Now for a look at stories making headlines around the world and we start in Japan.<br />The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has decided to go ahead with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's proposal to amend the country's pacifist Constitution. <br />Abe has long wanted to change Article 9 to add an explicit reference to Japan's Self Defense Forces.<br /> LDP lawmakers have been discussing the issue for months, with some suggesting Article 9 should also have a paragraph banning a Japanese military with "war potential" be removed.<br /> Others are opposed to that idea as it could bring public backlash, and raise concerns that Japan is moving away from its pacifist postwar stance.<br />After a meeting on the issue on Thursday, the LDP agreed to create a new "Article 9-2" section that states the SDF shall be maintained "as an armed organization" for Japan to take "necessary self-defense measures." <br />A two-thirds majority in both chambers of the parliament, followed by majority support in a national referendum is needed to amend the Constitution. <br />
