Japan has lost 2.5% of its population in five years

Today’s headlines: Washington and Tehran are close to an agreement, but differences remain over stocks of enriched uranium; In India, Min Aung Hlaing’s first trip outside Myanmar since his election as president; Defence ministers from 44 countries (but not China) at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore; Russian drone strikes residential building in Romania: Everest in under 10 hours: speed record broken.

JAPAN

Japan’s population, including foreign residents, has fallen by a record 3.1 million people, or 2.5%, over the past five years, dropping to 123,049,524 last year. This is revealed by the latest census data, conducted every five years, published today. The total population has fallen for the third consecutive census. Furthermore, as of 1 October last year, 30.1% of the population was concentrated in the Tokyo metropolitan area, exceeding the 30% threshold for the first time.

IRAN-UNITED STATES

US Vice-President J. D. Vance stated that Washington and Tehran “have not yet reached” a final agreement, but that the parties are close to a deal. Vance explained that some critical issues remain in the negotiations, particularly regarding Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium and its right to nuclear enrichment. According to sources cited by Reuters, the United States and Iran have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and reopen shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, whilst negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme continue.

MYANMAR-INDIA

Former General Min Aung Hlaing will visit India from 30 May to 3 June on his first official overseas trip since becoming President of Myanmar. Accompanied by ministers and officials, he will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and representatives from the business community. According to New Delhi, the visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. Min Aung Hlaing, a former military chief, became president last April, retaining power five years after the military coup in Myanmar.

SINGAPORE

Defence leaders, military chiefs and security experts from around the world are gathering in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s leading security summit which began today. The meeting is taking place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions, including conflicts in the Middle East and Europe and doubts over the United States’ long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific. Debates will focus on Washington’s strategic priorities, China’s rapid military modernisation and its growing regional influence. Delegations from 44 countries are attending. Vietnamese leader To Lam will open the summit, whilst Chinese Minister Dong Jun, as was the case last year, will be absent: Beijing has sent only a delegation from the National Defence University of the People’s Liberation Army.

NEPAL

US runner Tyler Andrews made history yesterday by climbing Mount Everest from Base Camp to the summit in 9 hours and 55 minutes, setting a new speed record for an oxygen-assisted ascent. Andrews beat the previous record of 10 hours and 56 minutes set in 2003 by Lakpa Gelu Sherpa. This was Andrews’ sixth attempt in two years. The feat is part of the charity initiative ‘Project Himalaya: Run Everest’, dedicated to the memory of runner Greg Krupa and aimed at supporting the Chaski Foundation’s youth sports programmes in Nepal and Ecuador.

RUSSIA-ROMANIA

A Russian drone struck a residential building in Romania, causing a fire and injuring two people, according to the Romanian Ministry of Defence. The incident occurred in the eastern city of Galați during a series of Russian attacks on Ukraine near the border. The drone’s entire explosive payload detonated on the tenth floor of the building. Although Russian drones have crossed the Romanian border in the past during the war in Ukraine, this is the first time Romanian citizens have been injured. Romania’s Foreign Ministry described the incident as “a serious and irresponsible escalation” by Russia and called on NATO to speed up the transfer of anti-drone systems to the country.

ARMENIA-UNITED STATES

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stopped over at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport for about an hour during his trip from India, meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, with whom he signed a charter establishing a “global strategic partnership” between the two countries, along with framework agreements on critical minerals and rare earth metals, as well as cooperation in the development of the so-called “Trump Corridor for International Peace and Prosperity” from Azerbaijan to Europe, via Armenia.

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