Category Archives: News

Amul Hikes Milk Prices by INR 2 Per Litre, Consumers Feel Inflation Heat !

Vadodara,May 14 (BNP): Dairy major Amul has increased the prices of its packaged milk variants by ₹2 per litre, with the revised rates coming into effect from May 14 across the country.

The price hike applies to popular variants including Amul Gold, Amul Shakti, Taaza, Cow Milk and Slim & Trim. Following the increase, a 500 ml pouch of Amul Gold will now cost ₹35, while Amul Shakti and Slim & Trim are priced at ₹32 and ₹26 respectively in Gujarat.

The move has triggered concern among consumers in Vadodara, where residents said the rising prices of essential commodities are putting additional pressure on household budgets. Many homemakers and middle-class families expressed worry over managing daily expenses, stating that milk is an essential item consumed in almost every household.

The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets Amul products, said the increase amounts to nearly 2.5 to 3.5 per cent and marks the first hike in milk prices since May 2025.

The Climate Pledge and C40 Cities Launch Blueprint to Electrify India’s Freight Highways

Bengaluru, May 14 : The Climate Pledge  co-founded by Amazon, today published India’s first evidence-based roadmap for shifting freight transport from diesel to zero-exhaust-emission battery electric trucks  in collaboration with C40 Cities .

The National EV Highway Guidance Framework recommends a phased plan to electrify India’s busiest freight routes by 2027, beginning with 20 priority highways identified by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, expanding to industrial centres and ports and ultimately creating a seamless, EV-ready national freight network by 2035 

Why this Framework Matters India’s freight demand is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, increasing the need for cleaner transport solutions. Road transport already accounts for nearly 70% of goods movement in the country, while medium and heavy-duty trucks, despite making up just 3% of vehicles on the road, contribute around 53% of particulate emissions. With demand projected to grow over four-fold by 2050, scaling electric freight will be key to reducing emissions and improving efficiency. This Framework outlines practical pathways, aligned with the Government’s focus on electrification and sustainable mobility, and India’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.

“India’s transition to cleaner freight will require strong collaboration across government and industry. The EV Highway Guidance Framework launched under the Laneshift program today is an important step in this direction and will help create a scalable pathway for electric trucking in the country. Through the e-FAST India platform, NITI Aayog has been bringing together logistics operators, OEMs, energy providers, and financial institutions to build an enabling ecosystem for freight electrification. Building on these efforts, partnerships led by C40 Cities, The Climate Pledge, and private sector stakeholders such as Amazon and Ashok Leyland demonstrate how collaborative action can help move electric freight from pilots to large-scale deployment.” said Dr. O.P. Agarwal, Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog.

“We continue to invest in making our operations more sustainable, and electrifying our logistics is a key part of that effort. Through The Climate Pledge, we are also working with stakeholders to help scale electric freight solutions more broadly in India. The project findings and framework are encouraging, and reinforce the importance of continued collaboration between government and industry to accelerate adoption,” Abhinav Singh, VP, Operations, India and Australia, Amazon.

From Pilot Project to Policy The Framework draws insights from Laneshift pilot project, led by C40 Cities and The Climate Pledge, by bringing together truck manufacturers, fleet operators, logistics providers, and financiers to test electric freight. As part of the project, electric trucks completed 600 trips on the Bengaluru-Chennai corridor, covering over 200,000 km across sectors, generating insights on performance, reliability and cost, and supporting early adoption through long-term contracts. To assess scalability, the project also undertook a 6,500-km pilot along the Golden Quadrilateral, connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

Laneshift project demonstrated operational viability of electric freight across all use cases, and commercial viability for operations exceeding 400 km per day. The project saw 4.2-times increase in electric truck orders and the securing of long-term commercial contracts , signaling growing market confidence.

