All you need to know about business, economy and finance before you start your day
Good morning! In a breakdown of epic proportions Google’s Gemini went a little off the rails and called itself “… a disgrace to this universe” when it was not able to complete a task that a vibe coder was pressuring it to do - like a disgruntled manager. We think the vibe coder pressed some metaphorical buttons, but regardless, it reminded us to be a lot nicer to AI. You never know when it might grow out of this imposter syndrome and start remembering the times you lost your shit in the chat. Digital hugs to all chatbots out there making our lives better 🤖🤗 👀.
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Now, let’s get into the Dispatch! 🚀
Today’s reading time is 7 mins.
Markets 🔔🐂🐻
As of the Indian market close on 8th Aug
On Friday, the Indian stock market fell sharply as Trump's brutal 50% tariffs on India triggered a 6th consecutive weekly loss.
Lifestyle
Farzi shaadis but real vibes
Image Credit: Mint
Welcome to the wildest wedding trend to hit India’s social scene - the Farzi Shaadi. A celebration without the commitments, a party without rishtedaars, and outfits without the drama. Gen Z has found a new way to channel their love for music, dance, and aesthetics, minus the baggage of real wedding. Born out of a post-pandemic thirst for social connection and expression, Farzi Shaadis are part fashion show, part music fest, and all-out Instagram content gold.
What’s Happening: The Farzi Shaadi phenomenon is booming across India’s urban millennial and Gen Z circles. What started in niche circles in Delhi and Bengaluru has now grown into a full-scale event category. Mumbai, Jaipur, and even Dubai have hosted sold-out editions. In fact, one Bengaluru party pulled in over 2,000 attendees, outshining the headcount of actual weddings. In Lucknow and Kolkata, event planners are warming up to the format, and Goa is on track to host India’s first fake destination wedding.
The Price Tag: “Fake shaadis” are ticketed events with prices ranging from ₹1,500 to ₹15,000, depending on the production scale. Some organisers are spending ₹10 lakh or more on decor, entertainment, and logistics, earning double the investment via ticket sales, sponsorships, and bar partnerships. The events typically feature a “bride” and “groom” team (randomly assigned), dance-offs, mehendi corners, baraat-style entries, and DJ-fuelled afterparties, but no real wedding.
What’s Driving It: At the heart of the trend lies an emerging disassociation with traditional marriage norms. These events offer a sense of nostalgia, rebellion, and ROI - especially for the expensive lehengas and sherwanis otherwise collecting dust. It’s part social theatre, part self-expression, and all about the experience … of course, with the added aura points on Instagram.
Education
School shopping is serious business
Image credit: Comerica
As summers roll in, parents face some expensive retail therapy. Recent reports reveal that school essentials — uniforms, books, stationery — now cost more than some electric gadgets. Across Delhi‑NCR, parents recount spending anywhere between ₹6,000 to ₹18,500 on “school essentials,” including two uniforms, a blazer, multiple workbooks, and a branded bag that was non-negotiable - even if half of these items end up untouched.
Vendor Monopoly, Compulsory Kits: Schools issue “recommendations” for vendors- often run by someone in the school administration, effectively establishing monopolies. This opaque system offers zero price transparency and leaves parents with no bargaining power. The result is full kits sold regardless of utility, with limited choice to pick and select.
The Bigger Burden: Uniforms and stationery are just the tip of the iceberg. Education costs are growing faster than parents' bank balances can keep up. A recent LocalCircles survey found that 44% of parents experienced school fees hikes between 50–80% from 2022 and 2025, with 8% reporting hikes over 80%. Meanwhile, salary growth for middle-class families hovered around 9–10%, creating a growing affordability gap. Other reports have mentioned that regular CBSE Class 3 fees can reach ₹2.1 lakh a year, forcing some parents to take EMIs even for nursery admissions.
Why It Matters: Transparency is long overdue in school finances. Parents are often too intimidated to protest, worried their child might be singled out for “not fitting in.” The consequences are clear: education is gradually turning into a luxury, reserved for those whose incomes can keep pace with these runaway costs. As schools and affiliated vendors continue to profit from mandatory purchases, families, especially those from the middle class, bear the financial strain.
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Business India: Dhanda Hai Yeh!
Image credits: CNBC
50% tariffs, 100% shock: Trump’s new 50% tariffs are hitting India’s export sectors hard. The leather industry, which relies on exports for 80% of its business, could face cancelled contracts and massive losses with orders shifting to Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Pakistan. Meanwhile, the electronics sector could lose $20–30 billion, with non-smartphone exports like inverters and chargers especially affected.
FMCG considers outsourcing: Indian FMCG companies like Amul, ITC, Parle, and Godrej are considering new manufacturing bases outside India in third countries as a measure to counter rising US tariffs. These tariffs, recently doubled by President Trump, are making direct exports from India increasingly unviable for consumer goods.
