and Paris.

In Lyon, where demonstrations have been banned across a large part of the city center, law enforcement officers dispersed small gatherings using tear gas grenades.

On Friday, Nunez said that 70,000 police officers and gendarmes would be deployed nationwide for the demonstrations. Soldiers from the French army’s Operation Sentinelle would also be mobilized during the protests.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua – TF1 Info

People take to streets of Orleans as far-right National Rally party holds its congress.

On Saturday, under a gray sky threatening rain, thousands of people took to the streets of Orleans to say “NO” to fascism in France.

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They sought to counter far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who is officially launching her bid for the presidency of the Republic from the city this weekend as the front-runner.

“I’m protesting against Le Pen, the thief. She stole 3 million euros from European taxpayers and is still running as a candidate. She should go to prison. It’s a disgrace,” said Bruno, a resident of Orleans, a city of 116,000 people.

The retiree recalled the corruption case involving Le Pen and her party, the National Rally (RN), which diverted 2.8 million euros from the European Parliament to fund party expenses, as courts ruled in the first and second instances. Nevertheless, Le Pen avoided prison because she appealed to the Supreme Court, the third and final level of judicial review in France.

« La France n'est pas résignée ».

Nous avons marché à Orléans pour une France antiraciste, antifasciste, anticapitaliste, résolument humaniste.

Mes pensées vont d’abord à la famille du défunt et aux blessés de l’attentat raciste, islamophobe et négrophobe de Trappes. Nous… pic.twitter.com/7R9GLTC5Z6

— Bally Bagayoko (@BallyBagayoko) October 24, 2026

Bally Bagayoko’s text reads, “France does not resign. We march in Orleans for an anti-racist, anti-fascist, anti-capitalist and decidedly humanist France.

My thoughts go first to the family of the deceased and to those injured in the racist, Islamophobic and negrophobic attack of Trappes. We also work for you.

We were 26,000 people in the streets to say it loud and clear: the extreme right has no place in the Republic. 26,000 people in addition to the large crowds mobilized today throughout France against the high cost of living.

The same people, the same fight: for dignity, equality and social justice. We should have been more. The comrades who arrived by bus were blocked and parked at the motorway toll, preventing them from joining a peaceful meeting. What a shame for the prefect. silenced. They will not make us retreat.”

The march, organized by about 50 groups, including the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), proceeded peacefully through the northern part of the city along a route imposed by authorities, who kept left-wing demonstrators as far as possible from far-right activists gathered in the southern part of the city.

Thousands of people marched peacefully in a festive atmosphere despite the cold and restrictions imposed by authorities, who have banned Sunday’s demonstration, a move criticized by human rights organizations.

“Macron resign, Le Pen to prison” was one of the most frequently chanted slogans on Saturday morning, along with “The people united will never be defeated” and the national anthem, “La Marseillaise.”

French authorities deployed 3,000 police officers to Orleans to ensure the orderly conduct of the protest and the National Rally congress. The march organizers also kept watch throughout the event to ensure no one caused damage.

“I’m fed up with the far right being normalized. Things go much better when the left is in power,” said Fanny, who came out to protest despite being ill.

🇫🇷 Thousands of anti-fascist protesters took to the streets of Orléans to demonstrate against a congress held by Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party. pic.twitter.com/9R2zhEXuBZ

— Gianl1974 (@Gianl1974) October 24, 2026

The march lasted nearly three hours, accompanied by electronic music, Brazilian-style percussion groups and political messages. Participants ranged from children to older adults and came from all backgrounds.

Among those attending the demonstration was Bally Bakayoko, the mayor of Saint-Denis and a member of the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI). Dozens of people approached him to greet him, hug him and ask for selfies.

Over the past month, Bakayoko has become a symbol of the marches, particularly because of his support for young people’s demands and his efforts to position himself between them and police during baton and tear gas assaults at one of the mass protests that have put Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu under pressure.

