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IBM combines watsonx and Guardium to tackle AI compliance

IBM has unveiled new software capabilities that integrate AI security and governance, claiming the industry’s first unified solution to manage the risks of agentic AI.

The enhancements merge IBM’s watsonx.governance platform—which supports oversight, transparency, and lifecycle management of AI systems—with Guardium AI Security, a tool built to protect AI models, data, and operational usage.

By unifying these tools, IBM’s solution offers enterprises the ability to oversee both governance and security across AI deployments from a single interface. It also supports compliance with 12 major frameworks, including the EU AI Act and ISO 42001.

The launch aims to address growing concerns around AI safety, regulation, and accountability as businesses scale AI-driven operations.

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Episource data breach impacts patients at Sharp Healthcare

Episource, a UnitedHealth Group-owned health analytics firm, has confirmed that patient data was compromised during a ransomware attack earlier this year.

The breach affected customers, including Sharp Healthcare and Sharp Community Medical Group, who have started notifying impacted patients. Although electronic health records and patient portals remained untouched, sensitive data such as health plan details, diagnoses and test results were exposed.

The cyberattack, which occurred between 27 January and 6 February, involved unauthorised access to Episource’s internal systems.

A forensic investigation verified that cybercriminals viewed and copied files containing personal information, including insurance plan data, treatment plans, and medical imaging. Financial details and payment card data, however, were mostly unaffected.

Sharp Healthcare confirmed that it was informed of the breach on 24 April and has since worked closely with Episource to identify which patients were impacted.

Compromised information may include names, addresses, insurance ID numbers, doctors’ names, prescribed medications, and other protected health data.

The breach follows a troubling trend of ransomware attacks targeting healthcare-related businesses, including Change Healthcare in 2024, which disrupted services for months. Comparitech reports at least three confirmed ransomware attacks on healthcare firms already in 2025, with 24 more suspected.

Given the scale of patient data involved, experts warn of growing risks tied to third-party healthcare service providers.

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Google launches AI voice chat in Search app for Android and iOS

Google has started rolling out its new ‘Search Live in AI Mode’ for the Google app on Android and iOS, offering users the ability to have seamless voice-based conversations with Search.

Currently available only in the US for those signed up to the AI Mode experiment in Labs, the feature was previewed at last month’s Google I/O conference.

The tool uses a specially adapted version of Google’s Gemini AI model, fine-tuned to deliver smarter voice interactions. It combines the model’s capabilities with Google Search’s information infrastructure to provide real-time spoken responses.

Using a technique called ‘query fan-out’, the system retrieves a wide range of web content, helping users discover more varied and relevant information.

The new mode is particularly useful when multitasking or on the go. Users can tap a ‘Live’ icon in the Google app and ask spoken queries like how to keep clothes from wrinkling in a suitcase.

Follow-up questions are handled just as naturally, and related links are displayed on-screen, letting users read more without breaking their flow.

To use the feature, users can tap a sparkle-shaped waveform icon under the Search bar or next to the search field. Once activated, a full-screen interface appears with voice control options and a scrolling list of relevant links.

Even with the phone locked or other apps open, the feature keeps running. A mute button, transcript view, and voice style settings—named Cassini, Cosmo, Neso, and Terra—offer additional control over the experience.

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UBS employee data leaked after Chain IQ ransomware attack

UBS Group AG has confirmed a serious data breach affecting around 130,000 of its employees, following a cyberattack on its third-party supplier, Chain IQ Group AG.

The exposed information included employee names, emails, phone numbers, roles, office locations, and preferred languages. No client data has been impacted, according to UBS.

Chain IQ, a procurement services firm spun off from UBS in 2013, was reportedly targeted by the cybercrime group World Leaks, previously known as Hunters International.

Unlike traditional ransomware operators, World Leaks avoids encryption and instead steals data, threatening public release if ransoms are not paid.

While Chain IQ has acknowledged the breach, it has not disclosed the extent of the stolen data or named all affected clients. Notably, companies such as Swiss Life, AXA, FedEx, IBM, KPMG, Swisscom, and Pictet are among its clients—only Pictet has confirmed it was impacted.

Cybersecurity experts warn that the breach may have long-term implications for the Swiss banking sector. Leaked employee data could be exploited for impersonation, fraud, phishing scams, or even blackmail.

The increasing availability of generative AI may further amplify the risks through voice and video impersonation, potentially aiding in money laundering and social engineering attacks.

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Ryuk ransomware hacker extradited to US after arrest in Ukraine

A key member of the infamous Ryuk ransomware gang has been extradited to the US after his arrest in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The 33-year-old man was detained in April 2025 at the request of the FBI and arrived in the US on 18 June to face multiple charges.

The suspect played a critical role within Ryuk by gaining initial access to corporate networks, which he then passed on to accomplices who stole data and launched ransomware attacks.

Ukrainian authorities identified him during a larger investigation into ransomware groups like LockerGoga, Dharma, Hive, and MegaCortex that targeted companies across Europe and North America.

According to Ukraine’s National Police, forensic analysis revealed the man’s responsibility for locating security flaws in enterprise networks.

Information gathered by the hacker allowed others in the gang to infiltrate systems, steal data, and deploy ransomware payloads that disrupted various industries, including healthcare, during the COVID pandemic.

Ryuk operated from 2018 until mid-2020 before rebranding as the notorious Conti gang, which later fractured into several smaller but still active groups. Researchers estimate that Ryuk alone collected over $150 million in ransom payments before shutting down.

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AI helps Google curb scams and deepfakes in India

Google has introduced its Safety Charter for India to combat rising online fraud, deepfakes and cybersecurity threats. The charter outlines a collaborative plan focused on user safety, responsible AI development and protection of digital infrastructure.

