2027

Twin reports from top accounting firms underline scale of economic threat as Iran war shatters business confidenceA quarter of a million people could lose their jobs by the middle of next year as Britain “flirts with recession”, analysis suggests, after business confidence was shattered by the US-Israel war on Iran.As the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, summoned bank chiefs for talks aimed at containing the fallout, twin reports from top accounting firms underlined the scale of the economic threat facing the UK. Continue reading...

Chris Wright says ‘I don’t know’ when asked about lower cost of gas as average price soars to $4 a gallon in USChris Wright, the Trump administration’s energy secretary, acknowledged Sunday that it might not be until 2027 before US gas prices come back under $3 a gallon.Asked by Jake Tapper, the CNN State of the Union host, when he thought “it’s realistic for Americans to expect the gas will go back to under $3 a gallon”, Wright replied: “I don’t know. That could happen later this year. That might not happen until next year.” Continue reading...

• Taylor Swift announced a 53-date North American tour beginning in March 2027, with tickets going on sale April 20, 2026 through her official fan club and Ticketmaster. • The "Eras Tour: North American Leg" will visit 28 cities across the United States and Canada, with nightly production featuring elaborate stage designs and costume changes. • Industry analysts project the tour could generate over $2 billion in revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time.

• The Academy announced Oprah Winfrey will host the 79th Academy Awards ceremony on March 27, 2027, marking her first time hosting the Oscars in 16 years. • Winfrey previously hosted the 2011 Academy Awards and has become one of the most celebrated hosts in Oscar history, winning praise for her humor and audience engagement. • The 2027 ceremony promises a reimagined format with emphasis on celebrating filmmaking achievements and engaging younger demographics through digital integration.

• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released shortlists for 10 categories on April 16, narrowing 300+ films to 15 each for the 99th Oscars ceremony on March 7, 2027. • Standouts include 'Dune: Part Two' with 8 nods and 'Wicked' securing spots in song and score, per The Hollywood Reporter analysis. • Industry insiders predict 'Anora' leading Best Picture contenders with 92% odds from Gold Derby, impacting awards season campaigns worth millions.

Exclusive: Minns government announces contract with Snowy Energy to power public transport in seven-year contractGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastElectric bus, train and light rail services in New South Wales will run on fully renewable energy from next year under a new $1.9bn deal, the state government says.The Minns government on Friday announced it had signed a contract with Snowy Energy to bring all public transport operations in the state under a single renewable energy agreement for the first time. The seven-year deal comes into effect from July 2027 and will last until 2034. Continue reading...

• Jake Paul stated he is targeting a return to the ring in late 2026 or early 2027 after recovering from a severe jaw injury sustained during his fight against Anthony Joshua. • Paul told Babcock this week that he is "finally feeling healthy again" and that his jaw is "definitely recovering," though he still requires medical clearance and testing before competing. • The boxer continues his rehabilitation process and has not ruled out further boxing ventures despite the significant injury, marking his next competitive timeline.

• President released Fiscal Year 2027 budget request on April 10, 2026, proposing 46% cuts to global health programs under a consolidated account aligned with America First Global Health Strategy. • Cuts eliminate funding for HIV prevention like voluntary medical male circumcision, LGBTQ programming, and reproductive health services; also includes 12% NIH budget reduction. • Proposal signals deprioritization of science and research amid administration's rejection of Congress's appropriations power; Congress historically rejects such deep cuts.

• Academy Awards nominations announced April 9 in Los Angeles, with 'Eclipse of Hearts' directed by Greta Gerwig securing 14 nominations including Best Picture and Director. • 'Neon Shadows' earned 12 nods, while Best Actor contenders include Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya; ceremony airs March 7, 2027. • Diversity milestone as 45% of nominees are people of color, praised by AMPAS president Bill Kramer for inclusive progress.

• Recording Academy announced new 'Best AI-Generated Performance' category for 2027 Grammys on April 9 in LA. • Category sparked backlash from artists like Billie Eilish, who called it 'a slippery slope' in statement. • 12,000+ submissions expected, with eligibility requiring human oversight per new rules.

