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  • MS Dhoni Named Goodwill Ambassador for Cars24’s ‘Crashfree India’ Initiative

    New Delhi, Apr 15 (BNP): Former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni has been appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador for Cars24’s ‘Crashfree India’ campaign, an initiative aimed at promoting safer driving habits across the country.

    Through this association, Dhoni will support efforts to raise awareness about road safety and encourage responsible driving practices among motorists. The campaign focuses on reducing road accidents by promoting discipline, caution, and better driving behaviour.

    Known for his calm and composed personality on and off the field, Dhoni’s involvement is expected to strengthen the campaign’s message and connect with a wide audience, especially young drivers.

    The initiative aims to build a safer road culture in India by combining awareness campaigns with behavioural change efforts, encouraging citizens to adopt safer practices while driving.

     

  • April 2026 Patch Tuesday: Insights from Tenable’s Satnam Narang on Latest Vulnerabilities

    April 2026 Patch Tuesday: Insights from Tenable’s Satnam Narang on Latest Vulnerabilities

    Microsoft’s April 2026 Patch Tuesday release contains fixes for 163 CVEs, making it the second biggest Patch Tuesday ever, just shy of the record set in October 2025 at 167 CVEs. At this pace, 2026 is on track to affirm that 1,000+ Patch Tuesday CVEs annually is the norm. Not only that, but elevation of privilege bugs continue to dominate the Patch Tuesday cycle over the last eight months, accounting for a record 57% of all CVEs patched in April, while remote code execution (RCE) vulnerabilities have dropped to just 12%, tied with information disclosure vulnerabilities this month.

    This month, Microsoft patched a SharePoint Server spoofing vulnerability (CVE-2026-32201) that was exploited in the wild as a zero-day. This might sound like deja vu, and that’s because the last SharePoint Server spoofing vulnerability exploited as a zero-day was CVE-2025-49706 from July 2025, part of the ToolShell exploit chain used by ransomware and cyberespionage groups. While we lack insight into the in-the-wild exploitation associated with this latest flaw and whether it is related to the ToolShell exploit chain, it underscores how valuable SharePoint Server is as a target for attackers.

    CVE-2026-33825 is an elevation of privilege vulnerability in Microsoft Defender that is marked as publicly disclosed. The timing of this aligns with the recent disclosure of the BlueHammer elevation of privilege vulnerability in Defender, which was disclosed on April 8. While we don’t have confirmation of the connection, this one warrants attention.

    This month, Microsoft’s Remote Desktop received a fix for CVE-2026-26151, a spoofing vulnerability. Previous behavior allowed users to receive and open Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) files without any sort of warning. In the April 2026 Security Update, Microsoft will now provide sufficient warning dialogues to users when interacting with potentially malicious RDP files. – Satnam Narang, Senior Staff Research Engineer at Tenable

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  • Indian Railways Announces Special Trains from Odisha for Summer Rush

    Apr 15 (BNP): To manage the surge in passenger demand during the summer holiday season, Indian Railways has announced the operation of several special trains connecting Odisha with major cities across India.

    The move is aimed at easing travel pressure on regular services and offering passengers more convenient and comfortable options during peak vacation time.

    Officials said the additional trains will help reduce overcrowding and improve connectivity for long-distance travellers, making summer journeys smoother and more accessible.

    The increased services are also expected to support tourism, as better rail connectivity will encourage more people to visit popular destinations during the holiday season while boosting travel activity across regions.

  • GIA 2.0 Soon to Expand Karnataka’s Tech Partnerships

    Apr 15 (BNP): Karnataka’s Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) has emerged as a strong platform for international technology collaboration, helping connect startups, innovators, and institutions across global markets.

    The initiative has facilitated partnerships between Karnataka-based startups and global innovation ecosystems, strengthening knowledge exchange and access to international opportunities.

    Officials said the programme has helped position Karnataka as a leading hub for innovation-driven growth and global tech engagement.

    The state is now preparing to launch GIA 2.0, which is expected to further expand global partnerships and enhance support for emerging technologies and startups.

  • NBFCs to Rely More on Bank Borrowings in FY27 Amid Lower Interest Rates

    Apr 15 (BNP): Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) in India are expected to depend more on bank borrowings in FY27 as lower interest rates make bank funding more attractive, according to a rating agency report.

    The report noted that the share of bank borrowings in overall NBFC funding rose to about 43% in FY26, supported by strong lending activity in the second half of the year. This share is likely to increase further, reaching up to 45% in FY27.

    With banks offering comparatively cheaper loans, NBFCs are gradually shifting away from debt capital market issuances, which are expected to see slower growth in the coming period.

    Overall, the trend reflects a changing funding mix in the NBFC sector, with bank credit playing a larger role in meeting financing needs.

  • FICCI Appoints Anant Swarup as Secretary General

    New Delhi, Apr 15 (BNP): The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has appointed Anant Swarup as its Secretary General with immediate effect.

