The UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) will conduct a simulation exercise in early 2025 to help Member States engage with the Global Points of Contact (POC) Directory.
The directory ensures quick and effective responses to cybersecurity incidents by providing a reliable channel for diplomatic and technical contacts across countries. It is part of broader efforts to implement the agreed confidence-building measures (CBMs) and promote cyber stability and security globally, particularly under frameworks such as the UN’s Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on the security of ICTs. Most states have recently appointed their POCs and participated in the first ‘ping’ test (a test conducted by the directory manager to verify that the information in the directory is up-to-date).
In hybrid format, the exercise aims to familiarise nominated POCs with practical aspects of participating in the directory and clarify the roles of diplomatic and technical contacts. In collaboration with the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the event will occur virtually, with an in-person debrief.
The UK government has announced the launch of a Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR), an initiative to protect against emerging AI-driven threats and bolster Britain’s cyber resilience. The lab, backed by an initial £8.22 million in government funding, will bring together experts from academia, industry, and government to address AI’s evolving challenges to national security.
Speaking at the NATO Cyber Defence Conference in London, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster emphasised that AI is revolutionising national security and noted that ‘[…]as we develop this technology, there’s a danger it could be weaponised against us. Our adversaries are exploring how to use AI on the physical and cyber battlefield’.
LASR will collaborate with leading institutions, including the Alan Turing Institute, Oxford University, Queen’s University Belfast, and Plexal, alongside government agencies such as GCHQ, the National Cyber Security Centre, and the MOD’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. Partnerships will extend to NATO allies and Five Eyes countries, fostering an international approach to AI security.
In addition to LASR, the government announced a £1 million incident response project to help allies respond more effectively to cyberattacks. This initiative will further enhance international cooperation in managing cyber incidents.
The official communication highlights that this announcement aligns with the government’s broader agenda, including the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (to be introduced to Parliament in 2025) and the designation of data centres as critical national infrastructure (CNI) to secure the UK’s position as a global leader in cybersecurity and AI innovation.
The US government is expected to reduce Intel Corp‘s preliminary $8.5 billion federal chips grant to less than $8 billion, according to a report by The New York Times. The decision reflects Intel’s recent $3 billion contract to produce chips for the Pentagon, unnamed sources said.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration announced nearly $20 billion in grants and loans for Intel to expand its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. The funding, part of the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, supports building two new factories in Arizona and modernising an existing one.
The CHIPS Act allocated $52.7 billion to bolster US semiconductor production, including $39 billion for subsidies and $11 billion for research and development, as part of a national push to strengthen domestic chip manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.
French IT giant Atos has entered discussions with the government for a potential €500 million ($524 million) acquisition of its advanced computing division. Known for its crucial role in securing communications for the French military and manufacturing supercomputer servers, Atos is restructuring to address its mounting debt. The government has prioritised retaining control over the company’s strategic technology assets to safeguard national interests.
The proposed deal includes an initial payment of €150 million upon signing, expected before the exclusivity period ends on May 31. The offer could rise to €625 million with performance-based earn-outs. French Finance Minister Antoine Armand emphasised the state’s duty to ensure the survival and development of industries critical to national sovereignty. Atos’ advanced computing and cybersecurity unit, employing 4,000 people and generating €900 million annually, is seen as a vital asset.
As part of its restructuring, Atos announced plans to sell its cybersecurity unit’s Critical Systems and Cyber Products. With this deal factored in, the company forecasts its financial leverage for 2027 to be between 1.8 and 2.1 times core earnings. Meanwhile, France‘s parliament is considering an amendment that could pave the way for Atos’ nationalisation, underscoring the government’s commitment to protecting key technologies.
As the US prepares for Donald Trump’s second term, China is significantly increasing its semiconductor imports from the US, anticipating potential sanctions. In October, China imported $1.11 billion worth of microchips, a 60% rise from the previous year, and has already imported $9.61 billion in the first ten months of 2024, marking a 42.5% year-on-year increase. This surge reflects China’s growing demand for US semiconductors, particularly CPU-based processors and chips for storage and signal amplification, which align with its AI ambitions.
Despite these imports, China faces hurdles in advancing its chip technology. US sanctions have crippled Huawei’s ability to develop competitive AI chips, with the company’s upcoming processors lagging years behind NVIDIA’s offerings. This setback is largely due to restrictions on access to advanced lithography equipment, such as ASML’s EUV tools, essential for creating cutting-edge chips.
Meanwhile, China has been ramping up its chip manufacturing efforts, investing $25 billion in equipment in the first half of 2024, surpassing spending by Korea, Taiwan, and the US. However, as one-third of global semiconductor demand, China’s position remains critical for the industry. The impact of Trump’s potential tech restrictions, whether broad or selective, will likely influence the global semiconductor market, requiring careful balancing of US production and Chinese demand.
