Archives February 2026

Hyderabad, Feb 13: Today, Mars, Incorporated announced the appointment of Manish Syag as Managing Director of its Pet Nutrition division in India. Manish will lead the business, home to some of the country’s most trusted and pioneering pet food brands, including PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, among others.

Manish brings over two decades of FMCG leadership experience, having held senior sales leadership roles at Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) and GSK Consumer Healthcare. Manish joined Mars in 2024 as Chief Sales Officer and has played a key role in shaping the next phase of Mars India’s pet nutrition growth story. An alumnus of IIM Lucknow, Manish is widely regarded as a strong people leader with a proven ability to scale businesses while building high-performing teams. In his new role, Manish will drive a focused India Growth Agenda, build world-class operational capabilities, and strengthen the company’s leadership in the pet food industry one of the fastest emerging FMCG categories in the country.

Speaking on his appointment, Manish Syag said, “India is at a defining moment for the pet food market, which is expected to grow into a USD 2 billion category in a decade, evolving much as mainstream FMCG did in its early growth years, driven by access, awareness, and trust. I am excited to take on this role and lead the next phase of growth for our business in India, serving pets and pet parents across the country with trusted, high-quality packaged pet food by further strengthening our portfolio of deeply loved brands and expanding our market presence. At the heart of this journey will be our Mars Five Principles, and our Purpose: “A Better World For Pets.”

Manish succeeds Salil Murthy, who has been elevated to the role of Global Vice President, Enterprise Transformation, Mars Pet Nutrition. In this global leadership role, Salil will focus on advancing Mars Pet Nutrition’s long-term transformation agenda, strengthening leadership and organisational capability, and driving growth through building a simpler, faster and more future-ready operating model. Salil will be based in London, the site of Mars Pet Nutrition’s global headquarters.

Talking about his new role, Salil Murthy said, “I am excited to take on this new global role and help shape the future of Mars Pet Nutrition. This role offers an opportunity to focus on driving accelerated growth for the global Pet Nutrition business through unleashing the power of our associates across the world, strengthening our strategic resource allocation process and our digital and AI capabilities, and accelerating transformation to win with pet parents and our customers in every market. Leading the India Pet Nutrition business has been deeply fulfilling, and I’m incredibly proud of the growth we have driven and the high-performing team we have built over the last few years. I have every confidence in Manish’s leadership to take the business forward in its next phase of growth.”

Francisco Fernandez, Regional President, Mars Pet Nutrition – Rapid Growth Markets, said, “India is one of the most important growth markets for Mars Pet Nutrition. Salil’s elevation reflects the strong, purpose-led business he and the team have built in India and the depth of leadership talent emerging from this market. Manish’s appointment demonstrates our confidence in his expertise, leadership capability, and deep understanding of pet parents and customers in India. Together, these appointments reinforce our commitment to developing leaders from within and further strengthening India’s role in our global strategy and future growth of the business.”

Mars Pet Nutrition has been present in India since 2002, following the launch of PEDIGREE. In 2007, Mars established the country’s first pet food manufacturing facility, marking a key milestone in the development of the organized pet food category in India. Today, Mars Pet Nutrition serves millions of pets and pet parents across the country through its portfolio of trusted, high-quality products for both dogs and cats.

Bangalore, Feb 13: Indication Instruments Ltd. (IIL) has announced a strengthened strategic alliance with Vayavya Labs Pvt. Ltd., reinforcing its long-term commitment to next-generation automotive technologies. The move deepens a relationship that has evolved over several years and reflects a shared focus on building capabilities aligned with the automotive industry’s transition toward software-defined and safety-critical systems.

The association between the two companies began with early-stage angel investments by the promoters of Indication Instruments Ltd. in Vayavya Labs. Over time, the collaboration has matured into a more consolidated strategic engagement, following Vayavya Labs’ recent secondary restructuring.