The march was attended by Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure and CGT Secretary Sophie Binet. Although left-wing demonstrators mobilized peacefully, bars and restaurants in Orleans remained closed. Few businesses were open, even in Martroi Square. Those that were closed had covered their glass windows with boards and wooden panels.

“I trusted the left, and I know very well that we are capable of demonstrating calmly. What I was actually afraid of today was the far right,” said Juliette, a young doctor who took to the streets.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

The progressive leader seeks a fourth nonconsecutive term as Brazil heads to its tightest election in recent history.

On Saturday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gathered millions of supporters in Rio de Janeiro and said he was convinced of his victory over far-right Senator Flavio Bolsonaro.

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“I am sure we are going to win the elections. You can write it down: tomorrow I will be elected president of the Republic again,” the progressive leader declared to journalists just before setting off on a march along the Copacabana beach promenade.

The Workers’ Party (PT) leader and the son of former ruler Jair Bolsonaro will face off this Sunday for the presidency in the tightest election in Brazil’s recent history.

Lula, seeking his fourth nonconsecutive term at 80 years of age, began this last day of campaigning with a massive event in Rio, where his supporters dressed in red and unfurled a huge Brazilian flag.

Bora Rio de Janeiro! Bora Lula!
Os cariocas já estão nas ruas iniciando os atos por de a opoio a Lula que vão ocorrer em todo o Brasil todo.
Em Porto Alegre, nos encontramos às 17h, no Largo Zumbi dos Palmares.
Até breve.#Lula13 pic.twitter.com/dcVaYPu134

— Fernanda Melchionna (@fernandapsol) October 24, 2026

The text reads, “Let’s go Rio de Janeiro! Let’s go Lula! Cariocas are already in the streets starting the acts of support for Lula that will be held throughout Brazil. In Porto Alegre we meet at five in the afternoon, at Largo Zumbi dos Palmares. See you soon. Lula 13”

“We are going to win the elections, it is true that the people want change but a change for the better, forward. The people do not want to go backward,” said the former lathe operator who has become an indelible figure in South American history.

The Workers’ Party candidate accused Flavio Bolsonaro of being a “militiaman” in an allusion to the far-right candidate’s ties to relatives of Rio paramilitary groups.

“It is not possible that we fail to convince Brazilian society of the risk that democracy, freedom and people of good will face in this country,” Lula warned, and thanked the militancy for taking on the responsibility of the campaign after the first round with massive events in the streets and a strong mobilization on social networks.

“I have an army bigger than the Chinese and the American. It is the army of Lula,” the Brazilian president said in an allusion to a public WhatsApp channel that has gathered more than 10 million users who define themselves as soldiers of democracy in the fight against fascism.

On Saturday afternoon, Lula will travel to Sao Paulo, the country’s largest electoral district, to close his campaign. Meanwhile, Flavio Bolsonaro marched through the city of Belo Horizonte and will then move to Rio de Janeiro, the political cradle of bolsonarismo.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

The Spanish president warns of potential cuts to social and economic rights under far-right governments.

On Saturday, Pedro Sanchez, Spain’s President and secretary of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), pledged that if his party governs in the next legislative term, he will strengthen the right to abortion and enshrine its protection in the Constitution.

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During a pre-campaign rally in Granada, he also said he would keep euthanasia “standing as an achievement” and warned of cuts to social and economic rights that could be implemented by governments led by the conservative People’s Party (PP) or the far-right Vox party.

He began his speech by reading the poem “New Songs” by Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca in front of a special guest, singer Miguel Rios. The reading was a nod to the poet’s hometown, as Hispanist Ian Gibson had sent Sanchez an email asking him to include Lorca in his speech, coinciding with the 90th anniversary of the poet’s death.

Sanchez was particularly harsh on Alberto Nuñez-Feijoo, leader of the People’s Party, accusing him of trivializing and bargaining over women’s rights.

