WASHINGTON: A new Air Force One gifted by Qatar as a replacement aircraft for ferrying US presidents was unveiled Friday by the US Air Force.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Air Force&rsquo;s VC-25B Bridge aircraft has officially arrived at the Presidential Airlift Group and will commence its initial commissioning flights, marking the successful delivery of a secure, modified executive platform,&rdquo; the Air Force said.&nbsp;Qatar&rsquo;s gift of the aircraft valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars has raised ethical, constitutional and security concerns.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump was set to speak Friday at an event to mark the unveiling of the aircraft.&nbsp;Trump has previously it would be &ldquo;stupid&rdquo; to reject the gift, while also stoking further concern by saying the plane would eventually be donated to his presidential library.&nbsp;The US president has fixated on replacing the aircraft, which have been in service since the 1990s, since his first term.&nbsp;On Thursday, White House officials bade farewell to one of the two heavily modified Boeing 747s that have transported US presidents for decades, which fueled speculation that the new jet would be unveiled imminently.&nbsp;While the now-replaced aircraft sported a blue and white exterior, the new aircraft has a navy blue underbelly, thin red stripe and blue upper body.&nbsp;Whenever a US president is on the jet, it officially takes the call sign Air Force One.&nbsp;The US government has contracted Boeing to deliver two new 747-8 aircraft to serve as part of the presidential fleet, however the program has been plagued by delays and cost-overruns.

Americas

Middle East

The US Air Force unveiled a Qatar-gifted replacement aircraft for presidential transport. The modified jet will begin commissioning flights while Boeing’s delayed Air Force One replacement program continues.

Qatar-gifted Air Force One replacement unveiled

SEATTLE: The United States advanced to the World Cup knockout rounds with a game to spare following an impressive 2-0 win over Australia Friday, stoking the hopes of an already hyped host nation.&nbsp;The US join fellow tournament co-hosts Mexico as the first teams to progress, and could be assured top spot in Group D if Turkey fail to beat Paraguay later Friday.&nbsp;Excitement had been running high from last week&#39;s US thrashing of Paraguay.&nbsp;And a glorious day in the Pacific Northwest did not disappoint the red-and-white-clad fans who packed Seattle&#39;s Lumen Field and its surrounding streets and bars.&nbsp;Even before kickoff, chants of &quot;USA&quot; rocked a stadium best known as the raucous home of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, but also a US soccer hotbed that hosts the local Sounders.&nbsp;Without injured talisman attacker Christian Pulisic, who failed to recover from a calf issue in time, coach Mauricio Pochettino switched to a 4-4-2 formation, bringing in second striker Ricardo Pepi.&nbsp;For the second game running, the US were gifted an early lead, thanks to an own goal in the 11th minute.&nbsp;Playing slightly wider than usual, star striker Folarin Balogun raced down the left and cut the ball back from the byline.&nbsp;Under pressure from a lurking Pepi, Aussie defender Cameron Burgess steered the ball into his own net.&nbsp;&nbsp;Toothless AustraliaHaving surprisingly dropped both goalscorers from their impressive opening win over Turkey, Australia looked toothless.&nbsp;The US controlled possession and were lively and dynamic on the attack, Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest combining well down the right flank.&nbsp;Alex Freeman doubled the US lead in the 44th minute from what was surprisingly his team&#39;s first shot on target.&nbsp;Taking a free kick from the right byline, Antonee Robinson ignored the scrum in the box and played the ball to Sergino Dest, wide open in the D, whose blocked shot looped up into the air.&nbsp;Freeman -- son of Super Bowl-winning NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman -- was first to the ball, heading it past Patrick Beach. The offside flag went up. But it was overturned by VAR, and the stadium rocked for a second a time.&nbsp;Australia made three changes at the break -- sending on Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda, the goalscorers against Turkey -- and pushed higher up the field.&nbsp;They were nearly caught out immediately. Balogun raced onto a through ball for a one-on-one chance, but his shot was blocked after a heavy touch.&nbsp;Australia&#39;s best chance so far came in the 62nd minute. The dangerous Cristian Volpato -- who switched allegiance from Italy to Australia on the eve of the tournament -- skied his shot from Irankunda&#39;s cut-back pass.&nbsp;With the US sitting back, Metcalfe had a shot saved, a rampaging Irankunda was brought down by Richards, and Jason Geria&#39;s close-range effort was blocked in a nervy final phase for the hosts.&nbsp;But despite late-flaring tensions between the teams, the Americans held on for the clean sheet and will have the luxury of playing Turkey next Thursday, knowing their spot in the round of 32 is secured.&nbsp;With home advantage and sparkling form so far, US fans will be dreaming of a run to the quarter-finals, which they last reached in 2002, and even beyond.