The expanded collaboration brings together Vayavya Labs’ expertise in automotive software, ADAS platforms, functional safety, cybersecurity, and virtualised ECU development with Indication Instruments Ltd.’s trusted portfolio of instrument clusters and sensors. This evolving partnership is expected to support deeper collaboration across solution development and customer engagement, including closer engagement with OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers in India and global markets.

Commenting on the development, R. K. Patil, CEO of Vayavya Labs, said, “This deeper alignment enables us to invest with greater confidence in core engineering capabilities and next-generation automotive platforms. It also allows us to engage more meaningfully with OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers as the industry moves toward increasingly software-led architectures.”

Vishal Lalani, Managing Director of Indication Instruments Ltd., said, “This alliance reflects our conviction in the direction the automotive industry is heading and the importance of building strength in safety-critical, software-driven systems. Vayavya brings strong technical depth in areas that are becoming central to the future of mobility. For Indication Instruments, this collaboration supports our long-term strategy to build capabilities across ADAS, functional safety, cybersecurity, and virtualised ECU development.”

Company: Altimetrik

ByArun Kumar, Product & Industry Head – CPG, Retail, Manufacturing & Fintech, Altimetrik

“Enterprise innovation is defined by the ability to engineer ideas into repeatable business outcomes at scale. AI has become a core enterprise capability shaping architecture decisions, operating models, and competitive advantage. This reality places engineering discipline, applied AI, and execution accountability at the center of modern innovation agendas.

India’s innovation landscape reflects this maturity. Enterprises are advancing beyond fragmented initiatives toward outcome-aligned platforms built on deep domain expertise, data-driven design, and product-led engineering. Innovation functions as a system governed by speed, precision, and measurable impact across the value chain.

Sustained innovation demands workforce readiness, responsible AI, and engineering excellence working as a unified model. Organizations that institutionalize this approach will define the next phase of enterprise value creation in an AI-driven economy.”

Company: Agora

By Ranga Jagannath, Senior Director, Growth, Agora

“Innovation often begins with a simple shift in how people connect and communicate. Today, real-time digital interaction is becoming core infrastructure for modern services and user experiences rather than an added feature. Its importance is evident as users now expect instant, intelligent, and interactive engagement across education, healthcare, finance, retail, and public services. Experiences are increasingly judged by responsiveness, personalization, and the ability to support live human and AI driven conversations at scale. In India, strong digital adoption, a vibrant startup ecosystem, and government-led programs such as Digital India and the IndiaAI Mission are accelerating innovation at a population scale.

At the same time, enterprises face challenges around latency, reliability, reach, language diversity, data responsibility, and seamless AI integration across platforms. Meeting these demands requires resilient real-time infrastructure and developer-ready platforms that can be deployed quickly and scaled securely. Agora enables this through enterprise-grade real-time voice, video, messaging, and conversational AI capabilities, helping organizations create immersive, human-centric digital experiences.”

Kurnool, Feb 13: What began as a routine antenatal ultrasound turned into an unexpected medical concern when doctors detected a large 4 cm kidney stone in a pregnant woman. Despite the absence of symptoms such as pain, fever, or urinary complaints, the size of the stone raised apprehensions. At another hospital, the family was advised to consider termination of pregnancy as a precautionary measure.

Seeking a clear, evidence-based medical opinion, the family consulted Dr. Y. Manoj Kumar, Senior Urologist at KIMS Hospital, Kurnool. After comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Manoj Kumar explained that the mere presence of an asymptomatic kidney stone does not warrant termination of pregnancy. As both the mother and the foetus were clinically stable, there was no immediate need for surgical intervention.

In accordance with established medical guidelines, the team recommended continuation of the pregnancy with close and regular monitoring, avoiding unnecessary intervention during the critical gestational period. The primary focus, he emphasised, was safeguarding both maternal safety and foetal well-being.

With continuous supervision, the pregnancy progressed smoothly, and the woman delivered a healthy baby without complications. Post-delivery, at an appropriate and medically safe interval, a planned intervention was undertaken to treat the kidney stone.

