Massive

• SoftBank has pledged up to €75 billion to develop 5 GW of AI data center capacity in France, marking its largest investment in European AI infrastructure. • The initial phase involves €45 billion to establish 3.1 GW of capacity across three sites in the Hauts-de-France region, with completion targeted by 2031. • This massive investment underscores the growing demand for high-performance computing power to support the global expansion of artificial intelligence.

The Bristol trip-hop group will perform in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in AugustMassive Attack are set to tour Australia for the first time in 16 years.The influential British trip-hop group, made up of Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall, will play Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in August. The upcoming tour will be the band’s fourth appearance in Australia and their first Australian shows since 2010. Continue reading...

• Ukrainian drones launched a "massive attack" on Saturday, targeting a tanker at the port of Taganrog and an oil depot in Armavir. • The strikes occurred overnight in Russia's southern Rostov and Krasnodar regions, according to local authorities. • These operations target critical energy infrastructure to disrupt Russian logistics and economic capabilities during the ongoing war.

Paris police looking into more than 100 allegations of mistreatment by ‘monitors’ after parents’ groups said they had fought for years to be taken seriouslyFrance is facing a child abuse scandal as ‘monitors’ at dozens of state nursery and primary schools are investigated for violence, sexual assault and rape.Paris police are examining more than 100 allegations of mistreatment, physical violence and rape of children as young as three by school monitors during lunch breaks, nap times and after-school activities, prosecutors have confirmed. Continue reading...

La Brea Tar Pits – the only urban, active ice age excavation site in world – gets a mammoth face lift for the first time in nearly 50 yearsLos Angeles is known for famous museum such as the Getty and the Lacma, but perhaps fewer people are aware that – in the heart of the city – lies a museum that contains one of the world’s most remarkable fossil sites.The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum is home to the remains of more than 2 million ice age flora and fauna, including mastodons and saber-toothed cats, that became trapped in oily pools that still bubble up today. Continue reading...

• A medical device company specializing in musculoskeletal implants and treatment systems secured the week's largest U.S. funding round, totaling $1.5 billion. • Hark, a one-year-old AI startup developing personalized hardware devices, also raised a massive Series A round supported by several high-profile investors. • These deals signal a resurgence in "physical tech," with significant capital flowing into aerospace, defense, fintech, and retail technology alongside traditional AI software.

• A 2026 Nielsen report indicates that Asian-led content and sports stars, such as Shohei Ohtani, are driving record-breaking viewership levels across U.S. television and streaming platforms. • The data highlights a broader cultural shift where Asian influence is significantly reshaping the landscape of American pop culture and professional sports. • In related cultural developments, director Herman Yau has released "We’re Nothing at All," a social drama focusing on the marginalized fringes of Hong Kong society.

• A 2026 Nielsen report indicates that Asian-led content and sports stars, such as Shohei Ohtani, are driving record-breaking viewership levels across U.S. television and streaming platforms. • The data highlights a broader cultural shift where Asian influence is significantly reshaping the landscape of American pop culture and professional sports. • In related cultural developments, director Herman Yau is releasing "We’re Nothing at All," a social drama focusing on the marginalized fringes of Hong Kong society.

Hundreds of cases reported in the DRC after USAID has been dismantled and key scientific research canceledA previously undetected outbreak of Ebola is coursing through parts of central Africa, and the US appears to be doing little to help stop it, after massive cuts to global and domestic public health efforts.There is no cure and no vaccine for the rare Bundibugyo variant of Ebola, which has caused two outbreaks in recent decades. Health leaders and scientists are now racing to understand where the virus is spreading and attempting to stop it – but the US is notably absent in these efforts. Continue reading...

Outcry follows release of previously secret documents naming Wollongong suburb as preferred east coast Aukus baseAs Aukus spending and delays blow out, will Australia’s nuclear submarines ever materialise?Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA labour union has expressed alarm about newly released documents that reveal Port Kembla to be a preferred Australian base for nuclear-powered submarines, saying it would “place a massive target on our backs”.The South Coast Labour Council has warned federal and state politicians of “political fallout” should they proceed with “surrendering Port Kembla to Trump’s Navy” as an Aukus base. Continue reading...

US president says Tehran’s peace proposal ‘totally unacceptable’ and ‘a piece of garbage’We are restarting our live coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran after Donald Trump said the ceasefire was “on life support” after rejecting Tehran’s peace proposal, calling it “totally unacceptable”.Referring to the ceasefire in force since 7 April, Trump said: “I would call it the weakest, right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us – I didn’t even finish reading it. Continue reading...

