Iran is 'open' to talks on Strait of Hormuz, Iranian FM says - Middle East conflict on 15 March
Iran says it is open to talks with countries seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz - disrupted by recent attacks - as Israel continues ...
Top U.S. and Chinese officials on Sunday agreed on a trade deal framework for Presidents Trump and Xi to finalise this week, pausing new U.S. tariffs and China’s rare earth restrictions while resuming U.S. soybean exports.
.U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters after talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur that the negotiations had averted Trump’s planned 100% tariffs on Chinese imports set to begin on November 1. He added that China is expected to delay the rollout of its new rare earth licensing policy by a year for further review.
Chinese officials were more cautious, confirming only that a “preliminary consensus” had been reached, with further internal approvals required. “The U.S. position has been tough,” said Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang. “But we have engaged in constructive exchanges to explore solutions and arrangements.”
Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet Thursday at the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, to formalise the terms. While the White House has announced the meeting, Beijing has not yet confirmed it.
Bessent said he expects the tariff truce between the two countries, due to expire on November 10, to be extended and that China will soon resume large-scale purchases of U.S. soybeans after a hiatus in September. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer added that both sides had agreed to suspend certain punitive measures and to expand access to Chinese rare earths while balancing trade flows.
The discussions also covered broader issues, including the U.S. fentanyl crisis, port fees, and the ongoing transfer of TikTok to U.S. ownership — a deal Bessent said could be finalised during the Trump-Xi meeting.
Speaking after the talks, Trump expressed optimism, saying, “I think we’re going to have a deal with China.”
Tensions between the world’s two largest economies have escalated in recent weeks despite a fragile truce reached earlier this year. China’s expanded controls on rare earth exports have fuelled shortages worldwide, prompting Washington to consider new export restrictions on high-tech goods to China, including software-driven equipment such as laptops and jet engines.
A long-running investigation has suggested that the street artist known as Banksy may be legally named David Jones. A report indicates that Jones was previously known as Robin Gunningham, a name long associated with Banksy, before legally changing his name several years ago.
A widening conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered escalating military strikes across the Middle East, disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and raised concerns over global energy supplies. This live report tracks the latest developments.
Iran says it is open to talks with countries seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz - disrupted by recent attacks - as Israel continues to launch wide‑scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure in the west. This live report tracks the latest developments.
North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile on Saturday (14 March), Japanese and South Korean officials said. The development comes amid the joint annual U.S.-South Korea "Freedom Shield" military drills and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to Washington.
Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery and a key port in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region overnight (13-14 March), local authorities said, causing injuries and damage. In separate action, Russian air attacks on Ukrainian territory killed and wounded civilians near Kyiv, officials reported.
Canada and the five Nordic countries have agreed to deepen cooperation in military procurement and other areas, in the latest push by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to build new global alliances.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
Ukraine wants money and technology in return for helping Middle Eastern nations that have sought its expertise as they defend against Iranian kamikaze drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, after Kyiv sent specialists to the region.
French voters head to the polls on Sunday (15 March) to elect their mayors in a closely watched ballot seen as a test of the strength of the far-right and the resilience of mainstream parties ahead of next year's presidential vote.
Tens of millions of Vietnamese were voting on Sunday (15 March) to elect members of parliament from a list of candidates almost exclusively fielded by the Communist Party, ensuring the party's continued overwhelming dominance.
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