Herbalife India Flags Off All-Women E-Auto Fleet In Mysuru, Powering Green Mobility Revolution

* Expanding from Bengaluru's 115 empowered drivers, 75+ women in Mysuru to gain sustainable livelihoods, EV skills, and financial independence

Herbalife India, a premier health and wellness company, community, and platform, in partnership with Shishu Mandir, today launched the Mysuru chapter of its flagship ECO Wheels Women’s Initiative. The event flagged off 75+ electric autos driven by women, kicking off the “Her Route, Our Future” movement and year-long “Green Mysuru, Clean Mysuru” campaign to promote green mobility and economic independence.

The launch took place in the presence of Uday Prakash, VP of Strategy and Implementation at Herbalife India; T.S. Srivathsa, MLA of Krishnaraja Constituency, Mysuru; Shri Anand C, Director, Shishu Mandir; Smt. Seema Latkar, I.P.S., Commissioner of Mysuru City Police and other distinguished dignitaries. The initiative empowers marginalized women with e-autos, driving training for local terrains, licensing, maintenance, digital tools, financial literacy, self-defense, and market linkages.

Uday Prakash, Vice President - Strategy and Implementation at Herbalife said, “At Herbalife, we’re deeply inspired by the ECO Wheels Women’s Initiative, which embodies our commitment to sustainable progress and shared prosperity. Following Bengaluru’s remarkable success, this expansion to Mysuru is transforming lives by equipping these women with vital skills and the confidence to thrive. They’re not just driving electric autos; they’re steering their families and communities towards a brighter, greener future.”

Building on the success of Bengaluru’s ECO-Wheels initiative, which enabled 115 women beneficiaries to increase their monthly incomes from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000 and positively impacted over 750 individuals and the wider community through a zero-emission mobility model, Herbalife India in partnership with Shishu Mandir is now scaling the program to Mysuru as Phase 2.

The next phase will focus on high-demand transport routes, accelerating the adoption of clean mobility while creating sustainable livelihoods. The expansion is projected to deliver impact equivalent to planting around 1.4 lac trees over five years, aligning with the Government of India’s FAME-II objectives. Over a five-year period, the Mysuru rollout is expected to generate a cumulative income of ₹50 crore for all women beneficiaries, reinforcing Herbalife India’s commitment to inclusive growth, women’s empowerment, and environmental stewardship.

Addressing the gathering Shri. Seema Latkar, I.P.S., Commissioner, Mysuru City Police said "As Commissioner of Mysuru City Police, I have seen firsthand how economic independence transforms the lives of women and makes our communities safer and more resilient. The Eco-Wheels Women’s Initiative is a commendable step toward enabling women to take charge of their futures while contributing to greener, cleaner urban mobility. Mysuru Police extends its full support to such initiatives that champion equality, inclusion, and social progress."

Shri Anand C, Director, Shishu Mandir, added "For over three decades, Shishu Mandir has worked to create dignified, scalable livelihood opportunities for underserved communities. Eco-Wheels has grown from a mobility program into a movement of confidence and self-reliance. With the Mysuru launch, we are enabling more women and transgender individuals to claim their rightful place as independent earners and respected contributors to society."

About Herbalife International India Private Ltd.

Herbalife (NYSE: HLF) is a premier health and wellness company, community and platform that has been changing people's lives with great nutrition products and a business opportunity for its independent distributors since 1980. The Company offers science-backed food and non-food products to consumers in more than 90 markets through entrepreneurial distributors who provide one-on-one coaching and a supportive community that inspires their customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle to live their best life.

For more information, visit https://www.herbalife.com/en-in

TAPMI Advances Socially Responsible Management Education On Founders’ Day With Launch Of Centre For Social Empowerment

T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), a constituent of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, celebrated its annual Founders’ Day at the Ramdas Pai Auditorium, MAHE Bengaluru Campus, Yelahanka. The event, held ahead of the 104th birth anniversary of Padma Bhushan Shri Tonse Ananth Pai, brought together leaders from academia, industry, and the social sector, along with faculty and students, to reaffirm the institute’s legacy of purpose-driven management education.

Padma Bhushan Shri T. A. Pai (born 17 January 1922) was a pioneering institution builder who shaped India’s financial and public-sector landscape as Chairman of Syndicate Bank, the first Chairman of the Food Corporation of India, and Chairman of LIC. He founded the Manipal Institute of Management in 1980–81, later renamed TAPMI, embedding social responsibility at the core of management education. In this spirit, TAPMI Bengaluru celebrates Founders’ Day by engaging and honouring leaders who build purpose-driven business solutions for social impact.

