All posts by Neel Achary

Taipei, Taiwan – May 12: AVer Information Inc., an award-winning provider of AI audio-video solutions, announced that the FONE700 Ceiling Speakerphone has been Certified for Microsoft Teams. The certification recognizes the FONE700 as a qualified USB audio peripheral for Teams Rooms on Windows, helping to ensure a seamless user experience for professional meeting environments through a simplified installation.

The FONE700 Ceiling Speakerphone delivers robust full-duplex audio performance through its combination of advanced noise suppression, double-talk detection and de-reverberation technology. With a design that minimizes background noise, supports simultaneous speech and reduces echo, the FONE700 provides clear and balanced sound across diverse meeting spaces.

Featuring three directional and eighteen omnidirectional microphones, the FONE700 captures voices accurately from all corners of a room. The FONE700 connects through a single USB cable for simplified installation and a clutter-free setup, supporting up to four speakerphones with a maximum range of 130 feet to accommodate varying room sizes. Its versatile connectivity integrates easily into existing conferencing systems, serving as an audio hub for AVer’s broader portfolio of video and audio solutions.

“Certified for Microsoft Teams reinforces our commitment to interoperability and reliability across conferencing ecosystems,” said Mike Garcen, Senior Director of Product and Marketing. “The FONE700 combines technical precision with streamlined integration to support productive and efficient collaboration.”

“We’re committed to delivering high quality audio to meeting spaces that feels natural and inclusive for everyone, whether they’re joining in the room or remotely,” said Albert Kooiman, General Manager, Teams Partner Engineering and Customer Enablement at Microsoft. “The Certification for Microsoft Teams helps ensure solutions meet the high standards our customers expect.”

AVer’s FONE700, now Certified for Microsoft Teams, has received a new firmware update that delivers noticeably crisper voice reproduction, significantly reduced reverberation, and cleaner, more natural audio — even in acoustically challenging spaces. The result is studio-grade intelligibility and seamless full-duplex performance that meet the strict requirements of Teams deployments, firmly positioning the FONE700 as an IT-approved ceiling solution for modern enterprise meeting rooms.

AVer ensures that its solutions deliver consistent performance and compatibility across enterprise and education applications. The FONE700 is backed by AVer’s three-year warranty with First Year Advanced Replacement, which offers a 72-hour replacement service during the first year of ownership.

New Delhi, May 12 (BNP): The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) — NEET-UG 2026 — conducted on May 3, 2026, has been officially cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) following serious allegations of question paper leaks and irregularities in the examination process.

In continuation of its press release dated 10 May 2026, the National Testing Agency wishes to inform candidates, parents, and members of the public of the following decisions taken in respect of NEET (UG) 2026. NTA had, on 8 May 2026, referred the matters then under consideration…

— National Testing Agency (@NTA_Exams) May 12, 2026

The decision was announced by the NTA on Tuesday after investigative findings and inputs shared by central and state law enforcement agencies, including the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG), which is currently probing the alleged paper leak case.

In an official press release, the NTA stated that the examination has been cancelled with the approval of the Government of India in order to maintain transparency, fairness, and the integrity of the national-level medical entrance examination system.

“On the basis of the inputs subsequently examined by NTA in coordination with the central agencies, and the investigative findings shared by the law enforcement agencies, the National Testing Agency, with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on May 3, 2026, and to re-conduct the examination on dates that will be notified separately,” the agency said.

The NTA further informed that revised dates and detailed guidelines regarding the re-examination will be announced separately through official notifications. Candidates have been advised to stay updated through the official NTA and NEET websites.

The cancellation has sparked strong reactions across the country, with lakhs of medical aspirants facing renewed uncertainty over the admission process. However, many students and education experts have welcomed the move as a necessary step to uphold the credibility of one of India’s most competitive entrance examinations.

London — May 12, 2026 — Global Citizen Solutions (“GCS”), a leading residency and citizenship planning advisory firm, has published From Destination to Departure: America’s New Migration Story, a new briefing from its research arm, the Global Intelligence Unit (GIU), examining the long-term rise in American emigration. The shift has been decades in the making and is now measurable through citizenship renunciation records, overseas residency registrations, and survey data tracking Americans’ interest in moving abroad.

The scale of the outbound movement is visible across every continent. According to Pew Research Center, an estimated 2.2 million people left the US in 2025, of whom 180,000 were US citizens. The Association of Americans Resident Overseas estimates 5.5 million Americans were living abroad as of October 2024, up from 5.4 million the prior year. In nearly all 27 EU member states, the number of Americans arriving to live and work is at a record high. 

