By Gizem Nisa Demir
ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday, including Brazilian President Lula da Silva securing a historic fourth-term victory in a presidential runoff election, Serbia’s former President Aleksandar Vucic conceding that his electoral list had lost in snap parliamentary elections, US President Donald Trump reaffirming his strong support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Saudi Arabia reporting injuries and damage from debris after intercepting Houthi missiles.
TOP STORIES
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was declared the winner of a presidential runoff by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), securing a fourth nonconsecutive term after defeating Flavio Bolsonaro in a closely contested race.
With nearly all polling stations tallied, the TSE reported that Lula had secured 51.76% of valid votes against Bolsonaro's 48.24%, a margin of more than 4 million votes.
Meanwhile, Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro announced that his legal team will formally petition to annul the country’s presidential runoff election following his narrow defeat to incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
In the initial vote on Oct. 4, Bolsonaro finished ahead with 47.03% of valid votes compared with Lula's 45.16%, setting the stage for three weeks of intense campaigning across Latin America's largest country.
Serbia’s former President Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in snap parliamentary elections as preliminary projections showed a student-backed opposition list winning the most seats.
Speaking at the headquarters of his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Belgrade, Vucic conceded that his electoral list had lost, according to preliminary projections.
“We don’t have the results yet. Many will be surprised, and you will realize how much some people have lied,” he said.
“Based on the stratified sample, it is clear that we have lost these elections,” he added.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday reaffirmed his strong support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging Israelis to re-elect him in the upcoming election and calling for Israel to press ahead with its military campaign against Iran until it is completed.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, he referred to an endorsement letter he published on Oct. 18, praising Netanyahu as an “outstanding Warrior Prime Minister” and emphasizing their close relationship in military operations against Iran.
“As everyone is aware, including the enemy, Bibi and I have had a great relationship in winning together,” Trump wrote, citing the US military operation against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, as an example.
Trump claimed that Iran had lost its navy and air force and that its military and economy were in disarray.
Saudi Arabia said two people were injured and three residential buildings and seven vehicles were damaged by falling debris from two intercepted ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi group toward the kingdom’s south.
Civil Defense teams responded to falling missile debris in Khamis Mushait and Ahad Rafidah governorates after the projectiles were intercepted and destroyed, a Civil Defense spokesperson said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The missiles left a Saudi citizen and an Asian resident injured, the spokesperson said.
There was no immediate comment from the Houthi group.
NEWS IN BRIEF
SPORTS
Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 at Camp Nou, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice to secure victory in the La Liga El Clasico.
The match began at a relatively slow pace, with Barcelona creating the first notable opportunity through Anthony Gordon.
Real Madrid took the lead four minutes before halftime when Yan Diomande's low cross reached Mbappe in the area. Barcelona defender Gerard Martin's attempted clearance struck the French forward and deflected into the net. Barcelona equalized 16 minutes into the second half when captain Raphinha collected a pass from Pedri and fired through Jude Bellingham's legs into the far corner.
With the match appearing destined for a draw, Bellingham produced a piece of skill in midfield to start Madrid's decisive attack. Substitute Eduardo Camavinga carried the ball forward before squaring for Mbappe, who finished into an unguarded net in the 87th minute.
Football’s leading players will gather at the London Palladium on Monday for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, marking the award’s 70th anniversary and its first staging in London.
Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe are among the men’s nominees, alongside defending winner Ousmane Dembele, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland.
Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor, Melchie Dumornay and Alessia Russo feature on the women’s shortlist. Awards will also recognize young players, goalkeepers, coaches and clubs.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and presenter Kate Scott will host the ceremony.
Vangelis Liolios resigned as president of the Hellenic Basketball Federation (EOK) amid an investigation into alleged match-fixing, bribery and violations of sports legislation, Greek media reported.
The federation's board unanimously appointed Angelos Papanikolaou as his successor during an emergency meeting, according to the Greek news outlet Ekathimerini.
Liolios was among six people arrested Wednesday as part of the investigation into alleged wrongdoing in Greek basketball.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli moved closer to his maiden Formula One world title with a dominant victory at the United States Grand Prix.
The 20-year-old Italian finished ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc but narrowly missed the opportunity to clinch the championship in Austin, Texas.
Antonelli now leads Mercedes teammate George Russell by 123 points with the championship set to continue in Mexico City next weekend.
CULTURE & LIFE
US singer Chris Brown is due to be sentenced Monday at London’s Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty to affray over a confrontation at a Mayfair nightclub in February 2023.
Brown and co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, known professionally as Hoody Baby, admitted using or threatening unlawful violence during the incident involving music producer Abraham Diaw.
Prosecutors dropped more serious assault charges following their guilty pleas in July. A separate charge against Brown of possessing an offensive weapon was also discontinued.
BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY
The Iranian hacking group Handala claimed that it stole 150 gigabytes of confidential data after breaching a system used to store sensitive Israeli government and military recordings and files, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.
The group targeted the “E-Type” system developed by the Israeli technology company Malam and seized audio recordings and transcripts of confidential court hearings, police investigations and security-related material.
Handala said the system was designed to transcribe and archive recordings of confidential judicial proceedings and police investigations and contained information and documents relating to thousands of judicial and security cases.
Gabonese authorities lifted a ban on social media networks in the central African country after eight months, according to a statement by the regulator.
The High Authority for Communication (HAC) imposed the ban on major social media platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram in February, citing online abuse, a move that sparked widespread condemnation.
The regulator blamed content posted online for undermining national security and social cohesion. It accused internet users of disseminating defamatory, hateful, false and insulting content via social media platforms.
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