* Strengthens Access to Proactive Pet Healthcare Across India
Zigly Pet Care, India’s first omnichannel pet care brand, celebrated the third edition of International Happy Pets Day (IHPD) across its experience centres in Bangalore. Building on the success of the previous two editions, the annual celebration, coinciding with Friendship Day, brought together pet parents and their furry companions to celebrate the special bond they share while promoting pro-active pet healthcare. During the event, Zigly Pet Care also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening India’s pet care ecosystem by making quality veterinary care more accessible, integrated and community-driven.
The day-long celebration, hosted at 35 centres in 15+ cities across the country, witnessed the participation of over 2,500 pets and more than 3,500 pet parents. Under the theme “Life is Simply, Undeniably Better Together,” International Happy Pets Day 2026 featured a range of engaging experiences for pets and their parents, while encouraging proactive healthcare with complimentary health check-ups and wellness consultations. The event also marked the launch of Pet First Aid Kits, reinforcing the brand’s focus on proactive pet healthcare. As part of the event, pet parents across Zigly Pet Care Experience Centres in Bangalore also participated in the veterinarian-led pet first aid workshop, where they learned essential emergency care techniques.
Commenting on the occasion, Saurabh Jain, CEO, Zigly Pet Care, said, “International Happy Pets Day has always been about celebrating the unconditional love between pets and their families. This year, we wanted to build on that purpose by placing proactive pet healthcare at the heart of the celebration. Alongside bringing pet communities together, we are expanding our veterinary ecosystem through upgraded 24x7 facilities, dedicated veterinary services across more centres, and the launch of Pet First Aid Kits. Together, these initiatives reflect our vision of creating India’s most trusted and comprehensive pet healthcare ecosystem, where pet parents can access quality care, expert advice and essential healthcare services whenever they need them.”
To make the event more interesting, a diverse lineup of games such as Snuffle Mat challenge, Best Trick Showdown, Pet Bingo, among others strengthened the bond between pets and their parents. To keep these memories alive and celebrate the journey so far, pet parents also enjoyed the caricature and photo booth sessions. The celebrations in Bangalore culminated with the Zigly Pet Care Awards, recognising inspiring stories from the pet community, followed by a group celebration that brought together pet parents, creators and animal lovers.
Adding purpose to the celebrations, 100 percent of the proceeds from International Happy Pets Day ticket sales, worth INR 6 lakhs, were handed over to the Zigly Foundation. The proceeds will help to support initiatives such as anti-rabies vaccination, deworming, reflective collar drives, rescue efforts, and facilitating adoptions for community dogs. As Zigly Pet Care’s flagship annual community initiative, International Happy Pets Day continues to unite pet parents, veterinarians, creators and animal lovers while creating meaningful impact beyond pet care by supporting the wellbeing of community animals.
Through International Happy Pets Day, Zigly Pet Care continues to evolve beyond a pet care retailer into a comprehensive pet healthcare ecosystem. By combining celebration, education, expanded veterinary infrastructure, proactive pet healthcare and community engagement, the brand is creating an integrated care journey that supports pets and their families at every stage of life while advancing its vision of making high-quality pet care more accessible across India.
About Zigly Pet Care:
Zigly Pet Care is a leading omnichannel ecosystem for pet care, offering comprehensive veterinary care, best-in-class grooming and spa services, pet fashion, pet food, and more. With Pet Care Centres across Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Indore, Dehradun, Chandigarh, Panchkula, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mumbai, and Pune, Zigly Pet Care is steadily expanding its physical presence to major cities nationwide. As a direct-to-consumer (D2C) pet care brand, Zigly Pet Care is committed to delivering innovative, integrated solutions for pet parents. Visit your nearest Zigly Pet Care Centre, explore www.zigly.com, or download the Zigly Pet Care App to discover the Zigly Pet Care experience. Zigly Pet Care is part of Cosmo First Ltd.
About Cosmo First Ltd.:
Established in 1981 by Mr. Ashok Jaipuria, Cosmo First Limited is a four-decade-old global conglomerate. Its consumer vertical comprises Cosmo Consumer – covering Window Films, Paint Protection Films, and Ceramic Coatings for automobiles – and Zigly Pet Care, a digital-first omnichannel pet care ecosystem. Its industrial vertical includes Cosmo Films (specialty films for packaging, labels, lamination, and industrial applications), Cosmo Speciality Chemicals (coatings, adhesives, and masterbatches), and Cosmo Plastech (rigid packaging). With sustainable innovation and R&D at its core, Cosmo First serves customers across 100+ countries.
