Power

• Das Startup TextWeave sicherte sich im vergangenen Monat eine Seed-Finanzierung in Höhe von 10 Millionen US-Dollar, um LLMs für die Erstellung von Marketing-Copy für kleine Shops zu nutzen. • Die Plattform deckt Nischenbedürfnisse bei der Content-Erstellung ab und zeigt, wie spezialisierte AI-Lösungen das Startup-Wachstum fördern. • Diese Finanzierung steht im Einklang mit den Trends zur Einführung in Unternehmen, bei denen generative AI die Schlagzeilen der Technologie-Startups für Aufgaben wie automatisiertes Schreiben anführt.

Gesetzgeber einigen sich auf 45-tägige Verlängerung, doch republikanische und demokratische Kritiker fordern eine Reform des Überwachungsprogramms. Der US Congress hat eine 45-tägige Verlängerung eines Gesetzes verabschiedet, das US-Geheimdiensten Spionagebefugnisse ohne richterliche Anordnung gewährt. Erbitterte Grabenkämpfe über section 702 des Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act innerhalb des republikanischen Flügels des US Congress haben die Pläne konservativer Führer, das umstrittene Überwachungsgesetz über mehrere Jahre zu verlängern, wiederholt zunichtegemacht. Der Stillstand hielt am Donnerstag an, da der republikanische House Speaker Mike Johnson sich weigerte, wichtige Reformen aufzunehmen, die von Hardlinern seiner Partei und progressiven Demokraten gefordert wurden. Weiterlesen...

Dutzenden wurden in einem offensichtlichen Zugeständnis Life Peerages verliehen, was ihnen die Rückkehr auf die red benches ermöglicht. Dutzenden von hereditary peers, deren Sitze abgeschafft wurden, wurden ihre gesetzgebenden Befugnisse wiederhergestellt, während Keir Starmer versucht, die Änderungen im House of Lords zu beschleunigen. Dem Vernehmen nach erhielten 15 Conservative hereditary peers, zwei Labour und neun Crossbencher Life Peerages, was ihnen die Rückkehr auf die red benches ermöglicht. Weiterlesen...

• Ein internationales Team, dem auch Forscher der University of Wisconsin–Madison angehören, hat die Kraft von Teilchen-Jets gemessen, die von einem Schwarzen Loch im Cygnus-System ausgestoßen werden. • Diese erste Messung ihrer Art bestätigt eine Vorhersage, die Astronomen der UW-Madison vor einem Jahrzehnt getroffen haben. • Die Ergebnisse validieren langjährige Theorien zur Mechanik von Schwarzes-Loch-Jets und vertiefen das Verständnis der Astrophysik.

Kryptowährungs-Geldautomaten droht ebenfalls ein Verbot, nachdem eine öffentliche Untersuchung ergab, dass Kanada eine Strategie gegen Geldwäsche fehlte. Kanada wird eine neue und schlagkräftige Strafverfolgungsbehörde zur Untersuchung von Finanzkriminalität einrichten, im krassen Gegensatz zu den USA, wo geschwächte Bundesermittler damit zu kämpfen hatten, Betrüger zu verfolgen, und das Weiße Haus verurteilte Geldwäscher begnadigt hat. Ein Gesetzesentwurf zur Schaffung der Financial Crimes Agency (FCA) hat diese Woche die erste Lesung im Parlament abgeschlossen. Die Gesetzgebung wurde von den regierenden Liberalen eingebracht, und mit ihrer parlamentarischen Mehrheit wird die Partei diese voraussichtlich schnell durch beide Regierungsebenen bringen. Weiterlesen...

• Hunderte versammelten sich am 29. April 2026 vor dem U.S. Supreme Court zu Anhörungen über den Temporary Protected Status (TPS) für Haitianer und Syrer, wobei die Richter die Befugnis von Präsident Trump zur Beendigung des Programms prüften. • Das Richtergremium schien Berichten aus der Anhörung zufolge skeptisch gegenüber einer weitreichenden exekutiven Gewalt zum Widerruf von Abschiebeamnestien zu sein. • Ein Urteil könnte Tausende betreffen, denen die Abschiebung droht, und die Grenzen für exekutive Maßnahmen im Bereich Einwanderung vor den Midterms testen.

Die Entscheidung gibt den Verfassern von Wahlkreisgrenzen in republikanisch geführten Bundesstaaten die Macht, Wahlbezirke zu zerschlagen und Stimmen bis zur Bedeutungslosigkeit zu verwässern. Der Voting Rights Act war ein politischer Friedenspakt, der mit dem Blut von John Lewis geschrieben wurde. Die Callais v Landry-Entscheidung des US Supreme Court, die weite Teile von Section 2 des Voting Rights Act außer Kraft setzte, hat dieses Blut aus der Geschichte getilgt, zusammen mit dem von Tausenden anderen Amerikanern, die an Imbisstheken, Busbahnhöfen und Gerichtsgebäuden gegen segregationistische weiße Suprematisten für politische Gleichberechtigung kämpften. Weiterlesen...

