Archives May 2026

Move aimed at promoting fuel conservation amid rising global energy concerns and West Asia tensions.

Amaravati, May 14 (BNP): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has reduced the number of vehicles in his official convoy from 12 to four in a move aimed at promoting fuel conservation amid the ongoing West Asia crisis and rising global fuel prices.

On Thursday, the Chief Minister travelled from his residence in Undavalli to the Secretariat with a significantly smaller convoy, drawing attention to the state government’s efforts towards responsible energy consumption.

The decision comes following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal urging citizens to adopt fuel-saving measures, including greater use of public transport, carpooling and electric vehicles. Addressing a gathering in Secunderabad earlier this week, Modi had described responsible energy use as a form of patriotism during challenging global circumstances.

Officials said the Andhra Pradesh government intends to encourage efficient fuel usage and minimise unnecessary expenditure through such symbolic initiatives.

New Delhi, May 14: Vecna4 (Vision, Engineering, Creativity, Navigation), a dynamic team of four 11-year-old innovators from Amity International School, Pushp Vihar, comprising Arjunveer Chauhan, Avyaan Pratap, Anant Khemka, and Shaurya Rawat, have qualified for the National Finals of the prestigious F1 STEM Racing competition, demonstrating not only their passion for engineering and motorsport, but also a remarkable commitment to sustainability and community impact.

Beyond designing and building their race car, the team is actively driving change through sustainability focused outreach initiatives. Their efforts include conducting engaging workshops for school students and organising LEGO car building sessions for underprivileged children, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and early exposure to STEM learning.

Fuelled by curiosity and a love for engineering, Vecna4 has also had the opportunity to learn from some of the industry’s leading voices. During a recent interaction with Himanshu Jaisinghani at TnT Motors, partners of Mercedes-Benz India, the students explored engineering innovation and sustainability in motorsport.

Looking ahead, Vecna4 is set to meet several more automotive experts, collaborate with sustainability focused organisations, and continue refining their car design over the next two months, all in preparation for the national competition.

New Delhi, May 14 (BNP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Friday is being viewed as a major diplomatic engagement amid the ongoing crisis and rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold high-level talks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to further strengthen the growing strategic partnership between the two countries.

According to reports, discussions are expected to focus on defence cooperation, energy security, maritime stability, trade resilience and regional security concerns amid fears of disruption to global supply chains and shipping routes in the Gulf region.

Energy cooperation is likely to remain a key agenda item, with both nations expected to discuss long-term crude oil and LNG supply arrangements, strategic petroleum reserves and alternative logistics mechanisms to minimise the impact of regional instability.

India and the UAE are also expected to deepen defence collaboration under a proposed Strategic Defence Partnership framework, covering areas such as cybersecurity, maritime security, intelligence-sharing, counter-terrorism and defence manufacturing.

Officials and analysts believe the visit highlights the rapidly expanding India-UAE relationship, which has evolved beyond traditional energy ties into a comprehensive strategic partnership involving trade, infrastructure, fintech, renewable energy, digital technology and investment cooperation.

The welfare of the large Indian diaspora in the UAE is also expected to figure prominently in the discussions. The UAE hosts more than 4.5 million Indians and remains one of India’s most important economic and strategic partners in the Gulf region.

Jammu, May 14 (BNP): Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to conserve fuel amid rising global crude oil prices and the ongoing West Asia conflict, nearly 40 families in Gajansu village near the International Border in Jammu have switched to traditional stoves for cooking.

Women in the village were seen preparing chapattis and vegetables on mud stoves using firewood and cow dung cakes, reviving an age-old cooking practice to reduce dependence on LPG and other fuels.

Residents said the initiative was aimed at supporting the country during challenging times and promoting fuel conservation. Villagers also urged people across the nation to adopt similar practices and use resources responsibly.

Many women in the village said food cooked on traditional stoves is healthier and more natural compared to gas-cooked food. They also pointed out that the ash produced from the stoves can be reused for household purposes such as cleaning utensils.

Locals recalled how the village had collectively followed government guidelines during the Covid-19 lockdown and said they were once again united in responding to the Prime Minister’s appeal.

Some residents also encouraged people to adopt carpooling and other fuel-saving measures, stressing the importance of public cooperation during periods of economic and global uncertainty.

