Governance

Protecting human rights in neurotechnology

(DigWatch – 1 November 2025) The Australian Human Rights Commission has called for neurotechnology to be developed with strong human rights protections and legal safeguards for neural data. Its report, ‘Peace of Mind: Navigating the ethical frontiers of neurotechnology and human rights’, warns that such technologies could expose sensitive brain data and increase risks of surveillance, discrimination, and violations of freedom of thought. –  https://dig.watch/updates/protecting-human-rights-in-neurotechnology – https://www.thelawyermag.com/au/practice-areas/tmt-telecoms-media-technology/report-wants-neurotechnology-development-to-respect-human-rights/554127

Geostrategies

Xi Jinping calls for stronger AI and green cooperation across Asia Pacific

(DigWatch – 4 November 2025) Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Asia Pacific economies to boost cooperation in digital innovation, green development, and inclusive growth at the 32nd APEC meeting in Gyeongju. He said the region faces slowing economic growth and widening inequality, but also holds new opportunities through emerging technologies such as AI. – https://dig.watch/updates/xi-jinping-calls-for-stronger-ai-and-green-cooperation-across-asia-pacific – https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202511/01/content_WS69058e46c6d00ca5f9a073bf.html

Korea ramps up AI infrastructure with NVIDIA partnership

(DigWatch – 2 November 2025) South Korea is accelerating its AI development through a major partnership with NVIDIA, deploying over 260,000 GPUs across government, cloud providers, and industrial leaders. The Ministry of Science and ICT is investing in sovereign AI infrastructure, while companies including Samsung, SK Group, Hyundai, and NAVER Cloud are building AI factories and expanding GPU capacity to support physical and enterprise AI workloads. – https://dig.watch/updates/korea-ramps-up-ai-infrastructure-with-nvidia-partnership – https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/south-korea-ai-infrastructure

Security and Surveillance

Poland hit by major cyberattack as hackers steal loan customers’ data

(Cybernews – 3 November 2025) Polish authorities are investigating a major cyberattack on an online loan platform that exposed the sensitive personal data of users and their families who have taken out loans. Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs, Krzysztof Gawkowski, confirmed on Sunday via X that hackers had successfully targeted SuperGrosz, a financial services website. He described the incident as “very serious,” saying that hackers had stolen personal data, including names, national ID numbers (PESEL), ID card data, home and email addresses, phone numbers, marital statuses, employment details, declared income, and bank account numbers. – https://cybernews.com/cybercrime/poland-major-cyberattack-hackers-loan-customers-data/

Hackers leak alleged US gas station memos threatening staff

(Cybernews – 3 November 2025) Super Quik, a US regional gas station chain, has been hit by Russia-linked attackers, who leaked security camera footage and a tranche of internal documents on the dark web. Super Quik, a US convenience and gas station chain, has surfaced on Play ransomware’s dark web blog, the group’s public scoreboard of new victims. Posted on November 1st, the entry claims that the hackers exfiltrated company data. Super Quik operates in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and Florida, boasting an annual revenue of $124.8 million. – https://cybernews.com/security/ransomware-super-quik-data-leak/

Ransomware gang cracks the whip on US horse gear giant

(Cybernews – 3 November 2025) The cyber cartel has just added an unlikely victim to its growing hitlist – a California-based horse sport equipment giant. Professional’s Choice Sports Medicine Products, Inc. appeared on Play ransomware’s dark web site, where the group lists its newest victims. The post appeared on the 4th of November, claiming that the gang has exfiltrated the equine sportswear giant’s data. According to the claims on the dark web, the threat actors have “private and personal confidential data, clients’ documents, budget, payroll, IDs, taxes, and finance information.” – https://cybernews.com/security/ransomware-proffesional-choice-sports-medicine-products/

Australian police create AI tool to decode predators’ slang

(DigWatch – 2 November 2025) Australian police are developing an AI tool with Microsoft to decode slang and emojis used by online predators. The technology is designed to interpret coded messages in digital conversations to help investigators detect harmful intent more quickly. – https://dig.watch/updates/australian-police-create-ai-tool-to-decode-predators-slang – https://japantoday.com/category/tech/australian-police-design-ai-tool-to-decipher-predators%27-gen-z-slang