Football

The United States secured a 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle, advancing to the World Cup knockout rounds with a game to spare. An own goal and Alex Freeman’s strike sealed the win, keeping the Americans unbeaten.

USA beat Australia 2-0 to reach World Cup knockouts

BERLIN: A German court on Friday handed a three-year jail term to a man who published online &quot;death sentences&quot; with calls to kill politicians, said to include former chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz. The 50-year-old German-Polish man, partially named as Martin S., admitted to operating an anonymous darknet platform called &quot;Assassination Politics&quot;, during the trial held in the western city of Duesseldorf. He was convicted of crimes including terrorist financing, providing instructions about committing terrorist acts and building explosive devices including Molotov cocktails, a court spokeswoman said. Martin S. on the site called for attacks on public figures, and reportedly published lists of names in &quot;criminal files&quot; along with &quot;death sentences&quot; he had pronounced for alleged crimes such as &quot;high treason&quot;, the court said. He holds &quot;far-right views,&quot; the court&#39;s press office told AFP. A source close to the initial investigation has told AFP that while Martin S. acted alone, he had links to a broader right-wing conspiracy theorist movement, and that Merkel and Scholz were among those on his hit list. Prosecutors said that he also solicited cryptocurrency donations intended to serve as &quot;bounties&quot; for the killings, although the court noted that no such donations were actually made. The platform also contained sensitive personal data regarding potential victims. Prosecutors had sought a five-year prison sentence, while the defence had argued for acquittal. The verdict is not yet final and may be appealed. In recent years, Germany has dismantled several far-right or conspiracy-driven networks suspected of plotting to target the country&#39;s institutions and leaders. In 2022, members of a group including an ex-MP and former soldiers were arrested over a plot to attack parliament, overthrow the government and install aristocrat and businessman Prince Heinrich XIII Reuss as head of state.

Europe

A German court on Friday handed a three-year jail term to a man who published online "death sentences" with calls to kill politicians, said to include former chancellors Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz.

German court jails man over online 'death lists' of politicians

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will travel to Egypt on Sunday to attend the fourth meeting of foreign ministers from the R-4 group, comprising Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and T&uuml;rkiye, as regional powers seek to consolidate diplomatic efforts following the end of the Iran-US conflict. The meeting comes at a critical stage in the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed this week by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which ended 110 days of conflict between Washington and Tehran and established a 60-day framework for negotiations on outstanding issues. The R-4 group first met in Islamabad in March amid growing regional tensions, with member states coordinating diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and regional stability. Since then, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye and Egypt have remained closely engaged on developments surrounding the conflict and subsequent peace efforts. According to a statement issued by Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Office, the Cairo meeting will &ldquo;discuss regional developments and exchange views on issues related to peace, security and stability.&rdquo;&nbsp; The ministry said participants would also explore ways to &ldquo;further strengthen&rdquo; cooperation among the four countries in areas of shared interest. The gathering follows the postponement of technical-level Iran-US talks that had been expected to take place in Switzerland.&nbsp; Prime Minister&#39;s Office sources told Pakistan Television that the meeting was deferred after the Islamabad MoU was electronically signed and entered its implementation phase, with technical discussions now expected to be held separately on multiple issues covered under the agreement. The accord requires an immediate cessation of military operations between the United States, Iran and their allies, provides for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and launches negotiations on broader political, security and nuclear-related matters under the 60-day implementation framework. During his visit to Cairo, Dar is also scheduled to meet Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments.&nbsp; The Foreign Office said Pakistan attaches &ldquo;great importance&rdquo; to its relations with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and T&uuml;rkiye, describing the R-4 framework as a reflection of the four countries&#39; shared commitment to &ldquo;consultation, cooperation and coordinated efforts&rdquo; in support of regional peace, security and prosperity.

