MIL Email Publisher – Foreign Submissions

Remote First Nations communities in Australia experience ongoing energy insecurity due to geographic isolation, reliance on diesel, and uneven consumer protections relative to grid-connected households – so experts are navigating the many complicated factors to guide transition to clean energy supply.

Professor Apel Mahmud, Professor in Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Flinders University, with colleagues are seeking more sustainable ways for remote communities to improve a reliable power supply.

He believes a viable solution for community energy systems features solar-battery systems that significantly improve reliability and affordability by reducing reliance on diesel generators and delivering tangible household benefits.

In recent decades, renewable energy projects – incorporating solar photovoltaic (PV) generation, BESS (battery energy storage systems) and other renewable technologies – have been launched to bring reliable power to First Nations communities and slash their dependence on expensive diesel.

In a new article published in Energies, with Macquarie University researcher Dr Tushar Kanti Roy, Professor Mahmud has found that these systems are proving effective.

“Across remote First Nations communities, diesel-dominant electricity supply systems consistently underperform on affordability and reliability, while well-designed solar-battery systems deliver clear benefits in both areas,” he says.

However, Professor Mahmud has also identified an ongoing gap in protection for off-grid consumers.

“Consumer outcomes remain constrained by persistent regulatory gaps, particularly the lack of consistent protections for off-grid customers,” he says.

“This is reflected in the high rates of disconnection recorded in remote communities, underscoring the urgency of pairing technical improvements with rights-aligned consumer safeguards.

“The solutions I have proposed illustrate that technical upgrades, robust consumer protections and community governance must advance together to realise energy sovereignty and close the equity gap.”

Professor Mahmud proposes a practical agenda to improve electricity supply systems for First Nations community energy systems through advanced community microgrids (including long-duration storage), intelligent energy management and monitoring systems, rights-aligned consumer mechanisms for customers with prepaid metering systems, fit-for-purpose regulation, innovative blended finance and on-country workforce development.

“A smart energy solution requires an integrated framework that couples technical performance with equity, cultural authority and energy sovereignty,” he says. “This will offer reliable, affordable and clean electricity for remote First Nations communities.”

Professor Mahmud says priority actions should include:

Piloting modular vertical-axis wind clusters alongside solar-battery systems, to strengthen evening and seasonal electricity supply.
Codifying “no-worse-off” consumer protections, to cover transparent billing, hardship assistance, life-support safeguards and access to dispute resolution for all households, regardless of their grid connection.
Standardising rights-aligned, pre-paid crediting systems, to integrate renewable benefits directly into household accounts.
Deploying AI/IoT-enabled monitoring platforms with on-country training to ensure long-term system performance and local engagement.

“When these measured are coupled with fit-for-purpose financing models, tailored policy reforms, and sustained investment in local skills, they can deliver reliable, affordable, and culturally aligned electricity services for remote First Nations communities.”

Professor Mahmud believes that such an integrated approach ensures clean energy transition is technologically achievable but also socially just by placing community leadership, cultural authority and equity at the centre of Australia’s energy future.

The article, 'Electricity supply systems for First Nations communities in remote Australia: Evidence, consumer protections and pathways to energy equity' 2025 by Md Apel Mahmud and Tushar Kanti Roy (School of Engineering, Macquarie University) has been published in Energies.  Published: 26 September 2025 DOI: 10.3390/en18195130

2024 was the hottest year on record globally with most countries in Asia and the Pacific having experienced episodes of extreme heat. Extreme heat risk in the region is accelerating and increasingly impacting food systems, public health, cities, rural livelihoods, infrastructure and oceans, according to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2025: Rising Heat, Rising Risk.

As countries experience more intense and prolonged heat events which spill across borders, the need for coordinated, forward-looking policy responses has become urgent. The report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is expected to serve as a shared reference for policy action at national and regional levels.

