Asia
Japan and US put munitions production at the centre of regional deterrence
Shinjiro Koizumi and Pete Hegseth linked industrial capacity to denial-based defence while Tokyo prepares to update its security strategy.
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Results for “import demand”
Asia
Africa
Naira and Ugandan shilling face pressure as other African currencies steady
Import demand is weighing on Nigeria and Uganda, while dollar supply and corporate sales are cushioning Kenya, Ghana and Zambia.
United States
Washington reopens direct channel to Myanmar's military government
Direct US engagement with Min Aung Hlaing's government began around an American detainee and cyber-scam centres but has widened toward rare-earth access, marking the highest-level contact since the 2021 coup.
Latin America
US envoy's Magellan remarks trigger sovereignty backlash in Chile
Ambassador Brandon Judd appeared to connect US support for Chilean sovereignty in the Strait of Magellan to cooperation on Washington's priorities, prompting official rejection before he said his words had been misrepresented.
Oceania
Australian Army builds a decentralised drone fleet for larger-scale use
The Australian Army operates drones in the low thousands across about 20 light-aircraft types, combining central programmes with unit-level purchases and a sovereign quadcopter effort created after DJI systems were barred.
Middle East
Iran's rial falls to new low as central bank offers up to $2 billion
The currency weakened beyond 2.68 million rials per dollar as sanctions, the naval blockade and inflation above 70% drove demand for hard currency and gold despite a state-bank intervention.
Africa
Morocco's first female prime minister faces test between symbolism and reform
Fatima Zahra Mansouri's appointment breaks a political barrier, but advocates say its lasting significance will depend on legal reform, cabinet powers and progress on Morocco's long-delayed family code.
Europe
Italy says EU naval force remains too small to secure Red Sea shipping
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto welcomed new European contributions to Operation Aspides but said six deployed warships were not enough to protect traffic through Bab el-Mandeb.
Oceania
Pacific pre-COP puts island climate demands on stage despite thin global turnout
Leaders will meet in Tuvalu and Fiji to defend the 1.5°C goal, ocean protection and resilience finance, but only five leaders from outside the Pacific bloc are confirmed.
Europe
Pashinyan links new regional rail routes to Armenia's EAEU trade agenda
Armenia's prime minister presented the TRIPP corridor and reopened regional infrastructure as a route to wider rail access, while urging the Eurasian Economic Union to remove persistent barriers to trade and transit.
Africa
Barrick and Mali gold unions sign agreement that removes immediate strike threat
A new collective bargaining agreement covering Loulo-Gounkoto workers cancelled planned walkouts over overtime, expenses and labour commitments at one of Mali's largest gold operations.
India
India's rupee and bonds face renewed pressure as oil rises and Iran diplomacy fades
Elevated oil prices, multi-year highs in global yields and growing expectations of an RBI rate increase left Indian markets exposed during a holiday-shortened week, despite continuing central-bank support.