Google to Invest $9 Billion in AI and Cloud Infrastructure in Oklahoma

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Alphabet’s Google announced Wednesday that it will spend an additional $9 billion in Oklahoma over the next two years to expand its cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The plan includes building a new data center campus in Stillwater and expanding the existing facility in Pryor, alongside education and workforce programs.

The investment comes amid intensifying competition among Big Tech companies, which are spending heavily on new data centers and skills development to meet surging AI demand. Part of the $9 billion is included in Google’s 2025 capital expenditure plan, with the remainder earmarked for future projects.

Last month, Alphabet raised its annual capital spending target to $85 billion from $75 billion and indicated more increases could follow next year. The company and its peers have justified large AI investments as necessary for growth and product improvement, particularly amid competition from Chinese tech firms and investor concerns over slower returns.

In addition, Google committed $1 billion last week to AI education and training for U.S. universities and nonprofit organizations. Over 100 universities have joined the initiative, including major public institutions such as Texas A&M and the University of North Carolina. Competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Amazon have launched similar AI-focused education programs.

U.S. policy also supports onshoring of AI infrastructure, prompting investments by companies such as Micron, Nvidia, and CoreWeave. Apple similarly announced plans last week to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years.

VinFast Founder Pham Nhat Vuong to Invest $1.5 Billion in R&D Assets

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VinFast founder Pham Nhat Vuong has agreed to inject $1.52 billion into the electric vehicle (EV) maker by purchasing its research and development (R&D) arm, marking his latest financial support for the loss-making Vietnamese company. The move comes as VinFast aims to break even by the end of 2026.

The deal involves Novatech Research and Development JSC, a Vietnam-incorporated entity, being carved out of VinFast Trading and Production JSC (VFTP), the company’s domestic manufacturing unit, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Novatech will hold investment costs related to completed R&D projects, while VFTP will continue leading EV production and future research within Vietnam.

VinFast, which debuted on Nasdaq in 2023, has faced challenges such as weak consumer demand and intense competition. The company reported a net loss of $712.4 million for the first quarter, though revenue surged 150% to $656.5 million. Shares rose 1.4% in pre-market trading to $3.59.

Since its launch in 2017, VinFast has relied heavily on support from Vuong, who owns about 98% of VinFast and its parent company, Vingroup (VIC.HM), where he serves as chairman. The transfer of Novatech shares to Vuong, valued at nearly 40 trillion dong ($1.52 billion), includes a fair value assessment of 17.25 trillion dong plus a premium. Intellectual property tied to Novatech’s assets will be leased back to VinFast as needed for manufacturing purposes.

VinFast has completed development of its first-generation EVs. R&D expenses totaled $81.2 million in Q1 2025, down 22.3% year-on-year. The company targets delivering 200,000 cars in 2025, more than double its 2024 deliveries, with most sales concentrated in the Vietnamese market.

Countries That Have Blocked or Restricted WhatsApp

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WhatsApp has faced restrictions in several countries, ranging from complete bans to partial or temporary limitations.

Fully Blocked:

  • China: Blocking started in 2017 via the Great Firewall. Users rely on WeChat instead.

  • North Korea: WhatsApp is generally inaccessible alongside Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and other platforms since 2016.

Partial Block / VoIP Restrictions:

  • Russia: Began restricting some WhatsApp calls in 2025 due to Meta’s failure to share information in fraud and terrorism cases.

  • United Arab Emirates (UAE): VoIP services were banned in 2017, though text messaging remains functional. Calls were temporarily allowed during Expo Dubai in 2020.

  • Qatar: VoIP calls restricted; messaging works normally.

  • Egypt: No full ban on calls, but authorities have attempted to throttle them.

  • Jordan: VoIP call restrictions in place.

Intermittent or Temporary Bans:

  • Iran: Previously banned, lifted restrictions last year as part of broader internet policy changes.

  • Turkey: No current ban, but WhatsApp has been blocked in the past over domestic issues.

  • Uganda: Banned WhatsApp in 2021 as retaliation for Facebook restrictions, now lifted.

  • Cuba: Temporarily restricted social media and messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, in 2021.

  • United States: WhatsApp is banned on all U.S. House of Representatives devices as of June 2025.

These restrictions vary widely, often targeting VoIP calls rather than text messaging, and can be temporary or intermittent depending on local regulations.