South African retailers are facing an unprecedented surge in cybercrime and fraud in 2025, leading to substantial financial losses, with data breaches costing up to R49 million. The rise of AI-powered attacks and e-commerce fraud has heightened consumer concern over data protection, making robust cybersecurity a critical imperative for businesses.
Monaco is actively leveraging its 'Extended Monaco' digital transformation program to foster social impact, enhance community inclusion, and promote sustainable development. Initiatives range from reconditioning school laptops for disadvantaged youth to providing digital skills training and streamlining public services.
A recent report by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's Business Data Lab highlights that Canada's AI adoption is lagging, posing significant risks to national competitiveness and productivity. Only 14% of businesses are early adopters of Generative AI, with a substantial 73% yet to consider its use. This slow pace, coupled with a skills gap and public apprehension, could see Canada fall behind global peers.
US consular posts in India have unilaterally rescheduled numerous H-1B and H-4 visa interviews, pushing appointments to mid-2026, due to new expanded social media vetting requirements. This policy, effective December 15, 2025, has also led to 'prudential revocations' of some visas, impacting thousands of Indian professionals.
Latvia's fintech sector experienced substantial growth in 2024, with 126 companies generating €369 million in local turnover and employing over 3,600 professionals. This expansion underscores Latvia's emergence as a key financial technology hub in the Baltic region.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on December 11, 2025, aiming to curb state-level artificial intelligence regulations. The order seeks to establish a uniform national framework for AI governance, citing concerns that a 'patchwork' of state laws could stifle innovation and hinder U.S. competitiveness. It includes provisions for a federal task force to challenge state laws and potential funding restrictions.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on December 11, 2025, aimed at preventing individual U.S. states from enacting their own artificial intelligence regulations. The order seeks to establish a unified national framework, citing concerns that a 'patchwork' of state laws could stifle innovation and hinder American competitiveness in the global AI landscape. It includes provisions for a new AI Litigation Task Force and potential federal funding restrictions for non-compliant states.
European Union regulators conducted an unannounced inspection at the Dublin headquarters of Chinese online retailer Temu on December 10, 2025. The raid is part of an investigation into potential breaches of the EU's Foreign Subsidies Regulation, examining whether Temu has benefited from unfair state aid from China that could distort competition in the European market.
IBM, in collaboration with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT), has announced the empowerment of over 500,000 Saudi nationals through its SkillsBuild program. This achievement, five times the initial target and 18 months ahead of schedule, significantly advances the Kingdom's Vision 2030 objectives for a knowledge-based economy.
Fintech Abu Dhabi, the flagship event of Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2023, gathered global leaders on November 29 to discuss disruptive innovation and the future of finance. Hosted by ADGM, the event focused on AI, blockchain, digital assets, and regulatory advancements, solidifying Abu Dhabi's role as a leading financial hub.
Microsoft has announced a monumental investment of $17.5 billion in India, its largest in Asia, to bolster the nation's AI and cloud infrastructure. This commitment, spanning from 2026 to 2029, follows a meeting between CEO Satya Nadella and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on scaling infrastructure, enhancing AI skills, and ensuring data sovereignty.
Italy's largest trade union, CGIL, has called a nationwide general strike for December 12, 2025, to protest the government's proposed 2026 budget. The action is expected to cause significant disruptions across public and private sectors, particularly impacting transport and public services, as unions demand better social spending and renewed labor contracts.
The 2025 International Robot Exhibition (iREX) in Tokyo concluded, drawing over 100,000 visitors and 670 exhibitors. The event, themed 'Sustainable Societies Through Robotics,' highlighted advancements in industrial, service, catering, and companion robots, alongside AI and ICT integration.
Turkish singer Aydin Aydin is under official investigation after he filmed himself breaking his traditional instrument, a saz, on the 2,100-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site of Mount Nemrut. The act was a protest against artificial intelligence's impact on the music industry, sparking widespread criticism and a probe into potential damage to ancient monuments.
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, alongside five other departments, has launched a three-year action plan to cultivate massive AI-empowered consumer sectors. The initiative targets eldercare products, intelligent connected vehicles, and consumer electronics to reach trillions of yuan in market scale by 2027, aiming to stimulate domestic consumption and modernize retail.
Australia's National AI Plan, launched December 2, 2025, outlines a strategy to leverage artificial intelligence for economic growth, job creation, and enhanced public services. The plan, championed by Minister Tim Ayres, commits $30 million to an AI Safety Institute and prioritizes ethical development and safety within existing legal frameworks, aligning with the 'Future Made in Australia' agenda.
The 'Industrial Transformation Saudi Arabia 2025' exhibition has begun in Riyadh, focusing on Fourth Industrial Revolution solutions. The event, under the patronage of Minister Bandar Alkhorayef, runs from December 1-3 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, aiming to advance the Kingdom's industrial sector in line with Vision 2030.
Economists are expressing increasing concern over the US economy's significant reliance on the burgeoning AI data center sector. Investments in AI infrastructure have driven a substantial portion of recent GDP growth, but this concentration also highlights vulnerabilities related to energy and water consumption, potential market volatility, and infrastructure strain.
Japan has announced a substantial supplementary budget of approximately ¥400 billion ($2.6 billion) to significantly boost research and development in quantum technology, artificial intelligence, and nuclear fusion. This strategic investment aims to position Japan as a global leader in these critical fields, enhancing economic and national security.
The Canadian government has announced a substantial federal investment of up to $210 million, part of a $662 million project, to expand semiconductor capabilities at IBM Canada's Bromont facility and C2MI in Quebec. This aims to strengthen domestic production, enhance North American supply chain resilience, and create highly skilled jobs in advanced packaging and AI components.
