Brazil keeps left: what Lula’s victory means for his country and beyond

In today’s newsletter: As Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured victory in the presidential race, we look the implications for democracy, the environment and international relations

Good morning. Chances are you woke this morning to news of two momentous election results. In Serbia, a student-led movement has ousted the country’s long-serving leader, Aleksandar Vučić (which you can read more about here). And just hours ago, Brazil’s president staged a sensational turnaround against his far-right opponent after a nail-biting vote.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, won a forth nonconsecutive term as president, seeing off far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who spearheaded the radical populist movement built by his father and former president, Jair. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after he lost the 2022 election.

UK news | Two people have been killed and more than 160,000 properties have been left without power as Storm Boelo continues to batter the UK.

Crime | British police are recording a growing number of crimes linked to cocaine, including assaults, domestic abuse and dangerous driving, as figures show consumption has surged across England.

France | Hundreds of thousands marched in cities across France on Saturday in largely peaceful protests to support schoolchildren’s demands for more teachers and repairs to dilapidated buildings, as Emmanuel Macron faces a social and political crisis in his final months as president.

UK politics | Prime minister Andy Burnham’s call for the UK to consider a return to free movement with Europe has been backed by senior cabinet ministers including Angela Rayner but risks causing concern among fellow red wall MPs.

Aviation | Three in four European airline pilots have taken microsleeps in the cockpit, while almost a quarter routinely fly despite being too fatigued to work, according to a report.

Tuesday | Israel goes to the polls on Tuesday, amid orders from prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a full lockdown of the occupied West Bank after recent checkpoint attacks. His government will be fighting for its survival.

Wednesday | On Wednesday Chancellor John Healey will deliver his first budget statement in the House of Commons, which is expected to give local authorities more spending powers, as a means to promote growth

Thursday and Friday | European and Canadian leaders will meet in Montreal for the 21st EU-Canada summit, to discuss security and strategic cooperation. It will be the first opportunity for leaders to iron out details over a proposed invitation for Canada to become the EU’s first ever “associate member”

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Former RAAF pilot who allegedly murdered wife was ‘love rat’ and ‘master manipulator’, jury hears

Robert John Crawford on trial after wife found near ride-on lawnmower on their Toowoomba property

A former RAAF pilot was a “love rat” and “master manipulator” who staged his wife’s death to make it appear like an accident, a jury has heard.

Robert John Crawford, 49, pleaded not guilty on Monday to murdering his wife, Frances Elizabeth Crawford, at Upper Lockyer on 29 July 2024.

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Yasuo Fukuda, Japan’s first second-generation prime minister, dies at 90, Nikkei reports – Reuters

  1. Yasuo Fukuda, Japan's first second-generation prime minister, dies at 90, Nikkei reports  Reuters
  2. Death of former PM Yasuo Fukuda leaves void in fraught China-Japan relations  South China Morning Post
  3. Former Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo dies at 90 | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News  NHKニュース
  4. Japan’s former PM Yasuo Fukuda, proponent of ties with China, dies at 90  AP News
  5. Former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda dies at 90  The Japan Times
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A day in Benjamin Netanyahu’s heartland – Financial Times

  1. A day in Benjamin Netanyahu’s heartland  Financial Times
  2. A combination picture of Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot, Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir  The Lufkin Daily News
  3. Netanyahu and main opponent aligned on national security  The Australian
  4. Election banners in Sderot  The Lufkin Daily News
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EXCLUSIVE: How purchases of sanctioned Iranian jet fuel were disguised by Myanmar – Reuters

  1. EXCLUSIVE: How purchases of sanctioned Iranian jet fuel were disguised by Myanmar  Reuters
  2. Fake papers & trade contracts: How Myanmar dodged US sanctions to get Iranian jet fuel - report  The Times of India
  3. Myanmar faked diesel deal with South Africa to buy Iranian jet fuel, paid via Thai bank: Report  Firstpost
  4. Regime Disguises Military Jet Fuel as Diesel to Evade Sanctions: JFM  The Irrawaddy
  5. Myanmar disguised Iranian jet fuel as diesel — Jerusalem Post  UA.NEWS
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Israeli Jews Across the Spectrum Face an Election of Fears – The New York Times