The report will be released next week during the ninth session of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction, which brings together senior policymakers and experts to review the expanding disaster risk landscape and explore areas of cooperation to strengthen the region's resilience. This year, discussions will also spotlight three strategic fronts for action: placing heat at the centre of multi-hazard planning; designing cooler, more liveable cities through both technology and nature-based solutions; and deepening regional cooperation on data, early warning systems and innovation.
 
What: Ninth Session of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction

When: 26 – 28 November 2025  

Where: United Nations Conference Centre, Ratchadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok

Full programme: https://www.unescap.org/events/2025/committee-disaster-risk-reduction-ninth-session

Full report (available 26 November onward): https://repository.unescap.org/items/7937ad24-14e7-4cf6-8306-9cc03596da6d

About UN ESCAP

November 18 2025 – A global reset is unfolding across AI and tech markets as investors confront the limits of a model that has powered equity gains for two years, warns the CEO of a global financial advisory giant.

The warning from Nigel Green of deVere Group follows four sessions of heavy selling across world indices, with the Nikkei sliding 3% and major US benchmarks closing firmly lower, signal that enthusiasm alone can no longer support valuations that rest on flawless execution.

This shift is accelerating ahead of Nvidia's critical earnings report on Wednesday, widely viewed as the market's most important moment of the quarter.

Nigel Green, chief executive of deVere Group, says the next few weeks will set the tone for 2026.

“AI has been the engine of global markets for two years, but the phase of unchecked optimism is giving way to a sharper focus on resilience.

“Investors want proof that spending translates into dependable earnings growth. The companies that deliver that clarity will lead the next stage.”

The market's repricing reflects concerns that have been building throughout the latest earnings cycle.

Tech giants produced a series of divergent results, underscoring the sector's split between firms that can convert AI infrastructure into immediate returns and those relying on longer-dated promises.

Alphabet and Amazon strengthened their reputations as disciplined operators, while Meta and Microsoft encountered swift pushback as higher capital commitments unsettled shareholders. Tesla's weaker profitability added to the unease, and Nvidia's report now stands at the centre of the recalibration.

“Investors are assessing strategy in real time,” says the deVere CEO.

“They're rewarding companies that show control over investment and demonstrate that AI adoption is enhancing margins. The market is far less forgiving when spending outpaces revenue potential.”

Nvidia's upcoming results tomorrow represent the most consequential test yet.

Expectations for another year-on-year surge in revenue and earnings have pushed the valuation into territory where any deviation, even a small one, could alter sentiment fast. The company's Blackwell platform, the absorption of earlier Hopper supply, sovereign AI contracts and the pace of hyperscaler demand will all influence how investors judge the durability of AI spending through next year.

Nigel Green notes: “The bar set for Nvidia is extraordinary. The reaction will not hinge on scale alone. Investors want to see whether profitability is expanding in line with investment.

“This is the benchmark for the entire AI complex.”

Policy shifts under President Donald Trump add another layer of scrutiny. Washington's export controls continue to reshape access to advanced computing in China, while domestic priorities around supply-chain security and technological self-sufficiency are influencing capital-allocation strategies across the industry.

These dynamics make Nvidia's forward guidance especially significant, as it will shape expectations for global AI investment through 2026.

“The policy environment is evolving quickly,” says Nigel Green. “Companies operating at the core of advanced computing must show how they adapt. Investors will study every signal that reveals how firms intend to align growth plans with geopolitical realities.”

The recent rout in global equities reveals how sensitive markets have become to any sign of overstretch. Wall Street's pullback, led by renewed pressure on AI-linked names, highlights the fragility beneath headline gains.

The S&P 500 slipping below a key technical level on Monday reinforced the idea that investors are reassessing risk appetite after an extended period of concentration in a handful of tech leaders.

Nigel Green emphasises that discipline will shape outcomes next year. “AI remains transformational, but the market is changing fast.

“Selectivity has moved from advantage to necessity.

