All posts by Sujata

Union Bank of India kicks off Cyber Security Awareness Month

Mumbai, October 7, 2022, Union Bank of India kicks off Cyber Security Awareness Month. The aim of this initiative is to spread Cyber Security Awareness and promote cyber safe culture amongst staff and customers of the bank.

Union Bank of India is celebrating October month as National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) during which several awareness activities like webinars, quiz competitions, social media promotion of cyber security, cyber awareness video clips, cyber comics in Hindi, cyber fitness & cyber talks are organized during the entire month of October. The theme for the campaign is “See Yourself in Cyber”.

Daily webinars are organized by inviting eminent speakers from Cyber Security domain to deliver Sessions on Cyber Security Awareness. Field functionaries of the bank are also participating in the webinars for sharing their experiences. The bank is also promoting registering complaints by customers with www.cybercrime.gov.in and toll-free number 1930.

Commenting on the event, Ms. A. Manimekhalai, MD&CEO said, “Union Bank is taking several initiatives for ease of banking to the customers through digitalization as well as to strengthen the cyber ecosystem. Cybersecurity awareness is an important aspect in the journey ahead to secure digital banking experience.”

Further, Union Bank has already launched Ethical Hacking Lab & Automated VAPT Lab under the Cyber Security Centre of Excellence (CCoE) at Hyderabad to strengthen the Bank’s security posture. Further, Bank collaborates with premier institutions, Government bodies, etc., engaged in Cyber Security domain for implementing new technologies, and improving the cybersecurity culture and excellence in cybersecurity awareness.

Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited’s NCD Tranche III Issue Opens Today, October 07, 2022

Chennai, October 07, 2022: Registered office in New Delhi, Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited (“Company” or “Issuer”), a non-deposit-taking housing finance company registered with the National Housing Bank, has announced the public issue of secured, redeemable, non-convertible debentures of the face value of Rs. 1,000 each (“NCDs”). The Tranche III Issue opens on Friday, October 07, 2022, and closes on Friday, October 28, 2022.

The Tranche III Issue has a base issue size of Rs. 100 crores with an option to retain oversubscription up to Rs. 700 crores, aggregating up to Rs. 800 crores (“Tranche III Issue”). The Tranche III Issue offers various series of NCDs for subscription with coupon rates ranging from 8.33% to 9.55% per annum, applicable as per respective series for selected categories of NCD holders. The NCDs are proposed to be listed on BSE Limited (“BSE”) and National Stock Exchange of India Limited (“NSE” together with BSE, the “Stock Exchanges”) with BSE as the Designated Stock Exchange for the Tranche III Issue. The NCDs have been rated “CRISIL AA/Stable” by CRISIL Ratings Limited and “[ICRA]AA (Stable)” by ICRA Limited.

The NCDs under the Tranche III Issue have tenures of 24 months (Series I, II, III), 36 months (Series IV, V, VI), and 60 months (Series VII, VIII). Effective yield (per annum) for the NCD holders in Category I (Institutional Investors) & Category II (Non-Institutional Investors) ranges from 8.64% to 9.05% and for Category III (High Net-worth Individual Investors) and Category IV (Retail Individual Investors) holders ranges from 9.04% to 9.54%. Interest payment modes for the NCDs are Annual, Monthly, or Cumulative as per the series selected by the investors. Amount on maturity for the NCD holders in Category I (Institutional Investors) & Category II (Non-Institutional Investors) ranges from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,288.21 per NCD and for Category III (High Net-worth Individual Investors) and Category IV (Retail Individual Investors) ranges from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,306.07 per NCD.

The above para details are applicable for the selected category of investors for the selected series.

The Company is also offering an additional incentive of 0.25% to the Category III and Category IV Investors in the proposed Tranche III Issue who are also holders of NCD(s)/bond(s) previously issued by the Company, and/or its Subsidiaries as the case may be, and/or are equity shareholder(s) of Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited as the case may be (“Primary Holder(s)”) on the Deemed Date of Allotment and applying in Series I, Series III, Series IV, Series VI, Series VII and/or Series VIII, provided the NCDs issued under the proposed Tranche III Issue are held by the investors on the relevant Record Date applicable for payment of respective coupons, in respect of Series I, Series III, Series IV, Series VI, Series VII, and Series VIII.

The Lead Managers to the Tranche III Issue are Edelweiss Financial Services Limited, A. K. Capital Services Limited, IIFL Securities Limited, and Trust Investment Advisors Private Limited. IDBI Trusteeship Services Limited is the Debenture Trustee to the Tranche III Issue and Kevin Technologies Limited is the registrar to the Tranche III Issue.

