live Hormuz shipping slows as Iran's Araghchi sets conditions for resumption
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed to a near standstill over the weekend, with five commodity vessels transiting Saturday and none on Sun...
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.
At least 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday, among the deadliest since a June ceasefire. Meanwhile, Qatar denied holding Iranian pilots. It said it had found the remains of one pilot after an airspace violation and had contacted Iran to coordinate a handover.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed to a near standstill over the weekend, with five commodity vessels transiting Saturday and none on Sunday. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Washington must meet Tehran's conditions for shipping to resume.
A wildfire in Croatia driven by strong winds descended on the tourist town of Omis overnight, engulfing houses, forcing about 1,000 people to evacuate to safety and injuring dozens, fire brigade and health officials said on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to make the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory have been mocked by Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, who said the sea passage "cannot be seized by tweet."
Residents of villages in eastern Indonesia hit by a deadly earthquake that killed at least 54 people were awaiting aid on Monday as rescuers prepared to comb through collapsed buildings in search of people trapped beneath the rubble.
Nearly a week after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, hopes of finding more survivors are fading as rescue teams search collapsed buildings and communities confront widespread destruction.
Central Asia has become a major focus for Eurasian transport investment, with $71.7 billion committed to 114 projects, according to the Eurasian Development Bank’s 2026 Transport Observatory.
The European Union is preparing what foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has described as its most far-reaching sanctions package against Russia since the war in Ukraine began.
Weeks after thousands of students protested in New Delhi over alleged failures in India’s examination system, the so-called Cockroach movement is taking its campaign to the grassroots, launching audits of state-run schools.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany visited Ukraine for the first time since taking office, meeting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv on 15 August to discuss protecting the country’s cultural heritage amid continued Russian attacks.
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