India emerges as medical tourism hub increasingly drawing patients from West, Gulf. (IANS Photo)
New Delhi, (IANS): India’s emergence as a major destination for medical tourism is drawing patients from North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the Middle East and neighbouring countries, a report said on Wednesday.
The report from Awaaz said patients from these countries are attracted by low-cost treatment, combination of internationally accredited hospitals, doctors trained at leading global institutions and advanced medical technology.
"Many complex procedures in India can cost far less than similar treatment in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand," the report said.
Further, long waiting periods in Western countries are also drawing patients to India. Long waiting periods for specialist appointments or elective procedures can worsen pain, reduce mobility, cause anxiety or delay in diagnosis.
"Treatments such as cardiac surgery, joint replacement, oncology care, fertility treatment, eye surgery, dental care and some specialist procedures are often available at a fraction of the price charged in many Western systems," it said.
A strong network of accredited hospitals, especially in Chennai, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kerala serve international patients and offer dedicated support teams to help with medical reports, appointments, treatment planning, travel guidance and recovery coordination.
“Hospitals in India now routinely provide advanced services in cardiology, oncology, neurology, orthopaedics, organ transplantation, fertility care, ophthalmology, robotic surgery, intensive care and rehabilitation,” the media house said.
The report credited India's strong healthcare quality framework supported by accreditation systems such as NABH, the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers, and JCI, Joint Commission International.
The transaction is designed to accelerate Nxtra’s buildout of large-scale and edge facilities to serve enterprises, hyperscalers, and government customers across India.
Bharti Airtel has secured a $1 billion equity infusion for its data centre arm Nxtra Data from a consortium led by Alpha Wave Global, with participation from The Carlyle Group, Anchorage Capital and Airtel itself, the company said.
Under the terms disclosed, Alpha Wave Global will contribute $435 million, Carlyle $240 million, Anchorage Capital $35 million, with Airtel investing the remainder. Final investor stakes will be subject to post-closing adjustments and customary approvals.
According to reporting, the deal will see Nxtra valued at roughly $3.1 billion, with Airtel remaining the controlling shareholder.
The capital will be applied primarily to capacity expansion, with Nxtra planning to grow from about 300 MW today to a targeted 1 GW, aiming t control roughly a quarter of India’s data centre market.
Headquartered in New Delhi, Nxtra already operates 14 major data centres and more than 120 edge facilities across India, with recent openings in Pune and active development of AI-ready campuses in Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata.As always, the deal is subject to typical regulatory approvals. Airtel and partners pump $1bn into Nxtra data centres - Total Telecom:
New Delhi, (IANS): Hyundai Motor India on Wednesday said it will increase prices of its vehicles by up to Rs 12,800 from June, citing rising input costs, higher commodity prices and increased operational expenses.
The company said the extent of the price increase will vary depending on the model and variant.
"In continuation to our earlier letter dated April 08, 2026, submitted in respect of price increase on Hyundai cars, considering the prevailing market conditions and to ensure balanced approach towards customer interest, we would like to inform that the new prices will now be made effective from June 1, 2026," the company said in a regulatory filing.
The automaker said the price increase has been necessitated due to rising input costs, increased commodity prices and higher operational expenses, among other reasons.
While the company continues to optimise costs and minimise the impact on customers, it is constrained to pass on a part of the increased costs to the market through the “nominal” price hike, the filing added.
The revised prices will come into effect from June 1 across Hyundai’s model range, the company said.
Earlier, another leading automobile firm, Maruti Suzuki India, announced a price hike of up to Rs 30,000 with effect from the same month.
"In view of the sustained increase in input costs, the company has decided to increase the prices of its models across its portfolio by up to Rs 30,000 with effect from June 2026," it said in its regulatory filing.
In addition, Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) had increased prices for its SUV and commercial vehicles in April.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina are the defending champions of the FIFA World Cup after winning the tournament in Qatar in 2022
FIFA says it is in discussions with national football associations to increase prize money for all 48 teams participating in the World Cup.
In response to requests by European teams to increase prize money and to assist with costs associated with their participation this summer in the World Cup, the world governing body is set to fulfil those wishes, it said on Sunday.
The proposal must be approved at Tuesday’s FIFA Council meeting, being held before the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada.
FIFA announced in December a record World Cup prize fund of $ 727 million, with the winning team taking home $ 50 million and each team receiving at least $ 10.5 million. Since that December announcement, FIFA and national associations have engaged in talks and aim to resolve the issue.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, contacted FIFA after hearing from several of its member associations regarding the costs of participating in the World Cup, including travel, operations and taxes, particularly in the United States. Canada and Mexico are the other host countries.
FIFA said the prize money on offer is set to increase, with the world governing body projected to surpass $ 11 billion in revenue in the current four-year cycle of 2023 to 2026.
Pedestrians walk across a street in Tokyo, Japan on July 8, 2021. (Christopher Jue/Xinhua/IANS File Photo)
Tokyo, (IANS): The number of babies born in Japan to Japanese citizens in 2025 dropped to a record low of 671,236, while the country's total fertility rate also reduced to a new low, government data revealed on Wednesday, local media reported.