Net proceeds of the Tranche III Issue, after meeting the expenditures of and related to the Tranche III Issue, at least 75% shall be utilized for the purpose of onward lending, financing, and for repayment of interest and principal of existing borrowings of the Company and up to 25% for general corporate purposes.

Virasat Arts’ and Heritage Festival to Commence 15-Day Cultural Extravaganza in The Doon Valley

Hyderabad, 7^th October 2022:  Virasat Arts and Heritage Festival, organized by the Rural Entrepreneurship for Art and Cultural Heritage (REACH), will open its gates for the 26th edition of the festival on 9th October this year and will observe a conclusion on October 23rd at BR Ambedkar stadium, in the ‘City of Love – Dehradun.

The festival popular as ‘Afro-Asia’s biggest heritage & folklife festival’ will be inaugurated at 6.00 pm, followed by a traditional dance/music performance from Uttarakhand. Marking the 26th anniversary of the festival, Virasat festival will witness performances by impeccable artists like Wadalis, Aswini Bhide, Suresh Wadkar, Prahlad Singh Titania, Osman Mir, Kumresh and many more from various walks of the cultural milieu.

The 15-day-long festival is a platform for people to closely experience art, culture, and music by the renowned classical music and dance maestros, and master craftsmen are invited to perform. The festival will showcase a crafts village, cuisine stalls, an art fair, folk music, Bollywood-style performances, heritage walks, etc. The festival is a chance for people from across the country to educate themselves about India’s rich cultural heritage and learn more about its significance. Each element of the festival, art exhibition, musicals, food, and heritage walk denotes a traditional value attached to the Indian heritage.

Speaking on the inauguration, RK Singh- Founder and General Secretary, REACH said, “While the world around us has changed substantially due to COVID-19, our enthusiasm to provide a platform for showcasing the best in national and worldwide folk, culture, and art has grown even more. Each passing year, at Virasat we work towards introducing and promoting the best of the traditional artwork and cultural treasures that adorned many regions of the nation. We are convinced that Virasat 2022 will be as successful as the past years as it promises to enchant you and take you on yet another memorable musical and cultural adventure.”

CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2022 to honour the manifold achievements of iconic Indians

New Delhi 7th October 2022: CNN-News18, India’s No.1 English General News channel, has returned with its flagship initiative CNN-News 18 Indian of the Year (IOTY) 2022 to felicitate the achievements of Indians who have brought pride to the country through their grit and determination. The 12th edition of this marquee initiative will witness the ultimate recognition of India’s finest talent, and celebrate outstanding Indians who have in the last year shone through categories such as Sports, Entertainment, Politics, Startups, Social Change, and Climate. In a post-pandemic world where climate change is emerging as a major concern, this year’s awards have a new category – Climate Warrior – to recognize individuals who are working on impactful and sustainable change.

The ceremony will be graced by the Hon’ble Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar as the Chief Guest.

Like every edition of the IOTY, several personalities have been nominated for this year’s awards.

Sports: Achanta Sharath Kamal, Lakshya Sen, Neeraj Chopra, Nikhat Zareen, R Praggnanandhaa

Entertainment: Alia Bhatt, Allu Arjun, Kartik Aaryan, Team RRR, Vivek Agnihotri

Startups: Falguni Nayar (Nykaa), Alakh Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari (PhysicsWallah), Sriharsha Majety (Swiggy), The Kamath Brothers (Zerodha), Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas (Zoho)

Social Change: Asha Workers, Dr. Shankare Gowda, Hemkunt Foundation, Raju Kendre, Tajamul Islam

Climate Warrior: Jadav Payeng, Jamuna Tudu, Marimuthu Yoganathan, Prasiddhi Singh, Sumaira Abdulali

Sharing his thoughts on this ceremony of global repute, Zakka Jacob, Managing Editor, CNN-News18 said, “Indian of the Year has amassed national and global acclaim because of the domains it has been exploring and the stalwarts it has been recognizing since its inception. It delights me to state that we are building upon our legacy and adding new categories to chart the all-encompassing advancement of India in the global arena. Underscoring Indian excellence across six categories, we look forward to a ceremony full of brilliance this time.”

“CNN-News18 has always provided a stellar repertoire of content across all formats. Distinguishing news over noise, we have aided our viewers with exhaustive information and perspectives.”, said Smriti Mehra, CEO – of Business Cluster, Network18. “Celebrating the stint of being the No. 1 English General News Channel, we take great pride in our marquee property Indian of the Year. We wish all the very best to our esteemed nominees.”

