Lula strengthened his electoral performance in 5,318 Brazilian municipalities between the October 4 first round and the October 25 runoff, according to an analysis of election results presented by The World in Maps.

Only 122 municipalities moved towards his right-wing rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, the graphic showed.

The figures suggest Lula gained ground across approximately 98% of the municipalities included in the comparison, highlighting the scale of his recovery after finishing behind Bolsonaro in the first round.

The shift does not mean Lula won every municipality where his support increased. In many places, he simply narrowed Bolsonaro's lead or increased his own margin.

An analysis by Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, also based on Superior Electoral Court (TSE) data, found that Lula improved his margin against Bolsonaro in 5,385 municipalities, or 96.7% of the country's total. Bolsonaro gained ground in 185. The figures differ from those shown in the graphic, possibly because of differences in how local results were compared.

Among the largest shifts highlighted in the graphic were Campos dos Goytacazes and Belford Roxo in Rio de Janeiro state, where Lula's position improved by 9.8 and 8.6 percentage points, respectively. São Vicente in São Paulo state recorded an 8.4-point shift.

Lula's gains helped him secure 51.79% of valid votes in the runoff, compared with Bolsonaro's 48.21%, according to the TSE. He received 64.26 million votes against Bolsonaro's 59.83 million, reversing a first-round deficit of about 2.2 million votes.

The result secured Lula a fourth non-consecutive presidential term, although Bolsonaro has challenged the outcome and called for the election to be annulled.

The municipal figures illustrate how widespread changes in voting margins contributed to Lula's victory, even in areas where Bolsonaro remained the leading candidate.

Rebeca Grynspan, a former Costa Rican vice-president and head of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), received nine favourable votes out of 15 in the October 16 informal ballot, according to Reuters.

However, she also received five negative votes, including two from permanent Security Council members, preventing her from securing the council's recommendation.

Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Argentina's Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency , each received eight favourable votes. Both also faced opposition from permanent members.

The vote marked an important stage in the selection process because it was the first to distinguish ballots cast by the five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — from those of the council's 10 elected members.

Under UN rules, a candidate needs at least nine votes in the Security Council without a veto from any permanent member before the General Assembly can appoint them.

The contest widened on October 21 when the United Arab Emirates nominated diplomat Lana Nusseibeh, a former ambassador to the UN. Her candidacy came after the latest informal ballot, meaning she was not included in those results.

Meanwhile, former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has emerged as a possible additional contender. The Wall Street Journal reported that officials in US President Donald Trump's administration had discussed supporting him as a potential joint candidate with Russia and China.

However, Orbán has not been formally nominated, and the reported proposal remains uncertain.

The next secretary-general will take office on January 1, 2027, succeeding Guterres after two five-year terms.

The selection comes as the UN faces major challenges, including ongoing conflicts , financial pressures and growing divisions among Security Council members.

Although Grynspan leads the reported informal voting, the opposition facing every candidate means the outcome remains unresolved.

In Spain, Janones has been invited to contribute to Sánchez's campaign for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) ahead of the November 29 election . His participation has not yet been confirmed.

In Mexico , Sheinbaum has invited the Brazilian lawmaker to discuss joint initiatives aimed at strengthening left-wing political movements in both countries. No date has been set for the visit.

In Brazil, Janones created and coordinated the WhatsApp channel "Lula's Army," which reportedly attracted nearly 11 million members during the final stages of the presidential campaign. The initiative expanded Lula's digital presence and organised coordinated online activities among supporters.

The invitations follow Lula's re-election, which brought greater attention to Janones' approach to political communication. Known for his confrontational style on social media, the lawmaker sought to increase the left's presence on platforms where supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro had established a strong following over the previous decade.

Janones calls his approach "Cultural Janonism," combining informal language, direct confrontation with political opponents, rapidly circulated content and continuous mobilisation of supporters.

