Projects

Exclusive: Government should back projects that prioritise renewables to protect consumers from ongoing price shocks, they sayGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFormer oil and gas industry leaders, including senior executives from BP and Shell, are warning the Albanese government that Australians risk ongoing price shocks and higher costs if it prioritises fossil fuel development in response to the global energy crisis.Sixteen ex-executives and professionals – who had worked for companies including Woodside, Inpex, Exxon Mobil and Esso – have urged the government to reject calls for fast-tracked gas and coal extraction, arguing it would do nothing to improve the nation’s liquid fuel security. Continue reading...

US representatives Jared Huffman and Jamie Raskin earlier this month called agreements outrageous and unlawfulSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe Trump administration blocked two permitted US wind energy projects from development this week, with an agreement to pay millions of dollars in refunds to the companies behind them if those funds are reinvested in oil and gas.US Department of the Interior officials framed the canceled agreements as a way to “promote US energy security and affordability” by funneling funds “away from intermittent, higher-cost energy sources toward proven conventional solutions”, in an announcement issued Monday. Continue reading...

The injunction pauses policy giving senior Trump official direct sign-off on federal clean energy projectsA federal judge in Massachusetts on Tuesday struck down several Trump administration actions slowing down development of clean energy, including a requirement that all solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters be personally approved by the interior secretary, Doug Burgum.Denise J Casper, chief judge of the US district court for Massachusetts, ruled that a coalition of plaintiffs representing wind and solar developers were likely to succeed on the merits of their claims that the administration’s actions violate federal statute and will cause irreparable harm if the court did not intervene. Continue reading...

Tech company has signed on to nine deals as it aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAmazon has entered power agreements with nine new renewable projects in New South Wales and Victoria, as the technology company seeks to source renewable power for its datacentre operations in Australia.The nine deals, including one windfarm and 10 solar and battery projects, will take the amount of renewable energy Amazon is sourcing in Australia from 430MW to nearly 1GW. Continue reading...

Industry fears strait of Hormuz closure could disrupt shipping of crucial parts for UK and German North Sea projects• Business live – latest updatesA string of large offshore wind projects in Europe are facing potential delays as the Iran war threatens to disrupt shipping of crucial parts manufactured in the Gulf.Industry sources are concerned that components ordered from suppliers in the United Arab Emirates could become trapped if shipping remains effectively blocked through the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...

The Australian Institute of Architects’ judges sought to highlight a gentler approach to urban transformation,’ chair of the awards steering committee saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSydney’s Campbelltown has paved paradise and put up a parking lot. And the brave jury at the Australian Urban Design awards has declared it heavenly.The winners of the 2026 awards, announced on Tuesday at Parliament House in Canberra, suggest the era of the star architect’s singular, sculptural spectacle is being traded, at least this year, for something more pragmatic: an unassuming revolution where the most significant breakthroughs are found in natural, open-mesh ventilation, a splash of colour and a heart of soothing greenery. Continue reading...

• Forrester Research forecasts global technology spending will grow 7.8% in 2026 to $5.6 trillion, up from $5.2 trillion in 2025, driven primarily by continued AI investment across defense, financial services, healthcare, industry, and retail sectors. • Computer equipment will see the highest growth at 16.8% due to rising AI server demand, with AI-specialized computers expected to capture more than 80% of computer equipment spending by 2030, up from 43% in 2024. • Financial services and healthcare sectors will see robust technology spending in 2026, driven by investments in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, AI, data storage, and AI literacy training despite broader economic volatility.

• CMS actuaries forecast U.S. health spending at $5.3 trillion in 2024, outpacing economic growth to hit 20% of GDP by 2033. • Projections highlight unsustainable trajectory for national health expenditures. • Policymakers face pressure to address cost drivers in insurance, drugs, and services.

• Nvidia is projecting a trillion-dollar chip market while the AI industry shifts focus from training giant models to inference, robotics, and real-world deployment at GTC 2026 in San Jose. • CEO Jensen Huang spotlighted new systems and platforms aimed at industrial use cases and physical AI applications, signaling that commercial viability increasingly depends on inference economics and enterprise adoption. • The market shift reflects where spending is heading: training remains critical, but applied AI and infrastructure orchestration are becoming more investable than generic model-building pitches.

• Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC News that gasoline prices could decline by summer despite ongoing disruptions from the Iran war and threats to global oil supplies. • The forecast suggests potential relief from elevated energy costs that have accompanied the three-week conflict, though oil markets remain volatile due to Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz and retaliatory attacks on regional infrastructure. • The projection reflects administration confidence in energy supply alternatives and market stabilization even as the conflict continues to create supply-chain uncertainties.

• US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC News that gasoline prices could decline by summer despite current elevations caused by Iran war-related supply disruptions and Strait of Hormuz tensions. • The projection offers some relief to consumers facing inflationary pressures from energy markets, contingent on conflict de-escalation or resolution within the coming months.

• IDC forecasts global security spending will hit $308 billion in 2026, up from prior years, with the U.S. leading at $150 billion fueled by financial services, healthcare, and government sectors. • Software will account for over 50% of spending, including identity and access management, endpoint security, and analytics, growing 14% year-over-year amid AI-powered threats. • Fastest-growing categories like CNAPP and data security software address AI workloads and non-human identities, as companies prioritize integrated architectures for resilience.