Power Up

SpaceX is preparing to launch its Starship megarocket on its first-ever flight to orbit. The launch is scheduled for today, September 28, and can be watched live. The uncrewed test flight is a key milestone in SpaceX's program to develop the most powerful rocket ever built, which it plans to use for missions to the Moon and Mars.

Italy's parliament has approved a move toward restarting nuclear power, reversing a stance the country has held since abandoning nuclear energy after referendums following the Chernobyl disaster. The vote opens the way for new nuclear technology, including small modular reactors, as Italy seeks stable low-carbon energy supplies. Supporters frame it as energy security and climate policy; critics recall Italy's long-standing public opposition to nuclear power.

US forces have completed their withdrawal from Iraq, ending a military presence of roughly two decades that began with the 2003 invasion. Observers warn the departure leaves a power vacuum that Tehran is well placed to fill, given its influence over Iraqi political factions and armed groups. The withdrawal marks a major shift in the region's balance of power and raises questions about Iraq's future stability.

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.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran will never seek to build a nuclear bomb, ahead of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The pledge is drawing wide attention as Tehran's nuclear program remains a central point of tension with Western powers, and observers watch for how the statement will land in New York diplomacy.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will send soldiers and air defense systems to Saudi Arabia to help protect Yanbu's critical oil-export facilities from Houthi attacks. Macron also did not rule out an additional deployment of French Air Force fighter jets, signalling a deepening French security role in the Red Sea region amid ongoing threats to global energy infrastructure.

Russia has begun rationing fuel following a massive Ukrainian drone strike that damaged energy infrastructure. Ukrainian long-range drone technology is proving effective against Russia's jet-powered drones and refineries, forcing regional fuel restrictions. The strikes highlight Kyiv's growing ability to hit oil facilities deep inside Russian territory, disrupting supplies and putting further pressure on Moscow's war economy.

Hurricane Polo is being reported as one of the strongest storms on record, with forecasters linking its unusual intensity to El Niño conditions in the Pacific. The warming pattern is known to drive stronger eastern Pacific hurricanes, and attention is on how far Polo's winds have climbed and where it is heading next.

A US judge has overturned the Trump administration's ban on certain media outlets from White House coverage. The ruling restores press access that had been restricted, and the decision is being widely covered as a significant check on presidential control over press access. Reactions are split, with press freedom groups welcoming the ruling and critics questioning judicial interference in White House operations.

Finland's President addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York, delivering a speech centred on what he called growing global disorder. The address, released in full, has drawn wide attention online, with viewers sharing his assessment of international instability and calls for stronger multilateral cooperation amid ongoing conflicts and strained relations between major powers.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb delivered a widely discussed address at the United Nations General Assembly, arguing that the post-Cold War order has given way to a 'new world disorder'. In the speech he called on member states to strengthen multilateral institutions and reform the UN to confront conflicts, great-power rivalry and weakening international rules. The address is being described as one of the most significant of this year's gathering.

Meta has blocked Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's Facebook page and his campaign advertisements just two weeks ahead of the country's election. The move affects a sitting head of state's main digital campaign channel, and the reason for the block has not been made clear. The timing, so close to the vote, is drawing attention and questions about platform decisions affecting political speech in Brazil.

CNN is examining the Trump administration's ban on certain media outlets from White House access, with legal analysts saying Trump's legal position has shifted dramatically. The move has reignited debate over press freedom and the limits of presidential power over news organisations, drawing strong reactions across the political spectrum.

A US judge has ruled against President Trump's ban blocking certain media outlets from White House access, overturning the restriction. The decision, reported by BBC News, touches on press freedom and the limits of presidential power over media access. The ruling is drawing wide attention as it tests how far the administration can go in excluding journalists it disfavors.

The United Arab Emirates has called for renewed diplomacy and stronger international action on the war in Gaza and other regional crises in an address at the United Nations. UAE representatives urged global powers to intensify efforts toward de-escalation, humanitarian relief and a political resolution, framing the Gaza conflict as part of a wider set of instability drivers across the Middle East.

Following the Supreme Court's sweeping ruling on presidential immunity, Donald Trump is invoking it broadly as he pushes to expand executive power. The decision, which shielded official acts from prosecution, is now being cited across a range of contested actions, drawing concern from critics who warn it weakens checks on the presidency while supporters back his assertions of authority.

SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever built, lifted off from the company's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, on its first orbital-class test flight. The launch marks a major milestone for the program, which NASA has chosen to carry astronauts to the Moon, and drew wide attention as the most powerful rocket to date attempted its first integrated flight.

China has crossed 1,000 gigawatts of installed solar capacity, the largest amount any country has ever reached, roughly equal to the entire electricity capacity of the United States. Observers are highlighting the scale of the milestone and what it signals for the pace of China's renewable energy build-out compared with the rest of the world.

Sudanese authorities have called for an immediate end to foreign interference in the country and insisted that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) be disarmed. The demand comes as Sudan's civil war, which began in April 2023 between the army and the RSF, continues to drive one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with outside powers widely accused of fuelling the conflict.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has publicly challenged major powers, declaring 'their power isn't so super' in remarks widely read as a veiled criticism of Donald Trump and his administration. The comments, made at the UN, urged big powers to act responsibly and reflect on their global conduct. The pointed language has drawn broad attention, with observers debating whether the UN chief was directly targeting Washington's policies and Trump's approach to international affairs.

Hurricane Polo has strengthened into a Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast, becoming one of the most powerful hurricanes recorded in the region. Forecasters are tracking its path as residents and authorities along the Mexican coastline prepare for possible impacts. Updates are focused on the storm's intensity, projected track, and whether it will make landfall or remain offshore.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the War Powers Resolution deadline for notifying Congress does not apply to recent strikes on Iran, arguing that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran has changed the legal situation. The claim is drawing scrutiny from lawmakers who argue the administration still owes Congress an explanation of the military action.

SpaceX has launched its Starship spacecraft aboard the company's giant Super Heavy rocket on the vehicle's first flight intended to reach orbit. The test flight marks a major milestone for the most powerful rocket ever built, which SpaceX hopes will eventually carry crews to the Moon and Mars. Coverage is focused on the launch itself and what it means for future deep-space missions.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used his final address to the UN General Assembly to renew calls for global oversight of artificial intelligence and an end to ongoing conflicts. His remarks coincide with the Security Council preparing to host a briefing with AI leaders on the risks and governance of the powerful technology.

Iran says it is prepared for both diplomacy and war as talks with world powers remain deadlocked, according to a report by Telesur English. The statement signals Tehran's hardening position amid stalled negotiations, with Iranian officials insisting the country will not concede under pressure while keeping the door open to a negotiated settlement.