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Lula, Bolsonaro Both Snub Final Debate before Brazil Election

(COMBO) This combination of file pictures created on September 29, 2026, shows Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia on September 8, 2026; and Brazil's senator and presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL and Sergio LIMA / AFP)
(COMBO) This combination of file pictures created on September 29, 2026, shows Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia on September 8, 2026; and Brazil's senator and presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL and Sergio LIMA / AFP)
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Lula, Bolsonaro Both Snub Final Debate before Brazil Election

(COMBO) This combination of file pictures created on September 29, 2026, shows Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia on September 8, 2026; and Brazil's senator and presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL and Sergio LIMA / AFP)
(COMBO) This combination of file pictures created on September 29, 2026, shows Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia on September 8, 2026; and Brazil's senator and presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL and Sergio LIMA / AFP)

Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro on Thursday bowed out of the final debate ahead of elections pitting him against leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who also declined to attend.

The leftist incumbent opted to appear on a popular podcast with millions of YouTube subscribers instead, while his right-wing rival accused the electoral court of "censorship" to justify his withdrawal, AFP said.

Both candidates have doubled down on dirty tactics in the final stretch of the polarized campaign, which has featured a bitter argument about Brazil's beloved patron saint.

In recent days, Lula drew the ire of Bolsonaro by referring to rumors circulating that the senator would strip Our Lady of Aparecida of patron saint status if elected.

The electoral court on Wednesday ordered the takedown of "notoriously untrue" social media posts about Brazil's beloved Black Madonna.

Bolsonaro fiercely denied such plans as "fake news," but the issue struck a nerve in a country where the majority Catholic population, which reveres the saint, tends to back Lula.

A booming evangelical population is a key electoral base for the Bolsonaro clan.

- No-shows -

Lula, on the cusp of 81, will face off against the son of ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro in a first-round vote on Sunday, with polls giving him a slight advantage.

The pair are neck-and-neck in projections for a potential runoff on October 25, however.

Some commentators framed the president's decision to skip the final debate as a bid to sidestep a pile-on from other, non-leftist participants.

But the program was canceled after Bolsonaro pulled out too, accusing the electoral court of censorship after it banned the show from leaving an empty seat on set to represent Lula.

Participants were also prohibited from directing their speaking time to the empty space to highlight the absent candidate.

Lula has campaigned on a pledge to protect Brazilian sovereignty against US interference, and President Donald Trump said Thursday he was watching the nail-biter vote "very closely."

"The people of Brazil are fantastic people. Very important election," the US leader told reporters.

Attorney General Jorge Messias on Thursday called for an investigation of allegations that the White House was using government funds to promote a "far-right agenda" in Brazil.

The request came after Britain's The Guardian newspaper published an article alleging that Washington planned to award $1 million to fund civil society groups opposing the Brazilian Supreme Court -- an institution hated by the political right.

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World

Taiwan Receives Its First US-made F-16V Fighter Jets

A Lockheed Martin F-16V fighter jet lands at Taitung's Chihhang Air Base in Taitung, Taiwan, October 2, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wang
A Lockheed Martin F-16V fighter jet lands at Taitung's Chihhang Air Base in Taitung, Taiwan, October 2, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wang
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Taiwan Receives Its First US-made F-16V Fighter Jets

A Lockheed Martin F-16V fighter jet lands at Taitung's Chihhang Air Base in Taitung, Taiwan, October 2, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wang
A Lockheed Martin F-16V fighter jet lands at Taitung's Chihhang Air Base in Taitung, Taiwan, October 2, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Taiwan received on Friday its first F-16V fighter jets made by the United States, as the island democracy upgrades its military capabilities to deter a potential Chinese attack.

The warplanes are part of an $8 billion deal for 66 F-16Vs approved during US President Donald Trump's first term and scheduled for delivery this year, said AFP.

The arrival of the aircraft comes as Taiwan awaits Washington's approval of a separate $14 billion arms package that Trump paused after Chinese objections.

China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to seize it.

The two F-16Vs, made by US defense contractor Lockheed Martin, touched down under a clear sky at Taiwan's air force base in Taitung, on the island's southeast coast.

The jets had been expected in early September after making refueling stops in Hawaii and Guam.