AI-powered measures have already helped Google detect 20 times more scam-related pages, block over 500 million scam messages monthly, and issue 2.5 billion suspicious link warnings. Its ‘Digikavach’ programme has reached over 177 million Indians with fraud prevention tools and awareness campaigns.

Google Pay alone averted financial fraud worth ₹13,000 crore in 2024, while Google Play Protect stopped nearly 6 crore high-risk app installations. These achievements reflect the company’s ‘AI-first, secure-by-design’ strategy for early threat detection and response.

The tech giant is also collaborating with IIT-Madras on post-quantum cryptography and privacy-first technologies. Through language models like Gemini and watermarking initiatives such as SynthID, Google aims to build trust and inclusion across India’s digital ecosystem.

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LACNIC launches regional internet skills program

LACNIC has launched the Research and Development (R&D) Ambassadors Program to improve internet infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean. That initiative is designed to identify and support emerging technical leaders who can help address persistent connectivity challenges in the region.

The program focuses on enhancing expertise in areas such as internet measurement, routing, and IPv6, to build stronger local digital ecosystems. The first cohort of ambassadors, presented during LACNIC 43, showcased projects demonstrating strong local involvement, such as the expansion of the RIPE Atlas measurement network in Chile and increased active probes in Bolivia.

The ambassadors actively engaged their communities to promote best practices and build technical skills, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing at the local level. However, despite these promising initiatives, the program’s long-term effectiveness remains uncertain.

Challenges, such as limited resources and uneven technical expertise across countries, raise questions about whether these efforts can scale or lead to broader improvements in regional connectivity. Sustainability remains a key concern, especially in uneven infrastructure development areas.

Despite challenges, the program is key in promoting digital inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean, where internet access remains limited. LACNIC’s efforts support global goals to close the digital divide by empowering local leaders and building capacity. Continued investment in infrastructure and skills is essential for lasting impact and regional digital growth.

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Orange, AFD, and Proparco unite for inclusive and sustainable digital growth

Orange, AFD Group, and Proparco have signed a three-year agreement to accelerate digital inclusion and promote sustainable development across 20 countries, primarily in Africa and the Middle East. The partnership will focus on deploying high-speed digital infrastructure, including network backbones and submarine cables, to address connectivity gaps in underserved and rural regions.

That initiative responds to stark disparities in internet access, with only 37% of Sub-Saharan Africa connected compared to over 91% in Europe. Beyond infrastructure, the partnership focuses on improving access to essential digital services in key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education, while also promoting financial and energy inclusion to reduce inequalities and empower remote communities.

A major priority is supporting youth and fostering local innovation through programs that provide digital skills training and professional integration opportunities, enabling young people to participate actively in the digital economy. At the same time, the initiative aims to build vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystems so that communities can become creators, not just consumers, of technology.

Environmental sustainability and ethical responsibility are also at the heart of the collaboration, with strong commitments to reducing the digital sector’s ecological footprint and ensuring responsible practices in areas like data use, cybersecurity, and AI. The partnership seeks to embed inclusivity, innovation, and sustainability into the digital transformation process.

That partnership reflects a shared goal of using digital technology to promote equality and sustainable development, focusing on sovereign, innovative, and locally driven digital services.

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Kuwait to strengthen telecom resilience amid regional tensions

Kuwait is implementing strategic policies to disaster-proof its telecommunications and digital infrastructure in light of rising regional tensions, particularly the ongoing conflict between Iran and the Zionist entity. Under any emergency scenario, these policies prioritise the continuity of essential services, such as the internet, mobile networks, and digital government systems.

To operationalise this approach, the government, led by the Minister of State for Communication Affairs, convened a high-level emergency meeting with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Communications, the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA), and major telecom providers like Zain, Ooredoo, stc, and Virgin Mobile. The goal is to ensure unified national readiness through regular coordination, planning, and communication.

Kuwait is reinforcing its technical and operational capabilities to support these policies. The Ministry of Communications has raised its alert level and is conducting real-time monitoring of local networks to detect and respond to disruptions quickly.

Telecom providers have confirmed their infrastructure is prepared for various emergency scenarios, citing the activation of emergency centres, advanced technical support systems, and contingency plans. At the same time, CITRA has taken steps to maintain stable data flows by activating local internet exchange points (IXs) and securing alternative international routing paths, measures designed to minimise the impact of any potential regional connectivity breakdown.

In parallel, Kuwait is safeguarding digital public services as a core part of its policy framework. The Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT) has implemented contingency plans and system integration efforts to ensure the continuity of government digital services. These measures aim to guarantee that citizens can access essential services, even during crises.

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Hexagon unveils AEON humanoid robot powered by NVIDIA to build industrial digital twins

As industries struggle to fill 50 million job vacancies globally, Hexagon has unveiled AEON — a humanoid robot developed in collaboration with NVIDIA — to tackle labour shortages in manufacturing, logistics and beyond.

AEON can perform complex tasks like reality capture, asset inspection and machine operation, thanks to its integration with NVIDIA’s full-stack robotics platform.

By simulating skills using NVIDIA Isaac Sim and training in Isaac Lab, AEON drastically reduced its development time, mastering locomotion in weeks instead of months.

The robot is built using NVIDIA’s trio of AI systems, combining simulation with onboard intelligence powered by Jetson Orin and IGX Thor for real-time navigation and safe collaboration.

AEON will be deployed in factories and warehouses, scanning environments to build high-fidelity digital twins through Hexagon’s cloud-based Reality Cloud Studio and NVIDIA Omniverse.

Hexagon believes AEON can bring digital twins into mainstream use, streamlining industrial workflows through advanced sensor fusion and simulation-first AI. The company is also leveraging synthetic motion data to accelerate robot learning, pushing the boundaries of physical AI for real-world applications.

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