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The National
13 hours ago
- Business
- The National
It's time to make reporting cyber crimes easier
When it comes to cyber attacks and online fraud, it seems that big banks, major companies and tech giants can often be as vulnerable as the individual customers and investors they serve. On Sunday, Germany-based insurer Allianz Life became the latest victim of the digital underworld, suffering a security breach that compromised the data of most of its 1.4 million customers in North America. This was not an isolated incident. Earlier this month, computer security experts said hackers had exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft's SharePoint collaboration software that potentially compromised private and public computer networks in the US. And it is not just private businesses that are at risk. In January, the International Civil Aviation Organisation – a UN agency – confirmed that it had suffered a data breach of its recruitment application records, something that affected almost 12,000 people. The Middle East is not immune to this growing threat. Research from cyber-security company Kaspersky has found that the number of users in the region hit by mobile financial threats jumped 146 per cent in 2024 from the previous year. In a region where interest in digital assets and cryptocurrencies is flourishing, this is a cause for concern. There is something of a cyber security arms race taking place between private and public institutions on one hand and criminal groups on the other, with each using rapidly evolving technology – especially AI – to either defend or compromise sensitive networks and databases. Banks, businesses and investment platforms have a duty of care to make sure their customer's assets are safe; they also have the resources to protect themselves. However, in a great many cases, online fraud is not some darkly impressive feat of digital know-how – it more about tricking people and companies into giving up valuable information. Cyber security and online safety are not new concepts, and most people are well-aware of the need to check emails, vary passwords and use common sense. Many companies spend millions on cyber security measures. But we live in a fast-paced world of distraction and as attacks grow more sophisticated, even the most astute can be caught out. Earlier this month, one Dubai resident told The National how he had lost more than Dh700,000 ($190,605) after being invited to join an online investment platform for gold mining. What makes this story truly unusual is the victim's willingness to speak out. We live in a fast-paced world of distraction and as attacks grow more sophisticated, even the most astute can be caught out The reality is that many cyber crimes go unreported. Individual victims may feel embarrassed or guilty about being tricked and giving away personal data. Businesses may fear reputational damage. There may also be a perception that given that sheer number of cyber crimes – big and small – there is little point in reporting them. Given this, it is important to dispel the embarrassment around being scammed and to improve reporting and blocking mechanisms thereby helping companies and individuals to quickly and effectively report online crimes. This is not a problem that will go away or be solved in one fell swoop. But removing from cyber crimes the secrecy upon which digital criminals thrive and empowering people to flag up where security measures have fallen short would be valuable steps forward.
AsiaOne
18-07-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Trump nominating former Delta pilot to international aviation post, World News
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is nominating former Delta Air Lines pilot Jeffrey Anderson to serve as US ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the White House said on Thursday (July 17), in a move opposed by a major airline pilots' union. The nomination comes as some US senators want the Trump administration to advocate at the Montreal-based UN civil aviation body for raising the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots from 65 to 67. The United States has not had a permanent ambassador at ICAO since July 2022 when C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot who safely landed an Airbus A320 on New York's Hudson River in 2009 after hitting a flock of geese, stepped down. The Air Line Pilots Association, a union which represents more than 79,000 pilots at 42 US and Canadian airlines, criticised Trump's nomination of Anderson, calling him unqualified. "It appears that Mr. Anderson's only real qualification for the post is his support of a position - raising the mandatory pilot retirement age - that would leave the United States as an outlier in the global aviation space and create chaos on pilot labour, and international and domestic flight operations," the union said in a statement. Last year, Congress rejected a push to raise the mandatory airline pilot retirement age to 67 from 65. International rules prevent airline pilots older than 65 from flying in most countries outside the US The White House defended Anderson's nomination in a statement, noting he was a decorated veteran naval aviator with decades of experience as a pilot for Delta and a negotiator for ALPA "who will deliver on President Trump's vision of aviation safety for the American people at ICAO." ICAO plays a key role in global aviation safety. While it has no policing powers, ICAO uses consensus to set standards on everything from runways to seat belts. The agency was created after the United States invited more than 50 allies to agree in 1944 to a common air navigation system. The 193-nation body will hold its triennial assembly from September 23 to October 3 this year. [[nid:667847]]
