Oriflame, the leading Swedish beauty and well-being brand, marks thirty years of its journey in India. The brand entered the country in the early 1990s and has progressively shaped a distinct position within a rapidly evolving beauty market. Over the past three decades, the brand has built a strong presence in the country, shaped by science-backed innovation, consistent product quality and a deep commitment to supporting entrepreneurship.

Oriflame highlights its iconic Milk & Honey, IlluSkin, NovAge+ and GG Pearls, along with its signature fragrance, as it marks 30 years in India

Rooted in its Swedish heritage, Oriflame has developed a wide and trusted product portfolio of more than 500 offerings across skincare, wellness, colour cosmetics, haircare, personal care and fragrance, including icons such as its Tender Care balm and Milk and Honey Body Creams. Tender Care, originally one of the brand’s most recognised global products and now also manufactured in India, continues to be a bestseller with one unit sold every fifteen seconds. Every formulation reflects the brand’s focus on safety, performance and responsible ingredient choices, which continue to define its product philosophy in India and globally.

Oriflame’s growth in India has been shaped not only by its products but also by its community. The brand’s network of independent Brand Partners, 80 percent of whom are women, has created meaningful avenues for flexible and self-driven income, contributing to a wider democratization of wealth. This focus on empowerment has remained central to Oriflame’s identity since its arrival in the country.

“Three decades in India have given us a very clear view of the market and how our consumers are evolving,” said Edyta Kurek, Senior Vice President and Head of India and Indonesia, Oriflame. “The scale of the market and the diversity of its consumers has pushed us to strengthen our capabilities across science, product development and local operations. Our focus remains practical and consistent & we want to deliver products that meet real consumer needs and continue creating meaningful opportunities for our Brand Partners. As we plan the next phase of our growth, we are engaging more with emerging consumer groups, including Gen Z, whose expectations of flexibility and work-from-anywhere potency are reshaping how opportunity is perceived.”

A significant part of Oriflame’s scientific progress comes from its long-standing research in skin ageing. The brand’s patented bioactivating technology, Oripeptide 3, is the result of close to twenty years of study in cellular health. Recent insights show that Oripeptide 3 works with the skin’s own biology and supports several key markers linked to firmness, clarity and overall skin vitality. This research continues to strengthen the NovAge+ range as one of Oriflame’s most advanced skincare lines.

As the brand moves forward towards its next chapter in India, Oriflame aims to expand its wellness and skincare offerings, build on its scientific capabilities and focus on creating more opportunities in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. With a significant share of its portfolio produced locally, India continues to be an important and forward-looking market for the brand.

About Oriflame
Oriflame is a leading Swedish holistic well-being brand. Present in over 60 countries, its wide portfolio of Swedish, nature-inspired, innovative beauty, and wellbeing products are marketed through a sales force of approximately 3 million independent brand partners. Respect for people and nature underlies Oriflame’s operating principles and is reflected in its social and environmental policies.

For more information, please visit www.oriflame.com

Music UnLtd. (pronounced Music Unlimited) is a well-known award-winning Indie band. It is led by Milind Chitnavis who is known in music credits simply as Milin. The band is excited to announce the release of its latest single, “I LIKE GREEN EYES TOO.” The song is now available on all major streaming platforms for listeners everywhere to enjoy.

Milind Chitnavis aka Milin

The new release is an evocative & intriguing soft-rock composition enriched with a unique fusion of the sarod & tabla woven effortlessly with the acoustic guitar, piano, bass guitar, drums, and the sound of the cello. The song narrates the tender & sensitive moments of a couple mutually acknowledging that they have fallen out of love — and choosing to part ways amicably, embracing change and emotional relief.

Indie Band – Music UnLtd.

A composer, lyricist, singer, and guitarist, Milin has carved a distinctive space in the Indie landscape, specializing in Rock, Pop-Rock, and Psychedelic Rock. His musical journey began in Nagpur, sparked by casual explorations in light Indian music during his school years, supported by private lessons.

He later formed a college band at Sydenham College, Mumbai, performing as a singer-guitarist, before pursuing formal training at the prestigious GIT, Musicians’ Institute, Hollywood, California. Milin has also studied piano privately in Mumbai and received Hindustani Classical vocal training under Pandit Yeshwant Mahale and Raghunandan Panshikar.

