Supply

Supplier Agratas sacks its main building contractor on the government-backed project amid a budget mismatchJaguar Land Rover faces the risk of delays to the first deliveries of electric car batteries from a £5.2bn government-backed factory in Somerset after construction problems.The British carmaker is planning to rely on the Agratas factory in Bridgwater, Somerset, to supply the batteries for its new electric models. Agratas and JLR are owned by the Indian industrial conglomerate Tata. Continue reading...

• Taiwan's listed semiconductor and electronics companies reported robust revenue growth in May 2026, driven primarily by the AI supply chain. • Server makers and memory chip providers saw triple-digit gains, highlighting a structural reordering of the sector's top earners. • The data reveals a widening performance gap between companies benefiting from AI infrastructure and those tied to legacy consumer electronics.

• NASA and international partners are preparing for the departure of the 34th SpaceX Dragon resupply spacecraft from the International Space Station. • The mission focuses on returning critical scientific research samples and hardware to Earth for further analysis. • This operation supports the ongoing effort of continuous human habitation aboard the station, which has lasted for over 25 years.

Cold storage and logistics body warns food supplies at risk from fuel shortages, cyber attacks and extreme weatherMinisters have been accused of being complacent about the risks to vital supplies of food into the UK amid concerns over fuel shortages, cyber attacks and extreme weather.The trade body for cold storage and logistics has urged the government to make potential disruption to the UK’s food system an “immediate national priority”. Continue reading...

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visited Taipei starting May 23, using a series of high-profile dinners and social events to engage with the AI ecosystem. • The trip culminated in a gathering of over 30 top executives, illustrating the complex and interconnected supply chain required to sustain Nvidia's trillion-dollar valuation. • These interactions highlight the critical strategic partnerships between Nvidia and Taiwanese hardware manufacturers necessary for scaling AI infrastructure.

• The European Central Bank's (ECB) May 2026 Financial Stability Review warns that conflict in the Middle East has caused a significant energy supply shock. • This geopolitical instability is driving up inflation risks and threatening overall economic growth across the region. • The report highlights increased vulnerabilities within non-bank financial institutions and sovereign debt markets due to prolonged fiscal challenges.

• Canada has reached an agreement to supply Germany with liquefied natural gas (LNG) sourced from a planned facility on the country's west coast. • The deal supports Prime Minister Mark Carney's strategic objective to double Canada's energy exports to markets outside of the United States. • This partnership is intended to strengthen European energy security by diversifying gas sources and reducing reliance on other volatile suppliers.

• India and the United States are reportedly nearing a strategic pact to secure the supply of critical minerals, aiming to reduce dependencies on volatile global markets. • In a separate legal development on Tuesday, a special PMLA court in Mumbai ordered the remand of self-styled godman Ashok Kharat. • Kharat has been placed in 14-day judicial custody as part of an ongoing investigation into a money laundering case.

Villages of Charing, Challock and Molash worst affected as South East Water says shortages due to extra demandHundreds of homes in Kent and Sussex have been left without water by a company that MPs recently accused of incompetence.South East Water said the hot weather and extra demand for water meant it was having to pump more drinking water than usual to higher ground. Continue reading...

Research by National Preparedness Commission calls for ‘worst-case scenario’ planning by European statesBritain’s vital supply chains are unprepared for the prospect of a major shock such as war with Russia, and bold steps are needed to catch up with “worst-case scenario” planning by European states, ministers have been warned.Donald Trump’s “America First” transformation of the US, which has made what was once a trusted UK ally a much less reliable partner, should also feed into that planning, according to a new report. Continue reading...

• The Tech Buzz’s latest newsletter roundup highlighted several U.S.-relevant AI developments, including AI plate cameras in Troy, New York, optics upgrades for AI glasses, and an AI-memory supply pinch. • The digest also pointed to AI transcribing emergency-room visits, the CFTC using AI to help detect insider trading, and arXiv banning “AI-only” papers, signaling wider policy and workflow shifts. • The roundup matters because it spans consumer devices, enterprise AI infrastructure, government enforcement, and research publishing standards, showing how quickly AI is moving into regulated and operational settings.

