Ahhh… how to describe a survivor like the left's President Lula in Brazil? For today, maybe he's the 'Cher' of Latin American politics : just when you think you've witnessed that final farewell tour, you get yet another arena run and chart-topper.
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ISRAEL
Voters head to the polls in a tightly contested election tomorrow (Tuesday) that could end Netanyahu’s second marathon in power, with opposition momentum coalescing behind former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. (Haaretz)
After two years of student-led anti-corruption protests originally sparked by a deadly railway station collapse in 2024, long-time strongman Aleksandar Vučić has now conceded defeat in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. The new Student List movement — uniting a colourful mix of professors, activists, and even actors — ended up thumping Vučić’s nationalists by 14 points, pushing turnout to Serbia’s highest since at least 2000. (EuroNews)
VENEZUELA
Nobel laureate and opposition leader María Corina Machado is now back in Venezuela after a year in exile and seven thwarted attempts to return. (CNN)
CHINA
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has returned from his day-trip to China’s border city of Dandong, where he met Wang Huning (#4 in Beijing) and Wang Yi (foreign minister). (Bloomberg $)
SINGAPORE
Indonesia has started curbing its natural gas exports to neighbouring Singapore, citing a need to prioritise its own expanding industries. In response, Singapore itself has sought to calm market jitters, noting the cuts amount to less than 2% of its daily gas demand. (Straits Times)
BULGARIA
The Ukraine-sceptic incumbent (Yotova) has narrowly beaten the more pro-West Gyurov in a first round for Bulgaria’s mostly-ceremonial presidency. But because turnout just plunged to a record-low ~22% (way below the required 50%), the two foes now return for a runoff next weekend. Everyone had expected an easier win for the incumbent. (DW)
GABON
Authorities have finally lifted the eight-month ban on social media apps that President Nguema first imposed amid mass street protests. But important caveat: users now have to provide formal ID! (Africa News)
SAUDI ARABIA
Authorities are declining to clarify how they assessed it was now safe to reopen Riyadh’s international airport despite the Iran-aligned Houthis threatening a repeat of the attack that just left a dozen dead. (NYT $)
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