Zhongji buys back shares to stabilize prices before Hong Kong IPO, amid risk of onshore stock decline impacting offshore listing success.
Ofgem proposes refundable fees (£237,500 to £712,500 per MW) for data centre developers to connect to the UK electricity grid, citing a surge in demand from AI-driven projects.
Hosepipe bans across large parts of England are causing public frustration and a "culture war" over exemptions for vulnerable groups. Critics blame water companies for significant leaks and AI data centers for high water consumption, while experts highlight climate change and aging infrastructure as root causes.
Weddell, a Darwin suburb, is the proposed site for a $40 billion gas-powered data centre and power station, fueled by gas from the Beetaloo Basin. The NT government signed an exclusive "do-not-deal" agreement with Beetaloo Energy to explore the project, sparking environmental concerns.
Firmus Technologies, an AI data centre company, inadvertently published an internal note on its FAQ page revealing plans to use farm irrigation water for its proposed Wesley Vale facility in Tasmania. The company deleted the note after ABC inquiries, stating rainwater harvesting is the primary plan, but community concerns persist regarding water usage.
Beijing-based Z.ai has acquired Chinese infrastructure software developer XCore Sigma, a spin-off from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This acquisition, alongside a new data center, aims to address computing power constraints and improve AI inference efficiency for Z.ai.
Visakhapatnam is set to build over 6GW of AI data centre capacity by 2030, backed by investments exceeding Rs 6 lakh crore from companies like Google and Reliance. The project includes new subsea cable connections to global data networks and state policies for renewable energy and water management, aiming to transform the city into a digital hub despite environmental concerns.
The Albanese government plans new national rules for AI in government decision-making, consumer protection, workplace safety, and privacy, led by Attorney General Michelle Rowland. It also aims to legislate a digital duty of care and regulate energy-intensive data centres, with concerns raised by the opposition.
Beijing-based ModelBest, a key player in on-device AI, secured over 5 billion yuan (US$738 million) in funding this year, pushing its valuation to 20 billion yuan after its latest C+ Series round. This milestone highlights growing investor confidence in China's local AI sector.
Peking University researchers have created an all-optical interconnect system that links standard electronic chips, accelerating AI inference speeds by over 100 times and reducing computational resource needs by nine times. Published in National Science Review, the system uses FPGA chips and custom hardware components for signal conversion.
South Korean chipmaker SK hynix is set to raise approximately $28 billion on Wall Street via ADRs, a sum surpassed only by SpaceX. The listing aims to improve valuation and fund new facilities amidst a booming AI memory market, despite cyclical industry risks.
Cerebras, a US-based AI chip maker, announced plans to launch its first European data centre by the end of 2026, followed by rapid expansion across France and the Nordics by 2027. The initiative aims to boost AI computing capacity in Europe, addressing demand for local, low-latency infrastructure and offering an alternative to US and Asian compute capacity.
Residents adjacent to Microsoft's $7.3 billion AI data centre in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging unreasonable noise pollution from diesel generators and HVAC systems. They claim the constant hum, described as a "freight train," causes property damage and affects sleep, while Microsoft states it is committed to being a good neighbor.
A major Telstra outage in Australia disrupted mobile and data services nationwide, cancelled train services, and affected payment systems. An investigation is underway into emergency calls that may not have connected, though the core triple-zero system is reported operational. The exact cause is unknown but not a cyber attack.
A Michigan couple claims a nearby data centre's constant humming noise has ruined their quality of life, affecting sleep, social interactions, and property value. Other residents have filed a lawsuit over the noise nuisance.
A severe heatwave in the US is highlighting the immense strain on the nation's power grid and water supplies, largely due to the rapid expansion of AI data centers. These facilities consume vast amounts of electricity and water, prompting calls for increased oversight and moratoriums on construction.
Australian creatives are seeking assurances that the government will not weaken copyright laws in exchange for significant AI data centre investment. A proposal reportedly includes AI companies mining creative content for training models, with a fund for artists as compensation. Critics call it a 'dirty deal'.
AI demand is causing price increases in the semiconductor supply chain, extending beyond GPUs and memory chips to upstream materials and manufacturing inputs, creating new bottlenecks for global AI infrastructure. Japan's Murata Manufacturing will raise prices for AI server components by 10-40% from July.
Basic, a Chinese SiC device manufacturer founded in 2016, prepares for its public debut, aligning with China's efforts to lead in SiC technology, despite current market oversupply, with anticipated demand growth driven by 800V architectures and data center adoption by 2027-2028.
Oracle has initiated a second wave of layoffs in Romania, impacting approximately 500 employees starting June 25. This follows a similar round in late 2025 and is part of a broader AI-driven restructuring, affecting various departments including OCI, Database Technologies, and Health & Analytics.
Residents near Europe's largest data centre park in Slough report unbearable summer heat, questioning if the dozens of energy-hungry facilities contribute to a 'heat island effect' alongside climate change, as emerging research suggests.
Residents of Auchtertool, Scotland, are expressing deep concern over plans to build one of the world's largest data centres near their homes. The proposed 600MW facility raises fears about noise, disruption, and potential displacement for families, including one with a child requiring extensive medical care.
African nations are developing AI strategies amid foreign investment, but questions arise about control over digital infrastructure. Debates shift from adoption to ownership, with countries like Ghana emphasizing AI as a 'sovereign capability'.
Forty mayors globally have signed a pact setting conditions for AI data centers, addressing concerns over power grid strain, water depletion, and housing shortages. Launched by C40 Cities, the agreement promotes clean energy, responsible site selection, and community benefits.