His mentors/instructors at Musicians’ Institute included renowned guitar virtuosos Kimbo Smith, Dan Gilbert, Scott Henderson, Ron Eschete, and Joe Diorio.

Milin has collaborated with celebrated vocalists across genres, including:

• Prasad Salian on “Jilted” and “Sparkling in the Night”

• Shilpa Surroch on “Give Us Free” and “Slow & Easy”

• Vivienne Pocha on “Play Me a Song” and “Chhedo Koi Geet”

Music UnLtd. and Milin’s work have received significant global acclaim, most notably for the 2024 hit “It Crossed My Mind,” which earned the Best Original Song award at the Cannes World Film Festival in France (August 2024), was a Finalist for Best Song 2024 at the Global Music Awards (October 2024), and won Best Animated Music Video at the Music Video Underground Awards in Paris (June 2024). Their debut EP “And Then I Saw Her,” had also garnered recognition – winning Best EP: Rock/Electronica at the Akademia Music Awards in Los Angeles (August 2016).

Milin recently delivered a special performance at the Mayo College 150th Anniversary Celebrations. His next show is scheduled at Brickhaus, Nagpur on 25 December 2025.

Music UnLtd. (pronounced “Unlimited”) is Milind Chitnavis’ award-winning Indie project known for its genre-fluid soundscape, emotional storytelling, and sophisticated music craftsmanship. In addition to their own popular repertoire, the band also performs covers in English & Hindi, and is available for shows worldwide. For more details, please visit – www.MusicUnLtd.com or email on MusicUnLtd.TheBand@gmail.com.

Oakridge International School Bachupally turned October into a month of ideas, performance, and purpose, hosting a series of flagship events that reflected its standing as a leading international school. From the fourth edition of TEDxOakridgeBachupally Youth 2025 themed “Kairos – When the Right Moment Unfolds” to the dual Annual Day showcases SPARSH and TRANSCEND, the campus became a stage for student voice, cultural celebration, and global‑minded thinking.

One stage, Infinite possibilities., TEDx Oakridge Bachupally celebrates ideas that transform the world

The TEDxOakridgeBachupally Youth event brought together a diverse line‑up of youth leaders and mentors who shared personal stories of courage, change, and possibility under the lens of “Kairos” – the power of recognising and seizing the right moment. Speakers explored how mindset, resilience, and intentional choices can turn everyday experiences into turning points, reinforcing for students that their “right moment” is often created, not simply found. The atmosphere felt less like a formal conference and more like a shared conversation, with peers listening intently to ideas that spoke directly to their own journeys.

Reflecting on the experience, Principal Anuradha Varma said the event reaffirmed the school’s belief in giving young people authentic platforms to lead the discourse. “TEDxOakridgeBachupally Youth 2025 was not just about talks; it was about students learning to trust their voice, think critically, and act when the moment calls for it – all of which are central to our vision as an international school,” she shared. A student organiser added that curating the event around “Kairos” pushed the team to step out of their comfort zones and take ownership, describing it as a journey that changed how they see opportunity and responsibility.

Later in the month, Oakridge Bachupally celebrated its Annual Day through two distinct yet complementary showcases – SPARSH for the CBSE segment and TRANSCEND for the international curricula. SPARSH, themed “Bridging Worlds through Culture and Connection,” offered a warm tribute to India’s cultural heritage through music, dance, theatre, and visual arts, reminding the community that progress is most meaningful when anchored in one’s roots. TRANSCEND, inspired by “Thinking the Unthinkable,” invited students to imagine futures beyond conventional limits, blending performance and storytelling to highlight innovation, creativity, and a global outlook

Both events drew enthusiastic participation from students across grades, with parents and guests applauding not just polished performances but the confidence and authenticity with which learners owned the stage. “SPARSH and TRANSCEND are more than annual showcases; they are living portraits of our students’ journeys – rooted in culture, yet unafraid to question, experiment, and re‑imagine,” said Principal Anuradha Varma, noting that the combination of TEDx, SPARSH, and TRANSCEND in a single month demonstrated the school’s holistic approach in action. A student leader from the international segment shared that preparing for TRANSCEND felt like “putting our learning to the test in the real world,” as teams collaborated across disciplines to build performances that carried strong messages about change and possibility.

