World Cup Knockouts: Brazil and Japan kick off the Round of 32 in Houston on Monday, with Brazil aiming to bounce back after Japan’s 3-2 win in Tokyo last October and Japan betting on tactical discipline and transitions. China-Japan Maritime Tensions: Chinese coast guard ships escorted a government survey vessel near Yonaguni for days, in a move tied to Japan-Philippines maritime talks and overlapping EEZ claims near Taiwan. Export Controls Escalate: Beijing added 20 Japanese entities to its dual-use export control list and another 20 to a watch list, citing “remilitarization” concerns and tightening scrutiny on firms tied to defense and advanced tech. Imperial Succession Draft: Japan’s government unveiled a draft Imperial House Law amendment that would expand succession via adoption from former branch families and keep women’s status after marriage, likely triggering sharp Diet opposition. Domestic Transport Incident: A local train derailed at Kyoto Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line; no injuries reported and the cause is under investigation. Finance & Markets: The yen hovered near its weakest level in decades as investors weigh dollar strength and expectations around U.S. rate moves. Tech & Business: Renault began rolling out Google Gemini AI across cars with its openR link system, while SBI Holdings agreed to buy crypto exchange Bitbank.