MIL Email Publisher – Foreign Submissions

• Since the beginning of May 2026, 116 people were treated for injuries at Tiné hospital in Chad, as drone strikes have intensified across the border in Tina, Sudan.
• Civilians are not being spared in the strikes, with more women and children arriving at Tiné hospital in need of care.
• Communities must be protected and wounded people must be able to access medical care quickly and safely.

5 June 2026 – Since early May, drone strikes around Tina, Sudan, near the Chadian border, have intensified, leading to repeated influxes of wounded patients at Tiné Hospital, supported by Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Chad. In recent weeks, residents have reported near-daily strikes, attributed to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with as many as five or six occurring on some days.

Since the beginning of May, 116 people wounded in these strikes were treated at Tiné Hospital. Between 17 and 26 May alone, 69 wounded patients were admitted. On 24 May, a strike hit a busy cafeteria in Tina market, resulting in the arrival of 35 wounded people in a single day. Three people were declared dead on arrival at the hospital, while several others reportedly died at the scene. Women and children were among the casualties.

“We are receiving patients after hours of travel, often in extremely difficult and critical condition,” says Issiaka Abdou, MSF Head of Mission in Chad. “The injuries we are treating are often extremely severe, including serious burns, blast-related trauma and multiple injuries. We recently treated a child with severe burns to the face, arms and legs. Every delay in evacuation reduces the chances of survival for the most critically injured patients.”

MSF medical teams are also observing a worrying shift in the profile of the patients being received.

“In recent days, we have seen more and more women and children among the wounded,” says Issiaka Abdou. “On 26 May, all patients received following drone strikes were civilians. This shows just how exposed people living in this border area are to violence.”

The border region between Chad and Sudan is severely affected by the conflict in Darfur, population displacement and limited access to essential services, including healthcare. Repeated strikes are further exacerbating an already critical humanitarian situation.

“Health facilities in this region are operating in an extremely challenging environment, with high needs and limited resources,” says Cissé Boucari Hamadoum, MSF Project Coordinator in Tiné. “Despite these constraints, our teams continue to provide emergency medical care and respond to influxes of wounded patients in coordination with the Chadian health authorities.”

MSF provides medical care to patients at Tiné Hospital and, when necessary, organises referrals to other medical facilities, including in Abéché, for the most severe cases.

Civilians should never pay the price of conflict. It is essential that populations are protected and that wounded people can access medical care quickly and safely. Since the start of the war in Sudan in April 2023, more than 900,000 Sudanese refugees have sought refuge in eastern Chad. In response to this crisis, MSF has expanded its activities in the provinces of Sila, Wadi Fira and Ouaddaï.

In eastern Chad, MSF teams are working in Adré, Ouré Cassoni, Iridimi, Touloum, and Aboutengué, as well as in the surrounding villages in Ouaddaï province, and in Tiné in Wadi Fira province, providing emergency medical care and supporting health facilities that serve both refugee and host communities.

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières  working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

June 4 2026 – Elon Musk begins the SpaceX IPO roadshow today seeking up to $86 billion at a valuation of $1.78 trillion, in what could become the largest public offering ever, a deal that many investors increasingly view as a crucial test of confidence in the AI investment story.

A blockbuster SpaceX IPO would be widely seen as a vote of confidence in the AI trade.

A disappointing one would be interpreted as a warning on valuations, warns Nigel Green, CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group.

Beyond rockets and satellite communications, SpaceX is presenting a long-term vision built around artificial intelligence infrastructure in orbit, the commercial development of space-based resources and eventually transporting people beyond Earth.

Nigel Green comments: “Seeking to raise as much as $86bn at a valuation of almost $1.8 trillion means the IPO has become far more than a fundraising exercise.

“It is the most important test yet of investor appetite for the next phase of the AI-driven market rally.

“This offering arrives at a pivotal moment for global markets.

“Investors are being asked to place a value on one of the most ambitious growth stories ever brought to public markets.

“The outcome will provide important insight into how much confidence remains behind the AI trade that has powered equities higher over the past two years.

“SpaceX sits at the centre of some of the most powerful themes shaping investment today, including AI, communications infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and commercial space development.”

