Warfare

• A heartfelt Chinese film by director Lan Hongchun, the final part of a Teochew-dialect family trilogy, unexpectedly triggered intense political and cultural debates in Singapore. • Han Yong May, deputy editor-in-chief of SPH’s Chinese Media Group, analyzes how the film became a catalyst for a cognitive warfare campaign. • The situation is significant because it highlights vulnerabilities in Singapore's multiracial identity and how cultural media can be weaponized for political influence.

• Industry CISOs warn that cybersecurity is evolving into an "AI vs AI" battlefield, where both threat actors and defenders utilize advanced artificial intelligence to attack and secure digital ecosystems. • Shivanath Somanathan, CISO of Star Health & Allied Insurance, highlighted that the insurance sector is a high-value target due to the sensitivity of health and personal data. • Experts emphasize that compliance must shift from a post-incident function to being embedded directly into system design and continuous monitoring cycles.

• Cyber warfare startup Twenty has successfully closed a $100 million Series B funding round led by Accel. • This latest investment brings the company's total funding to $138 million, providing significant capital to expand its operations. • The funding is critical as the company scales its cybersecurity capabilities to address evolving threats in the cyber warfare landscape.

• Australian organisations are facing an urgent need to update their cybersecurity strategies as AI and quantum computing shrink the response time available to defend against cyberwarfare. • Experts argue that traditional methods of treating vulnerabilities as isolated technical problems are no longer sufficient for modern threats. • To mitigate risk, organisations must map the complex interconnections between assets, software, identities, and infrastructure across IT, cloud, OT, and supply chains.

• The 2026 Global Peace Index reports that global peace has reached a historic low due to a record-high number of interconnected conflicts. • This decline is attributed to the "Great Fragmentation," a geopolitical shift where traditional European powers are losing influence to rising middle powers. • A rapid technological revolution in AI-driven warfare is further destabilizing the landscape, outpacing current international law and diplomatic efforts.

• The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) released the 2026 Global Peace Index on June 9, 2026, reporting that global peace has reached a historic low. • This decline is attributed to a record number of interconnected conflicts and a "Great Fragmentation" caused by the rising influence of middle powers and the waning strength of traditional European powers. • A rapid technological revolution in AI-driven warfare is further destabilizing the global landscape, as international law and diplomacy fail to keep pace with new weaponry.

• The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) released the 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI), reporting that global peace has reached a historic low. • This decline is attributed to the "Great Fragmentation," a geopolitical shift where middle powers are gaining influence while traditional European powers lose strength. • A critical driver of the instability is the rapid surge in AI-driven warfare, which is currently outpacing the development of international law and diplomacy.