WORLD NEWS
Japan is still well ahead in funding infra projects across Southeast Asia , data from BMI Research shows . As Japan ’ s population ages , the government and companies are searching for new markets overseas . Japan dominates infrastructure investment in the Philippines and Vietnam — among the world ’ s fastest-growing economies . But China is ramping up competition with a sweeping push in nations along the route of President Xi Jinping ’ s signature Belt and Road Initiative . Asia ’ s two biggest economies are jostling to expand influence in the region , one of the world ’ s brightest economic spots and home to half a billion people . Governments from Singapore to communist Vietnam are building airports , toll ways , and mass rapid transit to attract investment and create jobs . Infrastructure is increasingly among the region ’ s main growth engines . Indonesia boasts a pipeline of over 250 projects , while the Philippines plans to spend USD180- billion on rails , roads , and airports . Singapore is doubling the size of its mass transit system . To reduce strain on government budgets , countries are turning to their richer neighbours , who are only too willing to strike deals . stockarch . com
Japan ’ s infrastructure investment since the 2000s — both completed and ongoing — totalled about USD230- billion , while that of China reached about USD155-billion , according to BMI . More than 90 % of the projects have actual or planned construction dates after 2013 .
The Osaka road interchange , Japan .
Russian hackers attempted to infiltrate the US civilian aviation industry early in 2017 , as part of a broad assault on America ’ s sensitive infrastructure . The attack had limited impact and the industry has taken steps to prevent a repeat of the intrusion , said Jeff Troy , executive director of the Aviation Information Sharing and Analysis Center ( A-ISAC ). Troy wouldn ’ t elaborate on the nature of the breach and declined to identify specific companies or the work that was involved . “ It hit a part of our very broad membership ,” Troy said . The intrusion wasn ’ t something that would directly harm airplanes or airlines , he assured . “ But I did see that this impacted some companies that are in the aviation sector .” Troy ’ s comments confirmed the effects on aviation of a Russian attack that was described more broadly by US government officials . The assault was aimed at the electric grid , water processing plants , and other targets , the officials said . The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified aviation as one of the targets but didn ’ t provide specifics . Troy said the aviation assault was detected in the early stages , when hackers typically perform surveillance , test a network ’ s defences , and devise software weapons to use . In the energy industry attack , the hackers used smaller companies ’ networks to insert malware that allowed them to then gain access to power plants ’ computers . The focus on the aviation sector highlights the risks to large infrastructure systems from cyber-intrusions , said Lance Hoffman , research professor at George Washington University ’ s Department of Computer Science . Corporate networks at some of the 99 nuclear power plants licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission were affected by the 2017 hack , but no safety , security or emergency preparedness functions were affected . The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also said the incident had no operational impacts on interstate transmission of electricity . dialogplus . ch
The focus on the aviation sector highlights the risks to large infrastructure systems from cyber intrusions .
CEC May 2018 - 11