Trump announces negotiations with Iran on 12 April in Oman

Today's news: Beijing responds to Washington over the threat of further 50% tariffs; Seven dead in Myanmar in bombings despite the ceasefire announced after the earthquake; Seoul government confirms 3 June as election date and appoints new constitutional judge; Severe damage from hurricanes in Siberia.

IRAN-UNITED STATES

During a meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump yesterday announced talks with Iran. ‘We have a very important meeting on Saturday and we will be dealing with them directly,’ Trump said in the Oval Office, adding that if the talks are unsuccessful, ‘Iran will be in grave danger’. For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi replied this morning that the talks will be ‘high-level indirect negotiations’ and will take place in Oman on Saturday 12 April.

CHINA-UNITED STATES

In the trade war between Washington and Beijing, in response to Trump's ultimatum threatening further tariffs of 50% if counter-tariffs are not revoked, the People's Republic of China has replied stating that it will never accept the ‘blackmailing nature’ of the United States. The US threats were ‘a mistake upon a mistake’, said a spokesman for the Beijing Ministry of Trade, urging the US to properly resolve its differences with China through dialogue, with mutual respect and on an equal footing. Meanwhile, the Asian stock markets are recovering part of the losses of the past few days, with the exception of Taiwan and Singapore, which are still in sharp decline.

MYANMAR

In earthquake-stricken Myanmar, residents of the Magway, Sagaing and Mandalay regions, as well as the Shan State, reported heavy weapon attacks against communities, which killed seven people and injured seven others, despite ceasefire agreements made in words by both the junta authorities and insurgent groups.

TAIWAN-CHINA

Taipei accuses Beijing of also using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to ‘divide’ Taiwanese public opinion. A report to parliament by the island's National Security Office, relayed by Reuters, talks about more than half a million ‘controversial messages’ being spread on social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok.

SOUTH KOREA

Seoul has officially confirmed the date of 3 June for the presidential elections after the verdict of the Constitutional Court that deposed the outgoing president Yoon Suk-yeol, following his attempt to impose martial law. Meanwhile, in another delicate institutional issue that has been open in the country for some time, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is temporarily acting as head of state, has also appointed Ma Eun-hyuk as the ninth judge of the Constitutional Court, at the same time appointing the successors of two outgoing judges.

RUSSIA

A very powerful hurricane hit Siberia between Saturday and Sunday, causing dozens of deaths in the regions of Khakasia, Priangarje, Irkutsk and Krasnojarsk, with many hospitalised, some in serious conditions, and hundreds of thousands of homes left without electricity, heating and even water.

TAJIKISTAN

The Tajikistan Parliament has introduced a new regulation into the penal code to increase the responsibility for the illegal use of electricity, as indicated by the President Emomali Rakhmon himself, who had expressed his concerns to the Council of Ministers for the ‘anomalous losses’ due to tampering and bypassing of the meters.

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