5068: Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh propose social media bans for teens; Dario Amodei apologises, readies court fight and Vanguard’s insourcing blow to Infosys | MC Tech3

US ‘waiver’ on Russian oil to India may have brought short-term relief but Chinese competition and Gulf exposure could limit the gains. In pharmaceuticals, exporters could face a Rs 5,000 crore hit as freight costs and insurance premiums climb. Sebi has introduced a voluntary debit freeze facility for mutual fund folios. This and more in the day’s edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh move to curb social media access for teenagers as governments globally rethink rules for young users online. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei apologises for a leaked memo but prepares to challenge the US government’s supply-chain risk designation in court. We also track Vanguard bringing operations back in-house from Infosys, and Flipkart cutting around 300 roles as it sharpens efficiency ahead of a potential IPO.

State-owned GAIL, handling about 70% of Indian gas transmission market, has hinted at potential cuts in gas quotas to some companies. On the markets, seasoned investors have been urging patience amid Iran crisis, as a Moneycontrol analysis shows how Gulf countries significantly increased spending on imported weapons over the past two decades. This and more in the day’s edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, Google announces major changes to Play Store policies, cutting commissions and allowing alternative app stores after years of antitrust scrutiny. Innerwear startups face slowing demand as brands like Pepe explore a sale and fundraising delays hit the sector. We also look at how wealth-tech platforms are targeting India’s growing class of crorepati investors, and why the Election Commission is meeting social media firms to tackle misinformation and AI-generated deepfakes ahead of upcoming state elections.

War in the Middle East escalates dramatically as a US Navy submarine sinks an Iranian ship near Sri Lanka, global markets tumble, and the rupee breaches 92 per dollar. Meanwhile, Mojtaba Khamenei is named Iran’s Supreme Leader. Closer home, Jio Platforms plans a sweeping AI pricing disruption, and airlines reel under soaring fuel costs and geopolitical shocks. Find all this and more in the day’s edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks.

At Mobile World Congress, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia outlines India’s telecom ambitions. Stock markets brace for another brusing session as they reopen after Mumbai's Holi holiday. With risks around the Strait of Hormuz, policymakers assess oil supplies, trade exposure, tech vulnerabilities and market fallout across sectors. Also read our analysis on Iran’s defence pivot and find out which cars Indians bought most - all in the day’s Moneycontrol Editor’s  Picks.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we track how airspace disruptions in West Asia are unsettling Indian founders and investors operating through Dubai. We unpack fresh pressure points for the IndiaAI Mission amid global GPU supply dynamics, take you inside IIT Madras’ ambitious 400-brain mapping project, and examine Rapido’s entry into food delivery with its zero-commission app Ownly in Bengaluru.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we track how airspace disruptions in West Asia are unsettling Indian founders and investors operating through Dubai. We unpack fresh pressure points for the IndiaAI Mission amid global GPU supply dynamics, take you inside IIT Madras’ ambitious 400-brain mapping project, and examine Rapido’s entry into food delivery with its zero-commission app Ownly in Bengaluru.

Markets tumbled as the Sensex and Nifty fell up to 2% amid escalating Iran conflict fears. Crude oil surged past $80 after ship movement through the Strait of Hormuz stalled, raising inflation risks for India. Gold and silver rallied as investors sought safe-haven assets, while oil-sensitive stocks bore the brunt. SEBI chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey urged long-term investing and signalled data-driven regulatory reforms. Meanwhile, Clean Max’s under-subscribed IPO debut underscored the strain of listing in volatile markets. Tune in for all this and more in the day’s edition of Moneycontrol Editor’s Picks.

In today’s Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we unpack how escalating Middle East tensions are putting fresh pressure on Indian IT’s diversification strategy and business travel. SEBI chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey cautions investors against chasing IPO listing pops and addresses concerns around the Tiger Global tax verdict. We also track Groww’s AI co-pilot GR1 rollout plans and how Iran-Israel tensions are disrupting India’s peak summer outbound travel season.