Energy: A foot on the gas.—reliability medium.
Excellent commentary and overview of the effect of shale gas growth on everything from European dependence on Russian gas to low-cost reduction of carbon emissions. Switching from coal to gas could reduce GHG emissions at a cost of €0.50 per ton, compared to €10.50 per ton for building nuclear capacity or €37.50 per ton for coal with CCS, if that can even be done. See Financial Times. [A "must read". Hope for China? Notes shale gas has some environmental issues as well.]

Adonis unveils £30bn high-speed rail plans.—reliability high.
"The government unveiled plans for a £30bn high-speed rail network, with the first phase between London and Birmingham opening in 2026. Lord Adonis, the transport secretary, said building work on the 250mph route could begin in 2017 once a formal public consultation was completed." The Conservative opposition said the Government's plans were not ambitious enough. Story in The Guardian.

Climate report shows Australia getting warmer.—reliability high.
"Australia's top scientists on Monday released a "State of the Climate" report at a time of growing scepticism over climate change as a result of revelations of errors in some global scientific reports. ... "We are seeing significant evidence of a changing climate. We are warming in every part of the country during every season and as each decade goes by, the records are being broken," said Megan Clark, head of Australia's state-backed Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)." Highlights of report. From Reuters. PDF of report here.