New Delhi, May 14: The second Indian edition of BUDX NBA House concluded this weekend, transforming New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam into a vibrant hub celebrating basketball, music, style, and culture. Held in conjunction with the 2026 NBA Playoffs, the two-day event brought together NBA legends, top celebrities, and a global roster of music stars for an immersive fan experience. The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Budweiser India curated a dynamic programming lineup that seamlessly blended the energy of live sport with the creativity of music and street culture, building on the success of last year’s debut.

NBA legends- two NBA champion and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member Isiah Thomas and four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins thrilled fans with courtside coaching during the celebrity game and held meet-and-greets throughout the weekend.

One of the weekend’s biggest highlights was the BUDX NBA House 3-on-3 Celebrity Game, where the court turned into a high-energy showcase of star power and skill. With Isiah Thomas and DeMarcus Cousins coaching rival teams stacked with athletes and celebrities like Dwayne Bravo, Rannvijay Singha, Shanaya Kapoor, Varun Sood, Arvind Krishna, Simran Kaur, among others, the game delivered edge-of-the-seat action and friendly competition. In the end, it was Team Isiah Thomas featuring Rannvijay Singha, Harman Singha, Manav Chhabra, Yung Raja, Lalrina Renthelei, Hamid Barkzi and Simran Kaur that took home the win.

Extending culture beyond the court, the event featured a stellar musical lineup headlined by global hip-hop superstar NAV and Oppidan, one of the fastest-rising names in UK garage. They were joined by a powerful roster of local and international talent, including Grammy-nominated rapper Yashraj, award-winning phenom Reble, Indo-Fijian rapper Fijiana, Norwegian trio The Bausa, and Australian collective Chor Bazaar, who all delivered unforgettable performances.

Fashion and art were just as prominent throughout the weekend. A standout moment was the BUDX Masterclasses, a series of expert-led workshops and panel discussions curated by Budweiser to educate and engage emerging artists. This was complemented by streetwear showcases spotlighting the creativity at the intersection of basketball and street culture.

Fans also got their moment to shine with interactive on-court challenges and contests, alongside electrifying performances by the Sacramento Kings’ mascot Slamson, the Kings’ Dancers, and the Kings’ dunk team. A major draw for attendees was the chance to take a photo with the iconic Larry O’Brien Trophy, which was on display.

Across two days, BUDX NBA House offered a compelling narrative of how basketball transcends borders, fusing music, sport, fashion, and community into a shared celebration of culture. For the thousands in attendance, it was a moment that brought the global spirit of the NBA and Budweiser home to New Delhi.

Beijing, May 14 (BNP): US President Donald Trump held high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday as both leaders began a series of meetings and diplomatic engagements scheduled over two days.

Trump received a grand ceremonial welcome in the Chinese capital, including a gun salute, performances by cheering schoolchildren and a visit to the historic 15th-century Temple of Heaven.

The US President is accompanied by several prominent business leaders and officials during the visit, including Elon Musk, Nvidia chief Jensen Huang and Trump’s son Eric Trump.

The summit discussions are expected to focus on trade relations, technology cooperation, global security issues and economic partnerships amid evolving geopolitical tensions between the two countries.

Chennai, May 14 (BNP): The Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Thursday announced a 2 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees and teachers with retrospective effect from January 1, 2026.

According to an official statement, the DA has been revised from 58 per cent to 60 per cent, benefiting nearly 16 lakh government employees, teachers, pensioners and family pensioners across the state.

The government said the decision would place an additional financial burden of around ₹1,230 crore on the state exchequer. The administration stated that government employees and teachers play a crucial role in implementing welfare-oriented programmes and ensuring effective public service delivery.

The move is expected to provide financial relief to employees and pensioners amid rising living costs and inflation.

May 14:  Spyne, an AI-powered retail technology company for the automotive industry, today announced an integration with Tekion, innovator of the first end-to-end, AI-native platform serving the entire automotive retail ecosystem. This collaboration aims to expand the connected partner ecosystem within Tekion’s Automotive Partner Cloud (APC), enhancing operational efficiency through enhanced data exchange. 

Through this partnership with Tekion, dealers can now connect Spyne’s Vini AI, its AI-powered sales and service engagement agent, with Tekion’s Automotive Retail Cloud (ARC). This connection helps dealers improve information flow between systems and reduces manual data entry, empowering teams to make faster, more informed decisions. By bringing AI-powered calling, chat, service reminders, appointment scheduling, and follow-up communication into existing ARC workflows, it helps sales and service teams work with current customer and appointment data in real time, improving continuity across interactions while reducing the need to switch between systems. 

