MIL Email Publisher – Foreign Submissions

Port Sudan, Sudan, 12 June 2025 – For a year now, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams in Darfur have been witnessing outbreaks of measles in the four Darfur states we currently work in. While massive vaccination campaigns are finally ongoing in several locations across the region, MSF insists on the need to increase efforts to catch up on the immunisation of children who have never been vaccinated.

The first surge of measles cases observed and treated by MSF were in June 2024 in Rokero, a city in the north of the Jebel Marra Mountains in Central Darfur, where MSF teams have been running the local Ministry of Health (MoH) hospital without interruption since 2020. At the start of 2025, cases were also reported in East Jebel Marra, South Darfur and in Forbrenga, West Darfur. More recently, new surges are also being observed in Zalengei, Sortony and in Tine, East Chad – all places where MSF runs activities.

From June 2024 until the end of May 2025, more than 9,950 patients were treated for measles in health facilities run or supported by MSF in the region. Around 2,700 were complicated cases requiring hospitalisation, and 35 deaths were recorded. To manage the influx of patients, we had to expand our paediatric beds capacity in three hospitals.  

One of the root causes of this situation is the region's already low immunisation coverage. “In Forbrenga, 30% of the measles patients we are receiving are above the age of five years and only 5% of them are vaccinated. This suggests that the lack of vaccination dates back further than the recent conflict,” explains Sue Bucknell, MSF's Deputy Head of mission in West Darfur.

“The ongoing conflict is also contributing to this outbreak, constraining the capacities of medical actors to both prevent and respond to outbreaks of contagious diseases,” adds Dr Cecilia Greco, MSF Medical coordinator for Central Darfur. “Mass population displacement has made the illness spread even faster across the region, further complicating the situation.”  

Since the war broke out, constant administrative impediments and regular blockades of key supply roads have caused vaccine shortages throughout Darfur. This led to disruption in routine immunisation programmes in several locations, sometimes for months. In Sortony, for example, an internally displaced people (IDP) camp of North Darfur hosting more than 55,000 people, vaccination totally stopped from May 2024 to February 2025.

These constraints and shortages have also limited the medical actors' capacity to roll out proper response campaigns. Last year, MSF carried out several vaccination campaigns such as in November 2024 in North Jebel Marra where 9,600 children were vaccinated. However, due to limited vaccine supplies, MSF teams were forced to reduce the target and to exclude children over five, despite clear needs. This inevitably reduced the long-term impact of these campaigns. In North Jebel Marra, while the vaccination campaign initially slowed the outbreak, cases began to rise sharply again from February.

Although mass vaccination campaigns are now happening in different parts of Darfur, negotiations and procedures have been lengthy. After MSF first raised the alarm about the multiple surges it was witnessing, it took months before the Federal MoH in Port Sudan and UNICEF released the needed vaccines from their stocks: finally enabling mass vaccination campaigns to be launched in different areas of Darfur. Last week, 55,800 children from nine months to 15 years old were therefore vaccinated in Forbrenga as part of a campaign led by the MoH and supported by MSF. 93,000 more children are set to receive the vaccine in North Jebel Marra and Sortony by the end of this week, in a similar campaign.

“Even if they represent a certain achievement, these campaigns should have happened much sooner. Many measles cases and their consequences could have been prevented” says Dr Greco. “And as much as they are needed, such reactive campaigns are only a band-aid to an open wound unless massive efforts are put in place on immunisation and prevention across Darfur, including its most remote areas.”  

Bucknell highlights the threat of further outbreaks of disease unless such efforts are initiated. “Measles is not the only contagious illness currently present in Darfur with the potential to turn into outbreaks. Over the last 10 days, about 200 suspected cholera cases were brought to MSF-supported health facilities in two different Darfur states. This follows a significant cholera outbreak in Khartoum state and other parts of Sudan,” she says.

“It is essential that federal and local health authorities, UN agencies and all medical actors on the ground collaborate not only to catch up on the vaccination of all the children left behind by immunisation programmes over the years, but also to enhance their ability to respond quickly and efficiently should any other outbreaks, like cholera, start spreading over Darfur. This includes the capacity to supply vaccines in and across Sudan, without facing the same impediments anymore,” concludes Dr Greco.

