Japan aims to open door wider to blue-collar workers
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet approved draft legislation on Friday to open the door to more overseas blue-collar workers in sectors grappling with labor shortages, a controversial policy shift in immigration-shy Japan.
Trump, Xi upbeat on trade after phone call; U.S. targets more Chinese firms
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who spoke by telephone on Thursday, expressed optimism about resolving their trade dispute ahead of a high-stakes meeting at the end of November in Argentina.
Israeli official says Khashoggi death ‘despicable’, but Iran greater challenge
An Israeli official on Friday called the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul “despicable” but said that cementing ties with Gulf states in the struggle against Iran was Israel’s overriding concern.
Killings in India’s northeast raise tension over citizenship survey
Suspected Indian militants shot dead five Bengali-speaking Hindu men in a sensitive border state late on Thursday, police said, as tension grows over a controversial citizenship test to identify illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh.
U.S. grants eight countries Iran sanctions waivers: Bloomberg
The U.S. government has agreed to let eight countries, including close allies South Korea and Japan, as well as India, keep buying Iranian oil after it reimposes sanctions on Tehran next week, Bloomberg cited a U.S. official as saying.
Exclusive: Sri Lanka risks EU trade concessions if any back-sliding on rights
The European Union will consider stripping Sri Lanka of its duty-free access if it backs off commitments on rights, the EU ambassador said, amid worries stoked by the president’s replacing of the elected premier by a wartime nationalist.
Saudi coalition in Yemen attacks Sanaa sites, clashes in Hodeidah
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said it attacked Sanaa International Airport and an adjoining airbase being used by Houthi insurgents, as the two warring sides also clashed further west in the country’s main port city.
Turkey says Roketsan, Aselsan to produce first marine missiles
Turkey’s Defence Industry Directorate (SSB) has signed a deal with missile manufacturer Roketsan for the mass production of the country’s first marine missiles, the SSB said on Friday.
Turkey has not received notification regarding Iran sanctions waiver: minister
Turkey has not received written notification regarding any waiver on buying Iranian oil after the United States reimposes sanctions on Tehran from next week but it has heard rumors on the issue, its energy minister said on Friday.
China says Xi-Trump call was quite positive
China’s foreign ministry said on Friday that the previous day’s telephone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump was quite positive.
