Axis Bank And GoSports Foundation Partner To Launch ‘The Performance Institute’

* The facility will integrate sports science, research and capacity building to help advance India’s sporting ecosystem

Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GoSports Foundation to launch Axis Bank-GoSports Foundation ‘The Performance Institute’ (AGTPI), a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at scaling India’s sports science capabilities and advancing research and innovation that contributes to the long term growth of Indian sports.

AGTPI shall be housed at the state-of-the-art Centre for Sports Excellence (CSE) in Bengaluru. The institute will focus on athlete performance, talent identification, building India’s capacity in sports science and medicine, as well as analytics and research focused on the Indian athlete.

As the founding partner, Axis Bank’s CSR grants shall be directed towards the establishment and growth of the institute, with GoSports Foundation leading its administration, programme implementation, and strategic partnerships.

AGTPI shall be built around three core pillars – People, Analytics, and Research.

The People pillar will focus on developing India's sports science and performance workforce through training programmes, fellowships, mentorship opportunities, and professional development pathways. The initiative will help build a stronger pool of qualified practitioners across federations, academies, and high-performance environments.

The Analytics pillar will establish an athlete testing and assessment facility offering performance testing, biomechanics analysis, recovery monitoring, injury-risk assessment, and data-driven performance planning. The institute will also contribute to building India-specific athlete performance databases across sports and demographics.

The Research pillar will focus on helping generate indigenous sports science knowledge through applied research, innovation, industry and university collaborations, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Its objective is to develop evidence-based solutions that support athletes while contributing to the broader advancement of sports science in India.

Commenting on the partnership, Vijay Mulbagal - Group Head - Wholesale Bank Coverage, Corporate Salary, Sustainability & CSR, Axis Bank, said, “India’s sporting ambitions are entering a defining phase, and ensuring sustained success for Indian athletes globally will require not only talent and training but also a strong foundation of domestic sports science and medicine. Despite India’s rising sporting successes, it still relies largely on foreign performance data and benchmarks which are not entirely aligned with the needs and realities of Indian athletes. At Axis Bank, we are proud to partner with GoSports Foundation to help build an institution that can play a pioneering role in bringing together data, research, analytics, and expertise, to create a robust domestic sports science ecosystem.”

Nandan Kamath, Managing Trustee, GoSports Foundation, said, “This collaboration reflects a shared belief that sustained sporting success is built on strong foundations. Great athletes emerge from great systems, and those systems depend on people, knowledge, and continuous innovation. Our goal is to build a faster, higher and stronger future for Indian sport — together."

Saugato Banerjee, CEO, GoSports Foundation, added, “We thank Axis Bank for believing in GoSports Foundation’s track record and future commitment to powering the Indian sports ecosystem. We look forward to announcing initiatives under The Performance Institute that truly unlock India’s sporting potential — from participation to podium.”

Vivek Kumar, Founder and Promoter, Centre for Sports Excellence, said, "CSE was built to give every athlete an environment that helps them be their best. The AGTPI strengthens that environment, adding world-class capability in sports science, testing and research. We thank Axis Bank and GoSports Foundation for choosing to house the institute at CSE."

By bringing together long-term institutional support, in-depth expertise, and a shared commitment to building a robust domestic sports science ecosystem, this collaboration seeks to help in constructing a sturdy impact across athlete development and performance excellence.

About Axis Bank:

Axis Bank is one of the largest private sector banks in India. Axis Bank offers the entire spectrum of services to customer segments covering Large and Mid-Corporates, SME, Agriculture, and Retail Businesses. It has 6,275 domestic branches (including extension counters) and 12,796 ATMs and cash recyclers spread across the country as on 31st March 2026. Axis Virtual Centres are present across eight locations with 1,591 Virtual Relationship Managers as on 31st March 2026. The Axis Group includes Axis Mutual Fund, Axis Securities Ltd., Axis Finance, Axis Trustee, Axis Capital, A.TReDS Ltd., Freecharge, Axis Pension Fund and Axis Bank Foundation.