This year’s celebration was highlighted by the launch of the Centre for Social Empowerment (CSE), reinforcing TAPMI Bengaluru’s commitment to socially anchored and impact-led management education. Reflecting on the launch of the centre, Prof. (Dr) Madhu Veeraraghavan, Pro Vice Chancellor, MLHS & MAHE Bengaluru conveyed his best wishes to TAPMI on the success of CSE launch highlighting a significant milestone to socially responsible management education and impactful CSR initiatives, a long-standing vision of our founder Padma Bhushan Shri T.A. Pai.

The Centre for Social Empowerment (CSE) was officially inaugurated by Dr Raghavendra Prabhu P, Additional Registrar & Director Administration, MAHE Bengaluru who while addressing the gathering noted, “The inauguration of the Centre for Social Empowerment ahead of our Founder Shri T. A. Pai’s 104th birth anniversary reflects his belief that management education must focus on “Social empowerment”. The Centre bridges knowledge and action, nurturing leaders who combine business excellence with social impact.

Chief Guest Mr. Kushal Raj Chakravorty, Founder and Managing Trustee of Lotus Petal Foundation, delivering the T. A. Pai Memorial Lecture, observed that “India as a nation is divided into three divisions. This India three is almost 100 million households, and about 300 million people who are surviving on annual capita of Rs 80,000 or less. India 1 is basically the booming story of India. Scale is in India 2. But the future of our country is India 3, and the gap can be filled through education. While growing up I realised that the purpose of life is self-realisation and the most authentic way of self-realisation is through service. My message to the crowd: it does not need to make a choice between inner purpose and outer impact while building a clarity of self. Creating a substantial impact is what the brightest minds should focus on.”

The launch was also attended by alumni and Guests of Honour: Mr. V. Prem Kumar, Global HR Executive and Head of HR–APAC, Omnissa, and Mr. Swaminathan Chandrashekhar, Director – HR Business Partnership and Head of HR, India Capability Center, Cargill.

The Centre for Social Empowerment (CSE) is a multidisciplinary platform addressing challenges such as unemployment, inclusion of indigenous communities, financial and digital literacy, entrepreneurship, access to basic amenities, and healthcare. Through a network of for-profit and not-for-profit organisations across underserved geographies, the Centre focuses on research, capacity building, and structured collaboration among academia, government, industry, and civil society, translating knowledge into meaningful on-ground impact.

The collaboration with Lotus Petal Foundation will enhance student engagement through co-designed educational programmes, sustained community engagement, and hands-on research experience. The Centre has also signed MoUs with NCUI and United Way Bengaluru, with additional partnerships in the pipeline, including Sutradhaar, Tinker Labs, SELCO, and Intended Impact Creation, to advance education, community engagement, and collaborative research.

Highlighting academic integration, Prof. Navaneetha Krishnan, Dean, TAPMI Bengaluru, emphasized saying “Any developing country will flourish faster if the underprivileged people are included in the system and could contribute to the exponential national growth. One way of doing it is through transformation in the way people undertake businesses. If taken in a responsible manner, it can lead to reduction in Inequality and Poverty, paving the way for sustainable development and inclusive growth”.

Social responsibility is deeply embedded in TAPMI Bengaluru’s pedagogy. Through its Social Internship Programme, undergraduate BBA students work with social purpose organisations to design human-centred, feasible, and scalable solutions. In 2025 alone, over 280 students collaborated with more than 190 organisations, with outstanding projects recognised and awarded during the Founders’ Day programme. The event also honoured project grants and the institute’s best researchers, celebrating excellence in both applied and academic contributions.

Through these initiatives, TAPMI Bengaluru not only honours the visionary legacy of Shri T. A. Pai but transforms it into action, cultivating a generation of leaders who understand that business success, community well-being, and sustainable development are interconnected. By integrating socially responsible practices, inclusive growth, and sustainable thinking into its curriculum and programmes and advancing key priorities across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the institute continues to provide management education that is purpose-driven, socially conscious, and globally relevant.

Government Of Ireland And Teamwork Arts Announce JLF: Island Of Ireland Edition

At the 19th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), the Government of Ireland, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Teamwork Arts have announced a landmark three-year partnership to bring an all-island edition of the festival to Ireland.