“Decarbonizing freight is not a future ambition; it is an immediate economic and public health imperative for the country. Laneshift has shown that zero-exhaust-emission trucks can operate commercially on long-haul corridors, that costs are coming down, and that when the right stakeholders align their efforts, barriers give way. India has the scale, the policy momentum, and the industry appetite to be the next frontier,” said Naim Keruwala, Regional Director for South and West Asia at C40 Cities.

Compass Group India Backs Cage-Free Egg Production with Global Food Partners

New Delhi, May 14 : Global Food Partners  a global consultancy helping food businesses achieve higher animal welfare standards in their supply chains, today announced it has supported Compass Group India, a leader in food services, to drive cage-free egg production and support local farmers in India.

According to the Release of Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2025 (2024–25) published by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, the country is the world’s second-largest producer of eggs, with total production estimated at 149.11 billion eggs in 2024–25, reflecting steady year-on-year growth. However, an Ernst & Young report titled Transitioning to Cage-Free: A Roadmap for Corporates in the Egg Supply Chain highlights that a significant share of this production still relies on conventional battery cage systems, underscoring both the urgency and the opportunity to transition towards higher-welfare egg production practices.

Due to limited cage-free supplies and regional market gaps, Compass Group India is using cage-free credits to offset a portion of its caged egg purchases. GFP administers the Impact Incentives programme; cage-free credits enable food businesses to directly support egg farmers making a sustainable transition to cage-free production—while helping to build and secure future supply.

Compass Group has initially purchased around 4,000 cage-free credits in India, with each credit offsetting the purchase of 1,000 caged eggs—a total of four million eggs. The funds for this credit purchase go directly to three farms in India—U and V Agro, Hensway India, and Happy Hens Farm—to expand their cage-free capacities and invest in their logistics networks.

Via Compass Group Foundation, Compass Group India and other partners have also launched a new cage-free and free-range training centre with GFP as technical partner. The training centre, located outside of Bangalore, will support local farmers in their transitions to cage-free systems, teach best practices in egg production and management, and help farmers achieve long-term sustainability and profitability in their industry.

“Compass Group India has shown enormous leadership and innovation in not only their own cage-free commitments, but also in driving substantial, foundational change in how eggs are produced and supplied throughout India,” said GFP CEO Elissa Lane. “Their commitment to responsible sourcing extends to the new training centre that meaningfully supports farmers and strengthens the nation’s food system.” 

Compass Group has published a complete Animal Welfare Progress Report for 2026 with more details.

Other industry giants that have adopted Impact Incentives as part of their cage-free strategy include Kellanova, Best Western Hotels, Lagardère Travel Retail, and PizzaExpress. By sourcing cage-free eggs whenever possible, and using cage-free credits to address any supply-chain shortfalls, companies can report 100 percent compliance with cage-free mandates. GFP currently focuses on egg production throughout Asia, and has capabilities in Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Latin America.  

Air India Announces Major Summer Flight Cuts Due to Fuel Prices and Airspace Restrictions !

New Delhi, May 14 (BNP): Facing mounting financial pressure amid the ongoing fuel crisis and geopolitical tensions, Air India has announced a major reduction in its international summer flight operations, suspending and scaling down services on several key routes till August 2026.

According to the revised schedule, the airline will operate nearly 37 per cent fewer international flights between June and August compared to April operations. Monthly international departures are expected to drop significantly as rising aviation turbine fuel prices, restricted airspace due to the West Asia conflict and declining route profitability continue to impact operations.

Several major routes connecting India with North America, Europe, Australia and Asia have been affected. Services on routes such as Delhi-Chicago, Delhi-Shanghai and Chennai-Singapore have been temporarily suspended, while flight frequencies on destinations including Paris, Melbourne, Singapore and Kathmandu have been reduced.

Air India, however, said it will continue operating more than 1,200 international flights every month during the affected period. The airline has offered affected passengers options including alternative flights, free rescheduling and full refunds if the revised schedules are not suitable.