Foreign Affairs

Regional mediators Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye will meet in Cairo as implementation of the Iran-US agreement advances, with officials expected to discuss regional stability, future negotiations and coordinated efforts to preserve diplomatic momentum.


Pakistan FM to attend Cairo meeting as mediators back Iran-US accord

Muhammad Imad Abbas

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday announced one of its largest fuel price reductions in recent years, lowering petrol by Rs74 ($0.25) per liter and diesel by Rs67 ($0.24) per liter as global oil markets steadied following the end of the US-Iran conflict. The government reduced petrol prices to Rs299 ($1.08) per liter and diesel prices to Rs311 ($1.12) per liter. The move comes days after the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, which ended 110 days of conflict that disrupted regional trade, threatened energy supplies and fueled volatility in global oil markets. For Pakistan, the reduction represents the first major economic dividend from the easing of tensions in the Middle East. During the conflict, Islamabad faced the same challenge confronting many Asian energy-importing nations: protecting consumers from rising fuel costs while operating under tight fiscal constraints.&nbsp; Unlike wealthier economies that relied on larger financial reserves and extensive subsidy programs, Pakistan sought to cushion the impact through austerity measures, targeted support and efforts to maintain uninterrupted fuel supplies. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office, the government utilized Rs129 billion ($455.8 million) generated through spending adjustments and austerity measures to shield consumers from the effects of rising fuel prices during the crisis. &ldquo;The benefit of improved economic conditions in the region and declining oil prices is being passed on immediately to the public,&rdquo; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in the statement. &ldquo;Since the beginning of this crisis, we have made every possible effort to reduce fuel prices using our available resources.&rdquo; The Prime Minister&#39;s Office said Pakistan avoided the shortages and supply disruptions experienced in some markets during the regional crisis.&nbsp; &ldquo;Thanks to effective measures, there were no fuel shortages, no long queues, and no disruption in the supply of petroleum products to the public,&rdquo; the statement said. PM Sharif also linked the latest fuel-price reduction to broader diplomatic efforts aimed at easing regional tensions.&nbsp; &ldquo;By the grace of Allah, peace became possible amid tensions in the Middle East due to Pakistan&#39;s mediation efforts,&rdquo; he said. The government said it would continue pursuing policies aimed at maintaining economic stability, reducing inflation and providing relief to consumers, while presenting the fuel-price reduction as evidence that lower global oil prices are beginning to translate into benefits for ordinary Pakistanis.

Economy

Islamabad says prudent economic management and sustained regional diplomacy enabled it to protect consumers and deliver relief despite months of energy-market uncertainty, as US and Iran advance technical negotiations under a 60-day implementation framework.