Births in Japan reduced by 2.2 per cent or 14,937 from the previous year, and the fertility rate dropped by 0.01 percentage point to 1.14, both witnessing a decline for the 10th consecutive year. However, the rate slowed in comparison to recent trends, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare revealed in a data, Japan's leading Kyodo News Agency reported. The slow pace of drop in the number of newborns may be due to the stable population of 25 to 35-year-olds who were born around the 1990s.
The number of marriages, a key factor attributable for future birth trends, increased for the second consecutive year to 489,119, with the average age of men getting married at 31.0 while women at 29.7, both down from the previous year.
Meanwhile, 1,589,489 deaths were reported in Japan, down for the first time in five years, as per the data. Deaths outnumbered births by 918,253, marking the 19th straight year of drop in the population.
Earlier in May, government data revealed that child population in Japan has reduced to an estimated 13.29 million as of April 1, showcasing a decline of 350,000 from a year earlier and marking a new record low. The figure has declined for 45th consecutive year.
The ratio of children aged below 15 years dropped 0.3 percentage point to 10.8 per cent of the total population, lowest since comparable data became available in 1950, according to data released by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication, Kyodo News reported.
The figures, including foreign residents, were calculated based on population estimates mentioned in national census conducted every five years.
The decline in population has continued for 45 years despite several measures taken by the Japanese government like increasing financial support for families who are raising a child. In order to address the declining birthrate, the Japanese government has declared the period through 2030 as a "final opportunity to reverse the trend."According to the data, there were 6.81 boys and 6.48 million girls. As many as 3.09 million children were aged between 12-14 years while 2.13 million were zero to two years, showcasing a trend of fewer children being born. Japan births, fertility rates dropped to record low in 2025: Report | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Guiyang, June 18 (IANS) Indian boxer Minakshi secured a win on the fourth day of the Boxing World Cup (Stage 2) in China, moving on to the quarterfinals in her weight class.
Minakshi, the reigning 48kg World Champion and current World No. 1, now competing in the women's 51kg category, secured a decisive 5-0 unanimous decision victory over Poland's Natalia Kuczewska, advancing in the competition.
On day four, Abhinash Jamwal (65kg) was eliminated after losing 0-5 to Kyrgyzstan's Mirzokhid Imamnazarov.
So far in the tournament, five Indian boxers have reached the quarterfinals: Nikhil (55kg), Deepak (70kg), Minakshi (51kg), Prachi (57kg), and Saneh (65kg). Additionally, Jyoti (48kg) and Jugnoo (85kg) have secured medals by advancing to the semi-finals.
Jyoti was a late addition to India’s squad as the BFI expanded the 18-member squad to 20, adding Aakash alongside in the 75kg category as India’s contingent saw 10 male and 10 female boxers represent the nation.
“Our foremost responsibility is towards the athletes. International competitions play a vital role in a boxer's development, and every deserving athlete should have the opportunity to test themselves against the best in the world. Jyoti and Aakash have worked hard to earn this chance, and it is important that they are able to compete, gain valuable exposure against top international opponents and further their development at the highest level,” Ajay Singh, President of the Boxing Federation of India, had said.
On Day 5, four Indian boxers will compete in their quarterfinal matches. In the women's category, Minakshi (51kg) will face Kazakhstan's Alua Balkibekova, Saneh (65kg) will face Poland's Kinga Krowka, and Prachi (57kg) will face Shih Yi Wu of Chinese Taipei. In the men's division, Nikhil (55kg) will go up against Azerbaijan's Amin Mammadzada.
New Delhi, (IANS): Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) on Friday announced an increase of up to 1.5 per cent in prices across its passenger vehicle portfolio, including internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV) models, effective July 1.
The company announced the price revision through a filing on the exchanges.
According to the company, the increase is aimed at partially offsetting the impact of rising input costs and continued inflationary pressures.
TMPV said it continues to absorb a significant portion of the cost escalation internally, while passing on a part of the increase to customers through the latest price adjustment.
The company added that the extent of the price hike will vary across models and variants.
The move will apply across Tata Motors’ passenger vehicle range spanning conventional fuel-powered vehicles as well as electric offerings, it added.
According to the automaker, the revision has been calibrated to ensure that the overall value proposition of its products remains intact despite cost pressures.
Following this, shares of the TMPV traded higher at Rs 385.60 on the BSE.
Other leading automobile companies have increasingly resorted to calibrated price hikes in recent months to protect margins while continuing investments in new products and technology.
Last month, Hyundai Motor India had announced a price increase of up to Rs 12,800 across its model range from June, citing rising input costs, elevated commodity prices and higher operational expenses.
More than a quarter million people are still alive thanks to improvements in air quality linked to “new energy” vehicles in the world’s largest auto market.
With more than 50% of all new cars sold last year in China being hybrids, EVs, or hydrogen-powered, the speed of the adoption has been incredible both for the market itself, but also for public health statistics.
Some 262,000 premature deaths attributable to car exhaust’s effect on the risk for lung cancer, stroke, respiratory diseases, and heart attack, along with 75,000 all-cause deaths estimated to be a result of air pollution, have been avoided according to a study using pollution data modeling.
