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The US and China have agreed to a preliminary trade deal following talks in London, led by China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng and US officials Scott Bessent and Howard Lutnick.

Although the deal’s exact terms are undisclosed, it is anticipated to address rare earth mineral concerns. Lutnick declared, "We've reached a framework to implement the Geneva consensus," but the president's approval is still pending, according to Firstpost.

No further meetings are scheduled, but both sides pledged to keep communication open. Tensions have remained high under US President Trump, despite a previous Geneva pact that eased tariffs. Trump recently accused China of violating that agreement, citing rare earth exports as a key issue.

Top US and Chinese officials began major trade talks in London on Monday, with early signs of cooperation.

According to Xinhua, the United States may ease some technology export limits, while China is poised to increase rare earth material exports. The talks follow a phone call between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, during which both parties agreed to move negotiations further.

White House adviser Kevin Hassett said easing of US controls and increased rare earth supply could happen immediately, though restrictions on high-end technologies like Nvidia’s top chips would remain.

The talks mark a potential shift in the ongoing US-China trade and tech standoff, Xinhua reported.

China has proposed creating a “green channel” to fast-track rare earth exports to the European Union, aiming to address concerns over new export licensing rules introduced in April. The proposal was made following a meeting between Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, according to Firstpost.

China, the global leader in rare earth mining and refinement, has stated that it is willing to accelerate approvals for appropriate EU applications and maintain timely communication. The ministry emphasized the move aligns with international practices.

Beijing also asked the EU to take equivalent measures to promote high-tech trade. The talks also addressed EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, with negotiations in the final stage ahead of a summit next month, Firstpost reported.

US President Donald Trump has announced a new round of trade talks with China, set for Monday in London, following a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed at easing tariff tensions.

The US delegation will comprise Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to Reuters.

This is the second round of discussions since President Trump announced tariffs of up to 145 percent on Chinese goods, causing China to counter with 125 percent tariffs. A temporary tariff reduction deal reached last month is set to expire in August, with Trump accusing China of violating the agreement.

Key US concerns include restricted mineral exports, fentanyl trafficking, Taiwan, and China's economic practices. Despite the tensions, Trump stated the conversation with Xi as "positive," raising hopes for progress, Reuters reported.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone for the first time since the start of the trade war. The call, focused on trade, was described by Trump as “very positive.”

Both leaders exchanged invitations for official visits, though only China’s invitation to Trump was confirmed by Beijing, BBC reported.

Discussions come after a trade agreement stalled, with China blaming new US tech restrictions and the US accusing China of not resuming important mineral exports.

Trump defended the new Chinese student visa requirements. In order to prevent conflict, Xi cautioned the United States to handle Taiwan carefully, as stated by BBC.

Despite tensions, both sides signaled a willingness to keep talks open.

The government of China has pledged USD 600,000 (close to CHF 500,000) for 2025 to support the WTO's Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) and Accessions Programme (also known as the China Program), the WTO reported.

The contribution was confirmed at a signing ceremony on June 3 in Paris attended by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.

The China Program — launched in July 2011 under the WTO-led Aid for Trade initiative — aims to enable LDCs to better integrate into the global economy by strengthening their participation in WTO activities and helping those not yet members join the Organization.

The signing ceremony was held on the side of a meeting of trade ministers hosted by Australia on the sidelines of the annual Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), according to WTO.

The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and unrestricted humanitarian aid access. The draft, backed by 14 of 15 members, also demanded the unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas, according to Xinhua.

The US veto drew sharp criticism from other members. China accused Washington of undermining peace efforts. The UK slammed Israel's aid limitations and demanded impartial inquiries into civilian deaths. Algeria and Pakistan viewed the veto as a failure of international duty and a setback to global consensus.

The vote highlights growing frustration over the US’s repeated vetoes on Gaza-related resolutions. Xinhua reported.

China has accused the United States of significantly breaking a recent trade agreement, threatening severe repercussions. According to the Ministry of Commerce, Washington undermined the Geneva agreement made in May, in which both countries promised to reduce tariffs — the US from 145 percent to 30 percent and China from 125 percent to 10 percent, Associated Press reported.

Beijing also blamed a breakdown in consensus during a January phone chat between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump. It denounced previous US steps such as restricting chip design software, prohibiting the use of Huawei chips, and canceling student visas.

