Lula campaign asks Brazil's top electoral court to probe U.S. consular service suspension

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's campaign has asked the country's top electoral court to investigate whether the U.S. decision to suspend consular services ahead of Sunday's presidential election was related to security concerns or constituted election interference, local media reported Saturday.

The petition, filed by Lula's Brasil Pronto Pra Mais coalition with the Superior Electoral Court, argues that the suspension could have portrayed Brazil as unstable on the eve of the vote and benefits opposition candidate Flavio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party.

The U.S. Embassy announced Thursday that consular services at the embassy and its consulates in Brazil would be suspended starting Friday, citing "security concerns" without elaborating. U.S. citizens were advised not to visit U.S. diplomatic facilities, while diplomatic personnel were instructed to work remotely.

The Lula campaign's petition requests an investigation into whether opposition figures had coordinated with U.S. government officials in connection with the suspension.

Lula campaign asks Brazil's top electoral court to probe U.S. consular service suspension

Vietnam's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 9.95 percent year on year in the third quarter of 2026, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said Saturday.

The Q3 growth rate was higher than the 8.15 percent in Q1 and the 8.81 percent in Q2, the NSO said.

The agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector grew 4.21 percent year on year in Q3, while the industry and construction sector expanded 12.5 percent and the services sector rose 9.54 percent.

Vietnam's GDP in the first nine months of 2026 is estimated to have grown 9.01 percent year on year, the NSO said.

The Southeast Asian country has set a target of achieving double-digit GDP growth in 2026.

Vietnam's GDP expands 9.95 pct in Q3