For further information on Axis Bank, please refer to the website: https://www.axis.bank.in/

About GoSports Foundation

GoSports Foundation is a national award-winning non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering Indian athletes through athlete scholarships, high-performance support, knowledge creation, and ecosystem development. The Foundation has supported some of India's leading Olympic and Paralympic athletes and continues to work towards strengthening India's sporting ecosystem.  

ABB Innovation Center (AIC) Brings Together 1,000+ Innovators From 37 Countries To Accelerate Industrial AI

* ABB Accelerator harnesses the power of frontier cutting-edge technologies, with domain and application knowledge, to create solutions which address today’s real-world problems

* 1000+ Technocrats from ABB and partners, 25+ distinguished industry and academic thought leaders, 80 startups, 350+ universities joined forces to create meaningful impact

Held over five days in ABB AIC Bengaluru, the sixth edition of ABB Accelerator showcased how collaboration between the finest minds can accelerate the development of products and solutions while strengthening the future-ready talent needed to power industrial transformation. This comes at a time when enterprises are leveraging technologies to sharpen their focus on making the world safer, more productive, and more sustainable.

"ABB Accelerator is a global innovation program where ideas are transformed into impactful solutions for our customers. The innovations developed here move beyond experimentation to become scalable products and solutions that help industries perform better. By combining cutting-edge R&D, domain and application engineering strength, digital and AI capabilities, we are helping customers unlock greater value while building the capabilities that will shape the future," said GNV Subba Rao, Whole-time Director, ABB Innovation Center (AIC).

The ABB Innovation Center (AIC) is one of ABB's largest global technology and engineering hubs, home to nearly 4,000 technologists across R&D, engineering, digital technologies and global operations. Combining deep domain expertise with AI, cloud and digital capabilities, AIC develops next-generation industrial technologies, accelerates product innovation and supports customers on their journey towards increasingly autonomous operations.

“At ABB, we see the Accelerator as a powerful platform, where innovation meets industrial impact,” said Rajesh Ramachandran, Global Chief Digital Officer, Automation, ABB. “By bringing together ABB experts, partners, startups, academia and thought leaders, we are accelerating the ideation and development of scalable solutions that harness industrial AI to shape the future of more autonomous, efficient and sustainable operations.”

Building on the success of previous editions, ABB Accelerator has evolved into one of the company's flagship innovation platforms. Over the past two years, it has engaged more than 2,000 participants and generated nearly 700 approved use cases across AI, automation, cloud and digital technologies.

ABB Accelerator's impact has also earned global recognition. In 2025, the program received three prestigious international awards, including a Gold Stevie® Award in the Event Award – Hackathon category, a Bronze Stevie® Award for Achievement in Global Collaboration, and the International Innovation Award in the Service & Solution category. The accolades recognize the program's success in bringing together talent, technology and innovation across geographies to solve complex business challenges through collaboration.

About ABB

ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). www.abb.com     

'Hoor’ Takes Coke Studio Bharat To Kashmir In Season 4

Continuing its journey of spotlighting India's rich folk and regional musical traditions through contemporary collaborations, Coke Studio Bharat returns with its fourth release of Season 4, travelling this time to the valleys of Kashmir with Hoor, a folk tale inspired by the region's centuries-old oral storytelling tradition, where musicians would gather in intimate mehfils to sing tales of kings, lovers, wanderers and the mystical.

The song draws from Kashmiri storytelling traditions and the spiritual essence of Afsana Gori, following Sheikh and Hoor, two characters whose journey unfolds through melody and narration. Moving between themes of love, longing and devotion, the story carries a mythical quality often found in Kashmiri folklore. These influences are woven into the composition through layered vocals, evocative instrumentation and rock soundscape that preserve the essence of the tradition while presenting it to a new generation of listeners.

