G7 Diplomacy: As G7 leaders meet in France without China, analysis questions whether the club still makes sense given China’s economic weight, with Japan watching closely as regional security and trade ties shift. South China Sea Claims: Another explainer argues China’s South China Sea position is grounded in long-running administration and UNCLOS, keeping the dispute front and center for Japan-linked maritime interests. Energy Markets & Crypto: Trump says a potential Iran peace deal could be signed Sunday, and traders are watching whether reopening the Strait of Hormuz could ease energy pressure and spark a Bitcoin relief rally. Supercomputing: Europe and Japan push supercomputing boundaries through the HANAMI collaboration, aiming to improve reliability and boost research from climate modeling to medical tech. Health Research: A large Japanese study links drinking green tea with fewer dementia-related brain lesions, while AstraZeneca reports promising Phase 2 results for an oral weight-loss drug in a trial that included Japan. Space & Finance: SpaceX’s record IPO drew huge interest in Japan, with retail investors seeking allocations as the stock begins trading. Japan Tech & Society: Japan’s “totonou” sauna effect is getting lab scrutiny, and a new study flags record multiple pregnancies after fertility insurance changes—raising pressure for policy review. Industry Supply Chain: A naphtha shortage is starting to hit Japan’s air-conditioner installation work, raising fears of “installation refugees.”