| CHINA HAS DEVELOPED DRONES CAPABLE OF SWIMMING AND FLYING FROM SUBMARINES

According to a report in a Chinese scientific publication, two Chinese research organisations are creating drones that can be launched from submarines and are capable of both underwater and aerial transit. The vehicles are reported to be integral to Beijing’s strategy to resist U.S. military drone strikes—both aerial and underwater—in the initial stages of a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University in China and the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre are apparently developing a drone with folding wings that can traverse both water and air several times during a strike or surveillance operation. The dual air-sea configuration is purportedly intended for stealth and endurance in a fight.

The drone, designated “Feiyi” by Chinese experts, will be employed for naval reconnaissance and surveillance missions alongside offensive operations. In Chinese, the letter “fei” signifies “fly,” whereas “yi” is a 3,000-year-old character depicting a water bird extending its wings and preparing for takeoff from the water’s surface.

National Security Correspondent Bill Gertz reports that the specifications of the drone were detailed on December 31 in Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica, a magazine issued by the state-controlled Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The article indicates that the drone employs four pairs of rotating blades for airborne navigation, which can be retracted into the fuselage for aquatic transport.

| PRESENTATION OF THE FIRST UNITED ARAB EMIRATES RAFALE

Éric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, has formally presented the inaugural Rafale F4 fighter aircraft manufactured for the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAE AF) in the presence of French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu and UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs Mohamed Bin Moubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei. The aircraft will stay at Dassault Aviation’s Flight Test Centre for scheduled assessments prior to its delivery to the UAE Air Force and Air Defence, anticipated to commence at the end of 2026.

This aircraft is the inaugural unit produced under the €17 billion contract signed in December 2021 for 80 Rafale F4s, witnessed by President Emmanuel Macron of France and Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Vice-Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, alongside Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.

The Rafale is being utilised by France, Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, Indonesia, and the UAE. The UAE’s procurement of 80 Rafales constitutes the most substantial single export purchase for the aircraft thus far. Serbia has concluded a contract for 12 Rafales, but Iraq has indicated interest in procuring 14 aircraft, with negotiations allegedly encompassing payment via crude oil. Bangladesh has been recognised as a prospective future operator.

The UAE will be the inaugural export customer to obtain the F4 model, the most advanced Rafale presently in production. This version features improvements like the incorporation of the Contact radio, the advanced MICA NG missile, and the Autonomous Digital Scrambler (BAN) into the SPECTRA self-protection system. It will additionally incorporate improved networked warfare capabilities and is intended to be updated to the F5 standard in the 2030s.

| TWO ESTONIAN NATIONALS PLEAD GUILTY IN $577M CRYPTOCURRENCY FRAUD SCHEME

Scheme Victimized Hundreds of Thousands of People in United States and Abroad 

Two Estonian nationals pleaded guilty for their operation of a massive, multi-faceted cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that victimized hundreds of thousands of people from across the world, including in the United States. As part of the defendants’ guilty pleas, they agreed to forfeit assets valued over $400 million obtained during the conspiracy.

According to court documents, Sergei Potapenko and Ivan Turõgin, both 40, sold contracts to customers entitling them to a share of cryptocurrency mined by the defendants’ purported cryptocurrency mining service, HashFlare. Cryptocurrency mining is the process of using computers to generate cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, for profit.

Between 2015 and 2019, Hashflare’s sales totaled more than $577 million, but HashFlare did not possess the requisite computing capacity to perform the vast majority of the mining the defendants told HashFlare customers it performed. HashFlare’s web-based dashboard, which purported to show customers their mining profits, instead reflected falsified data. Potapenko and Turõgin used the proceeds of the fraud conspiracy to purchase real estate and luxury vehicles and maintained investment and cryptocurrency accounts. Potapenko and Turõgin have agreed to forfeit assets worth, as of the date of the plea, more than $400 million. The forfeited assets will be available for a remission process to compensate victims of the crime. Details about the remission process will be announced at a later date.

Potapenko and Turõgin each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They are scheduled to be sentenced on May 8 and each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Justice Department thanks the Cybercrime Bureau of the Estonian Police and Border Guard for its support with this investigation. The Estonian Prosecutor General and Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs provided substantial assistance with the extradition. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided extensive assistance to the investigation and the extradition of the defendants.

