Newsletter Edition: July 8, 2025

Good Morning 🇮🇳 

If you’re confused about what show to watch next - oh wow - do we have a solution for you today. In a rock-your-world kind of news, Smriti Irani is back as Tulsi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Excitement knows no bounds. The title song fresh in our minds, Mihir’s presumed dead vibes hurting our hearts, and Ba (who is now un-alive RIP) touching our souls. We’re ready for Round 2! Are you!?

Up next on legendary reboots Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin and Remix.

Now, let’s get into the dispatch! 🚀 

Today’s reading time is 6 mins.

MARKETS 🔔🐂🐻

Markets didn’t move much on Monday, as they play a waiting game on the turbulence caused by DT’s tariff policies and ongoing US-India trade deal talks.

STRIKE ✊
Bharat Bandh alert: Over 25 crore workers to take part in a nationwide strike

More than 25 crore workers are expected to go on a nationwide strike tomorrow (Wednesday, July 9th) protesting the government’s “anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate policies”. Supported by a forum of 10 trade unions and their associates, the strike is likely to disrupt services in key sectors such as banking, insurance, postal, coal mining, highways, construction, and even state transport across various states.

What are the workers protesting?

• No annual labour conference for last 10 years

• Attempt to weaken trade unions through new labour codes

• Increasing working hours and reducing worker’s rights

• Promoting privatization and contractual jobs

• Ignoring demands for more recruitment and better wages

• Offering benefits to employers under ELI (Employment Linked Incentive) schemes, instead of solving youth unemployment.

Protesting unions say they had earlier submitted a 17-point demand charter to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, but no meaningful action has followed. Unions also have support from agriculture unions that plan to mobilize support in rural areas against the government's recent economic decisions.

Anticipated to be the largest in recent times, both in numbers and impact, this strike could have larger ramifications across the nation in contributing to the ongoing debate over labour rights, job creation, and economic justice in India. While India’s is on track to become the third-largest economy, (as we’d reported earlier) World Bank data suggests that one in four Indians still fall below the minimum standard of living.

TRADE 🚢 
Ambani’s ethane Trump card for India-US trade deal

Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries is set to import US ethane, a cheaper raw materials for plastic products, directly from the US Gulf Coast to its Gujarat plant.

Ethane, a liquified component of natural gas, is roughly half the cost of the product used previously (Naphtha) on an energy equivalent basis. Reliance first pioneered large-scale U.S. ethane imports in 2017 and now plans to expand its fleet with three more ethane carriers and a 100 km pipeline to optimise access

This move aligns with rising trade tensions under the Trump-era tariff regime. As U.S. producers seek alternative buyers to China, Reliance’s deal may ease bilateral pressure. This could provide trade negotiators in New Delhi some leverage, as DT yells ‘$43 BILLION TRADE DEFICIT’.

Beyond trade optics, this strategy improves India’s petrochemical economics, boosting yields (from 30% on naphtha to 80% on ethane). But critics warn that increased ethane imports could hurt domestic refiners reliant on naphtha which comes from Middle Eastern crude oil.

All in all, Ambani’s ethane bet could serve as a major geopolitical lever in the next wave of US-India trade talks.

BILATERAL INVESTMENTS
Bhaiya ek darjan ‘talks’ dena

India is actively negotiating Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with over a dozen countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Oman, Switzerland, Russia, and Australia, according to the government.

BITs will aim to be finalised and announced with some of these countries in the next 3-6 months. The aim of these treaties is to make India more investor-friendly, attract foreign players while protecting India's regulatory sovereignty. These treatise will be crucial for attracting strategic long-term foreign capital in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing.

BUSINESS INDIA
DHANDA HAI YEH!

• Capgemini buys WNS: French IT service Capgemini just acquired India-based outsourcing firm WNS in a $3.3 billion all-cash deal. The move will help Capgemini to capitalise on its Agentic AI. Capgemini will pay $76.50 per WNS share, which is 17% higher than the closing price on July 3. 

• Foreign investment boost in India’s real estate: USA, Japan, and Hong Kong pumped a massive $1.06 billion into India’s real estate sector in Q2 2025, making up 89% of foreign investments.

• No more fines on our Rs. 15 bank balance? India’s Public Sector Banks might drop minimum balance fines on savings accounts. This aims to boost deposits and replace penalties with other service charges, making banking more accessible.   

• SEBI gets stringent: SEBI is stepping up surveillance to stop derivatives manipulation in India's massive market, especially after banning US firm Jane Street for alleged index rigging, resulting in a trading ban and seizure of $567 million.  

