Politics

Monday, October 5th 2026 - 17:08 UTC
Lula bets on education and non-voters to overturn the result in the runoff

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has set education, research and industrial policy as the pillars of his campaign for the October 25 runoff, and urged the more than 30 million Brazilians who abstained on Sunday to vote, after finishing behind Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in the first round.
Monday, October 5th 2026 - 10:30 UTC
Flávio Bolsonaro edges Lula in the first round; both head to an October 25 runoff

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro won around 47% of valid votes in the first round of Brazil's presidential election on Sunday, ahead of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who took about 45%, according to the Superior Electoral Court's count. As neither passed half of the valid votes, the two will face each other in a runoff on October 25.
Monday, October 5th 2026 - 10:20 UTC
Falklands weighs curbs on Argentine visitors after flag-waving incidents

Amid a sharp rise in international attention on the South Atlantic and its energy resources, Falkland Islands residents have been angered by Argentine visitors seen waving Argentine flags and banners denying British sovereignty, prompting calls from members of the community to restrict such visits.
Monday, October 5th 2026 - 01:35 UTC
US withdraws all its bombers from Britain's RAF Fairford base

The United States has withdrawn all the bombers it had deployed at RAF Fairford, in western England, a week after the incident near the base that British counter-terrorism police are investigating. Washington gave no reason for the decision.
Sunday, October 4th 2026 - 21:19 UTC
Falklands Chamber of Commerce backs the Punta Arenas route despite Argentine warnings

The president of the Falkland Islands Chamber of Commerce, Mike Summers, has defended reopening trade with Chile's Magallanes region despite Argentina's campaign against economic activity linked to the archipelago, and warned that this week's business meeting in Punta Arenas will only be a success once cargo starts crossing the sea.
Sunday, October 4th 2026 - 08:57 UTC
Trump declines to back Lula or Flávio Bolsonaro as Brazil votes

US President Donald Trump has not endorsed either of the two leading candidates in Brazil's presidential election on Sunday, unlike in recent elections in Honduras, Colombia, Chile, Argentina and Costa Rica.
Saturday, October 3rd 2026 - 09:52 UTC
Argentina to sell citizenship to foreigners for US$350,000 to raise dollars

Argentina's government has unveiled a citizenship-by-investment programme that will allow foreigners to obtain an Argentine passport in exchange for a non-refundable US$350,000 contribution to the Treasury or the purchase of US$800,000 in a seven-year government bond. Applications would open before the end of the year.
Saturday, October 3rd 2026 - 07:36 UTC
Alternative media and Trump are influencing Brazilian voters

By Gwynne Dyer - “Flávio Bolsonaro is Trump’s candidate and what Trump wants is to colonize Brazil, take our riches, steal our future and leave us in the dust,” claims the latest video released by President Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva’s re-election campaign.
Saturday, October 3rd 2026 - 07:06 UTC
Brazil votes with Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro tied and a small group of undecided voters holding the key

Brazil holds the first round of its presidential election on Sunday, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro tied in a prospective runoff and a narrow band of undecided voters, along with abstention, able to tip the result.
Saturday, October 3rd 2026 - 06:56 UTC
Halliburton rules out Sea Lion after Argentina raised criminal and civil enforcement

US oilfield services company Halliburton confirmed on Friday that neither it nor its subsidiaries will work on the Sea Lion project or take part in hydrocarbon exploration or production in or around the Falklands, after Argentine authorities raised the prospect of criminal and civil enforcement.