Bangalore, India Mar 02: Recent rapid evolution in the technology space has led to significant shifts and new considerations for the audit profession as well. IT audit and assurance professionals can arm themselves with new tools to help them keep pace, including ISACA’s newly updated IT Audit Framework (ITAF): A Professional Practices Framework for IT Audit. The revamped 5th edition now incorporates updated terminology, refreshed examples, and expanded scope to better address emerging technologies, digital trust considerations, and evolving audit practices.

A longtime mainstay for audit and assurance professionals, ITAF was last updated in 2020. The comprehensive IT audit framework establishes standards that address IT audit and assurance practitioners’ roles and responsibilities, ethics, expected professional behavior, and required knowledge and skills; defines terms and concepts specific to IT audit and assurance; and provides guidance and techniques for the planning, performing and reporting of IT audit and assurance engagements. 

ITAF, 5th Edition, enhances clarity, integrates ISACA’s newest resources, including AI audit guidance, and aims to support both traditional assurance functions and modern audit teams using data analytics, automation, agile methods, and AI. The new framework places greater emphasis on governance, transparency, and readiness for advanced technologies while providing more practical, flexible, and globally relevant guidance, including through: 

• Modernization of content and scope: The 5^th edition updates terminology, definitions, and examples to reflect today’s technologies—such as cloud computing, AI/ML, and business automation—moving beyond the traditional IT control focus of the previous edition.

• Integration of digital trust and emerging technologies: The new framework incorporates digital trust concepts throughout planning, fieldwork, and reporting, and adds guidance for AI/ML auditing aligned with ISACA’s AI audit guidance and the broader digital trust ecosystem.
• Increased flexibility, practicality, and usability: This updated edition introduces language suitable for organizations of all sizes, adds practical examples, and improves clarity through a modernized layout.
• Expanded audit practices and governance expectations: The new version broadens the scope of IT audit to include data analytics, agile auditing, continuous assurance, and AI governance, with enhanced expectations for transparency, ethical technology use, and oversight of automated systems. 

This latest edition of ITAF also includes an updated ITAF Companion Performance Guidelines 2208: Information Technology Audit Sampling that provides IT audit and assurance professionals with guidance in the design, selection, and evaluation of audit samples to obtain sufficient and appropriate evidence supporting audit conclusions. The updated guidelines better reflect data-driven and technology-enabled audit sampling approaches. 

“As technology rapidly advances, it is essential for IT audit and assurance professionals to keep pace with changing tech and industry standards to ensure they are most effective in conducting engagements and ensuring their organizations comply with mandatory requirements,” said Mary Carmichael, Executive Advisor and Principal Director, Strategy and Risk at Momentum Technology, ISACA Vancouver Chapter board member, and the lead developer for ITAF, 5th edition. “The expanded and updated ITAF gives IT auditors a robust tool and trusted guidance for navigating today’s new challenges and ensuring trust in an increasingly complex and interconnected digital ecosystem.” 

Noida, Uttar Pradesh  Mar 02:  Ofis Square successfully hosted the much-anticipated FoodTech Meetup on 28 February 2026 at its Sector 62, Noida facility, bringing together founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders shaping the future of India’s food and beverage industry. The meetup was organized in collaboration with StartupNews.fyi and served as a powerful networking and knowledge-exchange platform for emerging and growth-stage FoodTech ventures. 

The event witnessed participation from over 50 founders and more than 15 active investors and ecosystem enablers, creating a dynamic environment for strategic conversations and partnerships. Representatives from leading investment networks and venture firms including Indicorn Angels, The StepUp Ventures, ValueBridge Capital, Delhi Angels Den, GetVantage, WEIN Capital, and SmartFin Capital engaged directly with startup founders, discussing funding strategies, market expansion, rapid commerce opportunities, and sustainable scaling models. 

Throughout the evening, founders shared insights into building resilient cloud kitchens, scaling D2C food brands, optimizing supply chains, and navigating evolving consumer preferences. Conversations also explored performance marketing efficiencies, packaging innovation, cost management strategies, and the role of technology in enhancing operational excellence. The meetup created an open forum for real-world problem solving, with investors offering candid feedback and guidance based on active market trends. 

Speaking about the initiative, Surabhi Mittal, Director Brand and Corporate communication, Ofis Square said, “At Ofis Square, we believe innovation thrives where meaningful conversations happen. Hosting the FoodTech Meetup reinforces our commitment to building a collaborative ecosystem where founders and investors can connect beyond formal boardrooms. The energy in the room reflected the immense potential of India’s FoodTech sector and the power of community-driven growth.” 

She further added, “Food and technology are converging at an unprecedented pace. By providing a space where operators, capital partners, and innovators can interact transparently, we are helping accelerate smarter, more sustainable growth journeys. This meetup is part of our larger vision to position Ofis Square as a catalyst for sector-focused entrepreneurial communities.” 