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

June 11 2025 – Markets are set to rally on the announcement of a US-China trade agreement, but the structural conflict between the world's two largest economies remains intact, warns the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations.

The warning from Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, comes as President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that a deal with China is “done”, pending final sign-off from both leaders.

The agreement, reached after two days of high-level talks in London, will allow the US access to rare earth metals critical to its tech and clean energy sectors, and permits Chinese students to resume studies in American universities, both of which had become flashpoints in recent months.

The deVere Group chief executive says: “This is a headline-friendly development and markets will understandably welcome it. But beneath the surface, nothing fundamental has changed.

“This isn't a breakthrough, it's a partial restoration of a fragile status quo.”

He continues: “The reality is that this trade truce — if that's really what it is — mostly returns us to the already-tense conditions that existed before early April.

“Tariff levels remain historically elevated on both sides. Major export restrictions are still in place, and key sectors are untouched.”

The US continues to block the sale of advanced AI chips and semiconductor equipment to Chinese firms, citing national security risks.

China, meanwhile, has not gained meaningful concessions on autos, nor has it eased restrictions on outbound shipments of critical minerals in any lasting way.

“Beijing isn't getting access to the US auto market, and Washington isn't about to start selling its high-end AI technology. Neither side is treating the other all that differently than before this agreement,” says Nigel Green.

The agreement covers tactical ground, not the terrain of long-term rivalry.

It reaffirms the so-called Geneva consensus, includes a framework for rare earth supplies and student mobility, and temporarily lowers the volume of mutual recrimination. But it skirts the core issues: technology control, supply chain independence, export restrictions, and geopolitical influence.

Nigel Green warns investors not to be lulled into complacency: “Yes, markets will breathe easier in the short term.

“But the rivalry — the real contest for control of 21st-century economic power — continues unabated. This deal is more of a market management tool than a durable solution.”

deVere points to ongoing decoupling across multiple fronts: The US remains committed to reshoring critical industries, including EV batteries, semiconductors, and AI systems.

China is accelerating domestic substitution, financial insulation, and regional influence through Belt and Road initiatives and digital currency expansion.

Both countries are reshaping trade routes and payment systems to reduce interdependence.

“Two economic systems are forming,” says Nigel Green. “The US and its allies on one track, China and its partners on another. Investors need to understand the gravity of this shift. Today's agreement doesn't stop that — it merely papers over it.”

For investors, the message is mixed but actionable. Short-term sentiment is likely to turn more positive, especially for equities exposed to global trade flows, semiconductors, logistics and consumer electronics.

However, deeper strategic risks remain. Tariffs and restrictions are still in play. National security considerations still govern trade policy. And both governments retain full discretion to reverse course at any time.

“Volatility will ease briefly, but the structural risk is still there,” says Nigel Green. “We advise clients to continue diversifying geographically, build exposure to supply chain alternatives, and favour sectors that can withstand geopolitical tension.”

He concludes: “This is the world we're in now: strategic competition, periodic truces, and selective cooperation. Investors who think globally and position accordingly will come out ahead.

“This deal is good news for today's markets. But tomorrow's outlook is shaped by bigger forces.”

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.

June 11 2025 – Markets are eyeing the Federal Reserve with fresh optimism after US inflation (CPI) data came in just below expectations for the fourth straight month – but investors should not expect a rate cut just yet, warns the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations.

The May Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed annual inflation at 2.4%, matching forecasts but undershooting April's 2.5%.

Core inflation eased slightly to 2.8% year-on-year, versus the expected 2.9%. Both headline and core readings point to gradual disinflation – but the Fed is unlikely to move quickly, says deVere.

Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, comments: “Inflation is cooling – but not decisively – and with tariffs now feeding back into prices while the real economy is slowing, the Fed finds itself boxed in.

“We expect the central bank to stay on hold next week and likely through the summer. Even if markets begin pricing in cuts again, September remains uncertain.”

The inflation data follows a resilient US jobs report last Friday, which showed continued tightness in the labour market despite signs of economic softening.

“Wage growth is still strong. Consumer demand is still running. But at the same time, business investment is faltering and debt issuance is surging. It's a precarious balance,” says the deVere chief executive.

He notes that while markets may interpret the below-forecast inflation numbers as a green light for easing, it is premature.