Proposal comes after seven states drawing water from drought-stricken river failed to come to an agreementThe US government has proposed a plan for the drought stricken Colorado River that could cut up to 40% of current supplies to Arizona, California and Nevada, as the waterway’s reservoirs continue to plunge to critically low levels.A top Arizona water official shared details of the Trump administration’s plan at a state meeting on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Industry body says energy consumption driven by AI up 15% globally in two years as it warns of societal backlashDatacentres are consuming 6% of electricity in the UK and US, with the growing strain of AI on energy supplies prompting community resistance, according to research.The proportion of electricity used by vast warehouses stacked with microchips to power AI and the internet has risen 15% worldwide in the past two years as annual global investment in datacentres approaches $1tn (£740bn) – nearly 1% of the global economy, according to the International Data Center Association (IDCA). Continue reading...

Labor’s anticipated reforms are not a panacea, but they could nudge Australia toward a more equitable trajectoryGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Albanese government is preparing to unveil a budget that will recast housing as shelter – rather than a financial tool – in changes that have already sparked heated warnings that rents will rocket and housing supply will be curtailed.Those warnings are best ignored. Continue reading...

• China is actively exploring humanoid robotics development, leveraging the world's largest installed base of industrial robots and rapidly localizing hardware supply chains previously dependent on Nvidia's AI chips and software ecosystem. • Xi Jinping's policy framework has created national funds and support programs to promote robotics R&D and assist startups, with ambitions to diffuse AI technologies throughout Chinese society across economic, social, and governance sectors. • China's established EV manufacturing supply chains—containing batteries, sensors, and mechanical components—give the country an competitive edge in developing embodied AI, with major EV makers adding robotics to their product portfolios.

David Hinton will remain in post while successor is found, utility says, a week after group’s chairman quitThe chief executive of South East Water has announced plans to step down just a week after the group’s chairman quit in the wake of major supply outages in Kent and Sussex.The supplier said David Hinton, who joined the group’s board in 2013, would stay in post to allow an “orderly transition” over the summer while the group hunts for his successor. Continue reading...

Albanese government announces east coast gas reservation policy, which will require producers to set aside 20% of export volumesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGas companies will be forced to set aside 20% of exports for domestic use under a reservation scheme designed to shore up supplies and bring down prices for households and businesses on the east coast.The federal government announced the design of the reservation scheme on Thursday as part of a wider overhaul of the mechanisms regulating the gas sector. Continue reading...

Sightline Intelligence sent AI-supported tool to company that provides drones to Israeli military, research group saysAnti-war activists in Portland, Oregon, are pushing city authorities to ensure no local resources, tax breaks or investments support a local company that appears to be supplying artificial intelligence software to the Israeli military.The company, Sightline Intelligence, manufactures AI-supported video technology that is used in drones to interpret target movements and make quick decisions based on the perceived threat level. Cargo documents appear to show Sightline has shipped its technology to Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms manufacturer that provides drones to that country’s military and exports to others. The activists argue that such sales violate the UN’s arms agreements. Continue reading...

Government request follows contingency to stop planes being grounded if Iran war supply shocks continueBusiness live – latest updatesBritish refineries have been asked to maximise jet fuel supply as part of government contingency planning, amid growing fears the Iran war will force planes to be grounded.Energy minister Michael Shanks said the government is closely monitoring UK jet fuel stocks and working with airlines, airports, fuel suppliers and other governments, as carriers face rocketing fuel costs as a result of the conflict. Continue reading...

The Politburo, a top decision-making body of the ruling Communist Party, was cited as saying by state news agency Xinhua that the economy got off to a better-than-expected start this year.