JLF is one of the world’s largest free literary festivals, celebrated annually in Jaipur, India. It was founded in 2006 by celebrated authors Namita Gokhale, Anita Anand and William Dalrymple and produced by Sanjoy Roy of Teamwork Arts. The festival is attended by thousands of readers each year - young and old - and attracts the participation of major international writers. It is also an annual opportunity for debate on a wide range of current affairs topics, both domestic and geo-political.

Due to its growing global reputation, JLF expanded internationally with editions of the festival taking place in other parts of the world. For over a decade, the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi and Culture Ireland have been strong supporters of the festival and have supported the attendance of a range of Irish writers and poets.

The all island edition will be a 10-day festival, taking place in May 2026 (22nd – 31st), starting off in Belfast, then travelling to Armagh and Dundalk, before ending in Dublin. Speakers confirmed for the festival so far include Jeet Thayil, Kavita Puri, Michelle Gallen, Tishani Doshi, William Dalrympie and Jane Ohlmeyer.

The Island of Ireland JLF will have a distinctive historical focus, exploring the places of Ireland and India within the empire: how each was shaped by the experience, where and how their stories intersected, where they sat in the sweep of world history, and what that means for their societies and relations today. It will bring together leading voices from politics, science, and the arts, from the island of Ireland and abroad. It will engage with the growing Indian diaspora on the island, a key thread in the Ireland-India relationship.

Speaking at the launch, Ambassador of Ireland to India Kevin Kelly said: “Ireland’s partnership with Teamwork Arts reflects the growing depth of Ireland-India relations. The all island edition also contributes to building a more shared island: one that better understands how we came to be the way we are and where Ireland and India fit in the wider world. Music, food, and spectacle will bring people together across the border and across communities. We hope this partnership shares the best of Irish art, literature and culture and leads to even greater collaboration with India in the future.”

Instagram Empowers Creators To Go Global With Local Voice Translations And Fonts

Today, we’re excited to announce that you can now use Meta AI to translate reels into Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi, in addition to Hindi, English, Spanish, and Portuguese. While this was announced in November 2025, the feature to translate, dub, and lip sync reels into more Indian languages is rolling out to everyone today.

Today, at the exclusive ‘House of Instagram’ event in Mumbai, we shared two new updates from Instagram that not only underline India’s importance for Meta, but also further the possibilities for creators to reach new audiences.

Meta AI Translations Expand To Five New Indian Languages on Instagram & Facebook

We’re excited to announce in the coming months you will soon be able to use Meta AI to translate reels in five new Indian languages, helping you discover more entertaining content from across India and around the world. In October, we launched the ability for creators to dub and lip-sync their reels to and from English, Hindi, Spanish, and Portuguese, helping them reach more people globally. Now, the same capability will soon be available in Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi.

How will this work?

Creators have the option to use Meta AI to transform their reels, so they sound and look fluent in some of the world’s most spoken languages, helping them reach more people globally and grow an international audience. When turned on, the tool preserves the sound and tone of your voice, so your reels feel authentically you. You can also choose to enable the lip syncing feature, which syncs the translated audio to your mouth’s movements, so it looks like you’re actually speaking the language.

New Indian Fonts Available on Edits

Additionally, creators will now have the benefit of using new Indian fonts on Edits. So you’ll now be able to style your text and captions with Devanagari and Bengali-Assamese scripts, in languages such as Hindi, Marathi, Bengali and Assamese. This update will roll out on Android in the coming days.

How will this work?

Within your editing timeline, head to “Text” on the bottom tools tray.

From there click on the “Aa” icon where you’ll see the list of fonts available.

If your device is already in Devanagari or Bengali-Assamese scripts, these fonts will be defaulted in the font tab. If not, slightly swipe down when you’re on the “all fonts” tab to filter your fonts by language.

These new updates follow a spree of other features launched in the past month to benefit creators. This includes the ability to restyle your photos and videos in Instagram Stories and make edits—big or small—using Meta AI. There are also new features in Edits, such as bulk editing captions, reversing your videos, using lip sync to bring your photos to life, and access to 400 more sound effects.

Carlsberg India Inaugurates New Can Line At Mysuru Brewery, Reinforcing Commitment To Karnataka

Carlsberg India, a subsidiary of the globally renowned Danish brewer with a 178-year legacy, announced the inauguration of a new can line at its Mysuru brewery. This milestone reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to Karnataka, following its ₹350 crore expansion pledge made at Invest Karnataka 2025 to further expand the Mysuru facility.

The new can line has been established with an investment of ₹100 crore and offers a production capacity of 22,000 cans per hour (CPH). The addition significantly enhances the brewery’s ability to meet growing consumer demand and forms an integral part of Carlsberg India’s broader expansion strategy across the country.