The GIU notes long-term economic, political, and lifestyle concerns are contributing to rising interest in emigration among Americans. Gallup’s longitudinal tracking shows the baseline has shifted dramatically: the desire to emigrate ran at 10% to 11% under Bush and Obama, rose to 16% to 20% during the first Trump presidency, and by November 2025 stood at one in five Americans overall, with women aged 15–44 reaching 40% — up from 10% in 2014.

Renunciation statistics — the most precisely documented indicator of emigration intent — tell a complementary story of acceleration. Before 2009, fewer than 400 Americans renounced their citizenship annually. By 2024, that figure had reached 4,820, a 48% increase from 2023 and the third-highest annual total ever recorded. In the first quarter of 2025, 1,285 Americans expatriated — a 102% jump on the prior quarter. The global queue for renunciation appointments now exceeds 30,000 people.

A significant further catalyst arrived on April 13, 2026, when the US State Department reduced the renunciation fee from $2,350 to $450, restoring it to pre-2015 levels following sustained legal pressure — a change widely expected to accelerate the trend.

The pool of Americans who could act on this interest is larger than is widely understood. An estimated 7 to 10 million Americans already hold dual citizenship, while up to 30 million may qualify for ancestry-based European passports through countries including Italy, Ireland, Poland, Germany, and Hungary — options that have existed for years but which many Americans are only now discovering.

The trend is also registering in passport demand. GCS’s Global Passport Index (GPI)— which tracks the travel freedom, lifestyle, and investment value of passports across more than 199 countries — shows the US falling from 1st place in 2021 to 14th in 2025, a decline that reflects both reduced immigration into the country and the growing appeal of alternative citizenships among Americans seeking broader global mobility.

“What the Global Passport Index captures that conventional economic data cannot is the gap between aggregate wealth and lived experience,” said Laura Madrid, Lead Researcher at the Global Citizen Solutions’ GIU. “The United States remains a high-income country by every traditional measure. But the structural pressures bearing down on ordinary Americans — rising poverty, persistent inflation in housing and healthcare, deepening political polarization, and a public safety crisis unlike anything seen in peer nations — are registering in people’s decisions about where to build their lives.”

GIU research identifies several compounding pressures. The US Supplemental Poverty Measure reached 12.9% in 2023, its second consecutive annual increase, while CPI-U inflation ran at 3.0% year-on-year into early 2025. In 2023 alone, the country recorded weather and climate disasters totaling at least $92.9 billion in damages. On public safety, gun violence continues to set the US apart from every comparable high-income nation.

“This is not the profile of people fleeing crisis,” Madrid added. “These are informed, often financially stable individuals and families making a deliberate calculation — that their money, their safety, and their quality of life will go further elsewhere.”

Where Americans Are Going

Europe remains the most sought-after destination, with more than 1.5 million Americans now living across the continent. As of December 2023, the top EU and EFTA destinations for US nationals on residence permits were Germany (81,509), Spain (44,804), France (38,181), Italy (36,549), the Netherlands (33,107), Switzerland (19,579), and Portugal (13,948) — the vast majority on permits of one year or more, indicating long-term relocation rather than short stays.

Portugal ranks first in GCS’s Global Retirement Index and Spain leads its Global Digital Nomad Index. Greece, Italy, and Malta are drawing significant numbers across income and lifestyle profiles. Italy’s ancestry citizenship route, historically one of the most sought-after by Americans, was restricted by Law 74/2025 to children and grandchildren of Italian citizens — a change upheld by Italy’s Constitutional Court in March 2026 that blocks an estimated 80 million people previously eligible through earlier generations. The restriction has prompted some Americans to apply before additional policy changes take effect. Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programs continue to attract those seeking faster routes to a second passport and greater global mobility.

To read the full briefing, visit: From Destination to Departure: America’s New Migration Story

Amid a surge in demand for practical guidance, GCS has updated its guide for Americans, on the 23 Best Countries to move to in 2026, covering digital nomad and passive income visas, Golden Visa investment routes, moving costs and living expenses.

Pune, May 12: The DoubleTree by Hilton Pune – Chinchwad invites guests to indulge in a bold new culinary experience at Level 12 with an exclusive North Western Frontier Sizzler Festival — a celebration of robust flavours, live-fire cooking, and dramatic presentation.

Set against the stunning rooftop ambience of Level 12, the specially curated festival transforms classic frontier-inspired dishes into sizzling spectacles that arrive at the table with smoke, aroma, and unmistakable theatre. Designed for diners who enjoy indulgent flavours paired with elevated dining experiences, the menu brings together rich marinades, charred textures, and signature Indian spices.