Defence, Military, and Warfare

China’s Feilong-300D attack drone can dominate battlefield in low-cost warfare

(Interesting Engineering – 2 November 2025) A new report from Ordnance Industry Science Technology offers fresh insight into China’s Feilong-300D, a low-cost reconnaissance and attack drone that first appeared at the Zhuhai Air Show last year. The publication suggests that the unit price could be as low as $10,000, signaling Beijing’s push to make advanced loitering munitions affordable for mass deployment.  Although specific technical details remain undisclosed, the article notes that the state-owned defense giant Norinco designed the Feilong-300D to strike armored targets while also performing surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as many nations now face growing regional security threats, driving demand for affordable defensive capabilities. – https://interestingengineering.com/military/china-feilong-drone-long-range-strike

French-made drone laser ‘paints’ targets for long-distance strike, keeps soldiers safe

(Interesting Engineering – 2 November 2025) French unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) payload maker Merio has unveiled a laser designation system small and light enough to be mounted on drones. Called the Milvus, the device uses a laser designator that “paints” or illuminates a target with a laser beam. Once complete, precision weapons, like laser-guided bombs, missiles, or smart artillery shells, can home in on the reflected laser light, striking the target with pinpoint accuracy. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/french-made-drone-laser-strike

Frontiers

Elon Musk proposes AI satellite shield to fight climate change by dimming the Sun

(Interesting Engineering – 3 November 2025) The world’s richest man has entered one of the most controversial climate debates of our time: whether humans should try to cool the planet by dimming sunlight. Early Monday morning, Elon Musk took to X to share his thoughts on solar radiation management (SRM), a geoengineering technique that would involve reflecting a portion of the Sun’s rays away from Earth. As global temperatures edge dangerously close to critical thresholds and international emissions goals continue to fall short, SRM has been gaining attention as a last-resort climate fix. – https://interestingengineering.com/space/elon-musk-solar-radiation-management-geoengineering

New algorithm lets autonomous drones transport heavy objects together in challenging areas

(Interesting Engineering – 2 November 2025) Researchers have developed a new algorithm that can help multiple drones work together to control and transport heavy payloads. Developed by scientists at TU Delft, the algorithm can help perform tasks at hard-to-reach infrastructure, like offshore wind turbines. With often harsh weather, limited payload capacity, and unpredictable contact with the environment, it is difficult for current drones to operate safely and effectively. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/algorithm-help-autonomous-drones-work-together

China’s new cryogenic trick can reduce 99% of microchip defects, study finds

(Interesting Engineering – 2 November 2025) Chinese researchers have unveiled a new “fancy tool” that can pinpoint the source of manufacturing flaws during microchip production. According to the team, the new technology can cut errors by as much as 99%, marking a significant leap forward for domestic semiconductor production. At present, one of the most delicate steps in making computer chips is photolithography. This, basically, involves using light to “print” incredibly tiny circuit patterns onto silicon wafers. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-cryogenic-trick-reduce-microchip-defects

Polish firm to demonstrate fully autonomous warehouse robot with new collaborations

(Interesting Engineering – 2 November 2025) A Polish company is set to demonstrate the first fully autonomous warehouse robot powered exclusively by AMD Ryzen AI processors. The robot leverages Agentic AI capabilities to dynamically plan and execute tasks in real time without reliance on hard-coded scripts. Robotec.ai has collaborated with AMD and Liquid AI to integrate multiple solutions into the robot. The company claims that the robot seamlessly combines perception, reasoning, and natural language understanding to interpret commands as it’s powered by Liquid AI’s next-generation LFM2 Vision Language Models. – https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/polish-firm-fully-autonomous-robot

CXMT launches LPDDR5X chips as China advances in semiconductor race

(DigWatch – 1 November 2025) ChangXin Memory Technologies has begun mass production of LPDDR5X chips, marking a major milestone in China’s effort to strengthen its position in the global semiconductor market. The Hefei-based manufacturer, preparing for a Shanghai stock listing, said its new DRAM generation will support faster data transfer and lower power use across mobile devices and AI systems. – https://dig.watch/updates/cxmt-launches-lpddr5x-chips-as-china-advances-in-semiconductor-race – https://www.cxmt.com/en/news/info_19.html

NVIDIA AI powers mobile clinics for breast cancer screening in rural India

(DigWatch – 1 November 2025) A mobile clinic powered by NVIDIA AI is bringing life-saving breast cancer screenings to women in rural India. The Health Within Reach Foundation, in partnership with Dallas-based startup MedCognetics, operates the Women Cancer Screening Van, which has already conducted over 3,500 mammograms, with 90% of patients screened for the first time. – https://dig.watch/updates/nvidia-ai-powers-mobile-clinics-for-breast-cancer-screening-in-rural-india – https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/medcognetics-ai-powered-breast-cancer-screening-india/