Around 4 million people are believed to die from these each year, including 1 million in China alone.
Fossil fuel vehicles release a variety of pollutants from the tailpipe, including fine particulate matter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
A study published on May 13th in Nature Health looked at satellite data from 150 Chinese cities. The authors estimated how much pollution has been removed by the adoption of new energy vehicles, and compared it to a counterfactual in which all cars were still fossil fuel powered—easy enough since this was the reality in China just 15 years ago.
The results were a 23.8% reduction in PM2.5, and a 30% reduction in carbon monoxide, resulting in some 320,000 fewer deaths from air pollution.
Philadelphia, (IANS) Manchester United winger Amad Diallo's 90th-minute winner helped Ivory Coast edge Ecuador 1-0 in a breathless FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E contest here at the Philadelphia Stadium on Monday (IST).
The match seemed to be heading for a goalless draw before substitute Amad caressed a shot into the bottom corner to secure his team's first World Cup match since 2014. The win saw Ivory Coast move into second place in Group E behind Germany, who hammered Curacao 7-1 on Sunday.
The first half of the match was wildly exciting. Ecuador almost scored twice, but both shots hit the frame of the goal. First, John Yeboah’s powerful shot from outside the box smashed against the crossbar. Shortly after, Alan Minda got a great pass from Pedro Vite, but his curling shot also hit the bar with the goalkeeper completely beaten.
However, Ivory Coast fought back. Yan Diomande played brilliantly on the right side, constantly making dangerous runs, while Bazoumana Toure hit a low shot that forced a close fingertip save from Ecuador's goalkeeper, Hernan Galindez.
Notably, at 19 years and 212 days, Yan Diomande became the first teenager to make an appearance in a FIFA World Cup match for Ivory Coast.
Chances continued to flow early in the second half, with Enner Valencia smashing a shot off the post from a tight angle. It was then Ecuador's turn to hit the bar. Elye Wahi made a solid connection with his first-time strike but couldn’t keep it down, and it cannoned off the bar.The Ivory Coast began to seize control of the match, enjoying most of the possession as Ecuador retreated. They got their reward for their enterprising play late in the piece when Amad slotted in to send them top of Group E. FIFA WC 2026: Amad's late winner steers Ivory coast to thrilling 1-0 win over Ecuador | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Digital bank pioneer Zopa has secured regulatory approval from British authorities to deliver targeted support for its retail investment customers. The milestone makes Zopa the first British bank among the UK’s 350-plus banks and building societies to secure the newly launched permission, positioning it at the forefront of a major shift in how financial institutions guide consumer wealth.
The approval, which stems from a new regulatory framework introduced on April 6, creates a regulatory middle ground designed specifically to sit between generic, one-size-fits-all guidance and fully regulated, costly financial advice.
By gaining this authorization, Zopa can now use customer data and behavioral insights to offer tailored nudges and actionable suggestions. These prompts will give users visibility into the decisions and portfolios of consumers with similar financial profiles, providing a clear pathway for the estimated 15 million Britons currently holding excess cash to start investing with greater confidence.
Dismantling the complexity barrier
Merve Ferrero, chief strategy officer at Zopa Bank
The rollout comes as regulators and fintechs make a concerted push to close the UK’s long-standing “advice gap,” a structural hurdle that has historically left mass-market consumers without the specialized tools needed to transition out of cash savings.
“Investing has felt too complex, intimidating and inaccessible for far too long,” said Merve Ferrero, chief strategy officer at Zopa Bank. “At Zopa, we’re changing that by removing unnecessary jargon and friction, and giving customers the confidence to grow their wealth with peace of mind. Our new permissions allow us to take that mission even further—delivering more tailored support and an intuitive investing experience.”
The sentiment was echoed by Kate Dwyer, head of UK and Northern Europe Distribution at Invesco, who emphasized that targeted support permissions have the potential to significantly drive early-stage investor engagement. “Zopa’s focus on simplicity, education and customer experience is helping to make investing more accessible,” Dwyer stated.
The infrastructure under the hood
Designed primarily for first-time investors looking to make their money work harder, the Zopa Investments platform originally debuted last year in partnership with global asset management giant Invesco, which oversees more than $2trillion in assets.
The platform offers a simplified approach to wealth management via two ready-made portfolios:
Balanced Fund: Tailored for moderated risk, delivering a historical track record of 4.5 per cent average annual returns.
Bold Fund: Calibrated for higher growth, achieving 9.3 per cent average annual returns over the same tracking period.
The investment infrastructure is seamlessly integrated into Zopa’s native architecture via API connectivity provided by Berlin-headquartered fintech Upvest. The streamlined, fractionalized setup allows users to open an investment portfolio in minutes, with a minimum entry threshold of just £1.
A position of financial strength
The regulatory milestone follows a period of exceptional financial momentum for the digital lender, which now boasts over 2 million customers. For the financial year ending December 31, 2025, Zopa reported that its profits nearly doubled year-on-year to reach £65million, driven by sustained double-digit asset growth.