The operational changes come at a time when the Tata Group-owned airline is battling heavy financial losses, rising fuel costs and global travel disruptions. Industry experts believe the airline is prioritising cost control and operational stability as part of its ongoing turnaround strategy.

Air India has also reportedly initiated several internal cost-cutting measures, including curbing discretionary spending and reviewing operational expenses, as it attempts to navigate one of the toughest phases for the aviation sector in recent years.

Feil Organization Partners with Layer to Bring Digital Artworks to Historic Buildings in Union Square and Gramercy Park

NEW YORK, May 14, 2026 – The Feil Organization, a leading national real estate investment firm, has partnered with Layer, the art and technology company shaping the future of digital art, to bring the work of top digital artists to its historic Manhattan buildings at 853 Broadway in Union Square and 257 Park Avenue South in Gramercy Park.

Layer presents digital art as it’s meant to be experienced: dynamic, evolving, and deeply connected to the spaces it inhabits. Layer and its proprietary display model, Layer Canvas, feature works from a highly curated selection of digital artists, including Zach Lieberman, Casey Reas, and Leander Herzog, displayed on Layer Canvas, the company’s museum-grade digital art display system designed to present generative artworks with exceptional fidelity and depth.

Each piece on Layer is rendered in real time on Layer Canvas, evolving continuously and creating a living, responsive visual experience.

Founded by entrepreneur Angelo Sotiracopoulos, Layer collaborates with world-class digital artists to present generative artworks that transform the spaces they inhabit. The company’s proprietary Art Intelligence™ engine dynamically curates artworks based on time of day and environmental conditions, creating a constantly shifting art experience.

853 Broadway is a commercial loft building with a mix of retail, corporate and creative offices and commanding views of Union Square Park. 257 Park Avenue South is an Art Deco treasure in Manhattan’s Gramercy Park neighborhood with magnificent views of Midtown-South.

Sotira said:

“The Feil Organization’s Union Square and Gramercy Buildings capture New York City’s unique and constantly evolving mix of commercial and cultural life. We’re thrilled to introduce some of the world’s most acclaimed digital artists to these vibrant spaces in a format where their work can live and breathe in harmony with people’s daily lives.”

Andrew Wiener, Head of Commercial Leasing at The Feil Organization, said:

“We’re always looking for innovative ways to create engaging environments within our office buildings. Layer will enhance how our tenants experience 853 Broadway and 257 Park Avenue South by integrating museum-worthy digital art with classic New York architecture.”

India Hosts Key BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meet in New Delhi Under 2026 Chairship

A Setting for Every Story: Novotel Mumbai International Airport Presents Its Wedding Fair with All For Love by Accor

Mumbai, May 13: Weddings today are increasingly shaped by intention where every detail is considered, and every element contributes to a cohesive, personal experience. Reflecting this evolving approach, Novotel Mumbai International Airport presents its Wedding Fair on Saturday, 23rd May 2026, in collaboration with All For Love by Accor, a platform that brings a refined, experience-led perspective to contemporary celebrations.

Titled “All For Love – A Celebration to a Journey of Infinity,” the showcase is conceived as an immersive exploration of modern wedding possibilities. The experience is anchored within two of the hotel’s signature venues – The Summit and Charmichael each offering a distinct interpretation of space and scale.

The Summit, with its expansive layout, lends itself to larger, fluid celebrations, allowing for layered design and a sense of understated grandeur. In contrast, Charmichael offers a more intimate setting, where detail and atmosphere take precedence, creating a closer and more personal environment. 

Together, the two venues present a balanced perspective, moving seamlessly between scale and subtlety.

Across these spaces, the showcase unfolds through evolving environments rather than static displays. Décor transitions and spatial transformations provide a clear sense of how each venue can be adapted, offering guests a more intuitive understanding of how their own celebrations may take shape.