Guest dignitaries at the events lauded Oakridge Bachupally for creating experiences that stretch students academically, artistically, and emotionally, describing the campus as a place where global education standards are reflected not only in curriculum but also in the culture of everyday school life. One guest of honour remarked that the consistent thread running through “Kairos,” SPARSH, and TRANSCEND was the confidence with which young people articulated who they are, where they come from, and where they aspire to go. For the school community, Month became a reminder that when youth voice, cultural depth, and global vision come together, the result is not just successful events, but a learning environment that genuinely prepares students for the world ahead.

Oakridge International School Bachupally, part of the Nord Anglia Education family, is a leading international school offering CBSE, IBDP, and other globally benchmarked curricula for learners from early years to Grade 12. With a focus on academic excellence, holistic development, and global citizenship, the school provides a dynamic learning environment where students engage with rigorous academics, arts, sports, leadership opportunities, and community initiatives. Through world‑class teaching, international collaborations, and future‑ready programs, Oakridge Bachupally prepares students to thrive as confident, compassionate, and innovative leaders in an increasingly interconnected world.

Sony India today announced the launch of the new FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS, the first medium telephoto macro lens in its G Master™ series. Designed for α™ (Alpha™) E-mount cameras, the lens offers 1.4x magnification, advanced image stabilization, and enhanced handling, delivering exceptional precision and creative versatility for photographers and videographers alike.

FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS

Beyond Life Size

The FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS delivers an impressive maximum magnification of 1.4x, allowing users to capture flowers, small objects, and other close-up subjects with striking clarity—revealing fine textures and intricate details often invisible to the naked eye. When paired with an optional teleconverter⁽ⁱ⁾ (sold separately), the lens achieves up to 2.8x magnification⁽ⁱⁱ⁾, enabling exceptional close-up photography from a comfortable working distance—perfect for shooting delicate subjects or minimizing unwanted reflections.

State-of-the-art Hardware Design

The optical design effectively positions elements including two XA (extreme aspherical) lenses and two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements to achieve high-resolution performance from the center to the periphery of the image, reducing chromatic and other aberrations. To allow precise and intuitive focus adjustments for a variety of macro photography scenes, the lens offers three focus-dedicated features: a “Full-time DMF switch” enables instant MF (manual focus) by rotating the focus ring, even in AF (autofocus) mode; the “Focus Mode switch” allows instant switching between AF and MF; the “Sliding Focus Ring” enables FULL MF mode, linked to the distance and magnification scales. The four unique XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors that enable high-speed, high-precision and quiet lens drive, make autofocus (AF) performance up to approximately 1.9 times faster⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾ than previous models. A dedicated aperture ring offers quick, direct control over aperture settings.

Exquisite Image Quality

The 11-blade circular aperture delivers stunning, rounded bokeh, while finely tuned spherical aberration provides a perfect balance between sharp resolution and smooth background blur—producing the signature creamy bokeh synonymous with Sony’s G Master series. Sony’s advanced Nano AR Coating II evenly coats the lens surface, minimizing flare and ghosting for crystal-clear images, even when shooting against strong light sources. Additionally, a built-in optical image stabilization system—specifically optimized for macro photography—compensates for multiple types of camera shake, including shift (vertical and horizontal), angular, and front/back movements, enabling sharp, stable handheld captures.

Price and Availability

The FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS lens is now available across all Sony Authorised Retail Outlets, Sony Camera Lounge, Alpha Flagship stores, Sony Center, www.ShopatSC.com portal, major electronic stores and ecommerce websites (Amazon and Flipkart) in India.  

Employability.life, a wholly owned subsidiary of Federation University Australia, successfully inaugurated the Future of Work Lab and launched its work-simulated learning program XPro in collaboration with Rockwell Business School, Hyderabad at a special event held on December 14, 2025.

Employability.life, Federation University, Australia launch Future of Work Lab at Rockwell Business School

The launch marks a significant step toward strengthening application-focused, career-aligned education, enabling students to gain practical exposure alongside academic learning. Through XPro, students will engage in challenge-based learning driven by real industry problem statements, allowing them to build job-ready competencies through immersive work simulations and structured mentorship.

The event was attended by the senior management teams of Federation University Australia and Employability.life and the academic leadership of Rockwell Business School, along with students and their parents, reflecting a strong collective commitment toward experiential and globally aligned education.

Speaking at the inauguration, Paul Oppenheimer, Chief Operating Officer, Federation University Australia, said, “The XPro program represents a powerful shift in how education must prepare students for tomorrow’s workforce. This collaboration ensures learners gain exposure to global industry challenges and become ready for their international digital economy careers.”