Local media reported that the planes had turned back to Hawaii shortly after taking off for Guam. No official explanation was given.

Dozens of locals, some equipped with binoculars and long-lensed cameras, gathered near the air base's perimeter fence to watch the highly anticipated arrival of the jets.

Kimi Chi, a salesman from the central city of Taichung, had travelled through the night to be able to photograph the aircraft landing in Taitung.

He was philosophical about the delays, saying "good things take time."

"In terms of hardware capabilities, there will definitely be an improvement," the 37-year-old told AFP.

"But what we are actually lacking the most right now is pilots. Of course, I hope the government can provide better additional allowances for these military pilots."

Former Air Force serviceman Eric Chan, 57, marveled at the improvements made to the F-16 over the past 30 years and said the fighter jets based in Taitung will "play a very important defensive role" against China.

"The threat from the CCP has always been there so we definitely need to strengthen our defense capabilities," Chan told AFP, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.

The F-16V is a fourth-generation multi-role fighter and a significantly upgraded version of Taiwan's ageing F-16 A/B jets.

Equipped with more advanced combat, detection and engine capabilities, the F-16V will be "a valuable addition to Taiwan's air force in countering China's military threat," said Su Tzu-yun, a military expert at the Taipei-based Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

- Delivery delays -

The United States is Taiwan's most important security backer and biggest arms supplier. But bottlenecks have slowed delivery of critical weapons.

Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo said previously it would be "challenging" for all the F-16Vs to be delivered this year, despite Lockheed Martin ramping up production.

On Friday, Koo said more F-16Vs would be delivered to Taiwan "before the end of the year", but did not say how many.

"At present, I think aircraft are gradually moving through the production line, and there are also aircraft that have passed the tests," Koo said.

"As for when they will fly back, we will coordinate further with the US side."

Trump has stalled signing off on the record $14 billion weapons purchase by Taipei, calling it in May a "very good negotiating chip" in dealings with China, which raised fears that Taiwan's security could be traded away.

Experts believe approval for the package is unlikely before the G20 summit in the United States in December where Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Trump are expected to meet for the fourth time this year.

A US official said recently it was increasingly likely the $14 billion worth of arms, which include the Patriot air defense system, would be broken up into smaller amounts to temper China's response.

World

South Korea's Lee Threatens Action against Ukraine over transfer of North Koreans

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung delivers a speech during Armed Forces Day at a military base in Gyeonggi, South Korea, on October 1, 2026 (AP)
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung delivers a speech during Armed Forces Day at a military base in Gyeonggi, South Korea, on October 1, 2026 (AP)
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South Korea's Lee Threatens Action against Ukraine over transfer of North Koreans

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung delivers a speech during Armed Forces Day at a military base in Gyeonggi, South Korea, on October 1, 2026 (AP)
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung delivers a speech during Armed Forces Day at a military base in Gyeonggi, South Korea, on October 1, 2026 (AP)

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Friday threatened unspecified measures against Ukraine unless Kyiv acknowledged a confidentiality agreement that Seoul says covered the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers and issued an apology.

"If the refusal to acknowledge the facts and issue a public apology continues, we will take additional measures," Lee said in a post on X.

Lee also expressed "grave regret" over what he described as Ukrainian remarks ‌about an ‌imminent military clash between North and South Korea, saying they amounted ‌to ⁠encouraging war on ⁠the Korean peninsula, Reuters said.

Seoul and Kyiv have been locked in a diplomatic dispute since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced at the United Nations General Assembly last month that Ukraine had transferred two North Korean prisoners of war captured while fighting for Russia to South Korea.

Seoul subsequently accused Kyiv of breaching an agreement to keep the transfer confidential to protect the soldiers, while Ukrainian officials denied any such agreement existed.

Kyiv's embassy in Seoul did not immediately reply to a request for comment ⁠on Lee's remarks.

'NEITHER SIDE BENEFITS FROM DISPUTE'

Ukraine was seeking to ‌mend ties with South Korea, Ukrainian media reported, quoting ‌Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

"I would not like to call this an incident. Let's say, it's a diplomatic ‌misunderstanding," Sybiha told journalists at an event, according to a report on Thursday on ‌news website nv.ua and other media.

