Oracle and OpenAI have dropped their plan to expand a flagship artificial intelligence data center in Texas after prolonged negotiations over financing and changes in OpenAI’s requirements, Bloomberg News reported. The expansion was part of the Stargate initiative, a project valued at up to $500 billion and 10 gigawatts that also involves SoftBank Group. The initiative was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in January 2025.

The companies had earlier proposed adding 600 megawatts of capacity near the Stargate site in Abilene, Texas, but that capacity will now be developed at another data center campus. The Abilene site includes eight buildings operated by Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, with two already operational. Despite the canceled expansion, Oracle and OpenAI’s broader plan to develop 4.5 gigawatts of data center capacity remains on schedule.

Following the collapse of talks, Meta Platforms is reportedly considering leasing the planned expansion site from developer Crusoe, with Nvidia helping facilitate discussions to ensure its AI chips are used at the facility.

Lionel Messi has come under criticism after meeting United States President Donald Trump and applauding his comments about the ongoing US and Israeli military attacks on Iran. The event, held at the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday, was organized to honor Messi and his Inter Miami teammates for winning the Major League Soccer title in December. Trump praised Messi’s achievements and welcomed him to the White House, but his remarks began with a boast about the Iran conflict, claiming US and Israeli forces were demolishing the enemy. Messi, standing beside Trump, joined others in applauding the president’s statements.

The applause drew swift backlash on social media, where users accused Messi of being drawn into politics and endorsing Trump’s military rhetoric. Palestinian-American writer Ali Abunimah called the participants “vacuous selfish people,” while Spanish journalist Leyla Hamed described the players’ actions as “bizarre” amid reports of civilian deaths in Iran. Other fans expressed shock at seeing Messi and teammate Luis Suarez present during Trump’s war-related comments.

Trump used the occasion to blend sports celebration with political messaging, while Messi, who did not speak publicly, presented a signed football to the president.

The United States and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran starting last Saturday. According to the Washington DC-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the United States spent $3.7 billion in the first 100 hours of the war, with a daily expenditure of $891.4 million. US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have both indicated that the conflict could continue for several weeks.

CSIS reported that the US Department of Defense will require additional funds beyond its current budget to sustain the war effort. The think tank also noted that shifting toward lower-cost weaponry could reduce overall expenses, as air operations are particularly costly and require advanced weapon systems.

The report further stated that at some stage, the Pentagon will need supplementary funding to maintain operations. The conflict has already caused significant damage in Iran, including civilian infrastructure losses and casualties, according to related reports cited in the source.

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the United States is not currently considering sending ground troops to Iran. In a telephone interview with NBC, Trump described the idea of deploying ground forces as a “waste of time,” asserting that Iran has already lost much of its military capacity, including its navy.

Trump dismissed remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who had warned that any foreign troop deployment in Iran would bring disaster for the attackers. The exchange comes amid heightened tensions following reports of U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran’s Shiraz region that killed 20 people and damaged over 3,000 civilian structures, according to the Iranian Red Crescent.

The situation underscores the ongoing volatility in the region, with both military and diplomatic fronts remaining tense as the conflict’s financial and humanitarian toll continues to rise.

The United States Department of the Treasury has granted India a temporary exemption from sanctions to purchase Russian oil that remains stranded at sea. The special waiver, valid for 30 days, was announced to help maintain stability in global oil supplies. The decision was confirmed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Basent in a post on social media platform X.

According to Basent, the move aims to keep global oil flows steady and counter Iran’s attempts to create pressure in the international energy market. He emphasized that the measure is short-term and will not provide significant financial benefits to the Russian government, as it applies only to stranded energy shipments.

Following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, US President Donald Trump had imposed sanctions on Russian oil, forcing buyers to seek alternative sources. India remains one of the largest purchasers of Russian energy, and this waiver allows limited continuation of those transactions under strict conditions.

The United States Senate on Wednesday rejected a proposal to halt President Donald Trump’s military offensive in Iran. The motion, introduced by Democratic Senators Tim Kaine, Adam Schiff, and Chuck Schumer, received 47 votes in favor and 52 against, effectively allowing the ongoing military campaign to continue. The proposal also sought to reaffirm Congress’s constitutional authority to approve any act of war by the United States.

During the debate, Democrats accused Trump of bypassing Congress and offering inconsistent justifications for the conflict, while most Republican senators defended the president’s actions. Supporters of the motion argued that Trump exceeded his constitutional powers by joining Israel in the war against Iran, noting that only Congress can declare war except in cases of imminent threat. Republican Senator Rand Paul broke ranks with his party to support the proposal, emphasizing that no war should proceed without debate and a formal vote.

A similar vote was scheduled in the House of Representatives the following day. The Senate decision came days after the United States and Israel launched a joint assault on Iran, citing Tehran’s renewed nuclear and missile activities.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that addressing the situation in Cuba is only a matter of time, following the completion of current operations related to Iran. He made the remarks while discussing future U.S. policy directions, indicating that the administration’s immediate focus remains on Iran before turning attention to Cuba.

Trump also commented on the possibility of exiled Cubans returning to their homeland, saying that some may wish to stay because of their affection for Cuba. However, he added that the United States does not intend to make the situation so favorable that everyone would remain there permanently. His comments were reported by Al Jazeera.

The statement comes amid ongoing U.S. involvement in Iran, where recent attacks have caused significant damage and casualties, suggesting that Washington’s foreign policy priorities remain centered on the Middle East before shifting toward the Caribbean.

