Japanese PM's remarks on non-nuclear principles in Hiroshima criticized as ambiguous
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday attended a memorial ceremony in Hiroshima marking the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the western Japanese city.
In her address at the event, Takaichi was notably vague on Japan's long-held Three Non-Nuclear Principles, stopping short of explicitly pledging that the country will uphold them.
Japan's Mainichi Shimbun reported that although Takaichi said Japan upholds the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, her wording differed subtly from that of previous prime ministers, as she did not clearly state that the country will continue to maintain them in the future.
Iran, Oman reach understanding on Hormuz Strait reopening deal
Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on the outlines of an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, Saudi-based Al Hadath news channel and Al Arabiya news channel reported Thursday, both citing high-ranking sources.
The sources said the agreement, which still needs approval by Iran's Supreme National Security Council and could be announced within days, aims to resume navigation in the waterway.
Vessels entering the strait will use a route close to Iran, while those leaving will take one close to Oman. No transit fees or service charges will be imposed, and regional parties may participate in demining and technical procedures, the sources said.
Trump signs executive order to impose 15 pct tariff on polysilicon imports
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order imposing minimum import prices and a 15 percent tariff on products made from polysilicon, a key material for solar panels and semiconductors.
The minimum import prices will be set at 21 U.S. dollars per kilogram for polysilicon and 100 dollars per kilogram for polysilicon ingots and wafers, according to a White House proclamation. The new trade measures are scheduled to take effect on Dec. 4.
Trump also directed the U.S. Commerce Department to establish a program to encourage investment in domestic production of raw polysilicon and related downstream products.
100 deaths in mass border crossing into Spain's Ceuta
About 100 people died during a mass border crossing into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta last week, Ceuta President Juan Jesus Vivas told an extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on Thursday.
Vivas said about 80,000 people entered Ceuta, nearly 75,000 of whom subsequently returned voluntarily.
Between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in the enclave, leaving reception centers overwhelmed and creating a severe humanitarian emergency, he said, calling for stronger security, more reception resources and greater support from EU agencies.
Houthis claim large-scale missile, drone attacks on gov't forces in E. Yemen
Yemen's Houthi group claimed Thursday that it has carried out a "large-scale" military operation using ballistic missiles and drones against government forces in the eastern provinces of Marib and Hadramout, claiming "hundreds of casualties."
In a televised statement broadcast by the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the attacks hit military positions in Ruwaik in Marib and in Thaniyah and Al-Abr in neighboring Hadramout, including military camps and troop gatherings belonging to the 1st and 3rd divisions of the newly-formed, Saudi-backed Yemeni emergency forces.
He claimed that "hundreds" of government personnel were killed or wounded and that military vehicles, weapons depots and other facilities were destroyed or set ablaze. He also said military bases in Al-Wadi'ah, an area on the Yemen-Saudi Arabia border, were targeted.
Ebola caseload in DR Congo tops 4,000
The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reached 4,053, including 1,850 deaths, according to an update released Thursday by the country's health authorities.
A total of 694 patients remain in isolation or hospital care, while 793 people have recovered.
International medical humanitarian organization Medecins Sans Frontieres warned Wednesday that the Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC is "more critical than ever," spreading at an alarming and unprecedented pace with "no sign of slowing down."■
