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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Microsoft to cut thousands more jobs in July amid AI focus

Microsoft is preparing to lay off thousands more employees next month, primarily in sales teams, as it continues to shift focus toward AI.

The move follows May’s workforce reduction of 6,000 employees, about 3% of its staff, and reflects broader restructuring efforts rather than individual performance issues.

Sources cited by Bloomberg revealed that the next wave of job cuts is likely to begin in early July, following the end of Microsoft’s fiscal year. Although details may still change, internal teams across departments are expected to be impacted, with sales employees taking the largest hit.

The cuts come as Microsoft seeks to streamline operations while investing heavily in data centres and AI infrastructure.

CEO Satya Nadella previously explained that the recent layoffs were not due to poor performance but part of an organisational realignment.

During a company town hall, he stressed the emotional weight of the decision but reiterated that the cuts were necessary to reflect evolving business priorities, especially around AI.

Earlier in April, Microsoft announced that it would rely more on third-party partners to manage software sales for smaller customers.

With tens of billions of dollars allocated to AI development, executives have promised to control spending in other areas, which includes reducing staff in traditional roles like sales and marketing.

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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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AI pioneer warns of mass job losses

Geoffrey Hinton, often called the godfather of AI, has warned that the technology could soon trigger mass unemployment, particularly in white-collar roles. In a recent podcast interview, he said AI will eventually replace most forms of intellectual labour.

According to Hinton, jobs requiring basic reasoning or clerical tasks will be the first to go, with AI performing the work of multiple people. He expressed concern that call centre workers may already be vulnerable, while roles requiring physical skills, like plumbing, remain safer for now.

Hinton challenged the common belief that AI will create more jobs than it eliminates. He argued that unless someone has highly specialised expertise, they may find themselves outpaced by machines capable of learning and performing cognitive tasks.

He also criticised OpenAI’s recent corporate restructuring, saying the shift towards a profit-driven model risks sidelining the public interest. Hinton, alongside other critics including Elon Musk, warned that the changes could divert AI development from its original mission of serving humanity.

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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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Bitget Wallet enables crypto QR payments in Vietnam

Bitget Wallet has made a significant step by becoming the first self-custody wallet to integrate directly with Vietnam’s national QR payment system, VietQR. The move lets users in Vietnam pay with crypto at over two million merchants, from restaurants to supermarkets and street vendors.

The integration allows seamless crypto transactions via a single scan of the VietQR code. Payments can be made using stablecoins such as USDT and USDC, supported on multiple blockchain networks including Ethereum, Tron, Solana, Base, TON, and BNB Chain.

The wallet’s developers plan to expand support to additional chains in the near future.

The rollout is part of Bitget Wallet’s broader PayFi initiative, which aims to connect crypto payments with national QR systems across several global regions. Auto-swap features are also on the roadmap, enabling token payments without fiat conversion.

Bitget Wallet is promoting the launch with a 50% cashback for the first 50,000 new users, valid from 16 June to 30 July. The company’s CMO, Jamie Elkaleh, stated the goal is to shift crypto from an investment vehicle into an everyday currency, beginning in Southeast Asia.

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Pasqal opens Canada factory, sells quantum computer to Distriq

French quantum computing firm Pasqal has deepened its North American presence by selling a 100-qubit quantum processor and opening a significant manufacturing facility in Sherbrooke, Québec.

The processor was sold to Distriq, a quantum innovation hub in Sherbrooke, which aims to strengthen Québec’s growing quantum technology ecosystem.

The deal was backed by a CA$9.6 million (US$7.1m) loan from the Québec Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy and Investissement Québec, alongside CA$2.4 million (US$1.8m) from the National Bank of Canada and CA$1.2 million (US$883,000) from Canada Economic Development for Québec Regions.

Pasqal confirmed that the system would be manufactured and installed in Sherbrooke and made available to Canadian researchers and industries.

The firm also inaugurated its first North American manufacturing site—its second globally—in Sherbrooke’s 50,000 sq ft Espace Quantique 1 building. The facility will focus on producing Pasqal’s next-generation quantum processors.

The factory was supported by a CA$15 million (US$11m) loan from Investissement Québec, positioning Pasqal among Canada’s most significant quantum players.

‘These achievements signal that quantum computing is no longer a future promise—it has become a reality today,’ said Wasiq Bokhari, Pasqal’s executive chairman.

Distriq VP Mehdi Bozzo-Rey called the acquisition a ‘major milestone’ in supplying Québec with industrial quantum capabilities.

Founded in 2019, Pasqal counts Nobel Laureate Alain Aspect among its co-founders. The company has installed systems in Saudi Arabia and Germany, and in early June 2025, it acquired Canadian photonics company Aeponyx to bolster its hardware capabilities.

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BBVA advises wealthy clients to invest in crypto

BBVA, Spain’s second-largest bank, advises affluent clients to allocate between 3% and 7% of their portfolios to cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. The guidance comes just months after Spanish regulators approved the bank’s crypto trading services.

According to Philippe Meyer, head of digital and blockchain solutions at BBVA Switzerland, the bank has been advising wealthy clients on Bitcoin since September 2024. He noted that a modest crypto allocation can improve portfolio performance without taking on excessive risk.

Client response, he added, has been largely positive.

BBVA has executed crypto trades since 2021 and began active advisory services in late 2024. In March, Spain’s securities regulator authorised BBVA to offer trading in Bitcoin and Ether, with full mobile integration expected in the coming months.

The move aligns with the broader rollout of the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which occurred at the end of 2024. Meanwhile, Santander is reportedly exploring the launch of euro and dollar-pegged stablecoins to expand its retail crypto services.

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OKX launches regulated exchanges in Germany and Poland

OKX has expanded its European presence by launching fully compliant centralised exchanges in Germany and Poland. These new platforms offer access to over 270 cryptocurrencies, including more than 60 crypto-to-euro trading pairs.

Integrating the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) infrastructure allows seamless Euro deposits and withdrawals through bank transfers and local payment methods.

The expansion aligns with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, marking a significant step towards regulated crypto adoption in the region. OKX’s acquisition of the first full MiCA licence highlights its commitment to transparency and security, setting a standard for other crypto firms.

Germany is set to lead Europe in crypto growth by 2030, with Poland emerging as a key player thanks to pro-Bitcoin leader Karol Nawrocki. The compliant exchanges may attract increased institutional investment, challenging the view of crypto as an unregulated sector.

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Crypto exchange WhiteBit signs with Juventus

Juventus have announced a new three-year sleeve sponsorship deal with cryptocurrency exchange WhiteBit, further strengthening their ties to the crypto sector. The agreement makes WhiteBit the official crypto exchange partner of the Serie A club, with its logo to appear on the men’s first team jerseys.

The deal, reportedly worth €5 million per season, includes exclusive digital content and joint initiatives designed to engage fans. WhiteBit takes over from asset management firm Azimut, which held the sleeve rights briefly following earlier crypto sponsors Bitget and Zondacrypto.

The partnership marks another strategic push by Juventus into the digital asset space. Earlier this year, crypto firm Tether increased its ownership stake in the club by over ten percent.

WhiteBit, meanwhile, has expanded its footprint in football through a partnership with Barcelona and was among the top ten crypto sponsors globally last season.

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