“Today's data is helpful – but not decisive. The Fed wants to see a consistent, broad-based decline in inflation across services and goods before cutting. We're not there yet.”

In the meantime, tariffs are acting as a counterforce to disinflation, especially as a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that President Trump's “Liberation Day” tariffs could stay in force while it considers whether the White House has the legal authority to impose the levies.

“Tariffs are inflationary by design. They're now pushing against the Fed's disinflation goal at exactly the wrong moment – just as growth indicators begin to crack,” warns Nigel Green.

Against this backdrop, the deVere CEO urges investors to reassess portfolios urgently.

“Markets are walking a tightrope. Betting heavily on near-term rate cuts could be costly. Investors should remain positioned for policy stagnation, not relief.”

He adds: “Sectors with real pricing power and cost flexibility – such as automation, energy, and selected infrastructure – remain attractive. At the same time, the debt-heavy, rate-sensitive parts of the market are at risk.”

deVere also continues to flag concerns in the bond market. “With US debt issuance at record levels and foreign demand weakening, yields are likely to stay elevated. That has major implications for asset pricing and refinancing risk across the economy,” says Nigel Green.

The firm advises clients not to stay in cash. “Opportunities exist, especially globally. But you have to be active. Sitting on the sidelines might feel safe, but inflation still erodes value, and the volatility is creating entry points.”

Looking ahead to the second half of the year, deVere expects sentiment to oscillate between hopes for easing and fears of stagnation.

“Markets want a story. Today's CPI gave them a narrative of progress. But the Fed won't cut on sentiment. It will wait for data – and that data remains mixed.”

He concludes: “The inflation fight isn't over. The economy is showing cracks. Tariffs are complicating everything. The Fed won't be rushed, but the markets will keep guessing. Our message: don't guess. Get positioned correctly, now.”

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.

The Coincident and Leading Barometers rise slightly in June, breaking a sequence of three consecutive declines. However, the outlook for global economic growth remains lower in the first half of the year than expected at the beginning of the year.

In June, the Global Economic Coincident Barometer rises by 1.4 points to 93.8 points, with increases across all three major analyzed regions. The Leading Barometer, in turn, rises modestly by 0.4 points to 96.5 points, driven only by an increase in the Western Hemisphere region, while the other regions move in the opposite direction.

“In particular the Western Hemisphere – including the United States and its nearest trading partners – has this month shown clear signs of relief in the survey data underlying the two global economic barometers. The pause, and potentially the de-escalation, of the US-initiated trade war has led to improved assessments of both the current situation and outlook. However, given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the international political landscape, it is unsurprising that these improvements do not indicate a clear recovery, let alone an upswing”, evaluates KOF Director Jan-Egbert Sturm.

Coincident Barometer – regions and sectors

The 1.4-point increase in the Coincident Barometer in June results from a positive contribution of 0.9 points from the Western Hemisphere indicator, followed by 0.4 points from Asia, Pacific & Africa and 0.4 points from Europe. With this result, the Western Hemisphere indicator

AST Networks, a global provider of satellite communication and marine electronics, recently participated in a prestigious Defence Industry Exhibition and Reception held in the Netherlands, hosted by Her Excellency Joanna Roper CMG, British Ambassador to the Netherlands, and Commander James Wallington-Smith, commanding officer of HMS Sutherland. This high-profile event brought together leading British defence companies to engage with key European stakeholders in the defence maritime sectors.

Held aboard HMS Sutherland, a Royal Navy Type 23 frigate, the event served as an important diplomatic and commercial platform for strengthening international collaboration, innovation exchange, and sovereign defence capabilities. For AST Networks, the exhibition provided an unparalleled opportunity to engage with military and governmental representatives from the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the United Kingdom, and beyond.

Showcasing Satellite Communications and Marine Electronics Excellence

AST Networks presented a suite of cutting-edge technologies, designed to enhance mission-critical communication in the most demanding environments. Some of the featured solutions included:

• SAL SPU-200: A compact and rugged anti jamming and spoofing comms unit designed for maritime operations.
• ICOM IC-SAT100 PTT Radios: Reliable, one-to-many satellite Push to Talk radios enabling real-time voice communication across vast distances.
• Encrypted Thuraya XT-PRO Radios: Secure and versatile satellite handsets designed for global deployment.
• Iridium 9575 PTT Radios: Combining satellite voice with Push to Talk capabilities on the robust and reliable Iridium network.