Highlighting the vision behind the initiative, Raja Dasgupta, CEO, Employability.life, stated, “With the XPro to be conducted at the Future of Work Lab, we are enabling students to learn by doing through live challenges inspired by industry. Our partnership with Rockwell Business School reflects our mission to make education deeply accessible and outcome-driven through work simulated learning for the leaners to be ready for future of work.”

Mr. Sai Kishore Vallam, Director, Rockwell Business School stated, “Through this collaboration, Rockwell Business School students will benefit from immersive learning experiences, industry-designed challenges, work simulations, and professional mentoring, ensuring they graduate with practical exposure, confidence, and career readiness aligned with emerging global roles.”

The leadership of Rockwell Business School reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening academia–industry linkages and preparing students for dynamic career pathways in both Indian and international markets.

About Employability.life

Employability.life a wholly owned subsidiary of Federation University Australia is committed to shaping the future of work through innovative work-simulated learning models, global academic gateways and industry collaborations. As a subsidiary of Federation University Australia, it integrates academic excellence with workforce-aligned, real-world education solutions.

SHIFT is Jaipur’s ultimate, uber-cool New Gen Creative Festival. An arts and design event organised by Awaaz Studio at BM Birla Auditorium, Jaipur, the three-day festival champions arts, culture, design, media and entertainment. It is the ‘It’ art affair, complete with artist performances, hands-on art experiences, art workshops, jamming, intriguing sessions and a curated pop-up, ft. indie and established labels retailing apparel, footwear, jewellery, trinkets, prints, zines, collectables, and the like.
 

Set against the iconic Birla Auditorium, SHIFT 2025 is a melange of arts, craft, culture, media, entertainment and design
 

SHIFT 2025 opens up with an exclusive ticketed preview on 19 December, featuring the celebrated stand-up comedian Anubhav Singh Bassi and independent singer-songwriter Justh, who became a national talking point with his 2023 release ‘Chor’. This edition highlights the crafts of Rajasthan and India at large through hands-on experiences such as hand-block printing, pottery, embroidery workshops, and more.
 

The star of the show is often the annual folk-dance circle, headlined by master Kalbeliya artists, which attracts 500+ visitors who dance to folk songs, vibe in unison, and sing along to long-lost songs of Rajasthan. Aaquib Wani, a self-taught experiential designer and founder & creative director – Aaquib Wani Design, who specialises in spaces, festivals, sets, interiors, and branding, will be hosting a session on design. SHIFT is also hosting an entrepreneurship fireside chat between Ajaita Shah, founder of Frontier Markets & Nitin Jain, CEO – Indigifts. There’s also a dedicated kids’ area at the festival featuring pop-up stalls and experiences curated especially for children. Actor Rytasha Rathore and indie filmmaker and cultural documentarian Suruchi Sharma will host a talk on the idea of rewriting female narrative on screen.
 

The vibrant cultural communities of Jaipur find a common ground at SHIFT as they indulge in 3 days of intriguing art experiences
 

Bachata, photography, sketch, digital media presence, poetry writing and other workshops are also an integral part of the festival lineup. The Infinity Open-Mic gives a stage to emerging artists from Jaipur who perform poems, songs, stories, and more.
 

The festival also stresses greatly on organising creative commerce and understanding the business of creativity. The programming also includes talks around sustainability, design, culture, and the arts ecosystem.

SRM University–AP, Amaravati, has been conferred with the prestigious QS I-GAUGE Institution of Happiness (IOH) Award 2025–26, recognising the university’s strong commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and well-being–centred academic environment. The award was bestowed following an extensive stakeholder survey involving students, faculty, and alumni, reflecting the institution’s consistent focus on happiness, emotional well-being, and holistic development throughout academia.

Prof. Ch Satish Kumar, Vice Chancellor received the QS I-GUAGE Institution of Happiness Award 2025-26 for SRM University-AP

The QS I-GAUGE Institution of Happiness is a flagship national initiative that evaluates and celebrates educational institutions prioritising mental health, stakeholder satisfaction, and human-centred campuses. The 2025–26 edition is guided by the theme “One Campus, Many Smiles: Celebrating Every Voice in Well-being”, emphasising inclusivity, emotional health, and community engagement.

