Digital arrest victims may be going under cover

Banks and insurers are in early talks to design an insurance product to cover victims of digital arrest scams, potentially making India the first country with such fraud coverage. The government has formed an interdepartmental committee to support tools like a UPI kill switch. Insurers and regulators are discussing protection for losses caused under psychological pressure.

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Microsoft, Ericsson lead global tech alliance for digital trust

The alliance ​includes companies such as Anthropic, Amazon Web Services, Alphabet's ​Google, India's Reliance Jio Platforms, Finland's Nokia, Canada's Cohere, Japan's NTT, and Germany's SAP. Its five principles call for strong corporate governance, ethical conduct, secure technology development, adherence to global security standards across supply chains, and support for an open digital environment.

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Gifting, wellness brands find love on qcomm this Valentine’s week

Valentine’s Day is becoming a major sales event for quick commerce and D2C brands, spanning fashion, jewellery, beauty, and sexual wellness. Platforms like Zepto, Blinkit, and Instamart have launched dedicated Valentine’s sections from February 7, with interactive designs to boost purchases. Sexual wellness brand MyMuse reports a 50–60% YoY rise in sales via these apps.

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SoftBank's PayPay moves closer to public markets with US IPO filing

PayPay's stock market flotation was initially expected in December, but the longest-ever U.S. ​government shutdown delayed the regulatory review and pushed back the planned listing. The offering could raise ​more than $2 billion, Reuters reported in August. PayPay did ​not disclose the size or the proposed price range.

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Voice AI moves from an add-on to the core for Indian companies

As digital services reach deeper into tier-II and III cities, and rural India, companies are rethinking text-heavy and English-first systems in favour of voice-led and Indic-language AI.

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New Sovereign AI hub to create 5,000 high-skilled jobs in Odisha following Sarvam AI MoU

The project follows a strategic proposal from Sarvam AI, a leading Indian startup, which plans to invest approximately Rs 20,000 crore ($2.3 billion) to set up the hub. This facility will serve as a cornerstone for the state's digital transformation, transitioning Odisha from its traditional roots in mining and metals toward a technology-driven future.

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Uber rolls out Baidu's self-driving taxis for ride hailing in Dubai

Uber and Baidu said on Tuesday they would ‍launch autonomous ride-hailing ​services in Dubai in the coming month, the ⁠latest step in the Chinese tech firm's push toward global expansion.

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Govt assures equal tax treatment for domestic, foreign data centre players; industry seeks deeper value capture

The government’s clarification that domestic and foreign investors will be treated at par when it comes to the 20-year tax holiday is an important and reassuring signal for the data centre industry, executives from firms such as Yotta and ESDS said. The announcement of a 20-year tax holiday till 2047 initially created a perception that foreign hyperscalers were being given a special runway, they said.

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Petcare startup Supertails raises $30 million led by Venturi Partners

Petcare startup Supertails has raised $30 million in a round led by Singapore-based investment firm Venturi Partners with participation from Nippon India Alternative Investments, Titan Capital, and existing investors Fireside Ventures, RPSG Capital Ventures, Sauce VC, and Saama Capital.

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Trial against Meta in New Mexico focuses on dangers of child sexual exploitation on social media

A trial focused on the dangers of child sexual exploitation on social media and whether Meta misrepresented the safety of its platforms began Monday in New Mexico with opening statements.

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Investors catch a big whiff of money in D2C fragrance firms

India’s direct-to-consumer (D2C) fragrance and deodorant sector is seeing early signs of a funding boom, with venture capital firms negotiating multiple deals with emerging brands on the back of Gen Z demand and a wave of premiumisation. Investors see a wide gap in products priced between Rs 1,500 and Rs 4,000 for a 100 ml pack.

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