US News, Summarized

• Hughes Network Systems won a US Air Force Research Laboratory contract under the RAPID program to develop hybrid satellite networks blending military, allied, and commercial systems. • The project explores software-defined networking, AI, and machine learning for resilient communications in contested environments, routing data across space and terrestrial links. • Aimed at improving military connectivity for command centers and tactical forces, it supports broader DoD efforts like Enterprise SATCOM for flexible bandwidth management.

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced public comment solicitation on Google's proposed data center campus in Botetourt County, Virginia, focusing on effects to local water sources. • The project highlights growing infrastructure demands from tech giants, with Virginia Tech expert Murat Kantarcioglu noting data centers' critical role amid rising cybersecurity risks like potential drone attacks. • This development underscores tensions between tech expansion and environmental concerns in the US, potentially influencing future data center approvals nationwide.

• Uber Technologies announced plans to launch robotaxi services in 28 cities starting next year, driving shares up 4.2% on March 18, 2026. • The expansion marks a major step in autonomous vehicle deployment, building on partnerships with self-driving tech firms amid rising AI integration in mobility. • This development intensifies competition in the US ride-hailing market and could reshape urban transportation, with implications for jobs and infrastructure.

• DUG Technology Ltd announced settlement of legal proceedings in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas involving its subsidiary DownUnder GeoSolutions (America) LLC, reducing the court judgment from approximately $2.1 million to $1.5 million. • The dispute centered on a contested supplier invoice under an energy management services agreement, with both parties agreeing to a settlement and release agreement that resolves all claims including DUG US's counterclaim. • The settlement stipulates that neither party will pursue further legal action and includes a confidentiality provision regarding remaining details, with the supplier required to file a release of judgment upon payment.

• Senators Marsha Blackburn and Peter Welch sent a formal complaint letter to ByteDance CEO demanding the company halt its new AI app Seedance 2.0, citing concerns that it poses a direct threat to American creative industries. • Content creators have documented instances where Seedance replicated expensive film shots for pennies, including a comparison showing the AI generated a near-exact copy of a clip from the film F1 for nine cents, sparking concerns about systemic copyright infringement. • The letter reflects growing Capitol Hill concerns about AI companies' training practices and insufficient protections for content creators whose materials are used to develop AI models without permission.

• Nvidia announced at GTC 2026 that it has locked in $1 trillion in orders for its Blackwell and Vera Rubin chips through 2027, far exceeding annual revenue and signaling massive AI infrastructure investment across the industry. • Major hyperscalers including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have significantly ramped up investments in AI data centers and infrastructure, competing to build massive language models and prepare for exponential growth in AI workloads. • Blackwell chips have already begun shipping while Vera Rubin is positioned to deliver major boosts to AI training and inference performance, addressing the current AI infrastructure race among tech giants.

Jerome Powell resists Trump pressure as policymakers weigh energy shock against a weakening US jobs marketSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for the second time this year, a widely expected move amid turmoil in the Middle East and rising energy prices.Fed officials faced a confluence of issues to consider in their meeting this week: soaring oil and gas prices, fluctuating inflation that still remains above the Fed’s target of 2% and a weakened job market that unexpectedly saw 92,000 losses last month. Continue reading...

Company says it will continue to sell cars with V12 internal combustion engines as there is demand from clientsRolls-Royce has abandoned its goal to sell only electric cars by the end of the decade.The luxury car company launched its all-electric Spectre model in 2022, saying at the time that it would end production of its vehicles with V12 internal combustion engines by the end of 2030. Continue reading...

Board meets this week to discuss appointment, with former Google executive the strong favourite to replace Tim DavieFormer Google executive Matt Brittin is expected to be named the BBC’s next director general within days, with the corporation’s board meeting this week for a final discussion about the appointment.The decision will be discussed at a regular BBC board meeting on Thursday. Though the meeting will not formally approve Brittin for the role, an announcement could be made as soon as next week. Continue reading...

Revolutionary Guards say they will strike infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar after South Pars field hitMiddle East crisis – live updatesBusiness live – latest updatesIran has threatened to attack energy infrastructure across the Gulf region in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its largest gasfield, the first targeted attacks on its fossil fuel production since the war began.Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have threatened counterstrikes on several energy facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar “in the coming hours” after state media reports that missiles had targeted its gas facilities at the giant South Pars field, the largest gas reserves in the world. Continue reading...

UAE and Qatar condemn targeting of South Pars gas field; Esmail Khatib confirmed killedIran threatens Gulf energy facilities after Israeli attack on its largest gasfieldFighting intensifies between Israel and Hezbollah in southern LebanonIran is still exporting millions of barrels of oil, with about 90 ships, including oil tankers, having crossed the strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the war with Iran, according to maritime and trade data platforms reports.This is despite Iran saying it had closed the vital waterway to vessels from the US and its allies. Continue reading...