  1. Israeli Jews Across the Spectrum Face an Election of Fears  The New York Times
  2. Israel is holding its most important election in years. Here’s what’s at stake  CNN
  3. Disenchanted Netanyahu supporters are prize of Israel election campaign  Reuters
  4. Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are expected to fly in for pivotal vote  AP News
  5. The Political Upstarts That May Decide Israel’s Election  The New Yorker
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Houthis say they attacked Saudi oil pumping stations, Riyadh airport as fighting intensifies – Reuters

  1. Houthis say they attacked Saudi oil pumping stations, Riyadh airport as fighting intensifies  Reuters
  2. Iran live updates: Houthis claim new attack on Riyadh airport, Saudis report interception  ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
  3. How Houthi attacks have grounded flights across Saudi Arabia  Reuters
  4. Saudi-led coalition says it destroyed Houthi missile facilities, and other Mideast news  AP News
  5. Saudi Arabia Reopens Riyadh Airport Even as Houthis Threaten Further Strikes  The New York Times
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France’s Nuclear Forces Bring In Neighbors to Keep Russia in Check – WSJ

  1. France’s Nuclear Forces Bring In Neighbors to Keep Russia in Check  WSJ
  2. France, UK carry out joint airborne nuclear-strike exercise for first time  Defense News
  3. British jets join French nuclear exercise for first time, France says  Reuters
  4. France works with 10 European nations to increase strength as nuclear deterrent - report  The Jerusalem Post
  5. British and French paratroopers in largest airborne drill for decades amid Russia fears  Yahoo News New Zealand
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‘Had enough’: Thousands protest in Prague against Czech government’s public media funding overhaul – The Times of India

  1. 'Had enough': Thousands protest in Prague against Czech government's public media funding overhaul  The Times of India
  2. Thousands protest Czech government's public media overhaul after rushed vote  Reuters
  3. Thousands protest in Prague as government advances public media funding overhaul  AP News
  4. Thousands protest in Prague against plans to abolish public media fees  Radio Prague International
  5. Thousands protest in Prague against public media funding reforms  Al Jazeera
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US has ‘two very different sets of intelligence reports’: Trump rules out Sunday strikes on Iran – The Times of India

  1. US has ‘two very different sets of intelligence reports’: Trump rules out Sunday strikes on Iran  The Times of India
  2. Iran in ‘Advanced Stages’ of Planning Attacks Against Americans, Officials Say  The New York Times
  3. Scoop: U.S. intel memo warns of "advanced" Iranian plots to kill officials abroad  Axios
  4. U.S. Evacuates Mideast Outposts After Suspected Iranian Plot to Target Americans  WSJ
  5. Iran has ramped up efforts to target US personnel, intelligence memo warns  Reuters
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Caryle Murphy Has Died. She Earned a Pulitzer for Reporting in Kuwait. – The New York Times

  1. Caryle Murphy Has Died. She Earned a Pulitzer for Reporting in Kuwait.  The New York Times
  2. Caryle Murphy Obituary (11/16/1946 - 10/19/2026) - Washington, Dc, DC - The Washington Post  Legacy | Obituary
  3. Caryle Murphy, who won the Pulitzer Prize reporting from Kuwait, dies at 79  The Washington Post
  4. The Pulitzer-Winning Reporter Who Defied Death in War Zones and Survived a Ground-Breaking Medical Miracle: Washington Post Icon Caryle Murphy Dies at 79  Istituto Impariamo
  5. Caryle Murphy, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist, Dies at 79  Yahoo
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Xi Jinping’s corruption crackdown in the spotlight as China prepares for meeting of top leaders

The fifth plenum comes against a backdrop of years of purges that have had some analysts wondering if the issue is corruption or a lack of loyalty

When Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, he pledged to stamp out corruption all through the ranks of the Communist party. More than a decade later, the pace of investigations has not slowed. Last year, China’s disciplinary authorities opened investigations into more than 1 million people, including more than 100 officials at or above ministerial or provincial level.

As Chinese Communist party (CCP) officials kick off an important meeting this week, discipline – and party loyalty – is high on the agenda. For those who try to read the tea leaves of elite Chinese politics, concern about the apparent lack of discipline is dominating CCP discussions.

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