The digital bank’s bottom-line performance is heavily supported by its active rollout of internal efficiencies, particularly across its Generative AI framework. Zopa’s proprietary AI setups now manage approximately 45,000 customer service interactions every month, fully automating between 70 and 75 per cent of all incoming servicing requests while elevating overall customer satisfaction (CSAT) benchmarks by 10 per cent.Having previously been highlighted by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as one of the UK’s fastest-growing corporate successes, Zopa’s latest regulatory clearance signals a major evolution in how digital banks intend to cross-sell wealth management products to a traditionally cash-reliant consumer base. Zopa Becomes First UK Bank to Secure New ‘Targeted Support’ Regulatory Approval to Close the Advice Gap
Posted by Harry Baldock, Orange today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the 50% stake in MasOrange held by Lorca, its joint venture partner in Spain. The Group now owns 100% of the operator’s capital and will fully consolidate MasOrange’s results in its financial statements from going forward.
This transaction follows the signing of a binding agreement with Lorca on 12 December 2025, under which Orange agreed to acquire full ownership of MasOrange for a cash consideration of €4.25 billion. Since then, Orange has obtained all the necessary approvals for the transaction to be completed, including from the European Commission.
A key milestone in the Group’s strategy in Spain
Christel Heydemann, Chief Executive Officer of the Orange group, said: “Acquiring full ownership of MasOrange is a strategic step of our Trust the future plan and strengthens Orange’s position in Spain, our second-largest market in Europe. It paves the way for accelerated industrial, operational and commercial synergies, supporting greater value creation. With full ownership comes full agility, MasOrange can now move at full speed backed by the strength and scale of the Orange group.”
Meinrad Spenger, Chief Executive Officer of MasOrange, added: “By becoming fully part of the Orange group, MasOrange now has an even stronger foundation for future growth. It will allow us to accelerate our momentum in the Spanish market, supported by a greater capacity for investment and innovation as well as global expertise. This is good news for the Spanish consumers, enterprises and public administrations, since we will continue to provide them high-quality and innovative services, while benefiting from the Orange group’s industrial strength and scale to create even more value in Spain.”
As a follow-up to this transaction, Meinrad Spenger will join the Orange group’s Executive Committee. This appointment reflects the strategic importance of Spain for the Group and will further leverage his recognized experience in the telecommunications market and his leadership in advancing MasOrange’s development.
MasOrange is currently the leading operator in the Spanish market by customer base and customer satisfaction. At the end of the first quarter of 2026, it had 26 million mobile customers and 7.1 million fixed broadband customers. MasOrange relies on the most advanced leading fiber and 5G mobile infrastructure, enabling it to provide high-quality connectivity and other innovative services across the country to meet the needs of public administrations, consumer and business customers.After closing, the Group intends to refinance MasOrange financial debt over time. Orange acquires 100% ownership of MasOrange - Total Telecom
Boston (US), June 14 (IANS) A first-half goal from John McGinn proved the difference as Scotland secured a first first World Cup win in 36 years (since 1990), beating Haiti 1-0 in the Group C match here at the Boston Stadium on Sunday.
Notably, this is Scotland's first victory in a World Cup opener since their 5-2 win over New Zealand at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. Moreover, this was Scotland’s first appearance at a men’s World Cup since 1998.
The match started with both teams trading attacks as they tried to settle into the game under the noise of a loud crowd. Scotland soon began to take control, with Scott McTominay heading the ball over the crossbar seven minutes in and hitting the post shortly after.
But, Haiti kept putting pressure on Scotland. However, in the 29th minute, the Scots took the lead. Forward Che Adams controlled a long ball and passed it to Ben Gannon-Doak, who crossed it toward the near post. A Haiti defender blocked the cross, but McGinn was waiting at the edge of the box and pounced on a rebound, firing a shot that took a slight deflection and beat Haiti goalkeeper Johnny Placide.
After the hydration break Haiti found a bit more space creating several half chances. Ruben Providence came closest for the Concacaf nation, cutting in from the wing and whipping a low shot which Angus Gunn couldn't hold on to leading to a frenetic penalty-box scramble.
The second half was just as energetic, but neither team created many good scoring chances. John McGinn had a chance to score his second goal of the match when he found himself open in Haiti's penalty area. However, under pressure from defender Ricardo Ade, the Aston Villa midfielder kicked the ball wide of the net.
Moments later Providence almost created a goal from nothing for Haiti. The winger sent a low cross through the penalty area but Wilson Isidor was unable to connect at the far post.
Haiti had one more chance to level the score late in the game. Frantdzy Pierrot rose above the Scottish defenders to attack a cross whipped in from the right wing. Pierrot, who had been a handful for the Scots all game, made excellent contact but the ball went just wide of the far post.While Scotland go to bed as leaders of Group C, Haiti will look to bounce back in their two remaining matches against Morocco and Brazil. FIFA WC 2026: McGinn's first-half goal sets up Scotland's first win since 1990 | MorungExpres
Debris of Air India Flight AI171 seen at the crash site, in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. (IANS File Photo)
New Delhi, (IANS): Air India has denied that families of victims of the AI-171 Boeing crash in Ahmedabad, which occurred on June 12, 2025, are being pressured to sign legal waivers in exchange for compensation.
