🇮🇷🇺🇸Iran-US talks: Tehran hopes for a ‘lasting solution’, but remains prepared to defend itself. Indirect talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva wrapped up on Tuesday with Tehran announcing they had agreed on “guiding principles” for an agreement concerning Iran’s nuclear programme, easing fears over the prospect of imminent war.

🇺🇦🇷🇺First day of Ukraine-Russia talks to end war conclude in Geneva. Ukrainian, Russian and US officials gathered for a first day of peace talks at the Intercontinental Hotel. The discussions, kept tightly under wraps, are set to continue on Wednesday. French and British delegations were also in town.

🌎Is the world returning to spheres of influence? To justify its capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the US has declared authority over its hemisphere. Meanwhile, Russia pursues its war in Ukraine, and China claims Taiwan as part of its territory. International relations experts are worried about a return to spheres of influence. An explainer.

🤰🏽WHO report shows majority of maternal deaths take place in countries in conflict. Over 60 per cent of maternal deaths in 2023 took place in countries and territories experiencing conflict or institutional and social fragility, according to a World Health Organization report published on Tuesday. In total, an estimated 260,000 women died from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth that year.