Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day visit to Egypt, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, marked his first trip to the Middle East in four years and the first to Egypt in a decade. The trip caused debate among geopolitical observers over Egypt's diplomatic balancing act between China, one of its largest economic partners, and the United States, a major defence and strategic partner. Xi's visit came at a time when Chinese tech giant Huawei has submitted a tender to build Egypt's AI data centres. The US, meanwhile, is reportedly pulling together an offer to counter Huawei's bid. Whoever wins the contract to build the data centres will also gain an opportunity to strengthen their political and economic ties with Egypt.

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AI data centres are booming in Australia - but at what cost? The sheer size and noise of data centres are what people tend to notice first. Some say they sound like a jet plane about to take off, others complain of a high-pitched whine. When Lucy* puts her child to bed, she hears a constant humming. I'll hear it and think, 'What is that?

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GoPro is the latest surprising name to move into the AI data center market amid a merger with an optical-photonics company called Starman Optical. The shareholders of GoPro, which will remain publicly listed, will receive 285 million when the deal closes and retain around 10 percent ownership. GoPro's outstanding debt of around 92 million will be paid too. The merger is subject to shareholder agreement, as well as regulatory approvals and closing conditions. GoPro expects the deal to close by the end of 2026.

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Quincy, Washington, has leveraged Microsoft data center tax revenue to fund a new high school, hospital and aquatic center, showcasing the benefits of hosting tech facilities.

Data centers are sparking a political fight over electric bills and AI infrastructure as governors in both parties freeze grid connections and restrict permits.

The datacenter fight could permanently transform US politics. Which party will seize advantage? Bryce Gustafson has been knocking on doors in Indiana for more than a decade. The lead organizer with Citizens Action Coalition (CAC), a consumer and environmental organization, he usually encounters a mix of reactions when he's out canvassing; whatever issue he's talking about, there's always at least a few people on the other side. But at a recent festival in the rural town of Monrovia, Indiana, he was struck by an unusual spirit of unity.