Apple Leadership Watch: Former iPhone team member Matthew Rogers says Apple’s “product-first” design culture has faded since the Steve Jobs era, raising questions as John Ternus prepares to take over hardware engineering leadership ahead of the September CEO handoff. AI Capex Pressure: Big Tech’s AI spending is still surging, but investors are increasingly asking when the trillion-dollar buildout will translate into profits. Taiwan Food Safety Fallout: Thousands rallied in Taipei over the tainted cooking oil scandal, with opposition lawmakers demanding answers and accountability after benzo[a]pyrene contamination spread to hundreds of businesses and products. Qualcomm Cost Pass-Through: Qualcomm told customers it will raise smartphone processor prices by double digits for shipments starting Sept. 1, citing it can’t absorb rising supplier costs—an issue that could ripple across Taiwan’s chip supply chain. Taiwan Manufacturing Momentum: Taiwan’s industrial and manufacturing output hit record highs in June, with AI-driven demand boosting electronics components and semiconductors. US Tariffs, Forced Labor: The US imposed a 12.5% tariff on Nigeria and seven other African countries under Section 301 forced-labor rules, while India secured a lower 10% rate after engagement on labor practices. Regional Risk: Typhoon Noul intensified over the South China Sea, prompting evacuations and threatening air cargo disruptions across southern China and Hong Kong. Chip Dealmaking: Samsung won a $200B+ chip contract for Broadcom through 2030, underscoring how the AI infrastructure race is reshuffling global semiconductor orders.