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Japan-China Relations
Japanese Minister Wants to End Pacifism – Points to China

Japan needs to build up its military capabilities and change the pacifist parts of the country's constitution. This is what Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said in an interview with the BBC – among other things, referring to Chinese aggression.

– Given how dramatically the security situation has changed, we must adapt if Japan is to continue to be a peaceful country, says Koizumi.

The current Japanese constitution was written in 1947, in the aftermath of World War II. It states that the country may not use war or the threat of war as a way to resolve international conflicts.

Since then, Japan has not formally had a military, even though the country's "Self-Defense Force" SDF functions as such in practice.

Political situation in Niger
Shooting at airport in Niger – lasted for several hours

Explosions and gunfire have reportedly been heard at Diori Hamani airport in the capital Niamey in Niger, several media outlets report.

According to the AP, armed men have reportedly broken through the airport's security system. Witnesses and security personnel say the shooting lasted for several hours, writes AFP. The attack was then reportedly interrupted by the military.

At present, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Nor have authorities wanted to comment on the incident, according to the BBC.

Earlier this year, the airport was reportedly attacked by jihadists, where four soldiers were injured and 20 attackers were killed, according to Niger's Ministry of Defense. 

The situation in Afghanistan
Taliban have applied for visas ahead of EU meeting

Five representatives of Afghanistan's Taliban regime have applied for visas to Belgium, reports TT.

The reason is the meeting on deportations to Afghanistan that the EU Commission has taken the initiative for. A meeting that Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M) said in April that Sweden has been "strongly pushing" for.

The aim is to enable deportations to Afghanistan, which has been impossible in practice since the Taliban took power in 2021. The decision to hold the meeting at all - which is expected to take place in July - has been heavily criticized by both human rights organizations and the political opposition in Sweden.