The White House said on Thursday that U.S. Vice President JD Vance's trip to Switzerland for talks with Iran had been postponed, with negotiations previously expected to take place on Friday.
"As of now, the Vice President is not departing tonight," a White House spokesperson said. "The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable."
"The plans for the upcoming technical talks have not been finalized, and the U.S. delegation has been prepared to depart at the first available opportunity," the spokesperson said. "We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible."
The Swiss Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the Buergenstock mountain resort had been designated as the venue for initial negotiations between the U.S. and Iran on the implementation of their agreement. The following day, it confirmed the talks had been postponed.
According to the ministry, mediators Pakistan and Qatar, along with other relevant countries, will also attend the meeting, although the timing has yet to be decided.
On Thursday, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said that despite holding a different opinion, he issued the permission for signing a peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington.
Iran, the U.S. and Pakistan early Monday announced the finalization of the MoU to end the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. The Iranian and U.S. presidents signed the MoU electronically early Thursday.
The MoU covers several key areas, including the cessation of hostilities, maritime security and navigation, reconstruction and economic assistance, sanctions relief, nuclear-related commitments and an executive mechanism.
White House says Vance's trip to Swizterland for Iran talks postponed
White House says Vance's trip to Swizterland for Iran talks postponed
White House says Vance's trip to Swizterland for Iran talks postponed
Kenya's health authorities have intensified health screening for truck drivers whose movements span thousands of kilometers across multiple countries, as East Africa remains on heightened alert following the latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo).
The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the DR Congo had risen to 896, including 232 deaths, the country's public health authorities said Thursday.
Everyday, hundreds of trucks leave Kenya's capital carrying goods destined for Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the DR Congo.
At the Inland Container Depot in Embakasi, Stephen Kihima is preparing for another long journey westward. Kihima said he has to take extra caution as he frequently passes through busy border crossings where thousands of travelers and transport workers converge each day.
"We no longer shake hands. We do fist bumps or just wave, but we don't fear crossing borders because this is our job," Kihima said.
Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have enhanced health screenings, temperature checks, and awareness campaigns at border points. For truck drivers, these measures have now become part of their routine.
"Most of us drivers have stopped eating food in those countries, we move with our own stoves and cook our food, most of us don't go to the hotels to eat. We fear that the hotels might have the disease," Kihima said.
Experts said truck drivers have always been a critical link in regional trade, but their extensive movement across countries also creates opportunities for infectious diseases to spread if proper measures are not followed.
"When truck drivers are well informed about how the disease is spread when they now go to those areas where maybe the disease, where there are cases of that disease of the Ebola virus disease they would also know how to stay safe; how to interact with the population there; they will know what preventive measures to take," said Samuel Njenga, an infectious diseases expert.
Kenyan authorities have strengthened monitoring systems at key entry points and are working closely with regional partners to prevent cross-border transmission.
Mary Muthoni, principal secretary for public health under the Kenyan Health Ministry, said while inspecting the border epidemic control situations that the authorities are going to have weekly briefs for truck drivers at the border point, and continue to provide relevant health trainings.
Kenya enhances health screening for truck drivers as Ebola outbreak continues
