The Japanese government will postpone until 2014 a decision on whether to try to alter interpretations of its constitution to allow the country to exercise collective self-defense, an unnamed official said Sept. 21, Kyodo reported.
Russia may change its position on Syria if it sees any "cheating" by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, the Kremlin chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov said Sept. 21, Reuters reported, citing Russian media.
A panel of Japanese experts will meet at Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's office Sept. 17 to discuss whether to lift a self-imposed restriction on exercising the right of collective self-defense, Kyodo News reported.
A Syrian helicopter was shot down Sept. 16 by the Turkish air force after it violated Turkey's air space, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said, Dogan news agency reported.
India successfully test-fired the Agni-V, the country's longest-range nuclear-capable missile, for the second time in less than 1.5 years on Sept. 15, Indian Defense Ministry sources said, IANS reported.