From Lula's campaign to Spain's elections

According to Brazilian news outlet Metrópoles, Sánchez's invitation remains subject to discussions about Janones' participation, travel arrangements and expenses. The lawmaker had not confirmed whether he would accept the proposal.

The Spanish prime minister faces the November 29 election amid declining support for his socialist government, opposition from conservative parties and the growing influence of the far right.

Lula's victory attracted attention among progressive parties in Spain, which have presented the Brazilian election result as an example of overcoming an unfavourable electoral position.

Sánchez publicly celebrated Lula's re-election and linked the result to Spain's political situation. According to Spanish newspaper El País, left-wing parties in Spain are seeking to use Lula's victory to encourage progressive voters and strengthen their campaigns against political opponents.

Metrópoles also reported that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum invited Janones to visit Mexico to discuss initiatives aimed at strengthening the left.

Although the invitations have different objectives, both reflect interest in Janones' ability to organise supporters and use digital communication for political mobilisation.

What is Cultural Janonism?

"Cultural Janonism" is the term Janones uses to describe his communication strategy, which gained attention during Brazil's 2022 presidential election when he participated in Lula's campaign against Jair Bolsonaro.

The approach has been examined in academic research exploring how left-wing political movements adopt communication methods associated with the right.

Its main characteristics include conversational language, confrontational messaging and content designed to generate strong emotional reactions, particularly anger and indignation. Research into social media platforms has examined how emotionally engaging content can receive greater visibility through recommendation algorithms.

Rather than relying exclusively on official campaign accounts, the strategy encourages supporters to distribute political messages themselves.

Videos, memes, short posts and campaign slogans are shared by different users, allowing messages to reach audiences beyond the original accounts.

However, the approach also raises concerns. Confrontational communication can increase the reach of political messages while contributing to polarisation and the spread of misleading information.

Using these methods does not automatically guarantee democratic communication or reliable information.

How Janones helped organise Lula's digital campaign

Brazil's 2026 presidential election brought Cultural Janonism to a much larger audience.

After finishing the first round behind Flávio Bolsonaro, Lula needed to increase his support within the three weeks separating the two rounds.

Janones responded by expanding the activities of "Lula's Army," a WhatsApp channel established in April.

Initially created for communication among supporters, the channel developed into a platform for distributing campaign materials and coordinating digital activities.

According to Brazilian news outlet UOL, the channel surpassed eight million members on October 22 and approached 11 million during the final stages of the campaign.

Janones encouraged participants to share videos, engage with posts supporting Lula, distribute campaign messages and avoid certain interactions with opposing accounts that could increase the visibility of pro-Bolsonaro content.

The mobilisation also extended beyond social media.

Janones called for coordinated public demonstrations, including a protest involving people banging pots and pans during Flávio Bolsonaro's interview on Jornal Nacional. He also encouraged supporters to demonstrate their support for Lula's re-election in public spaces.

The campaign increasingly used informal communication, including mobile phone videos and live broadcasts.

During one broadcast, Lula spoke with Janones and thanked supporters for their digital mobilisation. On election night, the president referred to the lawmaker as a "general," publicly acknowledging his role in the campaign.

The WhatsApp channel also faced legal challenges.

Brazil's Superior Electoral Court ordered its suspension in rulings connected to allegations by Bolsonaro's campaign that the channel had distributed false information.

Why the strategy is attracting international attention

Interest in Janones' campaign reflects a broader challenge facing left-wing parties internationally: how to compete on digital platforms where far-right movements have established active communities, distinctive communication styles and extensive networks for distributing political messages.

In Brazil, the Bolsonaro movement developed part of its political influence through networks of supporters, influencers and messaging channels.

These networks allowed political content to circulate widely and enabled regular communication with supporters outside election periods.

Janones' strategy sought to respond through similar digital tools, directing them towards mobilisation in support of Lula.

However, the effectiveness of such an approach depends on each country's political environment, public confidence in political leaders, media consumption habits and electoral regulations.