Whilst all the products generated strong interest, the SAL SPU-200 was especially well received, an apt highlight given the navel setting and the growing demand for agile, deployable safety systems in maritime operations.

Strengthening International Partnerships and Defence Readiness

The event enabled businesses to connect with a broad range of stakeholders, including defence attachés, navel commanders, Ministry of Defence officials, and government technology advisors. These interactions have already led to ongoing conversations and invitations for AST Networks to deliver further product demonstrations and in-country engagements.

Empowering Defence Through Global Communication and Support

AST Networks specialises in delivering resilient, flexible, and scalable satellite communications and marine electronics systems tailored to meet the critical needs of defence, maritime, and emergency services sectors. Whether operating in remote locations, at sea, or across contested communication environments. AST's solutions ensure users remain connected, informed, and mission ready. With decades of experience and a proven track record across global defence projects, AST Networks offers:

• Fully managed communication systems for land and sea operations.
• Custom-built integration of satellite and hybrid communication systems with existing infrastructure.
• Remote monitoring, diagnostics, and control through their advanced INTEGRA platform.
• Compliance with the highest security and encryption services, supporting government and defence requirements.
• 24/7 Technical support across the globe.

AST Networks distinguish themselves through their proven and unmatched commitment to customer support. With 24/7 – 365 days a year – technical support, real-time troubleshooting, and rapid response, AST Networks ensure operational continuity – no matter the hour, the mission, or the location.

“Our participation in this event demonstrates not only the strength of British innovation in the defence sector, but also our unwavering dedication to supporting the evolving requirements of allied forces,” said Vic Litaunieks, Government Liaison Officer with AST Networks. “We're proud to deliver solutions that help our partners stay connected, secure, and safe, whether at sea, in the field, or at base.”

Looking Ahead

As AST continues to expand their global footprint, events such as this reinforce the importance of international collaboration, knowledge sharing, and trusted partnerships in an increasingly complex defence environment. The team looks forward to building on the relationships established during the event and continuing to support the Netherlands and wider European defence community in advancing secure communications and mission resilience.

About AST Networks

 AST Networks is a global leader in satellite communications, safety services, and intelligent maritime electronics solutions. From commercial shipping and offshore energy to defence and polar research, AST Networks delivers cutting-edge systems that keep vessels connected, secure, and compliant — wherever they are in the world.

Sydney, 10 June 2025 – In recent years, Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) have provided a lucrative revenue stream for many I&C energy users. But recent FCAS prices have seen a significant decline. In its latest White Paper, Understanding the decline in FCAS prices, energy technology company GridBeyond explores the reasons why FCAS prices have fallen and what businesses can do to recoup lost revenues.

According to the latest Quarterly Energy Dynamics report (covering Q1 2025), published by AEMO, total FCAS costs reached $13M in Q1 2025, representing approximately 0.3% of the total cost of consumed energy* for the quarter. This marks a $16M decrease compared to the same period last year. This reduction was mainly driven by lower FCAS prices and a smaller number of volatility events during the quarter, relative to last year. In the same time period BESS output increased by 86% year-on-year in the NEM, reaching an average of 98MW . The significant decline in FCAS prices reflects the impact of increased battery storage capacity and evolving market dynamics. But although FCAS prices are decreasing, energy prices will stay high providing an opportunity for businesses to recoup lost revenues, with the right technology.

While falling FCAS prices present a challenge, they also mark a shift in how value is created in the evolving energy ecosystem. There are still strategic pathways for I&C businesses to recoup lost revenue. The key for I&C businesses is to shift from passive participation in legacy markets to proactively stacking value. Businesses that embrace this change can recoup lost value and capture even greater returns in the long run – says the report.

In conclusion, demand side response and process optimisation can allow businesses to identify real flexibility opportunities, enable more informed decision-making in optimising energy and creating a more efficient and cost-effective energy strategy.