Monday, August 3, 2026
Air India Expands Service To Canada For Winter Season With New Mumbai-Toronto Flights
* New seasonal Mumbai-Toronto service with upgraded cabin interiors
* Brand-new cabin products on Delhi-Toronto flights
* 100% new or upgraded product deployment to Toronto from January 2027
* Only carrier to operate Mumbai-Toronto flights this Winter
Air India today deployed its brand-new B787-9 aircraft on Delhi-Toronto flights, bringing the airline's all-new cabin product and onboard experience to Canada for the first time and significantly elevating passenger experience.
Building on this milestone, Air India announced the expansion of its Canada operations for the Winter 2026-27 season with:
A new non-stop service between Mumbai and Toronto
Overall capacity between India and Canada increasing by 4,400 seats each month
Premium seat capacity to Toronto boosting by 71%
New, seasonal Mumbai-Toronto service with upgraded interiors
Air India will launch a seasonal 3x weekly non-stop service between Mumbai and Toronto between 25 October 2026 and 26 March 2027, adding nearly 2,000 seats each week between India and Canada and making it the only carrier operating direct flights between the two cities.
The service will be operated by Air India's Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with significantly upgraded cabin interiors, featuring 8 luxurious First Class suites with privacy sliding doors, 40 flat beds in Business Class, and 280 seats in Economy.
Travellers between Mumbai and Toronto will also enjoy WiFi internet connectivity on board the upgraded B777-300ER aircraft.
Through Air India's hubs at Mumbai and Delhi, customers travelling to/from Canada can connect seamlessly to destinations including Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ludhiana, and Vadodara, among several other Indian cities.
100% new or upgraded product deployment to Toronto from January 2027
Of the 10x weekly flights Air India operates on the Delhi-Toronto route this Winter, 7x weekly services will be operated by the brand-new Boeing 787-9 aircraft, featuring the airline’s latest cabin products. The remaining 3x weekly services will be initially operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and will transition to the new Boeing 787-9 from January 2027 as more aircraft join the fleet.
With that, all Air India flights to and from Toronto will feature all-new or significantly upgraded cabin interiors, delivering a consistent premium experience across the market.
The deployment of the new and upgraded aircraft to Toronto from Delhi and Mumbai enables
Air India to boost premium seat capacity to Toronto by 71% this winter, offering more First Class, Business Class, and Premium Economy options to travellers.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said: “Canada is one of Air India's most important international markets, with deep people-to-people connections driving strong demand for travel, particularly during the festive and holiday season. The launch of our seasonal Mumbai-Toronto service this Winter will provide travellers more choice and convenience at a time when many are travelling to reunite with family and friends. At the same time, we are also progressively introducing our newest aircraft and the latest onboard products to North America, reflecting our intent to put our best foot forward in one of the world's most competitive long-haul markets. Together, these initiatives mark another important step in our journey to make Air India a world-class airline and the preferred gateway between India and the world.”
Schedule of flights to and from Toronto:
All timings are indicated in local time zones. (+1) denotes next calendar day arrival.
In the 2026-27 Winter season, Air India will operate a total of 20 flights each week from India to Canada, including 10x weekly from Delhi to Toronto, 3x weekly from Mumbai to Toronto, and 7x weekly from Delhi to Vancouver.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Bets On Enterprise Over Subsidies
* More than 1500 delegates came together at IIMBue 2026 this morning as IIM Bangalore's flagship alumni leadership conclave IIMBue 2026 opened under the theme 'Changing the Orbit'.
Prof. Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-charge, IIM Bangalore, while welcoming the delegates made two announcements. For the first time in its history, IIM Bangalore will admit undergraduate students through the newly established Gorur Ratan Tata School of Undergraduate Studies, supported by a grant from Tata Trusts and IIM Bangalore will establish its first overseas campus in Indonesia. The campus is expected to strengthen the institute's presence across Asia. "Nation building remains our key goal. We remain committed to making an impact. We are reimagining our engagement with our wonderful alumni”, he said.
Delivering the keynote address, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the Union Territory's long-term prosperity would hinge less on government spending and more on creating an ecosystem where enterprise can thrive. He made a strong pitch for entrepreneurship as the next driver of Jammu and Kashmir's economy, saying confidence, strong institutions and policy predictability are the "real infrastructure" that attracts investment and creates jobs.
