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Eight Franchise Teams, 200 Young Players, Live Auction and Streaming Broadcast Planned

New Delhi, May 16, 2026:
Outer Delhi Warriors, one of the prominent franchises in the Delhi Premier League, has officially announced the launch of the Krishna Apra Future Star Under-15 Championship, a grassroots T20 tournament aimed at identifying and developing the next generation of cricket talent from Delhi NCR.

The inaugural edition of the championship will be held at the Jamia Millia Islamia grounds from June 20 to June 27, 2026. Player trials are scheduled to begin in May, followed by a live player auction and a planned broadcast on a leading streaming platform.

As part of the initiative, former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has been appointed Brand Ambassador, bringing with him extensive mentoring experience from his tenure with Gujarat Titans.

Former India cricketer and broadcaster Aakash Chopra has also joined the championship as Brand Ambassador and will serve as one of the key public faces of the tournament.

The tournament’s management team will additionally include Sanjay Rawat as Tournament Secretary and Navnati Dinesh as League Observer.

Tournament Structure

The championship is designed as an Under-15 boys’ T20 competition featuring players selected through open trials conducted across Delhi NCR.

The tournament format will mirror the structure of professional franchise leagues:

• Open trials for aspiring cricketers

• A live player auction

• Selection of 200 players across eight franchise teams

• 15 league-stage matches

• Two semi-finals and a final

The top-performing players will earn entry into the Outer Delhi Warriors Academy Training Programme, which aims to provide long-term development support, professional mentorship, and structured performance training.

Leadership Commentary

Naresh Panwar, Co-owner of Outer Delhi Warriors, said:

“Outer Delhi Warriors has always believed in building a larger vision for grassroots cricket. We feel there is a strong need to create a structured pathway for young cricketers and prepare them for highly competitive environments from an early stage.

The Krishna Apra Future Star Under-15 Championship marks our first formal initiative toward identifying and nurturing promising cricket talent across Delhi NCR.”

Outer Delhi Warriors entered the Delhi Premier League during the 2025 season and has quickly established itself as one of the league’s recognizable franchises, featuring players such as Priyansh Arya, Suyash Sharma, Harsh Tyagi, and Shivam Sharma.

Speaking about the initiative, Aakash Chopra said:

“Indian cricket has never lacked talent. What has often been missing is the right identification and support system at an early age. Structured trials, auctions, and professional exposure can inspire young players and motivate them to pursue cricket seriously.”

Parthiv Patel added:

“The journey from raw talent to professional cricket requires discipline, proper guidance, match exposure, and consistent development. The Krishna Apra Future Star Under-15 Championship has been designed with exactly that vision.”

Sponsorship and Vision

Manish Gupta of Krishna Apra, a well-known real estate brand in North India, said:

“We believe in investing in the country’s future, and sports play a major role in shaping it. We are proud to support an initiative that aims to build the next generation of Indian cricketers.”

The championship is also expected to receive guidance and support from senior international cricketers as the organizers look to create a strong developmental ecosystem for emerging T20 talent in India.

 Hyderabad’s Agri entrepreneur, who created new export categories for India honoured by UAS Bengaluru

Hyderabad, May 16, 2026: In a rare and significant recognition, the University of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore conferred an Honorary Doctorate on its former student, Hyderabad-based agripreneur Dr GVK Naidu, Founder and Managing Director of Sam Agritech, during its 60th Convocation Ceremony.

UAS is India’s premier agricultural university and among the country’s oldest institutions dedicated to agricultural education, research and extension. Thaawarchand Gehlot, Governor and Chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences, presided over the function and formally presented the Doctorate.

The honour is considered exceptional, as agricultural universities seldom confer honorary doctorates upon their own alumni. It recognises Dr Naidu’s pioneering contribution to India’s fresh produce export sector and his role in transforming agricultural innovation into globally competitive business models.

Responding to the recognition, Dr Naidu said, “I never imagined that the university where I once studied would one day honour me with a doctorate. This recognition belongs to the farmers, employees, and partners who have been part of this journey.”

Founded in 1996, Sam Agritech has emerged as one of India’s leading integrated exporters of fresh and value-added produce. The company has played a key role in developing new export categories from India, including fresh pomegranate arils, fresh-cut coconut chunks, fresh figs, dried arils, and ready-to-eat fruit segments.

In recent years, the company has also diversified into high-value crops such as Hass avocado cultivation, blueberry initiatives, and almond processing, aligning with evolving global demand trends and expanding India’s horticulture footprint.