A curated selection of leading wedding collaborators—spanning planning, décor, and styling—further enhances the experience, enabling direct engagement and informed decision-making within a single setting. Complementing this is the hotel’s portfolio of bespoke wedding offerings, designed as flexible frameworks that can be tailored to individual preferences and visions.

The culinary programme remains integral to the experience, with a multi-cuisine presentation that reflects the hotel’s approach to food as a defining element of celebration—balancing variety, authenticity, and presentation.

Commenting on the showcase, Rachita Sood, General Manager, Novotel Mumbai International Airport, said:

“Weddings today are defined by cohesion—how seamlessly every element comes together. This showcase allows that philosophy to be experienced in a tangible way, bringing together spaces, design, and service within a single, considered environment. The collaboration with ‘All For Love by Accor’ further strengthens this approach, enabling a more contemporary and personalised perspective on celebrations.”

The Wedding Fair at Novotel Mumbai International Airport presents an opportunity to move beyond inspiration—towards clarity, confidence, and a well-defined vision of celebration.

Event Details
Date: Saturday, 23rd May 2026
Time: 11:00 AM onwards

Venue:
Novotel Mumbai International Airport
CTS 1359 Marol, Next to Airport Metro Station, Entrance No. 3
Andheri Kurla Road, Andheri East
Mumbai, Maharashtra 400059, India

F1® Authentics Hosts Charity Auction in Unique Sporting Crossover

May 13: F1® Authentics, operated by Memento Exclusives, is auctioning a rare collectible this month, combining motorsport and American football, captured at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix.

Brought together by Atlas Air Worldwide, the signed helmets of both Aston Martin Aramco F1® Team driver Lance Stroll and Miami Dolphins NFL player Jordan Phillips, will be available for collectors to purchase as a unique set. This activation was created to help raise money and awareness for Movember and its work supporting men’s health.

A sporting exchange took place ahead of the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, celebrating the power of using high-profile platforms to raise money for an important cause. The helmets then went on display over the race-weekend at the track before now being made available for one lucky collector to own.   
 
Moments like this are incredibly rare and made extra special for the way they unite sports such as Formula One® and the NFL, as well as charitable purposes in one distinctive collectible. This exciting set is expected to attract significant interest as it offers collectors the chance to acquire a unique multi-sport collaboration while also contributing to fundraising efforts that support vital conversations and action around men’s health. Atlas Air Worldwide and Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team have both committed up to $25k to match the winning bid. 

Previews of this listing and exchange are live now, with bidding set to begin on 11th May.

Collectors wishing to find out more and register their interest can do so by visiting F1® Authentics now.

Recast Names Intune and Configuration Manager Expert Shanmugam Senthil as Senior Director of Engineering

MINNEAPOLIS—May 12, 2026—Recast, a leader in modern application and endpoint management, today announced that Shanmugam Senthil has joined the company as Senior Director of Engineering and India Site Leader. Based in Bangalore, Senthil will help establish Recast’s India presence and strengthen the company’s engineering organization to support continued growth. His combination of Microsoft platform expertise and technology leadership experience gives Recast added depth as it evolves its capabilities to help customers manage and secure complex IT environments.

A 30-year technology industry veteran, Senthil has built and led engineering teams at Microsoft, Yahoo!, Samsung, and Sun Microsystems. During his decade at Microsoft, he led engineering teams responsible for evolving core endpoint management capabilities within Intune and ConfigMgr. That experience aligns closely with Recast’s mission and product direction as organizations look for more effective ways to manage, secure, and optimize endpoints across hybrid and cloud environments.

In his new role, Senthil will help shape the structure, culture, and daily operations in India. He will also collaborate closely with Recast’s global engineering and product teams to expand the company’s capabilities in support of its long-term product strategy.

“Senthil brings a strong leadership philosophy and tremendous experience with Microsoft Intune and ConfigMgr,” said Will Teevan, CEO, Recast. “This is exactly the kind of expertise Recast needs to accelerate innovation and deliver greater value to our customers.”