“Investors who understand the distinction between scale and sustainable returns will be best-positioned for the opportunities emerging on the other side of this adjustment.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

Healthcare spending in Switzerland continues to grow – and at a faster rate than in the past. Forecasts by the KOF Institute show that total healthcare expenditure in Switzerland is set to rise from just under CHF 94 billion in 2023 to CHF 109.6 billion in 2027. This represents an increase of CHF 15.6 billion within four years.

The KOF Institute's healthcare expenditure forecast predicts that healthcare costs will continue to grow at a high rate this year (3.7 per cent), next year (3.6 per cent) and in 2027 (3.5 per cent). The average annual increase over the forecast period (2024 to 2027) will be 3.9 per cent, following 3.1 per cent over the previous ten years and 3.5 per cent over the entire historical period since 1997. Growth rates are therefore above the average for recent years and, accordingly, no slowdown in cost growth is expected in Switzerland in the com-ing years. The steady growth in healthcare spending is mainly due to greater consumption of these services (volume expansion).

Growing economic relevance of the healthcare sector

The growing importance of this sector becomes clear if we compare healthcare expenditure with total eco-nomic output: its share of gross domestic product (GDP) will have risen from 8.9 per cent (1997) to 12.2 per cent (2027) within 30 years. A comparison of the 38 OECD countries for 2024 ranks Switzerland fourth. Healthcare spending in Switzerland is therefore high by international standards. However, the Swiss healthcare system also tends to rank highly in terms of the usual quality indicators.

Long-term care as the main cost driver: premiums expected to rise in the medium term

From a service perspective, the forecast shows long-term care as the main driver, followed by outpatient treatment, while inpatient treatment continues to decrease as a share of the total. In terms of service provid-ers, doctors' surgeries and outpatient centres, hospitals and social care institutions (nursing homes) dominate growth. The retail sector – mainly pharmacies – contributes only marginally to growth, while the state is be-coming less important again after the pandemic-related increase. As far as funding is concerned, compulsory health insurance (OKP) continues to bear the brunt of the higher costs, which implies rising premiums – at least in the medium term. The cantons also bear a significant share of the increase in expenditure.

Major challenges in the healthcare system

From a macroeconomic perspective it is not problematic per se if healthcare spending accounts for an in-creasing share of an economy's total expenditure in an ageing society. However, the Swiss healthcare sys-tem faces major challenges ranging from issues of efficiency, quality and distribution to digital technology and the use of artificial intelligence, the security of the supply of medicines, and tackling the crisis of antibiotic resistance.

November 18 2025 – Bitcoin has erased more than a trillion dollars' worth of crypto market value in six weeks, forcing the market to confront how much borrowed money had been propping up positions across the sector.

This is the analysis of Nigel Green, CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organizations as global stocks and risk-on assets extend losses.

In this context, 'leverage' means some traders had been using borrowed funds to boost the size of their positions.

When prices fell, those positions were automatically closed by exchanges, creating forced selling that intensified the decline. It is a mechanical process that can make routine pullbacks look more dramatic than the fundamentals justify.

Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, says this leverage reset is the core driver of the current crypto downturn.

“This is leverage being cleared out. When traders borrow heavily to magnify positions, any reversal triggers liquidations that accelerate the move,” he says.

“The long-term case for Bitcoin, among other major digital assets, remains intact.”

He adds that the sell-off is unfolding against a backdrop of broader unease. Investors are focused on softer labor-market signals, the sustainability of AI and tech valuations, tariff effects under President Donald Trump's administration, and the direction of US interest rates.

These factors have created a cautious mood across speculative assets.

“People are worried about jobs, about whether the AI and tech surge can keep its pace, about tariffs, and about upcoming Fed policy decisions,” explains the CEO.

“These concerns are shaping sentiment, but they don't alter the structural trajectory for Bitcoin and/or standout AI and tech opportunities.”

deVere's analysis indicates that the market is being driven more by sentiment than by long-term fundamentals.

Pricing already reflects a substantial degree of caution. As clarity emerges on labor-market trends and policy signals, confidence can be expected to rebuild quickly.