"Confidence is productive infrastructure," Abdullah said. "A government's task does not end with what it builds. It has to rebuild confidence, reduce uncertainty, improve predictability and restore the belief that effort will find opportunity." He argued that while governments can build roads, schools and hospitals, sustainable economic growth ultimately depends on whether citizens are willing to invest, innovate and take entrepreneurial risks.
Drawing a parallel with Jammu and Kashmir's landmark agrarian reforms after Independence, Abdullah said land was the defining productive asset of the last century, but enterprise occupies that position today. "If land was the productive asset of that age, ours is enterprise. Broadening access to enterprise is the modern equivalent of broadening access to land," he said, adding that entrepreneurial capability must be built through strong institutions rather than distributed through state patronage.
The announcements by IIM Bangalore and Abdullah's call for enterprise-led growth converged around a common message at the conclave: India's next phase of development will be driven not merely by public investment, but by institutions that inspire confidence, entrepreneurship and innovation.
At the opening fireside chat of IIMBue 2026, 'Bridging Capital, Building Futures: The India-Japan Story', Sundeep Sikka, MD & CEO, Nippon Life India Asset Management Ltd., joined Prof. Chetan Subramanian of IIMB for a conversation on long-term capital, investing and the lessons India and Japan can learn from each other. "India has scale; Japan teaches you how to sustain that scale. We need to mesh Indian flexibility with Japanese discipline and long-term planning”, said Mr. Sikka, arguing that lasting partnerships require adapting global best practices to local realities rather than replicating models wholesale.
At IIMBue 2026, Siddharth Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, Tata Trusts, offered a compelling perspective on influence, which he said acquires meaning only when it creates lasting public value “The strength of a nation must be determined not only by what it produces, but by what it enables— opportunity, trust and dignity for its people. That idea has guided the Tata philosophy for well over a century. For us, philanthropy has never been separate from nation building; it has been one of the most enduring ways of making nation building possible. It is particularly meaningful to discuss this here, having announced our philanthropic commitment towards IIM Bangalore’s School of Undergraduate Studies. Through such endeavours, we encourage ourselves to not only ask how far India can go, but what kind of society we hope to leave behind.”
At IIMBue 2026, Vineeth Suresh, Centre Director & India Head, Heineken Business Services India, and Deval Shah, VP & GCC Practice Head, Infosys, joined Dr. Anilesh Seth, GCC Advisor, to discuss how Global Capability Centres are evolving from delivery centres into engines of enterprise transformation. The panel agreed that AI is reshaping not just technology stacks but operating models. "GCCs that are close to the enterprise have a deep and clear understanding of the business”, said Vineeth Suresh. "They bring in the transformation by driving acceleration and best practices”.
Deval Shah echoed the need for agility, observing that AI strategies are constantly evolving and organizations must "build a talent force of engineers, not developers”, with “constant recalibration” becoming the new normal. The discussion also highlighted governance as a strategic priority, with accountability to customers and regulators, shared responsibility across partners, and talent models that move young professionals from operational execution to informed decision-making.
'Do What India Needs': Noel Tata On the Tata Trusts' Roadmap
In a comprehensive articulation of the Trusts' future direction, Noel Tata speaking at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore’s flagship alumni leadership conclave IIMBue 2026, stated that the guiding philosophy inherited from the founders of the Tata Group remained unchanged. The founders settled the Trusts with one message, he said – " do good for India. They never said become the biggest company. The companies exist to serve India and improve the quality of life," he said.
Calling his transition from corporate leadership to philanthropy a fundamental shift in mindset, Noel Tata said, "You stop trying to make money and start trying to spend it." Working in the social sector, he added, exposes one to the enormity of challenges faced by ordinary people and the responsibility of ensuring every rupee creates lasting value. He said the Tata Trusts will continue to build on their legacy of institution building, exemplified by institutions like Indian Institute Of Science, Bengaluru; Tata Institute Of Fundamental Research, Mumbai ; Tata Memorial Hospital ; Tata Institute Of Social Sciences; National Centre For Performing Arts, Mumbai and several others.
As part of this strategy, Tata announced plans to expand affordable healthcare by developing several not-for-profit multi-speciality hospitals across India after partnering with the Assam government to establish 17 cancer care hospitals in the state. The proposed hospitals will operate on a cross-subsidy model, with paying patients helping finance treatment for underserved sections without compromising on the quality of doctors, medicines or medical facilities.
Education, he said, would continue to be another major pillar of the Tata Trusts' next phase. Describing the proposed undergraduate institution being established in partnership with IIM Bangalore as a significant milestone, Tata said India urgently needs many more world-class educational institutions. He noted that thousands of talented Indian students currently pursue higher education abroad every year because of the limited availability of quality institutions at home.