A strategy that reaches millions of people in Brazil may not produce similar results in Spain or Mexico.

For Sánchez and Sheinbaum, the question is which elements of Brazil's digital campaign experience can be adapted to their respective political environments without assuming that Lula's electoral victory can be replicated through a single communication strategy.

Speaking in Nazareth, the Ta'al party leader said removing the current government remained his main objective, even if the next administration did not fully reflect his political preferences.

"We want to oust this government, to bring it down! To depose Netanyahu, then to depose Amir Ohana, and pave the way for an alternative government. It won't be my cup of tea," he said.

"It will be a different government. Reality must be changed, and this possibility must be given a chance based on voter turnout rates. We are heading in that direction. There are no deals ."

Tibi's remarks came as reports indicated increased participation among Arab voters, a development he welcomed as an encouraging sign for democracy.

He pointed to long queues outside polling stations in Arab communities, particularly in Tayibe, where he claimed voter participation had reached levels comparable to local elections .

"The racists retreat into their dens, and that is what will happen," he declared.

The lawmaker also accused unnamed parties of attempting to delay the voting process but maintained that the growing turnout could help bring about a change in government.

"At the end of the day, we will take on the racists, send them home, and pave the way for a new reality and perhaps a new hope. It will not be easy, but victory is within reach," he said.

The Joint Arab List, comprising Hadash, Ta'al and Balad, is seeking to win nine or ten seats in Israel's 120-member parliament.

Its campaign has focused on increasing Arab political representation and opposing Netanyahu's government.

Tuesday's election is Israel's first parliamentary vote since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent wars.

The election has brought questions about national security , political accountability and Israel's future into focus.

With neither of the major political blocs guaranteed the 61 seats required to form a parliamentary majority, the outcome could lead to difficult coalition negotiations.

Tibi's calls for change come as the Joint Arab List seeks to increase its representation in a closely contested election.

Speaking at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit in Moscow on Tuesday, Putin called for fairness in the global transition towards cleaner energy.

He argued that developing nations should not be discouraged from using hydrocarbons without considering their economic needs and access to investment and technology .

"Of course, this transition to a fully green agenda must be fair. How could it be otherwise? Today's European Union was built as a union of coal and steel, we all remember that. It was on coal and hydrocarbons that the economy of today's Europe was built up. And now, having reached a certain level of development, our colleagues in Europe are telling other countries, primarily developing ones, that they must not use hydrocarbons. But why should they be denied that? What are they supposed to do? Where are they to get the investment, where are they to get the technology? Is that fair?" Putin said.

His remarks focused on the challenges facing developing economies as countries seek to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

The Russian leader questioned how poorer nations could finance their development and obtain the technology needed for an energy transition if they were expected to move away from hydrocarbons.

Putin made the comments during the GECF Summit, scheduled for October 27, which brought together leaders from major gas-exporting nations to discuss international energy markets , natural gas development and cooperation among producers.

Established in 2001, the GECF comprises 12 member countries: Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela .

Since 2011, the organisation has held summits every two years to discuss the role of natural gas in the global economy.

Its activities also include monitoring and forecasting gas market developments, exchanging expertise and encouraging technological cooperation among member states.

These were the words of Eyal Eshel, whose 19-year-old daughter Roni was killed during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack while serving as an Israeli military observer at Nahal Oz.

Eshel joined other families of victims and former hostages at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, demanding answers from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government as Israelis voted in a national election.

The gathering began at 06:29 local time (04:29 GMT), marking the moment Hamas launched its attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel's subsequent military offensive killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and caused widespread destruction across Gaza .

Among those demanding accountability was Einav Tzangauker, whose son Matan spent 738 days in Hamas captivity before being released.

She criticised the government's handling of the hostage crisis and questioned why the captives had not been brought home earlier.

"Go out and vote so this failure never happens again, so we know what happened and who is responsible, and so we can finally begin to repair and rebuild," she said.

