AGP Executive Report

Quad Minerals: A new US Studies Centre report lays out how the US, Japan, India and Australia can operationalise the 2025 Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, warning China still dominates key chokepoints and pushing for more secure, ex-China supply chains. Regional Security: US CENTCOM says it has started strikes after Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as tankers were hit again and Washington revoked a license tied to Iranian oil sales. Tech & IP: China reportedly surged ahead of the US in fintech patent filings over the past decade, with AI-backed applications cited as a driver. Medtech Push: Singapore is positioning itself as an Asia-Pacific medtech hub, with its regulatory and productisation ecosystem helping turn prototypes into globally validated devices. Politics at Home: Saskatchewan’s NDP is challenging a minister’s $52,600 Asia trip, while the government defends it as necessary for partnerships. Sports: Bangladesh is in talks to host the 2027 Asia Cup, with Mirpur, Sylhet and Chattogram among the proposed venues.

Middle East Tensions: Iran’s IRGC fired missiles at ships in the Strait of Hormuz, including a report that one hit involved a Qatari LNG tanker; Iran’s foreign minister warned talks won’t start if threats continue, while oil prices reacted to the risk. Markets: Asian trading stayed jittery after Samsung’s profit surge failed to calm valuation fears, dragging South Korea’s KOSPI and weighing on tech sentiment across the region; India’s Sensex and Nifty slipped slightly as investors booked profits ahead of US Fed minutes. India-Indonesia Digital Push: PM Modi said India’s UPI will integrate with Indonesia’s payment system, with both sides also backing cross-border QR links and deeper digital cooperation. Food Security: India will supply 100 tonnes of high-quality wheat seeds to Indonesia to strengthen regional food stability. Disaster Response: In India’s Wayanad, landslide rescue efforts continued after two deaths were confirmed. Science & Water: Chinese researchers proposed a framework to better track Tianshan glacier melt and improve sustainable water planning for Central Asia’s arid regions.

Immigration-targeted crime: Massachusetts prosecutors say they dismantled a multistate burglary ring that targeted Indian American and East Asian households, using GPS trackers, hidden cameras and Wi‑Fi jammers to disable home security. Sports governance: FIFA is defending its handling of U.S. forward Folarin Balogun’s suspension after Trump’s call to Infantino helped overturn the ban, sparking fresh questions about World Cup integrity. Regional security: China’s long-range missile test in the Pacific has alarmed Australia, New Zealand and Japan, with officials calling it destabilizing and urging more transparency. India’s justice and politics: A Ram Mandir donation embezzlement SIT preliminary report cites around 70 CCTV incidents and lapses like no frisking; the trust also accepted resignations and named an interim general secretary. Education and identity: New York City’s NYPD reports anti-Jewish hate crimes rose to 178 in the first half of 2026, while other groups saw declines. Travel costs: Japan tripled its departure tax to about $30 to fund anti-overcrowding measures. Health research: Studies highlight BCG’s immune effects in the brain/spinal cord and how exercise can slow muscle ageing.

Security & Trade: India’s western coastline is flagged as a growing corridor for illegal arms smuggling from Pakistan, with traffickers using fishing vessels and small craft to slip past surveillance. Diplomacy: PM Narendra Modi arrives in Indonesia for a three-nation tour, with fighter-jet escort and a push to deepen defence, trade and energy ties. Bilateral Economics: A trade outlook says India-Indonesia goods trade has fallen sharply over three fiscal years, with exports more than halving. Cybercrime: Researchers warn of scammers posing as Interpol investigators to deliver ransomware via password-protected archives. Health & Science: A study suggests the BCG vaccine may reshape the brain’s immune environment and influence Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers. Sports: Australia’s World Cup run ends in a penalty shootout loss to Egypt, with players vowing to refocus on the Asian Cup. Tech & Policy: Shenzhen will host an APEC “Tech for Good” workshop on responsible digital governance.