• The United Democratic Front (UDF) achieved a decisive victory in Kerala's 2026 assembly elections, leading in over 100 seats and set to form the next government in the state. • The UDF's strong performance provided limited relief to the opposition INDIA bloc, which faced significant setbacks across other states including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. • Kerala remained among the few states where the opposition retained meaningful electoral influence, contrasting sharply with BJP's dominance in northern and eastern India.

Homes were reduced to rubble as twister touched down for 30 minutes and carved out a trail of destructionSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxAt least 10 people were injured after a tornado hit northern Oklahoma, as a strong weather system produced a dozen reported twisters that tore destructively through parts of the central US overnight.Emergency services began assessing the most extensive damage in the rural town of Enid as dawn broke on Friday. Homes were reduced to rubble and splintered wood in the city of about 50,000 people near the state’s northern border. A number of videos showed terrifying wind funnels touching down and roaring across the land towards settlements. The largest tornado was reported to have stayed on the ground for 30 minutes, carving a snaking trail of damage. Continue reading...

• Netflix's new limited series "Echoes of Tomorrow," starring Kristen Stewart and Oscar Isaac, premiered April 17 and garnered 68 million views in its first 24 hours. • The eight-episode psychological thriller explores alternate timelines and has already been renewed for a second season despite its standalone narrative structure. • Critics praised the series' cinematography and performances, with The New York Times calling it "a haunting meditation on choice and consequence."

Prime minister says Corio refinery fire will not push Australia into stage 3 restrictions, despite reduced production of petrol, diesel and aviation fuelFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese says petrol production has fallen 40% at one of Australia’s two remaining oil refineries but the damage caused by the fire at the Geelong facility will not lead to fuel restrictions.The prime minister spoke outside the Viva Energy refinery – which had been supplying about half of Victoria’s fuel before a massive fire burned for 13 hours until noon Thursday – on Friday morning, and said the facility was also producing less diesel and aviation fuel. Continue reading...

Musician says he wanted to attend the protest despite the consequences a potential arrest could have on his music careerMassive Attack frontman Robert Del Naja has been arrested on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation after attending a mass protest against the ban on Palestine Action in central London on Saturday.Del Naja, also known as 3D, was among hundreds of fellow demonstrators in Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon, holding a sign that read “I Oppose Genocide, I Support Palestine Action”. Continue reading...

• AI's growing appetite for compute power is forecasted to hit $100 billion, creating new industrial layers like AI factories and energy-to-intelligence conversion. • This shift is rewriting rules for tech supply chains, with Nvidia at the forefront of the transformation. • The development signals a pivotal moment for US AI infrastructure investment and energy demands.

• Millions of people participated in more than 3,100 protests across the United States on March 30, 2026, with significant demonstrations occurring in the capital, Washington DC, and hundreds of other locations. • Protesters denounced what they characterized as authoritarian governance, the administration's immigration stance, climate change denial, isolationist foreign policy, and military involvement in Iran. • The scale and geographic breadth of the demonstrations reflect widespread public opposition to multiple Trump administration policies spanning domestic and international affairs.

• Huge crowds rallied across the U.S. on Saturday for 'No Kings Day' protests against President Donald Trump, expressing fury over his policies amid international tensions. • Demonstrations also spread abroad, including massive marches in France and crowds at NIH headquarters protesting cuts to medical research. • The protests highlight domestic opposition to Trump's leadership, potentially influencing U.S. politics as global conflicts intensify.

• Organizers reported 'No Kings' day protests drew huge crowds in major cities across the United States and internationally on March 28, with demonstrations described as potentially one of the largest in US history. • More than 3,100 protest events took place nationwide, reflecting widespread mobilization against Trump administration policies. • The scale of turnout underscores significant public opposition to current political leadership and Trump's governing agenda.

Tony Burke says decisions about permanent stays should be ‘deliberate decisions of the government, not a random consequence of who booked a holiday’Iranian tourists will be banned from entering Australia for the next six months after the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, triggered tough new immigration laws over concerns visitors may not be able to return to Iran.The ban could apply to more than 7,000 Iranians with valid tourist visas – though some may still be given the chance to enter the country under special consideration. Continue reading...

• University of Utah geophysicists used electromagnetic data from airborne surveys to identify a newly discovered freshwater reservoir under the Great Salt Lake's Farmington Bay, marking a first-of-its-kind breakthrough. • The reservoir, located in a key area of the lake, could potentially alleviate Utah's ongoing water scarcity issues amid prolonged drought conditions. • This finding matters as it reveals untapped groundwater resources critical for the western U.S., where the Great Salt Lake has shrunk by nearly 50% since 1980 due to overuse and climate change.