Articles about Power

Corruption scandals and a surging opposition have turned the vote into the biggest test yet for the long-serving populist leaderThe drone footage showed a sprawling residence in northern Hungary, complete with manicured gardens, a swimming pool and an underground garage. But it was what came next that captured much of the country’s imagination: zebras darting across the countryside. Continue reading...

Opposition candidate Péter Magyar warns supporters against complacency as some voters undecided ahead of Sundayin BudapestWe talked to a few Budapest residents this morning in the city centre at Jászai Mari Square. Continue reading...

Feuding parties and crumbling public services damaging public’s faith in Stormont, 28 years on from Good Friday agreementThe Good Friday agreement appeared over Northern Ireland like a sunburst – a miracle of political leadership that consigned the Troubles to history.Signed on 10 April 1998, it ushered in an era of peace that endures and is held up as a model for resolving conflicts around the world. Yet Northern Ireland will mark the agreement’s 28th anniversary on Friday with gloom. Continue reading...

Rhun ap Iorwerth launches party’s manifesto and says he is unconcerned by Reform UK threat in Welsh electionsUK politics live – latest updatesPlaid Cymru’s leader has promised “no more bending to Westminster’s will” as the nationalist party stands on the brink of taking office for the first time in next month’s Senedd elections.Speaking at Plaid Cymru’s manifesto launch in Wrexham on Thursday – chosen because of its football team, which has showcased Wales’s potential to the world – Rhun ap Iorwerth told a packed room of supporters there would be “no more toeing the London party line, no more defending the status quo and no more saying no to Wales”. Continue reading...

Republicans will almost certainly block Democrats’ efforts to pass legislation amid ‘fragile’ two-week US-Iran ceasefireHouse Democrats will attempt Thursday to pass a resolution curtailing Donald Trump’s war powers over Iran – a move Republicans will almost certainly block, but one that signals unease on Capitol Hill about a Middle Eastern conflict on pause with no clear endgame.The vote, scheduled for Thursday morning, will use a procedure called unanimous consent, which is a shortcut that allows legislation to pass the chamber instantly, without debate or a formal tally, so long as not a single member objects. Any one lawmaker can kill the resolution by simply objecting, and Republicans are expected to do exactly that. Continue reading...

• Apple pushed iOS 19.4 on April 9, 2026, introducing Siri 3.0 with on-device multimodal AI for 1 billion US iPhone users. • Update adds contextual understanding and app automation, processing queries 3x faster without cloud reliance. • Addresses privacy demands post-EU probes, with Tim Cook stating 'AI belongs on device.'

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called President Trump a 'military moron' and announced Democrats will force a vote on a War Powers Resolution next week 'to end this war for good.' • The push comes amid challenges on the first full day of the two-week Iran War ceasefire, with U.S. and Iran disagreeing over Israel's Hezbollah conflict. • Many congressional Democrats labeled Trump's profanity-laden threats to Iran 'unhinged,' following weekend warnings to target infrastructure.

• Artificial intelligence-driven observability startup Sazabi Inc. emerged from stealth mode this week, launching a platform that uses logs and AI agents to replace traditional observability stacks. • The platform challenges conventional monitoring tools by leveraging AI to analyze logs more effectively for faster issue detection in complex systems. • This development signals growing investor confidence in AI-native alternatives to legacy enterprise software amid rising demand for efficient cloud infrastructure management.

• Artificial intelligence-native startup Modus Audit Inc. announced an $85 million funding round on April 7, 2026, to accelerate its product development and partnerships in audit technology. • The investment targets expansion of AI tools designed to streamline accounting processes for enterprises, positioning Modus as a leader in the sector. • This funding underscores growing investor confidence in AI applications for financial services amid rising demand for automation in compliance-heavy industries.

PM’s most senior civil servant now has task of rewriting civil service code and ‘making it recognised for improved productivity’ Antonia Romeo, Keir Starmer’s most senior civil servant, has been handed a powerful new mandate to deliver his priorities, while Darren Jones, the No 10 chief secretary, has shifted to a less hands-on role.Romeo, who was promoted last month, took over the job of cabinet secretary and head of the civil service after an unsuccessful year in charge by her predecessor Chris Wormald, who was not considered effective enough by No 10. Continue reading...

President Masoud Pezeshkian says 14m people ‘declared their readiness to sacrifice their lives’ for defence of IranMiddle East crisis – live updatesIranians officials called on young people to form human chains around the country’s power plants and people in Tehran stocked up on basic provisions, as the clock ticked down on Donald Trump’s deadline to open the strait of Hormuz or face massive strikes on civilian infrastructure.Iranian media showed people gathering outside electricity stations, waving Iranian flags and holding up banners, including at the country’s largest power plant, near Tehran, and in Tabriz in the north-west. In Dezful in the south-west, people gathered on a bridge said to be 1,700 years old. Continue reading...

• President Trump threatened to destroy Iran's power plants and bridges if Tehran refuses a deal to end the war by Tuesday evening, amid a Pakistani ceasefire push. • Trump detailed a complex U.S. military operation that rescued the two-man crew of an F-15 shot down Friday in Iran, calling it one of the largest and most harrowing missions ever. • The threat looms over diplomatic efforts, including a 45-day ceasefire proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and avert major escalation.

