U.S. Energy Department

A heat wave in the US is straining the energy grid, with record electricity demand and a risk of blackouts. The US energy department ordered data centers to use backup generators, while Europe's grid also faced strain from high temperatures and reduced power plant output.

China's LineShine supercomputer has claimed the title of the world's most powerful system, ending nearly a decade of U.S. dominance. Built with entirely Chinese-designed processors, it achieved 2.2 exaflops and is located in Shenzhen. The U.S. retains three of the top four spots, with El Capitan in second place.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed 7 million barrels of oil daily are exiting the Persian Gulf due to U.S. military support, but Chevron CEO Mike Wirth disputed the figure, citing smaller volumes. The Strait of Hormuz remains partially operational amid the Iran war, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE diverting oil via pipelines, creating a 14 million-barrel-per-day gap in typical flows.

San Francisco filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Energy Department, claiming new funding conditions tied to anti-DEI policies violate constitutional and statutory protections. The city argues the conditions, stemming from a Trump-era executive order, unilaterally redefine antidiscrimination compliance and threaten federal energy funds for programs like the Clean Cities initiative.

The U.S. Energy Department announced that a microreactor developed by Antares Nuclear Inc. at Idaho National Lab achieved criticality, a key milestone for producing electricity. This marks the first time a private company under a Trump administration pilot program has reached this stage, with plans for commercial deployment by 2028.