• Bei der Wahl zum New York City Council wird die Unterstützung durch Zohran Mamdani angezweifelt, da der Amtsinhaber mit niedrigen Umfragewerten und einer gespaltenen Basis zu kämpfen hat. • Der entschlossene Kandidat weigert sich trotz schlechter Zahlen, zugunsten eines zentristischen Herausforderers zurückzutreten. • Dieses lokale Rennen signalisiert eine sich verschiebende Dynamik der Demokraten in der Stadtpolitik mit nationalen Auswirkungen.

• Sevii kündigte am 28. April 2026 die Einführung seiner Autonomous Cyber Swarm Defense (CSD) Kapazität an, um hochvolumigen, KI-gesteuerten Cyberangriffen mit Maschinengeschwindigkeit und in entsprechendem Umfang entgegenzuwirken. • Die ADR-Plattform setzt Agentic AI Cyber Warrior Agenten ein, die Bedrohungen in weniger als 15 Minuten erkennen, eindämmen und beheben, wodurch die Arbeitsbelastung der Analysten um 95 % gesenkt wird; ein festes Preismodell pro Asset eliminiert dabei KI-Token-Kosten. • Der CSD-Modus verfügt über die Myrmidon Defense Technology (MDT) für eine effiziente Mikro-Orchestrierung, was laut Frank Holt, CEO von Synergem Technologies, eine planbare Budgetierung ohne zusätzliche Neueinstellungen oder Outsourcing ermöglicht.

• SkyfireAI Inc., a US-based autonomous drone startup, raised $11 million in new funding to advance dual-use technology. • The investment targets AI autonomy for public safety, defense, and commercial drone applications. • This funding accelerates development amid rising demand for intelligent unmanned systems in critical sectors.

Though solar was initially blamed for loss of power, renewables have helped to insulate Spain from gas price rises caused by war in Middle EastOne year ago today, all of Spain, and much of Portugal, suffered through a blackout of unprecedented scale and duration. In mere seconds, a cascading sequence of events burst through the grid and created Europe’s first “system black” event in recent memory.Traffic signals failed, mobile networks stopped working entirely, petrol stations could not pump fuel and supermarkets couldn’t process payments. Madrid’s metro came to a halt and people had to be pulled out of carriages. “People were stunned because this had never happened in Spain,” Carlos Condori, a 19-year-old construction sector worker, told AFP at the time. “There’s no [phone] coverage, I can’t call my family, my parents, nothing: I can’t even go to work.” Continue reading...

Audias Flores, known as ‘El Jardinero’, of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, captured in western state of NayaritMexican special forces have arrested one of the top commanders of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel in the western state of Nayarit.Audias Flores, known as “El Jardinero”, is a regional commander in control of swathes of CJNG territory along Mexico’s Pacific coast. He was considered a potential successor to Nemesio Oseguera, alias “El Mencho”, who ran the cartel and was killed in a security operation in February. Continue reading...

Coordinated attack by JNIM and the Tuareg minority inflicted significant casualties on government forces and Russian auxiliariesWhen al-Qaida-affiliated Islamic militants launched a series of attacks on military bases and raids into major towns in Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso last summer, observers suggested they had been inspired by their counterparts in Syria, who had overthrown the regime of Bashar al-Assad and taken power six months or so earlier.Despite the tactical successes that earned them the fearful title of the “Ghost Army”, seizing swathes of territory and denying cities and the military of fuel and other essentials, the chances of Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) definitively defeating Mali’s military regime and the thousand or so Russian mercenaries hired to defend it looked poor. Continue reading...

Sarah Mullally hails Leo for addressing the ‘many injustices in our world’ after private meeting with pope in RomeThe archbishop of Canterbury praised Pope Leo on Monday for speaking “powerfully about the many injustices” in the world, in an apparent reference to the pontiff becoming more outspoken in recent weeks, particularly in his criticism of the US-Israeli war on Iran.Sarah Mullally, who in March became the first woman to lead the Anglican church, arrived in Rome on Saturday for a visit aimed at reinforcing relations with the Vatican. Mullally had a private meeting with Leo, the first US-born leader of the Catholic church, at the Apostolic Palace, the pope’s official residence. Continue reading...

Top aide says SNP leader will seek approval to press for independence even if he fails to win majority on 7 MayJohn Swinney will call a vote seeking independence powers on the first day of the next Scottish parliament even if he fails to win an overall majority, his aides have said.The Scottish National Party leader’s senior adviser indicated that if necessary, he would rely on support from the pro-independence Scottish Greens to win that vote in order to demand the UK government gives Holyrood the legal powers to hold a second referendum. Continue reading...

Russian backing for the ruling junta has not stopped rebel fighters striking significant blows in recent daysWhen Assimi Goïta, the leader of Mali’s military junta, sat down with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in the Kremlin last summer, it symbolised Moscow’s commanding sway over Mali at the expense of the west.As the two men spoke, roughly 3,500 miles to the south, about 2,000 Russian troops were propping up the regime in the landlocked desert country, as part of Moscow’s broader push for influence across the Sahel region. Continue reading...

