Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing to address the nation during the upcoming Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi. Last year, Modi spoke for over 100 minutes, pledging to protect farmers amid trade tensions with the U.S. This year, following prolonged 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, who became general secretary of the Communist Party in 2024, continues his diplomatic outreach 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 prioritizes cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and resilient supply chains. Further collaboration is anticipated in energy, infrastructure, food security, trade, investment, and education, with multiple bilateral agreements expected to be signed.

In economic news, the Bank of Japan will release its summary of opinions from its recent monetary policy meeting held on July 30 and 31. Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda had previously highlighted "meaningful upside risks" to inflation. Additionally, India's central bank predicted inflation to remain within the Reserve Bank of India's tolerance band of 2% to 6%, forecasting a 5% inflation rate for the fiscal year through March 2027, with a slowdown expected after the third quarter.

Sources: