Donald Trumps big AI announcement has turned heads on both sides of the Atlantic.Trump revealed this week that OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle have formed a joint venture called Stargate that will invest $500bn in AI infrastructure. The companies said $100bn of the funding was available immediately. The rest would be deployed over the next four years.Trump billed Stargate as the largest AI infrastructure project by far in history. He added that the project would ensure the future of technology is in the US.Masayoshi Son, the CEO of SoftBank, had another bold prediction. He said the venture would drive artificial superintelligence.Limited tickets available - Book NowEuropean tech leaders echoed the sentiment but fear that the continent will become beholden to American power.David Villaln, the CEO and co-founder of Spanish AI startup Maisa, exemplified this blend of excitement and alarm.This massive investment shows that the next stage in the growth of AI Artificial Superintelligence is no longer a fringe concept but an inevitable reality requiring unprecedented investment in infrastructure, akin to laying down the tracks for the next Industrial Revolution, he said.Villaln added that the transition requires powerful new computing capacity. Stargate will bring a big dose of this to the US. European tech leaders have called for the continent to reactWithout large-scale capital commitments and a bold approach to AI infrastructure, Europe risks surrendering its future to global players who control the fuel of tomorrow, Villaln said.Europes AI worriesVillaln pointed to the example of his home country. He believes Spain has immense potential in renewables, but needs a major funding boost to remain globally competitive and strategically independent.Spain is spending peanuts on vacuous publicity AI projects, while ignoring, or not understanding, whats needed compute, he said.Similar anxieties have reverberated across Europe. Jan Marquardt, the CEO of German startup Zivee, warned that AI companies need strong infrastructure, big funding, and minimal regulation, all of which is available in the USA and not in Europe. Christian Klein, the CEO of German tech SAP, added that Stargate should be a wake-up call for the continent.Villaln shares their concerns.To use a football analogy, Europe is currently in the relegation zone while USA and China with their budgets, quality and ambition are operating in the Champions League, he said. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Every two years for the last decade, the World Economic Forum has released a comprehensive, and oft cited report proffering insights into the changing nature of the jobs economy.The latest Future of Jobs Report, which covers 20252030, combines the viewpoints of more than 1,000 prominent international businesses, who together account for over 14 million workers in 22 sector clusters and 55 economies worldwide.Here are a few key takeaways:Gen AI & robotsAccording to the report, by 2030, 60% of employers anticipate that broadening digital access will revolutionise their industry.5 jobs to discover this weekThe of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Employers agreed the following areas were likely to drive business transformation: artificial intelligence and information processing (86%), robotics and automation (58%), semiconductors and computing technologies (20%), and satellites and space technologies (9%).Gen AI remains the hottest and most accessible tech trend, and has received a rapid surge in both investment and adoption across various sectors.Since ChatGPT was released in November 2022, investment into AI has increased nearly eightfold. And that doesnt include the significant investment in the physical infrastructures required for AI, including servers and data centres.Some 40% of businesses expect to reduce their personnel in areas where AI can automate jobs, two-thirds aim to hire talent with specialised AI capabilities, and half of employers plan to reorient their business in response to AI.Interestingly, the report features data from Coursera, which shows a steep incline in AI upskilling from April 2023 onwards.Meanwhile, robots and autonomous systems have seen steady growth of 5-7% annually since 2020. Worldwide, the average robot density was 162 units per 10,000 workers in 2023, which is twice as many as it was seven years prior.However, 80% of robot installations are taking place in China, Japan, the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Germany, making this technology trend highly concentrated.Skills to pay the billsThe report also highlights the increased demand for both technology-related skills and broader workplace skills.In terms of tech skills, big data and AI (yes, again), networks and cybersecurity, and technological literacy are all predicted to be the top fastest-growing skills.Despite all this, AI and big data only placed 11th in the list of core skills for 2025. In top billing is analytical thinking (69% of employers agree).Resilience, flexibility, and agility come next, followed by leadership and social influence, highlighting the vital role that flexibility and teamwork play in modern workplaces.Creative thinking, plus motivation and self-awareness come in fourth and fifth.Completing the top ten are: technological literacy, empathy and active listening, curiosity and lifelong learning, talent management, and service orientation and customer service.Changing prioritiesThere have been several notable changes in essential skills since this reports previous edition in 2023.Relevance has significantly increased for leadership and social impact, AI and big data, talent management, as well as customer service and service orientation.Overall, the most significant increases in relevance have been observed in the areas of leadership and social impact, resilience, flexibility and agility, and AI and big data.Looking further to 2030, tech skills are increasing in importance. Some 87% of employers consider AI and big data to be important during the next five years, 70% say networks and cybersecurity are hot topics, while 68% say technological literacy will be paramount.Systems thinking also ranks highly (51%), and design and user experience does too (45%).Programming ranked lower overall at 27%, though this was higher in the technology services sector and the telecommunications industry.Technological literacy was most valued in automotive and aerospace, financial services and capital markets, followed by medical and healthcare services.When it comes to the importance of networks and cybersecurity, financial services and capital markets unsurprisingly is the top industry, followed by insurance and pensions management, and energy technology and utilities.With all this data, it might be difficult to narrow down where your next upskilling opportunity should lie. However, AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, and technological literacy all sound like safe bets.It can be helpful to look at what roles are in demand. In percentage terms, the fastest-growing occupations are those in the technology sector, such as software and application developers, fintech engineers, big data specialists, and experts in artificial intelligence and machine learning.Over six million software and applications developer roles are expected to open up between now and 2030, the third highest growing jobs after farm workers and truck drivers.If you already have transferable skills and youre ready to start your job search, the House of Talent Job Board is the perfect place to start. It features Robin, a conversational AI job search agent that can help you to locate your next tech position, fast.Robin pops up on the bottom right hand side of your screen when youre on the job board, and allows you to search for best-matched jobs using your resume. Not quite sure what you want to do? You can tell it a bit about yourself, your skills, and where youd like to work to generate some ideas.Ready to find your next software job? Check out The Next Web Job Board Story by Amanda Kavanagh Amanda Kavanagh is a Dublin-based journalist and content writer with over a decade of experience writing and editing across digital, print a (show all) Amanda Kavanagh is a Dublin-based journalist and content writer with over a decade of experience writing and editing across digital, print and social. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Content provided by Amply and TNWAlso tagged with

Apple TV+ has been on a roll with its TV shows lately, but movies remain a struggle for the streamer. Todays newly unveiled Oscar nominations confirm that, as a grand total of zero nominations were received by Apple.No 2024 Apple TV+ films were recognized by the AcademyToday the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its nominations for the 97th Oscars.And Apple didnt earn a single nod for best director, actor or actress, documentary, cinematographynothing.Apple TV+ films were not anywhere to be found.Some of the films that could have been contenders, had they all received theatrical qualification, include:Blitz, from director Steve McQueenThe Last of the Sea Women, a critically praised documentaryFancy Dance, Apples best-reviewed film of the yearFly Me to the Moonand WolfsThis Oscar miss highlights the streamers ongoing struggles with movies, even while its hitting its stride with TV shows.Early Oscar success has been lost amid shifting film strategiesBack in 2022, Apple TV+ was the first streaming service to ever win Best Picture at the Oscars. CODA beat out competition and earned Apple the most distinguished film prize.Not even Netflix had ever won Best Picture before, so CODAs win was an especially big deal.But since then, Apples film success and strategy has waned. After a string of theatrical under-performers, and a last-minute streaming pivot for Wolfs, Apple has reportedly shifted its movie strategy and will release few theatrical films, instead focusing on streaming-only fare.Apple also seems to have prioritized more mass market-friendly movies rather than the Oscar-geared projects of the past. That includes the big-budget upcoming F1 film, which aspires to be Apples first summer blockbuster.Perhaps considering this shift, the lack of Oscar nominations isnt a huge loss for the company. But it nonetheless has to be disappointing considering Apples early Oscar success.What do you make of this years Apple TV+ Oscar miss? Let us know in the comments.Best Apple TV and Home accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Photo editing app Luminar Mobile is delivering two highly requested user features today. Full RAW image editing support and iCloud sync between devices arrives in Luminar Mobile 2.2.Luminar Mobile includes access on iPhone, iPad, and even Apple Vision Pro. Availability on Apple Vision Pro is especially interesting. Thats because AVP doesnt really offer native photo editing in the built-in Photos app. Paired with iCloud sync today, Luminar Mobile should be on your radar if image editing is important to you.Heres a rundown of everything new in Luminar Mobile 2.2:Full RAW Format SupportWith this update, Luminar Mobile now supports RAW files from major camera brands. Usersgain access to professional-grade editing tools, including adjustments for exposure, contrast,highlights, shadows, temperature, and tint. This comprehensive support allows photographers to maximize the potential of their images with exceptional precision.Save Editing HistoryThe new editing history functionality ensures that all edits are automatically saved, allowing users to revisit and continue their work at any time. This functionality provides greater control over the creative process by enabling users to track and review their editing progress with ease.iCloud Sync for Editing HistoryFor those who edit across multiple devices, Luminar Mobile now offers iCloud sync. Edits made onone device, such as an iPhone, can seamlessly transfer to another, like an iPad. This ensures asmooth workflow across Apple devices, enabling users to start a project on one device and seamlessly continue it on another.UI ImprovementsBased on user feedback, the updated Luminar Mobile introduces several interface refinements.These improvements make the app more intuitive and user-friendly, providing a smoother and moreenjoyable editing experience. For iPad users, the Tool Develop section has been reorganized, withthe Saturation and Vignette tools now separated into individual tools for easier access. A newRevert to Original button has been added, allowing users to reset all edits and return to theoriginal image quickly.Learn more about Luminar Mobile here.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Generative AI is sliding towards "the trough of disillusionment."Blowing BubblesAs large language models race to the Moon and AI-generated slop art pollutes government websites, AI spending is ballooning to epic proportions and the bubble may be close to bursting.That's according to a recent analysis by Gartner the Connecticut-based research firm famous for the Gartner hype cycle which posits that worldwide IT spending is expected to total over $5.5 trillion in 2025, an increase of 9.8 percent from 2024.IT sectors such as data centers, devices, and software "will see double-digit growth in 2025, largely due to generative AI hardware upgrades," the report reads.However, despite this unfathomable increase in spending, these segments are not ready to "differentiate themselves in terms of functionality yet, even with new hardware."That actual functionality is of course key to selling AI-as-a-product going forward, because sooner or later, stakeholders, clients, and governments are going to start demanding real, tangible benefits for their forest-melting efforts.Referencing the hype cycle, Gartner research VP John-David Lovelock, said in a statement that "GenAI is sliding toward the trough of disillusionment, which reflects [Chief Information Officers'] declining expectations for GenAI, but not their spending on this technology."In short, AI companies are shelling out more and more to develop GenAI despite growing market skepticism of the tech's use cases. If true, AI is entering a troubling chunk of its lifecycle, where returns slow and investor (not to mention user) expectations drop."Our expectations for what generative AI can and will do are starting to come down," Lovelock told The Register. "We won't make it to the trough until 2026, but 2025 is going to be a year of the slide."Burning BarrelsThis forecast brings into question the logic underlying the incredible economic, environmental, and human costs of AI development. Though we in the US are no strangers to discarding social wellbeing for profit take the commercialization of insulin, for just one of thousands of examples we have grown less experienced since the heights of the space race at moving mountains where profit is not explicitly guaranteed.When, for all their advancements, all these half-baked AI rollouts can offer are "leaked photos of heaven", it needs to be asked: who are these advances for?If AI developers are incapable of producing socially compelling use cases for their models, then burning through trillions of dollars in a never ending AI race isn't anymore practical than a one-way trip to Mars.More on practical AI:Pentagon Official Boasts That AI Is Helping The Military Kill People Faster Than Ever BeforeShare This Article