Viewers can watch this amalgamation of Indian game-changers at Indian of the Year 2022 where winners across the six categories will be announced in a star-studded, glitzy evening. While these extraordinary Indians who make the country proud will be awarded, the event will also witness celebrated personalities like Sania Mirza and Sonu Sood grace the occasion with their presence. Setting the stage on fire will be renowned folk and Sufi singer Mame Khan, known for his powerful voice in various Bollywood hits. Overall, the ceremony promises to be one with all the elements to become a memorable one and one that is not to be missed.

CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2022 has RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group as the Presenting Partner and Reliance Industries as the Co-Presenting Partner.

FIFS Welcomes MIB’s Advisories Against Illegal Offshore Betting Platforms Advertisements

India, October 7, 2022: Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), India’s only Fantasy Sports self-regulatory industry body, welcomed the decision of the Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) not to allow the private television channels, and digital news publishers and OTT platforms to broadcast/show advertisements of online betting sites and surrogate advertisements. The federation lauds the Ministry for the move that reiterates FIFS’ stand against this menace. FIFS has previously emphasized the need for the identification and prohibition of offshore business activities to ensure consumer interest safeguards.

About the development, FIFS Director-General Joy Bhattacharjya said, “We thank the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for this important step. As FIFS, we have been creating awareness about the need for demarcation between legitimate and illegitimate players in the online gaming ecosystem to ensure unwarranted elements like offshore betting and gambling don’t see a rise and adversely impact consumer interests. This move from the Ministry will ensure that Indian citizens are educated about the risks of these platforms and do not get lured or trapped by the same. We are hopeful that this initiative will lead to further stringent action on these players by other arms of the Government as well.”

As a big and positive step towards consumer interest protection, on 3rd October 2022, MIB issued an advisory to private television channels, digital news publishers, and OTT platforms to refrain from showing advertisements of online betting sites and surrogate advertisements of such sites.

In the advisories issued by the government, a clear stand has been taken by MIB against direct and surrogate advertisements of offshore betting platforms, saying that it may also invite penal action for the broadcasters. The Advisories also stated that since betting and gambling are illegal in most parts of the country, advertisements of these betting platforms as well as their surrogates are also illegal and should not be shown to Indian consumers.

The Ministry, in its advisory, clearly highlighted that such offshore betting websites use the news as a surrogate product to advertise their betting platforms, especially on the digital medium. The advisories mentioned that in these cases, there is a striking resemblance between the logo of the news platform and the betting website. The Advisories also clarified that since betting and gambling are illegal in most parts of India, so are their advertisements, direct or surrogate. MIB mentioned the Consumer Protection Act 2019, Cable TV Network Regulation Act 1995, and the IT Rules, 2021 to issue the advisories.

FIFS takes consumer interest protection very seriously and recently revised and strengthened its charter in order to promote innovation with responsible growth for the fantasy sports industry. The new charter emphasizes the role of the Fantasy Sports Regulatory Authority (FSRA), an independent self-regulatory body committed to promoting standardized best practices in fantasy sports. FSRA comprises three eminent former judges – Justice (Retd.) Mukul Mudgal, former Chief Justice, Hon’ble Punjab, and Haryana High Court and Justice (Retd.) G.S. Sistani, former Judge, Hon’ble Delhi High Court as a panel member of Fantasy Sports Regulatory Authority (FSRA). Eminent jurist, Justice (Retd.) A.K. Sikri, former Judge, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India is the Chairman of the FSRA.

Introducing Tenable One: Industry-First Exposure Management Platform

New Delhi, India (October 7, 2022) — Tenable®, the Exposure Management company, today announced the release of Tenable One, a revolutionary Exposure Management platform that unifies discovery and visibility into all assets and assesses their exposures and vulnerabilities across the entire attack surface for proactive risk management.

Tenable One delivers context-driven risk analytics so security teams can move from reactive firefighting to prevention. Cybersecurity teams can anticipate and block threats before they can cause damage. The cloud-based platform identifies and assesses assets across the enterprise attack surface to gain a unified view of cyber risk.

The average large organization uses more than 130 cybersecurity point solutions, each with its own analytics and reporting. Discrete tools can lead to duplicate efforts and unintended gaps in security programs. This leaves security practitioners no clear path forward to tangibly reduce risk or succinctly communicate an organization’s security posture.

With Tenable One, organizations can easily translate technical asset, vulnerability, and threat data into business insights and actionable intelligence vital for business decision-makers and practitioners. This real-time translation of cyber risk answers stakeholders’ hard-hitting cybersecurity questions – such as “how secure are we?” and “how has our security posture improved over time?” – by providing clear metrics to measure, compare and easily communicate cyber risk.

