Briefly

NORTHEAST ASIA

Japan's claims to islets anger S. Korea

South Korea lodged a strong protest on Tuesday against Japan's renewed territorial claims to the Dokdo islets, called Takeshima by Japan, that lie halfway between the two countries. The Foreign Ministry said Seoul strongly protests against Tokyo over its repeated futile claims to Dokdo, which is "explicitly our inherent territory historically, geographically and by international law", through Japan's diplomatic blue book. It urged Tokyo to retract the claims, saying South Korea will sternly deal with any provocation by Japan over the islets. The ministry summoned Hirohisa Soma, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese embassy in Seoul, to protest against Japan's annual foreign policy paper.

YEMEN

Govt, Houthi rebels exchange 21 prisoners

Forces loyal to the government and the Houthi rebel group exchanged a new batch of 21 prisoners in the country's turbulent province of Marib on Monday, an official said. The latest deal came through a mediation by local tribal chiefs "representing the two warring sides in Marib and other major cities", the official said on condition of anonymity. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthis seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

UNITED STATES

Harris vows $310m to control migration

Vice-President Kamala Harris unveiled an additional $310 million in US aid to Central America after a virtual meeting with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei on Monday, as the two countries agreed to work together to control migration. President Joe Biden gave Harris the job of leading US efforts with Mexico and Central America's Northern Triangle countries－Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala－to stop a growing number of migrants from crossing into the United States. In March, Mexico said more than 18,000 unaccompanied Central American children crossed its territory en route to the US.

Xinhua - Agencies