Global Eye On …
Russia-Ucraina. A Londra la diplomazia rilancia cinque punti. Intanto la guerra cambia e si allarga (Marzia Giglioli)
AI: ONU lancia allarme su impatto ambientale e disuguaglianze | The Global Eye (Maria Eva Pedrerol)
Global News
(Nathan Hodge – CNN) Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had appeared poised to win a clear victory in a closely watched parliamentary election Sunday, but the ballot result now defies easy geopolitical takeways. In results announced Monday, Armenia’s Central Election Commission said Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party had secured 49.81% of the vote, Reuters reported. That puts Pashinyan well ahead of the opposition Strong Armenia party, but it means he may lack the overwhelming mandate he needs to solidify a pivot away from Russia – the country’s longstanding security guarantor and trading partner – and to negotiate a lasting peace with Armenia’s neighbor and longtime adversary, Azerbaijan. Pashinyan declared victory after early results came in, though the final allocation of seats in parliament is unclear. Smaller parties need to cross a 4% threshold to win seats, and it does not appear at this stage that Pashinyan will have the two-thirds constitutional majority to push through the most ambitious parts of his agenda. The elections in Armenia were widely viewed as a referendum on the direction of the country’s foreign policy. Pashinyan ran on a pledge to secure peace with Azerbaijan, normalize ties with Turkey and strengthen ties with the European Union, a platform that won an endorsement from US President Donald Trump. – Poised to accelerate a pivot away from Russia, Armenian prime minister claims election win | CNN
(Christopher Lamb – CNN) Pope Leo XIV has described war as a “painful defeat” of negotiations while lamenting that violence and polarization has plunged the world into a “profound” crisis during a historic, peace-focused speech at the Spanish parliament Monday. Leo XIV’s address to politicians in the Cortes Generales, the first by a pontiff, stressed that “peace demands diplomatic courage, ethical responsibility” and for countries to resolve disputes through international law. His remarks come as Israel and Iran trade strikes in the worst escalation of the war since the April truce and on a day when the pope met Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, who has opposed the United States and Israel’s war in Iran. The pope, who has also been outspoken in his opposition to the conflict, was defended by Sánchez when US President Donald Trump attacked the pontiff for his opposition to the Iran war. Trump has also clashed with Sánchez over Iran. – Pope Leo calls war a ‘painful defeat’ of negotiations as Israel and Iran trade worst strikes in months | CNN
(RFE/RL) Ukrainian drone knocked out a locomotive, further squeezing commerce to the occupied Black Sea peninsula struggling with fuel shortages. The June 8 attack came days after Russian officials ordered new restrictions on commercial and passenger traffic along major highways leading to the region. For weeks, Ukraine’s military has ratcheted up a campaign of medium-range drone strikes targeting cargo trucks — gasoline and fuel trucks, above all — that supply Crimea. That, plus a broader Ukrainian drone campaign hitting Russian oil refineries, pipelines, and related infrastructure, has led gasoline shortages on the peninsula, whose economy is heavily dependent on Russian tourists. – Russia Suspends Train Service To Occupied Crimea After Ukraine Drone Strike; Gasoline Shortages Worsen
(Tania Myronyshena – The Kyiv Independent) Ukrainian law enforcement has detained a 38-year-old man who was allegedly planning to assassinate a senior Ukrainian military intelligence official using an FPV (first-person-view) drone, Ukraine’s National Police said on June 8. The target was Andrii Yusov, spokesperson for Ukrainian military intelligence and deputy head of Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, he confirmed later in the day. “Russia is brutal and treacherous,” Yusov said on Facebook. – Ukraine foils Russian plot to assassinate senior military intelligence official, police say
(Tim Zadorozhnyy – The Kyiv Independent) Senior Russian officials on June 8 effectively rejected recent Ukrainian and European proposals aimed at restarting negotiations to end Russia’s full-scale war, signaling that Moscow remains focused on battlefield gains rather than diplomacy. The remarks came after President Volodymyr Zelensky called for renewed talks with Russia and European leaders outlined a framework for a future settlement. In an open letter, Zelensky urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue bilateral negotiations and proposed a meeting between the two leaders. The initiative was later echoed by the leaders of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine, who issued a joint statement on June 7 outlining five conditions they said were necessary for a “just and lasting peace.” – Russia rejects Ukrainian, European peace initiatives, says battlefield will decide war
(Tania Myronyshena – The Kyiv Independent) Russian attacks killed eight people and injured 52 others across eight Ukrainian region s over the past day, local authorities said. Civilian casualties were reported after Russia carried out another overnight drone attack against Ukraine. According to the Air Force, Russian forces launched 155 drones, 124 of which were intercepted. Twenty drones evaded Ukraine’s air defenses and struck targets at 17 locations, while debris from intercepted drones was found at six sites. – At least 8 killed, 52 injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over past day