As a leading coworking and innovation hub in Noida, Ofis Square continues to host curated meetups, founder roundtables, and industry-focused networking events aimed at strengthening India’s startup ecosystem. With a growing portfolio of community initiatives, the company remains dedicated to empowering ambitious founders with not just infrastructure, but access, insights, and opportunity.

Mar 02: IndiGo, India’s preferred airline, today announced the launch of daily, direct flights between Kolkata and Shanghai, effective 29 March 2026. The new route will be operated using IndiGo’s A320 aircraft. This announcement follows the recent reinstatement of IndiGo’s services to Guangzhou, highlighting the airline’s focus on improving connectivity and enabling smoother travel between India and China. Customers can plan and book their travel through IndiGo’s official website www.goIndiGo.in, mobile app, or authorised travel partners.

Shanghai, China’s premier global financial centre and a major innovation hub, is an essential addition to the 6E network. With continued growth in exports from West Bengal to China in FY25-26, including marine products, leather goods, and specialized textiles, direct air connectivity will further strengthen trade flows between the two countries.

Vinay Malhotra, Global Head of Sales, IndiGo, said, “We are pleased to announce the launch of our new daily, direct connectivity between Kolkata and Shanghai, China, in addition to our flights to Guangzhou. This development underscores our commitment to connecting India to key global destinations. Shanghai is the country’s biggest city, a global financial hub, and famous for its dazzling futuristic skyline complemented with historic architecture. This addition to our network will play an important role in facilitating bilateral trade and is expected to boost tourism and promote greater cultural exchange between the two nations.”

 By Mr. Naval Kagalwala, COO & Head of Product, Shriram Wealth Ltd 

Global events may drive near-term volatility, long-term outlook unchanged

“We remain focused on aligning portfolios with clients’ objectives, investment horizon and risk profile. Market events, such as those witnessed over the weekend, have occurred multiple times in the past and typically lead to short-term volatility, followed by a period of stabilisation.

Any correction, if it plays out, could help rationalise valuations further in India, which continues to remain among the fastest-growing major economies. Importantly, this is not an India-specific event. Near-term spillovers, if any, would largely be through spike in oil prices and certain other segments which rely on exports / imports. However, with OPEC mulling an increase in production and other options also available, India could explore alternate sources and routes. The supply-side pressures could moderate over time.

With several global markets impacted simultaneously, capital flows may be re-evaluated, and India could be seen as a relative safer destination given its domestic demand strength. Domestic investor participation has been healthy, with liquidity on the sidelines that has historically tended to come into equities during periods of correction.”

Kolkata, Mar 02: In a heartfelt gesture to support and serve the community during the holy month of Ramadan, OYO Hotel Vaibhav in Ajmer has announced complimentary stays for guests observing the sacred period. Located in the Naya Bazar area near the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, OYO Hotel Vaibhav aims to provide comfort, dignity, and convenience to travelers and devotees visiting during Ramadan.

Guests can avail of this special Ramadan offering by booking their stay through the OYO app or website using the coupon code RAMADANVAIBHAV, or by directly contacting the hotel’s reservations team for further details. The initiative is valid through March 19, subject to availability and applicable terms.

The hotel will also facilitate early morning arrangements aligned with Sehri timings and ensure a peaceful environment for guests observing Roza.

Elaborating more about the scheme, Aditya Goyal, Managing Director, Hotel Vaibhav said ““It has been ten years since we began offering this service to our guests during the holy month of Ramadan. Through this initiative, we hope to support visitors in their spiritual journey and ensure that everyone can experience the sanctity of this period with comfort and dignity, irrespective of their financial circumstances.”

Ajmer is an important destination for devotees during Ramadan because of the presence of the revered shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, where they can seek blessings, participate in various rituals, and experience the spiritual atmosphere of the holy month. During Ramadan, the Dargah Sharif of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer sees a huge influx of devotees from all over the world, who come to offer their prayers and seek blessings.

Dubai, UAE. – (Mar 2) – Tenable® (NASDAQ: TENB), the exposure management company, today released its Cloud and AI Security Risk Report 2026. The research reveals organizations face a zero‑margin AI exposure gap as they inherit cyber risks faster than they can address them. Engineering velocity — driven by AI adoption, third-party code and cloud scale — has outpaced the human-led ability to assess, prioritize and remediate risks before threat actors exploit them.

The AI Exposure Gap is a largely invisible form of exposure that emerges across applications, infrastructure, identities, agents and data, and that most security teams are not equipped to manage. Tenable’s analysis of cloud environments identifies severe risks across four key security areas: AI security posture, supply chain attack vectors, least privilege implementation and cloud workload exposure — all of which demand immediate attention. The report includes actionable guidance for security and business leaders to reduce risk across cloud and AI environments.