The festival menu showcases an enticing selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian creations, including the Subz-e-Nishat Gilafi Seekh Sizzler, layered with smoky vegetables and aromatic spices; the indulgent Tandoori Phool Makhana Sizzler; the robustly flavoured Dhungar Murgh Kali Mirch Sizzler; the delicately spiced Jhinga Zafraani Malai Sizzler; and the grand, slow-cooked Raan-e-Sikandari Bhuna Gosht Sizzler, crafted for those who enjoy rich and hearty frontier cuisine.

Adding to the immersive experience, Level 12 will also host a Soulful Sufi Night on 15th May 2026, where live Sufi melodies and rooftop views will complement the smoky frontier flavours, creating an evening of music, warmth, and elevated dining under the stars.

Every dish has been conceptualised to deliver a multi-sensory experience — from the dramatic sizzle to the bold aromas and layered textures that define the cuisine of the North West Frontier. Paired with the rooftop setting, ambient music, and panoramic city views, the festival promises an immersive evening for families, food enthusiasts, and diners seeking memorable culinary outings.

Whether it’s an intimate dinner, a weekend gathering, or a celebration with friends, the North Western Frontier Sizzler Festival at Level 12 offers guests an opportunity to experience comfort food elevated through craftsmanship and presentation.

What: North Western Frontier Sizzler Festival

Where: Level 12, DoubleTree by Hilton Pune – Chinchwad

When: 12-20th May 2026, 7:00 pm, Sufi Night on 15th May

 12 May: Healthy plants are the foundation of agricultural productivity, food security, and resilient farming systems. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, plant pests and diseases are responsible for the loss of up to 40% of global food crops each year, resulting in agricultural trade losses exceeding USD 220 billion annually.

Rising temperatures and changing climate patterns are further accelerating the spread of pests and diseases into regions where they were previously unknown.

As the world prepares to increase agricultural production by nearly 60 percent by 2050 to feed a growing population, safeguarding plant health has become more important than ever.

On the occasion of the International Day of Plant Health, ICRISAT leverages science and innovation to build resilient agricultural systems across the drylands of Asia and Africa.

ICRISAT takes an integrated approach to plant health by combining host plant resistance, biological control, predictive analytics, climate science, and farmer outreach.

Breeding for Better Plant Health

One of the most effective and sustainable ways to manage crop diseases is through developing resistant crop varieties. ICRISAT scientists continuously work to strengthen crops against major pests and diseases affecting dryland agriculture.

Over the years, the institute has developed and promoted several resilient crop varieties, including fusarium wilt, ascochyta blight, sterility mosaic diseases in chickpea and pigeonpea..

These genetic improvements reduce dependence on chemical interventions while helping farmers protect yields under increasingly challenging climatic conditions.

ICRISAT genebank has played an important role in conserving the genetic base for strengthening the disease resistance breeding pipeline.

 Dr Mamta Sharma, Principal Scientist – Pathology, ICRISAT, showcased the Centre of Excellence on Climate Change Research for Plant Production and Protection (CoE-CCRPP) to Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR, during her visit to ICRISAT.

Screening Chickpea Germplasm for Disease Resistance: Scientists at ICRISAT have undertaken one of the largest efforts to characterize global chickpea germplasm for resistance against major biotic stresses. More than 13,500 chickpea accessions originating from 40 countries were evaluated for resistance to fusarium wilt, leading to the identification of 160 resistant lines. In a subsequent effort, 5,084 additional accessions from the ICRISAT Genebank and India’s National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) were screened under both sick field and controlled conditions for resistance to fusarium wilt, ascochyta blight, Botrytis grey mould, and dry root rot. The screening identified globally distributed resistant germplasm, including 133 lines resistant to Fusarium wilt, 33 to Ascochyta blight, 34 to Botrytis grey mould, and 74 to dry root rot, providing critical genetic resources for breeding programs worldwide. These discoveries help researchers understand the molecular signaling and defense architecture involved in chickpea resistance, paving the way for the development of next-generation climate-resilient chickpea cultivars capable of withstanding increasingly hostile disease environments.

Harnessing Nature for Sustainable Crop Protection

ICRISAT’s plant health research goes beyond breeding. Dedicated legumes pathology and entomology teams are advancing environmentally sustainable approaches to pest and disease management through biological control and integrated crop management strategies.

The institute’s research has contributed significantly to biological control solutions for soil borne disease complex (wilt and root rots in legumes) and pests such as borers, miners and fall armyworm, providing socially acceptable and environmentally safer alternatives to excessive pesticide use.