Speaking at the inauguration, Shri Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), Government of Karnataka, said, “We appreciate Carlsberg India’s continued investments of ₹350 crore in Karnataka, particularly in Mysuru, and their impactful work that contributes positively to society. These efforts reflect the company’s strong confidence in the state’s industrial ecosystem. We encourage more companies to step forward with increased local investments and job creation, especially in Mysuru, to support inclusive and sustainable regional development.”

Commenting on the development, Mr. Nilesh Patel, Managing Director, Carlsberg India, said, “Our continued investment in Karnataka underscores our long-term commitment to the state. Through this expansion, we aim to sustainably produce international-quality beers for consumers, contribute to state excise revenues, and generate additional direct and indirect employment opportunities for the local community.”

Located in Nanjangud taluk, the Mysuru brewery is spread across 28 acres and manufactures Carlsberg and Tuborg brands. The facility reflects Carlsberg India’s strong focus on responsible and sustainable brewing practices. It operates biomass boilers using husk and biogas as fuel. Additionally, 85% of the brewery’s power requirements are met through solar energy.

Carlsberg India is also actively engaged in water sustainability initiatives in Karnataka, working in partnership with WaterAid and local communities to promote responsible water stewardship.

About Carlsberg India

Carlsberg India is a subsidiary of the Carlsberg Group, one of the world’s most respected brewing companies. Headquartered in Denmark, the Carlsberg Group is governed by the Carlsberg Foundation, a unique ownership model that reinvests dividends into advancing science, art, and sustainability globally.

Established in India in 2007, Carlsberg India has emerged as a leading player in the premium and super-premium beer segments. The company operates 14 breweries across the country, comprising eight company-owned state-of-the-art breweries and seven contract manufacturing units, ensuring wide availability and consistent quality. Its portfolio includes brands such as Carlsberg Smooth, Carlsberg Elephant, and Tuborg Strong, Tuborg Classic, Tuborg Green, Tuborg Ice Draft, Tuborg Classic, and the iconic 1664 Blanc.

Carlsberg’s legacy of innovation includes the invention of the pH scale and groundbreaking work in yeast purification, shaping modern brewing science. This pioneering spirit continues to guide Carlsberg India’s brewing philosophy today.

Guided by its ESG commitments under Together Towards ZERO and Beyond, Carlsberg India is working towards a ZERO Carbon Footprint, ZERO Water Waste, ZERO Packaging Waste, ZERO Irresponsible Drinking, and a ZERO Accidents Culture, while also supporting regenerative agriculture to reduce farming’s environmental impact.

With a blend of heritage, innovation, and sustainability, Carlsberg India remains dedicated to brewing for a better today and tomorrow.

To read more, visit www.carlsbergindia.com

HDFC Bank Launches Startup Lounges In Bengaluru And Guwahati On National Startup Day

HDFC Bank, India’s leading private sector bank, today announced the launch of its exclusive Startup Lounges ahead of the 10th anniversary of the National Startup Day on January 16. The startup lounges, a part of the Bank’s continued focus on strengthening engagement with India’s startup ecosystem, will be launched at the HSR Layout, 24th Main Road branch in Bengaluru, and the GS Road branch, Guwahati.

Startup Lounges will be dedicated to servicing startups while also providing a professional environment for them to work and ideate. Further, the lounges will provide the Bank an ideal space to connect with founders, investors, venture capital firms, and the broader startup ecosystem. The space will also see the Bank host the events involving the startup ecosystem.

Mr. Sampath Kumar, Group Head - Retail Branch Banking and Alternate Banking Channel & Partnerships, HDFC Bank, with responsibility for West and South regions, said, “With Bengaluru being a vibrant startup hub of the country, the Bank’s Startup Lounge in the city will serve as a networking centre for founders who will be able to work with like-minded people. They can also benefit from the Bank's exclusive suite of products and services under the Startup Buildup programme. We hope that our Startup Lounge in the city will provide the environment for the startup ecosystem to flourish more.”

Mr. Arun Mediratta, Group Head - Retail Branch Banking and Alternate Banking Channel & Partnerships, HDFC Bank, with responsibility for North, East and Central regions said, “Guwahati is fast emerging as a centre of the startup ecosystem in the north east region of India, supporting a spirit of entrepreneurship. We’re pleased to have opened a Startup Lounge to welcome startup founders to use the space for working and engaging with the startup community.”

