World

China and the US agree to ease tariffs for 90 days as trade war talks extended

May 13, 2025
A breakthrough has been made in the trade war between the world's two biggest economies.

The US and China say they will decrease reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, after negotiations in Switzerland.

US levies on Chinese imports will be lowered to 30 percent, and Beijing's tariffs on US goods will be capped at 10 percent.

Al Jazeera’s Willem Marx reports from Geneva.

PKK disbandment now paves the way for US and Turkiye to improve relations: Analysis

May 12, 2025  
The Kurdistan Workers' Party, known as the PKK, has announced its decision to disband and disarm as part of a peace initiative with Turkiye.

The announcement ends four decades of armed struggle against the Turkish government.

A Kurdish armed group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party was founded in 1978 by Abdullah Ocalan.

In 1984, it launched an armed insurgency against Turkiye, seeking independence but later pushed for Kurdish rights and autonomy. More than 40,000 people have since been killed in the conflict.

The PKK operates from mountain strongholds in northern Iraq. Türkiye regularly strikes its bases, despite Iraq saying the attacks violate its sovereignty.

It is also linked to YPG fighters in Syria, a key US ally against ISIL. This has created tension between Turkiye and the US, as Ankara sees the YPG as part of the PKK.

Turkiye, the United States and the European Union classify the PKK as a terrorist organization, while its supporters call it a resistance movement.

Matthew Bryza is a former US diplomat. He says the PKK announcement, while historic, was somewhat expected, but now paves the way for a smoothing over in US-Turkiye relations.

Kurdish armed group PKK to disband and disarm, ending conflict with Turkiye

May 12, 2025
The Kurdistan Workers' Party, known as the PKK, has announced its decision to disband and disarm.

The announcement ends decades of armed struggle between the armed group and Turkiye.

Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu is monitoring developments from Istanbul, Turkiye.

'Difficult but useful': Fourth round of US-Iran nuclear talks concludes in Oman

May 12, 2025  
Iran has described the fourth round of talks with the US as “difficult but useful”.

The two sides are trying to reach a deal on Tehran's nuclear programme and sanctions relief.

In his first term, President Trump backed out of an agreement signed by the Obama Administration.

Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi reports from Tehran, Iran.

Trump offers to work with India, Pakistan on Kashmir ‘solution’

May 12, 2025  
There's been criticism of an offer by the US president to mediate between India and Pakistan.

India's government remains committed to refusing international help on the disputed Kashmir region.

Al Jazeera’s Um-e-Kulsoom Shariff reports from New Delhi, India.

Iran says fourth round of ‘difficult’ nuclear talks with US ends in Oman

May 12, 2025  
A fourth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States has concluded in the Omani capital, Muscat, with Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs describing them as “difficult but useful”.

After about three hours of negotiations on Sunday, spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei described the talks as “difficult but useful talks to better understand each other’s positions and to find reasonable and realistic ways to address the differences”.

“Next round will be coordinated and announced by Oman,” he said in a post on X.

Before the talks started, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state media that Iran has a legal right to civilian enrichment of uranium that cannot be subjected to any deal.

Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi reports from Tehran.
 
Mark Pfeifle is a national security analyst and former deputy assistant to President George W. Bush.

He is also the president and founder of Off the Record Strategies. He joins me from Washington, DC to discuss the latest updates.

From war fears to street celebrations: Pakistan hails ceasefire with India

May 12, 2025
Many in Pakistan are celebrating after a sudden ceasefire ended fears of a looming war in Kashmir.

Residents say the military's response restored national pride, with some expressing anger over India’s actions.

Families had fled border areas lacking shelters, but many now welcome the news.

The ceasefire follows cross-border missile strikes, with both sides carrying out attacks.

The US-brokered deal opens the door for peace talks between the two nuclear-armed nations.

Pakistan hopes the talks will revive diplomacy and ensure the uninterrupted flow of Indus water.

Despite the pause in fighting, major issues like Kashmir and water rights remain unresolved.

Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid reports from Lahore, Pakistan.

Hamas to free last surviving American-Israeli captive held in Gaza, Edan Alexander

May 12, 2025  
Hamas announced on Sunday it will release Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier with dual American citizenship and the last remaining US captive in Gaza.

The Palestinian group said the move comes as part of ongoing negotiations to secure a ceasefire and improve humanitarian aid access to the territory.

The announcement precedes US President Donald Trump's scheduled Middle East tour, during which regional tensions are likely to be a key focus.

Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut joins us from the Jordanian capital, Amman to discuss the latest developments.

Russia-Ukraine diplomacy: Zelenskyy agrees to meet Putin for talks in Turkiye

May 12, 2025  
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin face-to-face in Turkiye on Thursday.

That's after US President Donald Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept Russia's offer of direct ceasefire talks with no conditions.

On Saturday, Ukraine and European leaders called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire at a meeting in Kyiv.

Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi joins reports from Kyiv, and Mike Hanna reports from Washington, DC.

Michael Bociurkiw is a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council. He joins us now from Victoria in Canada to discuss the latest developments.

Calm returns to cities in Indian-administered Kashmir as ceasefire holds

May 11, 2025  
There's been a unsettled start to a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

Just a few hours after a truce was announced on Saturday both sides accused each other of violations.

In the last few hours there's been relative calm in both Indian and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Since Wednesday more than 60 people have been killed.

Al Jazeera’s Umar Mehraj is in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir, seeing how people are reacting to the truce and Kamal Hyder is in Islamabad, Pakistan with political reaction from there.

Michael Shoebridge, director of think tank Strategic Analysis Australia, says India and Pakistan were ready for a truce, because both sides “feel like they claim victory”.