Old Is NewScientists Listening to Signals From Huge, Mysterious Objects Inside the EarthbyFrank Landymore"Nobody knew what they are, and whether they are only a temporary phenomenon."Jan 23, 9:35 AM ESTEdward Garnero; S. W. French, B. A. Romanowicz, Geophys. J. Int. 199, 1303, 2014 / Futurism"Nobody knew what they are, and whether they are only a temporary phenomenon."Acoustic VersionThe mystery of two "super-continent"-sized structures buried deep in the Earth's mantle has produced a new twist after scientists got a closer look at their composition, suggesting they might be even older than once thought.Or maybe a closer listen may be more accurate. "When there is a big earthquake, the whole Earth will expand and contract like a bell," Arwen Deuss, a seismologist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands and coauthor of a new paper published in the journal Nature, told New Scientist. "Earth becomes a musical instrument."And like an instrument, you can tell a lot about its quality by listening to the tones it produces. The powerful sound waves that resonate through the Earth's interior have long revealed the presence of two low-shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs), or superplumes, over a thousand miles underground, so named because they slow down the sound waves that travel through them.For some reason, though, they don't appear to make the sound waves any less powerful. Now, Deuss and his team believe they have an explanation for why this is though the implications could be even more mind-boggling.Wet BlanketToday, the two LLSVPs sit beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean. For how long, however, is difficult to say."Nobody knew what they are, and whether they are only a temporary phenomenon, or if they have been sitting there for millions or perhaps even billions of years," Deuss said in a statement about the work."These two large islands are surrounded by a graveyard of tectonic plates which have been transported there by a process called 'subduction,'" she added, "where one tectonic plate dives below another plate and sinks all the way from the Earth's surface down to a depth of almost three thousand kilometers," or about 1,900 miles.Because the LLSVPs are hot, sound waves that are emitted by the Earth's moving interior slow down when they travel across them. This should also "dampen" the sound waves, or make them lose energy, but observations by Deuss and her team showed that this isn't the case.Pain and GrainSo if the temperature alone isn't responsible for the lack of damping, what is?The working theory is grain size,or the size of the crystals believed to comprise the LLSVPS. The researchers suggest that the structures are made up of larger, but less numerous grains. Because there are fewer grains, that means thereare also fewer so-called boundaries between them, Deuss explained. It's these boundaries that cause the loss of energy every time they're traveled across. By contrast, the surrounding "slab graveyard" exhibits much smaller grains so more dampening.Because grains take ages to grow to such a size, that means the LLSVPs are considerably older than the subducted slabs that encase them perhaps nearly as old as the Earth itself, Deuss toldNew Scientist.More on geology: Scientists Say They've Figured Out What Turned the Sun BlueShare This Article

Jan 23, 2025Ravie LakshmananFirmware Security / VulnerabilityAn exhaustive evaluation of three firewall models from Palo Alto Networks has uncovered a host of known security flaws impacting the devices' firmware as well as misconfigured security features."These weren't obscure, corner-case vulnerabilities," security vendor Eclypsium said in a report shared with The Hacker News."Instead these were very well-known issues that we wouldn't expect to see even on a consumer-grade laptop. These issues could allow attackers to evade even the most basic integrity protections, such as Secure Boot, and modify device firmware if exploited."The company said it analyzed three firewall appliances from Palo Alto Networks, PA-3260, PA-1410, and PA-415, the first of which officially reached end-of-sale on August 31, 2023. The other two models are fully supported firewall platforms.The list of identified flaws, collectively named PANdora's Box, is as follows -CVE-2020-10713 aka BootHole (Affects PA-3260, PA-1410, and PA-415), refers to a buffer overflow vulnerability that allows for a Secure Boot bypass on Linux systems with the feature enabledCVE-2022-24030, CVE-2021-33627, CVE-2021-42060, CVE-2021-42554, CVE-2021-43323, and CVE-2021-45970 (Affects PA-3260), which refers to a set of System Management Mode (SMM) vulnerabilities affecting Insyde Software's InsydeH2O UEFI firmware that could lead to privilege escalation and Secure Boot bypassLogoFAIL (Affects PA-3260), which refers to a set of critical vulnerabilities discovered in the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) code that exploit flaws in image parsing libraries embedded in the firmware to bypass Secure Boot and execute malicious code during system startupPixieFail (Affects PA-1410 and PA-415), which refers to a set of vulnerabilities in the TCP/IP network protocol stack