DIRECTO | Pedro Sánchez lee el poema 'Cantos nuevos' de Lorca en el mitin de Granada: "Esta es la España que no tiene miedo a su cultura, que no borra su cultura para vivir confortablemente" https://t.co/VWsIfGJLg7 pic.twitter.com/HNJKrfnjG3

— elDiario.es (@eldiarioes) October 24, 2026

The text reads, “Pedro Sanchez reads Lorca’s poem ‘New Songs’ at a rally in Granada: ‘This is the Spain that is not afraid of its culture, that does not erase its culture in order to live comfortably.’

“I don’t know whether Feijoo’s position stems from insolence or sectarianism,” Sanchez said, before criticizing the PP leader for calling himself a feminist because he grew up surrounded by women. He was referring to a statement the opposition leader made in an interview on Friday.

“Being a feminist does not mean growing up surrounded by women. Being a feminist does not mean cutting women’s rights. No man will ever again have a say in or control women’s rights and bodies,” the Spanish president said.

Sanchez also asked why all far-right politicians, such as Argentine President Javier Milei and U.S. President Donald Trump, “look to Spain.”

He answered his own question: “I’m very clear about that. They come because this government and this nation, Spain, are living proof that hope is far more effective than the hatred they spread.”

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

French leftist leader warns of weekly demonstrations and an impending general strike.

On Saturday, French radical left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon urged French President Emmanuel Macron to yield to protesters’ demands before leaving office in May 2027.

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“You still have time to give in; afterward, you will have no choice but to leave. Give in and stop wasting our time,” Melenchon, a four-time presidential candidate, said as he marched in the Paris demonstration, which proceeded between Porte d’Italie and Porte de Vincennes.

Melenchon, leader of France Unbowed (LFI), warned Macron that if social demands go unanswered, mobilizations such as the one taking place in France for the second consecutive Saturday “will be repeated every week.”

“This is a very important moment in the history of popular movements in our country,” Melenchon said, convinced that “a general strike is coming” for the authorities.

Victoire totale du mouvement social. La marche s'est rassemblée au nouveau point autorisé et déferle dans le calme sur plus de quatre kilomètres. Les provocations aux désordres du préfet de police et de Lecornu sont un échec total. Pour les autorités, il est temps de céder, sinon… pic.twitter.com/S3d6k2DWf3

— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) October 24, 2026

Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s text states: “A total victory for the social movement. The march has gathered at the newly authorized location and is proceeding calmly along a route over four kilometers long. The provocations intended to incite disorder—orchestrated by the police prefect and Lecornu—have failed completely. It is time for the authorities to yield; otherwise, they will soon have no choice but to head for the exit.”

Macron must decide whether to yield to the demands now or do so later under much more unpredictable circumstances, Melenchon said. He also accused the French president of adopting an attitude characteristic of an “absolute monarchy” by claiming to be “always right” in his dealings with others.

Melenchon said Macron had taken advantage of the state of shock caused by the racist terrorist attack in Trappes, on the outskirts of Paris, to change the route of the protest through the French capital, creating confusion among demonstrators.

“Everything is being prepared to provoke an explosion” and spark unrest, he said. He questioned the deployment of military personnel to protect public buildings and authorities’ recommendations that business owners turn to private security services, arguing that both measures contribute to rising tensions.

“They are doing absolutely everything to provoke an incident,” Melenchon insisted, urging demonstrators to remain calm, follow union instructions and maintain collective discipline “so that everything goes smoothly.”

Immense cortège à Paris pour demander l’abrogation de parcoursup, 10 milliards pour les lycéens, la hausse du SMIC et des salaires.

Et pour défendre notre liberté de manifester !

Les manœuvres de Nunez et Lecornu ont échoué. pic.twitter.com/eGJIiVKkH8

— Paul Vannier (@PaulVannierFI) October 24, 2026

The text reads, “A massive procession in Paris calling for the repeal of Parcoursup, 10 billion euros for high school students, and an increase in the minimum wage and salaries—as well as the defense of our right to protest! The maneuvers by Nunez and Lecornu have failed.”

For all these reasons, the leftist leader called on the French government to “stop provoking” demonstrators and “adding fuel to the fire,” and to listen to “demands that are not so difficult to meet.”