Individuals who believe they may have been a victim in this case should visit www.fbi.gov/hashflare.

| FRENCH REGULATOR FINES DANSKE COMMODITIES A/S €8 MILLION AND EQUINOR ASA €4 MILLION FOR MANIPULATING THE GAS MARKET

The Dispute Settlement and Sanctions Committee (CoRDiS) of the French energy regulatory authority (CRE) has imposed an €8 million fine on Danske Commodities A/S and a €4 million fine on Equinor ASA for manipulating annual capacity auctions at the virtual interconnection point between France and Spain (PIR Pirineos) in 2019 and 2020.

These penalties come under the REMIT Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011, which prohibits market manipulation and seeks to protect the integrity and transparency of the EU’s wholesale energy markets.

In its decision, CoRDiS found that Danske Commodities A/S, in collusion with Equinor ASA, had booked higher volumes of transmission capacity than those offered in the first round of PRISMA annual gas capacity auctions for PIR Pirineos in July 2019 and July 2020. This was done without the intention of acquiring such capacity, sending false or misleading signals regarding the demand for annual gas transmission capacity from France to Spain via the PIR Pirineos interconnection point.

The investigation revealed that the objective of this behaviour was to create market congestion and prevent the application of multipliers to the prices of gas transmission capacities on the infra-annual market, which are meant to incentivise the booking of annual transmission capacities. By placing non-genuine offers in the first round of auctions for annual gas transmission capacity and creating congestion, Danske Commodities A/S and Equinor ASA prevented the application of multipliers, reducing the price of gas transmission capacities on the infra-annual market and setting the market price at an artificial level.

CoRDiS considers this behaviour a violation of REMIT Article 5, which prohibits actions that give or are likely to give false or misleading signals about the supply, demand, or price of wholesale energy products, or which secure or are likely to secure the price at an artificial level.

| ARIANESPACE SECURES LAUNCH CONTRACT FOR SECOND-GEN GALILEO SATELLITES

With the already booked Galileo first-generation satellites missions on board Ariane 6, this new contract represents the fourth mission for Ariane 6 benefiting the Galileo constellation.

At the 17th European Space Conference, Arianespace announced the signing of a launch contract with the European Commission and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) to deploy the first pair of second-generation Galileo navigation satellites (L17). The satellites will be launched aboard an Ariane 6 rocket, marking a significant milestone in Europe’s space autonomy efforts.

Each satellite, weighing between 2,200 kg and 2,400 kg and equipped with electric propulsion, will take several months to reach the Galileo constellation’s operational orbit at an altitude of 23,222 km. This contract formalises an agreement first entrusted to Arianespace in April 2024.

Prior to this mission, three other launches (L14, L15, and L16) are already scheduled aboard Ariane 6, each carrying two satellites to complete the first-generation Galileo navigation system.

Speaking about the contract, David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace, said: “This signature with the European Commission and EUSPA reaffirms Arianespace’s commitment to guaranteeing sovereign access to space for Europe. We are extremely proud to contribute to the flagship Galileo global navigation satellite system, providing high-precision positionings and services to European governments, institutions, and citizens.”

David Cavaillolès added: “This is the fourth launch booked on Ariane 6 for Galileo and the first for the second-generation Galileo satellites. I thank our partners for their continued trust in Arianespace: a long-standing commitment we have together towards the Galileo programme, reinforcing both Ariane 6 and Europe’s space autonomy.”

Rodrigo da Costa, EUSPA Executive Director, commented: “This launch contract is a key milestone for Galileo’s second generation, enhancing precision and reliability for users worldwide. EUSPA is proud to support the European Union’s space autonomy and deliver innovative services to citizens globally.”

Currently, the first twelve second-generation Galileo satellites are in full production, led by the European Space Agency (ESA) and developed by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space. As the first joint infrastructure fully financed and owned by the European Union, the Galileo program is managed by the European Commission, with ESA overseeing its technical development and launch coordination. Meanwhile, EUSPA handles operational management, ensuring service continuity and system enhancements.

Galileo is a flagship European programme that leverages innovative space technology to provide high-precision global navigation, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in satellite-based positioning services.

| 30,000 NEW GOLD LEAVES TO REGILD THE MONUMENTAL STATUE OF NOTRE-DAME DE LA GARDE IN MARSEILLE

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, an iconic symbol of Marseille, is set to undergo major restoration works starting in February 2025. These renovations will primarily focus on the statue of the Virgin Mary, affectionately known as the “Bonne Mère” by the people of Marseille, as well as the bell tower and other parts of the structure.

