Morning Brief: After Rare Earth Magnets, China Blocks Fertiliser Exports To India; Android Smartphone Exports To US Surge; Sensex Hits Eight-Month High; And More

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After Magnets, China Blocks Specialty Fertiliser Exports to India

China has stopped exporting specialty fertilisers to India for the past two months, affecting high-value crops like fruits and vegetables, ET has reported. These fertilisers are crucial for improving yields and soil health. India relies on China for 80 per cent of these fertilisers, and the halt is seen as a result of unofficial export restrictions.

Industry leaders say local production has been unviable due to low volumes and lack of technology. Alternative suppliers such as Jordan and Europe are being explored, but timely delivery remains a concern. This development follows China's earlier curbs on rare earth magnet exports and three tunnel boring machines, among other things.

After iPhones, Android Smartphone Exports From India To US Surge

Motorola and Samsung have significantly increased smartphone exports from India to the US in the first five months of 2025, driven by rising tariffs on China and export incentives in India. Motorola exported 1.6 million phones — almost all to the US — while Samsung shipped 945,000 units, both up sharply from 2024.

The shift is fuelled by the US imposing steeper tariffs on Chinese and Vietnamese-made phones, while Indian-made devices remain more competitively taxed. The government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme is helping contract manufacturers like Dixon Technologies expand capacity. Apple remains India’s top smartphone exporter, with 80 per cent of its 20.5 million exported phones headed to the US.

Sensex Hits 8-Month High After Iran-Israel Ceasefire

The Sensex surged 700 points on Wednesday (25 June) to close at 82,756, its highest level in over eight months, buoyed by signs of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The Nifty also rose 200 points to 25,245, supported by easing oil prices and short covering by traders.

Domestic mutual funds drove the rally with net purchases of Rs 2,373 crore, even as foreign investors continued selling. Market sentiment was also lifted by a global rally, strong monsoon forecasts, and easing inflation. HDFC Bank, Infosys, and Reliance were the top contributors to the gains. The rally added nearly Rs 4 lakh crore to investor wealth, taking BSE’s market cap to Rs 454 lakh crore.

Other Developments

First Indian In Orbit Since 1984

Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the second Indian in history to travel to space, lifting off aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. His 14-day mission to the International Space Station is part of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 crew, which includes astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary.

Shukla’s flight marks a milestone for India’s human space programme ahead of ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission planned for 2027. The launch, delayed by technical and weather issues, was finally cleared just 35 minutes before take-off. Prime Minister Modi congratulated Shukla, calling it a proud moment for 1.4 billion Indians. Shukla is set to dock at the ISS on Thursday and will serve as the mission’s pilot.

UK F-35 Jet Still Grounded in Kerala Due to Technical Issues

A British F-35B fighter jet remains grounded at Thiruvananthapuram airport nearly two weeks after it made an emergency landing due to bad weather. The aircraft, part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, landed safely but later developed an engineering issue on the ground.

The British High Commission confirmed that UK-based engineers are being flown in to carry out repairs, with no set timeline for take-off. To avoid disrupting airport operations, the jet will be moved to an MRO hangar once special equipment arrives. The UK reportedly declined Air India’s hangar offer, likely due to concerns over sensitive technologies. British and Indian authorities, including the Air Force and Navy, have been coordinating closely during the episode.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to skip the BRICS summit in Brazil next month, marking his first absence from the grouping’s annual meeting since taking office. Premier Li Qiang will attend in his place, according to the South China Morning Post. Speculation suggests Xi’s decision may be linked to Brazil inviting PM Modi for a state dinner, potentially casting Xi as a “supporting actor.”

China officially cited scheduling issues and is focusing on hosting the SCO summit later this year. The BRICS summit in Rio is scheduled for July 6–7.

CIA Says US Strikes Set Back Iran’s Nuke Plan By Years

The head of the CIA has claimed that US airstrikes severely damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities and set back its programme by years, countering a leaked Pentagon assessment that said the impact was limited. CIA Director cited new intelligence showing key sites were destroyed, though he stopped short of saying Iran’s programme was eliminated.

President Trump, meanwhile, continued to insist that the strikes “obliterated” the sites, calling the leaked report false and promising more evidence at a Pentagon briefing. The operation involved 125 aircraft and targeted Natanz, Fordo, and Isfahan, though satellite images raised questions about the damage to underground facilities.

From The States

Bombay HC Junks Plea Claiming Voter Fraud In Maharashtra

The Bombay High Court has dismissed a petition alleging large-scale irregularities in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The bench, comprising Justices G S Kulkarni and Arif Doctor, called the claims “farcical” and lacking in evidence.

Filed by Chetan Ahire and argued by advocate Prakash Ambedkar, the plea alleged 75 lakh votes were cast after polling hours and sought to nullify the election results, a claim also made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The court found no merit in the claims and noted there was no record of irregularities at polling stations. While rejecting the petition, the court criticised the waste of judicial time but refrained from imposing costs.

Rift Widens In Mahayuti 

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has issued disciplinary notices to six staffers, including Personal Secretaries and OSDs to Shiv Sena and NCP ministers, for defying orders on unauthorised appointments. The crackdown follows stalled vetting of several aides amid allegations of corruption and disproportionate assets.

Opposition parties claim the episode reveals growing distrust and lack of coordination within the Mahayuti alliance. Senior leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal and Gulabrao Patil are directly affected, signalling deeper fractures beneath the coalition’s surface unity. With the issue likely to be raised in the upcoming monsoon session, Fadnavis's internal authority is now under visible strain.

Karnataka Warns Officials: Use Kannada or Face Action

Following earlier moves to curb the use of Hindi in signage, the Karnataka government has now ordered all state departments to use Kannada exclusively in official work. Under the 1963 State Language Act, everything from files to meeting agendas and transfer orders must be written in Kannada, with few exceptions.

Despite multiple circulars, departments like Public Works and district offices continue to rely on English, prompting fresh warnings. The Chief Minister has directed that non-compliant files be returned and that disciplinary action be taken against officers who defy the order. The crackdown has drawn criticism from officials who say it risks disrupting workflows in departments where English is the default administrative language.

You’re all caught up—until next time.