(Tim Zadorozhnyy – The Kyiv Independent) French fighter jets participating in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission “successfully” shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace, Latvia’s military reported on June 8. The interception marks the first time a drone has been shot down in Latvian airspace by NATO forces and comes amid growing concerns in the Baltic states over repeated drone incursions. – NATO jets shoot down drone over Latvia in 1st such interception, military says
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame on Monday appealed for historic sites to be spared as AFP correspondents saw damage to a World Heritage site in south Lebanon’s Tyre after Israeli bombardment. One of the oldest cities on the Mediterranean coast, Tyre lies around 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Israeli border, and its UNESCO World Heritage-listed ruins are located in two main areas of the city. Israel’s military has heavily bombed Tyre since the latest war erupted with Hezbollah. – Lebanon heritage site damaged by Israeli bombardment
(AFP/Al Al Arabiya) A senior Hezbollah official told AFP on Monday that the Iran-backed group has had “no direct contact” with President Donald Trump, despite recent statements from the US leader suggesting otherwise. Washington considers Hezbollah a “terrorist” group, including both its military and political wings, and recently imposed sanctions on several of its lawmakers. Last Wednesday, referring to efforts to halt the latest war in Lebanon between Israel and the militants, Trump had told reporters that “we actually spoke with Hezbollah for the first time, ever.” – Hezbollah official says group had no direct contact with Trump: Report
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Iran’s military announced on Monday that its first wave of attacks on Israel since a ceasefire in April was now over, although it threatened to resume the strikes if Israel continued attacks on Lebanon. There was no immediate response from Israel, which had launched attacks on Iran in retaliation after Tehran fired missiles late on Sunday, the first direct strikes between the foes since the ceasefire. – Iran ends military operations against Israel
(Gabriel Gavin, Max Griera and Zoya Sheftalovich – Politico) Top officials in the government of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán should be investigated over billions of euros in missing EU funds, the country’s anti-corruption watchdog told POLITICO. The call to retrieve the missing money comes as Orbán’s successor, Péter Magyar, tries to convince Brussels that the country is ready to receive more than €10 billion in EU cash frozen due to rule-of-law concerns. Ferenc Pál Biró, the president of the Hungarian Integrity Authority, said “high-level politicians can and may well be prosecuted” over their involvement in an alleged scheme to systematically defraud European taxpayers during Orbán’s 16-year rule. – Prosecute Orbán’s inner circle over ‘stolen’ billions, Hungary’s anti-corruption watchdog says – POLITICO
(Carlo Martuscelli – Politico) The European Commission is preparing new measures to prop up the EU’s chemicals industry as a wave of cheap Chinese imports pushes the sector to the brink. EU leaders will discuss a Commission effort to curb the Chinese supply glut at a summit on June 18–19. But the Brussels machinery moves slowly, and drawing up measures could take months, or even years — time Europe’s chemical manufacturers say they don’t have. “The whole chemical industry is bleeding,” said Rudy Miller, vice president of Belgian chemicals business Vynova. “It’s industrial suicide.” – China is killing Europe’s chemicals industry. Brussels wants to intervene. – POLITICO
(Hannah Brenton – Politico) Britain’s banks want to muscle in on Keir Starmer’s Brexit “reset” with the EU. After years of being stuck on the sidelines, the City of London’s biggest players are pushing for financial services to finally be given a seat at the negotiating table. “To date, financial services have not been included in the strategic UK‑EU reset,” UK Finance, a lobby group representing Britain’s lenders, said in a report out Monday. “Now is the moment for that to change.” – Britain’s banks demand a seat at the Brexit negotiating table – POLITICO
(Jakob Weizman – Politico) Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s left-wing Vetëvendosje party was on course to win Kosovo’s snap election Sunday night for its third electoral triumph since early last year, preliminary results showed. With more than 95 percent of ballots counted, Vetëvendosje was on 43 percent support versus around 21 percent for the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo. Voter turnout was 35 percent, down from 45 percent in the previous election in December. The result represents a sizeable loss of support for Kurti compared with the last ballot, when his party secured a parliamentary majority after winning nearly 50 percent of the vote. The lower total suggests the ruling VV party will have to work with the opposition if it hopes to form a coalition and elect a new president. – Kosovo PM’s party on track to win third election in 18 months – POLITICO
(Ferdinand Knapp – Politico) Iran and Israel engaged in an exchange of airstrikes between Sunday evening and Monday morning, upending the U.S.-backed ceasefire that has been in place since April. According to the Israel Defense Forces, the 10 ballistic missiles launched from Iran were intercepted, with no injuries reported. Israeli’s military confirmed it had struck targets in Iran’s central and western regions, and Iranian state media reported explosions in Tehran, Isfahan, Karaj and Tabriz. The Israeli military on Monday reported a new barrage of missiles launched from Iran. – Iran and Israel exchange airstrikes, putting US-backed ceasefire in jeopardy – POLITICO
(Al Arabiya) The Israeli military said Monday it had struck and dismantled Iranian defense systems deployed across several areas in the country. “Recently, defense systems were deployed in numerous areas across Iran as part of the regime’s efforts to restore its detection and defense capabilities, which were degraded during Operation Roaring Lion,” the military said. – Israel army says struck and dismantled ‘strategic defense systems’ in Iran
