13, Apr 2026
MK Cafe Launches at Al Manara Centre, Dubai
Dubai, Apr 13: Emirati athlete and entrepreneur Musa Khalfan has announced the launch of MK Cafe, a modern café concept designed to deliver quality, efficiency, and consistency for today’s fast-paced lifestyles. Located at Dubai Court within Al Manara Centre, the café offers a refined yet accessible experience rooted in real, everyday needs rather than fleeting trends.
Open daily from 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM, MK Cafe features a thoughtfully curated menu of premium coffee, signature cold brews, matcha, and specialty beverages, complemented by fresh meals, balanced snacks, and convenient options for customers on the go. Each offering is designed with intention, focusing on quality and simplicity.
Unlike traditional café models that emphasize extensive variety, MK Cafe is built around a clear philosophy—to integrate seamlessly into daily routines. Its clean, contemporary interiors create a calm and welcoming environment, making it an ideal space for a quick coffee, a light meal, or a short break during a busy day.
Speaking on the launch, Musa Khalfan, Founder of MKI Investments, said:
“MK Cafe reflects how I approach both sport and business—with discipline, consistency, and attention to detail. We wanted to create a space that people can rely on daily, whether it’s for a quality coffee, a quick meal, or simply a place that feels easy to be in.”
Widely recognized as one of the UAE’s most accomplished athletes and known as the country’s fastest man, Khalfan has also built a strong entrepreneurial presence. His ventures include the popular MK Barber Shop, with locations in Palm Jumeirah and Al Wasl Road, frequented by international celebrities.
MK Cafe marks his first venture into the food and beverage sector and represents the latest addition to the growing portfolio of MKI Investments, which spans retail, lifestyle, investment, petroleum, and real estate.
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- By Neel Achary
13, Apr 2026
India in Race to Host World Mind Games, Says IMSA
New Delhi, Apr 13 (BNP): The International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) has invited bids from India and other countries to host the next edition of the World Mind Games, which is expected to be held later this year or in early 2027.
The announcement comes amid the growing global popularity of mind sports, especially chess, which remains the most widely played discipline under IMSA’s umbrella.
India’s rising prominence in international chess has further highlighted its potential as a strong candidate to host the event. The country’s success has been shaped by legendary grandmaster Viswanathan Anand and continues today with a new generation of players, including R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and D Gukesh.
With increasing global interest in mind sports, IMSA’s invitation is seen as a step toward expanding the event’s reach and encouraging broader international participation.
13, Apr 2026
AvenuesAI Enters Turnkey AI Market with PrivateGPT On Premise Platform
New Delhi, Apr 13 (BNP): AvenuesAI has announced its entry into the turnkey artificial intelligence solutions segment, targeting corporate and institutional clients with secure, enterprise-ready AI tools.
The company is focusing on its new PrivateGPT platform, an on-premise small language model (SLM) solution designed to run within an organisation’s internal systems. The platform aims to help businesses use advanced AI capabilities while ensuring full control over their data.
According to the company, the solution is built for enterprises that prefer local deployment over cloud-based systems, offering enhanced data security, privacy, and compliance.
With this initiative, AvenuesAI is looking to tap into the growing demand for customised and private AI systems as organisations increasingly integrate AI into their operations, automation, and decision-making processes.
13, Apr 2026
Vikram Solar Reaches 10 GW in Global Solar Installations
New Delhi, Apr 13 (BNP): Vikram Solar on Monday announced that it has surpassed 10 GW in cumulative global solar module deployments, marking a key milestone in its growth journey in the renewable energy sector.
The achievement is equivalent to more than 25 million solar modules installed worldwide and is capable of powering over 5 million households in India, according to a company statement.
The company also highlighted that it doubled its total installed capacity from 5 GW to 10 GW in just two years, driven by strong demand for solar energy solutions and sustained expansion in domestic and international markets.
Over the past two decades, Vikram Solar has steadily built its presence in the renewable energy space, reflecting the broader growth of India’s solar manufacturing and deployment ecosystem.
13, Apr 2026
BTM Energy Storage Market in India Projected to Hit 39 GWh by 2033
New Delhi, Apr 13 (BNP): India’s energy storage sector is expected to see strong growth over the next decade, with the Behind-the-Meter (BTM) stationary storage market projected to rise significantly, according to a report by the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA).
The report estimates that annual demand for BTM storage systems will increase from about 32 GWh in 2025 to over 39 GWh by 2033, driven by rising adoption of distributed energy solutions.
Behind-the-Meter systems refer to energy storage and generation units installed on the consumer’s side of the electricity meter. These include rooftop solar installations, battery storage systems, and backup power solutions used in applications such as UPS systems, inverters, and telecom infrastructure.
The report highlights that growing demand for reliable and clean energy, along with increasing decentralised power generation, is expected to support the sector’s expansion in the coming years.
13, Apr 2026
transcosmos and transcosmos online communications support Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, in upgrading its LINE official account into a multilingual platform
Tokyo, Japan, Apr 13: On March 30, 2026, transcosmos and transcosmos online communications began offering an automated message translation feature of KANAMETO—a LINE-powered Government DX tool—to Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, as part of the city’s existing KANAMETO services to support the implementation of multilingual functionality on the city’s LINE official account.
Kumamoto City began using a LINE official account in 2018 and has since distributed a wide range of information, including event updates, childcare, health, and community safety information.
