Brazil’s presidential election is being watched as a test of whether the region’s most populous country will follow Colombia, Peru, Chile and others toward conservatism. Incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva narrowly leads senator Flavio Bolsonaro in polls, though analysts say surveys may underestimate support for candidates opposing Lula and his Workers’ Party.

Brazil electionLulaFlavio Bolsonaroconservative shift

Voting is about to begin in Brazil, where Lula is seeking a historic fourth term while facing strong opposition from Flavio Bolsonaro.

Brazil electionLulaBolsonaro

Brazilians are voting for governors and lawmakers, but the presidential race carries the biggest stakes. The contest, with 12 candidates on the ballot, is widely seen as a toss-up between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro. Lula says Brazil’s sovereignty is at stake under pressure from Donald Trump, while Bolsonaro stresses his White House ties and calls for better US deals, including on rare mineral resources.

Brazil electionFlavio BolsonaroLulaUS relations

Brazilians vote Sunday in the first round of a highly polarised presidential election pitting leftwing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro. The race is unpredictable; a runoff will be held on 25 October if neither candidate wins more than half the vote. Voters will also choose governors and legislators.

Brazil electionLulaFlávio Bolsonaro

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his main challenger, Flavio Bolsonaro, concluded their campaigns on Saturday in the key state of Sao Paulo, which accounts for one-fifth of the national vote. Both sought to rally supporters and win over undecided voters before Sunday’s nail-biting election. Mareeke Reethof, a University of Liverpool lecturer in Latin American Politics, provided further insights.

Brazil electionLulaBolsonaroSao Paulo

Brazil’s presidential election is shaping up as a close contest between left-wing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro. Both are polling near 40%, with Lula slightly ahead. If no candidate wins more than half of valid votes, the top two will meet in a 25 October runoff. Jair Bolsonaro, barred from running and serving a sentence for plotting a coup, remains a major influence on his son’s campaign.

Brazil electionLulaFlávio Bolsonaropolls

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen within no more than a week if the United States accepts Iran’s proposed settlement plan. He described it as a “seven-day plan” intended to resolve existing disagreements and the ongoing conflict between the two countries, and promised more details later.

IranStrait of HormuzUS-Iran relationsdiplomacy

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until seven Iranian conditions in a June interim agreement with the United States were fulfilled, Nournews reported. His comments came days after Tehran received Washington’s response to its diplomatic proposal.

IranStrait of HormuzUS-Iran diplomacy

A flight instructor uses a simulator to recreate Flydubai’s near-vertical 17,000-foot dive. He says the aircraft would have surpassed its structural speed limit, while negative G-forces during recovery would have sent unsecured objects flying around the cabin.

Flydubaiaviation safetyaircraft dive

The Indian pilot said Saturday that his co-pilot attacked him during a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv, prompting him to fight back in what he described as a struggle for his life.

FlyDubaipilot attackTel Aviv

The UAE prosecutor general said a co-pilot attempting to seize control of a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv attacked the captain with an emergency axe. The aircraft then plunged, while passengers entered the cockpit, restrained the attacker and helped regain control. Investigators described the incident as a possible “terrorist act”; reports identifying the co-pilot and detailing his motives remain unconfirmed officially.

Flydubaicockpit attackhijacking investigation

A United Arab Emirates official said Saturday that a Flydubai pilot attacked the captain with a crash ax and tried to seize control of the aircraft in an attempted terrorist attack. NBC News’ Raf Sanchez reports.

Flydubaico-pilotcockpit incidentattempted terrorist attack

A US Marine was arrested in Japan on suspicion of murder and robbery after a woman’s body was found in a hotel room, local police told CNN. Police said the investigation is ongoing.

JapanUS Marinemurderrobbery

A U.S. service member is in custody on suspicion of killing a Japanese woman on the island of Okinawa.

OkinawaU.S. MarinemurderJapan

A 20-year-old US Marine stationed in Okinawa was arrested on suspicion of robbing and murdering a 39-year-old woman at a hotel in Naha. Japan lodged a strong protest with the United States and demanded full cooperation, strict military discipline and measures to prevent a recurrence. The suspect denies the allegations.