About GridBeyond

GridBeyond's vision is to deliver a global zero carbon future. By leveraging AI, we innovate and collaborate with our customers to create optimal value from energy generation, demand and storage to deliver a zero-carbon future. By bridging the gap between distributed energy resources and electricity markets, GridBeyond's technology means every connected asset – whether utility-scale renewables generation, battery storage, or industrial load – can be utilized to help maximize opportunities and enhance the grid. By intelligently dispatching flexibility into the right market, at the right time, asset owners and energy consumers unlock new revenues and savings, resilience, and management of price volatility, while supporting the transition to a Net Zero future.

For more information, visit www.gridbeyond.com

Flash quote from Pascale Coissard, MSF emergency coordinator

“Israeli forces' displacement orders and bombings in the close vicinity of Nasser hospital, in Khan Younis, have forced MSF to adjust its operations in the hospital and move part of its burn and orthopaedic activities to our field hospital in Deir Al Balah. This minimises the risk to some patients and staff, whose safety is our top priority. Despite the insecurity and movement restrictions, our commitment to Nasser hospital continues through our physical presence and our work in the maternity and paediatric wards, technical expertise, specialist visits, and financial support. 

For the first time, the remarkable features of Australia’s unique wildlife – from platypus, bilby, kangaroo and emu to mammals gone extinct – are available for all to see, via their bones and skeletons in a new free online collection.

Using 3D imaging technology, Flinders University and partners have launched the ‘Ozboneviz’ virtual database,  which goes ‘inside’ the anatomy of dozens of Australia’s most famous animals for the public, schools, researchers, artists, nature-lovers and others to access.

Described in a new article published in the journal BioScience, the new collection of more than 1600 specimens has been collated and uploaded on to the high-tech MorphoSource repository, by Flinders University Associate Professor Vera Weisbecker’s ‘Bones and Biodiversity Lab’ and colleagues around Australia.

“We are all fascinated by bones and this new database is a way to go behind the glass cases at the museum, see specimens up close and understand their special features,” says Associate Professor Weisbecker, who hopes Ozboneviz will fuel better scientific and public appreciation of Australia’s amazing mammals around the world.

“Australia leads the world in mammal extinctions, but we are losing far more than a few fluffy rat-like critters. Our mammals have evolved in isolation for nearly 40 million years – there is simply nothing like them anywhere else.

“Victorian-era scientists deemed Australian wildlife ‘primitive’, but now we can marvel at the elongated leg bones that make the kangaroo the largest hopping animal ever, or the bizarre shovel-like arms of the marsupial mole, and chances are that you will change your mind!

“3D models of skeletons are a charismatic way to engage adults and children alike with Australia’s precious fauna, making it a key asset in science communication and school education.”

Now Australia’s largest open-access library of 3D biodiversity data, the project was funded by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), with support from the Australian Museum, SA and NT museums, the Australian National Wildlife Collection, and several universities.

“Our core team spent three years travelling to four Australian museums and three universities. We mostly used surface scanners to digitise ten key bones of 189 iconic Australasian species: the skull, shoulder blade, pelvis and limb bones,” explains CABAH and Flinders archaeologist Dr Erin Mein.

Jacob van Zoelen, PhD candidate at Flinders University and digitisation manager, says: “We used a structured light scanner to image the outside of most bones. But for particularly rare species, like the presumed-extinct ngudlukanta or desert rat-kangaroo, we opted for computed tomography, because it also images the internal structure of the bones at resolutions of 10-50 micrometers.”

The resulting 3D files are deposited on the MorphoSource platform, which is important for scientists because it has the same rigorous cataloguing as any physical museum. But the files are open access, with anyone able to download them for non-commercial use.

To facilitate public access, Dr Mein also built a Sketchfab site with more than 500 of the most precious and informative bones, with examples including the skull of an extinct marsupial tiger, or thylacine, the pig-footed bandicoot, desert-rat kangaroo and rare marsupial mole.  

“This means the public can compare the cranium of a fox to a thylacine and dingo, for example, and compare the size and shape of limb bones of common marsupials,” adds Dr Mein. “There are also plenty of annotations to help non-specialist users learn about vertebrate anatomy and compare anatomical attributes between species.”

As well as the focus on large native mammals such as kangaroos, possums, and bandicoots, the database includes some non-native mammals that people tend to come across, like goats and sheep, as well as a selection of large birds, lizards and frogs.