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mexico Aviation (Commercial, General, Military) Market Forecast 2025-2034: Insights for Baja California, Northern Mexico, The Bajio, Central Mexico, Pacific Coast, and the Yucatan Peninsula
The country's air travel demand boosts economic and job growth. Explore insights on commercial, freight, general, and military aviation trends. Mexican Aviation Market Dublin, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Mexico Aviation Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034" report has been added to Mexico aviation market size was valued at USD 7.96 Billion in 2024. The market is further projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.60% between 2025 and 2034, reaching a value of USD 12.48 Billion by 2034. Market players are focused on providing low-cost carriers across aviation industry to stay ahead in the competition. Mexico's commercial aviation sector is a vital component of the country's transportation infrastructure, with freighter aircraft playing a crucial role in transporting goods both domestically and internationally. The market for passenger aircraft in Mexico is also recovery of Mexico's Category 1 safety status by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened new opportunities for Mexican airlines to expand their networks, particularly in the United States. This has led to the announcement of over 25 new routes from Mexican airports to the United States, highlighting Mexico aviation market Latin America and Caribbean region's increasing demand for air travel, both passenger and freight, is another driving factor in Mexico's aviation industry. According to the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) long-term traffic forecasts, total passenger traffic in the region is expected to grow by around 3.8% annually up to 2045, while freight traffic is projected to grow 1.6% annually for the same period. This growth is expected to contribute significantly to economic output and job creation in the region, with an estimated 11 million jobs and a USD 353 billion contribution to GDP by general aviation sector also plays a critical role in the country's transportation infrastructure. Helicopters are widely used for various purposes, including transportation and emergency services, while piston fixed-wing aircraft are commonly used for training and recreational flying. Mexico's military aviation, including combat aircraft are essential for national defence and security, while non-combat aircraft are used for non-combat purposes within the military, such as transport and surveillance. Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 125 Forecast Period 2025-2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $7.96 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $12.48 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.6% Regions Covered Mexico Key Topics Covered1 Executive Summary1.1 Market Size 2024-20251.2 Market Growth 2025(F)-2034(F)1.3 Key Demand Drivers1.4 Key Players and Competitive Structure1.5 Industry Best Practices1.6 Recent Trends and Developments1.7 Industry Outlook2 Market Overview and Stakeholder Insights2.1 Market Trends2.2 Key Verticals2.3 Key Regions2.4 Supplier Power2.5 Buyer Power2.6 Key Market Opportunities and Risks2.7 Key Initiatives by Stakeholders3 Economic Summary3.1 GDP Outlook3.2 GDP Per Capita Growth3.3 Inflation Trends3.4 Democracy Index3.5 Gross Public Debt Ratios3.6 Balance of Payment (BoP) Position3.7 Population Outlook3.8 Urbanisation Trends4 Country Risk Profiles4.1 Country Risk4.2 Business Climate5 Latin America Aviation Market Overview5.1 Key Industry Highlights5.2 Latin America Aviation Historical Market (2018-2024)5.3 Latin America Aviation Market Forecast (2025-2034)6 Mexico Aviation Market Overview6.1 Key Industry Highlights6.2 Mexico Aviation Historical Market (2018-2024)6.3 Mexico Aviation Market Forecast (2025-2034)7 Mexico Aviation Market by Type7.1 Commercial Aviation7.2 General Aviation7.3 Military Aviation 8 Mexico Aviation Market by Region8.1 Baja California8.2 Northern Mexico8.3 The Bajio8.4 Central Mexico8.5 Pacific Coast8.6 Yucatan Peninsula 9 Market Dynamics9.1 SWOT Analysis9.1.1 Strengths9.1.2 Weaknesses9.1.3 Opportunities9.1.4 Threats9.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis9.2.1 Supplier's Power9.2.2 Buyers Powers9.2.3 Threat of New Entrants9.2.4 Degree of Rivalry9.2.5 Threat of Substitutes9.3 Key Indicators for Demand9.4 Key Indicators for Price10 Competitive Landscape10.1 Supplier Selection10.2 Key Global Players10.3 Key Regional Players10.4 Key Player Strategies10.5 Company Profiles10.5.1 Airbus SE10.5.2 Dassault Aviation SA10.5.3 Lockheed Martin Corporation.10.5.4 Bombardier Inc.10.5.5 The Boeing Company10.5.6 Cirrus Design Corporation (Cirrus Aircraft)10.5.7 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.10.5.8 Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH10.5.9 Piper Aircraft, Inc.10.5.10 OthersFor more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Mexican Aviation Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Sign in to access your portfolio
Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
UN aviation and maritime agencies pledge to collaborate to boost safety, tackle challenges
(From right) International Maritime Organisation secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez and International Civil Aviation Organisation secretary-general Juan Carlos Salazar, with moderator Karamjit Kaur in a dialogue session on July 14. SINGAPORE – The United Nations' aviation and maritime agencies have pledged to collaborate with each other to tackle common challenges at a global conference held on July 14 in Singapore. At a dialogue session held at Global Aviation and Maritime Symposium, the leaders of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) had agreed to tap each other's expertise to enhance aviation and maritime safety. The session, which involved Mr Juan Carlos Salazar, the Secretary-General of ICAO, and his IMO counterpart Mr Arsenio Dominguez, touched on topics such as the impact of geopolitical tensions, dangers faced at sea and in the air, the role of multilateralism, and gaining consensus from member states. Mr Salazar said both sectors faced common challenges, including dealing with political instability in the world , security and safety of maritime and aviation transport systems, as well as dealing with the environmental impact caused by both sectors. Noting that the dialogue was a good opportunity to showcase the 'deep connections' between the maritime and aviation sectors, Mr Salazar said the cross-pollination of ideas and exchange of experiences – regarding what worked for one organisation – would be beneficial, given that they face common challenges. The dialogue was moderated by The Straits Times' associate editor Karamjit Kaur. It was the first public sharing session that featured the leaders of both organisations. On political instability, Mr Salazar said during a press conference with Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow on the same day that the rearrangement of transit through conflict zones and management of crises are potential areas for collaboration between ICAO and IMO. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Singapore Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Avenue 3 Singapore Singapore boosts support for Timor-Leste as it prepares to join Asean Singapore Singapore to train more aviation and maritime officials from around the world Business Singapore's economy sees surprise expansion in Q2 despite US tariff uncertainty: Advance estimate Singapore High Court dismisses appeal of drink driver who killed one after treating Tampines road like racetrack Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat Singapore Jail, caning for man who had 285 child porn videos, including those that show infants Mr Dominguez agreed , adding that some common challenges both organisations face are the rerouting of travel paths, and spiking or interference of safety equipment onboard vessels and aircraft. The dialogue session touched on topics such as the impact of geopolitical tensions, dangers faced at sea and in the air, the role of multilateralism, and gaining consensus from member states. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY During the dialogue, Mr Salazar and Mr Dominguez had acknowledged the impact of the tense geopolitical backdrop on both sectors. Adding that moments of crises typically encourages members of the international community to come together, Mr Salazar said he is optimistic about the work both ICAO and IMO are doing together. Citing the Red Sea attacks as one of the biggest challenges the maritime sector is facing now, Mr Dominguez said that the industry is resilient enough to find alternative routes in the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Learning from these situations has made IMO more active in multilateralism as countries will work together to address common concerns and put themselves forward to be part of the solution, he added. Mr Dominguez said: 'So even though the challenges are there, it reiterates the importance of multilateralism in the UN as a whole.' Noting that both sectors are working towards their target of net-zero emissions, Mr Salazar said ICAO has set out specific decarbonisation steps known as a basket of measures. He added that ICAO is also looking at IMO's strategy on greenhouse gases, which has set out a clear end date by which fossil fuels will stop being used. He called it a 'very innovative scheme' that ICAO hopes to learn more from. 'I believe there are many opportunities to continue to collaborate, and we look forward to continuing to enhance the dialogue. There is very good chemistry between the two organisations,' added Mr Salazar.