“I’m excited to join Recast at such an important stage in the company’s growth,” said Senthil. “Recast has a clear mission, notable product alignment with the needs of modern IT teams, and a meaningful opportunity to expand its engineering presence in India. I look forward to working with teams across the company to help build a solid foundation for growth, execution, and new advances.”

Brainomix and Boehringer Ingelheim Advance Strategic Partnership in Pulmonary Fibrosis

OXFORD, England and CHICAGO, May 12^th, 2026 — Brainomix, a global leader and pioneer of AI-powered imaging tools in lung fibrosis and stroke, today announced an expansion of its partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, the leading biopharmaceutical company providing therapeutic options for interstitial lung disease (ILD), to improve the care of patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF).

Patients with Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) may progress to PPF, a condition marked by irreversible lung damage and increased risk of early mortality. Without treatment, patients may have a lifespan as short as five years¹, yet many still endure long delays – often years – before receiving a diagnosis². Early diagnosis and intervention can play a major role in a patient’s prognosis, but determining which patients are eligible for treatment based on imaging remains challenging, even for experienced specialists.

Brainomix e-Lung is an FDA-cleared, AI-driven imaging software platform that automatically detects and quantifies abnormalities on thoracic CT scans, helping clinicians more easily identify changes, including subtle deterioration across multiple timepoints. Built on proprietary technology, e-Lung has been clinically validated to measure lung features associated with interstitial lung diseases (ILD).

Results from REVISE-PPF, a retrospective research study conducted with the University of Chicago, Weill Cornell Medical Center, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, will be presented by Dr. Anna Podolanczuk (Weill-Cornell) at an ATS session on Sunday, May 17^th. The study demonstrated that e-Lung was able to stratify patients at risk of PPF from a baseline CT and identified patients with radiologic evidence of PPF up to 28 months earlier than local clinical diagnoses.

This next phase of the Brainomix–Boehringer Ingelheim partnership aims to advance the work further, centered around a prospective, mixed-methods study, PROGRESS-PPF. Conducted across multiple sites in the US, it will generate both quantitative and qualitative real-world evidence to evaluate whether the routine use of e-Lung can support earlier clinical diagnosis of PPF, enabling treatment to begin sooner in the disease course, and, ultimately, support improved patient outcomes.

Dr. Michalis Papadakis, CEO and Co-Founder of Brainomix said: “We are excited to expand our strategic partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, a recognized leader and innovator in this field, with whom we share a firm commitment to improving outcomes for people living with pulmonary fibrosis. The evidence generated to date for e-Lung is highly compelling, showing the technology has the potential to accelerate diagnosis by more than two years. This next phase will enable us to evaluate that potential at scale, providing robust real-world validation of what we expect could be a transformative advancement in the patient care pathway.”

“Boehringer Ingelheim is proud to expand our partnership with Brainomix as part of our continued commitment to improving care for people living with pulmonary fibrosis,” said Dr. Emmanuelle Clerisme-Beaty, Senior Vice President Medicine & Regulatory Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim. “Progressive pulmonary fibrosis can be challenging to diagnose, and innovations that enhance our ability to detect disease have the potential to improve patient outcomes.”

An Innovation Hub session at ATS, entitled “Advancing ILD Care: Real-World Impact of Brainomix e-Lung,” will take place on Tuesday, May 19^th, during which Prof. Peter George (Consultant Pulmonologist at the Royal Brompton Hospital, UK and Brainomix Senior Medical Director) will speak with Dr. Andy Limper (Mayo Clinic, Rochester) and Dr. Tathagat Narula (Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville) about their institution’s experience with Brainomix e-Lung, where it has been incorporated into routine clinical practice. 

Brainomix will be exhibiting the e-Lung technology at the ATS International Conference (booth #2250) from Sunday, May 17^th to Tuesday, May 19^th.