“History teaches us that these phases have reversed faster than expected once the pressure points begin to ease.

“When fear dominates and leverage unwinds, the foundations of the next recovery, typically, start to appear,” he comments.

“Investors are waiting for a broader improvement in confidence. Confidence tends to rebuild rapidly when the excess leverage is out of the system.”

Nigel Green concludes: “Sentiment can turn quickly. Currently, markets need greater confidence from investors as a whole, and that confidence is likely to return once the major concerns lift.”

2025 Most Loved Retailer Report appoints Adore Beauty as Australia’s most beloved retailer, bumping last year’s champion THE ICONIC by one point

Power Retail’s second annual ‘Most Loved Retailer’ report is once again revealing Australia’s favourite retailers.

Cosmetics juggernaut Adore Beauty comes in first place this year, rising through the ranks from 6th place in 2024. The reason behind the climb? In addition to providing a seamless online shopping experience, customers are loving the surprise Tim Tam they receive with each purchase, proving that the little perks go a long way in 2025.

Power Retail surveyed over 3,000 Australian respondents – with a qualifier that they must have purchased online from the retailers within the last 6 months – and developed the 35-page report that details the leaders in retail right now and what they are doing to get it right with consumers in today’s highly competitive landscape.

Refining their methodology from last year, Power Retail developed an enhanced index – the Power Retail Index for Customer Experience (PRICE) to calculate a composite score for each retailer, which offers a holistic view of the customer journey. The PRICE score incorporates three industry-recognised metrics:

• Net Promoter Score (NPS): Likelihood to recommend
• Customer Satisfaction (CSAT): Overall satisfaction
• Effort Rating: Ease of interaction.

Based on these, retailers are grouped into four performance categories:

• Champions (High CSAT, High NPS): Outstanding customer satisfaction and advocacy
• Critical Advocates (Low CSAT, High NPS): Recommended by customers, but with areas to improve
• Potential Promoters (High CSAT, Low NPS): Customers are satisfied, but less likely to advocate
• Growth Opportunity (Low CSAT, Low NPS): Underperforming on both fronts.

With a total PRICE score of 248, Adore Beauty took the #1 spot, narrowly edging out THE ICONIC with a score of 247. Rounding out the top ten are Dan Murphy’s, Appliances Online, Kmart, Mecca, Chemist Warehouse, Bonds, Myer, and BCF.

Only four retailers returned to the top ten this year, with Mecca and Bonds joining Adore Beauty and THE ICONIC as repeat players.

Sacha Laing, CEO of Adore Beauty, shares: “From day one Adore Beauty has always strived to deliver an exceptional experience for our customers, and that focus continues to inform our strategy. From maximising the brands and products we carry to the conversations and content we create for our community, our approach to customer education and engagement is always to meet them where they are and empower them to make the right choice for their needs.”

Joanna Robinson, THE ICONIC Chief Marketing Officer, shares: “At THE ICONIC, our purpose is to create a better way to shop, and that commitment drives every decision we make. We set the standards by relentlessly innovating across the customer journey, from free returns to market leading delivery options like our new 24/7 ParcelLockers and the expansion of same-day delivery into Melbourne and Brisbane via our Twilight Delivery service. Our customers trust us for the reliability and flexibility these services provide. We’re always listening and evolving, whether it’s through our personable and responsive CX team, or community listening across our social channels. Ultimately, it’s our tech-first mindset and genuine care for our customers that drive the outstanding feedback and loyalty we’re so proud of.”

Compared to 2024, the factors that gave retailers an edge this year, and ultimately a higher index score came down to a combination of ease, trust, and added perks that keep shoppers loyal and coming back for more.

Rosalea Catterson, Editor at Power Retail, shares: “As the cost of living in Australia continues to rise, consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of how and where they spend their money. The retailers that stand out are those that blend modern convenience with personalised service, offer real value through loyalty programs, and engage customers in meaningful ways. Fast and convenient delivery is also major highlight for several brands, such as THE ICONIC, Appliances Online and Adore Beauty and extra touches like surprise Tim Tams, bonus samples and white glove service elevate the delivery experience and make it memorable.”