The Wire
13-07-2025
- The Wire
The E-Passport Paradox: How a Security Upgrade Creates Deeper Risks
Rights Abhishek Baxi 5 minutes ago The e-passport is neither free of security vulnerabilities nor is focussed on protecting the privacy of the person from the world. Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty. The Government of India has initiated a significant modernisation of its travel documentation system with the introduction of the chip-based electronic passport, or e-passport. This move, part of the government's Passport Seva Programme 2.0, began in April 2024 and is already rolling out in select cities. This move places India among more than 120 nations that have adopted this International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)-compliant technology. The idea is to offer enhanced security, faster immigration processing and seamless global travel. But behind the glossy pitch of digital convenience – and a gold chip symbol below the national symbol – lies a bigger concern: privacy without protection and innovation without oversight. What's on the chip? Each e-passport is equipped with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip embedded in the back cover. This chip securely stores biometric information such as facial data and fingerprints, and personal details, all encrypted with advanced security protocols like Basic Access Control (BAC; which restricts chip access to authorised scanning devices) and Extended Access Control (EAC; which adds an extra security layer for sensitive biometric information). When an immigration officer scans the e-passport, the chip's digital signature confirms authenticity; a live biometric scan then matches the data on-chip to the traveller. According to India's Passport Seva FAQ, 'the underlying technology supporting the security of the e-passport is the Public Key Infrastructure solution, which is the foundation for safeguarding sensitive information and confirming the integrity and origin of the personal and biometric data stored on the chip'. But the FAQs stop short of outlining who beyond immigration authorities – if anyone – may lawfully scan or store this data. Can e-passports be scanned without consent, transparency or oversight – can private entities like airlines or banks access this information? Which devices qualify as certified readers? Are there limits on how long the scanned data may be retained? When MP R. Dharmar raised a question in the Rajya Sabha asking for 'the steps being taken to ensure the security and privacy of personal data stored in chip-based e-passports', the response from Kirti Vardhan Singh, minister of state for external affairs, on April 3, 2025 focused on the security aspect of e-passports, skipping the privacy question. 'The main benefit of the e-passport,' the minister said, 'is its enhanced ability to maintain the integrity of its data'. He added: 'Since the e-passport has the data in printed form on the booklet, as well as encrypted in the chip, it makes it harder to forge.' On other occasions too, responses to related questions have been unsatisfactory. Chinks in the armour The government's public messaging and parliamentary statements have consistently framed the e-passport initiative around two primary benefits: enhanced security and greater convenience. Beneath the surface of official assurances lies a complex and troubling landscape of technological vulnerabilities. The very features that deliver the e-passport's promised convenience are also the source of its most significant privacy risks. The use of RFID technology for contactless communication is the e-passport's primary architectural weakness. This design choice exposes the passport to several well-documented attack vectors, including skimming (the clandestine reading of the chip's data by using a concealed RFID reader), eavesdropping (a passive attack where an adversary intercepts the wireless communication between a legitimate immigration reader and the e-passport during an official inspection), and cloning (creating a perfect, bit-for-bit digital copy on a blank RFID chip). The vulnerabilities are not limited to the hardware but extend to the very protocols mandated by the ICAO 9303 standard, which India's e-passport adheres to. A 2021 research paper – titled ' Discovering ePassport Vulnerabilities using Bisimilarity ' – points out significant privacy flaws in the standard's core authentication protocols, BAC and its more advanced successor, Password Authenticated Connection Establishment. These protocols are meant to ensure "unlinkability", meaning an adversary should not be able to track a passport holder by linking their presence at different checkpoints. However, the research demonstrates that these protocols fail to meet this requirement. Then there's the biometric paradox. The inclusion of biometric data is marketed as a definitive security enhancement, tying the document irrevocably to its owner. This perception, however, is