Two months after childbirth, the patient underwent Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL), an advanced minimally invasive endoscopic procedure. The 4 cm kidney stone was completely removed, and the function of both kidneys was fully preserved.

“Not every medical diagnosis requires immediate action. Sometimes, the right decision at the right time is the best form of treatment,” said Dr. Manoj Kumar.

This case highlights how timely, evidence-based decision-making and carefully planned surgery can not only protect a mother’s long-term health but also ensure a safe future for her child.

Researchers reveal that weight loss in Parkinson’s disease reflects a metabolic shift from carbohydrates to fat-based energy

Weight loss is common in Parkinson’s disease, but its biological basis has been unclear. Researchers at Fujita Health University show that this loss reflects reduced body fat, not muscle, along with a shift in energy metabolism. Patients exhibited impaired carbohydrate metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased fat breakdown with ketone body production. These changes were most pronounced in thinner patients and those with more advanced disease, revealing a hidden energy crisis in Parkinson’s disease.

Weight loss is a well-recognized but poorly understood non-motor feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Many patients progressively lose weight as the disease advances, often alongside worsening motor symptoms and quality of life. Until now, it was unclear whether this reflected muscle loss, poor nutrition, or deeper metabolic changes. New research shows that PD-related weight loss is driven mainly by a selective loss of body fat, while muscle mass is largely preserved, and is accompanied by a fundamental shift in how the body produces energy.

Although PD is classically viewed as a neurological disorder, increasing evidence points to widespread metabolic dysfunction. Patients often experience fatigue and nutritional decline, yet dietary advice has largely focused on boosting calories. The new findings challenge this conventional view, showing that weight loss in PD reflects a failure of the body’s standard energy-producing pathways rather than reduced food intake alone. The findings were published on November 30, 2025, in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

The study was led by Professor Hirohisa Watanabe from the Department of Neurology at Fujita Health University, School of Medicine, Japan, along with Dr. Atsuhiro Higashi and Dr. Yasuaki Mizutani from Fujita Health University. The team aimed to clarify what exactly is lost when patients with PD lose weight and why the body is forced to change its energy strategy.

The researchers enrolled 91 patients with PD and 47 healthy controls and conducted a detailed analysis of body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis. This allowed them to separately measure fat mass, muscle mass, and other body components. In parallel, they performed comprehensive plasma metabolomic profiling using mass spectrometry to evaluate glycolysis, the Krebs (TCA) cycle, lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, and ketone body production.

The results revealed a clear and striking pattern. Compared with healthy controls, patients with PD had lower body weight and body mass index, driven almost entirely by a reduction in body fat. Muscle mass was largely preserved in the early-to-mid stages of disease, and the prevalence of sarcopenia was comparable to that seen in the general aging population. “We clarified that it is not the muscle that is decreasing, but the fat,” says Prof. Watanabe. “This changes how we should think about weight loss in Parkinson’s disease.”

Crucially, the study revealed that this fat loss is a consequence of a deeper metabolic failure. Key metabolites, such as lactic acid and succinic acid were significantly reduced, indicating impaired glycolysis and dysfunction of the TCA cycle—the body’s primary ‘’main engine’’ for adenosine triphosphate production. This failure means that glucose can no longer be efficiently converted into usable energy.

As a result, the body activates an alternative survival mechanism. Markers of ketone bodies, including acetoacetic acid, were elevated, along with metabolites associated with amino acid catabolism, demonstrating activation of an “emergency engine” that relies on fat and protein breakdown to sustain energy production. In other words, when carbohydrate metabolism fails, the body is forced to burn fat to survive.

Importantly, this metabolic shift was not uniform across patients. Ketone body levels were highest in thinner patients and those with more advanced disease severity. This suggests that as PD progresses, the body increasingly relies on fat breakdown to compensate for impaired carbohydrate metabolism. “Being thin may signal an invisible energy crisis occurring inside the patient’s body,” Dr. Higashi explains. “The body is forced to burn fat to survive.”