Sam Agritech operates a fully integrated farm-to-market ecosystem across South India, including nurseries, captive farms, high-care processing facilities, and international marketing networks. It is also recognised for establishing multi-locational high-care processing units near cultivation zones, enhancing product freshness and food safety.

The company adheres to global standards, including HACCP, ISO, Global GAP, BRC, US FDA, SMETA, and Fair Trade certifications, and has made a notable social impact, with over 90 per cent of its workforce comprising women in rural processing operations.

Industry observers describe the honour as recognition of the growing importance of value addition, innovation, and market-linked agriculture in India’s agri sector.-

CANNES, 16 May 2026: Eros Innovation presented AI in Asia at Cannes Next, the official innovation track of the Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes, on 14 May 2026. The three-hour programme at the Village Innovation, Pantiero, followed by a reception, brought together over 200 studio leaders, sovereign funds, government representatives, filmmakers, and technology companies to discuss sovereign AI, AI-native storytelling, and the future of film financing.

The programme focused on the idea that Asia is building the infrastructure for AI-native culture through sovereign and rights-aware AI systems. Eros Innovation’s Large Cultural Models (LCMs), launched at the IndiaAI Summit in New Delhi by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, as a sovereign AI initiative and trained on 1.5 trillion rights-cleared cultural tokens, formed the technological foundation of the discussions. The platform launches globally as Eros Universe in June 2026.

 “We came to Cannes not to talk about what AI is doing to the entertainment industry, but to show what happens when AI is built from inside culture rather than on top of it. The industry once embraced VFX because it expanded human creativity rather than replacing it. We believe Cultural Intelligence is the natural next evolution — AI built responsibly to enhance creator value, protect identity, and unlock entirely new forms of storytelling for the global entertainment industry.”, said Kishore Lulla, Founder, Eros Innovation.

The programme opened with a keynote by Kishore Lulla, followed by a fireside conversation with Joerg Bachmaier, CEO of Studio Babelsberg, on how AI is changing large-scale film production while preserving human creative decision-making.

The first panel, Sovereign AI vs Platform AI – Who Owns Culture?, examined the development of sovereign AI systems outside dominant US and Chinese platform ecosystems. Speakers included Paul Trillo of Asteria Films, Alex Serdiuk of Respeecher, and Ridhima Lulla of Eros Innovation, with moderation by Anssi Komulainen of the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. Discussions focused on AI-native filmmaking, consent-based voice AI, cultural datasets, governance frameworks, and creator identity protection systems.

The second panel, AI-Native Storytelling – Not Assisted, Not Enhanced, Native, explored the shift from AI-assisted production to AI-native storytelling. Christina Caspers-Röhmer of Trixter (Cinesite Group), Shin Chul of BIFAN, Ridhima Lulla, and VFX supervisor Martin Madsen discussed AI-native character systems, evolving VFX workflows, and the growing AI filmmaking ecosystem in Asia. The session was moderated by Mikael Windelin.

The final panel, The Future of Film Financing in the AI Era, focused on how AI-driven cost compression and new financing structures are reshaping film funding and ownership models. Speakers included Marc Iserlis of Republic and filmmaker Miguel Faus, whose debut feature Calladita became the first blockchain-crowdfunded film. The discussion, moderated by Piyush Bhatia of Eros Innovation, also referenced Eros Innovation’s own film securitization model. 

New Delhi, May 16 (BNP): Gig workers associated with app-based transport and delivery platforms have announced a five-hour nationwide shutdown demanding better wages, social security benefits and a minimum payment of Rs 20 per kilometre.

Representational image

The protest call, supported by several gig workers’ unions and associations, is expected to affect app-based cab services, food delivery operations and logistics services in major cities across the country.

Worker representatives alleged that rising fuel prices, increasing maintenance expenses and reduced incentive structures have significantly impacted their earnings in recent months. They claimed that despite rising operational costs, the per-trip payments offered by aggregator platforms remain inadequate.

Among the key demands raised by the workers are a guaranteed minimum fare of Rs 20 per kilometre, fuel compensation, insurance coverage, social security benefits and transparent payment policies.

Union leaders said the temporary shutdown is intended to draw attention to the financial challenges faced by lakhs of gig workers who depend on app-based services for their livelihood. They also urged the central and state governments to frame comprehensive welfare policies for workers in the gig economy sector.

Meanwhile, commuters and customers in several metropolitan cities may face inconvenience during the protest period due to reduced availability of ride-hailing and delivery services.

Several aggregator companies are yet to issue detailed responses regarding the shutdown call and the demands raised by workers.

