Business in the Spotlight: This Week’s Most Googled Corporate Dramas

This week has been a whirlwind for the corporate sector, with four key events making it to Google searches and generating heated debate across sectors. Here's an overview of the biggest trending stories everyone was talking about:

 

1. Microsoft's Huge Layoffs

Microsoft surprised the tech universe with news of plans to cut about 7,000 workers-roughly 3% of its worldwide workforce. The reductions, from software developers to AI executives, are all part of a broad cost-cutting effort as the company doubles down on investments in artificial intelligence. The action, one of Microsoft's biggest job cuts in two years, highlights the realigned priorities at Big Tech with AI at the forefront.

 

2. Vodafone Idea Survival Warning

Vodafone Idea, India’s struggling telecom giant, issued a stark warning: without immediate funding support, it may not survive beyond FY2025-26. The company, burdened by over ₹58,000 crore in AGR dues, has approached the Supreme Court seeking relief. With banks refusing fresh credit and a massive ₹18,000 crore payment due in 2026, Vi’s future hangs in the balance, making this a critical moment for India’s telecom sector.

 

3. IndusInd Bank Accounting Misstatements

IndusInd Bank was in the spotlight after revealing accounting misstatements amounting to ₹1,269 crore. Internal checks picked up mismatched interest income figures and unsupported balances, raising suspicions of systemic problems in the private lender. The bank's stock plunged 20% since the beginning of 2025, with investors and regulators seeking increased transparency and accountability.

 

4. HUL Ice Cream Demerger

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) got the regulatory go-ahead to demerge its ice cream business, such as flagship brands Kwality Wall's and Cornetto. It will form a new listed company and help unlock shareholder value by providing investors with direct entry into India's surging ice cream market.

 

Sources: Financial Express, New Indian Express, The Hindu Business Line