The Tata Group airline said that there is "absolutely no deadline or pressure" on anyone to accept its final settlement offer.
Gujarat's former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani's daughter had alleged that the airline was exerting pressure on the families of the crash victims to sign legal waivers for getting compensation. The former Chief Minister of Gujarat was among the 260 victims who were killed in the crash, which took place merely seconds after the plane's take-off from the Ahmedabad airport.
In a statement issued in response to concerns raised by some families, Air India said relatives are free to wait for the official investigation findings before deciding whether to accept compensation.
With most of the interim payments having been disbursed, Air India has begun the process for final compensation and is engaging with families. Families or individuals have absolutely no deadline or pressure to accept our offer within a set timeframe, the statement said.
The airline also said that the wording in its Receipt, Discharge & Indemnity (RDI) document is intended only to ensure that compensation settlements remain final and to protect the airline from future claims, not to shield manufacturers or other third parties from potential legal liability.
Air India said in a statement that it has provided an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh (21,000 GBP) each to the families of the deceased to help address immediate financial needs.
Interim compensation has been paid to families of 96 per cent of the deceased. The remaining cases are primarily those where documentation is incomplete or where there are ongoing family disputes. Also, 94 per cent of those who were injured on the ground have either got one time full and final compensation or interim compensation, based on the nature of injury incurred and any loss of livelihood. The remaining individuals collected a form from the helpdesk after the crash, but have since not submitted it, the airline said.Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran had announced ex gratia financial assistance of Rs 1 crore for families of all the deceased as part of Tata Group’s philanthropic commitments - a measure that goes beyond legal compensation requirements. Ex gratia payments of Rs 1 crore have been disbursed to 91 per cent of the families of the deceased, with the remaining cases primarily constituting situations in which documentation is incomplete or where families have declined to accept payment, the statement added. Air India denies putting pressure on families of AI-171 Boeing crash victims | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
One argument often used to quell concerns about the rising energy and resource demand of data centres is that artificial intelligence (AI) models will need less in the future as they improve and become more efficient.
But this seemingly logical thinking is a trap, according to a new United Nations report that quantifies the environmental costs of AI.
The report estimates that by 2030, AI’s energy use could double to consume 3% of the world’s electricity, produce emissions to equal the UK and deplete more water for cooling than the annual drinking water need of the global population.
It also anticipates the use of AI will follow an economic principle known as the “Jevons paradox”, which predicts that when technological improvements increase the efficiency of a resource, it leads to a rise, rather than a fall, in the total consumption of that resource.
The paradox is named after economist William Stanley Jevons who observed this effect with the use of coal in 19th-century England. Efficiency gains did not reduce overall consumption. Instead, the lower costs resulted in expanded use and higher overall demand.
As AI models become cheaper and more attractive, the report expects this to encourage new uses and higher volumes of use, eroding and possibly erasing any savings from efficiency advances.
To avoid falling into this trap, it lays out a roadmap for responsible AI use based on guiding principles of transparency, efficiency by design, equity and justice, lifecycle responsibility, global cooperation and sustainable use.
If electricity use doubles as projected by 2030, the associated carbon footprint would require 6.7 billion trees grown over ten years to offset this demand.
Data centres would also require 9.3 trillion litres of water and land nearly ten times the size of Mexico City.
Beyond resource use, the report also underscores the structural inequity at the heart of the AI boom, with only 32 nations hosting AI-specific cloud infrastructure and 90% of that capacity located in the US and China.
It warns of a widening digital divide between nations that build and control AI systems and those that consume them, with the latter often bearing a disproportionate environmental burden caused by mineral extraction and e-waste.
Responsible AI use
Two main forces shape AI’s operational footprint: how much we use it and how we use it.
This involves all tasks AI models perform, from text and code generation to image and video. Each of these tasks requires different levels of computational effort.
The model choice also matters as each AI system performs these task with distinct energy and environmental costs.
The report argues responsible AI requires full value-chain governance, from mineral sourcing to recycling and safe disposal.
It calls for a twinning of capability and environmental stewardship – thinking about both what AI can do for us and the protection of the natural environment.
This would mean making environmental disclosures a routine part of AI development, at both the model and task level, and incorporating projected AI demand in climate and energy planning.
Responsible AI is crucial as countries are promoting and adopting AI across government and the public sector.
While the framework was informed by the OECD’s values-based AI principles, including inclusive and sustainable development, there is no requirement for environmental disclosures and no regulator compiling energy use or emissions.
Likewise in Australia, improving public services is part of the national AI plan. For example, the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia has created Bowerbird, a machine learning-enabled mass audio and video transcription engine, to document material. The Department of Veteran’s Affairs has developed a proof-of-concept tool to see whether AI can help speed up the processing of claims.
Both countries take a deliberate “light touch” and principles-based regulatory approach to AI. But this approach risks overlooking the growing environmental cost of AI that can’t be solved by improving it.