Bringing this story to audiences are singer-songwriter Faheem Abdullah, Composer, Singer, Arsalan Nizami, and Composer, Singer, Ustad Qaiser Nizami. Inspired by Kashmir's tradition of musical storytelling, Hoor moves between narration and melody, unfolding much like a live mehfil. While the song follows the structure of an old Kashmiri fable, its sound is built around contemporary production, allowing the story to feel current without losing the atmosphere and emotion that define the tradition. The track culminates in a Kashmiri passage that grounds the narrative in the landscape it comes from.

Through each season, Coke Studio Bharat has explored the richness of India's regional music traditions, collaborating with artists who reinterpret cultural narratives for contemporary audiences while preserving their original spirit. Hoor continues that journey, bringing a Kashmiri folk tale to listeners across geographies and generations.

Shantanu Gangane, IMX (Integrated Marketing Experience) Lead, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, said, " At Coke Studio Bharat, we believe India’s most powerful stories emerge from its regions, shaped by culture, memory and lived experience. Kashmir’s storytelling tradition carries its unique emotional and poetic legacy. With Hoor, we set out to honour this authenticity, contemporizing it for today’s audiences. Faheem, Arsalan and Qaiser bring rare depth to the narrative, and the sounds allow the story to travel beyond geography without losing its essence. It brings to life our belief in celebrating India’s cultural diversity while creating relevance across generations.”

Faheem Abdullah said, “The storytelling in Hoor is what drew me to the song. It comes from a tradition that has existed in Kashmir for generations, where stories are carried through music and passed from one voice to another. With Coke Studio Bharat, we had the chance to bring that tradition to a wider audience while keeping the feeling of the original story intact."

Arsalan Nizami said, "There is something in the way Kashmiri folk music moves between narration and melody that I find unlike anything else. Through Coke Studio Bharat, we were able to explore those layers with authenticity, preserving the character of the tradition while bringing our own musical interpretation to it. That freedom, within a deeply rooted form, is what made working on Hoor so rewarding."

Ustad Qaiser Nizami said, "Hoor carries the feeling of a story being told to you in the moment, the way music in Kashmir has always worked in a mehfil, where the room holds its breath for what comes next. That intimacy is easy to lose when a song moves to a bigger stage. What Coke Studio Bharat understood was that it had to be preserved, not produced away."

With Hoor, Coke Studio Bharat Season 4 continues its journey into India's folk and regional traditions, finding in each one a story worth retelling. Following Ae Ajnabee, Bulleya Ve, and Kachaudi Gali, the season adds another distinct voice to its growing archive, this time from the valley, and in a language that carries centuries of melody within it.

An Afternoon Of Carnival Brunch At Machan, Taj West End, Bengaluru

An afternoon of curated indulgence awaits at Machan, where a playful yet refined culinary narrative unfolds through the Carnival Brunch. Designed to capture the vibrancy of festive dining with a sophisticated lens, the experience brings together bold flavours, artisanal preparations, and a sense of theatrical flair, creating a setting that is both dynamic and effortlessly elegant.

The menu showcases a compelling medley of comforting classics and globally inspired signatures. Guests can indulge in hearty Pork Stew, alongside an array of hot dogs and sliders, complemented by perfectly crisp assortments of fries. The live grills lend depth to the experience with charcoal-grilled chicken drumsticks, while distinctive offerings such as Feijoada (fried fish) and prawns al ajillo introduce nuanced, flavourful accents. Each dish is thoughtfully presented to balance familiarity with finesse.

The overall experience is crafted to engage the senses, where the warmth of slow-cooked dishes meets the energy of a lively spread, all set within the timeless surroundings of Machan. It is an invitation to savour a leisurely afternoon defined by richness, variety, and understated luxury.

Date: 5th July 2026
Venue: Machan, Taj West End, Bengaluru
Time: 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM

Pricing:

INR 3,300 plus taxes – Food with soft beverages

INR 5,300 plus taxes Food with select premium beverages

INR 8,999 plus taxes – Inclusive of select champagne

For reservations, please call 080 6660 5660.

UST Named Among World’s Most Ethical Companies In 2026 By Ethisphere

* Company recognized for its leading culture of ethical business practices, ESG, and compliance

UST, a leading AI and technology transformation solutions company, has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere. UST is one of just six software companies worldwide to be recognized by Ethisphere in 2026 and is the only privately held software company on the exclusive elite list, a reflection of the company’s deeply held commitment to ethical practices.

