talks

Ukraine says U.S.-brokered talks with Russia have not been canceled despite weekend strikes on Iran that President Volodymyr Zelensky linked to the United States and Israel, though Kyiv is weighing a change of venue from Abu Dhabi to Turkey or Switzerland. Zelensky told reporters the meeting, tentatively set for March 5-6 in the United Arab Emirates capital, remains on the calendar but may be relocated “due to the ongoing hostilities.” He added, “If there are difficulties with Abu Dhabi because of missiles and drones, then I…

MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud hosted an iftar meeting at the Presidential Palace with leaders of political organizations, days after high-level talks with the opposition-aligned Somali Future Council collapsed without agreement, officials said. The gathering at Villa Somalia centered on Somalia’s political trajectory and efforts to advance the country’s fledgling democratic process, according to a statement from the presidency. The administration framed the session as a forum for open dialogue on…

Israeli strikes kill eight in Gaza, medics say, as cease-fire violations mount GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli attacks killed eight people across Gaza on Monday, local health officials said, as the Israeli military reported it had targeted and killed a militant it said posed an immediate threat to its forces in the south of the enclave. Medics said an airstrike on a group of Palestinians in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood, in the north, killed two people and wounded several others. Later in the day, five people were killed…

Oman says U.S.-Iran nuclear talks make ‘significant progress’ as military buildup intensifies Technical talks planned in Vienna next week; move could avert threatened U.S. strikes, but gaps remain on missiles and sanctions Oman said the United States and Iran made significant progress in talks aimed at resolving a longstanding nuclear dispute and averting new U.S. strikes, as Washington expands its military footprint across the Middle East. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X that the two sides…

GENEVA — Oman said the United States and Iran made “significant progress” in talks aimed at breaking a longstanding nuclear impasse and averting potential new U.S. strikes, as both sides agreed to reconvene within a week and send technical teams to Vienna. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, who is mediating the diplomacy, said on X, formerly Twitter, that negotiations in Switzerland ended with “creative and positive ideas” on the table and a plan to resume discussions soon after consultations in both capitals.…

GENEVA — The United States pressed Iran to shut down and dismantle core parts of its nuclear program during a third round of talks here in February 2026, demanding the closure of three major sites and the removal of all enriched uranium from Iranian territory, according to details emerging from the negotiations. U.S. negotiators called for the destruction of facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — installations widely seen as the backbone of Iran’s uranium enrichment capacity — and proposed that Tehran’s stockpiled…

Geneva — The United States and Iran are set to open a new round of indirect talks in Switzerland aimed at averting a fresh spiral of conflict and ending weeks of threats, according to officials on both sides. The Geneva negotiations follow a U.S. military buildup across the region and repeated warnings from President Donald Trump that he is prepared to strike Iran if diplomacy fails. The agenda remains contested. Washington wants the talks to cover Iran’s nuclear activities, its ballistic missile program and its support for…

Somalia vows to stick to one-person, one-vote plan amid stalled talks MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s government reaffirmed its push for a one-person, one-vote election after negotiations with the opposition-aligned Future Council ended without a deal, keeping uncertainty over the country’s electoral calendar. State Minister at the Foreign Ministry Ali Balcad said the government remains open to dialogue, technical compromises on how to conduct the vote, and broad national consultations. But he emphasized that the direction…

MOGADISHU — The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) and other international partners met Monday with senior representatives of the Federal Government of Somalia and the opposition-aligned Somali Future Council, hours after high-level political talks collapsed without agreement as constitutional deadlines approach. In a statement posted on social media, UNTMIS said it was disappointed the two sides had not reached a deal in the discussions held so far. “Along with other partners, UNTMIS…

Somali opposition bloc says talks with federal government collapse as election deadline nears MOGADISHU — The Somali Future Council, an alliance aligned with the opposition, said Monday its high-level negotiations with the federal government ended without agreement after several days of talks at the Presidential Palace, intensifying political uncertainty as the mandates of federal institutions expire in three months. The discussions focused on elections and constitutional reform. In a statement, the council said it entered…