Yen Pressure: The yen neared ¥160 to the dollar as the US currency surged on rate-hike expectations. Japan’s finance minister warned Tokyo would respond to excessive moves, putting traders on alert for intervention. Security and Diplomacy: Washington is seeking to nearly triple Japan’s payments for hosting US forces to about ¥3 trillion over five years from 2027. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to attend the APEC summit in China, amid fresh tensions over Japan’s defense buildup and reports it may reconsider nuclear-weapons restrictions. Digital Resilience: A global Microsoft outage disrupted Japanese government systems and businesses, while a survey found firms struggling to recruit cybersecurity specialists. Animal Health: Japan confirmed its second bird-flu outbreak of the season at a Kyoto poultry farm, prompting plans to cull about 200,000 birds; Hong Kong suspended poultry imports from Japan. Fukushima: The latest treated-water discharge from the Fukushima Daiichi plant brought the cumulative release to about 196,000 tonnes, according to the operator. Business: Yamaha agreed to acquire UK virtual-production company Disguise for £215 million, expanding its reach in live events and immersive entertainment.