<p>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</p><p>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 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/25/serbian-leader-aleksandar-vucic-concedes-defeat-in-fiercely-contested-parliamentary-election">here</a>). And just hours ago, Brazil’s president staged a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/26/lula-wins-brazil-election">sensational turnaround</a> against his far-right opponent after a nail-biting vote.</p><p>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.</p><p><em><strong>UK news </strong></em>| Two people have been killed and more than 160,000 properties have been left without power as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/25/storm-boelo-warnings-scotland-northern-ireland-north-of-england-high-winds-uk">Storm Boelo continues to batter </a>the UK.</p><p><em><strong>Crime </strong></em>| British police are recording a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/25/cocaine-linked-crimes-on-the-rise-in-britain-as-consumption-surges">growing number of crimes</a> linked to cocaine, including assaults, domestic abuse and dangerous driving, as figures show consumption has surged across England.</p><p><em><strong>France </strong></em>| Hundreds of thousands marched in cities across France on Saturday in largely peaceful <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/24/hundreds-of-thousands-march-across-france-in-protests-over-schools-and-policing">protests to support schoolchildren’s demands</a> for more teachers and repairs to dilapidated buildings, as Emmanuel Macron faces a social and political crisis in his final months as president.</p><p><em><strong>UK politics </strong></em>| Prime minister Andy Burnham’s call for the UK to consider a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/25/burnham-rayner-labour-eu-free-movement-brexit">return to free movement with Europe</a> has been backed by senior cabinet ministers including Angela Rayner but risks causing concern among fellow red wall MPs.</p><p><em><strong>Aviation </strong></em>| Three in four European airline pilots <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/26/quarter-europe-airline-pilots-fly-too-fatigued-to-work-survey">have taken microsleeps </a>in the cockpit, while almost a quarter routinely fly despite being too fatigued to work, according to a report.</p><p><em><strong>Tuesday</strong></em> | 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.</p><p><em><strong>Wednesday</strong></em> | 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</p><p><em><strong>Thursday and Friday</strong></em> | 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”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/26/brazil-presidential-elections-luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva-flavio-bolsonaro">Continue reading...</a>