Japan-India Maritime Security: Defence Ministers Rajnath Singh and Shinjiro Koizumi signed a maritime security MoA and agreed to deepen naval shipbuilding/design talks, mine countermeasures, and intelligence sharing to back a free and open Indo-Pacific. Defense Budget Push: Japan’s Defense Ministry is seeking a record ¥8.9 trillion for FY2027, with plans spanning AI/drone countering, longer operational endurance, defense industrial base upgrades, and new undersea hypersonic missile work. North Korea Missile Round: North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan as Japan and the U.S.-ROK posture shifted, prompting Tokyo to protest and coordinate with allies. ICC Sanctions Fallout: The U.S. sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane, drawing sharp Japanese pushback and raising pressure on Tokyo’s balancing act between alliance ties and support for international law. Foreign Policy Gulf Tour: FM Motegi met Saudi and Oman officials, stressing safe Hormuz passage, energy resilience, and regional de-escalation amid Iran-related concerns. Work Visa Categories: Japan published 16 job categories eligible for foreign work visas, ranging from medical and research to skilled labor and technical intern training. Space Watch Network: The U.S. and Japan completed deployment of space surveillance sensors on Japan’s Quasi-Zenith satellites to strengthen Indo-Pacific monitoring. U.P.-Japan Investment Drive: India’s Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath used a Japan investment meet to pitch industrial expansion, including major project groundbreakings.