Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a notable Independence Day speech last year, speaking for over 100 minutes at the historic Red Fort in Delhi. During that address, he vowed to protect farmers amid ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. This year, Modi faces new challenges following weekslong youth protests that led to the resignation of the education minister, with expectations for him to address 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. He is currently on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, expected to last from Sunday to Friday, during which he is scheduled to meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The talks aim to deepen economic and strategic ties, building on the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2024. Priorities for cooperation include science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, resilient supply chains, energy, infrastructure, food security, trade, investment, and education. Multiple bilateral agreements are anticipated to be signed during this visit.

In economic news, the Bank of Japan is set to release its summary of opinions from its recent monetary policy meeting held on July 30 and 31. Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda has highlighted "meaningful upside risks" to inflation. Additionally, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projects inflation to be around 5% for the fiscal year through March 2027, remaining within its tolerance band of 2% to 6%, with a slowdown expected after the third quarter.

These developments mark significant political and economic events across Asia, reflecting ongoing efforts to address domestic challenges and strengthen international partnerships.