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi discussed the latest events in the region on Sunday night with his counterparts in Britain, France, and Turkey, as well as with Qatar’s leader and Pakistani mediators. – Iran FM speaks to European, regional counterparts: Ministry
(Al Arabiya) Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis announced a missile attack on Israel on Monday and declared a ban on Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, raising the specter of a return to major disruption on the key route. The Houthis harassed cargo ships in the vital seaway during the Israel-Hamas war, forcing many companies into a lengthy detour around the tip of southern Africa. Their threat comes as the Strait of Hormuz, the gateway to the Gulf sea and its energy exporters, remains blockaded by Iran as a result of the Middle East war with the US and Israel. “We declare a complete and total ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea,” said a statement from the Houthis’ armed forces. – Yemen’s Houthis declare ‘total ban’ on Israeli ships in Red Sea
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Israel said on Monday it hit a petrochemical plant in Iran’s southwest, along with strikes elsewhere on military targets, after US President Donald Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from further attacks. In the first hit on an energy site inside Iran since the April 8 ceasefire, Israel said it struck targets at the Mahshahr petrochemical complex, while a provincial official told Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency parts of the plant were damaged. – Israel hits Iran petrochemical plant in new strikes despite Trump reprimand
(Barak Ravid – Axios) The Israeli Air Force conducted strikes on military targets in central and western Iran on Monday morning local time, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. The strikes, in retaliation for an Iranian missile attack against Israel, mark a new phase in a growing escalation that started on Sunday morning. This is the first time Israel has struck Iran since the April 8 ceasefire. Further exchanges of fire could unravel the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran and lead to the resumption of the war. President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hours before the strikes not to retaliate after Tehran conducted a retaliatory attack on Israel. – Israel strikes Iran military targets after Iranian attack
(RFE/RL) The Israeli military said its forces targeted Iranian regime sites early on June 8 in retaliation for Tehran’s attacks on Israel and shortly after US President Donald Trump said he would tell Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to conduct such strikes. “The Israeli Air Force struck military targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime in western and central Iran a short while ago,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on X early on June 8 without immediately elaborating. Iranian state TV said explosions were heard in cities throughout the country, including Tehran, Karaj, Tabriz, and Isfahan. Details were not immediately available. The strikes come after Iran fired a barrage of missiles toward Israel in its first attacks on the country since a shaky cease-fire took effect on April 8, saying it was in retaliation for Tel Aviv’s military strikes on Beirut. – Iran, Israel Exchange Strikes After Trump’s Call To Avoid Retaliation
(RFE/RL) Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian early on June 8 declared victory for his Civil Contract party over several pro-Russia groupings, with his party hovering around 50 percent as votes are counted, higher than pre-vote surveys suggested. The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) said that with nearly 91 percent of ballots counted, Civil Contract had 50.1 percent of votes, while the Moscow-friendly Strong Armenia alliance was in second at 23.4 percent. The Armenia Alliance, led by former President Robert Kocharian and also considered to be pro-Moscow, was in third at 9.8 percent. “This is a historic victory that will definitely ensure the permanence and development of Armenia, and, of course, we will have lasting and institutional peace,” Pashinian told a post-election news conference. – Pashinian Declares Victory, Awaits Final Margin In Armenia’s Crucial Parliamentary Vote
(RFE/RL) In a TikTok video, a Russian vacationer says she and her husband will have to stay in the Crimean resort city of Yalta indefinitely: They have only enough gas to drive 50 kilometers, and the closest filling station believed to have any is in Simferopol, about 80 kilometers away. On Instagram, cell-phone footage shot from a moving car shows one roadside gas station after another, most of them with no fuel at all for sale or with limited options such as diesel or LPG. Above an Edvard Munch-inspired scream emoji, wording on the screen reads: “There’s no gas in Crimea.”. And in a video on Telegram, an actress from Sevastopol says she “waited for three hours, only to be told that there was no gasoline left for sale that day…. It’s a nightmare.”. Since Russia seized control of Crimea 12 years ago, occupation authorities on the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula have always had difficulty keeping the region adequately supplied with everything that its 2 million residents need. Water is a continual problem due to a welter of factors: the region’s arid climate, Ukraine’s efforts to choke off flows from the mainland, and mismanagement by the Russian officials in power on the peninsula. – Sun. Sea. Sand. No Gasoline. There’s A Major Problem This Tourist Season In Russian-Occupied Crimea.
