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Cyberattacks Intensify as Iran Conflict Spills Into Digital Domain

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State-linked and hacktivist groups have claimed a series of cyberattacks against the United States and Israel since the war with Iran began, marking a significant escalation in the digital dimension of the conflict.

One of the most notable incidents involved Stryker, which confirmed on March 11 that a cyberattack had disrupted its global network. According to reports, employees encountered the logo of Handala, an إيران-linked hacking group, on login pages across the company’s systems. The breach reportedly targeted the firm’s Microsoft-based infrastructure, though the full extent of the disruption remains unclear.

Handala has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it exploited cloud management systems to remotely wipe large numbers of devices worldwide. The group said the operation was carried out in retaliation for a missile strike in Iran. Independent verification of these claims is still pending.

Cybersecurity analysts say the attack is part of a broader campaign by groups linked to Iran’s security apparatus. According to findings from CloudSek, organisations associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have targeted US critical infrastructure. These include CyberAv3ngers, APT33 and APT55, which are accused of attempting to infiltrate industrial systems such as power grids and water facilities.

Experts say some of these groups use simple methods, including default passwords, to access systems, while others deploy malware aimed at disrupting operations or gathering intelligence. Additional networks linked to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence have also been active, targeting telecommunications, energy companies and government organisations.

At the same time, the United States and Israel are conducting their own cyber operations. General Dan Caine said US Cyber Command played a key role early in the conflict, disrupting Iranian communications and sensor networks. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that artificial intelligence and cyber tools are being used alongside conventional military operations.

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Israeli intelligence has also reportedly relied on hacked data to support military planning, highlighting the growing role of cyber capabilities in modern warfare.

Hacktivist activity has surged as well. More than 60 groups formed a loose coalition known as the Cyber Islamic Resistance, coordinating attacks through online platforms. These groups have claimed hundreds of operations, including attempts to disrupt Israeli infrastructure and private sector systems. Analysts warn that such actors are often less restrained and may pose risks to civilian networks.

The conflict has also drawn in groups from outside the region, including actors based in Iraq, Russia and other parts of the Middle East. Some have targeted government websites and transport infrastructure, while pro-Israeli groups have carried out retaliatory attacks against Iranian entities.

Security experts say the growing scale and coordination of cyber operations reflect a shift in how modern conflicts are fought, with digital attacks now running parallel to military action on the ground.

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OpenAI Urges Governments to Rethink Economy as AI Growth Accelerates

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OpenAI has called on governments to rethink the foundations of the economy, warning that artificial intelligence (AI) could soon surpass human intelligence and drastically change how people work, live, and pay taxes. The company outlined its initial policy ideas on Monday, aimed at mitigating the economic disruption caused by rapid AI adoption in the United States and worldwide.

One key proposal is the creation of a public wealth fund that would give citizens a direct stake in AI-driven economic growth. According to the policy document, the fund could invest in diversified, long-term assets, including AI companies and broader firms adopting AI technologies, with returns distributed to all citizens.

The company also suggested that governments encourage businesses to launch four-day workweek pilot programs without any reduction in pay. This approach aims to balance the productivity gains provided by AI with the well-being of workers. Lawmakers are also urged to modernize tax systems by increasing taxation on corporate income and capital gains instead of labor income, which could be affected by AI-related job losses. The report proposes additional measures, such as taxing companies that replace human labor with automation.

OpenAI recommends that social benefits, including retirement pensions and healthcare, be provided through portable accounts that follow individuals across different jobs, industries, and entrepreneurial ventures. This model would help ensure continuity of support in a labor market increasingly influenced by AI.

These recommendations echo broader discussions among AI leaders about the future of work. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and xAI’s Elon Musk have previously highlighted universal basic income as a potential necessity as traditional employment declines. Other tech leaders, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Zoom’s Eric Yuan, have advocated shorter workweeks to distribute productivity gains from AI more evenly.

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Concerns about AI’s long-term impact extend beyond economics. In January, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned that superintelligent AI, capable of outpacing human decision-making, poses “existential danger.” He suggested tighter controls on the export of key technologies, such as semiconductor chips used to train large language models, as one way to manage the risk. Amodei also called for transparency laws requiring AI companies to disclose how they guide their models’ behavior.

OpenAI’s policy document represents an early step in urging governments to address the structural changes AI may bring. The proposals highlight the need to rethink traditional concepts of work, taxation, and social support as the technology continues to advance rapidly.

As AI continues to reshape global economies, policymakers and industry leaders face increasing pressure to develop strategies that protect citizens while fostering innovation and sustainable growth.

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Uzbekistan to Produce Humanoid Robots in Partnership with South Korea

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Uzbekistan has signed an agreement with South Korea’s ROBOTIS to launch humanoid robot production, marking a major step in its high-tech ambitions. At the same time, students across the country are learning robotics and programming, gaining skills that could prepare them for careers in the emerging industry.

