India’s electronics sector has expressed deep concern over China’s informal trade curbs, warning that these measures could undermine the country’s manufacturing momentum and threaten its ambitious smartphone export target of $32 billion for the current fiscal year, The Economic Times reported. According to the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), Chinese authorities are implementing unofficial restrictions aimed at disrupting India's supply chain. In a letter addressed to the Indian government, the association alleged that delays at Chinese ports, along with constraints on exporting machinery and skilled personnel, are creating serious production bottlenecks. These disruptions are driving up costs and affecting export timelines.
The ICEA, which represents major global brands such as Apple, Google, Vivo, Oppo, Motorola, Foxconn, Dixon, Tata Electronics, and others, said that while domestic production remains unaffected for now, the country’s export-focused manufacturing sector is increasingly at risk. Exports touched $24 billion in FY25 and are expected to cross $32 billion this year, but this outlook is now under pressure due to external challenges.
These developments come at a time when India is positioning itself as a major player in global electronics manufacturing, particularly as a key alternative to China. Apple’s contract manufacturer Foxconn has reportedly started pulling out hundreds of Chinese engineers and technicians from its Indian operations, a move that could impact production timelines for the upcoming iPhone 17, slated for release in September.
Moreover, some Chinese equipment makers that had previously planned to set up factories in India are now stepping back. Sources indicate that Chinese authorities are intentionally withholding critical manufacturing equipment meant for Indian production units, particularly those linked to iPhone assembly. Customs officials in China are said to be detaining machinery indefinitely, without formal reasons or written instructions. ICEA has called on the Indian government to urgently step in and address these escalating concerns. The association emphasized that the restrictions are not being imposed through official policy but are instead being enforced informally through verbal instructions—making them difficult to contest or plan around.
Despite the mounting challenges, India’s smartphone exports reached a new peak in March 2025, with $3.1 billion worth of shipments. Apple has reportedly accelerated its exports to the US to build stock in anticipation of potential tariff hikes. Since October last year, monthly mobile phone exports have consistently remained above the $2 billion mark, largely driven by the government’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme launched in 2020. Thanks to this policy, India’s annual smartphone exports jumped to $24.1 billion in FY25.
In recent years, India has emerged as a vital hub in Apple’s global supply chain. Until five years ago, iPhones were exclusively made in China, but now India accounts for around 20% of global iPhone production. This growth has been supported by manufacturers like Foxconn and Tata Electronics, helping India establish itself as a serious contender in the global electronics space. However, the future of this momentum may hinge on how the country navigates increasing trade friction with China.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Bloomberg.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that Israel had made a “mistake” in striking Gaza’s only Catholic church, according to the White House. The admission came during a phone call between Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump, as confirmed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during a press briefing on Friday (local time).
Leavitt noted that Trump’s response to the church strike was not positive and prompted him to call Netanyahu directly. “He called Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning to discuss the strike on the church in Gaza. From what I understand, the Prime Minister agreed to release a statement. He admitted that the strike on the Catholic church was a mistake,” Leavitt said. She encouraged reporters to refer to Netanyahu’s official statement.
Following the call and apparent pressure from Trump, Israel expressed sorrow over the incident, attributing the strike on the Holy Family Church to a misfired shell amid ongoing military operations in Gaza. “Israel deeply regrets that stray ammunition struck Gaza’s Holy Family Church. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We mourn with the families and the faithful,” read the statement from Netanyahu’s office. The statement also extended thanks to Pope Leo for his comforting remarks and affirmed Israel’s commitment to protecting civilians and religious sites, while confirming that an investigation into the strike was underway.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) echoed this sentiment, explaining that preliminary findings suggested fragments from a shell fired during nearby operations may have unintentionally hit the church. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the IDF reiterated that its targets are strictly military and that it takes extensive measures to avoid harming civilians and religious locations. According to Al Jazeera, the strike killed three people and injured at least ten others at Gaza’s sole Catholic church.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from White House Youtube.
SInstagram/Simon Cowellimon Cowell, the 65-year-old music industry veteran known for creating hit shows like The X Factor and America’s Got Talent, is teaming up with Netflix for a new docuseries titled Simon Cowell: The Next Act, set to premiere in December 2025. According to the show's description, Cowell is once again on a mission to discover the world’s next chart-topping boy band. The series will follow his journey from open auditions to the release of the band’s first single, offering viewers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at every step of the process.
