Daily World Briefing, Feb. 23

Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics closes

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics concluded on Sunday, after 17 days of competition that saw broad participation, historic breakthroughs and China's best-ever performance at an overseas Winter Games.

International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry declared the Games closed at the historic Verona Arena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

"This is the true Olympic spirit: competing, embracing, lifting each other up whatever the result. You showed us what excellence, respect and friendship look like in a world that often forgets these values," Coventry said in her closing speech.

Oman FM confirms U.S.-Iran negotiations set for Thursday in Geneva

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi said on Sunday that the next round of U.S.-Iran talks will take place on Thursday in Geneva.

"Pleased to confirm U.S.-Iran negotiations are now set for Geneva this Thursday, with a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalizing the deal," the minister said on social media platform X.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said he will probably meet U.S. president's special envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva on Thursday to discuss the draft proposal of a possible nuclear deal to be prepared by Tehran.

Ninth Congress of WPK elects Kim Jong Un as general secretary

The Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), the ruling party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, has elected Kim Jong Un as the party's general secretary, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Monday.

"The Ninth Congress of the WPK decides to elect Kim Jong Un as general secretary of the WPK in accordance with the unshakable will and unanimous desire of all the delegates, millions of Party members, all the people and service personnel of the People's Army for the development of the WPK and the prosperity of the state," KCNA reported, citing a decision adopted by the congress on Sunday.

Iranian FM says diplomatic solution possible with U.S.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that he may meet with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday in Geneva, noting that it is still possible to find a diplomatic solution between Tehran and Washington, CBS News reported.

Earlier in the day, U.S. news outlet Axios, citing an unnamed senior U.S. official, reported that the U.S. side is ready to hold another round of talks with the Iranian side on Friday in Geneva if Tehran sends a "detailed" proposal for a nuclear deal "in the next 48 hours."

Hungary to block EU's 20th sanctions package against Russia until oil transit resumes

Hungary will block the adoption of the European Union's (EU) 20th sanctions package against Russia until Ukraine restarts crude oil deliveries to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said here on Sunday.

In a video statement posted after a meeting of the country's Energy Security Council, Szijjarto said Hungary would oppose the sanctions package at Monday's EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels and maintain its position until oil transit to Hungary resumes.

"As long as the Ukrainians do not restart oil transport to Hungary, we will not let go of decisions that are important to them," he said.

Voting begins in Laos' parliamentary elections

Voting began at 7:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Sunday for the election of members of the Lao National Assembly's 10th legislature and the fifth Provincial People's Councils in Laos.

More than 4.76 million eligible voters nationwide are expected to cast their ballots. A total of 175 members will be elected to the 10th National Assembly, along with 745 members to serve on the fifth Provincial People's Councils.

Iran's FM, IAEA chief call for "constructive engagement" to reach lasting nuclear deal

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi have highlighted the importance of "constructive engagement and using the path of dialogue" to achieve a sustainable nuclear agreement.

In a phone call on Sunday, the second one this week, the two sides exchanged views on the latest developments regarding indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported.

In their previous phone call on Wednesday, Araghchi and Grossi reviewed the results of the Iran-U.S. indirect negotiations in Geneva and discussed the mechanisms and requirements of preparing the draft of a negotiation framework, according to IRNA.

Palestinian teen killed by Israeli army fire in N. West Bank

The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced Sunday the death of a Palestinian teenager who succumbed to injuries sustained after being shot by the Israeli army in the northern West Bank.

In a brief statement, the ministry said that Mohammed Hanani, 17, died from critical wounds he sustained after being shot by Israeli soldiers on Saturday evening in the town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus, without providing further details.

Eyewitnesses and security sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces stormed the town on Saturday evening and began searching residents' homes.■