incorporated in the UEFI reference implementation that could lead to code execution and information disclosureInsecure flash access control vulnerability (Affects PA-415), which refers to a case of misconfigured SPI flash access controls that could permit an attacker to modify UEFI directly and bypass other security mechanismsCVE-2023-1017 (Affects PA-415), which refers to an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 reference library specificationIntel bootguard leaked keys bypass (Affects PA-1410)"These findings underscore a critical truth: even devices designed to protect can become vectors for attack if not properly secured and maintained," Eclypsium said. "As threat actors continue to target security appliances, organizations must adopt a more comprehensive approach to supply chain security.""This includes rigorous vendor assessments, regular firmware updates, and continuous device integrity monitoring. By understanding and addressing these hidden vulnerabilities, organizations can better protect their networks and data from sophisticated attacks that exploit the very tools meant to safeguard them."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Jan 23, 2025Ravie LakshmananPhishing / MalwareCybersecurity researchers are calling attention to a new malware campaign that leverages fake CAPTCHA verification checks to deliver the infamous Lumma information stealer."The campaign is global, with Netskope Threat Labs tracking victims targeted in Argentina, Colombia, the United States, the Philippines, and other countries around the world," Leandro Fres, senior threat research engineer at Netskope Threat Labs, said in a report shared with The Hacker News."The campaign also spans multiple industries, including healthcare, banking, and marketing, with the telecom industry having the highest number of organizations targeted."The attack chain begins when a victim visits a compromised website, which directs them to a bogus CAPTCHA page that specifically instructs the site visitor to copy and paste a command into the Run prompt in Windows that uses the native mshta.exe binary to download and execute an HTA file from a remote server.It's worth noting that a previous iteration of this technique, widely known as ClickFix, involved the execution of a Base64-encoded PowerShell script to trigger the Lumma Stealer infection.The HTA file, in turn, executes a PowerShell command to launch a next-stage payload, a PowerShell script that unpacks a second PowerShell script responsible for decoding and loading the Lumma payload, but not before taking steps to bypass the Windows Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI) in an effort to evade detection."By downloading and executing malware in such ways, the attacker avoids browser-based defenses since the victim will perform all of the necessary steps outside of the browser context," Fres explained."The Lumma Stealer operates using the malware-as-a-service (MaaS) model and has been extremely active in the past months. By using different delivery methods and payloads it makes detection and blocking of such threats more complex, especially when abusing user interactions within the system."As recently as this month, Lumma has also been distributed via approximately 1,000 counterfeit domains impersonating Reddit and WeTransfer that redirect users to download password-protected archives.These archive files contain an AutoIT dropper dubbed SelfAU3 Dropper that subsequently executes the stealer, according to Sekoia researcher crep1x. In early 2023, threat actors leveraged a similar technique to spin up over 1,300 domains masquerading as AnyDesk in order to push the Vidar Stealer malware.The development comes as Barracuda Networks detailed an updated version of the Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) toolkit known as Tycoon 2FA that includes advanced features to "obstruct, derail, and otherwise thwart attempts by security tools to confirm its malicious intent and inspect its web pages."These include the use of legitimate possibly compromised email accounts to send phishing emails and taking a series of steps to prevent analysis by detecting automated security scripts, listening for keystrokes that suggest web inspection, and disabling the right-click context menu.Social engineering-oriented credential harvesting attacks have also been observed leveraging avatar provider Gravatar to mimic various legitimate services like AT&T, Comcast, Eastlink, Infinity, Kojeko, and Proton Mail."By exploiting Gravatar's 'Profiles as a Service,' attackers create convincing fake profiles that mimic legitimate services, tricking users into divulging their credentials," SlashNext Field CTO Stephen Kowski said."Instead of generic phishing attempts, attackers tailor their fake profiles to resemble the legitimate services they're mimicking closely through services that are not often known or protected."