Driver treated for burns after truck was carrying 9,000 gallons of gasoline at time of collision outside Fort WorthAn 18-wheel fuel tanker crashed into another vehicle, toppled power lines, then burst into flames outside Fort Worth early Sunday morning, according to local authorities.The truck was carrying 9,000 gallons of gasoline at the time of the collision. Continue reading...

Road and rail travel also disrupted across the UK before weather warnings lifted on SundayStorm Dave left thousands of homes across Wales and Northern Ireland without power and disrupted road and rail travel across the UK before high wind and snow warnings were lifted on Sunday morning.Winds of up to 93mph were recorded in Capel Curig in north Wales – 20mph higher than forecast – while the Met Office issued a yellow severe weather warning for heavy snow and blizzards across the Scottish Highlands, Argyll and the Western Isles on Saturday. Continue reading...

Previously unreleased report obtained via freedom of information battle says Pezzullo exceeded ‘boundaries of normal public service practice’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe former head of the Department of Home Affairs’ engagement with a Liberal powerbroker was “reckless”, “ill-advised” and beyond the boundaries of normal public service practice, a previously unreleased confidential report found.The independent probe led to the sacking of Michael Pezzullo as secretary of the Department of Home Affairs in November 2023 after it concluded he had breached the government’s code of conduct at least 14 times. This included using his power for personal benefit. Continue reading...

• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted final approval for Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant to continue operations through 2030, concluding a three-year regulatory review process. • This decision represents a significant policy shift regarding nuclear energy in California and demonstrates regulatory confidence in the plant's safe operation and maintenance standards. • The approval reflects broader national conversations about nuclear energy's role in meeting energy demands and climate goals, particularly as the U.S. seeks to expand clean energy capacity.

• Visa introduced six AI tools on April 1, 2026, to modernize credit-card dispute processes for merchants, issuers, and acquirers using generative responses and predictive models. • The tools address over 103 million disputes processed in 2025, a 35% increase since 2019, with features like document summarization and centralized case management. • Deployment will streamline operations for US financial institutions, reducing resolution times and costs significantly.

• Princeton forward Caden Pierce '26 announced his transfer to Purdue Boilermakers, heading to the Big Ten conference. • The move follows Princeton women's basketball head coach Carla Berube's departure, prompting a national search for her replacement with three potential candidates in consideration. • Pierce's transfer highlights shifting dynamics in college basketball rosters amid conference realignments.

• President Trump yesterday escalated rhetoric by renewing threats to 'completely obliterate' Iranian power plants, oil production facilities, and possibly all infrastructure. • The statement comes amid ongoing U.S. military pressure on Iran, with diplomatic outcomes remaining unclear after three months of conflict. • This hawkish posture risks further entangling the U.S. in the region, potentially impacting domestic politics and midterm races.

• Regional diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt met in Pakistan on Sunday to establish a framework for direct US-Iran negotiations, with foreign ministers expected to reconvene Monday to discuss peace terms. • Iran's parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf warned that Iranian forces are "waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire," while dismissing the US 15-point action list as negotiating under pressure. • The US has deployed thousands of troops to the Middle East including 2,500 Marines aboard USS Tripoli and elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, signaling preparations for potential ground operations despite diplomatic efforts.

Two hundred miles from LA, an off-grid community with roots in Burning Man offers an unorthodox educational experience – is Mars College the future?A dozen writing students perched around a collection of weather-beaten couches, laptops balancing on their knees, ready to discuss their work. Next up to read was Ira Birch, a poet sporting black boots and a shag haircut.“I told myself I was gonna share today,” Birch said nervously, looking around the circle. “But there are a lot more people here.” Continue reading...

• Meta is financing multiple natural gas power plants in Louisiana to exclusively supply electricity for its massive new data center supporting AI operations. • The project addresses surging energy demands from AI training, with the plants designed to generate dedicated power bypassing the public grid amid national infrastructure strains. • This move highlights tech giants' shift toward self-funded energy solutions to avoid burdening consumers and accelerating U.S. data center expansion.

• Major companies—Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, OpenAI, and xAI—signed a federal pledge to provide their own electricity for AI data centers, shielding U.S. consumers from grid overload. • The commitment responds to exploding energy needs from AI infrastructure, following Meta's Louisiana gas plant initiative and similar efforts nationwide. • Industry leaders aim to prevent rate hikes and blackouts while fueling the AI boom central to U.S. tech competitiveness.

Albanese announces forthcoming legislation to guarantee private sector purchases of fuel and fertiliserThe Australian government will take on the financial risk of importing essential products affected by the war in the Middle East to get additional supplies of petrol, diesel, and fertiliser into the country.The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, announced the new fuel security powers on Saturday after a month of soaring diesel and petrol prices and widespread shortages at service stations, particularly in regional Australia. Continue reading...