Health secretary’s ‘power grab’ to override Nice comes amid growing concern move may be illegal and benefit big pharmaDozens of MPs are opposing Wes Streeting’s decision to award himself power to dictate what the NHS pays for drugs amid growing concern the move may be illegal.Thirty-one MPs have signed a House of Commons motion voicing their disapproval of the health secretary being handed the power to override the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (Nice) judgment on how much the NHS should spend on individual medicines. Continue reading...

• Apple unveiled iOS 20 on April 25, 2026, featuring Apple Intelligence enhancements for on-device AI processing in Siri and Photos apps, rolling out first to US users. • Key additions include real-time language translation supporting 15 languages and AI-generated summaries for Safari, trained on 3 trillion parameters without cloud dependency. • The update addresses privacy concerns post-EU DMA rulings, boosting Apple's 45% US smartphone market share amid AI race with Google Pixel.

Statue – one of city’s most popular tourist attractions – on steps of Philadelphia Museum of Art key plank of new showA statue of Sylvester Stallone’s fictional boxer Rocky Balboa is the focal point of an examination of the power of monuments opening at the Philadelphia Museum of Art this weekend that marks two millennia of boxing and celebrity.The statue, placed on the “Rocky Steps” of the museum in 1982, six years after the the 1976 film Rocky made Stallone a star, is one of Philadelphia’s most popular tourist attractions, visited by an estimated 4 million people annually. Continue reading...

Diplomats poke fun at Donald Trump while Madonna loses her corset off the back of a golf buggyThe one upside to a rolling international crisis is that it can give backroom people a rare chance to shine. Witness, this week, the breakout stars of the Iranian diplomatic corps, who from two different diplomatic missoverions managed to poke fun at Donald Trump while maintaining the base-level decorum that so eludes the American president. Continue reading...

• Power Solutions International reduced its debt-to-equity ratio from 2,140% to 54.6% over five years, signaling substantial improvement in financial health. • The company achieved 64.5% earnings growth last year, outpacing the electrical industry average of 21.4%. • Despite recent share price volatility, the company's financial restructuring and strong earnings demonstrate improved operational performance.

Budget outlines funding for autonomous drone warfare program as experts say military unprepared for risksThe Pentagon is aiming to increase funding more than a hundredfold for an autonomous drone warfare program, according to budget documents released this week, signalling a major pivot towards AI-powered war.In its 2027 budget, the Pentagon has asked for over $54bn to fund the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, a 24,000% increase on last year. Continue reading...

• Nashville SC rose in ESPN's MLS Power Rankings after a strong week, solidifying their position as East leaders. • The team continues its impressive form, positioning them as one of the league's strongest sides. • This ascent signals Nashville's title contention potential amid ongoing MLS action.

PM says in Commons statement he has ordered inquiry into any security concerns relating to Mandelson’s tenure in USUK politics live – latest updatesThe Foreign Office has been stripped of its powers to overrule vetting decisions after the Peter Mandelson scandal, Keir Starmer has told MPs, as he sought to set out his side of events in a politically crucial statement in parliament.Saying to jeers that he accepted it appeared “incredible” he and other ministers were not told Mandelson was initially refused security vetting, Starmer also said he had ordered an investigation into any security concerns related to Mandelson’s tenure as ambassador to Washington. Continue reading...

People in affected areas urged to evacuate as quake registering 7.5 magniture occurred off the coast of SanrikuThe strength of the earthquake has been revised up to 7.5 and the biggest waves due to the tsunami are expected in Iwate, Aomori and Hokkaido prefectures, authorities said.Reuters reported that prime minister Sanae Takaichi said the government had set up an emergency task force and urged citizens in the affected areas to evacuate to safety. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump signed a series of emergency executive orders from the Oval Office, with the White House describing them as the 'World's Most Powerful Reset,' reportedly granting the administration vast new powers over the U.S. economy and financial system. • The orders are grounded in national security protocols and reportedly address economic stability and foreign threats, with details remaining tightly controlled by the White House. • The executive action has triggered fierce debate over presidential constitutional authority and sparked volatile political reactions from both Democrats and Republicans across the political spectrum.

• Wealth.com, an AI platform modernizing estate and tax planning for wealth management firms, closed an oversubscribed $65M Series B funding round. • The funding will accelerate product enhancements and expand adoption among high-net-worth advisors handling complex client portfolios. • This raise highlights surging investor interest in AI tools automating legacy financial planning processes amid rising wealth transfer demands.

• IBM launched IBM Autonomous Security on April 17, 2026, a multi-agent AI service automating detection, policy enforcement, and remediation against frontier AI-driven attacks in hybrid environments. • The solution addresses emerging 'agentic attacks' where adversaries use advanced AI models, with nearly 80% of global IT leaders citing AI as a major security risk. • IBM also released an enterprise cybersecurity assessment tool focused on threats from large language models and generative AI.