Good morning.

🇺🇸 🇮🇷 Trump Announces Iran Talks

President Trump said the US will meet with Iran next week but questioned the need for a nuclear agreement, claiming American bombing "obliterated" key atomic sites at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. Trump declared the Middle East conflict "over" as the Israel-Iran ceasefire held for a second day, though he disputed Pentagon intelligence that the strikes only set back Iran's nuclear program by months. Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed nuclear installations were "badly damaged" while parliament approved suspending IAEA cooperation until sites are secured. More - Bloomberg

🇰🇪 Kenya Protests Kill 16, Injure Hundreds

At least 16 people were killed and 400 injured as thousands marched across Kenya demanding President William Ruto's resignation, exactly one year after deadly anti-government demonstrations. Police used tear gas and blocked roads to State House and parliament as protesters chanted "Ruto must go" and attempted to storm the presidential residence. The government initially banned live broadcast coverage of the protests, but Kenya's High Court overturned the decree as demonstrators waved branches symbolizing peaceful opposition. More - BBC

Asia Stability Ratings and News Summary

More Unstable

🇦🇫 Afghanistan, 🇦🇲 Armenia, 🇧🇩 Bangladesh, 🇰🇭 Cambodia, 🇨🇳 China, 🇬🇪 Georgia, 🇮🇳 India, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan, 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan, 🇱🇦 Laos, 🇲🇳 Mongolia, 🇲🇲 Myanmar, 🇳🇵 Nepal, 🇰🇵 North Korea, 🇵🇰 Pakistan, 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka, 🇹🇼 Taiwan, 🇹🇯 Tajikistan, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan

More Stable

No countries were more stable over this period

Unchanged

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan, 🇧🇹 Bhutan, 🇧🇳 Brunei, 🇹🇱 East Timor, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇲🇻 Maldives, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan, 🇻🇳 Vietnam

Regional News Summary

Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong undertook his inaugural official visit to China, underscoring the importance of bilateral relations amid global uncertainties. This visit is viewed as a strategic move to bolster economic cooperation between the two nations, reflecting Singapore's commitment to maintaining strong ties with its largest trading partner [SOURCE - Channel News Asia].

In a separate incident, Singapore successfully evacuated four citizens from Iran, with assistance from Oman and Malaysia, amidst escalating regional tensions. This operation highlights Singapore's proactive approach to ensuring the safety of its nationals abroad [SOURCE - Malay Mail].

Meanwhile, Malaysia secured RM4.6 billion in investments at the SEMICON SEA 2025 event, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praising the Johor-Singapore zone as a model for cross-border cooperation. Additionally, OCBC Bank announced a further RM3 billion investment in this economic zone, reinforcing Malaysia's commitment to enhancing its regional economic footprint [SOURCE - Malay Mail].

Japan is also making strides in regional cooperation, backing Johor's aspirations to become an ASEAN smart mobility hub, which aligns with its broader strategy to deepen technological and green investment ties in the region [SOURCE - Malay Mail].

In the realm of international relations, China is positioning itself as a nuclear energy superpower, with plans to expand its nuclear power generation capacity significantly by 2035. Concurrently, India is closely monitoring China's rare earth mineral supplies as it seeks to reduce its dependence on Chinese imports [SOURCE - Armstrong Economics].

Tensions in the South China Sea continue to escalate, with China showcasing its naval capabilities while Japan and the Philippines conduct joint coast guard drills. This military posturing underscores the growing security concerns in the region, particularly regarding China's assertiveness [SOURCE - The Manila Times].

In economic developments, Vietnam is ramping up its agricultural exports, particularly in pangasius, with the U.S. exempting several Vietnamese exporters from duties, further bolstering the sector [SOURCE - Undercurrent News]. Additionally, Russia is looking to enhance its energy cooperation with Vietnam, signaling a potential shift in regional energy dynamics [SOURCE - TASS].

In the context of Myanmar, the humanitarian crisis continues to unfold, with Bangladesh seeking international support to address the Rohingya refugee situation. Recent discussions with U.S. officials highlight the urgency of resolving this ongoing crisis [SOURCE - The Daily Star].

Oceania Stability Ratings and News Summary

More Unstable

🇫🇯 Fiji, 🇰🇮 Kiribati, 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands, 🇳🇷 Nauru, 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea, 🇼🇸 Samoa, 🇻🇺 Vanuatu

More Stable

No countries were more stable over this period

Unchanged

🇦🇺 Australia, 🇫🇲 Federated States of Micronesia, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇵🇼 Palau, 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands, 🇹🇴 Tonga, 🇹🇻 Tuvalu

Regional News Summary

Australia is currently grappling with significant economic concerns, as a recent Lowy Institute survey reveals that citizens are more apprehensive about a potential global economic downturn than the tariffs imposed by major trading partners. This shift in focus underscores a broader anxiety regarding the stability of the economy amidst international uncertainties [SOURCE - Lowy Institute].

In the realm of international relations, Australia has taken a firm stance by imposing sanctions on 60 Russian vessels, marking its first significant action against Russia's shadow fleet [SOURCE - gCaptain]. Additionally, Australia has joined forces with Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK to express concerns over Israel's human rights record, while also advocating for de-escalation in the Middle East and supporting US military actions against Iran [SOURCE - ABC News].

On the trade front, Australian businesses are poised to benefit from an influx of Indian exporters leveraging free trade agreements between the two nations [SOURCE - Economic Times]. In a related development, logistics technology firm Shipsy is expanding its operations in Australia, establishing a regional headquarters in Sydney to cater to its growing client base [SOURCE - Manila Times].

In terms of defense and security, Australia has announced that its defense spending will be aligned with national needs rather than external pressures, while also enhancing security cooperation with the European Union [SOURCE - Japan Times].

Meanwhile, Air New Zealand is ramping up its summer capacity to Australia and the Pacific, reflecting a positive outlook for regional travel [SOURCE - Radio New Zealand].

Turning to New Zealand, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has been active on the diplomatic front, meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade and emphasizing the importance of free trade and open markets [SOURCE - ABC News]. However, New Zealand's decision to halt funding to the Cook Islands due to its growing ties with China has sparked controversy, with opposition parties expressing solidarity with the Cook Islands [SOURCE - ABC].

In the context of the US-Iran conflict, New Zealand faces criticism for its perceived neutrality following US strikes on Iran, with calls from the Green Party for a stronger condemnation of the actions [SOURCE - The Daily Blog].

Fiji is experiencing a slow but steady economic rise, as highlighted in a recent World Bank report. The report attributes this growth to advancements in infrastructure, agriculture, and tourism, with expectations for continued progress [SOURCE - RNZ]. However, ethnic community groups are urging the Fijian government to strengthen hate speech laws in response to rising concerns about hate speech and racial violence [SOURCE - RNZ].

In Samoa, the police have launched an investigation into allegations of voter fraud ahead of the upcoming elections, a critical move to ensure the integrity of the electoral process [SOURCE - RNZ].

Carpe tomorrow!