West Asia Diplomacy: The next US-Iran technical talks are likely to be held in Islamabad around July 11, after Switzerland talks and amid Tehran’s Khamenei funeral schedule. Iran Succession Watch: Reports say a key presumed successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, was notably absent from the main funeral prayers—fueling questions about whether the succession is tightly managed or contested. South Asia Security & Justice: India’s DRI seized more than 1 lakh codeine cough syrup bottles in Tripura and West Bengal, targeting narcotics supply networks. Climate & Disasters: Mumbai faced heavy monsoon downpours with IMD red alerts, 142 tree falls and two deaths, while Israel’s meteorological service warned El Niño could bring extreme storms and flooding. Economy & Markets: UOB says the Philippine peso is rebounding as the oil shock unwinds, even as Asia’s currencies struggle against the dollar. Regional Environment Policy: ESCAP ministers adopted a new Asia-Pacific roadmap to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution together. Sports: Australia won the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup; Cabo Verde returned home after reaching the World Cup knockout stage.

Pharma & Trade: CPHI South East Asia 2026 in Bangkok (July 8-10) is set to pull 10,000+ visitors and 400+ exhibitors across ASEAN, with tracks on cleanrooms, natural extracts, cold-chain tech and 60+ regulatory and manufacturing sessions. Earthquake Risk: A new study maps four previously unknown fault zones off western Luzon, branching from the Philippine Fault Zone and linked to deformation beneath the Manila Trench. West Asia Politics: Iran’s Khamenei funeral drew major international attention, with Saudi Arabia sending a delegation—an unusual diplomatic signal amid ongoing regional rivalry. Cross-border Crime: Tokyo police served fresh arrest warrants on a suspected senior figure tied to a US-sancioned Asian scam network, alleging immigration-control violations. India Security & Justice: Delhi police arrested three over a fatal stabbing at DDA Park, solving the case in 18 hours. Infrastructure Push: India’s Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project begins TBM excavation from Vikhroli, targeting a 6 km tunnel under dense urban areas. Public Safety: Heavy monsoon rains hit Mumbai with multiple tree falls and waterlogging; IMD warnings remain in force. Regional Cooperation on Drugs: India hosts BRICS heads of anti-drug agencies in Guwahati to shift cooperation toward operational enforcement.

Saudi Soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr named Ange Postecoglou as head coach on a two-year deal, betting on the Australian’s big-club pedigree to steer a star-studded squad. China Tech & Security: China plans to export seabed marine-cable detection robots to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe, aiming to challenge foreign dominance in offshore infrastructure maintenance. Southeast Asia Health: The Philippines joined a regional push with Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore to strengthen dengue surveillance and outbreak response after signing an MOU at the Asia Dengue Summit. India Courts & Governance: India’s Lok Sabha Speaker said the impeachment probe report into Justice Yashwant Verma will be tabled in the Monsoon Session, with parties to decide next steps. India Economy Watch: Assam reported 15% year-on-year GST growth in June, outpacing the national average. Sports (Asia-linked): Malaysia’s junior hockey team heads to Japan for test matches ahead of the Junior Asia Cup, while Wimbledon’s Alexandra Eala advanced after beating Iga Swiatek. Global Markets: UN FAO said global food prices fell for a second month in June as sugar, grains and dairy eased.

Cybercrime Crackdown: India opened an investigation into reports of Indians trafficked into Myanmar cyber-scam compounds and forced into crypto fraud, with cases involving passport confiscation and cross-border probes. West Asia Fallout Watch: Delhi rolled back its work-from-home and staggered timings after US-Iran tensions eased, while Indian airlines reported improving international traffic as fuel costs soften. Economy & Trade: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India weathered the West Asia shock through subsidies, “three Fs” (fuel, fertiliser, foreign exchange) and strong domestic consumption, alongside new EU-India trade momentum. Security & Law: India designated 23 people linked to JeM/LeT and others as terrorists under UAPA, and a Delhi court reserved orders on bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. Politics & Society: TMC’s state president Chandrima Bhattacharya resigned amid an office takeover row, while Congress MP Jairam Ramesh renewed allegations of corruption in temple trusts. Weather Disruptions: Mumbai shut schools and colleges for the afternoon as IMD issued a red alert for extremely heavy rain. Business & Industry: Jaiprakash Power Ventures filed its BRSR for 2025-26, and India’s IT firms face muted growth as budgets shift toward AI and GCCs.