"There is no reason why India cannot build enough quality institutions so students can study in India instead of leaving simply because there are too few seats," he said.
Pointing to the large number of Indian-origin faculty members teaching at leading global universities, including Harvard, he said India has no shortage of academic talent and with adequate institutional infrastructure, the country will be able to attract and retain it.
The address marks Noel Tata's future direction of the Tata Trusts, placing institution-building, measurable social impact and nation building at the centre of the organisation's mandate while reaffirming a philosophy that has guided the Tata Group for over a century.
Earlier Day 2 of IIMBue 2026 opened with a panel discussion: ‘Beyond Diversity: Humans in an Alien World’ featuring Alina Alam, Founder & CEO, MITTI Café, and Safeena Husain, Founder, Educate Girls, hosted by Prof. Mukta Kulkarni, Dean Programmes and Professor of OBHRM with deep research interests in workplace inclusion and accessibility. Safeena and Alina shared that education opens doors and opportunities, even more so for the disadvantaged and the disabled. Highlighting the need to challenge perceptions and patriarchal attitudes, in the country, about both disability and daughters, Alina and Safeena drew attention to the scale and cost of exclusion, and the crying need for education to be the “unlocker” to opportunity Safina went on to share stories of resilience and grit displayed by girls who are fighting for a second chance. Alina recounted how a staffer on the autism spectrum came up with the brilliant idea of using the resources at the locked-down Mitti cafes, during the peak COVID period, to provide meals to hundreds of hungry migrant workers. Urging people in the room to repay their social debt, Alina called for compassion and courage to lessen differences.
The second panel on Day 2 IIMBue 2026 brought together alumni including Prof. Das Narayandas, PGP '84, Harvard Business School; Manish Tiwary, PGP '95, Managing Director, Nestlé India; Seshadri P R, PGP '88, MD & CEO, South Indian Bank; and Prabha Narasimhan, PGP '97, MD & CEO, Colgate-Palmolive India, to examine how organizations renew themselves amid technological disruption and shifting markets. On the biggest things that leadership must do to stay relevant, the panellists listed reading early signs, reducing the time between decisions and actions, and learning new skills.
Reflecting on technology adoption, Manish Tiwary observed, “As leaders, we must be comfortable with change instead of hunkering down and protecting our roles and tasks”.
For Prof. Das Narayandas, reinvention depends on leaders who enable others to lead. Teams must be “reskilled and retooled”, while “30-40 per cent” of both tasks and decision-making should move closer to where the work happens. Echoing this, Prabha Narasimhan remarked, “Working with leaders who move decision-making downwards is indeed the biggest joy”. Drawing on the transformation of banking, P R Seshadri reflected that lasting change rarely comes through sweeping overhauls. It comes from “reading the need right” and building efficiencies through small, palatable changes that accumulate over time. Closing with advice for the next generation, Prof. Das Narayandas urged participants to "Find a culture, a company or a cause that allows you to fail because through such failure comes learning”.
During the fireside chat ‘Stars that Shifted Orbits’, Bhumi Satish Pednekar, Actor, Entrepreneur, UN SDG Advocate and Climate Warrior, spoke with PGP ’88 Saif Qureishi, CEO & MD, KRYFS Power Components and Past President, IIMB Alumni Association, and shared her own story of reinvention. Looking back at the decision that shaped her life, Bhumi recalled knowing she wanted to become an actor at 12. "I was a gawky but very opinionated teenager. The only place I found solace and peace was on stage because that was the only place where I was positioned way above the school bullies". From choosing films that shape public discourse to becoming an entrepreneur to "clean up the beverage space," her choices, she said, have been driven by purpose. "I am a very success-hungry person, and I want to leave behind a legacy of genuine and tangible change”.
The fireside chat, ‘From Molecules to Markets: Scaling Healthcare Across Borders’ on Day 2 of IIMBAA's leadership conclave #IIMBue2026, featured Prasad G V, Co-Chairman & MD, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, and PGP ’88 Devendra Surana, Managing Director, Bhagyanagar India Ltd. "More than orbit change to stay relevant, it is all about growing adjacencies", said Prasad, tracing the evolution of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories through the growth of its products, people and culture. “Access and innovation have remained the cornerstones of our business”. According to Prasad, to scale as a global enterprise, the company’s leadership had to learn many things, including understanding legal and regulatory frameworks, and listing and compliance systems, across borders. “Success is also beyond profits. To us, it is about reaching as many patients as possible". On long-lived companies, he said fiscal conservatism, creating space for people to fail and learn, and being a learning-focused organization are important to create resilience, as the potential life span of a company is much larger than the life of a company. “Common sense must prevail over processes”.