The natural environment is foundational to the economy, culture and wellbeing. It should be at the centre of our thinking. It’s time to rethink the AI innovation playbook and shift focus toward a sustainable tech future.
Sodium-ion batteries providing large-scale energy storage in China – CREDIT: Datang power company / HiNa Battery
A new study shows that a low-cost sodium-ion battery currently used in cars and large-scale energy storage systems in China matches most performance parameters and production quality found in Tesla’s lithium-ion batteries.
Since sodium is much more abundant and widely available than lithium, using it for batteries could cut raw material costs for manufacturers and reduce supply chain risks that surround critical minerals.
Conducted by a German university, the research published on May 28 in the Cell Press journal Physical Science, looked at the battery designed by Hina, a spin-off company of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that has partnered with automakers like JAC to provide EV batteries.
It shows that “once the sodium-ion (or Na-ion) battery is tweaked to charge more effectively at low temperatures and function better at high energy densities, it could provide a cost-effective alternative for future electric vehicle batteries”.
“The combination of good uniformity, high power capability, and strong low‑temperature performance makes these cells attractive for stationary storage, grid services, and shorter‑range or commercial vehicles where potential lower cost and resource availability matter more than maximum driving range,” said Moritz Schütte, a battery researcher at RWTH Aachen University in Germany.
To assess how HiNa batteries compare to more advanced Tesla batteries, Schütte’s team used a non-destructive technique called impedance spectroscopy to measure the uniformity of 120 sodium-ion battery cells. Next, to map out the power and energy performances of individual cells under real-life conditions, the team tested the batteries at varying currents and at temperatures from −20 °C to 45 °C. They also used X-rays to see the battery’s internal structure, then opened up the cells to measure their electrode dimensions, compositions, and microstructures.
They found that the battery uses a tabless (design), a double-aluminum current collector design that reduces resistance and ensures a uniform temperature distribution—and also mirrors the current design of Tesla batteries.
“We were positively surprised by how uniform the cells are,” says Schütte.
However, the sodium-ion battery has some limitations when it comes to energy density and charging at low temperatures. “The high‑power performance was better than one might expect from an early commercial sodium‑ion product,” says Schütte.
“For applications that require frequent charging at low ambient temperatures, appropriate thermal management or operating strategies will be important because low-temperature charging remains a clear weakness.”
The researchers also found unexpectedly high, unevenly distributed levels of copper in certain cathode regions of the battery, which “raises interesting questions about its role in performance and aging,” said Schütte.
“It will be exciting to see future sodium-ion technologies that are free of nickel and copper, as well, while achieving competitive energy density.”
Sodium-ion batteries also perform well under load at low temperatures, making them an appealing option for both stationary power storage and mobile applications in cold climates.
“However, today’s commercial sodium-ion cells generally have lower energy density than the best lithium-ion cells, and the technology is less mature overall,” said Schütte.
Next, the authors plan to better understand and improve upon the battery’s charging capabilities at low temperatures so that they can charge more safely and efficiently below 0°C. Further research should also focus on optimizing the materials used to make sodium-ion batteries, added Schütte.
“Advances in hard‑carbon anodes and electrolyte formulations may be especially promising,” he said.This work was supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Batteries That Use Sodium Instead of Lithium Could Be Low-Cost Rival to Tesla’s
Paris, (IANS) Aryna Sabalenka defeated Naomi Osaka in a thrilling fourth-round match at Roland Garros, securing a 7-5, 6-3 victory to advance to her 14th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Sabalenka is the only player left in the women's draw who's played in a major final. She will face No. 25 seed Diana Shnaider next, who booked her first career Grand Slam quarterfinal with a three-set win over No. 19 seed Madison Keys.
Osaka won the first two games of the match as Sabalenka struggled to get going. Five unforced errors -- including a double fault on break point -- handed Osaka the early advantage.
The top seed quickly shook that off. Two clean forehand winners helped pocket a break back, and she cruised on serve for the rest of the match. Not only did she not face a break point for the rest of the match, she was barely pushed past deuce, WTA reports.
The only game that went to deuce on Sabalenka's serve was the sixth game of set two, with Osaka ahead 3-2. A tight tussle in a six-minute game, which immediately followed a 2-2 hold by Osaka where Sabalenka failed to convert break point, sparked a four-game run for Sabalenka that ended the match.
After falling just short of her first French Open title 12 months ago, Sabalenka is fully focused on finishing the job this year.
"I'm not really overthinking, I was able to kind of, like, separate myself from what's going on this year at the Roland Garros," she said. "I have been around. Anything can happen. That's tennis. That's sport, you know?“I'm just trying, once again, you know, to be focused on myself and make sure that when I'm there competing, I'm bringing my best level that I have, and I'm there, I'm fighting, and you know, I'm doing everything I can to get this trophy.” French Open: Sabalenka beats Osaka to reach 14th consecutive major QF | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Samsung Electronics Executive Vice President Yeo Myung-gu, left, and Samsung Electronics labor unions leader Choi Seung-ho sign a wage agreement – credit, Samsung, released
Following eye-watering Q1 performance, some 48,000 of Samsung’s semiconductor division workers are set to receive a new profit-sharing-style bonus structure that will give a bigger slice of the AI pie to those making baking it.
