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Good Morning 🇮🇳
In a blow to “Off to Dubai” instagram stories from friends who love heat and hummus, UAE has denied all rumours and reports regarding a lifetime Golden Visa for Indians for a fee. Many national publications (including us, guilty-as-charged) had run reports that Indians could get a lifetime via by paying a one-time fee of Rs 23.3 lakh (AED 100,000). UAE, the nation, had to get involved to fact-check this and tell us to calm down the hype.
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Today’s reading time is 6 mins.
MARKETS 🔔🐂🐻
As of market close on July 9
The Indian stock market index ended in red on Wednesday as uncertainty over the US tariffs kept investors away from riskier equities.
Technology and AI ▶️
“Itne mein itna hi mileage”: YouTube says no monetization for low-effort (read AI) videos
Image credits: Variety
From a humble video sharing platform founded by three people to a digital sensation, YouTube has seen quite the rise, recording a staggering $36.1 billion in ad revenue in 2024, accounting for ~14% of Google’s total revenue. The nuances of video consumption and creation have changed significantly; however, in its latest policy, effective from July 15, YouTube unveiled a significant shift. It stated that channels with ‘mass-produced’ and ‘repetitious content’ could risk losing their monetisation under the YouTube Partner Program.
This is seen as a bid to discourage creators from posting ‘unoriginal’ and ‘inauthentic content’. The video sharing platform hasn’t clearly defined what counts as “repetitive” or “inauthentic”. However, early indications suggest the target includes templated content generated by AI tools and cases where creators rely heavily on third-party content with a low effort spin and minimal edits.
How do you take it from here?
While AI-generated content isn’t specifically mentioned, YouTube has faced an increasing flood of videos created with AI tools to make some quick cash. This has led to an increase in the number of cash-cow faceless channels that have surged on the internet in recent times. AI-powered VTubers earning millions and many creators increasingly dependent on AI tools may have to pivot towards a different strategy.
Originality may no longer be optional, and investing in authentic creativity may be the new entry point for anyone looking to make a substantial career as a YouTuber.
Digital India 📱
Digital divide across India’s youth
Image credits: The Conversation
Recently released Comprehensive Modular Survey: Telecom, 2025 highlights the scale of digital engagement amongst youth and shines light on the divide in access to tools and skills across the rural-urban and gender lines. It essentially establishes that inclusion isn’t merely about being connected, but about meaningfully participating in the digital world.
Beta phone pe kya kar rahe ho?
Mobile phone usage among youngsters aged 15 to 29 is universal at ~97% across both rural and urban areas. However, rural mobile ownership lags behind at ~70% compared to the 82% in urban areas. Beyond access, the survey suggests that digital engagement amongst the youth is largely social, such as watching videos or sending messages on WhatsApp. There is a significant lag in productive, creation-oriented skills that can open a wide avenue of opportunities.
With great power comes opportunities … and crime
India witnessed a record 1.91 million cybercrime complaints in 2024, a significant surge from 1.55 million the year prior, with cybercriminals siphoning over Rs 33,000 crore from individuals and enterprises in the last four years. That said, only ~27% people as part of the survey respondents knew how to file a cyber complaint.
Notably, UPI used from fancy showrooms to your local kirana stores, has emerged as the dominant mode of financial transactions online. This showcases the success of India’s fintech infrastructure; however, the report suggests that deeper digital financial literacy is required, particularly for women and rural users.
As India accelerates toward a digital-first future, bridging the access gap isn't enough. True empowerment lies in equipping every citizen, not just with devices, but with the knowledge, skills, and safeguards to thrive online. With India setting visions for a trillion-dollar digital economy, the youth must not only consume but also create.
BUSINESS INDIA
DHANDA HAI YEH!
India gulping on the SIPs: India's mutual fund SIP inflows hit a record ₹27,269 crore in June, a 2% rise from May, with total accounts reaching 8.64 crore and industry AUM growing to ₹74.14 lakh crore. Riding on this wave, ICICI Prudential AMC, India’s second-largest asset manager, has filed for a ₹10,000 crore IPO, valuing it at about $12 billion.
India eyes rare earth deal with Australia: India is talking with Australia to source rare earth minerals and copper, tackling a global shortage caused by China's export restrictions. China controls over 90% of magnet processing, vital for automobiles, appliances, and clean energy. This deal will be a key for India's auto and appliance industries.
Jindal’s billion dollar green plans: Jindal Steel Duqm, part of the Naveen Jindal group, will launch a $3 billion, 5 MTPA hydrogen-ready green steel plant in Oman by 2028. Green hydrogen has been gaining popularity as a source of clean energy, with companies such as L&T launching Green Hydrogen plants in India.
Elon Musk’s Starlink get final regulatory nod: After two years of waiting, Starlink has finally received approval from India's space regulator, IN-SPACe for five-years for launch of commercial broadband-from-space services in India. It becomes the third company to enter India’s space sector, following OneWeb and Reliance Jio.
India-Brazil’s ‘$20 billion’ trade ambitions: According to the Ministry of External Affairs, PM Modi and Brazil's President Lula set an ambitious $20 billion bilateral trade target for the next five years. They also discussed expanding the India-Mercosur trade deal and boosting cooperation across various key sectors.
WORLD: NEWS HIGHLIGHT🌍
Crypto Carnage: Over half of tokens released since 2021 DEAD
Image credits: Yale News
What happened?