The Bank offers a host of services under the Startup Buildup programme. Some of the key products and services that startups can access under this programme include, Startup Banking Current Account, Collect Now – a digital collection & payments solution, Trade Forex & Offshore Banking, Commercial Cards, ESOP Trust & Share Capital Account, customised Health Insurance, salary accounts for employees, and Credit Facilities under the Central Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) based on meeting the eligibility criteria.

The Bank has an active association with startups. In fact, an initiative called Tech Innovators was introduced in 2024 as an HDFC Bank Group level platform to recognise and celebrate innovation among startups across sectors in the country. It currently works with several startups in areas ranging from domestic and cross–border payments, lending, API development, solutions for government and institutional customers, and agentic AI projects.

HDFC Bank also is a significant contributor to the ecosystem through its participation in the Government’s CGSS as well as well as through HDFC Bank Parivartan, the Bank’s CSR programme.

About HDFC BANK

For more information, click here: www.hdfc.bank.in

ELEVATION, A Gravity-Defying French Production Commissioned For India, Touring For The First Time

When aerial poetry transcends gravity and the body seems to float in mid-air, audiences are invited to “elevate” with two French contemporary dance works presented this January across three major Indian cities.

The French Institute in India, in collaboration with the Alliance Française Network in India, presents ELEVATION, a striking double bill by Yoann Bourgeois Art Company and Compagnie ISI, marking the first touring experience in India for both companies. As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering dialogue in the performing arts, the French Embassy in India organises annual tours introducing leading French artists to Indian audiences, following previous tours by Mourad Merzouki and (La)Horde from the National Ballet of Marseille.

“Approach 17. Opening proposes a simplified take on existential trajectories, alternating between elevations and descents, with a staircase leading nowhere. Temporal chronology is thwarted with plays on the theme of reversibility. Atop an invisible partition, one character manages to elude the void, playing with the laws of gravity and weightlessness in order to reach a state of freedom, situated between balance and imbalance. This visual poem centers on a moving, vertiginous procession towards the point of suspension, that precise, short-lived moment, when a body has progressed to its highest possible point and the inevitable fall has yet to begin,” says French choreographer Yoann Bourgeois, internationally acclaimed and known for collaborations with artists such as Coldplay and Harry Styles.

Presented in three cities—Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Delhi—ELEVATION brings together two powerful aerial works exploring suspension, balance, and the timeless human desire to rise beyond limits. The project also offers a rare opportunity to place live performance in dialogue with public space, architecture, and landscape.

When aerial poetry transcends gravity and the body is floating in the sky, take an opportunity to “elevate” with 2 French contemporary dance choreographies coming together this January across 3 major Indian cities.

ABOUT THE TOUR

Bengaluru – Freedom Park (as a part of BLR Hubba Festival), 17 & 18 January 2026 (2 shows)

Ahmedabad – Kanoria Centre for Arts, 24 January 2026

Delhi – Lodhi Art District Festival (in collaboration with St+Art), 1 February 2026

ABOUT THE SHOW

ELEVATION unites for the first time Approach 17. Opening Act and Dialogue au Mât (Le Mât), two creations, respectively choreographed by Yoann Bourgeois and Lucas Struna - who also acts as one of the main performers. Though distinct in form, the works are bound by a shared language of ascent and descent, stillness and motion — a reflection on gravity as both a physical law and a metaphor for human resilience.

Approach 17. Opening Act has been conceived as a minimalist yet powerful performance set to the opening movement of a music by Philip Glass. At its centre is a simple staircase that becomes the stage for a precise dialogue between the body and the laws of physics.

Timed with a hidden trampoline, each fall, rebound, and suspension transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. The act focuses on the point of suspension, that fleeting instant before the fall begins.

“A circus ‘number’ is a condensed form,” explains Bourgeois. “By simplifying, by extracting, we reach an intensity where the piece can exist anywhere, beyond context or culture. Meaning emerges through the act itself.”

Created by Lucas Struna, Dialogue au Mât, which follows in the show, is rooted in Mallakhamb, one of the world’s oldest physical disciplines, originating in India.

After training in Mumbai with master Uday Deshpande, Struna transformed this ancestral practice into a contemporary solo performed around a vertical pole. Blending dance and acrobatics, the piece traces a personal journey shaped by cultural exchange between France and India.

“Mallakhamb taught me that this practice is an offering,” says Struna. “It is not about performance alone, but about discipline, respect, and something greater than oneself. This piece is my way of giving back what India has given me.”

The work reflects a search for harmony between discipline and freedom, body and spirit and brings on stage Indian and French performers in a perfect syncretism of gestures.