Beyond explaining weight loss, the findings have important implications for future care. Simply increasing calorie intake may be insufficient if the body’s main glucose-based energy engine is not functioning properly. The study suggests a need to rethink nutritional and therapeutic strategies for PD. Interventions that stabilize glycolysis, improve mitochondrial function, or prevent excessive reliance on fat-derived ketone bodies may represent entirely new treatment approaches, distinct from conventional dopamine replacement therapy.

Together, the results highlight PD as a disorder of both the brain and the body, driven by hidden metabolic dysfunction. By showing that weight loss reflects selective fat depletion due to impaired carbohydrate-based energy production, not muscle loss, the study offers a new framework for identifying high-risk patients and intervening earlier. Recognizing “thinness” as a biological warning sign could enable more proactive, personalized care to prevent disease-related energy collapse.

Feb 13: PVR INOX, India’s leading multiplex chain, unveils its ‘Valentine’s Special Showcase’, a curated re-release of 12 iconic romantic films across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. Designed for nostalgia and discovery alike, the initiative transforms cinemas into a celebration of timeless love.

The Valentine’s line-up features: Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Veer-Zaara, Mohabbatein, Saiyaara, Devdas, Sanam Teri Kasam, Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa, Minnale (Tamil), Mounam Pesiyadhe (Tamil), Kadhalar Dhinam (Tamil), Uyirullavarai Usha (Tamil), Love Story (Telugu), and Premam (Malayalam).

Few films have shaped India’s imagination of love like DDLJ, where Raj and Simran became cultural icons. Mohabbatein spoke of fearless romance; Veer Zaara bridged borders with hope; Devdas turned heartbreak into enduring poetry; and Saiyaara connected with younger audiences through its emotionally rich narrative and memorable music.

Shah Rukh Khan’s performances in DDLJ, Veer-Zaara, Mohabbatein, and Devdas have defined romance for generations, making this Valentine’s line-up extra special for his fans and cementing his legacy as the ultimate romantic hero of Indian cinema.

Regional classics like Minnale, Mounam Pesiyadhe, Kadhalar Dhinam, Uyirullavarai Usha, Love Story, and Premam bring their own charm, making this a truly pan-Indian celebration of love on screen.

For millennials, it’s a nostalgic return to first dates and college memories; for Gen Z, a chance to experience these timeless stories as they were meant to be, on the big screen.

“This Valentine’s Day, we wanted to curate not just a line-up of films, but a spectrum of emotions.” said Ms Niharika Bijli, Lead Strategist, PVR INOX Limited. “From the timeless romance of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge to the poetic intensity of Devdas, the tender nostalgia of Premam, and the new-age love stories like Saiyaara, our curation reflects how every generation experiences romance differently, while certain beats remain the same. Whether it’s first love, heartbreak, friendship, or forever, there’s a story for everyone to celebrate at PVR INOX.”

Visit your nearest PVR INOX and immerse yourself in the magic of love and cinema. Revisit timeless romances, relive cherished memories, and create new moments with someone special—only on the big screen

Mumbai, India Feb 13: In a significant step toward accelerating the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, Findability Sciences Private Limited, Nath School of Business & Technology, and MMRI Kamalnayan Bajaj Hospital have entered into a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaboratively research, develop, test, and deploy AI-driven healthcare solutions.

The MoU establishes a structured framework to build and validate advanced AI applications across clinical decision support, diagnostics augmentation, predictive analytics, operational optimization, patient outcomes, and overall hospital efficiency. The collaboration brings together enterprise-grade AI expertise, academic research rigor, and real-world clinical environments to ensure solutions are practical, ethical, and scalable.