Of all product categories surveyed, the top ranked retailers included:

• Fashion & Accessories: Bonds; Country Road; Uniqlo; Foot Locker; Cotton On
• Electric & Office: Appliances Online; JB Hi-Fi; Officeworks; The Good Guys; Dyson
• Home & Décor: Adairs; Spotlight; Pillow Talk; Kitchen Warehouse; Dusk
• Sports & Leisure: Rebel; Adidas; Nike; JD Sports; The Athlete’s Foot
• Health & Beauty: Adore Beauty; Mecca; Chemist Warehouse; Priceline; Sephora
• Department Stores: Kmart; Myer; Big W; Harris Scarfe; David Jones.

Amongst different selling channels and age demographics, the top ranked retailers are:

• Australians between 18-34: Mecca; Adore Beauty; Bonds; THE ICONIC; Bunnings Warehouse
• Australians 34+: Appliances Online; THE ICONIC; Adore Beauty; Dan Murphy’s; BCF.

Catterson adds: “The 18-34 age group places high value on emotional connection and loyalty programs that offer unique experiences and social rewards. These shoppers are influenced by brand storytelling, authenticity and retailers that demonstrate a clear social conscience.

Meanwhile, the 34+ shoppers have convenience front of mind. They rate the brands that deliver on promises like fast, reliable delivery, straightforward returns, and excellent customer service. Retailers that also offer a wide product range and integrate online and offline channels seamlessly by offering click-and-collect, flexible delivery options, and consistent service across touchpoints, are earning higher ratings.”

By Marcus Rossato, Head of Marketing APJ, Klaviyo says, “According to Klaviyo research conducted with marketing guru James Hurman, one of the biggest drivers of high customer satisfaction is customer service. Get it right, and you help develop a strong emotional connection with people. Get it wrong, and you turn people off your brand very quickly.

“Our research shows that exceptional customer service has a greater impact on revenue growth than simply improving customer retention. When customer service and marketing work together, brands can elevate their personalisation, strengthen customer relationships, and inspire people to spend more.”

For more data from Power Retail and to review the full report, please visit: 2025 Most Loved Retailers Report Request – Power Retail: https://powerretail.com.au/2025-most-loved-retailers-report-request/

November 13 2025 – The US government shutdown has ended but now all investors' eyes turn to critical data that has been missing, says the CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group.

The comments from Nigel Green come as federal agencies begin recovering after being inactive since October 1, with employees returning on Thursday and departments preparing for a slow return to full function after forty-three days offline.

President Donald Trump has signed the funding bill that reopens government operations following the narrow House vote. Services restart immediately, yet the federal bureaucracy now faces a substantial backlog.

Markets welcomed the end of the impasse, although the political resolution does not settle the market narrative.

Investors now confront the arrival of delayed reports that will determine whether the economy continues to cool at a measured pace or whether conditions deteriorated more than expected during the shutdown.

Nigel Green says: “The reopening matters for the country, but the meaning for investors is found in the information that returns from this week. We move into a stretch when multiple, critical delayed reports land in quick succession.

“Markets have been trading without the numbers that normally shape expectations, and this changes the dynamic.”

The labor market is central to this shift. Private-sector data produced during the shutdown showed job losses averaging more than eleven thousand a week through late October.

The Chicago Federal Reserve's real-time unemployment estimate suggested a slight rise from September. These indicators implied that the labor market may be losing momentum after a long stretch of resilience.

Yet these figures arrived without the usual confirmation from government releases, and investors now wait to see whether official data aligns with those signals.

Nigel Green says: “The labor market holds the key to the next stage. Evidence from private studies points to cooling conditions.

“Investors need official confirmation to judge whether this cooling is modest and manageable or something more serious. The next reports give the Federal Reserve the clarity it has lacked during the shutdown.”

