As Ever

SpaceX is preparing to send its Starship megarocket to orbit for the first time today, September 28, with the flight being streamed live. The launch marks a milestone for the most powerful rocket ever built, a key vehicle in SpaceX's plans for deep space missions. Space enthusiasts and observers worldwide are watching closely to see whether the spacecraft completes its orbital attempt.

SpaceX is conducting the 14th test flight of its Starship rocket, with the vehicle heading toward orbit from its launch site in Texas. Live coverage of the launch is drawing large audiences as watchers follow the progress of the most powerful rocket ever built. The flight is part of SpaceX's iterative testing programme toward future Moon and Mars missions.

Scientists and commentators are highlighting an El Niño event described as unlike any previously recorded. The claim, widely shared online, points to abnormal ocean temperature patterns and associated extreme weather, from heatwaves to storms, affecting regions worldwide. Discussions focus on how climate change may be intensifying El Niño cycles and what this means for global weather in the months ahead.

Hurricane Polo has intensified to become one of the strongest storms ever recorded, with forecasters linking its unusual strength to El Niño conditions in the Pacific. Warm ocean waters associated with the climate pattern are seen as a key driver behind the storm's rapid strengthening, drawing widespread attention to El Niño's role in extreme weather this season.

A remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has been revealed, according to the claim circulating widely. The news is drawing strong attention from Zelda fans, as the 1998 Nintendo 64 title is widely regarded as one of the most influential games ever made. No further details about the project, its developers, platforms or release timing are included in the reports.

Nvidia has authorized an additional $150 billion for its stock buyback program, which the New York Times describes as the largest ever. The move underscores the chipmaker's enormous cash generation from the artificial intelligence boom and its decision to return capital to shareholders. Market watchers are weighing what the unprecedented repurchase signals about Nvidia's confidence in future earnings and its valuation.

The Guardian reports that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is arresting more people than ever after changing tactics. Following public backlash against highly visible 'siege'-style operations, the Trump administration adopted what is described as 'soft feet' operations, making agents less conspicuous. The report says ICE is now, in effect, everywhere, and that immigrants are being detained within roughly 90 seconds of being stopped.

SpaceX's Starship, the rocket developed under Elon Musk, completed its first-ever orbit of Earth but ended its flight earlier than planned. The test flight marks a major milestone for the reusable spacecraft, though the early finish has drawn attention to questions about what caused the mission to cut short. Coverage is focused on what the results mean for future Starship launches.

Researchers have developed the most accurate atomic clock ever built, according to a report published by Phys.org. The new clock advances precision timekeeping, a field that underpins GPS navigation, telecommunications and tests of fundamental physics. Details of the team behind the device and its exact performance figures were not included in the available information.

Apple has announced its first-ever foldable iPhone, with a starting price of $1,999. The device marks the company's entry into the foldable smartphone market, years after rivals such as Samsung launched competing models. The high starting price is drawing attention, with commentators weighing whether the premium cost will slow adoption among buyers.

Light pollution is erasing natural darkness from urban night skies, and the Guardian reports on how city regulation of artificial lighting could help bring it back. Astronomers, environmentalists and residents are debating the health and ecological costs of ever-brighter streets, with growing calls for lighting rules that preserve dark skies.

Reports circulating in Russian media claim SpaceX is preparing a deal worth around $40 billion to purchase GPUs from NVIDIA. If confirmed, the purchase would be one of the largest AI hardware acquisitions ever, underscoring the intense competition for computing power among major tech and space companies. Details of the reported deal remain sparse, and neither SpaceX nor NVIDIA has publicly confirmed the figures.

SpaceX is seeking $40 billion in financing led by Apollo to fund purchases of Nvidia chips, according to a Financial Times report carried by Reuters. The scale of the deal underscores the enormous capital demands of SpaceX's computing and AI infrastructure ambitions, and puts Apollo at the center of one of the largest private financing efforts ever attempted.

Brazil has released the full list of federal deputies elected in the 2026 general elections. The new Chamber of Deputies will have roughly half of its members returning, with analysts noting a consolidation of the right and record results. Erika Hilton made history as the most voted woman ever for the Chamber, and São Paulo's state slate includes Thiago dos Reis of the PT among its elected representatives.

Social media users are asking what daily news looks like in Brunei, a country with a population of barely half a million. The question draws a comparison with Singapore, which is already known for a quiet news cycle where, as one poster put it, "nothing ever happens" because it is a single city-state. Commenters are discussing how local news functions in small, stable countries with limited domestic events.

NASA has reportedly asked several former SR-71A Blackbird personnel to help with a secret restart effort, according to Aviation Week. The program, retired from service decades ago, remains one of the fastest crewed aircraft ever built. Details of what is being revived and why are not public, fuelling speculation among aviation enthusiasts about hypersonics, reconnaissance, or engineering nostalgia.

West Australian columnist Ben O'Shea writes that 'the social reckoning' has revealed there has been no such thing. The piece argues that the widely expected moment of accountability across society has failed to materialise, prompting discussion among readers about whether public reckonings ever truly happen or merely promise consequences that never arrive.

A squadron of Northern Fleet warships has arrived at the port of Dudinka on the Yenisei River in Russia's Arctic. The Navy reports the vessels completed the first transit in Russian naval history through the Shokalsky Strait, a narrow passage in the Kara Sea. The milestone Arctic deployment is drawing attention amid growing focus on Russia's Northern Sea Route and military presence in the High North.

JetBrains, the Czech software company behind developer tools like IntelliJ IDEA and PyCharm, has reported a net financial loss for the first time since its finances have been tracked. The development has drawn attention in the tech community, with discussion centring on what it signals about the developer-tools market and the company's business outlook.

Daniel Stensson is quoted by Fotbollskanalen saying "the biggest pig ever" in Swedish, a blunt remark that has drawn attention. No further context about whether the comment targets a person, an incident, or something else is available from the evidence.

WBC super flyweight champion Jesse Rodriguez, a three-division world titleholder, was asked about a potential fight with Japan's undisputed champion Naoya Inoue. He responded that he would not interfere, saying he wants Inoue to remain a great fighter. The remarks have drawn attention among Japanese boxing fans debating whether the two champions could ever meet in the ring.

Fans across Australia are searching for the kickoff time of the NRL grand final as anticipation builds for the season decider. The Sydney Morning Herald is promoting the match as potentially one of the best Australian sports stories ever, noting it will not be a fairytale ending. Interest is concentrated in the hours before kickoff as supporters finalise viewing plans.

Metro's Games Inbox discusses whether Sony and Rockstar will release an official GTA 6 console bundle for the PS5. With GTA 6 among the most anticipated game launches ever, readers debate whether a special edition bundle is likely, what it might include, and how Sony could market it ahead of the game's release.