Commenting on the collaboration, Anand Mahurkar, Founder & CEO, Findability Sciences, said: “Healthcare AI must be built where decisions are made—at the intersection of data, clinicians, and real operational constraints. This collaboration allows us to design and validate AI systems that are not only technically sophisticated, but clinically meaningful, compliant, and ready to scale across India’s healthcare ecosystem.”

Under the agreement, Findability Sciences will lead the overall AI architecture, model development, platforms, and governance, leveraging its proprietary methodologies and enterprise AI frameworks. Kamalnayan Bajaj Hospital will provide clinical expertise, anonymized healthcare data (in compliance with statutory and ethical norms), and access to live or simulated clinical environments for testing and validation. Nath School of Business & Technology will contribute faculty expertise, research resources, and student participation to support applied research, experimentation, and documentation.

Dr. Geoge Noel Fernandes from MMRI Kamalnayan Bajaj Hospital added: “Hospitals generate vast amounts of clinical and operational data, yet much of its potential remains untapped. By working closely with an enterprise AI partner and an academic institution, we aim to translate data into actionable intelligence that improves patient outcomes, clinician productivity and hospital efficiency without compromising ethics or patient trust. This is a step towards more efficiency and excellence in patient service.”

Representing Nath School of Business & Technology, Harsh Vardhan Jajoo, Director noted: “This MoU exemplifies applied research with purpose. Our faculty and students will engage directly with real healthcare challenges, contributing to AI solutions that are tested in real environments and grounded in rigorous research, while preparing future talent for the evolving healthcare and AI landscape.”

Together, the three institutions aim to bridge the gap between AI research and real world healthcare deployment—moving beyond pilots to solutions that can measurably improve outcomes for patients, clinicians, and hospital systems.

The collaboration also enables the publication of non-confidential academic and research outcomes, subject to intellectual property and confidentiality provisions, reinforcing India’s growing role in responsible and applied AI innovation.

With this MoU, the partners signal a shared commitment to building trustworthy, data driven healthcare systems, where AI augments clinical judgment, enhances operational resilience, and delivers measurable value at scale.

Mumbai, Feb 13: As hybrid work, flexible learning, and device-agnostic workspaces redefine how India works and studies, BenQ today announced the launch of its GW90TC Series Monitors in India. Designed to simplify modern setups while enhancing everyday productivity, the new lineup includes GW2490TC and GW2790TC — Full HD, 144Hz USB-C monitors that combine high refresh performance, advanced ergonomics, and BenQ’s industry-leading eye-care technologies.

With USB-C fast becoming the universal standard across laptops, tablets, and compact work devices, the GW90TC Series reflects a broader industry shift toward cleaner, more efficient, and future-ready work environments.

Driving the Shift to Single-Cable Workspaces

The GW90TC monitors enable users to connect, display, and transfer data through a single USB-C cable using DisplayPort Alt Mode, significantly reducing cable clutter and improving desk efficiency. The series supports up to 20W power delivery, allowing compatible devices to stay charged while in use — a critical requirement for professionals, students, and creators working across locations.

By simplifying connectivity without compromising performance, the GW90TC Series addresses the growing demand for plug-and-play workstations in hybrid and space-constrained environments.

Everyday Performance, Elevated

Built around Full HD IPS panels, the GW90TC Series delivers consistent color, wide viewing angles, and smooth motion through a 144Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time. Whether navigating spreadsheets, multitasking across windows, or enjoying everyday entertainment, users benefit from fluid visuals and reduced motion blur. AMD FreeSync support further ensures seamless performance during dynamic content consumption.

Designed for All-Day Visual Well-Being

Extended screen time has become the norm — and eye comfort is no longer optional. The GW90TC Series integrates BenQ’s proprietary Eye-Care technologies, including Flicker-Free, Low Blue Light, and Visual Optimizer, to help reduce eye strain and fatigue during prolonged use. These features deliver visual comfort without sacrificing clarity or color accuracy, supporting healthier viewing habits across work and learning scenarios.