Key findings from the Cloud and AI Security Risk Report 2026 include:

●       70% have integrated at least one AI or Model Context Protocol (MCP) third-party package, embedding AI deep into applications and infrastructure, often without central security oversight.

●       86% host third-party code packages with critical-severity vulnerabilities, making the software supply chain a primary and persistent source of cloud exposure. Furthermore, nearly 1 in 8 (13%) have deployed packages with a known history of compromise, such as the s1ngularity or Shai-Hulud worms.

●       18% of organizations have granted AI services administrative permissions that are rarely audited, creating a “pre-packaged” catalog of privileges for attackers to claim.

●       Non‑human identities such as AI agents and service accounts now represent higher risk (52%) than human users (37%), forming “toxic combinations” of permissions and access that fragmented tools fail to connect.

●       65% possess “ghost” secrets—unused or unrotated cloud credentials—with 17% of these tied specifically to critical administrative privileges.

●       49% of identities with critical-severity excessive permissions are dormant.

“AI systems embedded in infrastructure pose a critical risk that CISOs and defenders must address, in addition to anticipating emerging threats from both AI and cloud technologies. Lack of visibility and governance means teams are at the mercy of new exposures, including over-privileged identities in the cloud,” said Liat Hayun, Senior Vice President of Product Management and Research at Tenable. “By focusing on the unified exposure path, organizations can stop managing ‘security debt’ and start managing actual business risk.”

To manage emerging risks, organizations must secure the AI integration process through comprehensive visibility and identity-centric controls. This includes enforcing least privilege for AI roles, neutralizing “ghost” identity risk and eliminating static secret exposure. Third-party code and external accounts are now extensions of organizations’ infrastructure; steps to reduce extended supply chain exposure include unifying visibility across code packages, virtual machines, identity access and cloud environments.

The 2026 Cloud & AI Security Risk Report presents findings from the Tenable Research team, analyzing anonymized telemetry from diverse public cloud and enterprise environments collected from April to October 2025 (AI findings extended through December 2025).

Exposure Management is the practice of identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing the risks posed by all entry points an attacker could exploit. This includes not just software vulnerabilities (CVEs), but also misconfigurations, excessive user privileges (identity risk), cloud security gaps, and the “shadow” assets created by AI and third-party supply chains.

Bhopal, Mar 2: Amber – A unit of Sayaji, the latest addition to the Sayaji portfolio, has opened its doors in Bhopal. Located in Chinar Fortune City near Vidya Nagar Phase 2, Bawadiya Kalan, the hotel brings contemporary comfort and warm, intuitive service to Madhya Pradesh’s capital – ideal for business trips, short leisure breaks, and intimate celebrations.

 Bhopal, widely known as the “City of Lakes,” offers a compelling mix of heritage and modern energy. From day trips to UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Bhimbetka and Sanchi to the city’s long-standing cultural legacy linked to Raja Bhoj, the destination continues to draw travellers who like their getaways rooted in story, craft, and cuisine.

Amber – A unit of Sayaji features 22 well-appointed rooms designed for comfort-led stays. The hotel offers 20 Superior Rooms at 280 sq. ft. each and two Family Rooms spanning 552 sq. ft., making it well-suited for solo travellers, couples, and families looking for more space.

The hotel’s dining address, Cafene, offers a breakfast buffet along with an à la carte menu. With 52 covers in total, including 34 indoor and 18 al fresco, Cafene is designed for easy breakfasts, working lunches, and relaxed dinners, pairing familiar favourites with flavour-forward touches inspired by the region.

For weddings, social gatherings, and corporate meet-ups, Amber – A unit of Sayaji offers a strong set of event spaces. Aurum, the hotel’s banquet hall, spans 2,736 sq. ft. and can host up to 150 guests in theatre style, with additional formats available, including classroom-style seating for up to 60 guests and cluster seating for up to 80. For larger celebrations, Vatika Lawn spans 24,850 sq. ft. and can host up to 1,000 guests, with configurations also suitable for mid-sized formats, including cluster seating for up to 500.

“We’re excited to open Amber – A unit of Sayaji in Bhopal and welcome guests to a hotel that’s intimate in size but big on detail. From the comfort of our rooms to the ease of hosting at Aurum and Vatika, we’ve built this space for people who want a stay that feels effortless – and genuinely warm”, expressed Mr. Manoj Kumar Golani, Co-Owner, Amber – A Unit by Sayaji, Chief Operating Officer, Satyam Builders & Developers. 

Rajendra Joshi, Associate General Manager at Sayaji Hotels said,

 “Madhya Pradesh is home for the Sayaji brand, so every opening here feels personal. With Amber – A unit of Sayaji, we’re bringing our signature hospitality to a contemporary address in the city – crafted for stays, dining, and celebrations, and delivered with the kind of warmth that comes naturally in our home state.”

The new stay address is now welcoming guests, offering a refined, convenient base for exploring the city, working on the move, or marking memorable moments with family and friends.