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 ...
Opposition lawmakers in France have brought down Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government in a historic no-confidence vote on Thursday. Calls for President Emmanuel Macron's resignation are now growing, deepening the country's political crisis.
The proposed budget, totaling sixty billion euros, was met with strong opposition from both the far-right and left-wing lawmakers, who argue that the measures would disproportionately impact the French public. The budget, which aims to address France’s growing financial challenges, has sparked widespread protests and calls for government accountability. This is the first time since 1962 that a French government has lost such a vote.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN) party, discussed the increasing pressure on President Emmanuel Macron. While she did not directly call for his resignation, Le Pen warned that continued disregard for voters' concerns would strengthen the pressure on the president. She suggested that Macron would ultimately have to decide whether to call for early elections or remain in power despite mounting opposition.
"I am not pushing for, I am not asking for the resignation of Emmanuel Macron," Le Pen said. "But if we don’t take the route of respecting the voters and political forces and elections, well, then the pressure on the president will of course be stronger and stronger. But he’s the only one who will make the decision, who will have the last word, on whether he wants the French people to vote again before 2027 or whether he wants to stay on the horse at any price, so to speak."
Meanwhile, the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party is calling for Macron’s resignation, accusing him of repeatedly imposing policies that the public has rejected. LFI members argue that Macron’s reforms are geared towards the wealthiest, burdening public services and ordinary citizens.
Mathilde Panot, a member of parliament from the far-left party, stated, "Today, with the no-confidence motion in this government, it is Emmanuel Macron's entire politics that has been defeated, one which was defeated three times in the results of elections, one which persists in wanting to make the people and the public service pay for policy made for the richest, one which must now stop. And to get out of the impasse in which the president has placed the country, there is only one solution, we now ask Emmanuel Macron to leave."
With Prime Minister Barnier's resignation expected, France faces political uncertainty. Without a new parliamentary election until July, the country is at risk of political paralysis, which could delay key decisions, including the approval of the 2025 budget. The situation has left France’s political future in question as both the public and lawmakers demand change.
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.
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.
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.
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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