The proposed valuation would place SpaceX among the most valuable companies in the world despite the company remaining loss-making.

Investors are effectively being asked to look well beyond current earnings and focus on the potential scale of future opportunities across multiple industries.

Nigel Green says: “SpaceX is asking investors to support opportunities that stretch years into the future.

“The valuation reflects extraordinary expectations and assumes a significant share of future growth across multiple sectors.”

The significance of the listing extends far beyond one company. A growing number of major AI businesses are preparing to access public markets or raise fresh capital as competition intensifies across the sector.

Tech companies continue to commit vast sums to AI infrastructure, computing power and research in pursuit of leadership positions.

The deVere CEO notes: “A successful debut would send a strong signal that investors remain comfortable backing ambitious AI-driven growth stories despite increasingly elevated valuations.

“It would reinforce confidence across the sector, support private market valuations and strengthen the prospects for other companies considering public listings.

“Markets would view it as evidence that demand for transformational opportunities remains exceptionally strong.”

He argues the opposite outcome would be equally significant.

“A weaker reception would raise serious questions about where investors are drawing the line on valuation.

“No investment theme rises indefinitely without scrutiny.

“Investors may continue to believe strongly in artificial intelligence while becoming more selective about what they are willing to pay for future growth.

“SpaceX has remarkable assets, exceptional tech capabilities and a highly compelling long-term vision.

“Yet even companies with extraordinary potential must convince investors that future opportunities justify present valuations.”

Markets, explains the deVere chief executive, are approaching a period where valuation discipline is likely to become increasingly important.

“Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, business models and economies. Few investors doubt its long-term impact.

“The debate now centres on price.

“SpaceX offers one of the clearest opportunities yet for markets to demonstrate whether enthusiasm for AI remains powerful enough to support ever-higher valuations, or whether investors are beginning to demand a greater margin of safety.”

Nigel Green concludes: “A record-breaking IPO would strengthen confidence that the AI trade still has considerable momentum and that investors remain willing to fund bold visions of the future.

“A disappointing outcome would trigger a broad reassessment of valuations across the sector.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

Artificial intelligence is driving a surge in land, water and climate consequences cascading from the technology’s intense and fast-rising energy consumption; UN University calls for urgent, multi-stakeholder action.

Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada – A new UN report delivers the most comprehensive view yet of the environmental costs of artificial intelligence – not just its burgeoning electricity use and carbon emissions but also its water and land footprints, its e-waste consequences, as well as the unjust distribution of AI's benefits and burdens worldwide.

According to Environmental Cost of AI’s Energy Use: Carbon, Water and Land Footprints, from the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH): “One of the most consequential dimensions of AI that remains comparatively under-examined is its environmental footprint and the justice implications that follow.”

Its expansion involves “physical infrastructure and supply chains, including data centers, chips, electricity generation, cooling systems, water withdrawals, land occupation, critical minerals, and eventual e-waste.”

This report, “is a step forward in addressing the current gap in AI's environmental governance by assessing its environmental footprints. The investigation goes beyond the carbon-only lens… It examines AI's indirect environmental footprints through energy use, quantifying the carbon, water and land footprints associated with generating the electricity required to operate AI at scale, and highlighting how outcomes vary substantially by location depending on electricity supply mixes.”

“This matters,” the report adds, “because ‘low-carbon’ is not automatically ‘low-water’ or ‘low-land,’ and evaluating sustainability through a single metric can hide trade-offs and shift burdens onto places already facing water stress or land pressure. These asymmetries can reinforce the environmental problems of local communities while strategic advantages of AI flow elsewhere.”

According to the report, expenditures on AI this year are projected to exceed USD 2.5 trillion and the global market is foreseen growing from USD 189 billion in 2023 to nearly USD 5 trillion by 2033, a 25-fold increase in less than a decade.

Reflected in that surge are sobering energy consumption statistics and insights. For example, if data centers, the physical backbone of AI, were a country their estimated 448 terawatt-hours (448 billion kWh) of electricity consumption in 2025 would rank them 11th globally, roughly on par with France.  