Samsung’s compensation package was among the country’s most generous, as the tech giant accounts for a staggering 16% of national GDP. But after last month’s Q1 revenues rose over 800%, exceeding the entirety of fiscal year 2025, 40% of Samsung’s South Korea-based staff were poised to go on strike for better terms.
The issue was resolved quickly and a preliminary agreement was reached between Samsung’s largest labor union and the company which saw the staff return to work Monday morning, and the company’s shares surge 7%.
Roughly 75% of the 62,000 unionized workers backed the preliminary deal that would see an end to the cap on bonuses of 50% of annual pay, and in its place the commitment to allocate 10.5% of operating profits from its semiconductor division to worker bonuses.
Well, the semiconductor division accounted for 94% of total operating profit in the quarter, amounting to $35.8 billion, 10.5% of which divided 48,000 striking workers would equate to around $78,000 for just this quarter alone. Multiplied by 4, a worker’s slice of the AI boom would amount to $312,000.
Samsung is the country’s largest company at over $1 trillion in market cap, and it’s also the largest semiconductor manufacturer. The standoff came 8 months after the second-largest semiconductor producer, SK Hynix, improved its own bonus terms to its employees.
“The semiconductor industry is now facing a war to secure global talent,” Samsung’s union said in a statement last month. “SK Hynix has already revised its compensation structure to retain talent, while foreign companies are luring our engineers with exceptional offers.”
Samsung and SK Hynix are direct beneficiaries of the global AI boom (or bubble, as some might say), as the wafer-thin processors are needed to supply the computing power to run the AI tools which can be found all throughout our society from E-commerce to hospitals to the front lines of the war in Ukraine.
The strike threatened to so thoroughly derail global semiconductor production that the Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok made mention of it on Sunday.
“Any disruption to Samsung’s semiconductor production would go far beyond losses for a single corporate group, leaving deep scars across the national economy,” said the Prime Minister, whose government actually helped step in and mediate the deal.“The agreement came later than expected,” Samsung said in a Wednesday statement. “We will work to build a more mature and constructive labor management relationship so that such a situation does not happen again.” Samsung Strikes Deal with Workers for Profit Sharing in Company's Trillion Dollar Slice of the AI Pie
Posted by Harry Baldock | News: The agreement spans various aspects of 6G research, including trips to both parties’ research centres
Telstra and Ericsson have signed a letter of intent to collaborate on 6G research.
The agreement will see the companies collaborate on the research, standards development, and real-world testing of 6G technology,
It also includes mutual site visitations, with Telstra engineers visiting Ericsson’s testbed in Sweden, and Ericsson staff travelling to Telstra’s Innovation Centre on the Gold Coast.
Further details on the partnership were sparse, but both partners emphasised the role AI had to play in making 6G networks more intelligent and more customisable for customers. This feature is, in fact, a key element of Telstra’s Connected Future 30 strategy, which aims to allow customers to purchase configurable connectivity services at individual prices.
“Mobile connectivity has been one of the most powerful economic engines of modern Australia. As the first G which is AI-native, 6G will be the most intelligent network yet – capable of advanced network connectivity, and new Network as a Product innovations such as the ability to sense the environment around the network. The latter opens the potential for new use cases for public safety, agriculture, weather detection and more,” said Shailin Sehgal, Telstra Group Executive of Global Networks & Technology.
“We are on a clear and exciting trajectory – from 5G Standalone today, to AI-powered 5G and autonomous networks, towards AI-native 6G that is meeting the evolving and future business needs,” added Erik Ekudden, Ericsson Chief Technology Officer. “6G will redefine what a network fundamentally is – not just an AI-native technology platform, but a platform that senses, adapts and orchestrates resources to deliver outcomes for enterprises and society at scale; simply an intelligent fabric.”
This type of partnership is largely to be expected, with Ericsson having been Telstra’s primary RAN partner for many years. The companies made similar agreements during the early days of the 5G era, though these were often based around delivering greater speeds.Today, Ericsson and Telstra’s focus has increasingly shifted away from pure speeds and towards the benefits of AI integration and network optimisation. It seems likely that their initial joint research on 6G will follow that same path. Telstra and Ericsson team up to target 6G - Total Telecom
Visualisation of the Baltic Data Centre Campus in Choczewo (Image: WBS Power)
Renewable energy developer WBS Power has announced plans for a 3.2 GW data centre campus in the municipality of Choczewo in northern Poland's Pomerania region. It says the nuclear power plant planned to be built nearby will help provide a stable power supply.
Preparations for the project - named the Baltic Data Centre Campus - have taken several months, the company said, and included the development of the investment concept, the selection of an optimal location and the securing of suitable plot for the development. "The chosen site allows the project to scale flexibly across different technological configurations while ensuring access to sufficient power sources," it added.
WBS Power is now moving into the next phase of the project. The campus will be built in four phases, each with a planned capacity of 800 MW. Each phase will include: dedicated energy infrastructure for AI workloads; integration with renewable energy sources and battery energy storage systems; solutions meeting the highest ESG, energy efficiency and energy security standards; and platforms designed to support cooperation with global hyperscalers and cloud providers.
