According to a study released on Thursday, hackers may use next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) technology to exploit flaws in genomic data, hence it is important to secure it.

NGS is a powerful sequencing method utilized in gene research, infectious disease tracking, cancer diagnoses, and the creation of customized medications.

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom expressed alarm about the tool’s potential for data breaches, privacy abuses, and possibly future hacker biothreats.

The procedures provide several points of vulnerability even though they are necessary to produce precise findings. The study, which was published in the journal IEEE Access, cautioned that because many DNA datasets are publicly available online, fraudsters may exploit the data for nefarious experimentation, modification, or monitoring.

“Our work serves as a warning. Encryption is only one aspect of protecting genomic data; another is preparing for potential threats. To secure the future of precision medicine, we need to change the way we think about it,” stated Dr. Nasreen Anjum of the School of Computing at the University of Portsmouth.

The research team discovered new and developing ways, like malware encoded with synthetic DNA, AI-driven genome data manipulation, and identity tracing through re-identification methods, that hackers and people with malevolent intent could employ to exploit or attack systems.

These dangers extend beyond common data breaches and endanger national security, scientific integrity, and individual privacy.

Cyber-biosecurity is still one of the most underappreciated and little understood scientific fields, despite its significance, and it is causing a serious void in global biosecurity. We’re calling for greater research and cooperation to develop ways to keep this potent technology secure so that our DNA information remains protected and is utilized exclusively for good,” Anjum stated.

Before it’s too late, the experts urged “governments, regulatory bodies, funding agencies, and academic institutions” to give this sector top priority.

To provide the groundwork for even more robust cyber-biosecurity, the team also offered suggestions and workable fixes, such as protected storage, secure sequencing procedures, and AI-powered anomaly detection.

The Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express is the first train in India to have an automated teller machine (ATM) installed on board.

The ATM was installed in a train’s air-conditioned coach and successfully finished its trial run. Even when the train is rolling, passengers can take out cash from the machine. It was unveiled under the Innovative and Non-Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme (INFRIS) of Indian Railways.

The program is the outcome of an agreement between the Bank of Maharashtra and Indian Railways’ Bhusawal division. According to railway officials, the experiment went well and the machine operated without issue the entire way.

The section between Igatpuri and Kasara, which is notorious for having weak signals because to tunnels and little cell coverage, did experience some temporary network problems, though. The outcomes were favorable, according to Bhusawal’s divisional railway manager, Ity Pandey. Cash withdrawals while traveling will now be possible. We will continue to keep an eye on the machine’s performance.

Pandey further mentioned that the idea was first offered during an INFRIS meeting hosted by the Bhusawal division. “The team immediately began working on how to make it possible after the suggestion was made,” she said.

Passengers from all 22 of the Panchvati Express’s coaches can access the ATM even though it is located in an AC coach since vestibules connect them. In addition to making cash withdrawals, travelers can order check books and obtain account statements via the ATM.

Remarkably, because the Mumbai–Hingoli Jan Shatabdi Express uses the same rake as the Panchavati Express, its passengers will also have access to the same ATM. This implies that the facility will also benefit more travelers traveling the lengthier journey. The ATM is equipped with a shutter mechanism and is constantly watched by CCTV cameras to guarantee security.

According to railway officials, if the service proves to be well-liked by passengers, it might be extended to further trains.

Shreyas Iyer, the Indian batsman who led India’s runscoring charts and was instrumental in the closing stages of their historic ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 victory, was awarded the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March.

Iyer wins the award after defeating Rachin Ravindra and Jacob Duffy of New Zealand. With Shubman Gill receiving the same honor in February, Indian players have now won back-to-back titles in the ICC’s monthly award series.

“Being selected as the March ICC Men’s Player of the Month is a true honor for me. I will always treasure the day we lifted the ICC Champions Trophy, which makes this accolade all the more memorable.