Ergonomics That Adapt to the User

Recognizing that productivity is deeply linked to physical comfort, the GW90TC Series offers comprehensive ergonomic adjustments — including height, tilt, swivel, and pivot — enabling users to personalize their setup for better posture, comfort, and long-term well-being.

Leadership Perspective

“USB-C is no longer a premium add-on — it has become the foundation of how modern devices connect and work together,” said Rajeev Singh, Managing Director, BenQ India. “With the GW90TC Series, BenQ is responding to this shift by delivering monitors that simplify connectivity, enhance everyday performance, and prioritize eye comfort. Our goal is to empower professionals, students, and hybrid users across India with smarter, cleaner, and more future-ready workspaces.”

Pricing & Availability

The BenQ GW90TC Series monitors — GW2490TC and GW2790TC — are now available across BenQ’s authorized retail partners and leading e-commerce platforms in India, alongside lower-spec GW range variants including GW2490C and GW2790C, offering options across different price points.

Bangalore, 13^th Feb: Tata Capital, the flagship financial services company of the Tata Group, has launched ‘Sawaal Karo, Phir Loan Lo’, a nationwide public awareness initiative designed to encourage informed borrowing as access to credit continues to expand across India.

As loans increasingly influence key life milestones and lifestyle choices, technology has made credit more accessible than ever through simplified processes and minimal documentation. Against this backdrop, the initiative urges consumers to pause, ask the right questions, and fully understand their financial obligations before committing to a loan.

Speaking on the launch, Rajiv Sabharwal, Managing Director and CEO, Tata Capital, said, “Rising aspirations and wider access to formal credit are among the key pillars of India’s growth story. At Tata Capital, we remain deeply committed to the Tata Group’s values of transparency, responsibility, and ethical conduct. ‘Sawaal Karo, Phir Loan Lo’ is a people-first call to action that empowers individuals to make well-informed borrowing decisions. Through this initiative, we aim to foster greater financial awareness and contribute to a more resilient and responsible credit ecosystem in India.”

The initiative will reach borrowers across demographics and geographies through a mix of digital platforms, social media, microsites, blogs, films, and easy-to-understand informational and interactive content, ensuring broad and meaningful engagement.

Hyderabad, Feb 13: Thalassemia major patients  require regular blood transfusions approximately every three weeks to survive and maintain a healthy quality of life.  Every single unit of blood donated has the power to extend a life, restore strength, and bring hope to families who live with this medical reality every day.

With this purpose at heart, MnH Co., Marham – Resonating Resilience, GrowMo360 in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Sainikpuri, organized a dedicated blood donation camp aimed at supporting thalassemia patients which was inaugurated by Namarata Sadhvani.

A special mention goes to Aarohi Blood Bank for their relentless and compassionate support toward thalassemia patients. Through their ongoing efforts, Aarohi Blood Bank provides free blood transfusion services to about 400 registered Thalassemia warriors, easing both the financial and emotional burden on families.

Speaking about the drive Dr Nabat Lakhani said, “As the founder of Marham, I am deeply committed to organizing and promoting regular blood donation camps for our thalassemia warriors, inspired by one of our own brave members whose strength I have witnessed closely. With timely transfusions and proper follow-up, she not only fought courageously but is now a proud mother — and I am determined to see many more stories like hers come alive.”

Nikunj Newatia, Co-Founder, GrowMo360 said, “Every drop counts in the fight against Thalassemia. I’m honored to support this blood donation drive, bringing hope to brave warriors who need it most. This cause reminds us that humanity is stronger when we stand together.”

Guest of Honour Namrata Sadhvani graced the occasion to express solidarity with thalassemia warriors. Her words of encouragement highlighted the collective responsibility of society to stand by individuals battling chronic conditions and to normalize active community involvement in healthcare causes.

The campaign continues with a second blood donation camp scheduled at Phoenix Arena, Hi-Tech City, on 15th March from 9am to 2pm inviting more citizens to come forward and contribute.