Foreign affairs minister begins another diplomatic tour to secure Australia’s fuel and energy supply chains. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning, Nick Visser here to guide you through the day’s news. Here’s what’s on deck:The foreign minister, Penny Wong, will travel to Japan today, part of a diplomatic trip to secure fuel supplies that will also include visits to China and South Korea. She said the effort will help “ensure Australia is prioritised as a reliable energy partner”. Continue reading...

Industry analysts say fuel price surge could lead to canceled flight routes that could snarl travelers’ plansCalifornia’s jet fuel supply has dropped to a level not seen since 2023, as turmoil in the Middle East continues to squeeze the global oil market.As of 17 April, the state’s jet fuel stock was just over 2.6m barrels, in comparison to 3.2m barrels two years prior, according to the California energy commission (CEC), which publishes a refinery stocks data dashboard. Continue reading...

• CrowdStrike disclosed on April 25, 2026, a sophisticated cyberattack via compromised third-party software affecting 2.5 million patient records at UnitedHealth's Change Healthcare subsidiary. • Attackers, linked to North Korean Lazarus Group, exfiltrated data over 72 hours before detection, demanding $22 million ransom. • Incident highlights vulnerabilities in US healthcare IT supply chains, prompting HHS emergency directives for 500+ providers.

• CrowdStrike disclosed on April 20, 2026, a sophisticated supply chain attack affecting 1,200 US clients, including Fortune 500 firms, via compromised third-party software. • Attackers deployed ransomware, encrypting critical systems and demanding $50 million in Bitcoin; no data exfiltration confirmed yet. • The incident highlights rising risks in software supply chains, echoing SolarWinds breach, with FBI joining investigation.

There will be flight cancellations ‘soon’ if oil supplies are not restored in coming weeks, says head of IEABusiness live – latest updatesMiddle East crisis – live updatesEurope has only six weeks’ supply of jet fuel left before shortages will hit because of the Iran war, according to the head of a global energy watchdog.Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said there would be flight cancellations “soon” if oil supplies from the Middle East were not restored within the coming weeks. Continue reading...

After Singapore last week, the PM visits supplier of 9% of Australia’s diesel as treasurer travels to Washington for G20 finance ministers’ meetingGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese has arrived in Brunei Darussalam, the first Australian prime minister to fly to the oil-rich country for a meeting with the sultan, where he’ll discuss fuel supplies with the world’s longest serving monarch, Andrew Greene has reported from the travelling media pool.Arriving in Bandar Seri Begawan yesterday for his second trip to Asia in a week, Albanese was officially welcomed on the tarmac before making his way to the Brunei Darussalam-Australia memorial to lay a wreath. Continue reading...

Government seeks to shore up Australia’s supply of diesel, fertiliser and other critical goods. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPrime minister Anthony Albanese and foreign minister Penny Wong will visit Brunei and Malaysia this week as the government seeks to shore up Australia’s supply of diesel, fertiliser and other critical goods in the wake of shortages ccaused by the US-Israel war on Iran.Albanese will travel first to Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei on Tuesday for a meeting with the sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, to discuss “energy, food security, and the flow of essential goods between our countries,” according to the PM’s office. Continue reading...

Follow the day’s news liveAlbanese didn’t return with shiploads of diesel. That doesn’t mean his Singapore visit wasn’t a successGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian government is launching a new advertising campaign to encourage the public to minimise their use of fuel amid the global crisis caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.The TV, digital and billboard campaign, which will begin rolling out on Monday, is called “Every little bit helps” and is part of the second level of the government’s four-tier fuel security plan.…lays the groundwork for Australians to understand what to do now as fuel supplies hold up. It also signals that instructions will be communicated if and when we move to future levels.This campaign will help communicate the Government’s plan to the public and outline what actions they can take to help.The global fuel shortage is affecting us all and every little bit helps. From running errands in fewer trips to only filling up with the fuel you need, this will help us keep essential services moving. Continue reading...