“Every cricket player aspires to be able to help India win on such a significant platform. For their unfailing belief and support, I am thankful to my coaches, teammates, and support staff. We also want to express our sincere gratitude to the fans, whose support and enthusiasm keep us going at every turn,” Iyer added in a statement.

With 243 runs, Iyer became the highest-scoring player and was instrumental in India’s Champions Trophy victory. Iyer was a key player for India as they achieved a historic third victory in the history of the Champions Trophy, scoring 172 runs at an average of 57.33 in the last three games.

In their last group-stage match against New Zealand, the top-order batsman first hit a game-winning 79 in 98 balls to guarantee that India won.

After helping India win a difficult semi-final match against Australia with a crucial 45 runs in partnership with Virat Kohli, he once again set the stage for a successful run chase in the exhausting final match against New Zealand, hitting a steady 48 in 62 balls to help India win by four wickets.

Sameer Nagpal, President and CEO of JK Tech, stated on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s concentrated efforts are responsible for India’s quick rise to prominence in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).

“Under PM Modi’s direction, India is making rapid progress in the AI field. In addition to encouraging the development of AI, the government is concentrating on its use in a number of fields, including digital infrastructure, healthcare, and governance, Nagpal said.

He believes that this momentum will soon result in important innovations. He clarified that data is the new oil in the current digital era.

“If companies can ensure they are working with quality data, they will be able to generate better insights and make more informed decisions,” he observed. He told that “right insights come from right data” and that the government’s push for AI will allow businesses of all sizes to expand by utilizing cutting-edge technologies.

India is already a significant player in the global IT business, Nagpal added. With the government-backed introduction of a national-level large language model (LLM), India is also set to leave its mark on the advancement of AI worldwide.

He emphasized, “This will help India take a leadership position in the AI revolution.”

Similar remarks were made by Abhishek Singhania, the founder and director of JK Tech, who told that Indian engineers, both domestically and internationally, are making amazing strides in the field of artificial intelligence.

He praised the PM Modi administration’s decision to set aside Rs 10,000 crore for AI research and development, describing it as a significant step towards creating India’s AI ecosystem..

To transform the alternative investing sector, JK Tech announced on Tuesday that it has joined with Inveniam, a data integrity platform for private market assets.

According to the corporation, “the partnership will concentrate on revolutionizing the global private markets by creating Inveniam’s next-generation platform for alternative investments that utilizes blockchain and artificial intelligence.“

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan believes that searching the internet for a problem is one of the “most worthless activities” that one may engage in during the day.

“Searching the internet for a problem is one of the most useless things you can do during the day.” The movie legend posted on his blog. Distractions are to blame, the actor disclosed.

“As soon as you focus on the want, you start to become unduly interested in all the other ones that are vying for your attention. By the time you realize that you need to return to the reason you came to the internet in the first place. You’ve forgotten why, he said.

The celebrity revealed that he became sidetracked while using the social media site to read comments.

He added, “I went to the X and the FB to check the comments and got so engrossed in all what the others were saying, that when I came back to this page, I was at sea on the topic or the material I was about to put here. Too much too soon available (sic).”

Big B had previously disclosed the unique present that his actor son Abhishek Bachchan had given him. He discussed how typing on digital devices has supplanted the art of handwriting.

“The punches on the black square have surpassed the age of handwriting. The younger generation is now completing their coursework on this medium, and nobody writes,” he continued.

The octogenarian disclosed that his son Abhishek presented him with a unique pen in remembrance of his father’s passion for handwriting on paper.

“But Abhishek was so kind as to give me a pen in recognition of the fact that his father still prefers to use his hands to apply ink…. often enough.”

Big B commented, “And also did you know, another factor that Abhishek picked up from the store he picked the pen, is that the nibs of pens are designed separately for the left handed and the right handed…(sic)” in reference to the pen’s unique qualities.