Nvidia reported a staggering $19B in net income last quarter but faced questions about sustaining its rapid growth amid shifts in AI development methods. Analysts questioned CEO Jensen Huang on how Nvidia’s position might evolve with trends like ‘test-time scaling,’ a method that enhances AI responses by increasing computing power during inference, the phase when AI generates answers.
Huang described test-time scaling as a groundbreaking development and emphasised Nvidia’s readiness to support it. He noted that while most of the company’s focus remains on pretraining AI models, the growing emphasis on inference could transform the AI landscape. Nvidia’s dominance in pretraining has propelled its stock up 180% this year, but competition in AI inference is heating up, with startups like Groq and Cerebras offering alternative chip solutions.
Despite concerns about diminishing returns from traditional AI scaling, Huang remains optimistic, asserting that foundational AI development continues to advance. He reiterated Nvidia’s advantage as the largest AI inference platform globally, citing the company’s scale and reliability as critical factors in maintaining its edge.
The Somali government is developing a unified fibre optic deployment policy to streamline the installation and expansion of fibre optic infrastructure across the country. That initiative aims to foster collaboration among national telecommunications companies, reduce deployment costs, and support the growth of the digital economy.
Moreover, the policy seeks to improve national interconnection and enhance the efficiency of infrastructure expansion. However, the fibre optic network in Somalia remains underdeveloped and fragmented, with only isolated segments deployed by sub-regional operators.
Despite being connected to five international submarine cables, weak cross-border connections and the lack of a robust national network backbone limit the distribution of global capacity. As a result, uneven broadband access, poor network quality, and suppressed market competition significantly hinder equitable digital development.
While implementing the policy could improve the quality and coverage of internet services in Somalia, several challenges remain. These include, for example, limited access to affordable broadband-compatible devices, a lack of attractive data-driven services, insufficient local content, and a digital skills gap.
Consequently, these barriers contribute to the country’s low internet penetration rate of only 27.6% in early 2024. Therefore, addressing these challenges is crucial to ensuring more equitable access to digital resources and enabling the growth of Somalia’s digital economy.
Australia has raised concerns about the growing number of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, with over 11% of reported incidents last year targeting essential services like electricity, water, transport, and education. The Australian Signals Directorate’s latest report highlights state-sponsored actors and cybercriminals as key threats, employing advanced techniques such as phishing, brute-force attacks, and exploiting public-facing systems.
Defence Minister Richard Marles warned of an increasing focus on critical infrastructure by both criminal groups and foreign governments. Australia has attributed cyber incidents to countries including China, Russia, and Iran, with China allegedly shifting from espionage to disruptive cyber operations. Beijing has denied these accusations, dismissing them as baseless.
The report underscores the evolving cyber landscape and the urgent need for bolstered defences to safeguard Australia’s essential systems.
Keppel DC REIT will acquire full ownership of two data centres in Singapore, KDC SGP 7 and KDC SGP 8, as part of a $1.03 billion divestment deal. The acquisition involves Keppel’s Connectivity Division transferring its 51% stake in a joint venture with Cuscaden Peak Investments to Keppel DC REIT. Keppel will retain operational and management roles for the facilities.
The transaction aims to bolster Keppel DC REIT’s income stability while unlocking potential growth opportunities, including rental increases and expanded capacity. CEO Loh Hwee Long highlighted the deal’s immediate benefits, describing it as accretive to distribution per unit and supportive of long-term portfolio strength.
To fund the acquisition, Keppel DC REIT announced plans for an equity fundraising effort targeting approximately S$1 billion. New units will be priced between S$2.074 and S$2.128, providing additional financial stability for the purchase.
Keppel’s share of the divestment price is estimated at S$280 million. The move further strengthens the company’s commitment to the data centre industry while maintaining a key management role within its facilities.
The US Senate Judiciary subcommittee will convene a hearing on Tuesday to investigate recent Chinese cyberattacks targeting American telecommunications companies. The hearing, led by Senator Richard Blumenthal, will delve into the national security threats posed by these breaches and their impact on the US economy.
Authorities allege that China-linked hackers accessed surveillance data from telecom networks, intercepting sensitive communications tied to government and political figures. This breach has heightened concerns over the security of critical infrastructure, especially as bipartisan lawmakers scrutinise the role of major providers like AT&T and Verizon.
The session will also include discussions on Elon Musk’s business ties with China amid his growing involvement in US government affairs. Witnesses, including cybersecurity and industry experts, are expected to shed light on the scale and potential consequences of these incidents. Beijing, however, has denied any involvement in cyber espionage activities.
