NATIONAL 
EXPRESS

The Indian economy is projected to grow at 7.5 per cent in 2024, the World Bank has said, revising its earlier projections for the same period by 1.2 per cent. According to the World Bank’s most recent South Asia Development Update, overall growth in South Asia is forecast to be strong at 6 per cent in 2024, driven mostly by robust development in India and recoveries in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. According to the report, South Asia is expected to remain the fastest-growing region in the world for the next two years, with growth projected to be 6.1 per cent in 2025.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers before the Returning Officer of  Wayanad Parliamentary constituency in Kerala this afternoon. He led a road show in Kalpetta town, in which thousands of UDF supporters waving placards and shouting slogans greeted him. He also briefly addressed them. Mr Gandhi was accompanied by party General Secretaries Priyanka Gandhi and KC Venugopal, leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly V D Satheesan among others. The LDF candidate in Wayanad, Annie Raja of the CPI also filed her nomination papers. The NDA candidate and the State BJP President, K Surendran will file his nomination papers from the constituency tomorrow. The filing of nomination papers by Rahul Gandhi and Annie Raja has thrown up an interesting situation in the constituency, as they are contesting the polls, despite being part of the  I.N.D.I. Alliance, the group formed by the opposition parties. Kerala is among the 12 states / Union Territories going to the polls in the second phase, where polling is scheduled to take place on the 26th of this month. Tomorrow is the last date for filing nominations. The scrutiny will take place on the 5th and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is on the 8th of this month

The Election Commission is meeting with law enforcement agencies of States and Union Territories to review and assess the law and order situation and prevent illicit activities and seizures. The meeting will also review the steps related to strict vigil across inter-state and international borders. Yesterday, the poll body appointed Special Observers in six states to provide critical feedback and vigilant oversight for a level playing field during the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The states are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar where the population is more than seven crore along with Andhra Pradesh and Odisha where the simultaneous elections to the assemblies are to be held. The Commission has also deployed Special Expenditure Observers in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha to clamp down on money power in elections and strengthen the existing election expenditure monitoring.

The Election Commission will hold a meeting with law enforcement agencies of States and Union Territories this afternoon to review and assess the law and order situation, prevention of illicit activities and seizures. The meeting will also review the steps related to strict vigil across inter-state and international borders. Yesterday, the poll body had appointed Special Observers in six states to provide critical feedback and vigilant oversight for a level playing field during the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The states are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar where the population is more than seven crore along with Andhra Pradesh and Odisha where the simultaneous elections to the assemblies are to be held. The Commission has also deployed Special Expenditure Observers in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha to clamp down on money power in elections and strengthen the existing election expenditure monitoring

At least Seven people were killed and more than 700 injured by a powerful earthquake in Taiwan. An earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter Scale hit Taiwan’s eastern shores today, triggering tsunami warnings in the region. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake had a magnitude of 7.4, with its epicentre 18 kilometres south of Taiwan’s Hualien City at a depth of 34.8 km. The director of Taipei’s Seismology Centre Wu Chien Fu said, the earthquake is felt all over Taiwan and offshore island and it is the strongest in 25 years. According to the initial reports, multiple buildings have partially collapsed in Hualien and are shown leaning at precarious angles.  Authorities said, dozens of people remained trapped in buildings. The tremor triggered tsunami alerts in southern Japan also. As per reports, a 30-centimeter tsunami was recorded at Yonaguni Island around 9:18 am. Japan time today. In response, the Japan Meteorological Agency sounded the alarm for Miyakojima and Okinawa islands, cautioning residents about imminent waves as high as 3 meters. The Philippines’ seismology agency has also issued a tsunami warning. Chinese state media said, tremors were felt in parts of China’s south-eastern Fujian province.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Mr. Luís Montenegro on being sworn in as the Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic. In a social media post today, Mr. Modi said, he is looking forward to working together to further strengthen India-Portugal long-standing bilateral ties.

Understanding the Cybersecurity Landscape The rapid expansion of digital technologies has revolutionized industries, but it has also introduced unprecedented vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals exploit weak security measures to steal sensitive data, disrupt operations, and extort businesses. To counter these threats, organizations must adopt a proactive cybersecurity strategy that addresses evolving risks. Key Cyber Threats to Mitigate 1. Malware Attacks – Malicious software, including viruses, worms, and trojans, can infiltrate systems, corrupt data, and grant unauthorized access. 2. Phishing Scams – Fraudulent emails or messages trick users into revealing login credentials or financial details. 3. Ransomware – Attackers encrypt critical data and demand payment for its release, crippling business operations. Implementing Robust Cybersecurity Measures 1. Strengthening Network Security A secure network is the first line of defense against cyber threats. Organizations should: - Deploy firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor and block suspicious traffic. - Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to encrypt data transmissions. - Regularly update firmware and software to patch vulnerabilities. 2. Enhancing Data Protection Sensitive data must be safeguarded through: - Encryption – Converting data into unreadable formats to prevent unauthorized access. - Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Adding extra verification steps beyond passwords. - Data Backups – Maintaining offline or cloud backups to recover from ransomware attacks. 3. Educating Employees on Cyber Hygiene Human error remains a leading cause of breaches. Companies should: - Conduct regular cybersecurity training to recognize phishing attempts. - Enforce strong password policies and discourage password reuse. - Implement role-based access controls to limit exposure to critical systems. Leveraging Advanced Technologies Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are transforming cybersecurity by: - Detecting anomalies in real-time to identify potential threats. - Automating threat responses to reduce reaction time. - Predicting attack patterns based on historical data. Additionally, Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) ensures that no user or device is trusted by default, requiring continuous verification. The Future of Cybersecurity As cyber threats grow in sophistication, businesses must stay ahead by investing in skilled professionals and cutting-edge security frameworks. A career in cybersecurity offers immense opportunities, with specialized education such as a B.Tech in Computer Science Engineering (Cybersecurity) providing the necessary expertise. By adopting a multi-layered security approach, organizations can mitigate risks, protect sensitive data, and maintain trust in an increasingly digital world. Cybersecurity is no longer optional—it is a fundamental requirement for sustainable growth in the digital age. Gavisha H. S is a cybersecurity engineer with expertise in threat detection, intrusion prevention, and network security. He specializes in utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning to strengthen cybersecurity measures and address the challenges posed by evolving cyber threats. His passion lies in safeguarding digital infrastructures and proactively anticipating new attack vectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8 this evening. Mr. Modi’s address comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, which was launched by India after the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed. In the retaliatory action India destroyed multiple terror and military locations across Pakistan and killed over 100 terrorists. Earlier this afternoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting at his residence in New Delhi. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chiefs of the three Armed Forces, and several senior officials attened the meeting.