The MorphoSource collection includes a number of specimens with interesting features or stories, including:

• The skeleton of Billie, the Port River dolphin well known to Adelaide residents.
• An Attenborough’s long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi)- previously considered extinct but was reobserved in the wild around the time the specimen was scanned
• The extinct pig-footed bandicoot (Chaeropus ecaudatus), the only marsupial with something like hooves.
• CT scan of two whole marsupial moles (genus Notoryctes), which is Australia’s “weirdest skeleton,” according to Associate Professor Weisbecker.

Associate Professor Weisbecker says there is no Australian precedent for open-access databases of this kind.

“Hopefully this will lead the way to an even wider use of digitisation to make Australia’s unique local biodiversity accessible to the global public.”

The article, ‘Ozboneviz: An Australian precedent in FAIR 3D imagery and extended biodiversity collections’ (2025) by Vera Weisbecker (Flinders University), Diana Fusco (Flinders), Sandy Ingleby (Australian Museum), Ariana BJ Lambrides (James Cook University), Tiina Manne (University of Queensland), Keith Maguire (South Australian Museum), Sue O’Connor (ANU), Thomas J Peachey (Australian Museum), Sofia C Samper Carro (ANU), David Stemmer (SA Museum), Jorgo Ristevski (Griffith University and Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology), Jacob D van Zoelen (Flinders), Pietro Viacava (CSIRO), Adam M Yates (Museum and Art Gallery of the NT) and Erin Mein (Flinders) has been published in Bioscience (Oxford University Press) DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaf064

First published: 10 June https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaf064

Acknowledgements: Ozboneviz was funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (grant CE170100015). VW was, in addition, supported by an ARC Future Fellowship (FT180100634). We gratefully acknowledge the support of Duke University’s MorphoSource team,  MAGNT experts and Flinders University Medical Device Research Institute imaging, and imagery and segmentation experts.

Psychological Basis of Choice Overload

Choice overload, a prevalent cognitive bias in decision-making, occurs when individuals face too many options, leading to anxiety and stress. The brain struggles to process and evaluate a large number of choices, and this phenomenon is closely linked to the “Paradox of Choice,” which suggests that while options are generally beneficial, an excess can paralyze decision-making and induce dissatisfaction. This mental strain is associated with decision fatigue, where cognitive resources are depleted from repeatedly choosing among numerous alternatives. As a result, stress levels increase, and decision-making becomes more complex, often leading to decision paralysis or regret.

When individuals perceive options as similar, the analysis of potential outcomes becomes intricate and burdensome, further complicating decision-making. The psychological basis of choice overload is rooted in the limitations of human cognitive processing and inherent biases that arise when overwhelmed by choices.

Research and Studies

Over the past two decades, choice overload has been extensively studied in consumer behavior research. A literature review spanning 22 years and 92 articles highlights the circumstances under which choice overload occurs. The phenomenon suggests that too many options can lead to decreased satisfaction with choices or inability to decide. Studies demonstrate that choice complexity and factors like preference uncertainty significantly affect choice overload experiences.

Notably, even with fewer options, some choice sets can cause overload if choices are complex or not easily comparable. Conversely, larger sets may not always lead to overload if there is a clearly dominant option or attractive choices. Research shows that choice overload varies depending on context and individual differences. Identifying specific conditions that mitigate or exacerbate choice overload offers valuable insights for consumers and marketers in navigating complex decision landscapes.

Factors Contributing to Choice Overload

Understanding the factors contributing to choice overload is crucial for improving decision-making.

Perceptual Attributes and Information Load

The complexity of perceptual attributes and the volume of information contribute to choice overload. As attributes describing options increase, so does the difficulty of decision tasks. The arrangement and presentation of options also influence decision-making by affecting how information is processed.

Choice Set Complexity

Choice set complexity amplifies choice overload. Factors like dominant options, overall attractiveness, and alignability of choices affect how assortment size impacts choice overload. Higher complexity makes it harder to distinguish between options, increasing anxiety and uncertainty.

Decision Task Difficulty and Preference Uncertainty

Decision task difficulty and preference uncertainty are pivotal factors. More challenging tasks and uncertain preferences increase the likelihood of choice overload, as they require greater cognitive effort, overwhelming individuals.

