Global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has joined AI startup Perplexity as an investor and brand ambassador. He also unveiled a custom AI assistant called “Ronaldo Hub,” where fans can ask questions, browse his personal archive, and relive his greatest goals. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas welcomed Ronaldo, saying their partnership will make Perplexity “the best AI for asking questions.” With over 650 million social media followers, Ronaldo brings huge global reach to the AI firm. (PC: ETtech)

India’s government is reviewing a telecom industry proposal to mandate permanent satellite-based location tracking on smartphones, sparking fierce privacy concerns. Apple, Google, and Samsung strongly oppose the plan, warning it would turn devices into “dedicated surveillance tools.” The Cellular Operators Association of India suggested activating A-GPS technology to provide precise user locations, but critics argue this would be unprecedented globally and a regulatory overreach. The debate follows the Modi government’s recent withdrawal of an order requiring preloaded cyber safety apps after backlash. Privacy advocates stress risks to sensitive groups like military officials and journalists, while experts warn of higher surveillance power and reduced user transparency. (PC: ZDNET)

Netflix has agreed to acquire Warner Bros Discovery’s film and streaming businesses, including HBO Max, for $72bn in cash and stock, creating a new entertainment giant. The deal, unanimously approved by both boards, positions Netflix ahead of rivals Comcast and Paramount. CEO Ted Sarandos said combining Warner Bros’ franchises like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones with Netflix originals such as Stranger Things will “define the next century of storytelling.” Warner Bros films will still release in cinemas, while its TV studio can produce for third parties. Analysts warn of regulatory hurdles, possible reduced output, and higher consumer prices, though Netflix expects $2–3bn in savings from overlaps. (PC: Variety)

Simone Tata, step-mother of Ratan Tata and a major force in India’s beauty and retail sectors, passed away at 95 in Mumbai. She had been battling Parkinson’s symptoms and was airlifted from Dubai earlier this year for treatment. Born in Geneva, she moved to India after marrying Naval Tata in 1955. Simone helped build Lakmé into a leading Indian cosmetics brand and later founded Trent Ltd., which launched Westside. She led both companies for decades, shaping India’s consumer market. After retiring in 2006, she stayed away from public life and was last seen at Ratan Tata’s funeral in 2024.

The rupee fell below the 90-per-dollar mark for the first time on Wednesday, hitting 90.11 in early trade. The drop shocked traders as the currency faced strong global and domestic pressure. Foreign investors have been pulling money out of India, and the strong US dollar has added more strain. Delays in the India–US trade deal and record-high commodity prices have also hurt sentiment. Experts say muted RBI intervention led to a faster fall. Markets now wait for the RBI policy update on Friday. Analysts warn the rupee may stay volatile and could fall further if global cues remain weak. (PC: India Today)

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has declared a "code red" for ChatGPT as competitors Google and Anthropic rapidly gain ground in the AI race. In an internal memo, Altman announced delays to several projects including advertising plans, shopping and health agents, and the personal assistant "Pulse." The company will prioritize making ChatGPT faster, more reliable, and accurate. Altman established daily team calls and encouraged cross-team movement to accelerate development. Google's momentum has intensified, with its Gemini 3 model outperforming competitors and its infrastructure advantage enabling efficient AI deployment across Search, YouTube, and Gmail. OpenAI faces pressure to generate $200 billion annually by 2030, while Google already earns $120 billion yearly.(PC: Dubai Immo)

Apple refuses to comply with India's confidential order requiring smartphone manufacturers to preload the government's Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app within 90 days. The company will inform New Delhi it doesn't follow such mandates globally due to privacy and security concerns for its iOS ecosystem. The app, designed to track stolen phones and prevent misuse, must remain non-disableable and be pushed via software updates to existing devices. India's telecom ministry defends the measure as combating "serious endangerment" of cybersecurity, but opposition parties and privacy advocates criticize it as surveillance overreach targeting India's 730 million smartphones. Samsung and Xiaomi are reviewing the order, while Apple maintains it "can't do this. Period." (PC: Smartpix)

H-1B visa approvals for India's top seven IT companies plummeted to a 10-year low in fiscal year 2025, with only 4,573 petitions approved for initial employment, a 70% decline since 2015 and 37% drop from 2024. TCS remained the sole Indian firm among top five employers, securing 846 initial and 5,293 continuing employment approvals, though facing increased rejection rates. American tech giants Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Google dominated initial approvals, hiring foreign talent for AI development projects after investing billions in artificial intelligence. The shift reflects Indian IT firms delivering services with fewer H-1B visas while US companies aggressively recruit foreign-born graduates to build domestic AI capabilities, fundamentally transforming skilled immigration patterns. (PC: Bloomberg & India Today)

India's economy surged ahead with 8.2% GDP growth in Q2 FY2025-26, the highest in six quarters, significantly outpacing last year's 5.6% and Q1's 7.8%. The National Statistics Office data reveals manufacturing expanded 9.1%, construction grew 7.2%, while services led with 9.2% growth, particularly financial and professional services at 10.2%. Private consumption strengthened to 7.9% from 6.4% year-on-year, indicating robust demand despite US tariff pressures. However, agriculture lagged at 3.5% growth. GDP at constant prices reached Rs 48.63 lakh crore, with nominal GDP rising 8.7%. The first half delivered 8% overall growth versus 6.1% previously, reinforcing India's position as the world's fastest-growing major economy heading into FY26's second half. (PC: India Today) 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a lighthearted moment with Safran Chairman Ross McInnes during the inauguration of the company's Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility in Hyderabad. McInnes jokingly said, "I was born in India. So I'm 'Made in India' too," making PM Modi laugh. The MRO facility will service LEAP engines for A320 and B737 aircraft, while another facility for M88 engines powering Rafale jets will also be established. Both facilities, operational by 2026, will boost India's indigenous aviation capabilities. Modi highlighted India as a "trusted partner" with rapid growth, stable government, and vast talent pool. Safran has operated in India for 70+ years.