On March 30, 2026, Kumamoto City upgraded its LINE official account to a multilingual version with the introduction of KANAMETO’s automated message translation feature. The renewed account supports messaging in English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, Indonesian, Nepali, and Vietnamese, in addition to Japanese.
When users add the Kumamoto City LINE official account, a message prompting them to configure message settings appears in multiple languages. After selecting their preferred language in the settings, users can receive messages translated into their chosen language. Users may also choose to receive the original Japanese text together with the translated messages.
In addition, by using KANAMETO’s Rich Menu switching feature in combination with the automated translation function, Kumamoto City can display Rich Menus in translated languages for users who choose to receive information in languages other than Japanese.
13, Apr 2026
Bengaluru’s Water Stress Brings India’s Plumbing & Water Industry to the Forefront at PlumbexIndia 2026
Bengaluru, Apr 13: As Indian cities grapple with mounting water stress, PlumbexIndia 2026, India’s largest platform dedicated to water, plumbing and sanitation, will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, engineers and innovators in Bengaluru from 16th to 18th April at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru.
Organised by the Indian Plumbing Association, the event comes at a time when cities such as Bengaluru face acute pressure on water resources due to rapid urbanisation, groundwater depletion and ageing infrastructure.
The event will be inaugurated on 16th April by Dr. Ram Prasath Manohar, IAS, Chairman – Bangalore Water Supply & Sewerage Board (BWSSB) along with Mahesh Kumar Khaitan, Director, Sattva Group, who will grace the occasion as Chief Guests alongside other distinguished dignitaries.
With participation from over 200 exhibitors, the event will serve as a national platform for discussing technologies, policies and practices that can help build resilient water systems for India’s expanding urban landscape.
Government–Industry Collaboration for Water Security
PlumbexIndia 2026 is supported by two key ministries of Government of India, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, highlighting the event’s alignment with national priorities around sustainable urban development and water management.
Experts from leading academic and industry institutions—including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), ICER, Biome Environmental Solutions, Brigade Group, Sobha Limited, YV Architects, Adithi Building Service Consultants, Geberit India, Chinoy Design, and the Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati—will come together with developers, architects, and infrastructure leaders. The discussions will focus on practical solutions, from water-efficient plumbing systems to sustainable building design, under the themes “Showcasing Women Leaders Shaping the Plumbing Sector” and “Engineering Water Security for a Future-Ready India.”
Gurmit Singh Arora, National President, Indian Plumbing Association said
“India’s water challenge requires collaboration across policy, engineering and implementation. The Bengaluru edition of PlumbexIndia provides the platform where these conversations can translate into real-world solutions,”
Balkrishna Mehta, Chairman of Bengaluru Chapter of Indian Plumbing Association, said
“The choice of Bengaluru as host city reflects the urgency of the water conversation, Urban India is at a defining moment in how it manages water. Platforms like PlumbexIndia enable the industry and policymakers to come together and shape scalable solutions for the future.”
A significant highlight of the event will be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between IPA and the Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organizations (CAHO), aimed at strengthening water and sanitation standards in India’s healthcare infrastructure.
13, Apr 2026
PM Modi Calls Women’s Reservation Bill a Historic 21st Century Decision
New Delhi, Apr 13 (BNP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday described the Women’s Reservation Bill as one of the most important decisions of the 21st century, highlighting its potential to transform women’s participation in governance.
Speaking at a national-level event, the Prime Minister said the legislation marks a historic step towards strengthening women’s representation in Parliament and state assemblies, and reflects India’s commitment to inclusive growth.
He emphasized that empowering women and increasing their role in decision-making will play a key role in building a stronger and more developed nation.
The remarks come amid ongoing discussions around the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which aims to enhance political representation for women across legislative bodies.
13, Apr 2026
RITES wins EPC World Award for Ahmedabad Metro Phase-II
Gurugram, April 13: RITES Ltd., the leading Transport Infrastructure Consultancy and Engineering firm, has been honoured at the EPC World Awards for its contribution to urban infrastructure. The award recognises RITES’ role as General Consultant in the execution of the Ahmedabad Metro Phase-II project, which connects Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, strengthening regional connectivity and urban transport infrastructure.
Spanning 28.26 km, the metro corridor is a significant addition to the region’s public transport network, aimed at improving ease of commute and promoting sustainable urban mobility. The project is expected to ease congestion and support a shift towards efficient, mass transit systems.
As part of its role, RITES contributed to ensuring high standards in engineering design, project management, and safety across the project lifecycle. The project also incorporated modern systems and operational frameworks to enhance efficiency and commuter experience.
This recognition highlights RITES’ continued focus on delivering complex infrastructure projects and its growing contribution to urban transformation agenda.
13, Apr 2026
Small Finance Banks Likely to Post Strong Q4 Performance
New Delhi, Apr 13 (BNP): Small finance banks are likely to deliver a strong performance in the fourth quarter of FY26, supported by steady credit demand and improving operational efficiency, according to a recent report.
The report notes that while near-term business conditions remain supportive, the sector’s outlook for FY27 will largely depend on broader macroeconomic factors, including interest rate movements, inflation trends, and overall economic growth.
It adds that continued loan growth and better asset quality could help strengthen earnings in the coming quarters. However, external risks such as global uncertainty and domestic liquidity conditions may influence future performance.
Analysts suggest that small finance banks remain well-positioned for growth, but caution that sustainability will depend on how macroeconomic trends evolve in the next fiscal year.
