Strait of Hormuz reopened, Iran and U.S. say - Middle East conflict on 17 April
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping on Friday (17 April) for the first time since the U.S. and Israel killed Iran's ex-Su...
Meta has signed another major solar energy agreement, acquiring 650 megawatts (MW) of clean power capacity across Kansas and Texas to support the rapid expansion of its AI-driven data centers, the company confirmed Thursday.
The deal was made with AES, a U.S.-based utility and power generation company currently developing the solar-only projects. According to AES, 400 MW will be deployed in Texas and 250 MW in Kansas, with construction expected to begin well in advance of their commercial operations under typical power purchase agreements, which run 15 to 20 years.
This marks Meta’s fourth solar investment in Texas this year, adding to previously announced projects of 595 MW, 505 MW, and two separate 200 MW farms. The latest addition brings Meta’s total renewable energy portfolio to over 12 gigawatts, a massive infrastructure underpinning the company’s growing commitment to powering AI operations sustainably.
Texas continues to lead the U.S. in solar development, driven by abundant sunshine, streamlined permitting processes, and quick grid connections, making it ideal for hyperscale infrastructure. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the state ranked first in new solar capacity additions in both 2023 and 2024.
AES CEO Andrés Gluski highlighted solar energy’s “fast time-to-power and low-cost electricity” as central to its appeal for companies like Meta, which require scalable, reliable, and increasingly sustainable energy sources to power energy-hungry AI data centers.
Unlike traditional power plants, solar farms can be phased in, enabling electricity to begin flowing to customers before full project completion—a crucial factor for tech companies operating at the cutting edge of AI development.
Meta’s continued clean energy push not only strengthens its climate credentials but also aligns with a broader industry trend: powering exponential AI growth with renewables in order to reduce emissions and long-term energy costs.
The past 24 hours of the Russia-Ukraine war have seen a drastic escalation in both aerial bombardment and frontline losses.
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping on Friday (17 April) for the first time since the U.S. and Israel killed Iran's ex-Supreme Leader in air strikes, triggering the Middle East conflict, at the end of February. A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, however, remains in force.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that there was a "good chance" of a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel happening soon, after he announced a 10-day ceasefire between the two countries.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli and Lebanese leaders have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire that includes Hezbollah, raising cautious hopes of a pause in hostilities after weeks of escalating tensions.
European leaders have set out plans for a coordinated defensive mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, once security conditions allow, following talks involving more than 40 countries.
NeaNearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea off Myanmar in 2025, making it the deadliest year on record, the United Nations Refugee Agency said on Friday.
Tens of thousands of people filled a stadium in Douala on Friday, hoping to catch a glimpse of Pope Leo during what is expected to be the largest event of his African tour.
AmerAmerican businesses are preparing for a major moment next week as the U.S. government launches a long-awaited system to return billions in unlawfully collected tariffs.
More than half of Haiti’s population is facing acute food insecurity, prompting the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to warn that recent progress in tackling hunger remains fragile and could quickly be reversed without urgent support.
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