Markets & Policy: Japan’s 10-year government bond yield jumped to about 2.9%, the highest since 1996, as Middle East tensions pushed up oil prices and renewed worries about Japan’s fiscal outlook and the Bank of Japan’s pace. Government Efficiency: Japan’s “DOGE”-style review of special tax breaks found only one clear target for elimination so far, with Finance Ministry set to renegotiate the rest later this year. Education Reform: Japan plans to roughly double class hours for a new standalone “Information and Technology” subject in junior high, aiming to boost AI-era information literacy. Defense & Regional Tensions: North Korea slammed growing Japan–South Korea military cooperation as “self-destruction,” while Japan and the region keep focusing on missile and space security concerns. Space & Industry: ispace says it will use SpaceX Starship for a lower-cost Moon cargo service, targeting a 2030 timeline, as rare-earth export curbs also reshape Japan-linked supply chains. Travel & Lifestyle: JR Central and JR West unveiled “Supreme Class” private rooms on key Shinkansen routes, and Japan’s summer holiday budgets fell for the first time in five years amid higher prices. Weather: Typhoon Bavi is expected to bring severe winds and heavy rain to Okinawa’s Sakishima Islands.