Erected in 1870, the statue of the Virgin, standing at 11.2 metres tall, requires periodic regilding every 30 years due to exposure to the elements, particularly wind, salty air, and pollution. The last such restoration took place in 1989, making this refurbishment essential to preserve the statue’s brilliance. Modern anti-corrosion techniques for copper will ensure increased durability of the new gilding, which is expected to last for 50 years.

During these meticulous works, craftsmen will apply 30,000 gold leaves to the statue. “There is no paint involved here—each gold leaf will enhance this iconic statue, allowing it to shine for decades to come,” explained one of the contractors, Baptiste Gohard.

In addition to the statue, the bell tower will also undergo restoration. The angels adorning the terrace of the bell tower and the facing stones will be refurbished to maintain the structural and aesthetic integrity of the entire monument.

The works are expected to last for ten months, with completion scheduled for December 2025. During this period, the basilica will remain open to the public, although some areas, particularly the terraces, may be temporarily closed during the assembly and dismantling of scaffolding.

The total cost of the project is estimated at €2.8 million. A fundraising campaign, titled “I Support the Bonne Mère”, has been launched to gather this amount. To date, more than €1.1 million has been raised thanks to the generosity of thousands of donors, including individuals and local businesses.

Those wishing to support this initiative can do so by sponsoring one or more gold leaves via the dedicated platform or by sending a cheque made payable to the Association Diocésaine de Marseille. A donation of €50 symbolically corresponds to one gold leaf. All donors will receive a tax receipt and will have their names inscribed on an ex-voto in the shape of a heart, which will be placed at the foot of the statue inside the basilica.

| HS2 ENLISTS PUBLIC IN DESIGN OF NEW GENERATION OF HIGH-SPEED TRAINS

High speed trains due to run on HS2 and further north on the West Coast Main Line will help deliver a “step-change in the passenger experience”, engineers said today, as detailed designs for the new fleet are finalised.

In the most extensive project of its kind seen in the UK, the public has been put at the heart of refining designs for the interior of the 54 trains. The process is being taken forward by West Coast Partnership Development (WCPD), HS2 Ltd and its manufacturing partner, joint venture Hitachi-Alstom High Speed (HAH-S).

Since the start of this year, a range of customer groups, including those with reduced mobility, cyclists and young families, have been invited to experience life-sized wooden mock-ups of the trains at the HAH-S facility in Derby – helping engineers to understand the levels of ease, accessibility and comfort.

The process included reviewing different options around boarding and alighting from the train, the positioning of grab rails to aid mobility and support, and testing the layout of toilets – particularly for wheelchair customers.

Life-sized mock-ups were also made of other sections of the train including, the café, and child buggy storage.

It forms part of a refinement process – supported by market research – that enables the final designs to be adjusted to fully meet the needs of passengers and staff. Although similar processes have previously been used in the development of rolling stock, this is believed to be the most extensive user development exercise ever undertaken for a new train fleet built in the UK.

Twenty groups have provided feedback on the designs so far as part of a process organised by WCPD, the train’s future operator. They also used insights from their ‘customer community’ – a consumer focus group of 5,000 people who have a mix of travelling needs. This underlines the scale of the progress that has already been made as part of the complex development of HS2’s fully electric trains that will offer unparalleled levels of reliability, speed and comfort and will help in the fight against climate change.

Passengers like to be able to see their luggage throughout journeys, so designers have maximised both overhead and under seat storage space to accommodate a variety of baggage and case sizes in an effort to enhance convenience and reduce stress levels.

As part of the design, a carefully-considered mix of airline-style seats in rows and four table seats is provided throughout the train to ensure there is a seat for everyone’s needs and with generous legroom.

With feedback from user group sessions, designers have repositioned grab handles near the doors, created a ‘step-free’ solution at HS2 stations for passengers, rearranged USB-C sockets and tray tables, and adjusted wheelchair spaces to give a much better customer experience.

Once the train’s designs are finalised, full production will start around 2027.