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Square Mile signs off guidance to encourage developers to hit key environmental benchmarksNew developments in the City of London will need to achieve embodied carbon targets or make other sustainability contributions under planning rules set to come into force in the coming weeks.The City has voted to approve new sustainability guidance for planning applications which will affect how newbuild and refurbishment schemes in the Square Mile are designed and built.Source: ShutterstockThe City has approved new guidance on the environmental impact of both newbuild and retrofit schemesDevelopers will be expected to demonstrate at the planning stage that schemes can achieve new embodied carbon benchmarks aligning with Greater London Authority benchmarks.If they do not meet this target, developments will be expected to go above and beyond in delivering wider environmental benefits for the City.This could include creating or extending local energy networks, upgrading public realm to support transport routes, supporting climate resilience infrastructure or providing skills and training in sustainable construction.Newbuild office schemes will now also be expected to hit a five-star rating on the NABERS tool for measuring environmental impact and energy efficiency, while retrofit projects will need to achieve a four-star rating.Shravan Joshi, chairman of the Citys Planning and Transport Committee, said the vote was a major step forward for the Square Miles sustainability goals.This new guidance provides transparency to the built environment sector, encouraging it to come with us on this journey, as we see continued confidence and demand for high quality, sustainable office space in the Square Mile, he said.The City of London is home to some of the most sustainable commercial buildings on the planet and as it continues to be a hugely attractive place for office occupiers, we are setting the pace globally for sustainable design, with the delivery of the next generation of new and retrofit developments, to attract the best global talent, innovators and high growth businesses.

Nuclear power plants, trainlines and wind farms would be built quicker under new rules, government saysThe government has announced plans to speed up the construction of major infrastructure projects by reducing the ability of activists to challenge them in the courts.Keir Starmer said proposals to be included in the upcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill will take on the NIMBYs and a broken system that has slowed down our progress as a nation.The new planning rules would mean schemes such as nuclear power plants, trainlines, roads and wind farms would not be delayed by a challenge culture, the prime minister said.Sizewell C was put in limbo for two year by legal challenges described by a High Court judge as utterly hopelessInfrastructure schemes can currently be challenged in the courts three times, through a written submission to the High Court, attending an oral hearing and appealing through the Court of Appeal.The government is proposing to scrap the written stage, meaning opponents to schemes would have to convince a judge in person, while the ability to appeal would also be removed if challenge is deemed totally without merit.Legal challenges are a significant factor in slowing down the delivery and increasing the cost of large infrasstructuer schemes.More than half, 58%, of all decisions are taken to court, with each legal challenge taking around 18 months to be resolved on average, with many taking more than two years.Examples include the Sizewell C nuclear plant, which was left in limbo for two years during a legal challenge brought by activists which was later dismissed by a High Court judge as utterly hopeless.A wind farm project in East Anglia and the A47 National Highway Project were also blocked for more than two years by opponents.The governments announcement comes after a review by planning lawyer Lord Banner, who concluded delays to major infrastructure schemes were causing real detriment to the public interest.Reducing the number of permission attempts to one for truly hopeless cases should weed out the worst offenders, without risking inadvertent delays because judges choose to err on the side of caution, he said.The move has been widely welcomed by the construction industry, with Balfour Beatty chief executive Leo Quinn describing it as a vital step towards speeding up important projects while keeping safeguards in place.Reducing the uncertainty that delays progress and drives up costs should help unlock significant economic benefits and enable faster delivery of the critical infrastructure that the UK urgently needs, he said.Connor Teskey, president of Brookfield Asset Management, also welcomed the proposals, calling planning reforms a key priority for the firms business in the UK.British Property Federation chief executive Melanie Leech added: From power stations to bypasses, we take longer to deliver important national projects than other developed nations, and that has to change.If we want to grow the economy and fund vital public services, then we have to better balance environmental and community interests with the benefits of development, and do so in a clear and timely way.Reducing the scope for vexatious and unmerited legal challenges, whilst retaining a right to appeal, is a very positive step in achieving this.