On Monday night, pop sensation Katy Perry and five other women made history by becoming the first all-female crew to travel to the edge of space on Jeff Bezos‘ aerospace company Blue Origin.

At 8:30 a.m. CDT (7:00 p.m. IST), the six-person tourist mission departed from Launch Site One in West Texas aboard the company’s reusable New Shepard rocket, NS-31.

Blue Origin posted, “The New Shepard booster has landed,” on social networking site X.

“Capsule touchdown. “NS-31 crew, welcome back,” the firm continued.

The eleven-minute-long 11th human flight to suborbital space passed above the Karman line, which is the globally acknowledged border of space.

In addition to Perry, the trip featured journalists Gayle King and Lauren Sanchez, bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe.

Blue Origin claims that since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo mission in 1963, this is the first all-female flying crew. This is the company’s second mission of the year. 52 people have been flown above the Karman line by Blue Origin thus far.

Additionally, the crew carried out experiments while in flight.

Before the launch, Blue Origin said, “This NS-31 crew is embarking on a mission to transform their perspectives of Earth and create a lasting impact that inspires future generations.”

In order to further her goal of exploring space for the benefit of Earth, Bowe, who is also the CEO of the engineering firm STEMBoard, carried out three research experiments, including investigations on human physiology and plant biology.

In an Instagram post earlier in the day that included a video, Perry said, “I’ve dreamed of going to space for 15 years and that dream becomes a reality. Perry stated the space voyage as a “dream come true.

“Being with five other amazing and motivating women as we become the first all-female flight space crew is such an honor,” she continued.

During a high-level meeting on Sunday, Union Minister Jitendra Singh and Minister-President of the German State of Bavaria Markus Soder reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in research, technology, and innovation.

The two leaders met one-on-one before engaging in high-level delegation-level discussions headed by the two Ministers.

Dr. Jitendra Singh welcomed the German group and underlined the potential for bilateral cooperation in important areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, biotechnology, clean energy, electric mobility, cyber-physical systems, and green hydrogen.

“India has launched mission-mode projects under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (independent charge) for Science and Technology, stated, “We seek economic and sustainable solutions through scientific and technological interventions, and Germany is a natural partner in this endeavour.”

He praised the Indo-German 2+2 collaboration model, which combines efforts from academics and industry in both countries, calling it a watershed moment in the creation of future-ready, innovation-driven ecosystems.

“The 2+2 partnership is a future-oriented model. It brings together institutions and enterprises from both countries to address global challenges through innovation, co-development, and commercialization,” the minister stated.

Singh emphasized India’s outstanding success in the biotech sector, which has over 3000 businesses and leads the world as the largest vaccine manufacturer. He emphasized the importance of the recently established BIOe3 policy, which focuses on energy, economy, and employment to propel the next generation of biotech innovation.

He discussed India’s growth as a biotech powerhouse, with over 3000 startups and the recent establishment of the BIOe3 program, which aims to drive energy, economy, and employment through biotech innovation.

The Science and Technology Minister remarked that India’s Space-Tech and Nuclear sectors, which are now open to private investors, provide enormous cooperation prospects. He went on to say that India is ranked third in the world for startups and unicorns, making it a thriving destination for IT alliances.

“India’s academic outreach to Germany continues to deepen, with over 50,000 Indian students enrolled in German universities—mostly in STEM disciplines—a number that has tripled in the last seven years” , according to Jitendra Singh.

He advocated for a reciprocal increase in German students studying in India, notably in Oriental Studies, Indian Culture, and Traditional Knowledge Systems.

“Germany has become as a popular academic destination among Indian youth. We now hope to see more German students investigating India’s intellectual legacy and scientific possibilities,” he stated.

Dr. Markus Soder, German Ambassador to India, was joined by Dr. Philipp Ackermann and other senior delegates from Germany. Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST); Dr. Praveen Somasundaram, Head of International Cooperation; and Dr. Alka Sharma, Senior Advisor, Department of Biotechnology, represented India at the meeting.