Digital Tools Bringing Science Directly to Farmers

Digital agriculture and predictive analytics are becoming increasingly important in plant health management. ICRISAT is integrating weather data, AI-driven models, and field monitoring systems to provide real-time advisories to farmers.

IMPACT: SMART Crop: In partnership with SBI Foundation, ICRISAT’s SMART-CROP (Sustainable Monitoring and Real-time Tracking for Crop Resilience and Optimal Practices) initiative is integrating cutting-edge technologies with sustainable farming practices to address both long-standing and newly emerging challenges in pulses (pigeonpea and chickpea). By applying satellite imaging, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ ML) tools, and weather forecasting, it enables real-time crop stress detection, allowing farmers to adopt Integrated Pests and Disease Management (IPDM), and tackle climate-induced stresses. This ongoing initiative has digitally onboarded more than 4,800 pigeonpea and chickpea farmers across Telangana and Karnataka in a year, bringing climate-smart crop advisory directly to farmers’ fields.

Building Advanced Facilities for Future Challenges

ICRISAT continues to invest in advanced research infrastructure to strengthen preparedness against emerging plant diseases in Asia and Africa. Recently, the institute inaugurated a state-of-the-art Dry Root Rot Phenotyping Facility at its headquarters in Patancheru, India.

In Nairobi, Kenya, ICRISAT also established a Fusarium Wilt Screening Facility at Kibiko to strengthen regional research and disease screening efforts in Africa.

These facilities complement ICRISAT’s broader climate change research infrastructure focused on understanding how changing environmental conditions influence plant-pathogen interactions and pest emergence.

Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building

Plant health resilience depends not only on scientific breakthroughs but also on the ability to share knowledge and strengthen local capacity. ICRISAT is strengthening plant health systems across India and Africa through targeted farmer trainings, stakeholder consultations, and science-led advisory programs that combine research, capacity building, and digital agriculture tools.

In Ethiopia, ICRISAT, in partnership with the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), organized a three-day consultation workshop on “Legume Plant and Soil Health for the Entire Legume Value Chain” during late 2025. The consultations brought together national agricultural research systems, universities, extension agencies, and private-sector stakeholders to address critical constraints affecting legume production, including soil degradation, plant diseases, seed quality, and climate-linked pest pressures.

Similarly in India, farmers from Odisha participated in hands-on training programs focused on healthy seed production, seed treatment, seed purity, and improved sowing practices to reduce disease incidence and improve crop establishment. These practical trainings are designed to strengthen local seed systems while improving awareness of plant health management at the farm level.

Securing Plant Health for a Changing Climate

Emerging and transboundary pests and diseases demand stronger preparedness, better predictive systems, resilient crop genetics, and sustainable management practices. ICRISAT’s work demonstrates how combining advances in host plant resistance, biological control, climate-informed decision tools, and farmer-centered innovations can help build resilient agricultural systems for the future. As climate risks intensify, strengthening plant health will remain central to ICRISAT’s vision of ensuring food, nutrition, and livelihood security for millions of smallholder farmers across the drylands of Asia, Africa and beyond.

May 12: MioPods.Space, an innovative Indian startup building on-demand privacy workspaces for people on the move, has officially launched at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, introducing a new category of travel experience designed around focus, privacy and productivity.

Announced at boarding gates 9 and 10, the first deployment includes four MioPods that allow travelers to instantly reserve and access a one-person workspace through a seamless QR-based system scan, pay and step into a distraction-free environment within seconds. The launch marks the arrival of India’s first indigenously designed, acoustically engineered and access-controlled privacy workspace created specifically for airports and transit ecosystems. GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. has officially announced the launch of MioPods at Hyderabad Airport, making it one of the first airports in India to introduce a dedicated productivity-focused experience for travelers.

Built around the idea of converting wait time into productive time, MioPods identified a growing opportunity within India’s aviation ecosystem where nearly 400,000 people travel daily through the country’s top 10 airports. Founded by Vikas Sethia, the startup was envisioned to create a more focused and seamless travel experience for modern professionals who often juggle meetings, calls, presentations and travel schedules right until boarding. By transforming the 45–60 minutes before a flight into a sprint calendar of calls and meetings, MioPods enables travelers to finish priority tasks, take important decisions, or simply experience transit with greater focus, thinking and outcomes.

Manufactured in Chennai, each MioPods unit has been thoughtfully designed with acoustic calibration, intelligent ventilation, ambient lighting, integrated charging ports, ergonomic seating and evolving IoT-enabled systems to support uninterrupted work and conversations in high-traffic environments like airports. Accessible through instant bookings and advance reservations up to seven days ahead, MioPods is currently priced at ₹299 (inclusive of GST) for 30 minutes access.