AI-related workloads accounted for roughly 20% of total data center electricity use in 2025. If that share rises to the expected 40% by 2030, AI-related electricity consumption could reach approximately 374 TWh. On current trajectories that figure could roughly double to 945 TWh by 2030, accounting for almost 3% of projected global electricity use, or enough to supply power to all 1.3 billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa for over 5 years.

Depending on how that electricity is generated, associated emissions could reach 400 million tonnes of CO₂e, comparable to the UK’s emissions from all sectors in 2025.

The associated land footprint of generating that electricity in 2030 would exceed 14,000 km², roughly the area of Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, the estimated 9.3 trillion liters of water used by data centers, would meet the drinking water needs of Earth’s 8.1 billion people for about 1.6 years.

The report notes that, even when some withdrawn water is returned, “large-scale withdrawals can strain aquifers and river systems, particularly in arid or groundwater-depleted regions.”

Training is only the beginning

Training new AI models requires immense energy. The estimated 100 GWh of electricity required to train Chat GPT-5 roughly equals the annual residential usage of 770,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa; the associated water footprint is estimated at 1 billion liters and a land footprint of 1.5 km2 of land, or roughly the size of 215 football fields. While these numbers are significant, the UN scientists now warn that the footprint of AI’s daily use is far bigger.

ChatGPT alone is estimated to process around 2.5 billion prompts per day. At a conservative 0.42 Wh per text prompt, that translates into roughly 383 GWh of electricity per year. The related annual water footprint would be equal to the minimum annual domestic water needs of some 500,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the land footprint exceeds 800 football fields.

“The numbers grow drastically once the AI embedded in mass platforms (such as Google Search) is counted,” the report says. “Crucially, per-use energy varies by orders of magnitude across modalities and output lengths, so product defaults and user choices are footprint determinants.”

It notes that Google processes an estimated 5 trillion searches annually and a conventional search uses about 0.3 Wh. An AI-enhanced generative search uses up to 3 Wh, a 10-fold increase.

As the report explains, “Every kilowatt-hour of electricity used to train or run an AI model carries environmental footprints, including a carbon footprint from the generation mix; a water footprint from electricity production and cooling; and a land footprint from energy infrastructure, reservoirs, and fuel extraction. These three footprints do not always shift in the same direction.”

“For example, switching from coal to bioenergy can, on average, reduce the carbon footprint by 72%, but this comes at the cost of much larger water and land footprints. On average, the water footprint of bioenergy is more than 30 times greater than that of coal and its land footprint is 100 times greater. In different regions and countries, electricity is produced from various sources. The environmental footprint of energy production in a given location depends on the share of each source in its electricity supply portfolio.”

Video generation as an emerging environmental crisis

Meanwhile, a single high-resolution AI video clip can require more than 415 Wh, making it more energy-intensive than the creation of hundreds of AI images. When resolution and frame count are factored in, energy requirements rise quadratically (double the output quadruples the energy used). And as video gets embedded in mainstream platforms, this quickly becomes an infrastructure-scale problem.

The report also underlines the growing problem of AI hardware waste.

“At the end of life, poorly managed e-waste can expose frontline communities to hazardous substances. By 2030, AI infrastructure could generate up to 2.5 million metric tons of e-waste each year, roughly equivalent to discarding 250 Eiffel Towers annually.

The findings show that responsible AI requires full value-chain governance, from mineral sourcing to recycling and safe disposal.

An uneven distribution of benefits and burdens

The minerals powering AI hardware are often extracted in ways that cause concentrated environmental and social harm, particularly in the Global South and in regions with weak regulatory oversight.  

The new report underscores a structural inequity at the heart of the AI boom. Frontier AI infrastructure is concentrated in a small number of locations. Countries that lack domestic compute capacity depend on external providers, giving them little control over access, pricing, or data governance. The result is a widening digital divide between nations that build and control AI systems and those that simply consume them while often bearing a disproportionate share of the environmental costs.

(Related: the recent UNU-INWEH report Critical Minerals, Water Insecurity and Injustice).

June 3 2026 – Trump's proposed tariffs on dozens of trading partners risk backfiring on the US economy at a time of rising geopolitical tensions, persistent inflation pressures, and slowing growth, warns Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group.

The warning comes after the administration proposed tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from dozens of economies, including some of America's largest trading partners.

