Metagenomi Highlights Q1 Progress on MGX-001 Gene Therapy

BlackRock-backed consortium including Abu Dhabi’s MGX and the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership committed $5bn to expand Aligned Data Centres after closing its acquisition. Aligned was bought from Macquarie Asset Management and co-investors at a $40bn enterprise value. Aligned operates 51 campuses and 6.4GW capacity, with HQ in Dallas.

Reuters reports a BlackRock-backed consortium with Abu Dhabi’s MGX committed an additional $5 billion of growth capital to Aligned Data Centers after closing its $40 billion acquisition. The group, buying from Macquarie Asset Management, plans $30 billion of equity initially, potentially up to $100 billion including debt, to expand AI computing capacity.

Eaton (NYSE:ETN) said the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory awarded it a $7 million, 24-month contract to use quantum computing, machine learning, and advanced visualization to improve power grid resilience and protection. The work, with Infleqtion and Penn State, targets detection and response to multiple concurrent physical and cyber threats, addressing NERC N-2 contingency requirements.

ExxonMobil Moçambique Limitada issued McDermott Energy Solutions (UK) a letter of intent for limited engineering and procurement work on Rovuma LNG Phase 1 midstream development. The award supports planning ahead of a final investment decision expected in 2026. Rovuma LNG targets 12 modular trains totaling 18.6 mtpa, with start-up in 2031. ExxonMobil says the 30-year project could generate about $150B in revenues for Mozambique’s government.

Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic said Serbia will open a joint UAV factory with Elbit Systems, with inauguration expected Sept 15-20. Elbit will hold 51% and Serbia’s state arms firm SDPR 49%. The factory relates to a five-year contract covering precision rockets and unmanned systems, plus ISTAR, digitization and upgrades.

The U.S. Department of Defense, according to The Washington Post, asked defense contractors to submit within 21 days production and delivery schedules for critical systems, citing depleted stockpiles. CSIS estimates cite heavy early use of missiles and falling Patriot and THAAD inventories. The Pentagon is working with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, including a $58.6B deal to triple PAC-3 output by 2030, pending a stalled $1.15T defense budget.