Expectations for the December policy decision remain mixed. A large share of economists see room for a rate cut if upcoming releases confirm that hiring has slowed without collapsing and that inflation retains its downward direction. Others argue that the Fed may wait for more than one month of clean data before acting.

This debate gives the next set of labor and inflation reports considerable influence over broader sentiment.

Nigel Green says: “The possibility of a December reduction stays open. Before October, inflation was easing and the labor market was softening.

“If the data supports that pattern, the conversation moves toward a more supportive policy setting. Investors then find renewed interest in US equities, especially Big Tech and companies tied to demand and investment growth.”

Government operations resuming this week help restore confidence in the broader functioning of the economy, although the administrative restart will not be quick.

“Agencies need time to process the backlog of filings, payments and regulatory work that accumulated during the shutdown.

“For the markets, the operational detail matters less than the fact that statistical releases now return to the calendar with full federal oversight restored.

Nigel Green says: “The federal system can finally perform its role. Investors now receive the information that guides the final stretch of the year. The shutdown attracted headlines, but the real story begins with the flood of data that's about to be published.”

He concludes: “This is a decisive phase as investors want confirmation that the economy can support the momentum seen through November.

“With agencies coming back to life, the focus turns to the numbers that will show the true state of hiring, spending and prices.

“These will shape the remainder of the year and determine whether current investor positioning is justified or not.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

ONEKEY IoT & OT Cybersecurity Report 2025: The Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) poses new challenges for organizations, particularly when it comes to defining responsibilities across departments and functions.

Düsseldorf, 13 November 2025 – The EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) requires industry players to take extensive measures starting this year to ensure the secure development and monitoring of products that can withstand hacker attacks. However, the question of who is responsible for complying with this EU regulation to strengthen product cybersecurity remains largely unresolved across the industrial sector. This is one of the findings of the latest IoT & OT Cybersecurity Report by Düsseldorf-based cybersecurity company ONEKEY. For the study, 300 organizations were surveyed about their CRA strategies for Operational Technology (OT), such as industrial control systems, and the Internet of Things (IoT), from smart buildings to industrial robots.

CRA Covers a Broad Range of Topics

According to the survey, the main responsibility for meeting CRA requirements lies with IT security in 46 percent of companies. In just over one-fifth (21 percent), the compliance department holds primary responsibility. In 18 percent of cases, top management is in charge, followed by the legal department in 16 percent, and product development in 15 percent of the organizations surveyed. “The responsibilities need to be more clearly defined and consolidated,” said Jan Wendenburg, CEO of ONEKEY, analyzing the results. “The wide range of CRA stakeholders within the industry reflects the fact that the regulation itself covers a broad spectrum of topics,” he explained.

Manufacturers of connected products must now design their devices, machines, and systems to be secure from the ground up (security by design) and ensure that they continue to meet CRA requirements throughout their entire lifecycle. “This is clearly an area where engineering and product development play a central role,” said Jan Wendenburg, CEO of ONEKEY. In addition, vendors are required to report any actively exploited vulnerabilities and serious incidents affecting the security of their products within 24 hours to the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and the relevant national Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT). “That responsibility typically falls to the IT security department,” explained Jan Wendenburg.

Suppliers are also obligated to provide regular security updates to fix known vulnerabilities and maintain product safety. Equally important is maintaining comprehensive documentation for all products, including a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM), which ensures full transparency and traceability of all software components used. “These tasks usually fall under the remit of development and production,” said Jan Wendenburg.

However, the related documentation proving compliance with CRA requirements is primarily the responsibility of product management, working closely with the compliance department, he added. Violations of the EU regulation can result in fines of up to €15 million or 2.5 percent of global annual turnover, whichever is higher—making this a critical issue for corporate legal teams. Finally, the risk of personal liability for executives and board members should not be underestimated, which explains why top management is increasingly becoming directly involved in the practical implementation of the Cyber Resilience Act.