The agreement, signed between the UzElTechSanoat Association and ROBOTIS, sets out plans to establish humanoid robot production within Uzbekistan, develop manufacturing infrastructure, and train specialists for the growing robotics sector. ROBOTIS, known for its humanoid platforms and smart robotic actuators, will support the creation of technological foundations and help prepare a workforce capable of designing and operating advanced robotic systems.

The initiative forms part of Uzbekistan’s broader push to build a domestic innovation ecosystem, combining industrial cooperation with education. Early exposure to robotics and programming is at the heart of this strategy.

In a robotics classroom, 12-year-old Mirkomil Shodiev demonstrates the impact of these programs. Using an EVO-3 educational robotics kit, he assembles and programs his own robot, controlling its movements through lines of code. “This was created by me,” he says. “You connect it to a computer, write code, and it performs tasks using the motor.”

Mirkomil began IT classes four months ago, learning Scratch and now studying Python, a programming language widely used in web development, automation, and robotics. He hopes to build websites and earn money in the future, reflecting the growing importance of digital skills in Uzbekistan’s economy.

The government’s Digital Uzbekistan-2030 strategy is expanding nationwide training in programming and digital skills. IT education centres and specialised academies are growing to meet rising demand for technology careers. At the Robot Academy, where Mirkomil studies, students aged eight to fifteen gain hands-on experience in programming, robotics, and engineering. “Our students create scientific projects, develop games, and build Telegram bots,” says teacher Navruz Shaydullayev. “Programming helps develop their thinking, logic, and intellectual abilities.”

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Classroom projects emphasize translating digital commands into physical movement, a key principle behind robotics and industrial automation. Students learn to design, assemble, and control machines independently, building skills that can directly feed into the country’s industrial ambitions.

The partnership with ROBOTIS will extend these educational initiatives into the workforce, providing training for engineers, programmers, and technicians in humanoid robotics. Officials hope the program will strengthen Uzbekistan’s technological competitiveness and create highly skilled jobs in a fast-growing global sector.

For students like Mirkomil, the future is already taking shape. “In the future, I want to continue in this field,” he says. “After finishing the courses, I would like to study in Tashkent as well.” As Uzbekistan prepares to manufacture humanoid robots, classrooms across the country are quietly training the people who may one day build them.

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Campaign Highlights Growing Concern Over Declining Quality of Digital Platforms

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A viral campaign led by the Norwegian Consumer Council has sparked global debate over what critics describe as the steady decline in the quality of popular digital platforms.

A widely shared video produced by the group features a self-described “professional enshitificator” adding intrusive pop-ups to websites, inserting extra advertisements into YouTube videos and triggering disruptive software updates. The video, which has drawn millions of views, is part of a broader effort to highlight the concept known as “enshitification.”

A platform becomes ‘enshitified’ when it introduces paid features or subscriptions that makes a user’s experience worse than it used to be. The term was first coined in 2023 by journalist Cory Doctorow, who argued that digital services often begin by prioritising users before gradually shifting toward profit-driven practices that degrade the experience.

According to the Norwegian Consumer Council, this trend is increasingly visible across major platforms. Over 70 advocacy groups from the United States, Europe and Norway have written to policymakers in more than 14 countries, urging stronger action to protect consumers and curb what they describe as anti-competitive behaviour.

The group’s analysis points to platforms such as Facebook as examples of how services evolve. Originally designed to connect friends and family, the platform now prioritises advertising and promoted content, often interrupting user activity with sponsored posts and algorithm-driven material.

Experts say the problem is tied to how digital markets operate. Finn Lützow-Holm Myrstad, the council’s director of digital policy, said companies are able to introduce these changes because users have limited alternatives. “It’s a deliberate process,” he said, noting that once users are locked into a platform, switching becomes difficult.

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Economists highlight the role of the “network effect,” where a platform becomes more valuable as more people use it. This makes users reluctant to leave, even if the service declines. At the same time, companies introduce switching costs, such as data loss or the effort required to rebuild connections elsewhere, further discouraging migration.

Industry analysts also point to reduced competition following major acquisitions, including Meta Platforms’ purchase of Instagram, as a factor that has allowed platforms to prioritise revenue over user experience.

Regulators in Europe have introduced measures aimed at addressing these concerns. The Digital Markets Act seeks to open up dominant platforms to competition, while the Digital Services Act requires companies to assess risks and improve transparency. However, experts warn that enforcement has been slow and penalties insufficient to deter harmful practices.

Advocates are now calling for stronger rules, including proposed legislation such as the Digital Fairness Act, to address deceptive design and addictive features.

While digital platforms remain central to communication, commerce and entertainment, the campaign underscores growing frustration among users and calls for a shift toward services that prioritise transparency, competition and consumer rights.

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