Rising use of AI is transforming cyberattacks in the UAE, enabling deepfakes, automated phishing and rapid data theft. Expanding digital services increase exposure for businesses and residents.
Criminals deploy autonomous AI tools to scan networks, exploit weaknesses and steal information faster than humans. Shorter detection windows raise risks of breaches, disruption and financial loss.
High-value sectors such as government, finance and healthcare face sustained targeting amid skills shortages. Protection relies on cautious users, stronger governance and secure-by-design systems across smart infrastructure.
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UK lawmaker Jess Asato said an AI-altered image depicting her in a bikini circulated online. The incident follows wider reports of sexualised deepfake abuse targeting women on social media.
Platforms hosted thousands of comments, including further manipulated images, heightening distress. Victims describe the content as realistic, dehumanising and violating personal consent.
Government ministers of the UK pledged to ban nudification tools and criminalise non-consensual intimate images. Technology firms face pressure to remove content, suspend accounts, and follow Ofcom guidance to maintain a safe online environment.
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A Grok-powered AI support tool has been added to Starlink’s website, expanding automated help for broadband users. The chatbot builds on a similar service already available through the company’s mobile app.
Users can access the chatbot via the checkout support page, receiving a link by email. Responses are limited to Starlink services and usually appear within several seconds.
The system is designed to streamline support for millions of users worldwide, including rural UK customers. Public opinion remains divided over the growing reliance on AI instead of human support staff.
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Rising living costs and economic instability are the biggest worries for young people worldwide. A World Economic Forum survey shows inflation dominates personal and global concerns.
Many young people fear that AI-driven automation will shrink entry-level job opportunities. Two-thirds expect fewer early career roles despite growing engagement with AI tools.
Nearly 60 per cent already use AI to build skills and improve employability. Side hustles and freelance work are increasingly common responses to economic pressure.
Youth respondents call for quality jobs, better education access and affordable housing. Climate change also ranks among the most serious long-term global risks.
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Canadian quantum computing company Photonic has raised $130 million in the first close of a new investment round led by Planet First Partners. New backers include RBC and TELUS, alongside returning investors.
The funding brings Photonic’s total capital raised to $271 million and supports the development of fault-tolerant quantum systems. The company combines silicon-based qubits with built-in photonic connectivity.
Photonic’s entanglement-first architecture is designed to scale across existing global telecom networks. The approach aims to enable large, distributed quantum computers rather than isolated machines.
Headquartered in Vancouver, Photonic plans to utilise the investment to accelerate key product milestones and expand its team. Investors see strong potential across finance, sustainability, telecommunications and security sectors.
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China’s AI sector could narrow the technological AI gap with the United States through growing risk-taking and innovation, according to leading researchers. Despite export controls on advanced chipmaking tools, Chinese firms are accelerating development across multiple AI fields.
Yao Shunyu, a former senior researcher at ChatGPT maker OpenAI and now Tencent’s AI scientist, said a Chinese company could become the world’s leading AI firm within three to five years. He pointed to China’s strengths in electricity supply and infrastructure as key advantages.
Yao said the main bottlenecks remain production capacity, including access to advanced lithography machines and a mature software ecosystem. Such limits still restrict China’s ability to manufacture the most advanced semiconductors and narrow the AI gap with the US.
China has developed a working prototype of an extreme-ultraviolet lithography machine that could eventually rival Western technology. However, Reuters reported the system has not yet produced functioning chips.
Sources familiar with the project said commercial chip production using the machine may not begin until around 2030. Until then, Chinese AI ambitions are likely to remain constrained by hardware limitations.
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The EU has agreed to open talks with the US on sharing sensitive traveller data. The discussions aim to preserve visa-free travel for European citizens.
The proposal is called ‘Enhanced Border Security Partnership‘, and it could allow transfers of biometric data and other sensitive personal information. Legal experts warn that unclear limits may widen access beyond travellers alone.
EU governments have authorised the European Commission to negotiate a shared framework. Member states would later settle details through bilateral agreements with Washington.
Academics and privacy advocates are calling for stronger safeguards and transparency. EU officials insist data protection limits will form part of any final agreement.
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Taiwan aims to train 500,000 AI professionals by 2040, backed by a NT$100 billion (US$31.6 billion) government venture fund. President Lai Ching-te announced the 2026 AI talent forum in Taipei.
The government’s 10-year AI plan includes a national computing centre and the development of technologies such as silicon photonics, quantum computing, and robotics. President Lai said that national competitiveness depends on both chipmaking and citizens’ ability to utilise AI across various disciplines.
To achieve these goals, AI training courses are being introduced for public sector employees, and students are being encouraged to acquire AI skills. The initiative aims to foster cooperation between government, industry, and academia to drive economic transformation.
With a larger pool of AI professionals, Taiwan hopes to help small and medium-sized enterprises accelerate digital upgrades, enhance innovation, and strengthen the nation’s global competitiveness in emerging technologies.
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Tether has joined the UN Office on Drugs and Crime to enhance cybersecurity and digital asset education across Africa. The collaboration aims to reduce vulnerabilities to cybercrime and safeguard communities against online scams and fraud.
Africa, emerging as the third-fastest-growing crypto region, faces increasing threats from digital asset fraud. A recent Interpol operation uncovered $260 million in illicit crypto and fiat across Africa, highlighting the urgent need for stronger digital security.
The partnership includes several key initiatives. In Senegal, youth will participate in a multi-phase cybersecurity education programme featuring boot camps, mentorship, and micro-grants to support innovative projects.
Civil society organisations across Africa will receive funding to support human trafficking victims in Nigeria, DRC, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Uganda. In Papua New Guinea, universities will host competitions to promote financial inclusion and prevent digital asset fraud using blockchain solutions.
Tether and UNODC aim to create secure digital ecosystems, boost economic opportunities, and equip communities to prevent organised crime. Coordinated action across sectors is considered vital to creating safer and more inclusive environments for vulnerable populations.
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Most Americans now use the internet daily and own smartphones, according to new Pew Research Center data. Around four in ten adults describe their internet use as almost constant.
Broadband access remains widespread, yet sharp income gaps persist across the US. Just over half of households earning under $30,000 subscribe, compared with almost all higher earners.
Smartphone ownership is nearly universal, even among older age groups. Many lower-income and younger adults increasingly rely on phones as their primary internet connection.
Researchers say digital inequality remains a defining challenge despite technological progress. Policymakers face pressure to address affordability, access, and long-term digital inclusion nationwide.
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