Preparatory work for all four phases is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, with the first data centre planned to become operational around 2028–2029.
The company said it has already secured grid connection conditions for the full 3.2 GW capacity.
"This will be the largest project of its kind in Poland and one of the largest in Europe," said WBS Power CEO Maciej Marcjanik. "The rapid development of AI is driving demand for hyperscale data centres supported by advanced infrastructure and reliable access to large volumes of power. The integration of renewable energy and energy storage with digital infrastructure will be a key pillar of competitiveness for next-generation hyperscale projects."
The company said power supplied to the Baltic Data Centre Campus "will come from conventional sources complemented by renewable energy and, in the longer term, also nuclear power".
In November 2022, the then Polish government selected Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for the construction of the country's first nuclear power plant at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in Choczewo municipality. The aim is for Poland's first AP1000 reactor to enter commercial operation in 2033.
"The digital revolution requires infrastructure on an entirely new scale," said WBS Power CFO Hubert Bojdo. "We selected the location for the Baltic Data Centre Campus very carefully, ensuring access to large power capacities, a diversified energy mix already in place today, and the long-term prospect of stable supply supported by future nuclear generation." Data centre to be built near planned Polish nuclear power plant
Birth rates have been declining worldwide since the peak of the post-second world war baby boom. Birth rates have now reached below replacement in most of the world, including Australia. Put simply, populations on average aren’t replacing themselves.
Everyone from Elon Musk to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, to the pope have opinions on declining total fertility (or birth) rates – the average number of births per woman.
Overpopulation has dominated popular discourse since the 1960s. While fears of overpopulation remain, especially tied to immigration, concerns have shifted to depopulation and the related economic and national security issues.
Overpopulation fears to depopulation woes
In his 1968 book The Population Bomb, Paul Ehrlich warned the 1970s would bring “people, people, people, people” and an overpopulation “cancer” resulting in famine and war. Human extinction was imminent, we were warned.
Overpopulation-associated human extinction has not come to be.
The global total fertility rate has more than halved since 1950. Average birth rates for OECD countries now sit at 1.46 births per woman, well below the 2.1 required for generational replacement.
World population decline is projected by the mid-2080s. China is now in its fourth year of population decline. South Korea has been declining since 2019 with its near-global record low birth rates. Germany has seen deaths outnumber births since 1972. Japan, Greece, Italy, Cuba and Thailand are also among those in the depopulation club.
Enormous advancements since the 1950s, mostly in health and medical technologies like immunisation, mean humans are living longer. We’re also having fewer children, and as a result populations are ageing.
An ageing population is a mark of success and human ingenuity, but economic systems tend to view ageing societies as problematic.
Workers and working-aged people are essential to maintain a healthy economy. Individual income taxpayers are the top source of federal government revenue in Australia. Too few people of working age replacing those retiring can seriously undermine economic wellbeing, forcing governments to do more service provision with less financial resources.
Below-replacement fertility and its implications for government bottom lines have resulted in Australian politicians calling on Australians to have more babies. “Have one for mum, one for dad, and one for the country”, treasurer Peter Costello famously said in 2004.
In 2020, former prime minister Tony Abbott suggested the wrong kind of women were having children, calling on “middle class” women to have more. Talking the budget, treasurer Jim Chalmers in 2024 said it would be “better if birth rates were higher”.
Human catastrophe of low birth rates
People are increasingly saying the choice to have children is constrained by external factors. Worldwide, around one-in-five surveyed by the United Nations said fears about the future would or has resulted in them having fewer children than they wanted.
Housing affordability, economic stability, gender inequality and climate change present insurmountable barriers for having a much-wanted family.
The lack of choice to have children in below-replacement regions, I’d argue is indeed a human catastrophe. How is it that we’ve allowed society to become so hostile that children are out of the question for so many who want them?
We are confronted with the tough question of who will care for us with the children gone.
Can a human catastrophe be avoided?
The burden of having a family falls on working-aged people, especially women.
A baby bonus or one-off payment is unlikely to change people’s minds and increase the total fertility rate; such payments merely change timing. Instead, increasing total fertility rates requires a comprehensive suite of measures from a policy perspective.
Tackling the big four big domains of housing, the economy, gender and climate encompass issues such as
secure, affordable and appropriate housing
employment and income security
accessible childcare
social and workplace gender equality
climate change action.
People of childbearing age aren’t being hedonistic when making family and fertility decisions. They’re not thinking about themselves, they’re actually thinking about the future world and weighing what that might look like for prospective children.
Loss of hope among people of childbearing age, including fears of being left behind, contribute to overall concerns about an insecure future.
Not only is the human catastrophe of low births rates reflecting more widespread concerns, such as insecurity, it could also be undermining social cohesion.
Rather than an exploding bomb of overpopulation, the world faces an economic and social implosion due to lacking substantive supports necessary to help raise much-wanted children.
Surely it’s beyond time we ask people what they actually need – and give it to them.
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