Michel Michael Ilouz, whose son Guy was murdered while held hostage, also addressed the gathering, urging Israelis to remember the victims when casting their ballots.

"From here, I call on the people of Israel: remember him, and remember everyone, when you vote. Vote for change, vote for hope, vote to make things a little different here."

The families have repeatedly demanded an independent state commission of inquiry into the security and intelligence failures surrounding October 7.

Netanyahu's government has instead supported an investigative panel appointed through a different process.

Israel's High Court postponed its ruling on the proposed inquiry until after the election, giving the government until January 15, 2027, to explain how it intends to investigate the failures.

Questions over the government's handling of the attack have also intensified following reports that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel warned Israel three times before October 7, including an alleged warning delivered directly to Netanyahu.

The prime minister denied receiving those warnings.

Earlier in October, former Israeli hostage negotiator Major General Nitzan Alon suggested that the captives could have been released 'maybe a year earlier' without seriously compromising Israel's military objectives.

Tuesday's election saw Netanyahu's Likud party and its allies face a divided opposition, including former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.

The unresolved questions surrounding October 7 remained a major issue as Israelis went to the polls .

Speaking in a televised address on Monday, Rodriguez described the opposition leader's homecoming as a spectacle and called for greater attention to political dialogue and the concerns of Venezuelans.

"Let us step away from the show and focus on making politics something very serious. That is something that she [Maria Corina Machado] and her organisers had. We do not know, but if they did it that way, they will be seeking some objective," she said.

Machado returned to Venezuela on Sunday after nearly ten months abroad, receiving a welcome from thousands of supporters who gathered to celebrate her arrival.

Rodriguez did not explain how Machado entered the country but questioned the need for such a public reception.

"I truly believe politics as a show must end, because politics is something very serious. Why is politics something very serious? Because it has to do with citizens' lives. The show could have been avoided," Rodriguez asserted.

The acting president also addressed international sanctions and foreign actions against Venezuela, urging those who supported such measures to consider their consequences.

"May those who have harmed Venezuela, who called for sanctions and external aggression, feel some remorse and repentance, and may both the space of dialogue and the Programme for Democratic Coexistence and Peace serve so that all voices can be heard," she added.

Rodriguez further defended her government's position on political rights and justice, calling for an independent and transparent judicial system that protects vulnerable communities.

"There is no political persecution in Venezuela; it is the new Venezuela that I aspire to and the new Venezuela I work for," she maintained, referring to her family's experience of political persecution during her childhood.

Her comments came a day after Machado returned to Venezuela following an extended period outside the country.

The opposition leader left Venezuela in December 2025 and travelled to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

In January 2026, Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House.

During Monday's address, Rodriguez also congratulated Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on his victory over Liberal Party candidate Flavio Bolsonaro in Sunday's presidential run-off.

"Once again, congratulations to president Lula da Silva and the people of Brazil, because Brazil gave a lesson that neither extremisms nor fanaticisms of any kind prevail. It is a healthy society that has sent a message to the world and above all to the peoples of our Latin America and the Caribbean and this region," she affirmed.

Serbia's student-led opposition secured 140 seats in the country's 250-member parliament in Sunday's snap election, defeating the coalition of longtime leader Aleksandar Vučić, according to preliminary results released by the Republican Electoral Commission (RIK).

The Student List won 52.71% of votes counted , compared with 39.17% for Vučić's United Serbia coalition, which secured 104 seats. Four parties representing ethnic minorities shared the remaining six seats, according to the latest official count.

The result gives the student-backed movement more than the 126 seats needed for a parliamentary majority, opening the way for a change of government after years of dominance by Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party.

Vučić conceded defeat on Sunday as thousands of opposition supporters celebrated in Belgrade and other cities. Voter turnout was approximately 69%, reflecting strong public interest in the election.

The snap election followed nearly two years of student-led demonstrations triggered by the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 16 people. The disaster fuelled public anger over alleged corruption, weak oversight and government accountability.