A senior South Korean Foreign Ministry official told reporters on Friday that the countries' foreign ministers had been discussing how Kyiv could address Seoul's concerns, including a possible apology, according to South Korean media reports.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Sybiha had been in direct contact and were ‌discussing what level of response Seoul was seeking and what Ukraine could accept, while taking into account Ukraine's wartime circumstances and the ⁠need to avoid ⁠causing either side a loss of face, according to the reports.

The dispute comes at a sensitive time for Lee's administration, which has sought to reduce tensions with North Korea and is also dealing with the political fallout from a recent landmine incident in the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas.

Cho Han-bum, a senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, said any additional measures would most likely involve support South Korea already provides to Ukraine, including humanitarian, financial and reconstruction assistance.

"Ukraine has more to lose than South Korea because it is receiving support from Seoul," Cho said.

South Korea has provided humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukraine since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion and in July pledged an additional $100 million in non-lethal support on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

"However, neither side benefits from a prolonged confrontation," Cho said, noting that South Korea relies on Ukraine for information related to North Korea's military activities.

World

Anglo-Iranian Man Held over UK Airbase Incident

28 September 2026, United Kingdom, Fairford: A police checkpoint near RAF Fairford after major incident was declared on Sunday, with armed police manning a cordon near the village of Whelford in Gloucestershire, near RAF Fairford which is used by the United States Air Force (USAF). Photo: Ben Birchall/PA Wire/dpa
28 September 2026, United Kingdom, Fairford: A police checkpoint near RAF Fairford after major incident was declared on Sunday, with armed police manning a cordon near the village of Whelford in Gloucestershire, near RAF Fairford which is used by the United States Air Force (USAF). Photo: Ben Birchall/PA Wire/dpa
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Anglo-Iranian Man Held over UK Airbase Incident

28 September 2026, United Kingdom, Fairford: A police checkpoint near RAF Fairford after major incident was declared on Sunday, with armed police manning a cordon near the village of Whelford in Gloucestershire, near RAF Fairford which is used by the United States Air Force (USAF). Photo: Ben Birchall/PA Wire/dpa
28 September 2026, United Kingdom, Fairford: A police checkpoint near RAF Fairford after major incident was declared on Sunday, with armed police manning a cordon near the village of Whelford in Gloucestershire, near RAF Fairford which is used by the United States Air Force (USAF). Photo: Ben Birchall/PA Wire/dpa

A man with dual UK-Iranian citizenship was arrested Thursday over a mysterious "major incident" at an airbase in southwest England as Israel said it had warned London about an attack.

The sixth arrest came after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the BBC there were "strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford", a base used by the US military in its war against Iran.

Iran denounced the British government's "baseless accusations" and condemned London for making military bases and facilities under its jurisdiction "available for the planning and execution of the US-Israeli military aggression against Iran".

Counter Terrorism Policing said in a statement Thursday that a "25-year-old man, a dual UK/Iranian national, was arrested" in Westminster in central London "on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking to Fox News late Wednesday, said Israel had tipped off Britain about a plot.

"We gave the Brits the intel that there was going to be an attack, and it's an Iranian-sponsored attack," he said.

Police were called to the base in the Cotswolds early Sunday, triggering an evacuation of the nearby village and the declaration of a "major incident".

A farmer living in the village of Whelford near the airbase called the police after seeing vans blocking a road and a group of masked men.

Police arrested five London-based Britons, all men in their mid-20s, at the scene and examined several vehicles. The men were then released on bail Monday, a move criticized by Washington.

Police then revealed no explosives were found at the scene and the nature of the threat has not been explained by officials.

Adding to the mystery, British media reported that officers were alerted to the incident by one of the initial suspects but police have not commented on the reports.

According to AFP, Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said in a statement Thursday that the investigation is "hugely complex" and police are looking at "all possible angles -- including possible foreign state involvement".

Iran's embassy in London earlier said it "categorically rejects and strongly condemns" speculation it was involved while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Burnham was "barking up the wrong tree".

Britain gave the US the greenlight to use RAF Fairford for defensive strikes against Iran, drawing Tehran's ire and unease from some residents in the Gloucestershire countryside where the base is located.