Speaking on the launch, Vikas Sethia says, “MioPods was never built as just another hardware product. We see it as a new possibility within modern travel, where time spent in transit can become meaningful, productive and intentional. As travelers, we have accepted waiting as passive time for far too long. We wanted to create an experience where people can focus, take important meetings, make personal conversations or simply pause in privacy before boarding.”

He added saying, “For the first time in India, we have designed and built an acoustically engineered, access-controlled privacy workspace with a strong focus on product attributes, technology innovation and user experience. Building a globally scalable product from India came with its own challenges, but our belief in creating a world-class ‘design + make in India’ solution kept us moving forward. MioPods is a performance brand built around how people experience time, focus and productivity while traveling. Hyderabad Airport marks the beginning of this journey for us, and we are excited to see how travelers are already embracing this new transit upgrade.”

Early traction at Hyderabad Airport has already demonstrated strong interest, with over 2000 travelers scanning QRs during initial trials. The company is currently targeting 64 bookings per day at Hyderabad as adoption grows and travelers consciously start pre-scheduling tasks before boarding flights.

MioPods is currently in discussions with more airports in India including Delhi and Mumbai for expansion, while also planning to deploy the first 100 Mio Spaces during the financial year, further strengthening its vision of making on-demand privacy workspaces a seamless part of the modern travel experience.

Hyderabad, May 12: Heritage Foods Limited, a leading dairy company offering milk and value-added dairy products, announced its financial results for the quarter and financial year ended March 31, 2026, reporting resilient revenue growth despite a challenging operating environment marked by milk shortages, elevated procurement costs, and weak flush season conditions.

The company reported revenue of ₹11,576 million in Q4 FY26, registering a 10% year-on-year growth, while full-year FY26 revenue grew 9% YoY to ₹45,260 million.

Brahmani Nara said the company remained focused on strengthening procurement infrastructure, expanding its distribution network, and scaling high-growth categories. She noted that continued investments in premiumisation, capacity expansion, and value-added products position the company for sustainable long-term growth as industry conditions gradually stabilize.

The company’s consumer business maintained strong momentum during FY26, led by growth across value-added products (VAP), premium categories, and emerging channels. Categories including curd, paneer, consumer fats, and ice creams recorded strong traction during the year.

Value-added products revenue grew 18% YoY to ₹3,957 million in Q4 FY26 and 13% YoY to ₹14,678 million for FY26. VAP contribution improved to 35.5% in Q4 FY26 compared to 32.5% in the corresponding quarter last year, while annual contribution increased to 35.3% from 32.0% in FY25. Including consumer-pack fats, VAP contribution stood at 41.9% in Q4 FY26 and 39.7% for the full year.

The company reported robust growth across key product categories, with paneer volumes increasing 32% YoY in Q4 and 27% YoY during FY26. Ice cream volumes rose 26% YoY in Q4 and 15% YoY for the year, while curd volumes grew 11% YoY in Q4 and 7% YoY in FY26.

Heritage Foods also highlighted strong traction for new product launches, including Livo Yogurts, premium Sampurna A2 Curd, Nourish+ High Protein Paneer, and the Alpenvie Ice Cream range.

However, industry-wide milk shortages and weak flush season conditions led to higher procurement costs. Average landed milk cost increased 8% YoY to ₹46.7 per litre in Q4 FY26, impacting profitability. EBITDA margins contracted by 311 basis points to 4.5%, while EBITDA declined 35% YoY to ₹522 million. Profit after tax for the quarter stood at ₹239 million, down 37% YoY.

Despite supply-side challenges, the company maintained procurement network expansion, though procurement volumes declined 7% YoY to 16.38 LLPD during the quarter. Timely pricing actions and a stronger product mix partially offset inflationary pressures, supporting blended realization growth across milk and value-added products.

The company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Heritage Nutrivet Limited, recorded strong performance during FY26, with revenue rising 33% YoY to ₹2,454 million and profit before tax increasing to ₹206 million.

Emerging channels continued to witness rapid growth, with e-commerce and quick commerce revenues rising 56% YoY, while Fresh Distribution and other emerging channels grew 49% YoY, strengthening urban market penetration.

Heritage Foods also intensified brand-building efforts during the year through strategic campaigns, integration with BIGG BOSS Kannada, and the launch of Certified Organic Cow Milk in Bengaluru to enhance consumer engagement and visibility across key markets.