“Dealers need technology that fits into the way they already operate,” said Sanjay Varnwal, CEO & Co-founder of Spyne. “This integration allows dealerships using Tekion to bring AI-driven customer engagement directly into their day-to-day workflow, helping teams reduce friction, maintain better continuity across sales and service, and deliver more contextual interactions.” 

“At Tekion, APC delivers a connected ecosystem, allowing partners to integrate with ARC,” says Milan Golusin, Director, Partner Program at Tekion. “Spyne‘s direct integration with ARC enables seamless customer engagement within existing workflows. This integration is another step toward removing friction for dealers and delivering a better customer experience at every touchpoint.” 

Spyne is an AI-native automotive retail technology company that helps dealerships modernize how they merchandise vehicles, engage leads, and manage customer communication. Its platform combines premium digital merchandising with conversational AI to help dealers create stronger digital storefronts, streamline customer engagement, and drive appointments more efficiently. 

Tekion’s ARC is the first and fastest AI-native platform, including all functionalities of a DMS, CRM and accompanying tech stack to run a seamless retail business. Through the ARC platform, Tekion APC brings together a growing network of approved partners focused on driving innovation, efficiency, and choice for dealers. The Spyne/Tekion integration within ARC DMS and CRM supports operational efficiency, simplifies processes, and enhances visibility for dealership staff and consumers alike.

Editor’s Note: End-to-end refers to Tekion’s integrated data management platform covering all automotive business functions. 

SYDNEY, May 14 – Global power protection specialist CyberPower Systems has enhanced its Power Distribution Units (PDUs) range in Australia with new models designed to meet growing demand for reliable, high‑density rack power distribution in today’s data‑driven environments.

The new PDU41004, PDU41005, PDU44004 and PDU44005 models extend CyberPower’s rack power portfolio providing practical, scalable solutions for IT managers, systems integrators, managed service providers and data centre operators looking for dependable and cost‑effective rack power that integrates seamlessly alongside CyberPower UPS infrastructure.

CyberPower PDUs are designed for today’s high‑density, high‑demand environments. As server racks become more densely populated and edge computing deployments expand, modern IT environments need dependable, space‑efficient power delivery that minimises complexity. The new PDU models address this directly, offering reliable rack power for comms rooms, network cabinets and data‑centre racks.

CyberPower Systems Oceania GM ANZ Robert Hartvigsen said, “Our new PDU models deliver dependable, consistent rack power that just works. They are engineered for simplicity, reliability and seamless integration with UPS systems, giving IT teams confidence in their rack infrastructure.”

 The four new PDU models provide a trusted solution for growing equipment density, pairing compact design with single‑phase input support and durable metal construction.

For scalable operations, new 32‑amp variants offer higher load capacities across wider network deployments.

 Key features and advantages
The PDU41004, PDU41005, PDU44004 and PDU44005 are suited for professional rack installations from SMB through to enterprise systems.

Core specifications include:

• Rack‑mountable design optimised for space efficiency

• Multiple IEC output sockets for server and network hardware

• Robust metal housing for durability

• Reliable single‑phase power distribution

• Compatibility with the CyberPower UPS ecosystem

• Support for higher‑capacity 32‑amp configurations for scaling environments

Product features and highlights include:

• Seamless pairing with CyberPower UPS solutions

• Reliable distribution for business‑critical equipment

• Compact and rugged rack design

• Strong value without compromising quality

• Ideal for comms cabinets, data centres and edge sites

Customers across professional IT, MSP and enterprise environments are facing increasing rack equipment density and tighter turnaround expectations. These PDUs provide simple, dependable power distribution which is ideal when intelligent switching is unnecessary but quality and operational reliability are critical. Also, by aligning with CyberPower’s UPS range, the new models enable standardised, end‑to‑end rack power infrastructure, simplifying procurement and long‑term maintenance.

For systems integrators and resellers, the family also broadens the ability to offer complete rack power packages under a single, trusted brand, strengthening CyberPower’s position in the power ecosystem.

For CyberPower, the new models strengthen its reputation as a complete rack power infrastructure provider, not just a UPS vendor.

In short, for customers, the new PDUs mean more consistent, reliable rack power distribution, simplified sourcing and deployment, scalable 32‑amp options for higher‑load environments and confidence in globally recognised power protection technology.

Robert Hartvigsen concluded, “By combining trusted reliability with scalable design, our PDUs help partners and customers build better‑performing, more consistent infrastructure.”

The new CyberPower PDU41004, PDU41005, PDU44004, and PDU44005 are available now through authorised CyberPower distributors and resellers.

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.