major powers

Meta has blocked Brazilian President Lula's Facebook page and his campaign advertisements, with the move coming just two weeks ahead of Brazil's election. The restriction affects the president's main channel for reaching voters on the platform. Details about Meta's stated reason for the suspension have not been made clear, and the timing, so close to the vote, has drawn immediate attention and is likely to fuel debate over platform power and election interference.

The last US forces have left Iraq, ending a military presence of more than two decades that began with the 2003 invasion. The withdrawal, reported by Reuters, marks a turning point for the region, with analysts warning that Iran now has greater room to expand its influence over Iraq's politics and security. Reactions are divided between those welcoming the end of a long deployment and those concerned about the power vacuum it leaves behind.

Hurricane Polo has intensified to a level now being described as among the strongest storms ever recorded, with forecasters linking its unusual strength to El Niño conditions in the Pacific. The storm's rapid strengthening is drawing attention from weather watchers and news outlets, who point to El Niño's role in producing powerful, long-lived hurricanes in typically cooler eastern Pacific waters.

SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on its first orbital flight test from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. The test flight marked the debut attempt to send the most powerful rocket ever built to space on an integrated mission of the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage. News outlets including ABC News covered the launch live, and the event drew large online audiences following a milestone for spaceflight.

Italy has approved a law allowing the country to produce nuclear energy again, reversing a ban in place for nearly four decades. The move ends a prohibition dating back to referendums after the 1987 vote, and opens the way for new reactors as Italy seeks reliable, low-carbon power and reduced dependence on imported energy.

Iran is reportedly weighing withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as its nuclear program enters a critical phase. Reports say the government is actively debating the move, while satellite imagery shows ongoing activity at known nuclear sites. An exit would mark a major escalation in tensions with Western powers over Tehran's nuclear ambitions and international inspections.

New York and New Jersey have declared states of emergency as a powerful Nor'easter storm moves through the region. The storm has forced the cancellation of events across the area, with officials urging residents to stay off the roads as heavy precipitation and strong winds hit the Northeast.

Iran is claiming victory after the United States announced the end of its military mission in Iraq. The development marks a significant shift in the American military presence in the country and is being framed by Iranian officials as a triumph of their regional strategy. Reactions are likely to focus on what the US withdrawal means for Iraq's stability, the balance of power with Iran, and the future of coalition operations against remaining militants in the region.

Iran's nuclear program is again in focus as debate grows inside the country over whether to abandon the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The state of Tehran's enrichment activities remains largely opaque to outside inspectors and governments, and officials have given little clarity on the program's current scope. The possible withdrawal from the treaty would mark a major escalation in the long-running dispute with world powers over Iran's atomic ambitions.

President Trump has reportedly told congressional leaders he is canceling billions of dollars in previously approved federal funding. The move would affect programs Congress already authorized, raising immediate questions over executive authority and the power of the purse. Late-night coverage and political commentators seized on the report, with critics calling it an overreach and supporters framing it as cutting waste.

In Brazil, a country long described as the world's most Catholic with more than 100 million faithful, presidential candidates are focusing their campaigns on evangelical voters ahead of the election. Commentators say the shift reflects evangelical churches' growing political influence and mobilising power, as the community's share of the population rises while Catholic affiliation declines.

Brazil has briefed French and German officials on alleged interference by the United States and Russia in elections, according to U.S. News & World Report. The reports suggest Brazilian authorities shared intelligence with European partners concerning covert electoral activity attributed to Washington and Moscow. Details about the scope of the alleged interference and the reaction from the countries involved remain limited.

Egypt's diplomatic approach is under scrutiny, with observers debating whether Cairo's maneuvering between regional and global powers is shrewd statecraft or a misstep-prone balancing act. The question has drawn attention in foreign policy circles, reflecting wider uncertainty about Egypt's role amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and its shifting relationships with major powers.

The New York Power Authority has restructured ownership of the largest solar project in St. Lawrence County, splitting it between parties. The move concerns a major renewable energy installation in New York's North Country, and local coverage is drawing attention to what the ownership change means for the region's clean energy development.

Italy's Senate has given final approval to Giorgia Meloni's government's law establishing a new framework for producing nuclear energy, nearly four decades after the country abandoned nuclear power following the 1987 referendum. The government plans to focus on new-generation reactors, marking a major shift in Italy's energy policy after a long-standing ban.

A powerful nor'easter has slammed into New York, flooding parts of Coney Island and Long Island. The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding to the region, with residents sharing images of water-logged streets and damaged shoreline areas. Updates continue as officials assess the damage and respond to flooding across low-lying neighborhoods.

Braves first baseman Matt Olson delivered an RBI single, adding to his run-producing total in a game covered by MLB.com. The hit came during the ongoing baseball season, with Olson remaining one of Atlanta's key power bats in the middle of the lineup. Fans followed the at-bat as part of the day's slate of Major League Baseball results.

A powerful nor'easter is battering Ocean City, with coastal flooding continuing to rise as the storm pushes water over beaches and into low-lying streets. Updates indicate conditions remain dangerous, and residents are being urged to stay away from the waterfront while forecasters track the storm's slow exit.

A full-length documentary on the weaponization of space is drawing attention, examining how major powers are competing to develop military capabilities beyond Earth, from anti-satellite weapons to space-based defense systems. The film spotlights growing concerns that orbit is becoming the next arena of great-power rivalry, raising questions about arms control and the future of international space law.

Kern County, California has approved a large solar-plus-storage project from developer Terra-Gen, combining 600MW of solar generation with 4GWh of battery storage. The development adds to the county's role as a major hub for renewable energy in California, where large-scale storage is increasingly paired with solar to help meet the state's clean electricity targets.

Rooftop solar adoption in New England has grown so large that a major gas-fired power plant is being considered obsolete, according to pv magazine USA. The region has now recorded its 500th 'duck curve' day, when midday solar generation suppresses grid demand, reshaping how the power system is run and undermining the economics of large conventional plants.

Elon Musk's SpaceX is reportedly weighing a doubling of the number of Nvidia chips powering its Colossus 2 AI data center, a move that would significantly expand its computing capacity. Analysts are examining what the expanded investment could mean for SPCX stock, as investors track SpaceX's growing AI infrastructure ambitions and its reliance on Nvidia hardware.

Teamsters working at Phillips 66 have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, according to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The authorization does not mean workers walk out immediately, but gives union leadership the power to call a strike if contract negotiations fail. A stoppage at the energy giant could disrupt fuel refining and supply operations. The strong vote signals deep worker dissatisfaction with the current state of talks.

The last American troops assigned to combat ISIS withdrew from Iraq on Wednesday, formally ending the mission that dismantled the extremist group's caliphate. The withdrawal closes more than a decade of US military presence dedicated to the counter-ISIS campaign. Analysts are raising concerns about regional security and the potential for power vacuums in areas previously held by the militant group.

DoorDash has introduced a text-to-order option, letting customers place delivery orders by messaging instead of using the app. The feature comes as AI shopping agents such as Instinct are gaining traction, with companies racing to make automated, conversational ordering a mainstream way to buy food and goods.

The US Supreme Court is hearing a case over the government's power to deport people to third countries — nations other than their country of origin. The dispute centers on whether migrants must be given a chance to argue they face torture or persecution before being removed to such countries. Lower courts had imposed safeguards, and the ruling could reshape deportation policy broadly.