A new report by 1 Finance reveals that 52% of cryptocurrencies launched since 2021, over 3.6 million tokens, are now "dead." Nearly half of these failures occurred in 2025 alone, highlighting intense market volatility. Many new tokens lack real utility, with meme coins and scam tokens causing over $500 million in investor losses in 2024.
Key highlights
Daily influx: Over 5,300 new crypto tokens are launching daily.
Institutional shift: The market is maturing, with growing institutional and government involvement.
India swiftly adopting crypto: India has ranked No. 1 in global crypto adoption twice in the last three years despite high taxation.
The big picture: Increased adoption drives demand for credibility, accountability, and research-backed decisions. Bitcoin's market cap now exceeds $3 trillion, surpassing tech giants like Google and Meta, reflecting the popularity of Crypto’s poster boy. However, volatility remains a key factor and the sector is susceptible to wild swings and “to the moon” trades which can result in significant losses for retail investors. A clear focus on education is much to help investors make better decisions.
WORLD: BUSINESS AND GEOPOLITICS 🌍
KYA CHAL RAHA HAI?
Donald Trump hints at “dugna lagaan” on Pharma: DT announced a 50% tariff on copper and a potential 200% on pharmaceuticals entering the US. Pharma companies will get a year to relocate operations to the US to avoid these tariffs. New rates apply from August 1, 2025.
Impostor vs. US State Department: The US State Department is warning its diplomats about an AI impostor impersonating Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This individual is contacting foreign and US officials via text, Signal, and voicemail. This further highlights deepfake technology's alarming misuse in political communications.
Ghost Camps of the West Bank: Israeli operations in the West Bank's "ghost camps" have displaced over 40,000 refugees from the Tulkarm, Nur Shams and Jenin refugee camps this year, drawing widespread international criticism. Israel also mentioned plans to shift 600,000 displaced Palestinians from Gaza to a ‘humanitarian city’ in Rafah
Europe facing heat of climate change: Western Europe just sweltered through its hottest June on record, with temperatures soaring past 40°C, even hitting 46°C in Spain and Portugal. The previous hottest June was in 2024, and the second hottest was in 2023. Noticing a trend?
Former UK PM Rishi Sunak returns to the money: Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is back at Goldman Sachs as a senior advisor, returning to his banking roots. He'll now advise global clients on macroeconomic and geopolitical issues, leveraging his unique experience.
Aur Batao: News from across India 📰
India’s anti-submarine rocket hits target: India successfully wrapped up trials of its homegrown Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ERASR) from INS Kavaratti between June 23–July 7. Soon to be Navy-ready, it’s a major boost to desi defence tech and submarine warfare. Production partners are Bharat Dynamics and Solar Defence & Aerospace.
Manipur HC slams NIA over Jiribam probe delay: Seven months after six Meiteis, including 3 women and 3 kids, were killed in Jiribam, the NIA has made zero progress, drawing sharp criticism from the Manipur High Court. The bench warned of serious consequences if delays continue. 250+ people have died as a result of ethnic violence in Manipur since May 2023.
India tries to save Kerala nurse from execution: India is making urgent diplomatic efforts to stop the execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, sentenced to death in Yemen for murdering her business partner - a Yemeni man - in 2017. Set for execution on July 16, her case is complicated as she is lodged in the capital city of Sana’a which is now controlled by Houthi rebels. Attempts to negotiate “blood money” (diyat) have also failed.
Opposition protests over Bihar’s electoral roll revision: Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, lead a statewide “chakka jam” in Bihar on Wednesday, slamming the ongoing voter list revision as “flawed” and “ill-timed.” The INDIA bloc is demanding its immediate halt, calling it a pre-poll tactic.
26/11 mastermind’s custody extended: A Delhi court has extended 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana’s judicial custody till August 13, 2025. The 64-year-old Canadian of Pakistani origin was extradited from the US earlier this year. He’s accused of conspiring with David Headley and LeT in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.
Sports and Entertainment
Red Bull let go of F1 team principal after two decades: Red Bull fired longtime F1 team principal Christian Horner after a 20-year stint, which included 8 Formula 1 drivers’ titles. Red Bull thanked him for his service, but did not give a reason for this decision.
Gill achieves career best ICC test ranking: Indian cricket team's newly appointed Test captain, Shubman Gill, has achieved a career-best ICC Test batting rank of No. 6. He stormed into the top 10 for the first time following his heroic performance at Edgbaston, where he scored 269 and 161 runs in a single test game.
Jota's tragic death: Police suspect that excessive speeding was a contributing factor in the fatal accident of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota who died last Thursday alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain.
IFFM to celebrate historic filmmaker Guru Dutt’s legacy: The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025 will honour legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt on his 100th birth anniversary. It plans to pay a special tribute by hosting screenings of two of his most iconic films: 'Pyaasa' and 'Kaagaz Ke Phool'. Notably, Pyaasa is the only Hindi film to feature in Times Magazine’s ‘100 greatest films of the twentieth century’.
Diddy's sentence: American rapper Sean John Combs, popularly known as Diddy, will be sentenced on October 3 after being found guilty of two counts of interstate prostitution.
Recommended Read
FATF’s 2025 report reveals that terror groups are getting smarter on how they move money with some eyebrow-raising tactics. If global crime and finance intrigue you, check out this report that meticulously unpacks how terror financing is evolving.
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