Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a moratorium on new power grid connections for data centers, ordering audits on grid impact, water usage, and community effects amid unprecedented demand driven by the AI boom.
Bitcoin miners in Texas with pre-approved electric capacity are unlikely to be affected by Governor Abbott's moratorium on new data center connections, according to Bernstein analysts, who note that approved projects gain value amid increased regulatory scrutiny.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced increased cooperation and trade with ASEAN members, with trade volume rising from US$6.5 billion to US$16 billion since 2010. He expressed belief in further deepening political and economic ties with the region.
Kentucky Industrial Alliance is suing Cave City after officials approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers and challenged the city's annexation of land for a proposed $4.8 billion AI campus near Mammoth Cave National Park, sparking conflict over AI infrastructure development.
Eine US-Richterin hat die geplante 111-Milliarden-Dollar-Übernahme von Warner Bros. Discovery durch Paramount bis zum 17. August gestoppt. Zwölf US-Bundesstaaten klagen wegen Wettbewerbsbedenken im Filmmarkt, während Kritiker auch die redaktionelle Unabhängigkeit von CNN unter dem neuen Eigentümer fürchten.
Residents in Hernando County, Florida, are protesting hyperscale data center construction, pushing for a ban despite a temporary moratorium. The bipartisan backlash, driven by environmental, social, and national security concerns, is influencing local politics and the gubernatorial race, with some Republicans threatening to vote Democrat.
Google faces delays with its Gemini 3.5 AI model, impacting its market position, while Chinese startup Moonshot releases a free, open-weight model, intensifying US-China AI competition. Simultaneously, Silicon Valley workers are taking collective action, including lawsuits and petitions, to protect their jobs from AI automation amidst the industry boom.
A successful voluntary agreement, the Amazon Soy Moratorium, which prevented deforestation-linked soy expansion since 2008, has effectively ended. A new analysis in Science predicts this collapse will cause an additional 1.4 million hectares of deforestation in Brazil over the next decade, releasing carbon emissions equivalent to Canada's annual output.
Die Evangelische Landeskirche Sachsen (EVLKS) hat ein zweijähriges Baumoratorium für ihre Kirchgemeinden verhängt, um sich auf finanzierbare Gebäude zu konzentrieren. Ziel ist die Verringerung der Gebäudelast angesichts sinkender Mittel.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese outlined a promising AI policy pivot, committing to laws protecting local creatives' intellectual property and addressing community concerns over datacentre energy use, but the speech lacked crucial policy details.
UK's Representation of the People Bill faces scrutiny over big-money donations, particularly in crypto. Reforms aim to curb foreign and crypto donations, but critics argue they are insufficient. The article links wealthy crypto investors to the far-right, raising concerns about financial integrity and the potential for a 'crypto capital' that blurs crime and business.
UK Labour MPs are considering making the current moratorium on digital asset donations permanent. This follows Nigel Farage's resignation amid revelations of significant crypto-related "gifts" and potential influence on his policies.
Labour MPs are planning to rebel and introduce amendments to the UK's political funding bill, aiming to make the temporary ban on cryptocurrency donations permanent. This move is fueled by recent large donations to Nigel Farage's Reform UK from crypto billionaires.
Scotland's government may consider a moratorium on new datacenters, a move that could jeopardize the UK's AI strategy. The SNP national council passed a motion to freeze projects lacking planning permission, citing "overdevelopment" and environmental concerns.
The Christian Brothers, facing estimated liabilities of $774m from abuse claims, have obtained a moratorium on all lawsuits against them. The order plans to sell 36 properties for $216m to partially meet these claims, a move survivors and lawyers describe as an "ambush" and "gut-wrenching."
The federal government is concerned the Christian Brothers Catholic order may have improperly transferred property for $1 to Edmund Rice Education Australia before claiming bankruptcy. The NSW Supreme Court ordered a moratorium on abuse claims against the order, which owes $774m to survivors.
Australia's native birds, including black swans, face a "very high risk" of extinction from bird flu. Meanwhile, Europe experiences record heatwaves with 40 drownings in France, and the US Secretary of State addresses shipping tolls in the Strait of Hormuz.
Senator David Pocock has urged the Australian government to prevent tech giants from using Australian content to train AI models, as cabinet debates copyright rule changes. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called for a moratorium on new data centers until regulations are established.
Lowell residents, aided by Yale Law's Environmental Justice Clinic, are suing state officials and a data center developer to halt expansion, citing noise pollution and high rates of asthma linked to emissions. A recent one-year moratorium on data center development in the city was passed, but the lawsuit alleges attempts to bypass permitting.
The European Parliament has urged Albania to suspend construction in protected areas, specifically targeting a proposed luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner. This follows 18 days of protests in Albania and diaspora demonstrations abroad, with calls for the project's halt and Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation.
Seattle has enacted a one-year ban on new data center construction, citing environmental concerns and rising electricity costs. The moratorium aims to allow for regulation development and assess data centers' use of urban land.
Seattle City Council has unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on new large AI data centers, citing concerns over electricity and water usage. Mayor Katie Wilson is expected to sign the bill, which also mandates a study for permanent regulations.
Seattle is poised to pass a one-year moratorium on new datacenter construction, citing concerns over rising utility costs and environmental hazards. The move, supported by activists and tech workers, aims to regulate the AI industry's massive facilities and could set a precedent for other cities.
Seattle is poised to pass a year-long ban on new datacenters, a move driven by concerns over rising utility costs, environmental hazards, and the AI industry's massive energy demands. The city council is expected to approve the moratorium, which activists hope will set a precedent for other jurisdictions.