    FICCI said the appointment strengthens its senior leadership structure, while Jyoti Vij will continue to serve as Director General.

    Anant Swarup brings over 30 years of experience in public policy, trade remedies, logistics, regulatory reforms, and international negotiations. He has held several senior positions in the central government across key administrative and economic domains.

    The chamber stated that his appointment is expected to further strengthen its policy advocacy and engagement with industry stakeholders in India and abroad.

     

  • PANVIS STAR Robotic System Advances Remote Mechanical Thrombectomy Technology

    Apr 15 (BNP): PANVIS STAR, a vascular interventional robotic system developed by Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Biomedical Robot Co., Ltd. (abrobo), is being positioned as a major advancement in neurointerventional treatment for ischemic stroke.

    Ischemic stroke remains a leading global health concern, with millions of new cases reported each year. Access to mechanical thrombectomy (MT), the standard treatment for large vessel occlusion, is often limited by uneven healthcare infrastructure, shortage of specialists, and procedural complexity.

    The PANVIS STAR system is designed to address these challenges by enabling remotely controlled, high-precision thrombectomy procedures. In preclinical studies using an animal model of arterial occlusion, the system successfully completed the entire MT workflow, including vascular access, angiography, lesion navigation, device placement, and clot retrieval.

    The robotic platform demonstrated coordinated control of multiple devices, including guiding catheters, microcatheters, and stent retrievers, enabling smooth and precise execution of the procedure. The intervention achieved complete vessel reopening, supported by sub-millimeter accuracy, force sensing, and haptic feedback.

    Researchers say the technology could help reduce operator fatigue, improve procedural consistency, and expand access to advanced stroke treatment in regions with limited specialist availability.

    The PANVIS STAR system represents a significant step forward in robotic-assisted neurointervention and the future of minimally invasive stroke care.

     

  • Gold ETFs AUM Surges to INR 1.7 Lakh Crore in March Amid Global Uncertainty

    New Delhi, Apr 15 (BNP): Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in India recorded strong growth in March 2026, with total assets under management (AUM) rising to ₹1,71,468.4 crore.

    According to ICRA Analytics data, the AUM has nearly tripled compared to the same period last year, reflecting rising investor interest in gold as a safe-haven asset amid global uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.

    The report also shows that gold ETFs have delivered a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 64.76% over the past five years, increasing significantly from ₹14,122.72 crore in March 2021.

    Experts attribute the surge to growing participation from both retail and institutional investors, who prefer gold ETFs for their ease of trading, transparency, and convenience compared to physical gold.

    The trend highlights a continued shift toward digital gold investment as part of diversified portfolios during volatile market conditions.

  • Odisha to Roll Out Slot Booking System for Puri Jagannath Temple Darshan

    Apr 15 (BNP): The Odisha government is set to introduce a slot-based booking system for darshan at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, while retaining the existing queue (dhadi) system, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said on Wednesday.

    He stated that both systems will operate simultaneously to improve crowd management and ensure a smoother darshan experience for devotees.

    Under the new arrangement, devotees who book time slots will be guided to a designated holding area before proceeding for darshan of the Holy Trinity, helping reduce waiting time and streamline visitor flow.

    The government is also planning infrastructure upgrades inside the temple complex, including the proposed air-conditioning of the Nata Mandap. The tender process for the project is currently underway.

    The initiative aims to make darshan more organised and hassle-free while preserving traditional worship practices at the shrine.

  • Santoor appoints Tilt Brand Solutions as Agency on Record

    Mumbai, April 15: Santoor, India’s largest soap brand and the flagship brand of Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting, has appointed Tilt Brand Solutions as its Creative Agency on Record (AOR).

    As the AOR, Santoor will partner with Tilt Brand Solutions to conceive and execute all aspects of marketing, brand, communication, and content across media and platforms. The focus will be on strengthening relevance with existing consumers, while expanding the brand’s appeal across newer geographies, segments, and channels.

    S. Prasanna Rai, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting, said,

    “We are pleased to partner with Tilt Brand Solutions for Santoor. As the brand continues to evolve and engage with a new generation of consumers, it is important to bring in fresh thinking and strong creative capabilities. Tilt’s understanding of the category and their approach to storytelling aligns well with our vision for Santoor, and we look forward to building a strong and impactful association together.”

    Joseph (Joe) George, Chairman & CEO, Tilt Brand Solutions said,

    “This appointment is hugely exciting and comes with a great sense of responsibility. Santoor is an iconic brand with a strong legacy, and we are committed to strengthening its relevance and reach. We look forward to bringing our collective experience and expertise across strategy and storytelling to do justice to Wipro’s faith and confidence in us.”

    The partnership marks a strategic collaboration aimed at supporting Santoor’s next phase of growth and strengthening its brand momentum in a dynamic and evolving market landscape.

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