At least eight people, including four children, have been killed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza in the last 24 hours, the territory’s civil defence agency has said.
Four people, including three children, were killed when a drone struck a tent…
Iran was plunged into a complete internet blackout on Thursday night as protests over economic conditions spread nationwide, increasing pressure on the country’s leadership.
While it was unclear what caused the internet cut, first reported by…
JACKSON, Miss. – xAI, the American artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk, is locating a data center in Southaven. The project will represent a corporate investment exceeding $20 billion and will create hundreds of permanent jobs throughout DeSoto County.
xAI has purchased and is retrofitting a building to house the new data center operations. The data center, which will be known as MACROHARDRR, is in proximity to xAI’s newly acquired power plant site in Southaven and one of the company’s existing data centers in Tennessee. Upon completion, the Southaven data center will increase the company’s computing power to nearly 2 gigawatts.
In addition to building rehabilitation, xAI’s substantial investment will also provide tax revenue to support public safety, health and human services, education, fire fighters, police, parks and other initiatives that benefit the City of Southaven.
The Mississippi Development Authority has approved xAI for its Data Center Incentive, which provides a sales and use tax exemption for all computing and equipment software used by companies certified as data centers by the agency. The City of Southaven and DeSoto County are also supporting xAI’s projects through fee-in-lieu agreements.
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, xAI was founded in 2023 to develop advanced AI technologies to accomplish its mission to understand the universe. The company operates in the AI, social media and technology sectors. Its flagship product is Grok, a generative AI chatbot integrated with the social media platform X. The company also offers application programming interface tools such as image generation, voice and agent tools, along with the xAI For Government suite of products for American federal, state and local government uses.
The company expects to begin data center operations in Southaven in February 2026.
A fact sheet with additional details on xAI’s Southaven data center project can be found here.
QUOTES
“This record-shattering $20 billion investment is an amazing start to what is sure to be another incredible year for economic development in Mississippi. Today, Elon Musk is bringing xAI to DeSoto County, a project that will transform the region and bring amazing opportunities to its residents for generations. This is the largest economic development project in Mississippi’s history. It sets the pace for continued high-tech investments across our state and strengthens Mississippi’s position as a leader in this exciting tech revolution. There is truly no better time to invest in Mississippi.” – Gov. Tate Reeves
“xAI is scaling at an immeasurable pace — we are building our third massive data center in the greater Memphis area. MACROHARDRR pushes our Colossus training compute to ~2GW – by far the most powerful AI system on Earth. This is insane execution speed by xAI and the state of Mississippi. We are grateful to Governor Reeves for his support of building xAI at warp speed.” – xAI CEO Elon Musk
“Starting off 2026 with a $20 billion investment by xAI is a clear sign Mississippi is not letting up on the economic momentum we have built over the last few years. Our focus on speed, certainty and readiness allows companies to move quickly and with confidence, while also enabling Mississippi to compete for capital-intensive, advanced technology projects like xAI. These investments bring new, high-quality jobs to the people of Mississippi and place our state at the center of the ‘Digital Delta.’ We are proud to partner with the xAI team as we continue building the future of tech innovation right here in Mississippi.”– Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Bill Cork
Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) and the KHSC Research Institute (KHSC-RI), have once again been named one of Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals, according to the annual rankings released by Research InfoSource.
KHSC placed 25th nationally in 2025, supported by more than $39 million in research spending—a five-per cent increase over the previous year. This continued growth reflects KHSC’s expanding role as southeastern Ontario’s hub for patient-oriented research, innovation, and partnership.
“Our increase in research funding highlights the momentum building across KHSC,” says Dr. David Pichora, President and CEO. “Research strengthens everything we do—from improving care at the bedside to shaping the future of specialized care for the more than 650,000 people we serve across the region.”
KHSC-RI, the research arm of KHSC, supports more than 237 active researchers and over 322 clinical studies in areas such as cancer, cardiology, critical care, psychiatry, allergy, bleeding disorders and gastroenterology. Many projects involve national and international partners, including Queen’s University—KHSC’s primary academic and research partner.
“This recognition speaks to the dedication of our research teams who are driving innovation and discoveries that directly impact patient health,” says Dr. Steven Smith, President and CEO of KHSC-RI and Deputy Vice-Principal Research at Queen’s. “By leveraging the unique strengthens of KHSC and Queen’s we are improving Kingston’s ability to attract top talent, secure new research funding, impact patient care, and ultimately be recognized as a national hub of health research and innovation.”
This is KHSC’s 14th consecutive year in the Top 40 and underscores the importance of strong funding partnerships with federal and provincial agencies, industry partners, and community donors through the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation.
“We remain committed to turning scientific discovery into real-world improvements in care for people in southeastern Ontario and beyond,” adds Dr. Pichora.
KHSC is the regional lead for complex, specialty and trauma care and serves as the region’s premier teaching and research hospital.
On appeal from an ex parte reexamination (“EPR”) decision, the Federal Circuit held that a final written decision of an inter partes review (“IPR”) does not preclude the Patent Office from maintaining an ongoing EPR. Specifically, the…
Prime Video’s hit Fallout TV series is now driving speculation about the future of the Fallout video game series.
As spotted by PC Gamer and other outlets, the home page for the Fallout…
KARACHI: The schedule of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s visit to Sindh has been revised, with the tour extended by one additional day and now spanning four days
According to sources, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership…
Oakland, Calif. – Jan. 8, 2026: The Port of Oakland this week welcomed two new container cranes at its TraPac terminal, marking the first time European-built ship-to-shore cranes have been deployed on the U.S. West Coast.
Ship-to-shore cranes are the large cranes that move containers between ships and the dock. The new Liebherr cranes, manufactured in Ireland, will make that work faster and more energy-efficient, helping the Port operate more smoothly while reducing environmental impacts.
The cranes arrived in sections and are currently being unloaded. They will be assembled on site by skilled U.S. labor and are expected to be in service by May 2026.
Once operational, the cranes will stand more than 440 feet tall—about the height of a 40- to 45-story building—allowing TraPac to handle today’s largest container ships more efficiently by improving reach and enabling containers to be moved more smoothly and consistently, helping reduce time at berth.
The cranes are fully electric, which helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels and supports the Port of Oakland’s ongoing efforts to cut emissions while modernizing its infrastructure.
“These new cranes represent an important investment in the future of the terminal,” said Cameron Thorpe, CEO of TraPac. “They improve efficiency today while helping move he Port toward a greener future.”
“We are very excited, and this is part of the Port’s broader modernization efforts,” said Bryan Brandes, Maritime Director at the Port of Oakland. “We’re focused on making improvements that support reliable operations and long-term environmental goals.”
The two cranes are the first of four new cranes planned for the TraPac terminal. Two additional cranes are scheduled to arrive later this year.
About the Port of Oakland
The Port of Oakland generates vital economic activity, community benefits, and environmental innovation as it decarbonizes its operations for a cleaner and greener future. Along with its partners, the Port supports more than 98,000 regional jobs and $174 billion in annual economic activity. The Port oversees the Oakland Airport (OAK), the Oakland Seaport, and nearly 20 miles of waterfront, including Jack London Square, and a publicly owned utility. The Port of Oakland is Everyone’s Port! Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland Airport through Facebook and Twitter or with the Port on LinkedIn, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.
Media Contacts
Matt Davis
Port of Oakland
Chief Public Engagement Officer
(510) 627-1430
[email protected]
David DeWitt
Port of Oakland
Media/PR Specialist
(510) 627-1169
[email protected]