HS2’s trains will offer direct services between London and the West Midlands plus services further north via the West Coast Main Line.

| EARNING POINTS FOR LUFTHANSA GROUP FREQUENT FLYER STATUS NOW ALSO POSSIBLE ON ITA AIRWAYS FLIGHTS

The integration of ITA Airways into the Lufthansa Group is making further progress: Miles & More members can now also earn Points for their frequent flyer status on ITA Airways flights in addition to miles. By Points, Qualifying Points and – in Business Class – HON Circle Points, they will have even more opportunities to obtain or achieve Lufthansa Group frequent flyer status in future. The number of Points is awarded on ITA Airways flights according to the same system as for the other Lufthansa Group airlines and the co-issuing Miles & More airline partners.

ITA Airways has been a member of the Lufthansa Group since January 17, 2025, offering passengers additional benefits and improvements. Miles & More members already have the opportunity to earn and redeem miles on ITA Airways flights. In addition, members of Volare, the frequent flyer program of ITA Airways, can also earn and redeem Volare Points on Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines. The offer to qualify for Lufthansa Group status on flights with ITA Airways with immediate effect is another important step in the collaboration.

“It is great to see how quickly the integration of ITA Airways into the Lufthansa Group is progressing,” says Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group. “This is a significant strategic step as loyalty is a key success factor of this integration, since we can offer seamless benefits and an even more comprehensive offering to our loyal passengers.”

“I am delighted for the most loyal customers of the Lufthansa Group airlines, which now also includes ITA Airways. For them, the new opportunity to earn Points for Lufthansa Group frequent flyer status is a great benefit,” says Caroline Drischel, Senior Vice President Customer Journey Lufthansa Group. “This gives our frequent flyers more opportunities to achieve or maintain their status – and thus enjoy exclusive benefits.”

Welcome promotion for members: 6,000 additional miles

To welcome the Italian airline to the Lufthansa Group, Miles & More members will benefit from a special welcome offer: Anyone flying with ITA Airways between March 1 and April 15, 2025 will earn 2,000 additional miles for two continental flights and 4,000 additional miles for two intercontinental flights, regardless of the travel class. To do so, participants simply activate the offer by March 31, 2025 at

| MICROSOFT UNVEILS NEW QUANTUM COMPUTER CHIP

Microsoft hasannounced it had manufactured a computer chip it claims will completely revolutionise how quantum computers will operate. The promise of quantum computing goes way beyond science labs, touching on everything from designing self-healing materials for construction to optimising catalysts that break down plastics into harmless byproducts.

Unlike conventional quantum bits (qubits) made from known semiconductors or superconducting materials, the new chip,  called Majorana 1, is based on something entirely new: “topoconductors”. These materials can produce a new state of matter, a topologic state, rather than a traditional solid, liquid, or gas. The company claims its “topological superconductor” could accelerate the conception of a useful quantum computer in years rather than decades.

Quantum computing has often been hailed as the next frontier in technology, promising to solve problems far beyond the capabilities of today’s most powerful supercomputers. Yet for years, researchers have wrestled with how to build a machine that can handle the demanding physics behind qubits, the core units of information in quantum systems, without collapsing under “noise”, instability, and scaling challenges.

A Different Take On Qubits

At the heart of Microsoft’s advance is its new topoconductor material, developed from a stack of indium arsenide (a semiconductor), and aluminum, (a superconductor). The result is a completely clean and dust-free  environment that supports elusive quantum particles known as Majoranas, named in honour of Italian theoretical physicist Ettore Majorana who did some pioneering work on neutrinos and other subatomic particles in the 1930s.

Majorana particles are theoretically one of the most reliable ways to store quantum information. By their extraordinary properties, they help protect data from environmental interference or “noise”, keeping the delicate quantum states intact. Traditionally, qubits are incredibly sensitive, prone to “decoherence” as soon as they interact with unwanted electromagnetic signals, temperature fluctuations, or even the slightest disturbance. This fragility has long been a sort of a technical barrier, hindering the development of reliable quantum computers.

Australia has been a major player in the field of quantum computer development. The National Quantum Strategy is the Australian government’s plan to develop the quantum industry and is investing heavily in various ventures and betting big on quantum science and quantum computing, with a 1 billion-dollar investment in the PsiQuantum computer based in Brisbane. Much of the initial research that Microsoft has based its quantum computing strategy on has in fact, come out of the University of Sydney.

