Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that the research delegation would visit the Kurils in late June. Japanese media confirmed later in the month that a group of about 70 people would be led by Abe’s adviser Eiichi Hasegawa. The group is expected to visit the facilities that have been recognized as prospective for development of joint Russian-Japanese economic activity on the Kuril Islands. Source Sputnik
Bulgarian Defense Minister Krasimir Karakachanov wants to protect the European Union’s external borders with arms, he said in an interview published Thursday. Karakachanov told German newspaper Die Welt that he wants NATO or EU forces in Greece and Italy to stop people from entering the continent in large numbers. Source: Greek Reporter
China’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday once again asked India to withdraw all its troops and equipment from Chinese territory, as the border standoff in the Dong Lang (Doklam) area approaches its second month. Source: People’s Daily
Spanish police early on Friday said they killed the alleged perpetrators of a suspected “terrorist attack” in the town of Cambrils, south of Barcelona. Six civilians and one police officer were hurt when a car drove into people in the Spanish seaside resort of Cambrils early on Friday. Source: Al Jazeera