The trailer for “Bhool Chuk Maaf” is out, and it promises an intriguing blend of love and career dilemmas. A captivating fusion of romantic and professional quandaries is promised in the recently released teaser for “Bhool Chuk Maaf.”

The trailer, which stars Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Sharma, shows the two of them struggling in real life to balance their romantic ties with their career goals. A gripping story full of emotions, difficult choices, and the delicate balancing act between personal and professional life is hinted at in the film, “Titli hai Ranjan ka pyaar; par haldi par atka hai uska sansaar, Toh dekhne zaroor aaiyega inki kahaani with parivaar. Get ready for a bhasad wali shaadi where everything goes wrong… #BhoolChukMaafTrailer Out Now. In cinemas on 9th May.”

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Varanasi, the film tells the story of Ranjan, a hopeless romantic who secures a government job to win the heart of his love, Titli. However, just before their wedding, things take a comical turn. Stuck in a time loop that repeats a single day, Ranjan must unravel the mystery behind why Mahadev paused his life and discover what it will take to make things right.

Speaking about the film, producer Dinesh Vijan shared, “Storytelling is at its best when it comes from the heart of India. At its core, Bhool Chuk Maaf explores the two biggest small-town pressures: finding the right bride and securing a decent job. Chokri aur naukri, as we say. Ranjan and Titli are madly in love but caught between the very real tussle of love and naukri, as they navigate the expectations of their heart that wants romance and of the family that wants a reliable paycheck. Layered with humor, deep human emotions, and the beautiful tradition of nek karya, this film will make you laugh, maybe even cry, and most of all, believe in love and life again.”

Director Karan Sharma added, “It’s a story dressed up in comedy, confusion, and a lot of heart. But at the same time, at its core, Bhool Chuk Maaf is about self-reflection hidden within chaos. We’ve taken a unique and fun idea but grounded it in relationships, family, and faith – the things that define all of us. It’s a film I want families to watch together.”

“Bhool Chuk Maaf” pairs Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi for the very first time. Presented by Dinesh Vijan in association with Amazon MGM Studios, the romantic comedy is slated to hit theatres on May 9, 2025.

In an effort to increase awareness of the growing menace of cybercrime, actor Ayushmann Khurrana has partnered with Mumbai Police on their most recent cybersecurity project.

The Vicky Donor actor hopes to assist inform the public—particularly vulnerable groups—about the dishonest strategies employed by cybercriminals and how to be safe online through this cooperative endeavor. Ayushmann appears in a promotional film that was published as part of the campaign, in which the actor-singer provides helpful guidance on being vigilant online and avoiding scams.

The movie attempts to give citizens the knowledge and resources they need to protect themselves online by emphasizing that the majority of victims are regular people who are ignorant of the sophisticated tactics employed by cybercriminals. Mumbai Police and Ayushmann hope that this program will encourage safer internet usage within the population.

“With the prevalence of online scams and frauds in today’s world, cyber safety has become of the utmost importance, and it is crucial we stay vigilant and educated,” Ayushmann said in reference to his project with Mumbai Police. Working together with Mumbai Police, who have always been in the forefront of safeguarding the people of our city and advancing online safety, serves as a reminder to be cautious before falling for any of these scams.

He went on to say, “This public safety announcement and the Mumbai Police helpline are an amazing effort to protect people from potential cybercrimes and to keep them informed to stay vigilant about possible scams.”

Regarding his career, the 40-year-old actor will next be seen with Rashmika Mandanna in the horror comedy “Thama.” The movie is the first significant partnership between actors Rashmika and Ayushmann and director Aditya Sarpotdar of “Munjya.”

Niren Bhatt, Suresh Mathew, and Arun Fulara wrote the script, and Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik are producing the movie. The next film, which is supported by Maddock Films, also features important roles for Paresh Rawal and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.