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Meta has blocked Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's Facebook page and his campaign advertisements, with the suspension coming just two weeks ahead of the country's election. The move is drawing attention given its timing so close to the vote, and the platform's action against a sitting head of state's official campaign presence is likely to fuel debate over content moderation and political speech in Brazil.

Several Democratic candidates in the United States are foregrounding their Christian faith as a core element of their midterm campaign messaging, according to NPR. The strategy appears aimed at countering Republican strength among religious voters and broadening the party's appeal beyond its secular base. It has sparked discussion about whether faith-forward politics can work for Democrats and what it means for the party's positioning heading into the elections.

The Trump administration is preparing new sanctions against the International Criminal Court as part of an escalating effort to undermine the Hague-based tribunal, the Wall Street Journal reports. The move escalates a long-running conflict between Washington and the court, which has pursued cases involving US allies and American personnel. Critics see it as an attack on international justice, while supporters argue the court overreaches against the United States.

Israel's Supreme Court is expected to decide this week whether Arab parties can be barred from running in the upcoming elections. The attempt to exclude them has triggered anger and uncertainty among Arab citizens and their representatives, adding a contentious dimension to an already heated election campaign in Israel.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration can, for the time being, use its revamped federal voter eligibility database. The decision allows federal officials to proceed with the system while legal challenges continue in lower courts. Multiple major outlets, including the Associated Press, are reporting the ruling, which comes amid ongoing disputes over election integrity measures and state voter roll maintenance.

The Institute for the Study of War has released its Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment dated September 27, 2026, its regular analysis of battlefield developments in Russia's war against Ukraine. The think tank's daily assessments track frontline activity, Russian advances or setbacks, and Western policy responses, and are widely cited by governments, militaries and journalists following the conflict.

The Washington Post reports that the White House is expanding a taxpayer-funded advertising campaign that promotes President Trump. The campaign, already running at federal expense, is being broadened, raising fresh questions about the use of public money for political messaging. Critics are likely to frame it as self-promotion at public cost, while the administration defends the ads as official communications.

The Institute for the Study of War has published its latest Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, dated September 26, 2026. The think tank's daily reports track battlefield developments, Russian advances and Ukrainian defensive operations, and are widely cited by policymakers and analysts following the war in Ukraine.

A campaign is calling for national delegations at the COP31 climate summit to exclude fossil fuel lobbyists entirely. The demand targets the practice of oil, gas and coal industry representatives attending UN climate talks as part of official country delegations, a frequent point of controversy at previous summits. Activists argue their presence undermines negotiations aimed at phasing out fossil fuels.

More Americans are losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits while Congress weighs the future of the food stamps program, according to US reports. The developments have drawn attention from local outlets in Kansas, with commentators focused on what any legislative changes would mean for low-income households relying on food assistance.

China says its deep-sea drilling capability has reached the 5,000-meter level, making it the third country in the world to retrieve hard-rock samples from the deep ocean floor. The announcement highlights advances in China's deep-sea exploration technology and its growing presence in seabed research alongside other leading maritime powers.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is claiming a major victory for her government's migration policies, declaring that Italy is no longer carrying Europe's refugee burden. The statement, made in Italian, is drawing strong reactions online, with supporters celebrating it as proof her hard-line migration agenda is working and critics likely to challenge the framing ahead of continued EU disputes over migrant responsibility-sharing.

British track cyclist Katy Marchant has announced her retirement from the sport. Marchant won gold in the team sprint at the Paris 2024 Olympics alongside Sophie Capewell and Emma Finucane, adding to the bronze she claimed in Rio in 2016. Her departure closes a chapter for one of Britain's most successful sprint riders, and tributes and well-wishes have followed the announcement.

India's schedule at the 2026 Asian Games for September 28 centres on two events: the Indian cricket team begins its campaign at the Games, while Indian javelin throwers compete with a gold medal on offer. Sports outlets have published the day's full India schedule so fans can follow both the cricket opener and the javelin final.

The New York Times reports that a campaign advertisement from Donald Trump's 2024 presidential run has resurfaced in a new form, this time produced or distributed with the backing of the federal government. The report has drawn attention to the blurring line between official government communications and partisan campaign material, raising questions about the use of public resources for political messaging.

The UCI Road World Championships are drawing strong interest in France, with fans and media following the elite races closely. Coverage on Eurosport highlights the emotional weight of the event, with one remark that winning the rainbow jersey is 'the hardest dream, and for good reason' — a nod to how demanding a world title on the road is. Riders from across the globe are competing for the iconic rainbow jersey.

An Iranian-linked influence operation has been discovered in Israel in the run-up to elections, according to reporting by The Jerusalem Post. The revelation is drawing attention to foreign meddling concerns during the campaign period, with observers likely to debate the operation's scale, its targets, and its potential impact on voters ahead of the vote.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the surgical strikes presented a bold example of India's counter-terrorism policy. The remarks were carried by major Indian outlets including The Hindu and BusinessLine, underscoring the government's framing of the strikes as a defining moment in its national security approach and a signal of resolve against cross-border terrorism.

France's pharmacists' union is warning about an early resurgence of Covid-19 and is calling on the government to move forward the vaccination campaign scheduled for mid-October. Hospitals are already feeling the strain: emergency room visits are reported to have jumped 67% among adults and 16% among children. The union's appeal puts pressure on health authorities to speed up autumn booster plans as infections climb sooner than expected.

Tigst Assefa's attempt at a world record at the Berlin Marathon was undone by cramps, while Guye Adola took the men's title in the German capital. The race, one of the world's fastest marathon courses, saw the Ethiopian star fall short of the mark despite her record-breaking pedigree, handing attention instead to Adola's victory.

Irish boxer Amy Broadhurst is continuing her comeback at the European championships, describing the campaign as her final attempt to qualify for the Olympics. The former world champion is fighting to secure a place at the Games, and attention is on whether her return to form can carry her through the tournament and into Olympic selection.

NBA teams are set to open training camp, with Media Day taking place in most cities on Monday and first practices scheduled for Tuesday. The sessions mark the official start of the new NBA season, giving teams their first on-court work ahead of preseason games, with players meeting reporters at Media Day before hitting the floor.

Attention is turning to the 2026 cycling world championships, with previews of the women's elite race already circulating. French-speaking media are focusing on Demi Vollering, highlighting that her potential title could have a partly French flavour, and outlets are listing the confirmed starters for the women's elite event ahead of the championships.