(Zamira Eshanova – RFE/RL) When Kazakhstan launched Central Asia’s first large-scale cloud-seeding program on May 17, it called it a high-tech response to drought, water scarcity, and accelerating desertification. Run in the southern Turkistan region in partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the project targets more than 900,000 hectares of vulnerable farmland in an effort to boost rainfall and stabilize agricultural output in one of the country’s driest zones. Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique that disperses substances into clouds to encourage precipitation and increase rainfall or snowfall. But across the border in neighboring countries, the experiment has sparked immediate concern over whether manipulating rain in one state could have unintended consequences beyond its borders. The debate comes at a time when weather modification is increasingly morphing from a scientific pursuit into a geopolitical flashpoint. A now-deleted social media post from the Iranian Embassy in Afghanistan on April 21 claimed that an Iranian military strike on a secret UAE facility had altered weather patterns across the Middle East. The post boasted that the military operation had “improved” regional weather conditions, pointing to unusual rainfall and a drop of around 5 degrees Celsius in the brutally hot zones of Iran and Iraq. While that specific claim was widely ridiculed by global meteorologists, it highlighted a broader trend: Iran has repeatedly accused its neighbors — particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia — of stealing its clouds and deploying rain-collecting technology as a climate weapon. Similar anxieties are now appearing in Central Asia. – Stealing Rain From Neighbors? Kazakhstan’s Cloud-Seeding Experiment Sparks Regional Fears
(Simone McCarthy, Yoonjung Seo – CNN) Chinese leader Xi Jinping has arrived in North Korea for his first visit to the secluded nation in seven years, as he aims to reassert Beijing’s close ties with Pyongyang and its leader Kim Jong Un. Xi touched down midday Monday in the North Korean capital for the rare two-day state visit, Chinese state media Xinhua reported. Footage released by state media showed Kim and first lady Ri Sol Ju at the airport clapping as the Chinese leader’s plane landed. Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were “warmly” greeted by Kim and presented with flowers by North Korean children, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported. – China’s Xi Jinping arrives in North Korea for rare summit with Kim Jong Un | CNN
(Brett H. McGurk – CNN) As President Donald Trump searches for a way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and curtail Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Washington and Tehran appear to be engaged in a standard negotiation. In reality, they may be participating in two entirely different ones. Washington tends to view negotiations with Iran through the lens of power. Tehran views them through the lens of possession. Washington aims to force Iran to succumb to demands through economic pressure and sanctions. Tehran aims to force the US to succumb after acquiring something valuable and refusing to give it back. – Analysis: The ultimate hostage negotiation: Why Iran talks are deadlocked | CNN Politics
Tech World
(DigWatch) China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has launched a ministry-provincial collaborative pilot programme to advance 6G innovation and development. The initiative is designed to support future commercial deployment of next-generation communications technologies and strengthen the country’s 6G industrial ecosystem. The programme focuses on advancing frontier 6G technologies and deepening the integration of communications networks with AI, satellite internet, and wireless sensing. It will also accelerate research and development of 6G base stations, core network equipment, terminals, chips, and operating systems. – China launches ministry-provincial collaborative pilot program for 6G innovation, development
(DigWatch) The UK Government Digital Service has highlighted data maturity as a key requirement for preparing public sector data for AI use. The findings come from a project conducted with The National Archives, part of GDS’s wider work to ensure public sector data is managed as a strategic national asset. During a discovery phase completed in April 2026, the organisations assessed whether legal data, including legislation and case law, could be prepared for AI applications. The work focused on governance, data quality, organisational readiness, and the risks of exposing government data to AI systems, rather than building a specific AI tool. – Data maturity: the foundation for AI ready public sector data – Government Digital Service
(DigWatch) The Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications and the CIS Coordination Council for Informatization held a joint meeting in St Petersburg on 5 June, bringing together communications officials, international organisations and industry representatives. The meeting was chaired by Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan, in his role as Chair of the RCC Board of Heads of Communications Administrations and the CIS Coordination Council. Participants discussed preparations for the 2026 International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, the development of non-geostationary orbit communication systems, interstate roaming across RCC and CIS countries, IT parks, start-ups and regional cooperation in communications and information technologies. – RCC Board of Heads of Communications Administrations and CIS Coordination Council for Informatization under RCC Hold Joint 65th/32nd Meeting