What began as university protests developed into a nationwide movement demanding political change. Student organisers mobilised voters across Serbia, including rural areas traditionally considered strongholds of Vučić's ruling party.

The movement's candidates include professionals and other public figures rather than the student organisers themselves, reflecting its attempt to build support beyond established opposition parties.

The election also marks a major political turning point for Serbia, where Vučić has been the dominant political figure for more than a decade.

However, the new parliamentary majority faces the challenge of turning its protest movement into a functioning government while addressing corruption, economic concerns and Serbia's relations with the European Union .

The official figures remain preliminary. A separate CeSID/Ipsos projection based on its complete polling sample gave the Student List 141 seats and Vučić's coalition 103, slightly different from the RIK count.

Serbia's student-led opposition secured 140 seats in the country's 250-member parliament in Sunday's snap election, defeating the coalition of longtime leader Aleksandar Vučić, according to preliminary results released by the Republican Electoral Commission (RIK).

The Student List won 52.71% of votes counted , compared with 39.17% for Vučić's United Serbia coalition, which secured 104 seats. Four parties representing ethnic minorities shared the remaining six seats, according to the latest official count.

The result gives the student-backed movement more than the 126 seats needed for a parliamentary majority, opening the way for a change of government after years of dominance by Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party.

Vučić conceded defeat on Sunday as thousands of opposition supporters celebrated in Belgrade and other cities. Voter turnout was approximately 69%, reflecting strong public interest in the election.

The snap election followed nearly two years of student-led demonstrations triggered by the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 16 people . The disaster fuelled public anger over alleged corruption, weak oversight and government accountability.

What began as university protests developed into a nationwide movement demanding political change. Student organisers mobilised voters across Serbia, including rural areas traditionally considered strongholds of Vučić's ruling party.

The movement's candidates include professionals and other public figures rather than the student organisers themselves, reflecting its attempt to build support beyond established opposition parties.

The election also marks a major political turning point for Serbia, where Vučić has been the dominant political figure for more than a decade.

However, the new parliamentary majority faces the challenge of turning its protest movement into a functioning government while addressing corruption, economic concerns and Serbia's relations with the European Union .

The official figures remain preliminary. A separate CeSID/Ipsos projection based on its complete polling sample gave the Student List 141 seats and Vučić's coalition 103, slightly different from the RIK count.

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva strengthened his support across nearly 97% of the country's municipalities between the first and second rounds of the 2026 presidential election , helping him overturn an early lead held by right-wing rival Flávio Bolsonaro.

An analysis of official election data by Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo found that Lula gained ground in 96.7% of municipalities, either increasing his lead or narrowing his deficit against Bolsonaro.

Lula turned around results in 211 municipalities that had voted for Bolsonaro in the first round, while only one municipality switched in Bolsonaro's favour. The gains included 76 municipalities in Minas Gerais and 32 in São Paulo.

The shift helped Lula secure 51.79% of valid votes in Sunday's runoff, compared with Bolsonaro's 48.21%, according to Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE).

Lula received 64.26 million votes against Bolsonaro's 59.83 million, winning by approximately 4.43 million votes. The result gave the Workers' Party leader an unprecedented fourth non-consecutive presidential term.

The electoral map showed Lula expanding his support beyond his traditional strongholds in northeastern Brazil . He won the most votes in 2,875 municipalities, compared with Bolsonaro's 2,695, while one municipality recorded a tie.

Minas Gerais proved particularly important, becoming the only state to switch from Bolsonaro in the first round to Lula in the runoff. Lula also improved his performance in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, despite Bolsonaro winning both states overall.

The results marked a historic comeback. Bolsonaro had led the first round with 47% of valid votes against Lula's 45.2%, but the incumbent reversed the national result in the October 25 runoff.

The figures highlight how changes in local voting patterns helped determine the outcome of Brazil's election, even in areas where Bolsonaro retained majority support.