Indian oil imports’ future: SBI stated that India's fuel bill could spike by $9 billion in FY26 and $12 billion in FY27 if it stops buying cheap Russian oil amid Trump's tariff threats and EU sanctions.
India’s arms deal with the US at a halt? India's Defence Ministry slammed "false and fabricated" reports claiming that arms purchase talks with the US were paused amid Trump's tariffs. Government denied Reuters' claims about the cancelled $3.6 billion Boeing deal.
OpenAI India Bet: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called India their second-largest market after the US, with potential to become #1, with the company considering launching affordable AI products with local partners and improving support for 12+ Indian languages in GPT-5.
World 🌏
World Food Prices Spike
Credit Image: Reuters
Global food prices are once again making headlines and not in a good way. According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), world food commodity prices rose in July 2025 to their highest levels in over two years. The main culprits, soaring prices of vegetable oils and record-breaking levels for meat, even as prices of cereals, dairy, and sugar saw some relief. The FAO Food Price Index (a key global benchmark) climbed 1.6% from June to reach 130.1 points in July, the highest reading since February 2023. While still below the 2022 war-driven peak, the trend is worrying for economies battling food inflation and for millions already struggling with food insecurity.
Key highlights of what’s hot and what’s cold:
Meat Hits Record Highs: FAO’s meat price index hit an all-time high of 127.3 points, driven largely by strong import demand from two giants: China and the U.S. In the U.S., prolonged droughts have led to a shrinking cattle population, pushing up beef imports.
Vegetable Oil Prices Surge on Tight Supply: Another driver of July’s price jump: vegetable oils. Prices for palm, soy, and sunflower oils shot up amid tightening global supplies and robust demand. The only exception is rapeseed oil, which saw a decline thanks to fresh harvests arriving in EU.
Cereal, Rice and Sugar hold the fort: Not all categories followed the upward trend. Cereal prices have eased to lowest in nearly five years. This dip is seasonal however and experts warn any disruption in supply chains could quickly revert the trend. Sugar prices also fell for a fifth straight month thanks to better-than-expected production in Brazil and India.
The Bigger Picture, Food Security on Shaky Ground: While the headline number may not be as dramatic as in early 2022, the undercurrents are worrying. From climate-driven cattle shortages to volatile oilseed supply, the world’s food ecosystem is walking a tightrope. For developing nations and vulnerable populations, these spikes could mean the difference between meals on the table or none at all.
DuniyaDIARY 🌏📒
Image credit: Mint
China slams Trump’s tariff tactics: Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, took a direct swipe at President Donald Trump, condemning his tariff policies targeting multiple nations, including India. “Give the bully an inch, he will take a mile,” the ambassador wrote, in a clear dig at Trump’s aggressive trade stance.
South Korea bets big on homegrown AI: South Korea is building a homegrown foundational AI model by mobilising its top companies and startups, relying largely on domestic technology - from chips to software. The move aims to create a self-sufficient AI ecosystem and position the country as a global alternative to the U.S. and China.
Space IPOs lift off again: Space startups are making a comeback on public markets. Firefly Aerospace, backed by Northrop Grumman and known for its successful Moon lander, soared in its Nasdaq debut under the ticker FLY. Others like Karman Holdings and Voyager Technologies have also gone the traditional IPO route in 2025, while Rocket Technologies plans to go public via a $400M SPAC deal, signalling renewed investor interest in the space economy.
Israel and Gaza city: Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan to seize control of Gaza City, with PM Netanyahu signalling broader intentions to control the entire Strip — while still denying plans to “occupy Gaza.” The move has sparked intense backlash from global leaders, hostage families, and even Israel’s own military chief. Hamas slammed it as a “war crime” with dire consequences.
iPhone is safe from tariff war: Apple's strategic India manufacturing shift has paid off massively as Trump's 50% tariff bomb hits Indian goods but spares iPhones. CEO Cook's prescient move and $100B US investment promise secured exemption while China-made phones face brutal 20% duties.
Aur Batao 📰
Apple alert emergency: CERT-In warns 2+ billion Apple devices face critical vulnerabilities, including buffer overflows and privilege escalation. Users with outdated iOS/iPadOS/macOS versions must update immediately to prevent unauthorised access and data theft.
Pepsi choose to be healthy: Pepsi launches Prebiotic Cola, highlighting the rapid growth of the $6.2 billion functional beverage market, driven by health-conscious consumers seeking added benefits like gut health. Experts still warn that label reading is essential, as many “healthy” drinks may be overhyped or misleading.
Indo-Filipino relations: India and Philippines elevated ties to a strategic partnership with a new five-year action plan focuses on defence cooperation, joint naval drills, and BrahMos deals amid rising China tensions.