May 16 : Hartek Foundation, the CSR arm of the Hartek Group, impacted over 20,000 lives across Punjab during FY 2025–26, guided by its mission of “Power to Serve.” Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Foundation continued to drive meaningful social change through strategic collaborations with government institutions, focusing on advancing data-driven governance, gender-responsive policing, youth engagement, disability inclusion, climate resilience, road safety, and sustainable rural transformation across Punjab.

During the year, Hartek Foundation supported over 9,770 individuals through flood relief and rehabilitation initiatives in Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, and Ferozepur. The Foundation provided essential supplies, hygiene kits, temporary shelters, solar lighting systems, and support for rebuilding 50 homes with electrical fittings, helping affected families restore safe living conditions.

With a focus on skill building, the Foundation conducted statewide training programmes for over 2,000 Punjab  officials on gender sensitivity and mainstreaming women in policing, in collaboration with Punjab Police and J-PAL. Furthermore, it launched the SAAHAS Fellowship with the Punjab Road Safety and Traffic Wing and the ADAPT Fellowship with the DC Office (currently being piloted in Hoshiarpur) to strengthen data-driven governance and research at the state and district levels.

Under the flagship “Hartek Skill Lab” initiative, more than 4,000 students in government schools benefitted from STEM Labs equipped with over 160 educational models, along with safety awareness programmes, disaster preparedness sessions, and infrastructure support. These initiatives were launched to create long-term, sustainable impact by bridging the gap between theoretical and practical learning.

The Skill Lab initiative also empowered over 250 women and supported livelihood generation through skill-based entrepreneurship programmes, including tailoring, stitching, and the integration of Phulkari into corporate supply chains. Women associated with these initiatives earned an average monthly income of ₹27,000, fostering long-term financial independence and community resilience.

Speaking on the same, Harkirat Kaur, CEO, Hartek Foundation said,

 “At Hartek Foundation, we believe sustainable social transformation begins at the grassroots level. Our initiatives are designed to create long-term impact by strengthening communities through education, healthcare, livelihood generation, and inclusive development. Over the past year, we have focused on building resilient ecosystems that empower individuals, especially women and youth, to become agents of change within their communities. As we move forward, we remain committed to expanding our outreach and creating scalable, sustainable solutions that contribute meaningfully to nation-building.”

The Foundation further strengthened its rural development programme through healthcare outreach initiatives in rural Punjab by conducting preventive health camps, screenings, and blood donation drives, benefitting over 850 patients. This included women-centric healthcare initiatives focused on menstrual hygiene, anaemia management, and breast cancer awareness. The initiatives also promoted Climate Action (SDG 13) through tree plantation drives, dustbin installations, and awareness campaigns across villages, benefitting over 2,500 individuals.

Mumbai, May 15 (BNP): The Indian Rupee plunged to a historic low on Friday, breaching the 96-mark for the first time against the US Dollar amid rising crude oil prices, a stronger American currency and escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

The domestic currency touched an all-time low of 96.14 during intra-day trade in the interbank foreign exchange market, falling 50 paise from its previous close of 95.64 on Thursday. The rupee had opened at 95.86 before slipping further during the trading session.

Forex traders attributed the sharp decline to growing global uncertainty, particularly the intensifying Iran-Israel conflict and concerns over possible disruptions in crude oil supply through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Market experts said investors are increasingly moving towards the US Dollar as a safe-haven asset amid fears of geopolitical instability and volatile energy prices. Rising crude oil costs have also added pressure on the Indian currency, as India remains heavily dependent on oil imports.

According to analysts, the rupee has emerged as one of the worst-performing Asian currencies this year, registering a decline of over six per cent so far in 2026.

Financial observers warned that a prolonged weakness in the rupee could increase import costs, fuel inflationary pressure and impact domestic fuel prices in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India is expected to closely monitor the foreign exchange market to maintain stability.

New delhi, May 15 (BNP): Fuel prices across India witnessed a sharp increase on Friday, with petrol and diesel rates rising by up to ₹3 per litre amid escalating global crude oil prices and ongoing supply concerns linked to the prolonged West Asia conflict.

Representational image

The latest revision has pushed petrol prices in Delhi to ₹97.77 per litre, while diesel now costs ₹90.67 per litre. Similar increases were reported in several major cities across the country.

Officials said the hike was necessitated by sustained pressure on international energy markets, where crude oil prices have remained volatile due to geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global supply chains. State-run Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have reportedly been facing heavy financial strain as import costs continue to rise.

The increase is expected to impact transportation expenses, logistics operations, and household budgets, potentially contributing to inflationary pressure in the coming weeks. Market experts believe the revision could also lead to a rise in prices of essential commodities due to higher freight costs.

