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Deepinder Goyal raises $54mn for brain‑monitoring wearable

Weeks after stepping down from Zomato, Deepinder Goyal launched Temple, raising $54 million at a $190 million valuation. The startup develops a wearable tracking cerebral blood flow for athletes. Investors include Steadview, InfoEdge, and angel backers like Vijay Shekhar Sharma and Kunal Shah.

Temple plans major hires in neuroscience, embedded systems, and brain-computer interfaces. The device aims to provide metrics beyond existing wearables, entering a competitive market with Whoop, Oura, and Garmin.

This reflects Goyal’s shift toward high-risk, health-tech ventures, following previous investments in longevity and performance startups.

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India’s GDP growth at 7.8% in Oct–Dec quarter

India’s economy grew 7.8% in the October–December 2025–26 quarter, according to revised GDP data using 2022–23 as the base year. The update incorporates broader data sources and improved methodology, giving a clearer picture of economic activity.

The National Statistics Office also raised the full-year growth forecast to 7.6%, reflecting resilience in consumption, manufacturing, and services despite global uncertainties. Analysts say the figures highlight continued domestic demand and industrial output strength.

India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies, with the new data expected to improve the reliability of future economic reporting.

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Corporate

Paramount and Warner Bros. agree on historic $110bn merger

Paramount has agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a massive $110 billion deal, a move that could reshape Hollywood. The agreement was announced during a company townhall and follows months of talks.

Under the deal, Paramount will pay $31 in cash per share to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders. The merger is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026, pending approvals from regulators and shareholders. If delays occur, Warner shareholders will receive a small “ticking fee” for the wait.

The deal comes after Netflix chose not to pursue its earlier plan to merge with Warner’s studio and streaming assets, clearing the path for Paramount.

The combined company will bring together Warner’s movies, TV shows and streaming platforms like HBO Max with Paramount’s own content and Paramount+. The new entity will have one of the largest libraries of films and series in the world, strengthening its position against competitors in the streaming space.

Industry analysts say the merger could make the company more competitive in an era dominated by Netflix, Disney and Amazon. However, some critics worry that combining two major studios could reduce competition and affect jobs, prompting careful review by U.S. and state regulators.

If finalized, the merger will be one of the biggest in Hollywood history, changing how movies, TV shows, and streaming content are made and delivered worldwide.

Also Read: PM Modi inaugurates Micron chip plant in Gujarat

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Beyond

New Micron chip plant worth ₹22,500 cr in Gujarat

A major semiconductor facility set up by Micron Technology in Sanand, Gujarat, was started on Friday. This was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, thus marking a significant step in India’s push to become a global electronics manufacturing hub.

The new plant, built with an investment of over ₹22,500 crore, will assemble, test and package semiconductor memory products such as DRAM and NAND chips. These components are widely used in smartphones, laptops, data centres and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

The facility is part of the government’s broader semiconductor strategy aimed at reducing India’s dependence on imported chips and strengthening its position in the global supply chain. Officials described it as one of the first large-scale semiconductor projects to begin operations under the national semiconductor mission.

Spread across a large industrial site in Sanand, the plant is expected to generate thousands of jobs over time. Around 2,000 people are already employed, and the workforce is likely to grow significantly as production ramps up. The project is also expected to create indirect employment in logistics, services and ancillary industries.

At the inauguration, Modi said the plant reflects growing global confidence in India’s manufacturing ecosystem. He highlighted the government’s efforts to attract high-tech investments and build a robust semiconductor base in the country.

Industry experts see the Micron facility as a crucial milestone. While India has traditionally relied on other countries for semiconductor production, projects like this are seen as laying the groundwork for a stronger domestic electronics sector.

The chips produced in Gujarat will serve both Indian and international markets, helping integrate the country more deeply into global technology value chains. As demand for memory and data storage continues to rise worldwide, the Sanand plant could play an important role in supporting next-generation digital infrastructure.

Also Read: Fino Payments Bank CEO arrested in GST case

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Leaders

Fino Payments Bank CEO arrested in GST case

Fino Payments Bank Managing Director and CEO Rishi Gupta has been arrested by tax authorities under provisions of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) law, the company confirmed in an exchange filing.

Gupta was taken into custody by officials from the Directorate General of GST Intelligence in Hyderabad as part of an ongoing investigation. The case relates to alleged violations under the GST Act, though the bank clarified that the matter is linked to certain business partners and not to the bank’s own GST filings.

In its statement, Fino Payments Bank said it is cooperating fully with investigators and is providing all required documents and information. The bank also sought to reassure customers and investors that its daily operations continue as usual and that there has been no disruption to services.

Following the arrest, the board of directors moved quickly to ensure continuity in leadership. Chief Financial Officer Ketan Merchant has been appointed interim head of the organisation until further decisions are taken regarding the CEO’s position.

Under the GST law, certain violations, including alleged irregularities in invoicing or tax reporting, can attract criminal proceedings if authorities believe there was intent to evade taxes. However, detailed allegations in this specific case have not yet been made public.

The arrest of a sitting CEO of a listed financial institution has drawn attention across the banking and corporate sectors. Industry observers note that regulatory scrutiny around tax compliance has increased in recent years, particularly in cases involving partnerships and third-party transactions.

Fino Payments Bank, which focuses on serving underbanked and rural customers through digital and assisted banking services, said it will keep regulators informed of any significant developments. For now, the company maintains that business remains steady as the legal process unfolds.