(DigWatch) Microsoft has argued that rapid advances in AI and biotechnology are creating new biosecurity challenges that require stronger safeguards and closer cooperation between governments, industry, and the scientific community. The company said AI is accelerating scientific discovery across areas such as healthcare, drug development, and materials science, while also increasing concerns about accidental harm and deliberate misuse of biological technologies. – Strengthening biosecurity in the era of AI – Microsoft On the Issues
(DigWatch) Russia’s State Duma has approved the first reading of draft law No. 1194918-8, ‘On Digital Currency and Digital Rights’, moving the country closer to a formal legal framework for cryptocurrency activity. The bill would establish a legal framework for the circulation of digital currencies in Russia and vest key supervisory powers in the Bank of Russia. It would also reform parts of the existing framework for digital financial assets and digital rights. – Russian State Duma advances crypto licensing bill in first reading | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) Hungary is preparing a significant shift in its digital asset policy after newly appointed Science and Technology Minister Zoltán Tanács announced plans to dismantle restrictive measures imposed by the previous government. The proposed changes would remove criminal penalties for unauthorised crypto services, marking a clear reversal in national regulatory direction. – Hungary prepares rollback of crypto penalties | Digital Watch Observatory
(Natasha Buckley, Jamie MacColl – Euractiv) The pushback by some European capitals against the proposed amendments to the EU’s Cyber Security Act is now well underway. Last week, reporting by Bloomberg suggested that government officials from Spain and Germany are resisting the EU Commission’s plans to remove Chinese “high-risk” technology vendors from Europe’s critical infrastructure. The proposed amendments, which would centralise powers within the Commission itself to assess, designate and restrict “high-risk” vendors in 18 sectors – an ambitious undertaking – will likely be challenging and costly for national governments to implement. In some strategic technologies, Chinese companies have surpassed their Western counterparts and sell superior products at a lower price. – Europe urgently needs cohesion on ‘high-risk’ technology vendors | Euractiv
(DigWatch) UNICEF Vietnam has warned that rapid advances in AI are creating new risks for child online safety, including AI-generated child sexual abuse material and deepfakes. The UNICEF Vietnam Representative, Silvia Danailov, issued a warning to mark International Children’s Day and Vietnam’s Month of Action for Children, which is held under the theme ‘Happy, safe and confident children in the digital world.’ – Artificial intelligence should not come at the cost of children’s safety
(DigWatch) The EU policymakers and high-level industry representatives have launched two flagship initiatives to prepare the EU energy system for a more digitalised future. The first initiative brings together data centre operators, the energy sector, and public authorities to support the sustainable integration of data centres into the EU energy system. In the presence of Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, 14 European associations signed a Declaration of Intent, while six companies signed a Declaration of Support indicating readiness to begin implementation. – Flagship projects on AI for grids and data centre sustainability – Energy
(DigWatch) Japan and the United States are expanding cooperation on AI-enabled scientific research, with Japan reported to become the first international partner in the US-led Genesis Mission. The five-year initiative is expected to mobilise around $1 billion, with funding reportedly split between the two governments. The collaboration will focus on using AI to accelerate research in advanced fields, including quantum technologies, nuclear fusion, biotechnology, and other strategically important areas. The Genesis Mission is a US Department of Energy initiative designed to use AI, scientific datasets, national laboratories, universities, and industry partners to accelerate discovery science, energy innovation, and national security research. – Japan, U.S. to Collaborate on AI-Driven Scientific Development | Nippon.com
(DigWatch) Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has launched a public awareness campaign warning that criminals are increasingly using AI and other digital tools in sextortion scams. The initiative, titled ‘If sextortionists were honest’, uses generative AI to expose deceptive tactics used by online criminals targeting victims through dating apps and social media platforms. According to eSafety, more than 3,300 reports of sexual extortion were received through its image-based abuse scheme in 2025. Eighty-six percent of reports came from males of all ages, while 42% of all sextortion reports involved males aged 18 to 24. – Swipe right for sextortion: eSafety unmasks ‘sexy’ scam artists | eSafety Commissioner