Jan Wendenburg emphasized: “The Cyber Resilience Act is truly cross-departmental and cross-functional, which means responsibility within organizations is not immediately clear. What may first appear to be confusion over accountability is, on closer inspection, understandable. The challenge for industry lies in meeting the full scope of the EU regulation.”

Software Development Scarcely Involved—Despite the Critical Role of the SBOM

The study revealed a wide range of roles involved in CRA implementation across organizations. In 18 percent of organizations, product managers are responsible for CRA compliance, followed by compliance officers in 17 percent, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in 15 percent, and cybersecurity analysts in 11 percent. Surprisingly, heads of software development are responsible in only 8 percent of companies, even though the Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) represents a crucial element for fulfilling CRA requirements. Under the regulation, all manufacturers delivering connected products to the EU are required to provide an SBOM as part of their technical documentation. This document must include detailed information about every individual software component, ensuring transparency, traceability, and accountability throughout the product's lifecycle.

“The SBOM is the weakest link in the compliance chain for the Cyber Resilience Act,” said Jan Wendenburg, CEO of ONEKEY. He explained: “The CRA requires a precise inventory of all components, libraries, frameworks, and dependencies — including exact version numbers, license information, and an overview of all known vulnerabilities. If even one of these components contains an exploitable vulnerability that has already been used in an attack, the affected product or software version may not be placed on the market. For existing products, authorities must be notified within 24 hours. Considering that more than 2,000 new software vulnerabilities emerge every month, this is no easy task — and without automated verification, it's practically impossible to manage.”

Over 40 Percent of Companies Now Have CRA-Specific Structures

To understand how organizations are addressing the cross-functional and interdisciplinary requirements of the Cyber Resilience Act, ONEKEY asked whether firms have created dedicated collaboration structures. The findings: 28 percent have set up working groups across departments, while 13 percent have even formed dedicated CRA teams. Nearly a third (32 percent) of respondents, however, have no specific team structure for handling CRA compliance.

Among the companies with dedicated structures, 18 percent said their CRA teams include four to ten people, and 15 percent said up to three people are involved. In nearly 8 percent of cases, more than ten employees work on CRA implementation — covering everything from product development and SBOM creation to vulnerability management and compliance processes.

“It's encouraging that more than 40 percent of organizations have established some form of internal structure to manage CRA implementation,” Jan Wendenburg noted. “Ultimately, cybersecurity isn't about ticking regulatory boxes — it's about protecting the company from increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks with potentially dramatic consequences.”

ONEKEY offers a fully automated Product & Cybersecurity Compliance Platform that streamlines SBOM creation, vulnerability management, and compliance verification — saving organizations significant time, cost, and effort.

For companies just beginning their CRA journey, ONEKEY also provides a CRA Readiness Assessment Workshop, offering a hands-on introduction to the regulation. Participants learn how the CRA specifically impacts their organization and receive a personalized evaluation plan. Through a detailed process review, the workshop assesses key areas such as software development and vulnerability management, while a gap analysis identifies compliance weaknesses and provides practical steps for remediation. At the end of the workshop, each company receives a tailored roadmap showing how to structure and efficiently implement CRA requirements in a way that strengthens both compliance and cybersecurity resilience.

ONEKEY is the leading European specialist in Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Management and part of the investment portfolio of PricewaterhouseCoopers Germany (PwC). The unique combination of the automated ONEKEY Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Platform (OCP) with expert knowledge and consulting services provides fast and comprehensive analysis, support, and management to improve product cybersecurity and compliance from product purchasing, design, development, production to end-of-life.

Critical vulnerabilities and compliance violations in device firmware are automatically identified in binary code by AI-based technology in minutes – without source code, device, or network access. Proactively audit software supply chains with integrated Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) generation. “Digital Cyber Twins” enable automated 24/7 post-release cybersecurity monitoring throughout the product lifecycle.

