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Digital Realty tops out second data center in Seoul, South Korea. 16 Oct 2026 By: IDCNOVA Region: East Asia Digital Realty has reached a significant construction milestone on its second data center development in South Korea, topping out the ICN11 facility in Seoul as the company expands its footprint in one of Asia's most dynamic digital infrastructure markets. The topping out ceremony, announced this week, marks the completion of the structural framework for the facility, which is now scheduled to become operational by the second half of 2027. The project was first announced in 2021, when Digital Realty acquired a land parcel in Gurae-dong, Gimpo City, in northwest Seoul. The 64MW facility is set to span nearly 1 million square feet (92,903 square meters), making it a substantial addition to the company's regional capacity. Originally, the facility had been targeted to come online by the first half of 2023, but the timeline was subsequently adjusted. In a statement, the company framed the milestone in broader terms: "The topping out isn't just a construction milestone; it's a powerful symbol of what happens when incredible teams come together to build something bigger than any one of us could achieve alone." Digital Realty is collaborating with a consortium of construction and engineering firms on the project, including DPR Construction, DL E&C Co., Turner & Townsend, and Heerim Architects & Planners. The new development complements Digital Realty's existing presence in Seoul, where it currently operates ICN10, also known as Digital Seoul 1. That ten-story facility, announced in 2019 and brought online in 2022, offers up to 12MW of IT capacity across 132,000 square feet (12,265 square meters) of floorspace. The substantial capacity increase represented by ICN11 underscores the accelerating demand for data center infrastructure in South Korea, driven by cloud adoption, AI workloads, and the country's position as a regional technology hub. The topping out of ICN11 signals continued confidence in Seoul's data center market, where competition among domestic and international operators has intensified in recent years. As hyperscalers and enterprises seek to secure capacity in tier-one Asian markets, Digital Realty's expanded presence positions the company to capture growing demand for high-density, scalable infrastructure in the region.

Locals protest Google's $15 billion AI data center in Andhra Pradesh. Agency October 11, 2026 New Delhi. Residents' protests have increased against the giant artificial intelligence (AI) data center worth $15 billion that the American technology company Google is building in Andhra Pradesh, India. They have expressed concerns that the project will strain water and electricity resources, damage the environment, and create relatively few jobs. The jungle and agricultural land are being cleared for the data center to be built in Visakhapatnam. This project, which will be Google's largest data center outside the United States, is being promoted by India as a key part of its ambitious plan to expand its technology sector. Local farmer Chandala Sadamma said it was sad to see only red soil where her mango and cashew trees used to be. She said that although she received compensation of more than $82,000 for two acres of land, the experience of losing the land was bitter. "A company came and took our land without any respect. We accepted it," said 50-year-old Sadamma. Visakhapatnam is considered suitable for setting up a data center as it is the entry point of the undersea internet cable connecting India with Singapore. Alexander Smith, Google's Head of Infrastructure and Energy for Asia-Pacific, said the investment is a decades-long commitment and that the interests of the local community will also be prioritized. The Andhra Pradesh government has stated that in addition to compensation, new housing is being built and handed over to families affected by the project. Concerns Over Water and Jobs Governments and technology companies worldwide are investing heavily in data centers needed to operate AI systems. However, protests are occurring in various countries over the impact of such centers on the environment and local resources. Activists in Andhra Pradesh have demanded a halt to the construction of new data centers in the state until an independent environmental and social impact assessment is released. Gutta Rohit of the local campaign group Human Rights Forum questioned the rationale of building in India when such centers could be established in countries like the United States. Google has stated that it will use advanced air-cooling technology instead of water at the Indian center. The state government has also put forward a plan to establish six nuclear power plants with a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts to meet the growing electricity demand. However, local residents are concerned about water availability. Shopkeeper Gubbula Ramnamma said that the residents of Visakhapatnam are already struggling with water scarcity. According to Google, the data center will generate local economic activity worth $688 million annually. The company expects to support around 4,200 jobs during construction and create hundreds of technical jobs once operational in 2028. The state government estimates that the project will create 188,000 direct and indirect jobs. Rohit said that locals will not get enough employment opportunities from such capital-intensive industries. According to him, investment is needed in labor-intensive industries that create a large number of jobs. Meanwhile, a joint venture of Reliance Industries, Brookfield, and Digital Realty also plans to invest $11 billion to build another AI data center in Visakhapatnam. Local real estate agents said that land prices have increased by more than 45 percent since the city's development plan was announced. Although about 20 percent of the world's total digital data is generated in India, it accounts for only about three percent of the world's total data center capacity, according to government data. Therefore, the government is attracting large technology companies by offering incentives such as tax breaks. Visakhapatnam environmental activist EAS Sharma has demanded an independent audit of the water required for the data center. "Many civilizations have disappeared due to water scarcity," he warned.

