Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation during the Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi on August 15, 2026. Reflecting on last year's speech, Modi spoke for over 100 minutes, vowing to protect farmers amid trade tensions with the U.S. This year, following weekslong youth protests that led to the education minister's resignation, Modi aims to present a vision addressing concerns about job opportunities and inequality.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese President To Lam continues his diplomatic outreach since becoming general secretary of the Communist Party in 2024 with visits to Australia and New Zealand. During his tour from Sunday to Friday, To Lam is expected to meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss deepening economic and strategic ties. Building on the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2024, the trip will prioritize cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, resilient supply chains, energy, infrastructure, food security, trade, investment, and education. Multiple bilateral agreements are expected to be signed with both countries.

In economic news, the Bank of Japan will release its summary of opinions from its most recent monetary policy meeting held on July 30 and 31. Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda had previously stressed "meaningful upside risks" to inflation during his news conference. Additionally, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) predicted inflation to come in at 5% for the fiscal year through March 2027, with a slowdown expected after the third quarter, remaining within the RBI's tolerance band of 2% to 6%.

Sources: Nikkei Asia

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