Melenchon also criticized meetings held during the week between the Macron administration and political parties, describing them as useless and theatrical.

“They live in a bubble, make decisions that have no connection to reality and are not even coordinated among themselves. That is why they are dangerous,” he said.

On Saturday, France faced a second day of nationwide demonstrations called by unions, students and the Yellow Vests movement to protest the rising cost of living and demand more public funding for education.

Following serious incidents on Saturday, Oct. 17, authorities deployed a major security operation on Saturday and banned demonstrations in several French cities, particularly those not organized by unions.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

Nearly 159 million voters are expected to cast ballots in a closely contested election, with polls showing the two candidates tied.

On Sunday, Oct. 25, Brazil will decide its future in the presidential runoff election, pitting President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against far-right Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro.

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Nearly 159 million Brazilians are eligible to elect their next president, who will take office on Jan. 5, 2027. Polling stations will be open for nine hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. Results will be known on Sunday, thanks to the country’s efficient electronic voting system.

The eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro enters the runoff with an advantage after receiving the most votes in the first round on Oct. 4, winning 47% of the vote, two percentage points more than the progressive leader. However, polls conducted in recent days have shown an upward trend for the Workers’ Party leader, who, at 80, is seeking his fourth nonconsecutive term.

According to the latest poll, released Thursday by polling firm Datafolha, the two candidates are tied at 50% of the valid votes. The outcome of the race is shaping up to be extremely close, even more so than in 2022, when Lula defeated Jair Bolsonaro by just over 2 million votes.

The leftist leader faces the difficult challenge of winning the election after finishing second in the first round. In the nine presidential elections held since the end of the military dictatorship (1964-1985), no one has managed such a feat. To make history, Lula will have to overcome the 2.2 million-vote gap separating him from Bolsonaro after the first round.

“I would like to ask for your vote because either we keep democracy functioning or we will have a militiaman governing this country,” Lula said on Friday night during the final televised debate before the runoff.

Este es Lula liderando con el sindicato del metal a los 33 años la huelga que desafió a la dictadura militar en Brasil. Logró aumentos salariales y fue encarcelado. Mientras, la única profesión del ultraderechista Flávio Bolsonaro ha sido la de político desde que tiene 21 años. pic.twitter.com/pp7YHexIqf

— Fonsi Loaiza (@FonsiLoaiza) October 23, 2026

The text reads, “Here is Lula, at age 33, leading the metalworkers’ union in a strike that defied Brazil’s military dictatorship. He secured wage increases and was subsequently imprisoned. Meanwhile, the far-right figure Flávio Bolsonaro has had only one profession—that of a politician—since the age of 21.”

Lula Changes Strategy

Over the past three weeks, Lula has radically shifted his campaign strategy. He has immersed himself in social media and energized his supporters with massive rallies in cities such as Belo Horizonte and Sao Paulo.

He has also stepped up announcements from the presidency: he obtained congressional approval for the reduction of the workweek, forgave the debts of millions of self-employed workers, and introduced incentive measures for the video game industry.

Lula also sent Parliament a proposal to make public transportation free on weekends and holidays in the country’s nearly 6,000 municipalities.

In recent weeks, the far-right Liberal Party (PL) senator has been significantly affected by the possible consequences of his own proposals. Among them is his intention to cut public spending by US$40 billion, although Flavio insists he does not intend to take a single cent from the most vulnerable.

In recent days, the Brazilian press has also revealed new suspicions about Flavio’s involvement in a money-laundering scheme linked to online betting.

📊 PESQUISA DATA FOLHA – NACIONAL
✅ VOTOS VÁLIDOS | 2º TURNO

🔴 Lula (PT): 50% (+1) ⬆️
🔵 Flávio Bolsonaro (PL): 50% (-1) ⬇️

CONTINUEM EMPENHADOS VIRANDO VOTOS PRO LULA, AGORA É GUERRA! pic.twitter.com/vEqZ2Yp3Le

— Nordeste é 13 (@thiegocomenta) October 22, 2026

The text reads: “Datafolha poll – valid votes nationwide | Runoff. Lula (Workers’ Party): 50% (+1). Flavio Bolsonaro (Liberal Party): 50% (-1). Keep working hard to secure votes for Lula—it’s all-out war now!”