Also Read: Human skills will survive AI wave, states Sridhar Vembu

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Promoter cuts 14% stake in Vishal Mega Mart

Shares of Vishal Mega Mart were in focus after its promoter sold about 14% stake through block deals worth roughly ₹7,600 crore. The shares were offloaded at around ₹117 apiece, reducing promoter holding significantly.

Among the key buyers were the Government of Singapore and HDFC Mutual Fund, along with other institutional investors.

Following the transaction, the stock declined during trading. The deal marks one of the largest stake sales since the retailer’s market debut and signals growing institutional interest in the company.

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Leaders

Human skills will survive AI wave, states Sridhar Vembu

Sridhar Vembu, co-founder of Zoho, has weighed in on the growing debate around artificial intelligence and jobs, arguing that not all careers are at risk from automation.

In a recent public post, Vembu said the real concern about AI should not just be job displacement, but how people define their sense of worth. According to him, individuals who tie their identity solely to economic productivity may feel more threatened by technological change.

Rather than focusing on technical or high-paying roles, Vembu highlighted professions built around human connection and intrinsic motivation. He said caregiving,  including looking after children and the elderly,  is unlikely to be replaced by AI because it depends on empathy and emotional understanding. Teaching, he added, also requires mentorship and human engagement that machines cannot fully replicate.

Vembu also pointed to work rooted in tradition and community life. Small-scale farmers who cultivate land out of passion, forest conservation workers committed to environmental protection, and local priests who serve religious communities were among the examples he cited. Classical musicians and artists who continue practicing their craft regardless of commercial success were also included in his list of resilient professions.

His comments sparked discussion online. Some critics argued that even passion-driven fields require financial support and cannot exist entirely outside economic systems. Others agreed with his broader point that AI may struggle to replace roles grounded in care, culture and lived experience.

Vembu suggested that as AI increases productivity, societies may need to rethink how wealth and time are distributed. Instead of measuring success only by output, he said, greater value could be placed on activities that strengthen families, communities and cultural traditions.

Also Read: WPP to operate as unified company, says CEO Cindy Rose

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1 Minute-Read

WPP to operate as unified company, says CEO Cindy Rose

WPP is restructuring its global operations, moving away from its traditional holding company model to function as a single, integrated organisation.

The announcement was made by CEO Cindy Rose as part of a broader effort to simplify the group’s structure.Under the new framework, WPP will align its services across four core divisions and four geographic regions, aiming to improve coordination and reduce internal silos.

The company says the streamlined setup will allow it to deliver more cohesive, technology-driven solutions to clients while improving efficiency and long-term growth prospects.

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Technology

Instagram’s new safety alerts for teen mental health

Instagram is rolling out a new feature that will notify parents when their teenage children repeatedly search for terms linked to suicide or self-harm. The tool is designed to help families identify early warning signs and respond with support, especially as online searches for distressing topics can signal emotional difficulty.

The alert system works through Instagram’s existing parental supervision settings. When a teen’s search history shows multiple queries that include phrases associated with suicide or self-injury within a short time, a notification is sent to the parent or guardian. Alerts can be delivered through the app itself or via email, text message, or other contact methods the parent has chosen. Instagram says a single search won’t trigger an alert, there needs to be a pattern that suggests concern, not an isolated query.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, already blocks and redirects searches that explicitly promote self-harm or suicide to mental health support resources. The new notifications add a proactive layer: instead of only restricting harmful content, the system flags behaviour that might indicate a young user is struggling. Parents who receive an alert will also see links to expert-recommended guidance and resources to help start a conversation with their teen.

The initial rollout will take place in several English-speaking countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, with expansion to other markets expected later in 2026. Meta says it plans to extend alerts further, including in cases where teens interact with artificial intelligence tools on related topics.

Reaction from safety advocates is mixed. Supporters argue that the feature can help caregivers act early, potentially getting professional help before situations worsen. Others caution that notifications place heavy responsibility on parents and may not address deeper issues within social media platforms’ design that can expose teens to harmful content.

Also Read: Dell shares jump 17% on AI server growth forecast

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Corporate

Uber Air taxis to start in select cities

Uber is set to begin its air taxi service, called Uber Air, in a few major cities in 2026. The service will let people book short flights directly from the Uber app, providing a new way to travel over crowded roads.

Riders can choose the Uber Air option like they do for regular cabs. They will go to special vertiports, take-off and landing hubs, where electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft will pick them up. These aircraft are quieter and more eco-friendly than helicopters.

The service is designed for short city trips that usually face heavy traffic, offering a faster alternative. Uber hasn’t revealed all the launch cities yet but said it will start in congested metropolitan areas where demand for faster transport is high.

Booking is simple: passengers update their Uber app, select “Uber Air,” and see travel time and fare estimates before confirming. The app also guides them to the nearest vertiport.

Safety is a top priority. The eVTOL aircraft have multiple backup systems and must pass strict aviation approvals. Uber is working closely with regulators to meet all safety and operational standards.

Analysts say Uber Air could change urban travel by cutting commute times, although initial fares will likely be higher than regular rides. Prices may drop as more people use the service and the technology scales up.

With Uber’s existing ride-hailing network, Uber Air aims to make flying in cities a part of daily life, helping commuters avoid traffic and reach their destinations faster. The service will start in a few cities first, with plans to expand later.

Also Read: DGCA allows 48‑hour free flight cancellations