East coast slammed on Thursday night with wind and rain, with more warnings in place for FridayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThousands of Australians woke without power on Friday after a series of wild autumn storms soaked communities in multiple states – and the high country recorded its first big snowfall of 2026.While many storm watchers kept their eyes on the west and the path of Tropical Cyclone Narelle, Australia’s east coast was slammed on Thursday night, with more warnings in place for Friday. Continue reading...

• Jamal Murray erupted for a season-high 53 points while Nikola Jokic recorded 23 points, 21 rebounds, and 19 assists to lead Denver Nuggets over Dallas Mavericks 142-135 on March 26, 2026. • Nuggets now tied for fourth in Western Conference with Minnesota, holding tiebreaker via season series win. • The victory strengthens Denver's playoff positioning amid tight race for top seeds.

Nigeria and UK look to strengthen trade and economic ties amid growing calls from Africa and Caribbean for reparative justice“There are chapters in our shared history that I know have left some painful marks,” King Charles said during a state banquet to welcome the Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu, to the UK, in a year in which the monarch is expected to come under renewed pressure to make a formal apology for transatlantic slavery and colonialism.But while demands grow from African and Caribbean nations for the UK to further reparative justice, Nigeria and the UK are looking to the future of global trade. Continue reading...

• Technology companies are collaborating with the energy industry to address surging electricity demands, announcing new ideas on March 25, 2026, in Houston. • Big Tech is shifting its approach by offering high-tech solutions to prevent grid failures amid rising power needs from data centers and AI. • The partnership aims to enhance grid reliability, countering previous calls for simply more electricity generation.

• China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi engaged in direct communications with Iranian officials regarding the Middle East situation, signaling Beijing's involvement in diplomatic efforts surrounding the US-Iran conflict and ceasefire negotiations. • The Chinese diplomatic move reflects broader international efforts to stabilize the region, with multiple nations—including Pakistan, Qatar, and Gulf states—positioning themselves as potential mediators or supporters of de-escalation amid escalating military operations. • International organizations and nations are preparing for prolonged Middle East tensions, with Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi requesting the International Energy Agency consider additional coordinated global oil reserve releases if tensions persist beyond mid-April.

President urges people to reduce consumption after power line passing through Ukraine damaged by drones; Moscow spring offensive steps up. What we know on day 1,491Moldova declared a state of emergency in the energy sector after a key power line with Europe was disconnected following Russian strikes in Ukraine. The declaration comes into effect on Wednesday and lasts for 60 days. The prime minister, Alexandru Munteanu, appealed to people to “avoid unnecessary consumption, especially during peak hours” and “stay united”, according to a statement from parliament. The former Soviet republic imports electricity from neighbouring EU member Romania, mostly via a power cable that passes through southern Ukraine. Moldovan authorities said crashed drones had been identified in Ukraine near the line and that “demining operations” were needed before repairs could be done. Restoring the power line itself was expected to take up to seven days, the energy minister, Dorin Junghietu was quoted by the Moldovan media outlet Ziarul de Gardă as saying. “Russia alone bears responsibility,” the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, wrote on X, while the foreign ministry also condemned the Russian attacks. Russia has frequently targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since it invaded its neighbour in 2022.The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has accused Russia of “absolute depravity” after Moscow fired an unprecedented daytime barrage across Ukraine, including on the historical centre of the western city of Lviv. “Iranian ‘shaheds’ [attack drones], modernised by Russia, are striking a church in Lviv – this is absolute depravity, and only someone like [Vladimir] Putin could find this appealing,” Zelenskyy said in his daily address. “The scale of this attack makes it abundantly clear that Russia has no intention of actually ending this war,” Zelenskyy added, vowing that Ukraine “will certainly respond to any attacks”.Russia’s military said on Wednesday it had shot down 389 Ukrainian drones overnight in one of the largest attacks to date. Russian regions bordering Ukraine, as well as Moscow and northwestern Leningrad were the main areas targeted, according to the military.Moscow appears to be stepping up a spring offensive intended to break Ukrainian resistance, writes Pjotr Sauer. Ukrainian officials said Moscow fired nearly 400 long-range drones and 23 cruise missiles overnight, followed by another 556 drones in an unusual daytime assault on Tuesday, hitting cities across the west of the country and killing at least seven people. Taken together, the barrage marks one of the largest aerial bombardments of Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion more than four years ago. One Russian drone struck the Bernardine monastery, a 16th-century church in Lviv’s Unesco-listed medieval centre, causing damage, local authorities said.North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, said his country would always support Russia in a thank-you letter to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Ties between the two have grown closer since Putin began the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Pyongyang sending ground troops and weapons systems to aid Russia’s war effort. “I express my sincere thanks to you for sending warm and sincere congratulations first on my reassumption of the heavy duty as president of the state affairs,” Kim said in the message on Tuesday, the official Korean central news agency said. “Today the DPRK and Russia are closely cooperating to defend the sovereignty of the two countries,” Kim said, using the initials of the North’s official name. “Pyongyang will always be with Moscow. This is our choice and unshakable will,” he added. South Korean and western intelligence agencies have estimated that the North has sent thousands of soldiers to Russia, primarily to the Kursk region, along with artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems. Analysts say the assistance has been provided in exchange for Russia’s provision of food and weapons technologies. Continue reading...