Unlike earlier tariff campaigns, which were largely focused on China, the latest measures reach much deeper into trading relationships that underpin vast sections of the US economy.

“The first tariff battles were sold as a strategic confrontation with China,” says Nigel Green.

“This proposal reaches across allies and major trading partners that are deeply integrated into the US economy. That's why the risk of economic blowback is materially greater.

“The wider the net is cast, the greater the risk that the economic damage comes home.”

The economies affected collectively account for trillions of dollars in annual trade with the United States.

Canada and Mexico together account for more than a quarter of total US goods trade, while the European Union remains one of America's largest export markets and a critical source of machinery, industrial goods, pharmaceuticals and components.

“US companies rely heavily on imports, components, machinery, industrial inputs and finished goods from many of the economies now facing tariffs,” says Nigel Green.

“A larger share of the cost is therefore likely to land on American businesses themselves.”

The deVere CEO argues that the timing makes the risks even greater.

“The global economy is already dealing with multiple sources of pressure.

“Energy markets remain vulnerable to geopolitical tensions involving Iran and the wider Middle East. Oil prices have become increasingly sensitive to developments in the region, creating renewed inflation risks.

“Inflation pressures have proven more persistent than many expected, while businesses and households continue to face elevated costs across financing, energy, insurance and labour.

“Against that backdrop, imposing broad new tariffs risks adding another layer of pressure onto companies and consumers.”

The warning follows proposals from the US Trade Representative to impose tariffs of at least 10% on imports from a broad range of trading partners following an investigation into forced labour practices, while a separate group of countries would face duties of 12.5%.

The deVere CEO says many investors are overlooking how different the economic backdrop is compared with previous tariff disputes.

“Businesses have already spent years restructuring supply chains, diversifying suppliers and relocating production in response to earlier rounds of tariffs.

“The easiest adjustments have already been made. Further changes become progressively more expensive, more complex and less efficient.”

He believes many companies now face a more difficult environment in which to absorb additional costs.

“If energy prices move higher because of conflict involving Iran and tariffs simultaneously increase the cost of imported goods and industrial inputs, American companies face a double squeeze.

“Margins come under pressure at the same time as consumers become more sensitive to higher prices.”

The implications extend beyond individual sectors.

He warns that businesses dependent on imported inputs, industrial supply chains, manufacturing components and cross-border trade could face the greatest pressure if the measures move forward, while renewed inflation risks could complicate the outlook for both equities and bonds.

The tariff proposals also arrive as the administration pursues a separate investigation into excess manufacturing capacity involving a number of major economies, raising the prospect of additional trade measures in strategically important sectors.

Investors should focus on the cumulative effect.

“Markets often focus on who is being targeted by tariffs.

“The more important question is who ultimately pays.

“History shows that a significant share of the burden frequently falls on domestic businesses and consumers.”

He concludes: “Washington is presenting these measures as a way to strengthen America's economic position. But are they really?

“Previous trade battles were more concentrated. This one is broader, arrives at a more challenging economic moment, and touches more of the day-to-day operations of American companies.

“Investors shouldn't assume this is a replay of previous tariff disputes. The target list is broader, the economic backdrop is more challenging and the potential consequences for US businesses are far greater.

“That's why the risk of this becoming a serious self-inflicted wound is greater than before.”

The West Makira Constituency (WMK) office, under the leadership of Honourable Minister Derrick Manu’ari, has supported 53 constituency students pursuing studies at various tertiary institutions in the country with 41 laptops and 12 smartphones.

Recipient students are from the University of the South Pacific (USP SI) Campus in Honiara, Solomon Islands National University (SINU), St Nicholas Anglican College, Honiara Senior High School, Waimapuru National Secondary School and Saura Theological College.  

The support is part of the constituency’s ongoing commitment and efforts towards human resource development in the constituency.

The equipment supplied are aimed at making studies more convenient and at the same time encouraged students to embrace digital learning, noting that technology plays an important role in modern education and can help learners gain valuable skills for the future.

The resources were funded under the WMC office CDF allocation for education at the cost of $200,500.00.  

In a small but meaningful handover ceremony held at the Pacific Crown Hotel (PCH) conference room last Thursday (28th May 2026), Hon. Derrick Manu’ari said he recognizes that students nowadays rely heavily on internet access for their study modules, making such resources essential.