• Another Hyundai heads to India: HD Korea (subsidiary of Hyundai) and Cochin Shipyard Limited have signed an MoU to improve India’s shipbuilding capabilities as India aims to be among the top shipbuilding nations by 2030.

• UAE Golden Visa: UAE's new Golden Visa offers lifetime residency for ₹23.3 lakh (AED 100,000). A lucrative offer for those considering Dubai’s standard of living, however, high cost is a factor to consider.

WORLD: NEWS HIGHLIGHT 🌍
Trump reacts to BRICS statements

In an unsurprising turn of events, DT has threatened an additional 10% tariff, on countries aligning to BRICS due to alleged ‘Anti-American’ policies.

What happened? On Sunday, the BRICS released a statement that criticized US tariffs and trade policies. We reported the statement yesterday and literally said “let’s see what he (Donald Trump) says this time”.

Well here’s what he said: "Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

With absolutely no detail behind what these “Anti-American” policies are, the threats have left everyone including BRICS confused. However, with U.S. set to roll out new tariffs on July 9 - these threats could seriously impact India.

WORLD: BUSINESS AND GEOPOLITICS 🌍
KYA CHAL RAHA HAI?

• Natural disaster crisis in Pakistan: 10 days of heavy rainfall and flash floods across Pakistan have killed at least 72 people, and injured more than 130. The situation is severe with emergency services on high alert since last month after 17 tourists from the same family were tragically swept away.  

• Texas flood tragedy: Central Texas flash floods tragically killed at least 82 people, including 28 children. Moreover, 41 people are still missing, including 10 girls from a summer camp. 

• Israel-Gaza Ceasefire: PM Netanyahu is in US as Trump pushes for a Gaza ceasefire. After 21 months of war, a 60-day truce and hostage release deal are being discussed.  

• China in denial mode: French intelligence claims that China used its embassies to sabotage Rafale sales post-Operation Sindoor, however, Beijing denied this. China is also downplaying India’s assertion that they gave military aid to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, stating that their ties with Pak are normal and not aimed at any third party.   

Aur Batao: News from across India 📰

• Delhi’s longest clean-air streak this year: Delhi’s air quality held ‘satisfactory’ for the 11th day in a row, the cleanest stretch of 2025 so far, with Sunday’s AQI at 76. Air purified sales managers are stressing.

• SC to hear petition against Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR): The Supreme Court will hear petitions on July 10 against Bihar’s SIR, which requires 2.93 crore voters to prove their own birth details and that of their parents. Critics say it risks disenfranchising 20%, unfairly targeting migrants and the poor ahead of state polls. 

• Air Pollution hurts babies before birth: A global study finds air pollution in India isn’t just harming lungs, it’s affecting babies before they’re born. Pregnant women exposed to PM2.5 face 70% higher risk of premature delivery and a 40% higher risk of low birth weight. Northern states like Delhi, Punjab, UP, and Bihar are hit the worst.

• Farmer suicides spike in Marathwada: Farmer suicides in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region surged 20% in the first half of 2025, with 520 cases reported (vs 430 in 2024).

Sports and Entertainment

• India’s fastest man: India’s Animesh Kujur set a national record in the men’s 100m at the Dormia International Sprint and Relays Meeting in Greece, clocking in just 10.18 seconds. With this, he became the first Indian to be under 10.2 seconds and secured 3^rd position in the event.

• Gill achieves stellar first in 148 years of Test cricket: India's Test captain, Shubman Gill, scored a double century and 150 against England at Edgbaston. He's the first in 148 years of Test cricket to achieve this, also shattering Sunil Gavaskar's 54-year-old record for most runs by an Indian in a Test. The 25-year-old also became the first Indian in 87 years to score more than 400 runs in a single test.

• Blue tigresses make it to the Asian Cup: India's women's football team beat the host Thailand 2-1 on Friday. India’s Sangita Basfore scored 2 goals to lead India towards victory. With this, India qualified for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Finals in Australia. This is India’s first appearance in the Asian Cup via outright qualification since 2003 when the current format did not exist.

• India’s finish second in Asian Para Archery Championships: World No.1 Harvinder Singh bagged two gold medals at the Asian Para Archery Championships in China, helping India finish second overall with 3 golds, 3 silvers, and 3 bronzes. 

• India’s boxing glory: Indian boxers Sakshi, Jaismine, and Nupur clinched gold at the World Boxing Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Sunday. India bagged its best-ever haul with 11 medals: 3 golds, 5 silvers, and 3 bronzes.  

Recommended Read

Europe’s most-visited cities are pushing back against mass tourism this summer. If you're interested in how travel is changing across the continent, check out this story on what's driving the backlash. 

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