The US Department of Defense (DOD) has a 8% budget increase, which presents an opportunity for change in its traditional defense spending routine. Authors Travis Sharp, Casey Nicastro and Evan Braden Montgomery argue that this relook can help break the status quo, but it's not guaranteed to lead to significant reforms.
https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/2025/03/31/how-to-handle-winners-and-losers-in-the-pentagons-8-budget-relook/Employers are advised to review their policies and practices to ensure they prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against workers with neurodivergent disabilities, such as autism. For employees with autism, reasonable accommodations may include varying tasks, flexible work schedules, or providing a quiet workspace, depending on the individual's needs and job requirements.
https://natlawreview.com/article/disability-discrimination-charges-involving-neurodivergence-are-rising-accordingEquity, the UK actors' union, is continuing negotiations with ITV and the BBC over provisions related to artificial intelligence (AI) in TV productions. The discussions, which began 18 months ago, aim to address concerns around AI cloning of actors' faces and other issues. SAG-AFTRA, Equity's American sister union, has already struck landmark agreements with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on AI protections. Both parties stress that conversations about AI provisions will continue beyond contract negotiations, with the BBC aiming to "lead the debate" on how AI can support human creativity while protecting creators' intellectual property.
https://deadline.com/2025/04/bbc-itv-ai-negotiations-equity-actors-1236354409/The European Commission proposes new legislation to enhance security measures across the EU, including a common communication system for state authorities, to protect critical infrastructure and combat organised crime such as arms trafficking. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner emphasizes that security threats are increasingly coming from financial systems and online platforms, citing rising tensions in the Middle East and ethnic conflicts in Europe.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/961094-european-commission-proposes-measures-to-enhance-internal-security-in-the-euThe European Commission is testing AI technology to improve the accuracy of question attribution and identify relevant precedent replies in parliamentary cases, according to a Commission spokesperson.
https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-parliament-chatgpt-artificial-intelligence-robotic-replies-roberta-metsola/The FDA is preparing for mass dismissals as part of a reorganization announced by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which will result in 20,000 fewer jobs at the Department of Health and Human Services. Approximately 10,000 positions will be eliminated through layoffs, affecting around 82,000 employees across the nation's public health agencies.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/04/01/world/americas-emea/thousands-of-workers-at-nations-health-agencies-brace-for-mass-layoffs/2083916Feedzai has partnered with fintech company Highnote to support the launch of Highnote's new acquiring business line. The partnership utilizes Feedzai's AI-native platform, which provides real-time fraud prevention and merchant monitoring capabilities, enabling Highnote to meet regulatory requirements efficiently.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ai-native-fraud-prevention-company-feedzai-partners-with-highnote-to-secure-acquiring-business-line-302416756.htmlThe Florida Department of State has been targeted by a hacker who claims to have stolen sensitive information from the organization, including email addresses of almost 500,000 people. The data includes first and last names, postal addresses, and email addresses, which could be used for tailored phishing attacks. Researchers from Incogni reported that 487,961 unique email addresses were allegedly compromised, posing a risk to state employees and potentially vulnerable individuals who interact with the organization.
https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/florida-department-of-state-data-breach-may-have-exposed-information-of-500-000-peopleFortress Government Solutions, a US-based cybersecurity partner for the military and defense industry, has achieved Impact Level 6 (IL6) accreditation from the US Navy, allowing it to store and process classified information up to the "SECRET" level. This certification enables Fortress to provide enhanced security measures for sensitive national data, particularly in response to threats from China's Volt Typhoon and other hostile nation-states. The company's CEO, Alex Santos, stated that IL6 accreditation is crucial for protecting US assets at home and abroad, and will further assess risk to the US Navy's critical supply chains.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fortress-government-solutions-receives-impact-level-6-security-accreditation-from-us-navy-302417093.html