elections

French voters are heading to the polls in the 2026 Senate elections, with grand electors in around sixty departments called to cast ballots. The vote is the last nationwide election before the 2027 presidential election, giving it added political weight. French media are providing live coverage of the results and what they mean for the balance of the upper house.

Meta has blocked Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's Facebook page and his campaign advertisements, according to reports circulating two weeks ahead of Brazil's election. The move, if confirmed, would cut a sitting president off a major campaign channel at a critical moment. Reactions online are focused on the timing and on questions of platform power over political speech during an election period.

A new NBC News poll shows President Donald Trump's approval rating falling to 41% among registered voters, the lowest of his second term, with 55% disapproving. More voters also criticized his handling of the economy, a concern landing as the closely watched midterm elections approach.

A far-left party has won the Berlin election, campaigning on a pledge to nationalise housing in a city grappling with soaring rents and a chronic shortage of affordable flats. The result signals strong voter appetite for radical housing policy in the German capital and is likely to reignite debate over expropriating large corporate landlords.

Australia won the toss and elected to field in a must-win one-day international against South Africa. With the series on the line, the toss decision puts immediate pressure on South Africa's batters to post a competitive total, while Australia's bowlers look to exploit early conditions to keep their hopes of winning the series alive.

Saturday Night Live aired a comedy sketch parodying the reported friendly rapport between Donald Trump and New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, an unlikely pairing given their political differences. The episode also mocked Natalie Harp, a Trump aide known for her on-camera flattery of the president. The bit played on the widely noted warmth between the two men following their recent White House meeting.

New polling in the Texas Senate race is driving discussion, with commenters weighing what the numbers mean for both parties ahead of the election. Posts debate whether recent surveys signal a genuine shift in voter sentiment or ordinary statistical noise, and how the results could shape campaign strategy and national attention on the contest.