Pakistan cuts fuel prices as oil markets stabilize after Islamabad MoU

GENEVA: The fatal Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading rapidly, the World Health Organization warned Friday, despite accelerating efforts to tackle the virus. The WHO said it was still racing to catch up with the worsening situation gripping the northeastern DRC. &quot;The outbreak remains serious&quot; and is &quot;evolving so fast&quot;, said Marie-Roseline Belizaire, the WHO Africa emergencies chief. &quot;However, I have seen a response that is growing stronger every day,&quot; she told reporters in Geneva, speaking from Bunia, the capital of the DRC&#39;s Ituri province, the outbreak&#39;s epicentre. The outbreak was declared on May 15, though transmission had been going undetected for some time beforehand. It is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment. There have been 896 confirmed cases so far in the DRC, including 232 confirmed deaths, with&nbsp;21 new cases in the last 24 hours, according to the latest WHO update. More than 90 percent of known cases in the DRC have been in conflict-wracked Ituri. The outbreak has also spread to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Belizaire said the epidemic was evolving so quickly that the response was racing to keep pace with the virus, which spreads by close contact and infected bodily fluids. The number of treatment beds available for Ebola patients had gone from zero to more than 500, she said. And surveillance teams were now investigating nearly 400 alerts and were capable of administering more than 2,000 tests a day, she added. Belizaire also highlighted that efforts to trace contacts of known Ebola cases had ramped up, with 75 percent of all contacts now being reached. The WHO has said 95 percent of contacts must be traced to get on top of the outbreak. Belizaire said some people falling ill were staying at home, then going to traditional healers, before finally going to healthcare centres, delaying access to treatment. In the DRC, 78 people have recovered after contracting Ebola, which she called a &quot;powerful reminder that a timely diagnosis, access to quality healthcare can save lives&quot;. Health workers killedBelizaire said health workers were hit hard in the early stages of the epidemic. So far, 75 healthcare workers have been infected with Ebola, of whom 17 have died, she said. &quot;In DRC, as we are seeing a large community outbreak, we cannot say for sure they have been infected in a health facility,&quot; she added. &quot;It is a really high price that the healthcare system is paying.&quot; Belizaire said a Chinese medical team had arrived in the capital Kinshasa and would be heading to Bunia. In neighbouring Uganda, the only other country hit, there have been 19 confirmed cases including two deaths, and 10 recovered patients. Uganda has reported no new cases for 12 days. Meanwhile the UN migration agency said it had done more than a million health screenings at borders and on travel corridors as part of surveillance measures aimed at detecting potential cases.

Africa

Warns the fatal Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading rapidly

Ebola spreading 'fast' in DR Congo, warns WHO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed Friday that a rudimentary drone belonging to the Afghan Taliban regime was shot down after it violated Pakistani airspace near the Shinko area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The ministry&rsquo;s fact-checking account said on X that the &ldquo;rudimentary drone&rdquo; was detected and &ldquo;neutralised&rdquo; by Pakistan Air Force air defense systems shortly after crossing the border area. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2067891361253355663&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=57b61abf57d830b246f9169d39b52db3194a465e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 624px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The statement comes after the regime&#39;s Ministry of Defense falsely claimed to have targeted what it described as &ldquo;terrorist hideouts&rdquo; in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.&nbsp;&quot;The Afghan Taliban regime, through their various propaganda mouthpieces and official statements, are claiming to have targeted some alleged ISKP camps in border areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan using rudimentary drones,&rdquo; the statement added.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ministry confirmed that these &quot;claims are false as usual&quot; and that the terrorist camps, including that of Daesh and more than two dozen other terrorist organizations are factually located, run and patronized from inside the territories under control of the Afghan Taliban regime. &nbsp; &quot;To cover their patronization of terror waged in neighboring countries and region, including that from Daesh, Fitna Al Khawarij (FAK), Fitna Al Hindustan (FAH) and others, the Taliban regime is used to issue such fake and nefarious statements,&quot; it said.

A photo released by the Information Ministry on June 19, 2026, shows a “rudimentary drone” the Afghan Taliban reportedly launched and which was shot down in Khyber district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. {Photo: X/FactCheckerMoIB)

Security

The ministry’s fact-checking account says on X that the “rudimentary drone” was detected and “neutralised” by Pakistan Air Force air defense systems shortly after crossing the border area.

Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban's claim of strikes in border areas

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;National Assembly of Pakistan, the lower house of the country&#39;s parliament, on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution commending the country&rsquo;s political and military leadership for their role in facilitating a landmark diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran, aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region. The resolution, presented by the country&rsquo;s Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, welcomed the cessation of hostilities and the signing of a framework agreement between Washington and Tehran. The National Assembly Secretariat released the text of the resolution the same afternoon.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2067902416268538350&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d703acd5d212c79d895530748da146b132de9ebe&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2067902416268538350"></iframe></div></div>Lawmakers said the breakthrough was a significant step toward reducing long‑standing regional tensions that have threatened peace, security and global economic stability. The resolution said the House noted the development &ldquo;with immense satisfaction and pride.&rdquo;&nbsp;The assembly expressed its &ldquo;profound appreciation&rdquo; for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, Chief of Defence Staff and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and other officials involved in the diplomatic effort.&nbsp;It credited their &ldquo;sincere and tireless&rdquo; work with strengthening Pakistan&rsquo;s standing as a trusted, neutral mediator.&nbsp;Members also congratulated the leaders of the United States and Iran on concluding negotiations, calling the agreement historic and expressing hope it would lead to lasting peace, greater regional stability, and improved economic and energy security.&nbsp;The unanimous vote, the resolution said, reflects broad parliamentary support for Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic engagement and the country&rsquo;s commitment to peaceful dialogue and international cooperation.

Politics

Unanimously passed resolution praises the Shehbaz Sharif government and military leadership for facilitating the US-Iran peace framework; Describes Pakistan as a trusted neutral mediator for regional stability

Pakistan's National Assembly adopts resolution hailing US-Iran MoU, Islamabad's role

ISLAMABAD: Oil prices fluctuated on Friday, and shipping traffic slowly began to flow through the Strait of Hormuz following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, with industry data showing over 500 vessels still stranded, while Brent crude traded around $77 a barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate hovered near $74. The signing of the accord this week was intended to end the conflict in Iran, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and begin talks on wider issues, including Tehran&#39;s nuclear programme.&nbsp; However, Switzerland announced on Friday that planned talks following up on the deal to end the Middle East war had been postponed. Ships passing throughDespite the diplomatic breakthrough, maritime traffic remains far below normal levels. A total of 25 commercial vessels crossed the newly reopened Strait on Thursday, the highest number since mid-April, according to data from maritime tracking firm AXSMarine published on Friday. On June 18, &quot;we observed 25 verified commercial vessel crossings through the Strait of Hormuz -- the highest single-day count since 18 April and more than five times the average daily level recorded during the first ten days of June,&quot; AXSMarine said in a news release. Before the war, about 120 vessels a day had passed through the strait, according to the leading shipping journal Lloyd&#39;s List. AXSMarine said crossings averaged 7.6 a day from the start of March. American forces on Thursday lifted their naval blockade of Iranian ports that had prevented ships from sailing to or from the Islamic Republic, the US military said, noting that American warships &quot;will remain in the general area&quot;. Activity was still muted in the Strait of Hormuz, but three Saudi oil tankers left the Gulf through the strait on Thursday, maritime trackers said, as did a French vessel loaded with liquefied natural gas. The exact number of stranded ships varies across industry trackers, but all indicate a substantial backlog. &quot;There are some 550 merchant ships of above 10,000 dwt that will need to be prepared to exit the Middle East Gulf, including 160 tankers, 200 bulk carriers, 60 containerships, and 10 vehicle carriers, but greater clarity is needed before shipowners can begin transiting en masse,&quot; Lloyd&#39;s said, citing industry bodies. More than 500 commercial vessels are still stuck in the Gulf, with about 11,000 seafarers on board, according to the IMO. It says 20,000 seafarers in the region have been affected by the war overall. Shipping industry reports, citing the latest Kpler data, indicate over 600 vessels were still effectively trapped, with mine-clearance operations and safety concerns delaying departures. Meanwhile, Iranian state TV (which TV), quoting the country&#39;s Supreme National Security Council, said that ships &quot;seeking passage through the Strait of Hormuz must submit their request&quot; to a new government body tasked with overseeing the waterway. In keeping with the terms of the deal, it added, &quot;no fees whatsoever will be collected from applicants for a period of sixty days&quot;. Oil prices fluctuateOil prices fell more than 3% on Thursday after the signing of the accord. At around 0625 GMT, the main US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), sank 3.4% to $74.18 a barrel. International benchmark Brent North Sea crude was down 3.02% at $77.15 a barrel. However, oil prices, which have tanked around 10% this week, rose again, with WTI going up up around 1.8%&nbsp;after the postponement of the planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland. Bloomberg, citing Vortexa data compiled independently, reported that 40 very large crude carriers holding almost 80 million barrels of non-sanctioned crude from Persian Gulf producers were stuck inside the Gulf. The news sparked a reversal in several equity markets that had been heading for a positive end, with profit-taking adding to the selling. Seoul, which has hit multiple records this week and topped 9,000 points for the first time on Thursday, ended in the red after a strong start to the day led by tech firms. Losses were also reported&nbsp;in Tokyo, Singapore, Sydney, Mumbai, Bangkok, and Jakarta, but Wellington and Manila edged up. &quot;With the deal signed, that geopolitical cloud is lifting, but markets have learned more than once that a resolution can unravel quickly,&quot; Josh Gilbert, at eToro, said. The gains also followed a strong lead on Wall Street, where the tech-heavy Nasdaq soared almost 2% thanks to heavyweights including Amazon, Alphabet, and Nvidia. &quot;The repricing this week has been drastic, and part of that came about because of the resumption of Iranian oil almost instantaneously,&quot; Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG, told Bloomberg Television. &quot;What comes next is the execution risk. There&#39;s a lot of details still to be nutted out.&quot;

