Japan-Philippines “Platinum Era”: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared ties with Japan have entered a “platinum era” after a four-day state visit and talks with PM Takaichi Sanae, including plans to elevate cooperation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Maritime Tensions: China’s Coast Guard carried out “law enforcement” patrols east of Taiwan, accusing Japan and the Philippines of illegal maritime boundary talks; Taiwan rejected Beijing’s claims. AI Boom Hits Markets: Japan’s Nikkei 225 crossed 67,000 for the first time as SoftBank overtook Toyota to become Japan’s most valuable company, fueled by AI optimism and a €75bn France data-center plan. Defense & Security Talk: South Korea and Japan discussed a possible logistics-sharing deal (ACSA) while agreeing to resume joint search-and-rescue drills after nine years. Economy Watch: Japan’s Q1 capital spending was nearly flat year-on-year, with Middle East uncertainty clouding the outlook. Public Safety Tech: An AI system is being used at stations and facilities to prevent suicide by jumping, with reported life-saving interventions. Culture & Sports: Arashi held its final concert at Tokyo Dome; Nagasaki Velca won its first B.League title. Environment: Eight crested ibises were released into the wild in Japan’s Noto region decades after extinction.