(DigWatch) Dutch research organisation TNO has conducted an exploratory study examining how AI applications can be scaled across government organisations in the Netherlands. The study was commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations because AI offers opportunities for public sector services and operations. The study supports the Netherlands’ Digitalisation Strategy, which calls for a more proactive government role in the development and adoption of AI. One option under consideration is an AI scaling facility that would support the reuse and further development of successful AI applications, helping deploy them more quickly and across a wider range of organisations. – Research explores strategies for effective AI scaling – Digital Government
(DigWatch) The UK Gambling Commission has announced a new compliance initiative targeting gambling advertising, following an enforcement notice issued by the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP). The measure aims to prevent gambling advertisements from having a strong appeal to people under 18. From 11 June, CAP will conduct a monitoring exercise using its AI-powered Active Ad Monitoring System in collaboration with social media platforms. The review will assess whether gambling advertisements comply with rules intended to protect children and other vulnerable audiences. – AI powered content marketing sweep to protect children
(DigWatch) Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed an experimental vaccine using AI, marking what they describe as the first human test of a vaccine component designed entirely by AI. The experimental approach aims to provide broad protection against entire families of viruses, including coronaviruses with pandemic potential. The AI system analysed genetic data from multiple coronaviruses and designed a ‘super-antigen’ intended to help the immune system recognise and respond to a broad range of viral variants, including those that may emerge through future mutations. An initial trial involving 39 volunteers focused primarily on safety, while a larger follow-up study is planned to evaluate immune responses and effectiveness in greater detail. – ‘World-first’ vaccine designed by artificial intelligence
(DigWatch) As AI continues to reshape economies, industries and daily life, a new report from the United Nations University (UNU) highlights the environmental challenges associated with its rapid adoption. While discussions often focus on greenhouse gas emissions linked to AI systems, researchers argue that the technology’s impact on water resources, land use and electronic waste deserves equal attention. According to the report, data centres supporting AI applications could consume up to 945 terawatt-hours of electricity annually by 2030. Beyond electricity demand, AI-related water consumption could reach levels equivalent to the annual household needs of 1.3 billion people, while the land footprint associated with AI infrastructure may exceed 14,500 square kilometres. – AI’s environmental costs threaten water, land and climate | UN News
(DigWatch) Canada has launched AI for All, a new national AI strategy aimed at accelerating AI adoption, strengthening digital sovereignty, and positioning the country as a leading AI economy. Announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney, the strategy combines proposed legislation, investments, and programmes intended to ensure AI is adopted responsibly and benefits businesses, worke – rs, students, and communities across Canada. – Prime Minister Carney launches AI for All: Canada’s new national artificial intelligence strategy | Prime Minister of Canada
(DigWatch) The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has launched the AI Policy Toolkit, a practical guide intended to help governments translate AI principles into policy action. Released by the OECD under the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, the first version is designed as a non-prescriptive resource for policymakers working across the AI policy cycle. Building on the OECD AI Principles, the toolkit is intended to help governments identify policy priorities, compare international approaches and adapt guidance to national circumstances. The platform incorporates AI-powered semantic search to help users identify relevant policy examples and practical approaches drawn from real-world experience. – The OECD AI Policy Toolkit: Better AI policies for better lives – OECD.AI
(DigWatch) Brazil’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel, has approved a new AI governance policy aimed at ensuring the ethical, secure, and transparent use of AI across its regulatory and administrative activities. The framework positions the agency among public institutions in Brazil, proactively addressing the challenges and opportunities of AI-driven transformation. Developed by the agency’s IA.lab research group, the policy establishes principles including human oversight, transparency, data security and the protection of fundamental rights. It also creates a permanent forum to monitor AI use, assess risks, and support decision-making, ensuring AI complements rather than replaces human judgment in regulation. – Brazil’s telecom regulator adopts AI governance framework | Digital Watch Observatory
(Pierluigi Paganini – Security Affairs) This week, the Financial Times reported that Anthropic has placed approximately six “forward-deployed” engineers inside the National Security Agency to help the intelligence agency use Mythos, its most capable cyber model, for offensive operations. Two people familiar with the arrangement told the FT it would be useful for infiltrating networks in countries like China or Iran. Whether those engineers are involved in live operations, or only in customization and setup, remains unclear. The reported collaboration comes amid tensions between Anthropic and the U.S. government. The company is challenging Pentagon policies over military use of AI, and was labeled a “supply-chain risk” after refusing to allow its models to be used for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons programs. – Report: Anthropic Deploys Engineers to Support NSA Use of Mythos