Bangalore Ophthalmic Society Reinforces Excellence In Eye Care
* BOS Golden Oration Award to Dr. A. Giridhar, Founder, Medical Director & Chief Mentor, Giridhar Eye Institute, Kochi
* Chief Guest: Dr. Vijayalakshmi I. Balekundri, Karnataka's first woman cardiologist and South India's first paediatric cardiologist.
The Bangalore Ophthalmic Society (BOS) concluded BOS Summit 2026, bringing together leading ophthalmologists, retina specialists, researchers, academicians, eye care professionals and postgraduate students from across India for two days of scientific deliberations under the theme "Mastering the Maze: Dilemmas to Decisions."
The summit featured keynote addresses, scientific sessions, panel discussions, live surgical and case-based discussions, and interactive academic exchanges focusing on complex clinical decision-making, emerging technologies and the latest advancements in ophthalmology. The conference served as a platform for sharing best practices, promoting evidence-based medicine and strengthening collaboration among eye care professionals.
A major highlight of the summit was the presentation of the prestigious BOS Golden Oration Award to Dr. A. Giridhar, Founder, Medical Director & Chief Mentor, Giridhar Eye Institute, Kochi, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to ophthalmology. A renowned vitreoretinal surgeon, researcher and educator with over 100 scientific publications, Dr. Giridhar delivered the BOS Golden Oration on "Seeing Beyond Vision," highlighting the evolving role of innovation, technology and patient-centric care in modern ophthalmology.
The conference was inaugurated by Chief Guest Dr. Vijayalakshmi I. Balekundri, Karnataka's first woman cardiologist and South India's first paediatric cardiologist. Dr. Shivaram, President, Karnataka Ophthalmic Society (KOS), and Dr. Diwakar, KMC Observer, were among the distinguished dignitaries present.
A major attraction of the summit was the PG Corner – PG Triathlon 2026, organised under the theme "One Competition. Three Challenges. One Champion." Featuring a Quiz Challenge, Talent Show and Short Film Screening, the competition encouraged postgraduate students to demonstrate their clinical knowledge, innovation, communication skills and teamwork.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sribhargava Natesh, President, Bangalore Ophthalmic Society, said, "BOS Summit 2026 has reaffirmed the importance of scientific collaboration in addressing complex clinical challenges. The enthusiastic participation of experts and young ophthalmologists reflects our profession's commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and excellence in patient care. While advancing ophthalmic science is our priority, we also urge the public to prioritise eye health through regular eye examinations. Glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy are among the leading causes of preventable blindness, and early screening and timely treatment can preserve vision. An annual comprehensive eye examination with an ophthalmologist should be an essential part of every individual's preventive healthcare routine. Bangalore Ophthalmic Society will continue to promote research, academic excellence and public awareness to help reduce avoidable blindness and improve eye health across the community."
Receiving the BOS Golden Oration Award, Dr. A. Giridhar said, "I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the Bangalore Ophthalmic Society. Sharing knowledge and mentoring the next generation of ophthalmologists is both a privilege and a responsibility. I hope my oration, 'Seeing Beyond Vision,' inspires clinicians to embrace innovation while keeping patient care at the centre of every decision."
Chief Guest Dr. Vijayalakshmi I. Balekundri said, "The future of healthcare lies in continuous learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and the ethical adoption of emerging technologies. Scientific conferences such as BOS Summit empower clinicians to refine their skills, challenge conventional thinking and deliver evidence-based care that ultimately benefits patients. Ophthalmology has witnessed remarkable advancements in diagnostics, imaging and microsurgical techniques, making knowledge-sharing more important than ever. I congratulate the Bangalore Ophthalmic Society for creating a world-class academic platform that inspires innovation, excellence and the next generation of eye care leaders."
The organising committee comprised Dr. Arun Samprathi, Vice President; Dr. Sandhyaa Rajendra Prasad, Secretary; Dr. Anuradha A, Joint Secretary; Dr. Priyank Solanki, Treasurer; and Dr. Venkatasubramaniam G, Academic Convener.
BOS Summit 2026 reaffirmed the Bangalore Ophthalmic Society's commitment to advancing ophthalmic education, promoting research, encouraging innovation, and nurturing the next generation of eye care professionals through high-quality scientific exchange and collaborative learning.
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