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured 51.79% of valid votes in Sunday's presidential runoff, defeating right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who received 48.21%, according to final results from Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE).

Lula, 80, received 64,256,232 votes, while Bolsonaro received 59,826,041, winning by more than 4.4 million votes. The victory gives the Workers' Party leader an unprecedented fourth non-consecutive presidential term.

The result marked a major comeback for Lula, who had finished behind Bolsonaro in the first round on October 4. It was the first time since Brazil restored direct presidential elections in 1989 that a candidate trailing in the opening round went on to win the runoff.

The electoral map showed a sharp regional divide. Lula won 13 of Brazil's 26 states, including all nine in the Northeast, where his political support has traditionally been strongest. He also secured Minas Gerais, a key battleground state that Bolsonaro had won in the first round.

Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, won the remaining 13 states and the Federal District, performing strongly across southern Brazil and much of the Centre-West.

Lula's victory came despite concerns over living costs, public security and economic conditions. His campaign increased voter mobilisation between the two rounds, helping him overcome Bolsonaro's early lead.

However, Bolsonaro refused to concede defeat and called for the election results to be annulled after a last-minute judicial decision extended voting by two hours. The extension followed complaints about public transport problems and heavy rainfall in some areas.

Brazil's electoral authorities maintained that the extension did not change the outcome. More than 128 million voters participated in the runoff, with abstention falling to about 19.2%, down from 21.08% in the first round.

Lula is expected to begin his new term in January 2027, facing the challenge of governing a politically divided country while addressing economic pressures and relations with the United States.

Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun congratulated Lula and expressed China's willingness to expand cooperation with Brasilia.

"China takes note of the announcement by Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court of President Lula’s runoff victory and extends congratulations on that. China stands ready to work with Brazil to advance the building of the China-Brazil community with a shared future," Guo said during a daily press conference in Beijing.

According to Brazil's official election results, Lula secured 51.79 per cent of valid votes in Sunday's presidential run-off, defeating Bolsonaro, who received 48.21 per cent.

Bolsonaro rejected the election outcome, but Beijing declined to address his accusations, maintaining that it respected the decision of Brazilian voters.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry also commented on political developments in Serbia following Sunday's parliamentary election.

Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat to a student-led movement but accused European governments and opponents of US President Donald Trump of supporting efforts to remove him from power.

The allegations have not been independently established.

Responding to questions about Serbia, Guo reiterated China's position on political developments in other countries.

"China upholds the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and respects the independent choice of the people of other countries," Guo noted.

The briefing also addressed renewed tensions between China and India along their disputed border.

India's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the situation becomes unstable when Chinese troops move away from "established patrolling patterns".

Guo defended China's border activities, insisting that its forces were operating within existing agreements.

"China strictly abides by the relevant agreements and common understandings reached between the two countries, and conducts normal border patrol and control activities to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and stability in the border areas," Guo noted.

He also called for continued cooperation between Beijing and New Delhi to maintain stability.

"China and India maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels. We hope that India will work with China in the same direction by jointly implementing the common understandings reached between the two sides and maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas with concrete actions," he continued.

On relations with North Korea, Guo confirmed that senior Chinese official Wang Huning accompanied DPRK leader Kim Jong Un during his visit to Dandong on Saturday.

Wang conveyed greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping during the visit.

Kim toured a car factory and a Korean War memorial in the Chinese border city, with Beijing describing the visit as a demonstration of its commitment to maintaining close relations with Pyongyang.

After all, an Indonesian EV powerhouse is more than a distant prospect.

By combining nickel resources, investment incentives and Southeast Asia’s largest domestic automotive market, the country is positioning itself to capture more of the value of electrification, from battery production to vehicle assembly.

Now, the question becomes how far those advantages can take it towards becoming a regional manufacturing hub, or eventually competing with China.

Attractive market

Across West Java, that ambition is becoming visible on factory floors.

