Cyprus
(Cyprus Mail) Artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cyberdefence and space technology are redefining defence, making it imperative to develop domestic technological capabilities that would meet National Guard needs and secure the resilience of the equipment supply chain in critical sectors, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said on Wednesday. Addressing a defence and innovation event, Palmas said Cyprus’ active participation in EU defence innovation was a strategic choice, which helped upgrade technological systems locally. – AI redefining defence says Palmas | Cyprus Mail
Germany – US
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Germany said Thursday it was “prepared” for a possible reduction in US troops threatened by President Donald Trump, while also stressing the importance of a “reliable transatlantic partnership”. Trump had on Wednesday said the United States was considering redeploying some of the tens of thousands of US troops stationed in Germany amid a row with Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the war in Iran. – Germany says ‘prepared’ for any US troop reduction
Iran – US – Israel
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Israel’s defense minister on Thursday said his country may soon have to “act again” against Iran, to ensure the Islamic Republic “does not once again become a threat to Israel.” – Israel defense minister says country may have to ‘act again’ against Iran
(Al Arabiya) Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written message on Thursday that the United States had been defeated in its war with Iran, as the Iranian leadership defied President Donald Trump’s warnings of a prolonged blockade. “Today, two months after the largest military deployment and aggression by the world’s bullies in the region, and the United States’ disgraceful defeat in its plans, a new chapter is unfolding for the [Arabian] Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,” said Khamenei in the message read on state television. – Iran’s unseen supreme leader claims US suffered ‘disgraceful defeat’
Israel – Gaza – Spain
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Spain on Thursday said it “energetically condemns” the seizure by Israeli forces of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla carrying Spanish nationals in international waters off Greece. Madrid has summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires in Spain to convey its protest over the detention of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels, the foreign ministry added in a statement. – Spain blasts Israel’s interception of Gaza-bound flotilla
Israel – Lebanon
(Yusra Asif/Al Arabiya) Israel’s self-declared “Yellow Line” in southern Lebanon has emerged as a new flashpoint in the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, raising fears that the temporary military zone could become a prolonged occupation. The “Yellow Line” refers to an Israeli-announced military zone stretching roughly 10 kilometers (six miles) north of the border inside Lebanese territory. Israeli forces are operating within the strip, where residents have reportedly been warned not to return. – Israel’s ‘Yellow Line’ in Lebanon deepens tensions with Hezbollah
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Israeli strikes on south Lebanon killed nine people including two children, the health ministry said Thursday, shortly after the president decried what he described as ongoing Israeli violations of a nearly two-week ceasefire. Israel has pressed its attacks on Lebanon as the fragile ceasefire, announced after a round of direct talks between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington, neared its two-week mark. – Lebanon says Israeli strikes kill nine people, including two children
Saudi Arabia – France
(Al Arabiya) Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhran met with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Riyadh where they discussed regional and international developments, according to a statement from the Kingdom’s foreign ministry on Thursday. – Prince Faisal, French FM discuss regional and international developments
Security and Surveillance
(Kevin Poireault – Infosecurity Magazine) The British public education sector has faced a significant increase in cyber breaches over the past year, despite stable threat levels recorded in the UK. These findings are part of the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025/2026, released by two UK government agencies, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Home Office, on April 30. The new edition of this annual report, which is the result of a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews carried out between August and December 2025, shows stable trends compared to the previous version, published in April 2025. – UK: Education Sector Faces Surge in Cyber Breaches – Infosecurity Magazine
(Phil Muncaster – Infosecurity Magazine) Cyber-related challenges dominate the top 10 people risks highlighted in a new global survey from Marsh. The insurance broker’s 2026 People Risks report is compiled from interviews with over 4500 HR and risk professionals in 26 global markets. Technological change and disruption was cited most frequently in the top 10 risks. “Cyber-threat literacy” placed first while tech skills shortages, such as those in cyber and AI, came in at number three. “Mindset barriers to AI adoption” came sixth. This includes limited knowledge of AI risks and mitigations, and workforce non-compliance with AI regulations and policy. Mishandling of data and IP was placed seventh. – Cyber is the Number One Global “People Risk,” Says Marsh – Infosecurity Magazine
(Phil Muncaster – Infosecurity Magazine) European police have claimed a major scalp in the ongoing battle against rampant online fraud after a two-year operation resulted in 10 arrests at suspected Albanian scam call centers. Europol said the criminal network behind the call centers ran a highly professionalized investment fraud operation which is estimated to have cost victims at least €50m ($58m). As well as the arrests, police searched three call centres and nine private homes in Albania, seizing nearly €900,000 ($1,053,000) in cash, 443 computers, 238 mobile phones, six laptops and multiple data storage devices. The policing operation began in June 2023, when Austrian law enforcement identified a large number of fraud victims in Vienna. In April 2024, they requested the Albanian authorities hand over an IP address suspected of being used by the perpetrators, Europol said. – Europol Busts Albanian Scam Call Centers in Major Online Fraud Case – Infosecurity Magazine
Tech Strategies
(The State Council of the People’s Republic of China) Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Wednesday stressed self-reliance and open international cooperation in artificial intelligence. Advancing the building of Digital China and raising the level of digital and intelligent development is a strategic task bearing on the overall progress of Chinese modernization, according to Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. Ding made the remarks in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 9th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou, east China’s Fujian Province. – Chinese vice premier stresses AI self-reliance, open cooperation
(Government of Dubai) Digital Dubai has launched the “AI Workforce Transformation Program (AI+),” a strategic initiative to train 50,000 Dubai Government employees. The program is delivered in collaboration with the Dubai Government Human Resources Department and the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, under the umbrella of the Dubai Future Foundation, as part of its commitment to enhance the future readiness of government talent and accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across government operations. – Digital Dubai Launches ‘AI+’ to Build an AI-Ready Government Workforce
Ukraine – Israel
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) A vessel carrying grain that Ukraine says was stolen from areas occupied by Russia will not unload in Israel, Ukraine’s foreign minister and top prosecutor said on Thursday, after Kyiv requested Israel to seize the cargo. Ukraine’s prosecutor general, Ruslan Kravchenko, said on the Telegram app that the vessel, Panormitis, left Israel’s territorial waters and departed into neutral waters following “a range of procedural measures taken by Ukraine.” – Vessel carrying grain Ukraine says stolen by Russia will not unload in Israel, Kyiv says
