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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Music startup Thoughtful Things has launched a Kickstarter campaign for Engram, its first instrument. Engram is a sampler and groovebox that uses AI to transform incoming audio and generate entirely new sounds. The company is keen to stress it is not an AI music generator like Suno, but a hands-on hardware tool for producers to mangle and reshape samples. The campaign is drawing attention from music technology enthusiasts interested in how AI is being built into physical instruments.

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.

Despite what critics call a partly hysterical campaign by the Springer press, federal politicians, mainly but not only from the Union, and several state premiers, the debate in Berlin is now moving toward a red-red-green coalition. A state party executive is reportedly involved in the process, and discussion of the shift is spreading in German political circles.

A network of Catholic women religious has launched the 'See. Love. Vote.' campaign aimed at mobilizing voters ahead of the upcoming US elections. The initiative encourages members and communities to engage with the electoral process through the lens of their values. Coverage comes via Global Sisters Report's Monday Starter roundup.

Ferrari is putting the first example of its first electric car up for auction, and the final price is an open question. The move marks a milestone for the Italian marque as it enters the EV era, and collectors and fans are speculating about how much the historic car could fetch under the hammer.

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.

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.

Roy Cooper, former North Carolina governor and Democratic Senate candidate, has intensified his criticism of Republican opponent Michael Whatley while campaigning on affordability promises, including lowering costs for households. With the election approaching, Cooper is framing the contest around economic pressures on voters, attacking Whatley's record as he seeks to consolidate support in a closely watched Senate race.

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.

Police in Boise, Idaho are investigating the theft of roughly 250 political campaign signs from across the city. The mass disappearance of signage has been reported to local authorities, who are working to identify those responsible. The incident comes amid heightened political tensions, and it remains unclear which campaigns or parties were targeted or whether the thefts are connected.

Three players from the 2026 draft class have earned training camp invitations and two-way contracts, securing their spots with NBA organizations ahead of the upcoming season. The signings give the rookies a chance to split time between the NBA roster and the G League while competing for full roster roles. It is an early show of confidence in the young class.

The Brooklyn Nets have waived forward Nick Pringle shortly before the start of NBA training camp. The move trims the roster ahead of camp, leaving the former South Carolina forward to look for another opportunity elsewhere in the league or overseas. No further details about the decision have been reported.

The Boston Celtics have announced their training camp roster for the 2026-27 NBA season, setting out the group of players who will report ahead of the new campaign. The list, published by the club, gives fans a first look at who will compete for spots on the opening-night roster.

The Portland Trail Blazers have announced their training camp roster for the 2026-27 NBA season, revealing which players will report to camp as the franchise continues its rebuild. The announcement gives fans a first look at the mix of returning players, off-season acquisitions and young prospects who will compete for spots on the opening-night roster.