In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency on June 18, 2026, vessels are seen anchored in Bandar Abbas along the Strait of Hormuz (AFP)

"There are some 550 merchant ships of above 10,000 dwt that will need to be prepared to exit the Middle East Gulf, including 160 tankers, 200 bulk carriers, 60 containerships, and 10 vehicle carriers, but greater clarity is needed before shipowners can begin transiting en masse," Lloyd's said, citing industry bodies.

Ships begin moving through Strait of Hormuz as oil markets fluctuate

TIJUANA: Iran&#39;s World Cup team will lodge a complaint with FIFA claiming they are being subjected to travel restrictions during the tournament in North America, the Iranian football federation spokesman said on Thursday. &quot;Despite having submitted its preparation schedule for the tournament well in advance, Iran&#39;s national football team has once again encountered restrictions imposed by the organizers, affecting the implementation of its technical staff&#39;s plans,&quot; the spokesman said. Iran wanted to fly from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to the United States two days before their next match, against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday. But the Iranian federation said its request was turned down. &quot;Given that the game will be played at 12:00 pm local time in Los Angeles, the Football Federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match,&quot; the spokesman said. &quot;The aim was to provide sufficient time for players to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training session, and finalize preparations. &quot;Despite the technical reasons presented by the federation, the request was once again denied.&quot; The Iranians were also angry that they had to leave Los Angeles the night of their first game of the World Cup, a 2-2 draw against New Zealand. The US administration has pushed back against the Iranian claims. Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said on Monday that Iran had been informed in advance that they would be allowed to come into the United States only on the day before the game. &quot;The team will be allowed to come in, match day minus one, so the day before the match,&quot; Giuliani told CBS News. &quot;They&#39;ll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up, so the evening of the match. And they&#39;ll be able to do that again in Los Angeles.&quot; He added that the procedure would be the same for Iran&#39;s final group game against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Iran's defender #23 Ramin Rezaeian and midfielder #31 Mehdi Ghayedi take part in a training session ahead of Iran's FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G football match against Belgium at Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Guillermo Arias 

"Given that the game will be played at 12:00 pm local time in Los Angeles, the Football Federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match," the spokesman said; Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said on Monday that Iran had been informed in advance that they would be allowed to come into the United States only on the day before the game.

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