Afternoon Update: Woodside scraps clean energy targets; Sydney property developer collapses; and Japan’s moving castle

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Good afternoon.

Woodside Energy, Australia’s biggest oil and gas company, has scrapped its long-term emissions and clean energy targets, even after enjoying a period of windfall oil profits caused by the war on Iran.


As Jonathan Barrett reports, the energy giant is https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/25/woodside-scraps-emissions-clean-energy-targets-australia">doubling down on fossil fuels after recording a 27% increase in sales profit to $1.67bn ($A2.33bn) in the six-month reporting period, and is expecting even more financial gains by redirecting barrels of oil to markets willing to pay premium prices.

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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/25/bathla-group-sydney-property-developer-collapses">Major Sydney property developer collapses after ‘perfect storm’, leaving buyers in limbo

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/25/coogee-beach-shark-victim-leah-stewart-describes-attack">Sydney shark attack survivor describes moment she came to face-to-face with ‘monster’

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/25/ralph-carr-sentencing-rape-ntwnfb">Ralph Carr, entertainment industry and AFL figure, sentenced to six years for ‘predatory’ rape of ex-staffer

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/25/eharmony-dating-website-sued-australia-subscription-traps-customers-charged-hundreds">eHarmony deceived Australian customers with ‘subscription traps’ that cost hundreds of dollars, court finds