“One of the biggest challenges enterprises face is the lack of actionable visibility to effectively quantify and respond to real exposure and cybersecurity risk,” said Dr. Michael Mylrea, Sr. Distinguished Engineer, Head of ICS Cybersecurity & Digital Innovation, National Resilience Inc. “The Tenable One Exposure Management Platform could be the game changer the industry needs. Now organizations can pinpoint additional weak spots that could be targeted by attackers and utilize contextual, prioritized reporting to remediate vulnerabilities.”

The Tenable One Platform eliminates noise by bringing an organization’s entire attack surface – on-premises and cloud-based – into a single view. It aggregates vulnerability data across IT infrastructure, web apps, the public cloud, and identity systems. This helps security leaders anticipate the consequences of a cyberattack. Tenable One draws upon the industry’s largest vulnerability management data set from Nessus® while understanding relationships between assets, exposures, privileges, and threats across attack paths.

“Our customers put their trust in us to understand their unique attack surfaces, help them predict attacks, and prioritize remediation,” said Rob Watson, SVP of Security Services, eSentire, Inc. “As a leading global Managed Detection and Response provider, the Tenable One Exposure Management Platform gives us a clear advantage in being able to offer customers a new way to visualize and then limit their cyber risk, as well as analytics that measure improvement over time. Together with Tenable, we bring peace of mind and help put businesses globally ahead of disruption.”

At launch, Tenable One introduces three new capabilities that are foundational to exposure management programs:

• Lumin Exposure View – provides clear and concise insights into an organization’s cyber exposure, giving security teams the ability to surface and accurately answer critical questions about the security posture
• Attack Path Analysis (APA) – enables security teams to view attack paths from externally identified points through to critical internal assets to focus mitigation on areas of highest risk
• Asset Inventory – provides users with a centralized view of all assets, including IT, cloud, Active Directory, and Web applications, with the ability to create specific asset tags from a variety of sources and use cases

“Bad actors don’t take a siloed approach to exploit organizations’ attack surfaces, so why are cybersecurity teams operating in vacuums?” said Glen Pendley, Chief Technology Officer, Tenable. “A platform approach to exposure management is the real game changer, surpassing the ineffective and expensive point solution approach that the industry has taken for decades. Tenable One delivers holistic insight into exposures that can serve as a true north for security teams.”

Tenable One combines vulnerability management, external attack surface management (EASM), identity management, and cloud security data to discover weaknesses before attackers can exploit them. It continuously monitors environments – from traditional IT assets to cloud resources and identity systems – delivering the broadest vulnerability coverage available.

Tenable One enables organizations to:

• Visualize Assets and Vulnerabilities – eliminates areas of known and unknown security risk and builds a baseline for effective risk management. It combines the power of a unified view of all assets and associated software vulnerabilities, poor configurations, and excessive entitlements with a continuous vulnerability assessment.
• Predict and Prioritize – applies context to anticipate the consequences of a cyberattack faster and significantly improves remediation prioritization. It enables security teams to continuously identify and focus on the exploitable attack pathways that create the most risk.
• Effectively Communicate Risk – provides a centralized and business-aligned view of cyber risk and actionable insights. It enables organizations to accurately and effectively communicate to different stakeholders about cyber risk and which actions can most efficiently reduce it.

Tenable One is built for dynamic environments, with a single license that gives customers the ability to easily adjust their asset allocations across Vulnerability Management, Cloud Security, AD Security, and Web App Scanning as business needs change. The platform is available today in both Standard and Enterprise versions.

Luxury silverware by Rezon, that make the perfect festive gift!

Rezon is a name synonymous with luxury silver artifacts, not just in India but across the globe. The versatile Kalyani Saha Chawla, the founder of Rezon, recently launched Silver Lining, a curated collection to celebrate the brand’s fifth anniversary. Kalyani’s collections are updated every year, and resonate across contemporary lifestyles and decor options, with the timeless Lotus collection and the Secret Garden collection evoking a modern floral paradise. The cutting of the sheets of silver for the massive array of products is carried out in Jaipur.

Traditional methods of silversmithing and modern design form the core of each piece here. From interpretations of Kalyani Chawla’s favorite flower – the lotus to underwater motifs (courtesy of her attraction to the beach), the inspiration for each piece is eclectic and contemporary. It’s an opinion she strongly holds, and hence trousseau shopping and curation is an important aspect of the business. Silver is a very auspicious metal in India and whether it’s a birth, a wedding, or any special occasion, it is the preferred gift because of the good luck associated with it.