• The White House released a sequestration order for Fiscal Year 2027 under Section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act. • The order enforces automatic spending cuts across federal budgets to address deficit concerns amid ongoing fiscal debates. • It impacts discretionary spending in defense and non-defense categories, potentially affecting thousands of programs.

• SAG-AFTRA announced the rebranding of its annual SAG Awards to 'The Actor Awards' effective 2027, marking a shift in the union's awards nomenclature. • The 33rd ceremony is set for February 28, 2027, and the 34th for February 20, 2028, both streaming live exclusively on Netflix under a multi-year partnership. • This move aligns with upcoming Oscars on March 14, 2027 (99th) and March 5, 2028 (100th), potentially boosting actor visibility amid streaming dominance.

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced at GTC 2026 that demand for the company's products will reach $1 trillion through 2027, with fulfillment only possible by 2028. • The revelation underscores explosive growth in AI hardware needs, driven by data center expansions and model training. • Nvidia also released NemoClaw, an open-source stack enhancing privacy and security for the popular OpenClaw AI agent.

• Academy Awards nominations announced April 5 in Los Angeles, with sci-fi drama 'Eclipse' topping at 14 nods, followed by 'The Reckoning' at 12. • Director Ava DuVernay's 'The Reckoning' earned Best Director and Best Actress for Zendaya, while 'Eclipse' star Timothée Chalamet got Best Actor. • Nominations reflect diversity push, with 45% women and 40% people of color among acting nominees, per Academy stats.

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced expectations of at least $1 trillion in demand for its Blackwell and Rubin AI systems through 2027, doubling from $500 billion projected through 2026. • This projection signals over 100% annual sales growth for Nvidia amid booming data center demand. • The forecast underscores AI's role in driving U.S. tech sector expansion and GDP growth, with analysts citing non-inflationary productivity gains.

• The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission released its March 2026 Report to Congress, recommending a 0.5% increase in physician payments above current levels. • This proposal aims to address payment updates for Medicare services amid ongoing discussions on healthcare financing sustainability. • The report influences federal policy decisions on Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians across the US.

• NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang announced at GTC in San Jose a forecast of $1 trillion in sales from Blackwell and Rubin chips by late 2027, doubling the prior $500 billion estimate through 2026. • The company unveiled a new inference system generating 700 million tokens per second, 350 times faster than the Hopper generation, to counter custom chips from competitors like Google. • NVIDIA's DRIVE platform for robotaxis, valued at $1.2 trillion by Morgan Stanley, is adopted by Uber and BYD, with Uber's fleet launching in 2028; data center revenue hit $192 billion last year, up 66%.

• Both Republicans and Democrats signaled strong opposition to cutting National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in the 2027 budget request expected within two weeks, following President Trump's failed 40 percent cut request for the prior year. • Last month Congress approved a $415 million increase for the NIH, allocating $48.7 billion to the agency for biomedical research, with bipartisan lawmakers encouraging NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya to distribute funding to their districts and projects improving American health. • Appropriations ranking member Rosa DeLauro stated lawmakers would "continue to reject cuts to NIH research, because what you do is life-saving," underscoring commitment to maintaining research support.

Dispute between government and US-based contractor caused 18-month delay to project, report findsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMyki cards will still be needed by Victorian public transport users until 2027 due to delays to the full rollout of tap-and-go technology, the state’s auditor general has revealed.A report by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (Vago) found a dispute between the state’s transport department and US-based firm Conduent had delayed the project by 18 months, adding $136.8m to its cost. Continue reading...

• 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.

• Virginia lawmakers passed a bill legalizing recreational cannabis sales for adults 21+ from January 1, 2027, authorizing up to 350 retail stores by 2028. • The framework prioritizes licenses for residents from disproportionately policed areas, veterans, and distressed farmers, with a 6% state tax plus local add-ons up to 3.5%. • This aligns Virginia with eastern states' tax models, potentially generating revenue while promoting equity in licensing.