Asia’s defence industry is moving to the forefront of business news, with India confirming a BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam and signalling that Indonesia could soon follow, underscoring New Delhi’s push to deepen strategic and commercial ties across ASEAN. In Europe, officials say Russian intelligence is stepping up efforts to bypass sanctions and capture Western technology, a reminder that geopolitics is still reshaping trade, supply chains and industrial security. Closer to consumers, Australia is grappling with a fast-growing illegal tobacco market that is draining tax revenue and enriching organised crime, exposing the limits of enforcement as price pressures persist. Property markets are telling their own story of caution: a $1.1 million beachside apartment sold with just one active bidder, reflecting buyers’ reluctance to chase prices in a softer market.