Markets & Rates: Asian and European stocks mostly rose Friday as tech rebounded and investors digested softer US jobs data, easing fears of higher borrowing costs and a near-term Fed hike. West Asia Diplomacy: Iran’s leaders held a tearful funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after reports of a US-Israel strike, with India and other delegations attending amid tight security. US Pressure Campaign: A report says the US ran a behind-the-scenes push to deter countries from attending the funeral, warning of aid cuts and damage to ties. India Politics & Justice: A Delhi court ordered police to register an FIR over alleged fake research papers tied to DU assistant professors, after a complaint and RTI-backed findings. Energy & Governance: The ADB proposed a regional technical assistance programme to strengthen public financial management and procurement across Asia and the Pacific, including Pakistan. Science & Deep Time: A study on early mammal fossils from southern China suggests mammals evolved bigger teeth first, then specialized diets after the dinosaur extinction. Public Health: The CDC is investigating a spreading parasite causing watery diarrhea (cyclosporiasis), with Michigan reporting a surge.

AI Education Win: The Philippines grabbed one gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the inaugural Asia-Pacific Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (APOAI 2026), finishing in a historic tie for sixth among 18 countries/territories. Markets & FX: Japan’s yen eased from record lows near 162 per dollar after weaker US jobs data, while India’s Sensex and Nifty rose as Asian markets recovered from tech-led jitters. Middle East Tensions: Iran is preparing for a dayslong funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with the state hoping mass turnout boosts its negotiating position around the Strait of Hormuz. India Courts & Digital Rights: Delhi High Court ordered India’s grievance panel to decide within 15 days on a plea to remove a Dhruv Rathee video from YouTube. Public Safety: A Mumbai elderly couple died after a fire broke out in an electric meter box in Jogeshwari East. Health Tech: Malaysia’s National Heart Institute completed Southeast Asia’s first transradial renal denervation procedure for resistant hypertension. Sports: India’s women’s badminton campaign at the Canada Open ended after second-round exits for Aakarshi Kashyap and Tanya Hemanth.

Taiwan-Japan Cultural Exchange: A century after the Noko (Nenggao) indigenous baseball team toured Japan in the 1920s, baseball is still acting like a bridge between the two sides, from Koshien success to Taiwan’s 2024 Premier12 title. AI Readiness in Southeast Asia: Thailand launched the Thailand AI Readiness Index (TARI) with a plan to publish findings in December and issue AI capability reports by 2027, aiming to turn AI adoption into a competitiveness push. Canada–Philippines Strategic Ties: Prime Minister Mark Carney met President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., agreeing to upgrade relations to a Strategic Partnership spanning nuclear energy, critical minerals, defense, cyber and maritime security. US–Korea Trade Friction: A US House committee report accuses South Korea of “discriminatory attacks” on Coupang and other US firms, alleging coercive probes and heavy penalties. Asia Deal Watch: Bain, KKR and KV Asia are shortlisted to buy a minority stake in Malaysia’s Avisena Healthcare in a deal that could value the firm around 1.5 billion ringgit. Auto Cooperation: Honda and Nissan are reportedly nearing an agreement to collaborate on shared electronic control units and in-car software, with earliest rollout expected around 2029. OpenAI and US Stakes: OpenAI has discussed offering the US government a 5% stake as Washington tightens scrutiny over AI’s risks and benefits. Regional Tech Momentum: ASEAN is opening a Korea-backed high performance computing facility in Indonesia to expand AI and data research across Southeast Asia.

Markets Jolt Across Asia: South Korea’s Kospi slid nearly 8% as chip stocks plunged after fresh AI-related jitters, with Apple reportedly in talks to buy chips from two Chinese firms and Meta said to be renting AI infrastructure—while the yen strengthened on possible Japan intervention ahead of US jobs data. China-ASEAN Diplomacy: Beijing urged Asia-Pacific states to stay “clear-eyed” and back stability over “turbulence,” pushing back on Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” framing as India hosts talks. Cambodia Banking Stress: APD customers say withdrawal limits still bite months after the bank imposed restrictions, reviving fears after earlier bank liquidations tied to scam-linked networks. India Energy/Industry Push: Adani Enterprises and Abu Dhabi’s IHC plan a $11.5bn greenfield aluminum project in Odisha, aiming for major jobs and power supply. Tech Funding Boom: Global venture funding hit a record $510bn in H1, dominated by AI—OpenAI and Anthropic alone took 43%. Regional Business Expansion: SOCAR Trading eyes growth in Africa and Southeast Asia, while also expanding Central Asian fuel exports via Uzbekistan. Water Tech Breakthrough: Chinese researchers unveiled a solar desalination prototype that runs without electricity and could beat bottled water on cost.