(Pierluigi Paganini – Security Affairs) On May 29, the security researcher Taylor Hornby found a critical vulnerability in Zcash Orchard privacy pool using Claude Opus 4.8. The Zcash team hired Hornby specifically to look for this kind of issue. He found one fast enough to be embarrassing. The Orchard pool is the newest and most advanced shielded transaction system in the cryptocurrency Zcash. Introduced in 2022, it allows users to send and receive ZEC while keeping transaction details private. It uses zero-knowledge proofs to validate transactions without revealing amounts or participants. The bug: a specific check that was supposed to validate transaction inputs wasn’t actually enforcing the rules it appeared to enforce. An attacker could have exploited the flaw to feed false inputs into that check and generate ZEC from nothing, with the zero-knowledge proof system blessing the fraudulent transaction as valid. “The vulnerability was present from Orchard’s activation in May 2022 until the emergency fix was deployed on June 1, 2026,” wrote Shielded Labs, the independent research and development organization behind Zcash. “Due to the privacy properties of Orchard and the nature of the bug, there is no definitive way to determine, using only cryptography, whether such exploitation occurred.” – Claude Opus Found a Four-Year-Old Hole in Zcash’s Privacy Layer. Nobody Knows If Someone Already Used It.
(Pierluigi Paganini – Security Affairs) Resecurity uncovered the Silent Ransom Group (SRG)’s Fast Flux network infrastructure and shares available intelligence with the cybersecurity community to disrupt their malicious activities and enable ISP/DNS providers to counter this threat. “Resecurity is the first to uncover the SRG’s Fast Flux network infrastructure and is sharing this intelligence with the cybersecurity community to disrupt their malicious activities and enable ISP/DNS providers to counter this threat.” reads the report published by Resecurity. – Silent Ransom Group (SRG): Switching To DNS Fast Flux Infrastructure – Security Affairs
(Pierluigi Paganini – Security Affairs) A threat actor tracked as PCPJack compromised 230 cloud servers across Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure and turned them into a covert email relay network. Hunt.io researchers discovered the operation because PCPJack accidentally left two directories on an internet-facing command-and-control server accessible without any password or authentication. “A complete 12-file toolkit, source code, compiled binaries, and deployment state, was sitting on an open HTTP directory with no authentication required.” reads the report published by Hunt.io. “The version 3 state file confirms 230 successful uploads and executions in a single deployment run in March 2026.”. The exposed folders contained source code, malware binaries, deployment logs, scanning tools, exploitation utilities, and a live Sliver command-and-control configuration. In short, the attackers left behind a detailed view of how the entire operation worked. – PCPJack Exposed: Researchers Uncover 230-Node Cloud Email Relay Network
(Pierluigi Paganini – Security Affairs) SafeBreach Labs researcher Or Yair spent months trying to break Google’s Gemini voice assistant after Google patched the vulnerabilities he found in his previous research. The new attack class he developed, named Fake Context Alignment, exploits the trust users place in their own notification stream from WhatsApp, Slack, SMS, Signal, Instagram, and every other app that can drop a message on an Android device. The attack relies on an indirect prompt injection. When a user asks Gemini to read notifications, the assistant processes the content of incoming messages, including hidden instructions planted by an attacker. Google had already added protections against direct attempts to manipulate Gemini’s tools, but notifications created a new attack path. Because virtually any app can send a notification, the number of potential attack sources is enormous. The most concerning aspect is the social engineering potential. An attacker can trick Gemini into reading out a fake message that appears to come from a real person in the victim’s notifications. The attacker doesn’t even need to know the contact’s name beforehand. The malicious instruction simply tells Gemini to use the first real sender name it finds. This makes large-scale phishing attacks possible without any prior research on the target. – Fake Context Alignment: The Attack That Made Gemini Obey Strangers Through Your Notifications – Security Affairs
(DigWatch) Ofcom has outlined its approach to enabling safe and secure AI adoption across the UK communications sectors it regulates and within its own work. The regulator said its approach is technology-neutral and outcomes-based, aligning AI oversight with its wider mission of making communications work for everyone while supporting innovation and growth. – Ofcom’s strategic approach to AI