He said the laptops and smartphones are gifts from the people of West Makira to support the students in their education.

“As a student, you must understand that this is a gift from the people of West Makira. On behalf of your parents, on behalf of your guardians, on behalf of your siblings, on behalf of the community, I am facilitating this to you because of the recognition that education is important.

“You receive a smartphone as a tool. It is not just an electronic device or hardware. It is a tool that will assist you in your education.”

Hon. Manu’ari added that technology has evolved significantly and that education is no longer limited to classrooms but is also widely accessible through the internet.

He encourages the students to work hard in their studies, saying reports and surveys indicate that West Makira continues to face challenges in literacy and poverty levels.

“I share this challenge with everyone. The only key to overcoming all this is education.

“…I believe that education is the only way. No matter how many resources we have, no matter how many students we have, even if we manage things well, nothing will be good for us. Sustainable development can only come from great ideas. And that great idea can only come from a learned mine. And that learn mined must be supported by knowledge and by wisdom.

“Today, the future of West Makira constituency rests on you. There can never be sustainable development without the advancement of human resource development,” he said.

He further emphasised that human resource development remains a priority area for the constituency.

Hon. Minister Manu’ari also took the opportunity to acknowledged Smart Technology, the supplier of the resources, for their partnership and support in making the handover possible.

Meanwhile, a parent Davivia Ori on behalf of the recipients expressed appreciation to the constituency office and honourable Manu’ari for the support, saying the equipment will greatly assist the students in their studies.  

She assured that the gadgets will be put to good use to support students in their daily educational activities noting that such resources are important to help improve learning through technology.

Apart from providing resources such as laptops and smartphones, the WKC office continued to invest in education by supporting constituency students pursuing studies at various institutions through tuition fee assistance.

The support reflects West Makaira Constituency’s office ongoing commitment to improving access to technology in education and supporting human resource development in West Makira.

Amid evolving plans for the Gaza Strip, MSF reminds Israel and the US that the militarisation of humanitarian assistance should never be replicated

Jerusalem / Amman, 3 June 2026.- One year ago the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) started operating militarised food distribution points across the Gaza Strip, replacing the UN-coordinated aid distribution system. The GHF, run by Israel with financial support from the United States and other allies, closed within six months, as its related violence killed and injured thousands. Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) still treats scores of patients impacted by this violence, who are living with trauma and even life-long injuries. Amid evolving plans for the Gaza Strip, MSF reminds Israel and the US that the militarisation of humanitarian assistance risks causing grave violence and harm and should never be replicated.

“As MSF documented with medical evidence, people who were seeking food in desperate and siege-like conditions suffered horrendous levels of targeted and indiscriminate violence,” said Joan Tubau, MSF head of mission for the Occupied Palestinian Territory. “Children were shot in the chest while reaching for food, people were crushed or suffocated in stampedes and entire crowds were gunned down at distribution points. Today many GHF related patients are entirely dependent on charity and community kitchens due to their mobility issues and lack of ability to work and provide for their families.”  

The GHF was established to deliver food assistance to people in Gaza, following months of Israel’s total blockade, replacing some 400 existing aid sites. The four GHF sites became operational in late May 2025 and were ‘secured’ by private American armed contractors, with the Israeli forces maintaining control over the wider perimeter.  

Between June and October 2025, MSF teams recorded at least 32 deaths and treated 1,885 patients for injuries at MSF’s Al Attar and Al Mawasi primary healthcare centres in Khan Younis.  

“My friend was executed in front of my eyes. It still haunts me,” said Karim, who was a barber. He suffered life-changing injuries permanently damaging a nerve in his leg. “Both of us were caught and handcuffed (by Israeli soldiers) behind our backs. A drone was called above me, and four men were asked to take me away.”

Another patient, Muhammad, received nine gunshots. He hopes to walk again but suffers chronic pain and needs physiotherapy. “There was never enough food for everyone. There was a lot of crushing because the narrow iron gates were not wide enough. I saw many dead, including women. One was shot in the chest and one in the back. They were shooting at many different points. The Israeli soldier shooting at me was stationed on a hill,” he said.  