If developments proceed as predicted, the Majorana 1 chip will not only be a turning point for Microsoft, but it could represent a fundamental shift in the way that everything from advanced materials to pharmaceuticals, to complex environmental solutions are designed.

| OLAF PLAYS PIVOTAL ROLE IN UNCOVERING 100 MILLION EUR SUSPECTED SUBSIDY FRAUD WITH LINKS TO ORGANISED CRIME

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) played a key role in exposing a sophisticated fraud scheme involving EU funding worth over 100 million EUR. The investigation uncovered alleged fraud and forgery in documents for water supply and wastewater infrastructure projects financed by the European Cohesion Fund in Romania.

Following a request from the EPPO, OLAF launched several investigations, focusing on the authenticity and traceability of the documents submitted by companies participating in calls for tenders in Romania. These companies managed to secure eight contracts for drinking water distribution and sewage rehabilitation projects worth over 100 million EUR.

In the framework of its investigations, OLAF gathered evidence indicating a complex fraud mechanism using companies established in Italy and Romania between 2018-2021.

To meet the financial and technical criteria required by the contracting authorities, the Romanian companies claimed an annual turnover of their associates of between 42 and 63 million EUR over a 3-year period. OLAF’s investigation revealed that the real turnover was 30 times lower. OLAF also found that after winning the tenders, the bidders transferred a percentage of the total contract value to the associates.

One of the companies under investigation was later also found to have been placed under administrative interdiction order by Italian authorities under anti-mafia legislation, effectively banning it from public contracts and certain business activities, due to its suspected ties to organised crime.

Additionally, OLAF identified fake contracts for construction projects in Iraq. According to the winning companies, their associates claimed to have executed design and construction works for drinking water in the country worth around 31 million EUR through its Iraqi branch. OLAF provided evidence that such project, in fact, never existed.

Director-General Ville Itälä welcomed the results: “This case demonstrates how suspects attempted to manipulate the EU’s financial system for their own gain and at the expense of European taxpayers. Thanks to OLAF’s investigative expertise and the valuable cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, we were able to uncover the sophisticated scheme and help ensure that justice will be served. This is a clear example of how EU institutions working together can effectively protect public funding and uphold the integrity of EU financial interests.” 

For the investigations already finalised, OLAF has recommended that the European Commission recover €20 million, representing the total amount paid from the Cohesion Fund for the suspected fraudulent contracts.

| ROMANIA: EPPO ARRESTS RINGLEADER OF €100 MILLION FRAUD SCHEME WITH MAFIA TIES

A suspected ringleader of a €100 million subsidy fraud was arrested last week, following an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) into a criminal organisation believed to have mafia ties. According to the investigation, the suspect, an Italian citizen, operated a criminal group dedicated to systematic fraud involving EU funding.

He was detained in Bucharest “Henri Coanda” International Airport while trying to flee Romania, and placed in pre-trial detention by the Bucharest Tribunal, on EPPO’s request. Two other suspected members of the criminal organisation were placed under judiciary control.

According to the investigation, the members of the criminal group used two Italian companies to participate in calls for tenders to obtain EU funding, organised by public authorities in Romania, in the field of construction and rehabilitation of drinking water distribution and the sewage system, as associates of Romanian companies or as third party supporters.

One of the companies under investigation had previously received an anti-mafia prohibition from the Italian authorities, which excludes it from obtaining public contributions, according to the Italian Anti-mafia Code.

Through the Italian companies, the suspects participated in 18 calls for tenders, worth €240 million in EU funding, financed by the Large Infrastructure Operational Program (LIOP) 2014-2020. They managed to win eight tenders, as associates or supporters of Romanian companies, worth over €100 million.

In order to prove their financial capacity and experience in similar projects, they allegedly provided false documents, including balance sheets certifying that the Italian companies had an average annual turnover of over €50 million. In reality, the turnover was 30 times lower. They also presented contracts for the execution of works in Iraq which, based on the evidence, did not correspond to the truth.

In addition, according to the investigation, the two companies did not deliver any works or services. The contracts were executed by the Romanian companies they were associated with, without any contribution from the Italian firms.

The case was reported to the EPPO by national authorities, after suspicions of possible serious irregularities and fraud. The investigation counted on the support of the Romanian Police – Special Operations Department (Directia Operatiuni Speciale din cadrul Politiei Romane) and the EPPO Support Structure in Romania. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) also conducted a complementary investigation, in cooperation with EPPO.

All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent Romanian courts of law.

The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.