This recognition honors organizations that exemplify ethical business conduct by implementing comprehensive programs which generate positive outcomes for employees, communities, and stakeholders while also fostering sustainable, long-term business growth. UST was commended by Ethisphere for demonstrating that it has policies in place to foster a strong culture of ethics based on integrity, ethical governance, and responsible business practices.

UST’s inclusion on this elite list underscores the company’s commitment to integrating ethics and integrity into every aspect of its business practices. By prioritizing trust, transparency, and accountability, UST ensures that all its solutions deliver measurable value and meaningful impact for clients, employees, and stakeholders.

To compile its rankings, Ethisphere engages in a rigorous assessment of all applicants based on its Ethisphere Ethics Quotient®. Applicants are evaluated using more than 240 data points across a number of categories including culture, ESG, compliance, and governance. This data undergoes further qualitative analysis by Ethisphere’s panel of experts. In 2026, 138 companies from 17 countries were recognized by Ethisphere.

“We are honored to be named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies as this distinction speaks to the strength of UST’s people, culture, and values. This recognition underscores the effectiveness of our efforts to empower employees to responsibly bridge technology and AI innovation while driving real outcomes for our clients. Trust, transparency, and accountability are foundational to our work, and we remain dedicated to setting the benchmark for excellence in ethical governance as we create lasting value for our employees, clients, stakeholders, and communities worldwide,” said Colleen Doherty, Chief People Officer, UST.

“This recognition from Ethisphere highlights UST’s strong commitment to governance, ethics, and integrity as core drivers of sustainable growth, going well beyond compliance to embed these principles across all aspects of our business. Notably, UST has voluntarily benchmarked itself against global public companies and stands as the only private software company worldwide to receive this honor, reflecting the strength of our governance framework and ethical standards. Trust remains central to everything we do—from client delivery to leadership decisions—and this achievement is a testament to every UST employee who consistently demonstrates accountability, integrity, and continuous improvement,” said Ramanathan Raghunathan, Vice President & Global Head of Governance, Risk, and Compliance, UST.

"Congratulations to UST for achieving recognition as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies®. As we mark the 20th class of honorees, this group continues to raise the bar for business integrity by embedding ethics into everyday decision-making and long-term strategy. UST’s recognition as the only private software company among this year’s honorees highlights the strength of its commitment to ethics, compliance, and governance as drivers of long-term performance,” said Erica Salmon Byrne, Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Chair, Ethisphere.

About Ethisphere

Ethisphere® is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that fuel corporate character, marketplace trust, and business success. Ethisphere has deep expertise in measuring and defining core ethics standards using data-driven insights that help companies enhance corporate character. Ethisphere honors superior achievement through its World’s Most Ethical Companies® recognition program, provides a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA), and showcases trends and best practices in ethics with Ethisphere Magazine. Ethisphere also helps to advance business performance through data-driven assessments, benchmarking, and guidance. Learn more about Ethisphere at https://www.ethisphere.com.

About UST

Since 1999, UST has worked side by side with the world's best companies to make a powerful impact through transformation. Powered by technology, driven by AI, inspired by people, and led by our purpose, we partner with our clients from design to operation. Our AI-driven digital solutions, proprietary platforms, engineering, R&D, products, and innovation ecosystem turn core challenges into impactful, disruptive business outcomes. With deep industry knowledge and a future-ready mindset, we infuse expertise, innovation, and agility into our clients' organizations—delivering measurable value and positive lasting change for them, their customers, and communities around the world. Together, with 30,000+ employees in 30+ countries, we build for boundless impact—touching billions of lives in the process.

Visit us at www.UST.com.

Rethinking Himalayan Rock Salt For Everyday Cooking Across India

The growing popularity of Himalayan rock salt in India reflects a broader shift in consumer preferences towards perceived purity and traditional alternatives. However, this evolving trend also highlights an important consideration- ensuring adequate iodine intake in a country that has made significant progress in addressing iodine deficiency.