Brand Association and Decision Goals

Brand associations and decision goals moderate the impact of assortment size on choice overload. Strong brand associations can simplify or complicate decisions, depending on alignment with consumer preferences. Decision intent—choosing or browsing—also influences choice overload experiences.

Impacts on Consumer Behavior

Despite the promise of greater freedom, an abundance of choices often leads to decision paralysis and decreased satisfaction. Choice overload manifests in various ways, impacting buying decisions and overall satisfaction. Consumers may experience analysis paralysis, where evaluating all outcomes leads to indecision, resulting in abandoned purchases due to overanalysis and fear of making the wrong choice.

The emotional and cognitive toll of choice overload ext

• New capability gives instant visibility to detect misuse, enforce compliance, and strengthen data protection across on-premises, hybrid, and multicloud environments.
• Continuous data discovery, classification, and monitoring forms the foundation of effective Data Security Posture Management, while simplifying compliance and flagging unauthorized activities that lead to data exposure.  
• FAM's built-in GenAI tools and centralized management streamlines audit reporting, accelerates threat response, reduces operational complexity across enterprise data lifecycle.

MEUDON, France – Thales today announced the launch of Thales File Activity Monitoring, a powerful new capability within the Thales CipherTrust Data Security Platform that enhances enterprise visibility and control over unstructured data, enabling organizations to monitor file activity in real time, detect misuse, and ensure regulatory compliance across their entire data estate. As the only integrated platform provider that secures structured and unstructured data, Thales provides comprehensive monitoring and auditability for data types that were previously difficult to track.

In today's evolving threat landscape, organizations must gain tighter control over unauthorized access and misuse of unstructured data, which according to IDC represents 90% of all worldwide data. File Activity Monitoring enables security teams to analyze and monitor the activity of unstructured data, including unexpected copying, downloading, and sharing of files such as emails, chat logs, media files, and application logs that can contain sensitive data. Real-time alerts, analytics, and encryption tracking further accelerate threat insights and protect sensitive data across the enterprise. This reduces exposure risks, supports compliance with standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, and strengthens organizations' overall data security posture.

“Thales' innovative approach to File Activity Monitoring tackles key challenges like blind spots in hybrid environments, offering real-time visibility and smart anomaly detection — a potential game-changer for teams overwhelmed by false positives. By striking the right balance of depth and simplicity, FAM shows promise in helping us strengthen the SOC without added complexity. With tighter SIEM integration, it can sharpen response and let teams focus on what matters most. We're excited to see how FAM evolves and enhances our data security,” Leila KUNTAR, Principal Information Security Engineer, Amadeus, said.

“As unstructured data grows rapidly across distributed environments, organizations need more integrated ways to track and safeguard their most sensitive information,” Todd Moore, Vice President of Data Security Products at Thales, said. “With File Activity Monitoring, Thales reinforces its leadership in enterprise data security by delivering real-time insight, intelligent automation, and unified visibility through a single, powerful platform.”

Thales has been a leader in digital security for decades in structured database activity. Building on this extensive expertise, customers can expect the same world-class experience that they've had with Thales, now extended to encompass unstructured data protection.

File Activity Monitoring strengthens DSPM by enabling security teams to:

• Discover, classify, observe, and control sensitive data across on-premises, hybrid, and multicloud environments
• Pinpoint where sensitive data resides, who has access, and whether it's properly secured, in real time, allowing detection of suspicious behavior including unauthorized copying, downloading, or sharing
• Transform static classification into dynamic risk intelligence through behavioral context
• Apply strong encryption and other remediation techniques, including reconstruction of incidents quickly with audit logs in the event of a breach or policy violation and enabling strong encryption, to protect compromised or at-risk data.

Built-in GenAI tools simplify audits, boost response, and cut complexity

To further simplify compliance and security operations, File Activity Monitoring includes a Generative AI-powered Data Security Assistant. This integrated chatbot helps teams query audit data, generate custom reports, and streamline compliance workflows, reducing the burden on IT and security professionals and making it easier to meet regulatory obligations.

“As technology evolves rapidly, our controls must be flexible enough to keep pace without adding complexity,” Moore said. “Automation and intelligence help overwhelmed security teams scale operations and focus on what matters most. With tools like our chatbot, they can ask natural language questions and get instant, actionable answers, accelerating response times and improving operational efficiency.”

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.

Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.