Zuckerberg’s Meta Under Scrutiny for Aiding the Far Right

The 2026 presidential campaign has become embroiled in legal disputes on an unprecedented scale. The Superior Electoral Court has received more than 800 complaints throughout the election campaign.

One of those disputes has centered on the controversial conduct of Meta, the owner of WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook.

Lula’s supporters have requested the annulment of Bolsonaro’s candidacy over alleged interference by Mark Zuckerberg’s company, which they accuse of favoring the circulation of far-right content while restricting progressive content.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

Mayor Guerin attributes the incidents to activists from the Millevaches Plateau, which is home to anti-capitalist communities.

On Saturday, Prosecutor Emilie Abrantes confirmed that two men had been remanded in custody over their alleged involvement in the fire at Limoges City Hall during unrest accompanying protests against the rising cost of living in France.

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The suspects, ages 34 and 66, are under investigation in a judicial proceeding opened on several charges, including attempted murder of a police officer and destruction of the municipal building. Abrantes, however, did not specify the exact charges attributed to each man.

The first suspect, a 34-year-old man from the Creuse department, was arrested on Tuesday in Bussière-Boffy, in the Haute-Vienne department, with support from RAID, France’s elite police unit.

The construction industry temporary worker and environmental advocate is listed in police records for his alleged links to far-left organizations. He was convicted of an incident involving violence against an officer during an earlier demonstration in Creuse. The second suspect, 66, was arrested on Thursday in Gentioux-Pigerolles, a town in the same department.

On Oct. 17, an arson attack severely damaged Limoges City Hall, a historic building inaugurated in 1883. Videos show individuals breaking windows and forcing open the entrance to the municipal building before entering and setting fire to its interior.

🇫🇷 Multiple cities across France including #Lyon, Grenoble, Nice, Montpellier, Limoges, Tours, Rennes, Brest, Rouen, Lille and Nancy banned all public gatherings this weekend.

In some cities like #Marseille, trade unions received authorisation from the local prefecture to… pic.twitter.com/n5YnMHLQlI

— Mahalaxmi Ramanathan (@MahalaxmiRaman) October 24, 2026

Limoges Mayor Guillaume Guerin described the 34-year-old suspect as the likely mastermind behind the operation and accused far-left factions of being behind the act.

He specifically accused activists based on the Millevaches Plateau, a rural area of about 10,000 inhabitants located between the departments of Corrèze, Creuse and Haute-Vienne.

The area has been known for decades for attracting environmentalist, anarchist, and anti-capitalist communities. The region has been the scene of other acts of sabotage claimed in the past, including the burning of vehicles belonging to electricity company Enedis in Limoges in 2020 and the destruction of a telecommunications antenna in Haute-Vienne in 2021.

In April, the courts convicted the father of the younger of the two men jailed over the Limoges City Hall fire for those acts. The man, about 70, is known for his ties to anarchist circles and his past as a Basque independence activist in the 1980s.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

She deployed 500 paratroopers in the city center following last weekend’s riots and looting.

On Saturday, the city of Milan woke up under a heavy security presence as Italian security forces prepared for possible social unrest.

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The situation is being monitored constantly, but authorities remain calm because no major demonstrations have been detected so far. Surveillance efforts also extend to social media, where such events are often organized.

Authorities fear a repeat of events from the previous weekend, when a demonstration against the high cost of living degenerated into violent riots and looting carried out by young people, including minors.

The “October 17 Movement,” a group that emerged after those clashes, had initially called for another demonstration this Saturday in Duomo Square. In response, Milan has significantly increased security, particularly in its historic center.

