major powers

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'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.

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.

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.

States of emergency have been declared in several US states as a strong nor'easter strikes the East Coast. ABC World News Tonight with David Muir led its September 25, 2026 broadcast with the storm, drawing heavy public attention. Coverage focuses on coastal flooding, damaging winds and preparations as officials urge residents in affected areas to stay off the roads and brace for power outages.

Stripe has introduced a Knowledge AI Platform, announced on its engineering blog. The launch is drawing attention among developers, who are debating what the platform does and how it fits into Stripe's payments infrastructure. The announcement topped discussions on a major developer forum, suggesting strong interest in Stripe's move into AI-powered internal knowledge tools.

Samsung has committed $1.0 billion to an AI infrastructure company backed by KKR and Nvidia, according to the Wall Street Journal. The investment signals Samsung's push to deepen its role in the AI buildout, aligning itself with major players financing data centers and computing capacity. The move adds to a wave of large corporate investments flowing into AI infrastructure as demand for computing power surges.

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.

A powerful nor'easter is bearing down on the Northeast United States, with ABC World News Tonight leading its September 23 broadcast with the storm's approach. The system is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the region, and coverage of the potential impacts is drawing wide attention as residents prepare.

A widely shared essay argues that the major artificial intelligence companies, including labs like OpenAI and Anthropic, should face formal investigation. The piece contends that society lacks clear information about how leading AI systems are developed and deployed, and that scrutiny is warranted as these technologies reshape work, education, and communication. Readers are debating whether oversight should come from regulators, journalists, or independent researchers.

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.

Google is preparing to launch an experimental satellite into orbit, marking the first move by a major technology company toward building AI data centers in space. The project signals how Big Tech firms are looking beyond Earth to find power and cooling capacity for energy-hungry artificial intelligence systems. The announcement, reported by the New York Times, has drawn wide attention to the feasibility of orbital computing infrastructure.

Iran has entered a critical phase over its nuclear program, with reports that its leadership is actively debating withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The claim is accompanied by satellite imagery said to confirm ongoing activity at known nuclear sites. If Tehran were to leave the treaty, it would mark a major escalation in the standoff over its nuclear ambitions and deepen tensions with Western powers and the UN nuclear watchdog.

Richard Jomshof, party secretary of the Sweden Democrats, says that forming a new government will be difficult. His comments come amid ongoing negotiations after the election, with his party playing a key role in deciding whether the incumbent government can stay in power or whether the opposition can unite an alternative majority.

US military forces are departing from their bases in Iraq, marking the end of more than two decades of American involvement in the country. The presence, which followed the 2003 invasion, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians and thousands of US troops. Observers say the withdrawal reflects a shifting balance of power in the region, with Iran gaining influence over Iraqi politics and security affairs.

The Federal Trade Commission has launched a sweeping investigation into Anthropic, OpenAI and other companies developing so-called 'super intelligence' AI models. The exclusive report did not detail the probe's scope, but a review of the most powerful AI systems would mark one of the boldest US regulatory moves yet in artificial intelligence.

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.

The United States has begun withdrawing its forces from bases in Iraq, a move reported on Tuesday that analysts warn could leave a security vacuum that terror groups may exploit. The withdrawal is being closely watched for its implications for the balance of power with Iran, with commentators debating whether reduced US presence in the region will embolden Tehran-aligned militias.

The New York Power Authority is set to become the majority owner of a new solar facility in Canton, New York. The project marks a further step in the state's push to expand renewable energy generation in the North Country region, though details on capacity, cost and timeline have not yet been released.

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.

The US Supreme Court is hearing arguments over the Trump administration's practice of deporting immigrants to third-party countries — nations that are neither the migrants' home countries nor the United States. The case tests whether such removals comply with due process requirements, and the ruling could significantly reshape how the administration carries out its immigration enforcement and removal policies.

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.

West Indies posted their highest-ever one-day international total against India, powered by three batsmen reaching centuries in the same innings. The record-breaking batting display handed India a heavy defeat and sparked reaction from cricket fans in both countries, with debate over India's bowling and selection choices after conceding such a landmark score.

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.

Armenia is drawing attention on two fronts. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rubinyan-era figure Arpine Hovhannisyan outlined two key remarks from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe regarding elections in Armenia, renewing debate over electoral standards. Meanwhile, Rosatom, following a proposal by Alexey Likhachev, offered to build new nuclear power units, including a VVER-1000 block, at Armenia's nuclear plant, prompting discussion about the country's energy future and its ties with Russia.

Legal YouTuber Law By Mike spent 100 days deliberately purchasing AI-powered scam advertisements to document how they operate and why they keep reaching consumers. The project, detailed in a new video, has drawn over 1.3 million likes, with viewers reacting to the sheer scale of AI-driven fraud ads running on major platforms and to his hands-on approach to exposing them.

German daily taz reports that Tom Cruise will star as a ruthless oil magnate in the film Digger, described as a satire about the limits of satire. The casting has drawn attention in German media, with coverage focusing on how the film uses Cruise's persona to explore how far satire can go when targeting powerful industrialists and the oil industry.

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.