“While lying on the ground, I waved ‘please stop, that’s enough’. But he shot at my hands just for fun.”  

Mustafa, a taxi driver from Rafah, developed a heel infection which caused rotting after a gunshot wound broke two of his bones: “GHF was so humiliating; thousands of people would run towards it, then the IDF would shoot on us from fixed points. Two thirds of the injured people in Gaza I know were cases from GHF,” says Mustafa, whose 17-year-old nephew was shot in the head and killed by a sniper.

These testimonies are reflective of many who have been forced to live with external fixators or that still require close and constant medical follow-up.

“Despite its temporary existence, this devastating aid scheme brought broader social consequences as it forced people into extreme fear, scarcity and competition, leading to trauma and changes in community dynamics,” says Nicholas Papachrysostomou, MSF emergency coordinator for Gaza.  

The GHF also played a key role in the malnutrition crisis manufactured by Israel. The drastic reduction of food and aid distribution points compounded by the total siege, intensified violence, mass displacement and destruction of health facilities had a direct role in the famine declared in mid-2025,3 with devastating consequences on vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, newborns and children.  

“Nothing about GHF was a humanitarian solution. One year on, the magnitude of the harm inflicted on people at GHF distribution points without any accountability requires an independent investigation. The International Court of Justice ruling of 22 October 2025 reinforces Israel’s obligation to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and condemns aid models, including the GHF, that fail to alleviate suffering,” said Joan Tubau.

MSF is calling on Israel, the US, and all actors of influence to ensure that aid is non-militarised, accessible and built on independence, impartiality, neutrality, and humanity. Humanitarian assistance must be able to reach all civilians in safety, based on vulnerability and need, wherever they choose to reside, and at scale.

Link to patient testimonies:  20260603_Palestine_Testimonies GHF victims EN.docx 

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation.  MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières  working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

Source: Amnesty International

Responding to reports that Chinese authorities have barred the mothers of protesters killed in the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown from visiting their loved ones’ graves on this week’s anniversary of the atrocity, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks said:

“Banning the relatives of people killed in the Tiananmen crackdown from visiting their loved ones’ graves is a heartless act by the Chinese authorities.

“The Tiananmen Mothers were not previously blocked from cemetery visits on the 4 June anniversary, and it is deeply troubling that this year the suppression of Tiananmen commemoration appears to be escalating – reflecting the government’s deep-seated insecurity about people’s demands for accountability.

“For years the Chinese authorities have sought to erase the public’s collective memory of the bloody events of 4 June 1989, but this latest prohibition is an attempt to stamp out even the personal memories of the victims’ families.

“This suggests an approach that is increasingly hardline and devoid of compassion. To continually deny the truth about the Tiananmen crackdown is abhorrent; but to deny relatives the ability to mourn their dead shows another level of cruelty.

“The Chinese authorities must be held accountable for the grave human rights violations perpetrated on 4 June 1989, and families must be allowed to commemorate those killed 37 years ago simply for exercising their right to protest.”

Background

The Tiananmen Mothers group said on 2 June that they had received notice from the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau that they will not be permitted to travel to Beijing’s Wan’an Cemetery to mourn their loved ones or hold their customary commemorative activities on 4 June this year, the 37^th anniversary of the atrocity. The group said it was the first time authorities had barred them from visiting their loved ones’ graves in more than 30 years. 

On 4 June 1989, Chinese troops opened fire on students and workers who had been peacefully protesting for political reforms in and around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Hundreds – possibly thousands – of people were killed. Tens of thousands more were arrested across China in the suppression that followed.

In the 36 years since the crackdown, all discussion of the incident has been heavily censored in China, as authorities have effectively attempted to erase it from history. Public commemoration or mere mention of the Tiananmen crackdown is banned. 

The Tiananmen Mothers group is comprised of relatives of protesters killed during the 1989 crackdown. Every 4 June for more than three decades, the group has travelled to Wan’an Cemetery under police escort to mourn and to read memorial texts and eulogies in remembrance of their loved ones.

The group has repeatedly called on the Chinese government to reveal the truth about the Tiananmen crackdown and demanded that those responsible are held accountable. Members have frequently been subjected to surveillance and other restrictions, particularly ahead of the 4 June anniversary date.