Himalayan rock salt is commonly recognised for its distinctive pink hue and naturally occurring trace minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Its origin from ancient rock deposits and its association with traditional dietary practices have contributed to its growing appeal among Indian consumers.

The consequences of inadequate iodine intake may be far-reaching, and in India, the scale of the challenge remains a matter of ongoing public health attention. According to the Salt Commissioner of India, over 200 million people in the country may remain at risk of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, with more than 70 million potentially affected by goitre and related conditions.

India has worked to address iodine deficiency through the implementation of Universal Salt Iodization, a key public health strategy under the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme. Recent national and programme-level data indicate that a large proportion of Indian households have access to iodized salt, although variations in adequacy and awareness may still exist.

Tata Salt Himalayan Rock Salt combines the natural appeal of rock salt with the added benefit of iodization. As an iodized rock salt, it can help contribute to iodine intake. It retains the characteristic qualities of rock salt, such as trace minerals and a distinct taste, while being suitable for everyday cooking.

About Tata Consumer Products

Tata Consumer Products Limited is a focused consumer products company uniting the principal food and beverage interests of the Tata Group under one umbrella. The Company’s portfolio of products includes tea, coffee, water, RTD, salt, pulses, spices, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat offerings, breakfast cereals, snacks and mini meals. Its key beverage brands include Tata Tea, Tetley, Organic India, Eight O’Clock Coffee, Tata Coffee Grand, Himalayan Natural Mineral Water, Tata Copper+ and Tata Gluco+. Its foods portfolio includes brands such as Tata Salt, Tata Sampann, Tata Soulfull, Ching’s Secret and Smith & Jones. In India, Tata Consumer Products has a reach of 290 million households, giving it an unparalleled ability to leverage the Tata brand in consumer products. The Company has a consolidated annual turnover of ~Rs. 20,290 crores with operations in India and International markets.  

New On Instagram: Spin View And Multi-Cam Stories Formats For AI Glasses From Meta

Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, and Meta Glasses now unlock new interactive and multi camera formats on Instagram stories, plus editing tools designed to fine-tune your footage. These updates give you more creative flexibility and make it easier than ever to turn hands-free content into authentic, engaging content:

Immerse your followers with the interactive spin view format

Align perspectives using multi-cam sync

Refine your glasses footage with new native stories editing tools

Immerse your followers with spin view

Try a new interactive format that breaks free from the static frame of traditional stories. When you add spin view to your stories, your audience can rotate their phone to pan through your full perspective, allowing them to explore the entire scene as you lived it.

Add a second perspective with multi-cam

Effortlessly merge separate footage from your phone and your glasses into one multi-angle story. The tool automatically syncs your clips to show two perspectives at once—perfect for showing your hands at work via your glasses while you talk to the camera on your phone and giving your community a unique, synchronized view of your creative process.

Refine your glasses footage with new stories editing tools

Take total control of your glasses content directly within the Instagram camera. Reframe your shot to focus on the action, adjust playback speed for a cinematic feel, and balance environmental audio with your voiceover. Our new toolkit includes:

Expand: Easily reframe your wide-angle footage to focus on the best parts of your POV, turning a broad scene into a perfectly framed story that keeps the action front and center.

Audio: Clean up your sound with tools that dial down background noise and boost your voice, making sure your narration is clear even in a busy crowd.

Speed: Change the energy of your story with simple speed controls that let you slow down the details of a tutorial or fast-forward through the action.

To access all these features, plus spin view and multi-cam, follow the usual steps you take to upload a story to Instagram. Make sure you select Meta AI glasses photos or videos taken with Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, or Meta Glasses from the gallery (you will see a glasses icon on the top left). Once you get to the edit screen, tap the glasses icon by the other editing tools. This will take you to a menu with your new glasses tools shown at the bottom of your screen.

For more help getting started with your glasses, check out our glasses overview and our guide to shooting POV with AI glasses.