ASEAN Sports: The Philippines men’s football team booked a spot at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after India withdrew, with the POC saying the Indian squad failed strict government selection criteria; the Philippines plans to send 443 athletes (up to 700 with officials), while gymnastics qualification is still being confirmed. Health & Food Security: WOAH reports African swine fever is easing—new outbreaks in May fell to 32 in domestic pigs and 478 in wild boars, with Europe driving most activity and Asia-Pacific seeing just three domestic outbreaks. Agriculture Outlook: The OECD-FAO projects rising global farm output over 2026-2035, with much of the growth in Asian developing economies; beef production is expected to keep climbing, led by China, India and Pakistan. Public Health Research: St. Jude’s influenza researcher Lisa Kercher visited Nome to study bird flu risks tied to migration routes across the Bering Strait, aiming to fill surveillance gaps. Energy Markets: Saudi Aramco sold spot crude cargoes to Asian buyers on supertankers, reflecting how the Iran war has reshaped Middle East export flows and pricing.

Central Asia Politics: Kazakhstan will hold a snap parliamentary election on Aug 23 after a new constitution reshapes the legislature into a single chamber. Aviation & Connectivity: President Tokayev met Air Astana’s CEO as the carrier plans fleet expansion and more routes, with direct links to the US and Japan flagged as priorities. West Asia Shock on Travel: Gulf carriers are regaining Europe-bound passengers as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad restore flights after Iran-linked disruptions, squeezing the earlier gains of Asian airlines. Trade & Investment Risk: An ERIA economist warns China-linked firms can’t rely on trade deals to shield against Indonesia’s sudden policy shifts, from taxes to nickel quotas. Defense Tech: Japan is pushing for large-scale drone production, studying Ukraine’s battlefield lessons as it accelerates unmanned systems. Development Finance: The ADB approved $200m emergency support for Sri Lanka’s cyclone recovery, targeting roads, irrigation, housing and livelihoods. Sports (Asia Youth): India’s junior badminton and table tennis teams opened strongly in Asia events in Japan, with multiple medal paths secured. Markets & Wealth: UBS says global wealth rose 10.8% in 2025 and the number of new millionaires hit a record, while Asia markets stayed mixed amid macro caution.

Afghanistan Fuel Crunch: Kabul petrol jumps nearly 14% (AFN66 to AFN75 a litre), squeezing households and businesses as imported supply routes face disruptions and aid groups warn higher fuel costs can fan inflation. West Philippine Sea Tensions: The Philippines says it spotted 44 Chinese vessels in a week, with 27 around Scarborough Shoal, underscoring Beijing’s “permanent” coast guard presence and frequent encounters. India Financial Stability: The RBI says India’s banking system is resilient and well-capitalised despite global shocks, but flags risks from supply-chain uncertainty, public debt and bond-market fragilities. Oil Market Watch: Fitch expects Brent to slide to $70 by Q4 2026, treating the Hormuz shock as temporary even as credit conditions worsen. Shipping Signal: Maersk lifts its outlook, citing resilient containerized demand “particularly across Asia,” suggesting trade flows are holding despite regional disruptions. Tech & Payments: Singapore’s Qashier raises $6m Series A+ to expand omnichannel merchant payments across Southeast Asia. Health Guidance: NHS draft guidance says millions of women with irregular periods should be checked for PMOS, often underdiagnosed.

Aviation Watch: IATA says global passenger demand fell 2.2% in May, with the drop centered on Middle East carriers (down 28.4% y/y) even as load factors hit record highs. Regional Security: The Philippines convened an ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting working group to prep deliverables for later this year’s ADMM and ADMM-Plus, including peacekeeping efforts. Fintech Expansion: Malaysia’s Paydibs plans to enter Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines by year-end, then expand across South Asia, starting with cross-border payments for e-commerce merchants. South Asia Water Tensions: Pakistan again escalated rhetoric over the Indus Water Treaty, warning it will “chop off the hand” of anyone trying to control its water supply. Tech & AI: Two Asian AI model launches—China’s 360 and Japan’s Sakana AI—arrive as US export restrictions keep pushing developers to innovate around the rules. Markets: India’s Sensex and Nifty slipped as investors watched US-Iran Doha talks; meanwhile, smartphone makers in China reportedly cut 2026 production targets amid a RAM shortage.