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Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won Brazil's presidential runoff election, defeating his challenger with 51.8% of the vote to secure an unprecedented fourth term. Lula overcame a deficit of more than 2 million votes from the first round by winning an additional 10 million supporters. Following the result, U.S. President Donald Trump described the election as 'rigged,' though Bolsonaro's party subsequently accepted the outcome.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated, prompting Iranians to panic-buy goods in anticipation of potential conflict. The U.S. State Department has updated travel advisories for 13 Middle Eastern countries citing security risks linked to Iranian-backed Houthi activity in Yemen. Diplomatic efforts are underway, with Saudi Arabia and members of a regional defence alliance visiting Tehran to attempt to defuse tensions.

Israel is holding its first election since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, amid reports of a conflict between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli military over Iran policy. The IDF issued a public statement in the final hours of the campaign in response to reports about the purported feud. Netanyahu's political future, his handling of the Gaza war, and Israeli policy in the occupied West Bank are central issues in the contest.

A localized ceasefire has taken effect in Oleshky, Ukraine, allowing for evacuations and humanitarian aid deliveries, with Russia halting strikes on the Kherson region as part of the agreement. The ceasefire was reportedly secured through the involvement of US First Lady Melania Trump. Separately, Romanian authorities have attributed a fire near a weapons factory in September to a Russian-run sabotage network, describing it as part of a broader campaign targeting European countries that support Ukraine.

The 2026 US midterm elections are eight days away, with multiple competitive Senate races that will determine which party controls Congress for the remainder of Donald Trump's presidency. Key contests are unfolding in states including Mississippi, Texas, Iowa, and Alaska, with several races described as neck-and-neck. Legal disputes over ballot procedures in California and Alaska have also emerged in the final stretch of campaigning.

Anthropic, the AI company behind the Claude chatbot, has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on the US stock market, publicly disclosing its financials for the first time. The filing reveals significant financial losses alongside surging revenue, a pattern common in high-growth tech startups. The SEC filing also includes unconventional risk disclosures, including concerns about machine consciousness and AI becoming sentient.

Jordan conducted air strikes in Syria following a fatal church shooting, with the strikes hitting two Syrian provinces. At least seven people were reported killed as a result of the air strikes. Syria denied that it had coordinated with Jordan prior to the military action.

The U.S. Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, has challenged ballots in both California and Washington state, alleging they may belong to noncitizen voters — targeting approximately 20,000 ballots in California and flagging over 400 individuals in Washington who the DOJ says have voted 1,500 times. A federal appeals court declined to rule on the California case and remanded it to a district court for further proceedings. The Washington request is described as part of a broader effort by the administration to address suspected noncitizen voter registration.

The Trump administration's Justice Department has filed new criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey, accusing him of unlawfully leaking classified or national defense information to the media in 2016. The charges reportedly include communicating national defense information and conspiracy. Comey's lawyers have contested the charges, arguing they fall outside the applicable statute of limitations.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated that trade talks between Canada and the United States have intensified as the US midterm elections approach. Carney indicated that progress in negotiations reflects Washington moving closer to Canada's position rather than any shift in Ottawa's stance. Canada has maintained that it is holding firm on its trade demands throughout the discussions.

The UK Budget is approaching amid a range of political and economic pressures facing the Labour government. Chancellor Healey has announced plans to remove tariffs on certain food staples, including marmalade and gherkins, framed as providing households with financial relief. The Budget arrives against a backdrop of broader debates within the Labour Party and cabinet on issues including Brexit and North Sea oil.

A judge has ruled that the Trump administration illegally fired Maurene Comey from her position as a federal prosecutor. Maurene Comey, daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, believes she was dismissed because of her father's identity. The judge found that the administration's legal justification for the firing contradicted nearly two centuries of Supreme Court precedent.

Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas have been named the winners of the men's and women's Ballon d'Or awards respectively. The ceremony recognised them as the best male and female soccer players in the world for the year. Kane's win was covered across both US and UK media outlets.

A doctor in Florida performed what is being described as a medical first by conducting surgery on a patient located 35 miles away using a robotic telesurgery system. The procedure took place on a Sunday. The surgery was carried out remotely, with the physician operating the robotic system from a separate location to the hospital where the patient was situated.

The University of New Mexico Health System experienced a cybersecurity incident that disrupted its operations. As a result of the attack, the hospital was forced to divert patients and close clinics. The health system is working to resolve the issue and restore normal operations.

Jay-Z has been announced as the halftime show performer for Super Bowl LXI. The game is set to take place in Los Angeles. The announcement was made in connection with the NFL.

A meeting between President Trump and Catholic bishops in the Oval Office has become controversial after video footage from the encounter was shared publicly. At least two bishops stated they believed the meeting was private, while Archbishop Jeffrey Grob accused the White House of manipulating the video for political purposes ahead of the midterm elections. The White House has responded to the archbishop's accusations.

Ford Motor Company has issued a recall affecting more than 740,000 vehicles. The recall is related to an issue with the transmission park pawl component. USA Today has reported on the affected models included in the recall.

Walter Koenig, the actor best known for playing Russian navigator Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek television series and subsequent films, has died at the age of 90. Koenig's character was a recurring presence across the Star Trek franchise beyond the original series. His death prompted public mourning from former colleagues, including co-star George Takei.

Apple has announced a screen replacement program for its iPhone Duo, the company's first foldable device. The program appears to be a response to screen problems that have been reported by users. Photos of the screen faults were shared online, drawing attention to the issue.