The government maintained that despite the increase, India has continued to shield consumers from the full burden of global fuel price spikes by absorbing a significant portion of the costs over recent months.

The development has triggered political reactions and public concern, with opposition parties criticising the move and warning of its impact on common citizens already dealing with rising living expenses.

May 15 (BNP): The Income Tax Department has officially started the Income Tax Return (ITR) filing process for Assessment Year 2026-27 with the release of Excel-based offline utilities for ITR-1 and ITR-4 forms on the e-filing portal.

The move enables eligible taxpayers to begin filing returns for income earned during the Financial Year 2025-26. Taxpayers can now download the utilities, fill in income and tax details offline, calculate tax liabilities, generate JSON files, and upload them to the official portal for submission and verification.

The launch marks the beginning of the annual tax filing season and is expected to benefit salaried employees, pensioners, small business owners, and professionals covered under presumptive taxation schemes by allowing them to complete the process well before the deadline.

ITR-1 is applicable for resident individuals with annual income up to ₹50 lakh earned through salary, pension, up to two house properties, and other sources such as bank interest. The form also covers agricultural income up to ₹5,000 and long-term capital gains under Section 112A up to ₹1.25 lakh.

Meanwhile, ITR-4 is designed for resident individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), and firms excluding LLPs with income up to ₹50 lakh opting for presumptive taxation schemes under Sections 44AD, 44ADA, and 44AE.

Officials have advised taxpayers to verify PAN, Aadhaar linkage, bank account details, Form 16, and other financial information before filing returns. The department has also encouraged early filing to avoid last-minute technical issues and penalties.

Income Tax Returns are mandatory documents through which taxpayers declare their income, deductions, and tax liabilities to the Income Tax Department. The last date for filing returns without penalty is expected to remain July 31, unless extended by the government.

New Delhi, May 15 (BNP): The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially announced that the re-examination for NEET-UG 2026 will be conducted on June 21, following the cancellation of the earlier exam amid allegations of a paper leak.

The revised examination date was confirmed on Friday through the agency’s official communication channels, ending days of uncertainty for more than 22 lakh medical aspirants across the country.

The original NEET-UG 2026 examination, held on May 3, was cancelled after reports of an alleged question paper leak surfaced from multiple regions. The Government of India approved the decision to conduct a fresh examination to ensure transparency and maintain the integrity of the country’s premier medical entrance test.

In its statement, the NTA said the re-examination would be held nationwide on Sunday, June 21, under enhanced security and monitoring arrangements. The agency also urged students and parents to depend only on official notifications for updates regarding admit cards, examination centres, and the admission process.

The cancellation announcement made on May 12 had triggered anxiety among lakhs of candidates awaiting clarity on the future course of the examination. With the fresh schedule now released, preparations for the re-exam process are expected to begin immediately.

NEET-UG serves as the gateway for admission to undergraduate medical courses across India, including MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other allied medical programmes.

Seattle, WA – May 15, 2026 – Azra AI, the leading end-to-end enterprise platform for incidental findings and oncology workflow automation, and RevealDx, the leader in AI tools for the characterization of lung nodules, today announced a new partnership.  

This partnership builds upon Azra AI’s recent acquisition of Thynk health, which provides cancer screening and incidental findings management. Customers can now use one integrated solution to identify high-risk nodules, manage  these nodules through diagnosis, and seamlessly connect to oncology workflow automation.  

Recently cleared by the FDA, the RevealDx technology, marketed as RevealAI-Lung, characterizes incidental lung nodules  by producing a score called the Malignancy Similarity Index (mSI™). mSI is intended to help radiologists make more informed follow-up recommendations to assist in cancer diagnosis. The company has validated the software on over  1,500 patients from a variety of cohorts, and RevealAI-Lung is now reimbursable by Medicare using codes 0721T and  0722T. 

“This partnership strengthens our enterprise-wide intelligence platform,” said John Marshall, CEO of Azra AI. “The integration of the mSI score into the clinical workflow empowers providers to diagnose patients earlier while increasing clinical efficiency. We are excited to deliver this new technology to our customers because not only are we detecting  lung cancer earlier with RevealDX, but once identified Azra’s oncology platform will then coordinate the patient’s care all  the way through survivorship.”

“When vendors partner, patients and providers can benefit, and that is certainly the case here,” said Chris Wood, CEO  of RevealDx. “We are proud of the fact that Azra AI chose to integrate mSI into their clinical workflows, and introduce  RevealAI-Lung to their installed base. Just producing a malignancy risk score is not sufficient. It needs to be integrated  into platforms built for the full continuum, which is exactly what Azra AI provides.”