The patent-pending, integrated ONEKEY Compliance Wizard already covers the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and requirements according to IEC 62443-4-2, ETSI EN 303 645, UNECE R 155 and many others.

The Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) is effectively supported by the integrated automatic prioritisation of vulnerabilities, significantly reducing the time to remediation.

Leading international companies in Asia, Europe and the Americas already benefit from the ONEKEY Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Platform (OCP) and ONEKEY Cybersecurity Experts.

November 13 2025 – UK recession concerns are rising sharply after the latest figures revealed a far weaker run of growth and a notable rise in unemployment ahead of the November 26 Budget, warns the CEO of a global financial advisory giant.

The warning from Nigel Green of deVere Group comes as new figures reveal that the UK economy expanded by only 0.1% in the third quarter while unemployment has climbed to 5%, its highest level in four years.

The combination of fading momentum and job-market stress is sharpening fears that the country is moving into a far more fragile period at the worst possible moment.

Nigel Green says: “A depressing 0.1% growth rate tells investors the economy is moving with barely any forward motion. When expansion slips to this level, confidence weakens, investment decisions slow and earnings pressure increases across the board.”

He continues: “The rise in unemployment adds another layer of concern. A shift from 4.8% to 5% may sound small, but direction always matters more than magnitude at this stage of the cycle. Once households experience income strain, the slowdown feeds through spending, borrowing and business expectations.”

Nigel Green also says: “Recession fears are rising because the signals are lining up at the same time. Weak output, higher unemployment and looming tax increases form a combination that investors cannot ignore. People are now asking whether the UK has enough underlying strength to withstand another policy squeeze.”

September's contraction, driven in part by the sharp fall in manufacturing output following the cyberattack that halted production at Jaguar Land Rover for several weeks, has underscored how vulnerable the economy is to shocks.

The drop in car and trailer output, down more than a quarter, was severe enough to reduce overall monthly GDP.

Nigel Green says: “Events like the JLR shutdown don't, typically, stay contained. They ripple across supply chains, contractors, logistics and local economies. When underlying growth is already thin, those ripples gain weight. Investors are reading this as a sign that the UK entered autumn with far less momentum than previously imagined.”

Attention now turns to the November 26 Budget, which is expected to deliver one of the tightest fiscal statements in recent years. Analysts widely expect significant tax increases at a moment when growth, confidence and employment are already under pressure.

The deVere CEO says: “The timing of this Budget could define the direction of the economy for much of next year. Investors are bracing for tax rises that will hit both households and companies. When fiscal tightening lands during a slowdown, the effects multiply. Businesses delay decisions, consumers pull back and capital waits for clarity.”

He adds: “The Chancellor faces an unenviable task. She must address fiscal pressures without tipping the country into contraction. But investors are already factoring in the likelihood of heavier tax burdens, and that is contributing to more cautious positioning.”

Fresh weakness in interest-rate-sensitive sectors, softer sterling and subdued business surveys reflect the growing sense that the country may be entering a delicate period. Markets are now questioning whether the UK has enough underlying strength to absorb tighter policy without slipping into recession.

“Markets are adjusting because the signals are pointing in the same direction. Slower growth, higher unemployment and the expectation of tax increases create a difficult backdrop. Investors understand how these forces interact, and they are preparing for a year shaped by caution rather than confidence,” comments Nigel Green.

For savers and investors, the environment demands preparation, not complacency.

Exposure to assets tied closely to domestic demand may require reassessment. Income-dependent strategies must account for employment softness. Long-term plans may need recalibration if tax policy becomes more restrictive.

Nigel Green says: “Savers and investors must not approach this phase on autopilot. They need portfolios built for resilience. They need to scrutinise how much of their wealth is linked to the UK's cycle, and whether that alignment still serves their goals. Acting early is always better than reacting late.”

He concludes: “The UK appears to be stepping into a period defined by slower growth and difficult fiscal choices. Investors must approach this moment with advice, discipline, and a clear understanding of the risks and opportunities this shift creates.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.