Deputies seize meth operation. Written on 10/09/2026 Also, Data center developer holding open house; Taylor awarded $75,000 learning grant. This article is brought to you by the Kokomo Downtown Farmers Market. All good things must come to an end, as the final market of the season is upon Kokomo Lantern! This is your last chance to snap up fresh fall produce, expertly cut meats, quaint and colorful handcrafted decor, and sumptuous baked goods and sweets, all produced and offered by local artisans and farmers! The Kokomo Downtown Farmers Market is located at the corner of Mulberry and Washington streets and takes place from 9 a.m. until noon this Saturday, Oct. 10. It's going to be a full house of vendors you won't want to miss! Thank you for visiting during its 2026 season, and Kokomo Lantern'll see you at the Market! A narcotics investigation resulted in the arrest of Reginald Prather, 40, and the seizure of approximately 15 pounds of suspected methamphetamine following the execution of a court-authorized search warrant in Kokomo. On September 18, 2026, the Howard County Sheriff's Office Task Force Unit and Patrol Division, assisted by the Peru Drug Task Force, executed the warrant at a residence in the 1400 block of North McCann Street. The search included the residence and a detached garage. During the search, investigators seized approximately 15 pounds of a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine; approximately 10.2 pounds of suspected marijuana; $6,900 in United States currency; and a 9 mm handgun that had been reported stolen. Investigators also seized four cellular telephones, a scale, drug-packaging materials, a black 2018 Jaguar, and a 1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28. Prather was taken to the Howard County Jail on the following charges: * Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony * Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 4 felony * Possession of Stolen Property, a Level 5 felony * Dealing in Marijuana, a Level 5 felony * Maintaining a Common Nuisance, a Level 6 felony The case remains active and under investigation by Detective James Myers #34-93. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact him directly at 765-614-3493, or by submitting a tip through the Howard County Sheriff's Office mobile app or at www.sheriff.howardcountyin.gov. The Howard County Sheriff's Office emphasizes that the filing of the information is merely an allegation, and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. Data center developer holding open house. The City of Kokomo encourages residents to attend Digital Realty's community open house on its proposed Kokomo data center, where they can get their questions answered by members of the Digital Realty team. The open house, hosted by Digital Realty, will take place Saturday, Oct. 10, from 2-4 p.m. at Big Ben Coffee Co. Residents can arrive whenever it fits their schedule and stay as long as they like. Attendees will find a series of stations, each focused on a different part of the project, ranging from the project overview, power and energy, water, sound, local jobs and workforce impact and more. Digital Realty team members and subject matter experts will be on hand to answer questions one-on-one. Residents can visit the stations in any order and spend as much time as they need at each one. Whether attendees have 15 minutes or the full two hours, they can focus on the topics that matter most to them and get answers to their own questions. Digital Realty will also provide refreshments for attendees to enjoy as they get their questions answered. Digital Realty is proposing the data center at Industrial Park North, near U.S. 31 and County Road 400 North. The plan calls for three data center buildings with roughly 3 million square feet of floor space on approximately 476 acres. There will be no tax abatement on the project. Residents who cannot attend can find more information about the project at https://www.digitalrealty.com/about/projects/kokomo Taylor awarded $75,000 learning grant. Taylor Community School Corporation is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $75,000 Opportunity to Learn Project planning grant. This initial funding will enable district leadership, educators, and community partners to develop a comprehensive, long-term strategy aimed at removing critical barriers to student learning and academic success across all grade levels. The Opportunity to Learn initiative focuses on identifying and eliminating the non-academic and structural obstacles that prevent students from fully engaging in their education. By securing this preliminary grant, Taylor Community Schools takes the first step toward qualifying for the full implementation grant, which offers up to $650,000 in additional state and federal funding. Over the upcoming planning period, Taylor administrators will use the $75,000 award to conduct thorough needs assessments, gather community feedback, and collaborate with local organizations. The planning process will focus on key areas such as expanding student support services, enhancing academic interventions, addressing attendance and mental health needs, and ensuring equitable access to instructional resources for all Kokomo-area families. "We are deeply grateful to receive this Opportunity to Learn planning grant," said Superintendent Steve Dishon. "At Taylor, our top priority is ensuring that every student who walks through our doors has the tools, support, and environment they need to thrive. This planning phase allows us to carefully design targeted, sustainable solutions that address the specific needs of our student body before applying for the larger $650,000 implementation grant." The finalized strategic plan will serve as the foundation for the district's application for the full $650,000 award. If granted, those funds will directly power new programs, staff resources, and student support initiatives across Taylor Elementary, Taylor Middle School, and Taylor High School over the coming school years.