dangerously flawed. Biometric identifiers are immutable: once compromised, they cannot be reset like passwords. And as public-facing attributes, they can be captured without an individual's consent. Storing these unchangeable biological traits on a cloneable RFID chip creates a permanent and high-value target for identity thieves. The security posture of the e-passport is further weakened by its long operational lifespan. Indian passports for adults are valid for ten years. A ten-year validity period creates a substantial window for advances in cryptanalysis. Encryption algorithms considered secure at the time of the passport's issuance may become vulnerable to being broken by more powerful computers and new analytical techniques before the passport expires. The data that is secure today may not be secure five or ten years from now, yet it will remain on the chip for the document's entire lifecycle. Gaps in the data protection regime The government's narrative strategically conflates two distinct security concepts: data integrity and data confidentiality. The heavy emphasis on ensuring data integrity (the idea that the data can be neither hacked nor copied) effectively sidesteps the more critical privacy question of who can read this authentic, unaltered data (ensuring data confidentiality). This focus on thwarting counterfeiters creates a public perception of a holistically secure document, while leaving the more subtle but profound risks of surveillance and unauthorised data access largely unaddressed. And there's the question of who the ultimate controller of an Indian citizen's e-passport data is. In theory, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 designates the citizen as the "data principal", the owner of their personal data. In practice, however, the e-passport system sets up the state as the de facto controller with ultimate and overriding power – essentially, the "data fiduciary". Moreover, the vast exemptions under the DPDP Act mean it can process this data without the consent or knowledge of the citizen. In the event that a citizen's e-passport data is misused – whether it is cloned by a criminal organisation, shared improperly with a foreign government or collected for domestic surveillance by a national agency – the path to legal recourse is unclear and likely non-existent. Such systems expose citizens to new forms of digital harm with no effective means of holding the powerful to account. Writing for The Statesman, consumer rights advocate Shrey Madaan calls it 'paternalism, packaged in a chip'. (As an aside, a widely appreciated move is the decision to remove key personal information like the residential address (to safeguard privacy) and parents' names (to accommodate diverse family situations) from the physical booklet. This too serves to concentrate power. The citizen loses the ability to passively share their details from the document and becomes entirely dependent on the state's infrastructure to verify their own information.) Citizen vs the state In a way, the e-passports mark a paradigm shift in the relationship between the Indian citizen and the state. A traditional passport is a static document, a piece of property over which the citizen exercises near-total control, revealing its contents only when they choose to physically present it. An e-passport can be queried and tracked silently. When combined with a legal framework that grants the state sweeping powers to access its data, the passport is transformed from a tool of the citizen into an instrument of the state. The system's architecture is overwhelmingly focused on proving the authenticity of the document to the state, not on protecting the privacy of the person from the world. It is engineered to stop someone from altering the data on the chip, but not to stop them from copying it wholesale or tracking its movements. This prioritisation of state-level verification over individual privacy transforms the passport from a private document owned by the citizen into a trackable digital token controlled by the state. The transition to e-passports is an irreversible global trend, and India's participation is not misplaced. The issue lies in the implementation. The current approach has created a system where the promise of convenience is overshadowed by the peril of unchecked surveillance and unmitigated security risks. The absence of clear privacy rules, oversight mechanisms and citizen rights threatens to erode trust in the new system. Without sufficient guardrails, the promise of secure e-passports risks giving way to a surveillance architecture invisible to the very individuals it's meant to protect. Abhishek Baxi is an independent technology journalist exploring the intersection of technology, culture and society. He writes on consumer tech and enterprise innovation, analyses Big Tech, unpacks technology policy and shares unsolicited opinions on X as @baxiabhishek. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
