The European Commission has approved €450 million in Czech support for a new integrated Onsemi semiconductor facility in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm.
A project that will help strengthen Europe’s technological autonomy by advancing Silicon Carbide power device production instead of relying on non-European manufacturing.
The Czech Republic plans to back a €1.64 billion investment that will create the first EU facility covering every stage from crystal growth to finished components. These products will be central to electric vehicles, fast charging systems and renewable energy technologies.
Onsemi has agreed to contribute new skills programmes, support the development of next-generation 200 mm SiC technology and follow priority-rated orders in future supply shortages.
The Commission reviewed the measure under Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and concluded that the aid is necessary, proportionate and limited to the minimum required to trigger the investment.
In a scheme that addresses a segment of the semiconductor market where the EU lacks sufficient supply, which improves resilience rather than distorts competition.
The facility is expected to begin commercial activity by 2027 and will support the wider European semiconductor ecosystem.
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A senior UN official has praised the Arab Digital Economy vision backed by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, calling it a leading regional model for accelerating digital development.
The initiative, adopted by the Arab League, was described as a significant milestone for collective progress, rather than fragmented national efforts.
Speaking at the Knowledge Summit in Dubai, Dr Abdallah Al Dardari noted that the UAE has secured a central position in global and regional technological advancements through forward-looking policies and a strong commitment to innovation.
He argued that the country’s digital achievements provide an ideal foundation for Arab nations aiming to strengthen their own digital ecosystems.
Moreover, he highlighted the UAE’s combination of advanced infrastructure, modern legislation and innovation-friendly conditions, adding that its experience offers valuable guidance for states working to build integrated digital economies that can respond to rapid global change.
Dr Al Dardari concluded that the UAE’s role in driving regional and international development offers a model for a future economy shaped by knowledge and technology, rather than traditional growth approaches.
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Nokia has announced a $4 billion expansion of its US research, development, and manufacturing operations to accelerate AI-ready networking technologies. The move builds on Nokia’s earlier $2.3 billion US investment via Infinera and semiconductor manufacturing plans.
The expanded investment will support mobile, fixed access, IP, optical, data centre networking, and defence solutions. Approximately $3.5 billion will be allocated for R&D, with $500 million dedicated to manufacturing and capital expenditures in Texas, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Nokia aims to advance AI-optimised networks with enhanced security, productivity, and energy efficiency. The company will also focus on automation, quantum-safe networks, semiconductor testing, and advanced material sciences to drive innovation.
Officials highlight the strategic impact of Nokia’s US investment. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick praised the plan for boosting US tech capacity, while CEO Justin Hotard said it would secure the future of AI-driven networks.
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Cyber Express reports that compromised VPN credentials are now the most common method for ransomware attackers to gain entry. In Q3 2025, nearly half of all ransomware incidents began with valid, stolen VPN logins.
The analysis, based on data from Beazley Security (the insurance arm of Beazley), reveals that threat actors are increasingly exploiting remote access tools, rather than relying solely on software exploits or phishing.
Notably, VPN misuse accounted for more initial access than social engineering, supply chain attacks or remote desktop credential compromises.
One contributing factor is that many organisations do not enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) or maintain strict access controls for VPN accounts. Cyber Express highlights that this situation underscores the ‘critical need’ for MFA and for firms to monitor for credential leaks on the dark web.
The report also mentions specific ransomware groups such as Akira, Qilin and INC, which are known to exploit compromised VPN credentials, often via brute-force attacks or credential stuffing.
From a digital-security policy standpoint, the trend has worrying implications. It shows how traditional perimeter security (like VPNs) is under pressure, and reinforces calls for zero-trust architectures, tighter access governance and proactive credentials-monitoring.
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Security researchers have confirmed that the Ultralytics YOLO library was hijacked in a supply-chain attack, where attackers injected malicious code into the PyPI-published versions 8.3.41 and 8.3.42. When installed, these versions deployed the XMRig cryptominer.
The compromise stemmed from Ultralytics’ continuous-integration workflow: by exploiting GitHub Actions, the attackers manipulated the automated build process, bypassing review and injecting cryptocurrency mining malware.
The maintainers quickly removed the malicious versions and released a clean build (8.3.43); however, newer reports suggest that further suspicious versions may have appeared.
This incident illustrates the growing risk in AI library supply chains. As open-source AI frameworks become more widely used, attackers increasingly target their build systems to deliver malware, particularly cryptominers.
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The report was unveiled in Dhaka with representatives from government, international organisations, academia, civil society and the private sector. Officials described the assessment as a pivotal step as the country prepares for an increasingly AI-driven era.