I negozi del centro di Milano sono totalmente blindati per timore di una nuova guerriglia urbana. Le immagini in camminata tra le boutique di Via Montenapoleone. pic.twitter.com/xTIR7BUvPX

— Local Team (@localteamit) October 24, 2026

The text reads, “Commercial premises in downtown Milan are completely boarded up for fear of a new outbreak of urban unrest. A look at the scene among the boutiques on Via Montenapoleone.”

Some shops in the area have covered their storefronts with wooden panels to prevent them from being smashed, as happened a week ago.

The increased security presence is particularly visible, with officers receiving support from 500 paratroopers from the Folgore Brigade, whom the government of far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni deployed to the city.

The soldiers are patrolling Duomo Square, where about 10 police vans are parked, and also moving through tunnels in the subway network and along commercial streets such as Corso Buenos Aires, among other areas of the city.

The military’s mission is to reinforce the “Safe Streets Operation,” which has deployed personnel in the country’s busiest and most tourist-heavy areas since 2008.

Preciso che ci ho fatto il servizio militare, quindi so bene di cosa parlo.
E dico che sono la summa del fanatismo e dell’obbedienza ottusa.
Per carità, i parà sono unità di élite.
Unità da combattimento, addestrate per scenari di pic.twitter.com/HAcPEP4Bao

— Participio Partenopeo🌋🇵🇸 (@ParticipioPart) October 24, 2026

The text reads, “I should point out that I completed my military service, so I know exactly what I’m talking about. And I maintain that they are the epitome of fanaticism and mindless obedience. For God’s sake! Paratroopers are elite units—combat units, trained for combat scenarios.”

On Saturday morning, Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini toured downtown Milan to monitor the situation, as the day represents a test of the Italian government’s security strategy.

Last week, Meloni also approved a decree introducing deterrent legal measures, ranging from requiring parents to pay for damage caused by their children to the preventive detention of underage protesters.

So far, authorities have identified 273 demonstrators who took part in violent protests in Milan a week ago. Most are teenagers, and the youngest is 11. Forty have already been arrested.

On Friday, authorities monitored social media users in 18 cities in northern Italy and managed to identify about 100 demonstrators, half of whom are minors.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

Attack Damages Power Substation and 21 Buses in Rostov Region. Ukraine Reports Strikes on Two Russian Factories and an Airfield.

From Friday night to Saturday morning, Russian air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 616 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.

RELATED:

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Fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed over the territories of Belgorod, Bryansk, Volgograd, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kirov, Kursk, Lipetsk, Oryol, Penza, Rostov, Ryazan, Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Tambov, Tula, and Ulyanovsk.

Air defense systems also destroyed drones in the Moscow region, the Republic of Crimea, the Republic of Tatarstan and Krasnodar region, as well as over the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

One of the most serious attacks took place in the Rostov region. Gov. Yuri Slyusar reported that 80 drones had been shot down in his region. The Ukrainian attack damaged an electrical substation, leaving about 170 homes without electricity.

In addition, Ukrainian drones damaged 21 buses parked at the premises of a local transportation company. “There were no casualties,” the Rostov governor confirmed.

Russia drops mines from drones, to the horror of Ukrainian soldiers.

Russia has millions of TM-62 anti-tank mines, but they are useless because Ukraine has no tanks.

With a small conversion they can now be dropped by an FPV drone. This way the drone can return unharmed.… pic.twitter.com/ZMtCSPKnZB

— Alternative News (@AlternatNews) October 22, 2026

Ukraine Attacks Two Russian Factories and an Airfield

On Saturday, the Ukrainian military announced that it had attacked two factories in Oryol and Togliatti and an airfield in Yeisk, on the shores of the Sea of Azov, overnight.

One of the targets in Oryol was the Proton-Electrotex plant, a company that manufactures optoelectronic equipment and components for S-71 cruise missiles, Iskander-M ballistic missiles and Pantsir-S1 combat vehicles.

The factory attacked in Togliatti produces synthetic rubber and other materials that are also used in the manufacture of fuels for tactical and ballistic missiles.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: TASS – RT – EFE