The show highlights Cowell’s legacy as a talent scout who’s been instrumental in launching global pop sensations such as One Direction, Fifth Harmony, and Little Mix. With The Next Act, fans will get a deeper, more personal insight into his methods, business mindset, and instinct for finding future stars.
The docuseries also reflects on Cowell’s long-standing career as a judge on numerous talent competitions, including Pop Idol, American Idol, Britain’s Got Talent, and The X Factor—shows where he became widely known for his blunt critiques and sharp commentary. Produced by Syco Entertainment, the company Cowell founded, the series revisits his impressive track record of shaping successful pop groups like Westlife, PrettyMuch, and CNCO. Now, he’s setting his sights on forming the next big sensation. Will he strike gold again? Viewers will soon find out.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Instagram/Simon Cowell.
Over 5,000 people in South Korea have taken refuge in shelters as relentless rainfall lashed parts of the country for a third straight day, claiming at least four lives and causing widespread damage to property and infrastructure, according to the safety ministry on Friday (July 18). Torrential rain warnings remained in effect across much of the western and southern regions, with the weather agency urging the public to be extremely cautious of potential landslides and flooding through Saturday.
Some southern areas, including Gwangju, experienced record-breaking rainfall—exceeding 400 millimetres in the 24 hours leading up to early Friday, the ministry reported. The heavy rains have resulted in four confirmed deaths, with one person still missing. Two individuals died after becoming trapped in vehicles on submerged roads, and another perished in a flooded basement in South Chungcheong province. Additionally, a driver was killed on Wednesday in Osan, about 44 kilometers south of Seoul, when a 10-meter-high wall collapsed onto their moving car, according to fire officials.
President Lee Jae-myung, who has consistently emphasized enhancing the government's disaster preparedness and response, stated that while natural disasters cannot be fully avoided, better forecasting and warnings could reduce the impact. "There were avoidable casualties due to inadequate response in situations that could have been foreseen," he said during an emergency weather briefing on Friday, urging full mobilization of resources to address the crisis.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, urging multinational firms to provide reliable products to Chinese consumers. Huang called China an attractive market and expressed interest in deeper AI partnerships. Wang assured that China remains open to foreign investment. During his visit, Huang also met senior Chinese officials and praised local AI models from Alibaba, Tencent, and Deepseek as “world class.” The U.S. has agreed to allow sales of Nvidia’s H20 AI chips to China, though exports await licensing. Nvidia is also developing a new China-specific chip, the RTX Pro GPU, to meet U.S. export rules.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
The 2025 Emmy Award nominations are out, with Severance leading the pack with 27 nominations. The Penguin follows closely with 24, while The Studio and The White Lotus each earned 23 nods, highlighting the top contenders in television over the past year. Hairianto Diman and Susan Ng discuss the most unexpected omissions and surprise nominations with Dr. Nasya Bahfen, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics, Media, and Philosophy at La Trobe University.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
On Wednesday (Jul 16), Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto welcomed what he called a “new era of mutual benefit” with the United States after President Donald Trump set a 19 per cent tariff on Indonesian exports to the U.S. — significantly lower than the previously threatened 32 per cent. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the economic implications of the revised tariff with Adam Samdin, an economist from Oxford Economics’ Asia Macro team.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
On Tuesday (July 15), Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that "dialogue" should be central to the relationship between Canberra and Beijing during his meeting with President Xi Jinping. In response, Xi praised the "benefits" of the strengthened ties, noting that the relationship had "recovered from past setbacks and made a turnaround." Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the state of Australia-China relations within the broader geopolitical landscape with Professor Carlyle Thayer, Emeritus Professor at the University of New South Wales Canberra, based at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers shares with Guardian Australia's chief political correspondent Tom McIlroy that a major goal for him moving forward is ensuring the long-term sustainability of Australia’s budget. Their conversation also covers the difficulties in achieving housing targets, how morning news impacts his daily strategy, and what he aims to achieve at this week’s G20 finance ministers' meeting.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.