The report outlines Bangladesh’s current strengths, including solid progress in e-government and high public trust in digital services, while also identifying areas requiring urgent attention.
Connectivity gaps, digital divides, limited computing capacity and the need for stronger data protection and cybersecurity remain key challenges. Policymakers noted that evidence-based decisions are essential as Bangladesh completes its National AI Policy.
International partners highlighted that the direction of AI development will depend heavily on choices made today. Strengthening digital infrastructure, improving skills, and building rights-driven governance structures were cited as central to ensuring AI benefits all communities.
Stakeholders also stressed the importance of using AI to improve services across health, education, justice and social protection without deepening existing inequalities.
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Google has launched an AI Skilling Blueprint for Africa, activating a $7.5 million commitment to support expert local organisations in training talent. An additional $2.25 million will be used to modernise public data infrastructure.
The initiative aims to address the continent’s widening AI skills gap, where over half of businesses report the biggest barrier to growth is a shortage of qualified professionals.
The framework identifies three core groups for development. AI Learners build foundational AI skills, AI Implementers upskill professionals across key sectors, and AI Innovators develop experts and entrepreneurs to create AI solutions suited to African contexts.
Partner organisations include FATE Foundation, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, JA Africa and the CyberSafe Foundation.
Complementing talent development, the initiative supports the creation of a Regional Data Commons through funding from Google.org and the Data Commons initiative, in partnership with UNECA, UN DESA and PARIS21.
High-quality, trustworthy data will enable African institutions to make informed decisions, drive innovation in public health, food security, economic planning, and ultimately strengthen a sustainable AI ecosystem across the continent.
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The rapid expansion of AI data centres is pushing up memory chip prices and straining an already tight supply chain. DRAM costs are rising as manufacturers prioritise high-bandwidth memory for AI systems, leaving fewer components available for consumer devices.
The shift is squeezing supply across sectors that depend on standard DRAM, from PCs and smartphones to cars and medical equipment. Analysts say the imbalance is driving up component prices quickly, with Samsung reportedly raising some memory prices by as much as 60%.
Rising demand for HBM reflects the needs of AI clusters, which rely on vast memory pools alongside GPUs, CPUs and storage. But with only a handful of major suppliers, including Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, the surge is pushing prices across the market higher.
Industry researchers warn that rising memory costs will likely be passed on to consumers, especially in lower-priced laptops and embedded systems. Makers may switch to cheaper parts or push suppliers for concessions, but the overall price trend remains upward.
While memory is known for cyclical booms and busts, analysts say the global race to build AI data centres makes it difficult to predict when supply will stabilise. Until then, higher memory prices look set to remain a feature of the market.
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Cities worldwide face increasing operational challenges as populations grow and infrastructure becomes strained. Traffic congestion, emergency response coordination, and fragmented data pipelines make it difficult for local authorities to obtain real-time insights for effective decision-making.
NVIDIA’s Blueprint for smart city AI, combined with OpenUSD digital twins, allows cities to simulate complex scenarios and generate accurate sensor data.
These digital twins enable authorities to test urban systems, train vision AI models, and deploy real-time AI agents for tasks such as video analytics, emergency response, and traffic monitoring.
Several cities and organisations have adopted these technologies with measurable results. Kaohsiung City reduced incident response times by 80%, Raleigh achieved 95% vehicle detection accuracy, and French rail networks cut energy use by 20%.
Applications range from optimising rail operations to automating street inspections and video review.
By integrating AI-driven insights into city management, authorities can shift from reactive measures to proactive operations. Simulation, monitoring, and analysis tools improve infrastructure planning, enhance efficiency, and allow urban systems to respond dynamically to emerging situations.
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India is forecast to surpass one billion 5G subscriptions by the end of 2031. Ericsson’s latest Mobility Report highlights the rapid uptake in a market that is already leading global data consumption.
The study estimates that there will be approximately 394 million Indian 5G subscriptions by the end of 2025, roughly one-third of all connections. The average monthly mobile data usage per smartphone is expected to increase from 36GB today to 65GB by 2031.
Ericsson expects global 5G subscriptions to reach 6.4 billion by 2031, accounting for around two-thirds of all mobile lines. Affordable 5G phones, expanding networks and fixed wireless access services are credited with driving worldwide adoption.
Industry leaders say 5G already underpins key digital services, from streaming platforms to industrial automation and remote education. Analysts predict rising data use will spur further investment in Indian telecom infrastructure and cloud-based services.
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