OkinawaUS Marinesrobbery-murderJapan-US relations

Police in Okinawa arrested a 20-year-old US Marine on suspicion of robbing and murdering a 39-year-old local woman. Surveillance video reportedly shows the two entering a hotel room together before the serviceman later left alone, while the woman’s belongings were missing. Japan lodged a strong protest with the US military command.

OkinawaUS Marine CorpsmurderJapan-US relations

A U.S. Marine has been detained in connection with a death in Japan, according to U.S. officials. The U.S. ambassador said his office was providing “full cooperation with the investigation.”

JapanUS Marinedeath investigation

According to police, a 20-year-old US Marine was taken into custody Sunday in Okinawa over the suspected robbery and killing of a Japanese woman.

OkinawaUS Marinerobberymurder investigation

Bosnia and Herzegovina has opened polls for a general election covering its three-member presidency, national Parliament and leaders of the Federation and Republika Srpska. The vote could affect its European Union bid, amid ethnic divisions, disputes over state powers and accusations that Russia is hindering accession. New electronic ballot scanning and biometric checks are being used to reduce fraud.

Bosnia electionEU accessionethnic politics

About 3.4 million voters in Bosnia are choosing the three members of the country’s multi-ethnic presidency, national parliament lawmakers and heads of institutions in its two entities. A pro-Russian politician and the stalled EU bid loom large over the race.

Bosnia and HerzegovinaelectionEU bid

Bosnia heads to the polls on Sunday after an election campaign dominated by parties closely aligned with the ethnic divisions of its 1990s war. Voters will choose a large number of officials across several levels of government under the complex system that has held the partitioned country together since the 1995 peace deal.

Bosnia and Herzegovinageneral electionethnic divisions

Voters in Bosnia and Herzegovina cast ballots in Sarajevo in an election to choose a new president and lawmakers.

Bosnia and HerzegovinaelectionSarajevo

Bosnia is holding a general election, with voters from all ethnic groups focused on everyday concerns. Mainstream politicians, however, are stirring up wartime tensions that have divided the country since the 1992-95 conflict.

Bosnia and Herzegovinageneral electionethnic tensions

Bosnians are voting Sunday in an election that could affect the influence Russia is seeking over the small Balkan country. Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik, despite being barred from public office, has dominated the campaign. Bosnia and Herzegovina remains marked by ethnic tensions and has struggled to recover from its brutal 1992-95 war.

Bosnia and HerzegovinaelectionMilorad DodikRussian influence

Russia has targeted Kyiv’s Pivnichnyi, or Northern, Bridge for a second consecutive day. Unverified video appears to show a drone striking the bridge and exploding. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a heating main was damaged, while visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged continued support for Ukraine’s air defences.

Kyivdrone strikesRussia-Ukraine warGerman support

Russian forces have recently attacked Kyiv’s Southern and Northern bridges over the Dnipro River, which had not previously been targeted. The Southern Bridge is closed to cars and metro trains, while the Northern Bridge is partly closed after two people were injured. Ukrainian experts say drones alone cannot destroy the bridges, but repeated strikes could severely disrupt transport. Zelenskyy accused Putin of ordering commanders to disregard the rules of warfare. Reports also said Western diplomats were preparing possible embassy relocations, while Russia again urged them to leave Kyiv.

Kyiv bridgesRussian strikesUkraine warDnipro River

Ethiopian government forces and allied militias have retaken control of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, three sources told Reuters on Sunday. The development represents a major setback for the opposition alliance governing the northern region.

EthiopiaTigrayarmed conflict

Ethiopia’s government forces say they have captured Mekelle from Tigray fighters after a week of intense battles. The renewed fighting has raised fears of a full-scale war that could involve neighbouring countries.

EthiopiaTigrayarmed conflict

The Saudi-led coalition called the Houthis’ claim of missile and drone strikes on an Aramco facility near Riyadh misleading, saying the group was trying to divert attention from its losses and rising public anger. Saudi-backed Yemeni forces said operations on Saturday killed at least 700 Houthis, while the coalition later reported 97 strikes on Houthi reinforcements.

Yemen conflictHouthisSaudi ArabiaRiyadh