Hong Kong’s mobile services market is entering a new phase of data-driven growth, underpinned by widespread 5G adoption, rising mobile internet usage, and strong demand for high-speed connectivity. As consumers and businesses increasingly embrace data-intensive applications, operators are accelerating investments in network capacity and premium digital services, positioning the market for steady revenue expansion through 2030, reveals GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

GlobalData’s Hong Kong Mobile Broadband Forecast (Q4-2025)  reveals that Hong Kong’s mobile services market is set to increase at a moderate compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 2% from $2.9 billion in 2025 to $3.2 billion in 2030.

Mobile voice service revenue will decline at 7.6% CAGR over the forecast period, in line with the steady drop in mobile voice ARPU levels as users increasingly shift to OTT-based communication platforms, and operators bundle free voice minutes to service plans.

Mobile data service revenue, on the other hand, will increase at a CAGR of 3.5% between 2025 and 2030, thanks to the continued rise in mobile internet subscriptions, especially with growing adoption of higher ARPU-yielding 5G services. Strong demand from cross-border travellers, business users, and high data consumption in a dense urban environment is reinforcing the market’s shift toward data-led monetization.

Neha Mishra, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The average monthly data usage over mobile networks is forecast to increase from 9.7 GB in 2025 to 32.6 GB in 2030, driven by an increase in the consumption of bandwidth heavy online video and social media content on the back of 5G service expansion and data-centric plans promoted by MNOs.”

5G will remain the leading mobile technology in terms of subscriptions through 2030, supported by extensive network coverage, growing adoption of 5G-enabled smartphones, and increasing availability of premium data-centric mobile plans for bandwidth-intensive applications.

In addition, OFCA’s auction of 50 MHz spectrum in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band and its subsidy scheme for rural and remote areas are expected to enhance network capacity and service quality, supporting further 5G adoption over the forecast period.

China Mobile Hong Kong (CMHK) led the mobile services market in Hong Kong in terms of mobile subscriptions in 2025, followed by 3 Hong Kong. CMHK will retain its leadership through to 2030, supported by strong position in the prepaid segment, and focus on 5G mobile network expansion and modernization initiatives and new service launches.

Mishra concludes: “Competition in Hong Kong’s mobile market will increasingly be shaped by high-value data services and 5G-led differentiation. With near-ubiquitous 5G coverage and a highly urban, data-intensive user base, operators will focus on premium plans, seamless indoor coverage, and enterprise solutions to sustain ARPU. Strategic emphasis on network quality, ultra-fast speeds, and value-added digital and roaming services will be key to maintaining competitive positioning.”

About GlobalData

GlobalData Plc (LSE:DATA) operates an intelligence platform that empowers leaders to act decisively in a world of complexity and change. By uniting proprietary data, human expertise, and purpose-built AI into a single, connected platform, we help organizations see what is coming, move faster, and lead with confidence. Our solutions are used by over 5,000 organizations across the world’s largest industries, providing tailored intelligence that supports strategic planning, innovation, risk management, and sustainable growth.

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have developed a new, entirely bio-based material from a somewhat unexpected ingredient: yeast. The material is 3D printed and customised for use in architectural and interior design elements that are currently made from non-renewable or fossil-based materials, such as plaster, plastic or synthetic textiles. These may be daylight modulating and sunlight protecting screens, room partitions or wall systems.

The construction sector accounts for a large proportion of global emissions and resource consumption, which means there is a great need for renewable, resource-efficient alternatives. In a new study, a research team from Chalmers investigate how industrial residual products can be used to create new materials that can contribute to greater circularity in architecture and the built environment.

The newly developed material consists of baker’s yeast, cellulose fibres from wood, alginate from algae, glycerol from plants, and water. Together, the ingredients form a kind of hydrogel – a soft, jelly-like, malleable material – that can be 3D printed.

“I’ve always been interested in the combination of architecture and living materials, and essentially this research is about creating an architectural material made entirely from organic, renewable ingredients. By combining biomaterials with digital manufacturing, we can take a novel approach to both the design and production of architectural components,” says Malgorzata Zboinska, Professor at the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Chalmers, and leader of the recently published study.