South Korea’s Hyundai announced a $1.55 billion investment in 2019 to build its first Indonesian car plant. China’s Wuling, which began manufacturing in the country in 2017, started local EV production in 2022.

Vietnam’s VinFast inaugurated its Subang factory in December 2025, with initial annual capacity of 50,000 vehicles and first-phase investment exceeding $300 million. China’s BYD opened a Subang plant in September 2026 capable of producing 150,000 vehicles annually.

These companies, and more, are competing for the same burgeoning market.

Battery EV wholesales reached 103,931 units in 2025, according to Jessada Thongpak, a senior analyst covering light vehicle production across Southeast Asia at Mobility Global. Indonesia aims to have 2 million electric cars and 13 million electric motorcycles on its roads by 2030.

For manufacturers, however, the attraction extends beyond potential buyers.

“Indonesia’s appeal comes from the combination of a large long-term consumer market domestically, an established manufacturing base and access to battery raw materials,” Thongpak told Global South World.

“Its opportunity is to turn those advantages into deeper component localization and a broader range of export output,” he added.

Government support

Alongside those resources, government support has helped persuade manufacturers to establish production, said Edmund Araga, president of the Asian Federation of Electric Vehicle Associations.

In 2023, it announced a programme covering sales of 200,000 electric motorcycles and 35,900 electric cars, with payments of 7 million rupiah ($385)to producers and retailers for each eligible new motorcycle sold or conventional motorcycle converted to electric power.

In 2024, it introduced luxury-tax relief for qualifying EVs and import-tax exemptions running through 2025. It also extended a reduction in VAT for eligible EV purchases to 1%, from 11%.

In August, officials outlined stimulus covering 500,000 electric motorcycles, following an earlier proposal for a subsidy of 5 million rupiah ($275) per purchase. Support for charging infrastructure has included licensing assistance and financial incentives to encourage investment beyond vehicle assembly.

Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara said its financial subsidiaries, including state-owned banks, were ready to offer lower-interest loans with longer repayment periods to support the national electric motorcycle programme.

“That’s how they were able to attract Hyundai and Wuling and other manufacturers to build plants — because the incentives they give out are good,” Araga told Global South World.

Stiff regional competition

Those investments strengthen Indonesia’s position, but its regional competitors retain advantages built over decades.

Thailand has deeper supplier networks, stronger engineering capabilities and established export programmes for pickups, pickup-based SUVs and smaller passenger cars. Vietnam offers competitive costs and rapid market growth; Malaysia benefits from good infrastructure and a strong electronics base.

“Thailand is currently the more mature export hub, while Indonesia has the stronger domestic-scale and EV industrialization story,” Thongpak told Global South World.

Indonesia’s domestic demand remains its investment anchor, but exports are increasingly necessary to sustain efficient production.

Its wider automotive industry produced approximately 1.15 million vehicles in 2025 and exported around 518,000 completely built-up units, according to Thongpak. Exports were equivalent to roughly 45% of output, although inventory and timing differences prevent direct reconciliation.

That business remains concentrated among selected manufacturers and models. Meanwhile, approximately 2.59 million units of installed annual capacity imply utilisation of roughly 44% against reported production.

“The greater risk is model-specific overcapacity: production lines for vehicles that cannot achieve domestic scale or secure export allocations,” Thongpak said.

Araga nevertheless sees Indonesia’s domestic market as a foundation for a larger international role. “Why not?” he said when asked whether it could eventually rival China in EV manufacturing.

What’s next?

For now, manufacturers must navigate a market in which electrification is advancing at different speeds.

Thongpak forecasts light vehicle production of 1.27 million units in 2026, supported by recovering demand, local EV manufacturing and exports.

Alongside foreign investment, the government is pursuing its own production ambitions.

The development linked to Prabowo’s homegrown-car plan would initially occupy 60 hectares and produce up to 50,000 vehicles annually. An eventual expansion to 539 hectares would raise capacity to as much as 300,000 vehicles a year.

