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The global semiconductor industry is on track to surpass $1 trillion in annual revenue in 2026, driven largely by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. AI-related chips are reshaping the semiconductor business. Although advanced AI processors represent only a tiny share of total chip shipments, they are expected to generate almost half of the industry’s overall revenue this year. The surge reflects the enormous investment being made in AI data centres around the world. The five largest global technology hyperscalers have allocated more than $600 billion to AI data-centre infrastructure in 2026. The growing demand is also increasing the importance of advanced chip manufacturing. Producing a sophisticated 3-nanometre processor can take around six months, highlighting the complexity and limited capacity of the global supply chain. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) remains central to the production of the world’s most advanced processors. The company manufactures an estimated 90% of the most sophisticated chips, making it a critical supplier for the rapidly expanding AI industry. This concentration has also raised concerns about supply-chain vulnerability. Any major disruption to advanced chip production could affect technology companies, AI developers and governments that are investing heavily in artificial intelligence. Nvidia has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the AI boom. The company reported revenue of $215.9 billion, strengthening its position as a leading supplier of processors used to train and operate advanced AI models. The chip industry’s challenges extend beyond processors. High-bandwidth memory (HBM), which is essential for AI computing, has become another major supply constraint. Much of the available HBM production capacity is already committed through 2026. The global memory market is also expected to generate substantial revenue, with estimates putting fiscal 2026 revenue at around $594.7 billion. The figures underline how quickly AI is transforming the global semiconductor industry. Demand is shifting toward fewer but far more valuable advanced chips, while manufacturers face pressure to expand capacity and secure critical components. As AI investment continues to grow, semiconductor production is increasingly becoming a strategic issue for technology companies and governments. The ability to manufacture advanced processors and memory at scale could determine how quickly the next phase of AI development progresses.

Italy is confronting a growing childhood obesity problem as traditional Mediterranean eating habits are increasingly replaced by calorie-heavy and highly processed foods. The issue is particularly serious in southern Italy. In parts of the Campania region, more than 40% of children aged eight and nine are reported to be overweight. Naples and surrounding communities have become major areas of concern for health professionals. Doctors say they are seeing increasingly younger patients with severe obesity. At a hospital in Naples, specialists who once mainly treated adults are now treating teenagers with serious weight-related problems. In severe cases, patients may require bariatric surgery to reduce the size of the stomach. However, doctors say some teenagers are now arriving at weights that make such procedures too risky. Some are first given medical treatment to help control appetite and lose enough weight to undergo surgery safely. Health experts point to major changes in Italian eating habits as one factor behind the trend. The traditional Mediterranean diet, built around vegetables, legumes, whole grains, olive oil and fish, is becoming less common. Instead, children are increasingly exposed to processed snacks, sugary drinks, refined carbohydrates and calorie-dense foods. Experts say the problem is not necessarily one particular meal but the cumulative effect of frequent snacking and poor diet quality. Doctors also say many parents struggle to recognise when their children are overweight. In some communities, a heavier child may traditionally be viewed as healthy or well-fed, making it harder for families to identify a potential health problem early. Physical activity can also be difficult for some children. Many schools operate in historic buildings that were not designed to provide adequate space for modern sports and exercise. Authorities are now attempting to address the problem through schools and community programmes. A regional initiative in Campania plans to involve more than 17,000 students across 25 schools in nutrition education and healthy lifestyle programmes, with families also receiving guidance. Italy has also taken a broader approach to obesity. In 2025, it became the first country to introduce a national law recognising obesity as a chronic, progressive and relapsing disease. Campania is also being used to test new approaches, including a controlled “fast-mimicking” diet for overweight adolescents. Researchers hope the programme could improve metabolic health, although some paediatric specialists have raised concerns about the limited evidence and possible psychological effects of restrictive diets on young people. Health experts stress that tackling childhood obesity will require more than simply telling children to eat less or exercise more. Families, schools, healthcare providers and policymakers all have a role in changing the environment around young people.