Speaking on the achievement, Pro-Chancellor Dr P Sathyanarayanan remarked that SRM University–AP remains committed to foster a culture of happiness and a positive learning environment, building a brighter future through a transformative and inclusive education ecosystem.

Prof. Ch Satish Kumar, Vice Chancellor, SRM University–AP said, “At SRM University–AP, we firmly believe that academic excellence and student well-being must go hand in hand. Being recognised as a QS I-GAUGE Institution of Happiness 2025–26 reaffirms our commitment to nurturing a campus culture where students and faculty feel valued, supported, and inspired.”

Highlighting the significance of the evaluation process, Dr Karthik Rajendran, Associate Dean Quality Assurance and Rankings, SRM University–AP, remarked, “This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our academic community to build a supportive and engaging ecosystem. The feedback and analytics from QS I-GAUGE will further help us refine policies and practices that enhance quality, satisfaction, and overall campus happiness.”

The award was received by Prof. Ch Satish Kumar, Vice Chancellor in New Delhi. With this recognition, SRM University–AP continues to strengthen its mission of creating a joyful, resilient, and future-ready academic community, positioning happiness and well-being as core pillars of educational excellence.

Anderson Diagnostics & Labs, Chennai, in a landmark partnership with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), today announced the formal launch of the MAHE-Anderson Centre of Excellence (COE) in Reproductive Genomics.
 

Inaugural Ceremony of Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Genomics​
 

This strategic collaboration leverages Anderson Diagnostics’ decade of deep expertise in reproductive genomics to fundamentally change the landscape of “prenatal testing” and “women’s healthcare diagnostics” across coastal Karnataka and beyond.
 

The Centre marks a significant milestone by establishing a first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-art Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) facility in-house at the University Hospital — designed to support comprehensive diagnostic services across all institutions under the MAHE umbrella.

This initiative is specifically designed to introduce advanced genomic solutions focused on reproductive health, enabling the diagnosis of critical diseases before the birth of a child — a crucial advancement in women’s healthcare.

Bridging Research and Real-World Diagnostics 

The core mission of the COE is to integrate cutting-edge academic research with robust, scalable clinical diagnostics — thereby impacting reproductive and foetal medicine.

Addressing the specific expertise brought to the partnership, Dr. Suriyakumar G, Director & Radiologist, Anderson Diagnostics & Labs, stated:

“Anderson Diagnostics is bringing over ten years of pioneering experience specifically in ‘Reproductive Genomics’ and high-throughput testing to this collaboration. Our role is to establish the operational backbone — guaranteeing that the cutting-edge research originating from the MAHE-Anderson COE translates reliably and rapidly into actionable diagnostic reports for patients. We are committed to setting new benchmarks in standardised processes — ensuring that this joint venture can change the dynamics of the genomics diagnostics ecosystem, especially concerning complex prenatal scenarios.”

 MAHE-Anderson COE will serve as a hub for academic training, translational research, and comprehensive diagnostic services available to all institutions under the MAHE umbrella and other hospitals in the region.

Dr. Sharath K. Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences), MAHE, Manipal, lauded the synergistic nature of the tie-up, “We are pleased to partner with Anderson Diagnostics & Labs, Chennai – one of the pioneers in delivering advanced diagnostic services across India and neighbouring countries. This collaboration provides an excellent opportunity to expand access to cost-effective genomic solutions and strengthen healthcare delivery in coastal Karnataka.”

Dr. Anil K. Bhat, Dean, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, highlighted the importance of the industry-academia linkage, “We are glad to be a part of this remarkable initiative. The Centre’s efforts in offering advanced genomic healthcare solutions will enable more personalised clinical management in reproductive and foetal medicine.”

Dr. Shubhashree Uppangala, Associate Professor and Head of the Department (Reproductive Sciences), Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, and Coordinator for the MAHE-Anderson COE, emphasised the centre’s broader mission as the vital bridge between the two entities, “The Centre aims to bridge the current knowledge gap related to genomic diagnostic solutions in reproductive health and to support the development of precision medicine and research in women’s health and reproduction.”

About Anderson Diagnostics & Labs
Anderson Diagnostics & Labs is a leading name in advanced diagnostics – renowned for its commitment to innovation, quality standards, and expanding access to specialised testing across India for over a decade.

About MAHE (Manipal Academy of Higher Education) 
MAHE is a leading “multi-disciplinary university” with a strong emphasis on health sciences education, research, and patient care through its constituent institutions – including Kasturba Medical College.