(DigWatch) The European Union and India have concluded the first EU-India Tech Business Forum in New Delhi, advancing digital and trade cooperation under the framework of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC). The forum brought together businesses, policymakers, researchers, think tanks, and civil society to strengthen private-sector collaboration and identify opportunities for joint innovation. The forum was organised by the EU Delegation to India and Bhutan and India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, with support from industry organisations including the Federation of European Business in India and the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM). – EU and India Host First Tech Business Forum in New Delhi to Strengthen Digital and Trade Cooperation | EEAS
(DigWatch) Mayo Clinic and Microsoft have announced a strategic collaboration to develop and deploy a frontier AI model designed specifically for healthcare. The initiative combines Mayo Clinic’s clinical expertise, de-identified health data, and longitudinal medical insights with Microsoft’s AI, cloud, engineering, and superintelligence capabilities. The model is intended to support a broad range of clinical reasoning and healthcare use cases by synthesising diverse clinical information. Mayo Clinic said it could support earlier diagnoses, more personalised treatment decisions, and improved patient outcomes. – Mayo Clinic and Microsoft collaborate to develop a frontier AI model for healthcare – Mayo Clinic News Network
(DigWatch) The European Commission has published a Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in the Energy Sector, outlining how digital technologies could support a more resilient, competitive and secure European energy system. The roadmap outlines how digital tools and AI could help consumers and businesses reduce energy costs through greater efficiency, smarter energy consumption and improved management of electricity demand. It also highlights the role of digital technologies in supporting the integration of renewable energy into electricity grids. – Commission presents measures to digitalise Europe’s energy system while ensuring sustainable digitalisation – Energy
(DigWatch) The International Labour Organization has called for occupational disease prevention, mental health risks, AI, and climate change to become central elements of the European Union’s future workplace health and safety agenda. The intervention was delivered during a European Parliament hearing on the EU strategic framework on occupational safety and health after 2027. – Occupational disease prevention, mental health, AI, and climate change should shape future EU agenda on safety and health at work | International Labour Organization
(DigWatch) The UN Development Programme has launched a Blockchain Advisory Group to examine how blockchain technologies can support public systems, digital public infrastructure, and development outcomes. The group was launched in Paris on 3 June during Proof of Talk 2026, bringing together senior leaders from across the blockchain ecosystem. UNDP Associate Administrator Haoliang Xu chairs it. – UNDP launches Blockchain Advisory Group to explore blockchain for public good | United Nations Development Programme
(DigWatch) Europe’s banking sector must strengthen its operational resilience as AI transforms the cyber threat landscape and increases systemic risks, according to the European Central Bank (ECB). Speaking at a financial conference, Executive Board member Frank Elderson warned that technological disruption and geopolitical fragmentation are increasing pressure on financial infrastructure. The ECB said Europe’s reliance on external providers for technology, energy and financial services creates vulnerabilities that could expose critical functions to operational disruptions. While banks remain financially stable, their ability to maintain critical services during cyberattacks or system failures has become key to long-term competitiveness and stability. – Strengthening operational resilience for the age of AI
(DigWatch) A major international operation involving Meta, Microsoft, Coinbase, Starlink, and law enforcement agencies from several countries has disrupted large-scale criminal scam networks operating across Southeast Asia. The coordinated effort combined digital intelligence, financial investigations, platform enforcement, and real-world law enforcement action to target organised groups responsible for online fraud, investment scams, and other cyber-enabled crimes. – Leading Tech Companies and Law Enforcement Join Forces to Disrupt Criminal Scam Networks in Southeast Asia
(DigWatch) The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released a draft strategic plan outlining its priorities for the coming years, with a focus on investor protection, market efficiency and capital formation. The agency is seeking public feedback on the proposal, which also highlights the growing importance of digital assets and emerging technologies within the financial system. – SEC.gov | SEC Publishes Draft Strategic Plan for Public Comment
(DigWatch) A new policy coalition has been launched in Washington to develop frameworks governing collaboration between government agencies and private companies on cyber operations, amid growing concerns that unresolved legal questions are limiting deeper cooperation. Venable’s Center for Cybersecurity Policy and Law established the Cyber Operations Policy Coalition this week. The coalition aims to bring together industry representatives, government officials, legal experts, academics and civil society organisations to develop policy frameworks for collective cyber defence. – New Washington initiative targets legal frameworks for collective cyber defence | Digital Watch Observatory