Meanwhile, President Trump accused China of violating the agreement. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer claimed Beijing failed to remove non-tariff barriers as promised, according to Associated Press.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned on Saturday that the threat from China was real and potentially imminent as he pushed allies in the Indo-Pacific to spend more on their own defence needs, Reuters reported.

Hegseth, speaking for the first time at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's premier forum for defence leaders, militaries and diplomats, underlined that the Indo-Pacific region was a priority for the Trump administration.

"There's no reason to sugar coat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent," Hegseth said, in some of his strongest comments on the Communist nation since he took office in January. He added that any attempt by China to conquer Taiwan "would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world", and echoed Trump's comment that China will not invade Taiwan on the president's watch.

China views Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to "reunify" with the democratic and separately governed island, by force if necessary. It has stepped up military and political pressure to assert those claims, including increasing the intensity of war games around Taiwan, according to Reuters.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Europe is boosting defence spending following pressure from the Trump administration, calling it “tough love.”

At the Shangri-La Dialogue, Kallas supported US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s call for allies to invest more in defence, noting EU unity on security, Xinhua reported.

She connected European and Indo-Pacific security, warning about China's economic power and military ties with Russia and North Korea.

Kallas recommended further cooperation with the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and others to combat common threats. Hegseth credited US President Trump for pushing Europe to “step up”, according to Xinhua.

US President Donald Trump has accused China of violating a recent agreement to ease tariffs and trade restrictions on critical minerals. The deal, made during May talks in Geneva, included a 90-day pause on tariffs.

Trump said on Truth Social that China had "totally violated" the agreement, but provided no details. He said his tariffs of up to 145 percent had severely impacted China’s economy, according to Reuters.

Trump later told reporters that he planned to contact with Chinese President Xi Jinping to address the matter. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller warned that China's noncompliance could trigger US action.

China's embassy said it is still in contact with the US, but expressed concern over new US export limits and urged Washington to follow the Geneva agreement, Reuters reported.

China successfully launched its Tianwen-2 spacecraft early Wednesday, marking its first mission to collect asteroid samples. The probe lifted off at 1:31 a.m. local time aboard a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Xinhua reported.

Tianwen-2 is headed to Kamoʻoalewa, a near-Earth asteroid about 10 million miles away. It is expected to arrive by July 2026, collect samples, and return them to Earth in November 2027.

Kamoʻoalewa, a small quasi-satellite of Earth, is estimated to be 40 to 100 meters in size. If successful, China will become the third country to return asteroid samples, after Japan and the US, according to Xinhua.

The mission reflects China’s expanding space program and long-term goal of crewed lunar exploration.

The Trump administration will begin revoking visas of Chinese students with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in sensitive academic fields, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced.

Visa criteria will also be revised to increase scrutiny of future applicants from China and Hong Kong. US embassies have been instructed to suspend student visa appointments as expanded social media vetting is implemented, according to BBC.

Last year, around 280,000 Chinese students enrolled in US colleges. Their numbers have dropped due to strained US-China relations and tighter immigration policies.

The administration has already canceled thousands of student visas and halted funding at numerous universities. Many international students are now expressing concern and regret about studying in the United States under these new restrictions, BBC reported.

ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China conducted their first trilateral meeting in Malaysia, where they agreed to boost economic ties and promote free trade.

In a joint statement, the three countries pledged to complete the GCC-China Free Trade Agreement and upgrade the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area to benefit their respective populations, according to Al Jazeera.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the combined GDP of the three blocs is $24.87trn, with a population of 2.15bn, offering vast potential for investment and innovation. He stressed ASEAN’s commitment to balanced ties with all major powers, including the US.

Experts noted the meeting highlighted China’s growing role as a global power, particularly in forums where the US is absent, Al Jazeera reported.

North Korea has strongly condemned the United States' planned "Golden Dome" missile defense system, claiming it is a step toward the militarization of space. The system, revealed by US President Donald Trump, is designed to guard against advanced ballistic and cruise missile threats.

Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, released a statement through its foreign ministry warning that the plan might spark a nuclear and space weapons race. China's foreign ministry in Beijing also slammed the idea, claiming it jeopardizes global strategic stability, BBC reported.

Analysts in Seoul say the system could undermine North Korea’s deterrence. Initial funding is $25bn, with long-term costs expected to rise.

Chinese authorities in Guangzhou have accused Taiwan’s government of supporting a cyberattack on a local technology company. In a statement released Tuesday, officials claimed a foreign hacker group, backed by Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was behind the attack, Reuters reported.

The accusation is based on an initial police investigation. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council has not yet responded to the allegations