Indonesia has, in many ways, shown it has what it takes to attract manufacturers to build.

But their next decisions — which models to localise, which components to source domestically and which markets to serve — will determine how much of that investment becomes sustained production.

Thousands of Venezuelans gathered in Caracas on Sunday to welcome opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, who returned home after nearly 10 months abroad.

Machado greeted supporters from a vehicle travelling along the Valle-Coche highway, waving a Venezuelan flag, shaking hands and blowing kisses to the crowds.

People waved national flags, sounded vuvuzelas and recorded her arrival on their mobile phones.

Some supporters had gathered in the Santa Monica area more than five hours before her arrival. Others chanted 'Freedom' and 'Out with Delcy', while several carried signs reading 'Welcome home! Leader'.

The opposition leader left Venezuela in December 2025 after spending months in hiding. She subsequently travelled to Norway following her Nobel Peace Prize win.

According to her team, Machado had made seven unsuccessful attempts to return to Venezuela before arriving on Sunday.

Her return has also renewed demands for presidential elections, with supporters calling for a new vote.

"What we want here are presidential elections , here we want a free and prosperous country, and the only one who can give us that is named María Corina Machado," supporter Jack Azuaje said.

Another supporter, Pedro Paredes, expressed hope that Machado's return would strengthen the opposition's campaign for political change.

"Hand in hand with her, who has fervently driven this feeling that all we Venezuelans share to conquer true democracy and finally end this regime that has caused so much harm to us Venezuelans," he added.

Machado and her political allies are pushing for presidential elections by July 2027, hoping she will be able to contest after being barred from participating in the disputed 2024 vote.

Her opposition movement is also preparing a voter registration campaign that will include Venezuelans living abroad.

Venezuela has been governed by interim President Delcy Rodriguez since US forces captured former President Nicolas Maduro in January 2026.

Although the interim authorities have indicated that elections will take place, they have not announced a date.

Rodriguez maintains that Venezuelans should determine when the country is ready to hold elections.

Washington, meanwhile, has prioritised economic stabilisation and institutional reforms before a new presidential vote.

Speaking during a television interview on Monday, Netanyahu described Iran as a major threat to Israel's security and claimed that Tehran had resumed nuclear activities despite previous military strikes.

"There is one fundamental question here: our survival today. This morning, Iran's news agency published a video showing the leadership's guidance to drop atomic bombs on Israel . They have renewed the nuclear program. We have battered this regime; it is faltering, it is bruised and battered, and like a wounded scorpion, it could make its desperate sting and destroy us," he said.

The Israeli leader insisted that the country's military was prepared to respond to any renewed threat, promising to 'strike them again.'

Netanyahu also highlighted his close relationship with US President Donald Trump , presenting their cooperation as an opportunity to address Iran's nuclear ambitions.

He argued that Trump's remaining time in office offered Israel a chance to take further action against Tehran.

"It is doubtful we will ever have such a friendly president again. This will not repeat itself. He has two more years, and he says he calls on you to vote for me and he says, 'only with him.' Only with your humble servant will he be ready to launch an operation that will once and for all remove the Iranian threat," he said.

Netanyahu further claimed that he had instructed Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, and the Israel Defence Forces to pursue regime change in Iran , arguing that removing Tehran's government was necessary to eliminate the threat.

The prime minister also suggested that several Arab countries were waiting to see whether Israel would complete its military campaign before considering further diplomatic agreements under the Abraham Accords.

"We have an opportunity to secure a bright diplomatic, economic, and security future for the State of Israel, to secure our future. That is what is at stake."

His comments come as Israel prepares for an election that Netanyahu described as closely contested.

According to figures he cited during the interview, the rival political blocs were tied at 60 seats each.

Tuesday's vote follows US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, which were followed by retaliatory attacks across the region.

Netanyahu is also facing domestic criticism over the security failures surrounding the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, exemptions from military service and the rising cost of living.