The US and the Taliban are set to begin their seventh round of peace talks on Saturday.
Negotiators from both sides will discuss ways to end the war in Afghanistan.
One US official called the talks a “make-or-break moment” to halt more than 18 years of fighting.
The discussions will be led by Zalmay Khalilzad, who is the US peace envoy for Afghanistan.
He has held six rounds of talks with the Taliban since October.
Afghanistan is preparing to hold presidential elections on September 28.
Israeli strikes kill 26 in Gaza, health officials say
Israel carried out its heaviest airstrikes in Gaza in weeks on Saturday, killing 26 people according to local health authorities, in attacks on a Hamas-run police station and on apartments and tents in an area sheltering displaced Palestinians.
US government starts likely brief shutdown as House fails to approve deal
The US government entered what is expected to be a brief shutdown on Saturday after Congress failed to approve a deal to keep a wide swath of operations funded ahead of a midnight deadline.
Thousands demonstrate in Minnesota and across US to protest ICE
Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Minneapolis and students across the United States staged walkouts on Friday to demand the withdrawal of federal immigration agents from Minnesota following the fatal shootings of two US citizens.
France tightens infant milk rules after recalls
France has lowered the safety limit for cereulide toxin in infant formula, aiming to strengthen protections after several major groups ordered worldwide recalls over contamination concerns, the farm ministry said on Saturday.
Fuel prices in the UAE will drop for a second consecutive month in February.
The UAE has reopened the newly renovated Sheikh Zayed Child Care Complex in Istanbul that can now accommodate and provide essential care for around 700 children.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has held a phone call with Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian.