Zero-waste design through 3D printing

The project combines design, materials innovation and advanced manufacturing technology. The first part of the process is similar to baking, but in slightly reverse order. First, the yeast is heated to deactivate it, and then the various ingredients are mixed together to form a smooth mass. The architectural elements can then be manufactured using pressure-based 3D printing, which is carried out at room temperature. This requires neither energy-intensive heating nor additional support structures.

“3D printing makes it possible to create complex shapes without producing waste. We can design and manufacture the material directly – with a high degree of control over its shape, texture and material distribution,” says Yagmur Bektas, a doctoral student at the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Chalmers, and co-author of the study.

With minor adjustments to the formula, the material’s transparency, colour and surface texture can be altered, making it well suited for interior applications such as daylight modulating and sunlight protecting screens, wall panels or room partitions. In the long term, the yeast material could also become an environmentally friendly alternative to plastics and other petroleum-based products, such as synthetic textiles. Depending on the composition of the formula, the material takes on a natural hue that ranges from yellow to brown tones. The colour can be altered using natural pigments or pigment-producing, colourful yeast strains. It is also possible to design different patterns, vary the transparency of the material and how it feels.

From baking and brewing to building

The use of yeast as a material component is something that has not yet been explored in architecture.

“Yeast grows exponentially. It does not require strictly controlled environments and is not particularly sensitive to contamination. Because it consists of single-celled organisms, we can produce a more homogeneous, predictable material,” explains Malgorzata Zboinska.

What makes the researchers’ new formula unique is that the yeast is not used in the usual way for fermentation, but acts as biomass. It then becomes a robust component that gives the material its volume, stability and strength. Malgorzata Zboinska also highlights the potential of using by-products from industries such as brewing and agriculture, as some of these products are often discarded. Residue that cannot be used as food or animal feed could therefore be used in architecture.

Designing with nature

Unlike traditional building materials, which are designed to last as long as possible, bio-based materials offer new ways of thinking about sustainability and material cycles. The yeast-based material is biodegradable and can return to nature after use – a key aspect of circular design.

“This challenges the traditional notion that materials must last forever, or at least have as long a physical life cycle as possible. Instead, we can think in terms of shorter life cycles and even view the ageing or degradation of the material as part of the design,” says Malgorzata Zboinska.

Self-healing or purifying materials on the horizon

Although the results show great potential, further research is needed before the material can be used widely in buildings. Future studies will assess key properties such as strength, fire safety and moisture performance, as well as scaling up digital manufacturing and developing stronger and more robust structures.

“The future of architectural ELMs, or Engineered Living Materials, is very exciting, with great potential to customise them to perform a variety of functions. This could, for example, involve self-healing materials or materials that purify the air by neutralising harmful substances and pollutants. What we have achieved so far is an important first step towards establishing a completely new type of architectural material. You could say that we are laying the foundations for future developments that combine sustainability, functionality and design in entirely new ways,” says Malgorzata Zboinska.

More about the material and how it is made:

The material consists of baker’s yeast (dry yeast), cellulose fibres (from wood), alginate (from brown seaweed), glycerol (from plants) and water. Each component contributes a specific function to the final material. Glycerol acts as a plasticiser and provides flexibility, whilst alginate contributes to the dimensional stability required for 3D printing. Cellulose further contributes to dimensional stability and acts as a structural component that provides tensile strength when the material is under load. The yeast acts as a binding agent for all the ingredients and gives the mixture its viscosity. Before mixing the ingredients to form a hydrogel, the researchers deactivate the yeast, which is necessary to stabilise the material. The hydrogel is 3D printed using air pressure and left to dry at room temperature until it achieves its final shape.

 More about the study:

The scientific article ‘Novel 3D printable yeast-based materials for architectural applications’ has been published in Frontiers of Architectural Research.
The authors are Yagmur Bektas, Malgorzata A. Zboinska, Cecilia Geijer, Tiina Nypelö and Zeinab Hefny. At the time of the study the researchers were based at three different departments at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and at Aalto University in Finland.

The research has been funded by the Swedish Energy Agency (grant numbers P2022-00865, P2024-02409).

Malgorzata Zboinska, Professor, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.