Microsoft announced Thursday that it will continue using Anthropic’s artificial intelligence models in its products for clients, excluding the U.S. Department of War. The decision follows the Pentagon’s move earlier in the day to label Anthropic a supply-chain risk, a designation the startup plans to challenge in court. Microsoft confirmed that Anthropic’s Claude models will remain available through platforms such as Microsoft 365, GitHub, and AI Foundry for non-defense projects.

The announcement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump urged federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s technology, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the company’s Pentagon services would end within six months. Talks between Anthropic and the Department of War reportedly collapsed over issues related to mass domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons. Meanwhile, rival OpenAI reached an agreement for its models to be used in classified Pentagon workloads.

Microsoft’s stance makes it the first major company to maintain collaboration with Anthropic following the federal blacklist. The two firms have significant financial ties, including Anthropic’s commitment to spend $30 billion on Microsoft’s Azure cloud and Microsoft’s pledge to invest up to $5 billion in Anthropic.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the ongoing joint war involving the United States and Israel against Iran could last up to eight weeks. He made the remarks during a press conference held at the Pentagon on Wednesday, responding to questions about the possible duration of the conflict.

Hegseth explained that the war might continue for three to eight weeks, depending on developments, and emphasized that the US military had already set its operational pace. He added that the enemy was currently in a state of imbalance, and the US intended to maintain that situation.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with reports of Iranian drone activity prompting Azerbaijan to close its southern airspace and Iran asserting that it is not concerned about the war’s duration.

A US religious freedom watchdog has alleged that military commanders used extremist Christian rhetoric to justify the ongoing war with Iran. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) reported receiving over 200 complaints from service members across all branches, including the marines, air force, and space force. One noncommissioned officer said their commander told troops the conflict was 'all part of God’s divine plan,' citing biblical references to Armageddon and claiming that former President Donald Trump was 'anointed by Jesus' to ignite events leading to the end times.

MRFF president Mikey Weinstein said the complaints reveal growing Christian extremism within the military and a violation of the separation of church and state. He noted that service members often feel unable to challenge superiors who promote religious narratives. The watchdog shared one complaint filed on behalf of 15 troops of different faiths, including Christians, a Muslim, and a Jewish member.

The Pentagon did not respond directly to the allegations but instead circulated public clips of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussing the Iran operation. Hegseth has previously expressed support for Christian nationalist ideas and figures.

Former US President Donald Trump expressed gratitude to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after Rutte commented that the United States had received broad support from allied nations for its military strikes in Iran. Trump conveyed his thanks through a social media post, calling Rutte a great NATO leader.

Earlier, Rutte stated that although NATO was not directly involved in the US attacks on Iran, many allied countries strongly supported Washington’s actions. He noted that allies were cooperating with the United States in efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

Rutte also suggested that several Western nations viewed the initiative to weaken Iran’s military strength as an important security measure within the alliance.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran would have developed a nuclear weapon if the United States had not launched a strike within two weeks. He made the remarks during a roundtable meeting at the White House, adding that if there were no changes in Iran, whoever became its supreme leader would be killed. Trump described the prospect of nuclear weapons in the hands of what he called 'crazy people' as dangerous.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program poses no threat and is intended for peaceful purposes. However, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wrote on social media that the agency could not provide assurances about Iran’s activities. He noted that while there was no evidence Iran was building a bomb, its large stockpile of uranium enriched near weapons-grade levels and limited access for inspectors were causes for serious concern.

The statements highlight renewed tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the limits of international monitoring amid U.S. pressure.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the ongoing war with Iran could last up to eight weeks. Speaking at a press conference held at the Pentagon on Wednesday, he said the United States possesses sufficient military equipment to defeat Iran. Hegseth noted that the duration of the conflict could vary, possibly lasting four, six, or even three weeks depending on developments.

He emphasized that the US military has already determined the pace of its operations and is proceeding according to plan. According to Hegseth, the enemy is currently in an unbalanced position, and the US intends to maintain that state. The remarks came as part of a broader briefing on the progress of the conflict and the readiness of US forces.

The statement reflects Washington’s confidence in its military capabilities while acknowledging uncertainty about the exact duration of the conflict.

The United States Senate has rejected a proposal aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations in Iran. The measure, which sought to restrict Trump’s ability to launch further military actions without congressional approval, failed by a vote of 47 in favor and 53 against. Lawmakers were largely divided along party lines during the vote.

The proposal called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from conflicts unless Congress explicitly authorized their involvement. Previous attempts to impose such limits had also failed, and even if this initiative had succeeded, it remained unclear how much it would have altered the course of the conflict. Democrats argued that Trump had bypassed Congress and offered inconsistent justifications for military actions, while most Republicans opposed the measure but indicated they might reconsider if the conflict expanded.

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the same issue tomorrow. Some senators told reporters that if the war continues for several more weeks, they may be more inclined to support future efforts to restrict presidential war powers.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to continue war indefinitely amid ongoing US and Israeli attacks on Iran. In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday night, Trump said the United States has enough weapons to fight forever, responding to expert discussions suggesting US stockpiles were running low. The conflict, now in its fifth day, has already left over a thousand people dead in Iran, with additional casualties reported in Lebanon and across the region.

Iran has reportedly launched missiles toward Turkey and Saudi Arabia, attacked a major Aramco refinery, and claimed full control of the Strait of Hormuz. The US confirmed sinking an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka, killing 80, while Iran retaliated with missile strikes on Israel and US bases in Qatar. Tehran has postponed the state funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in earlier strikes.

Iranian officials declared readiness for a prolonged war and rejected further talks with Washington. Meanwhile, Israel warned that whoever succeeds Khamenei will be targeted if hostile actions continue, signaling an escalation with no clear end in sight.