Copa Airlines sticks to no-hedge stance amid fuel shock

Copa Airlines has no plans to hedge fuel despite the recent price shock linked to the war in Iran, CEO Pedro Heilbron told Reuters, betting its strong balance sheet and pricing adjustments will help absorb the impact.

The Panamanian carrier has not used fuel hedges for more than a decade and does not intend to change course, he added in an interview on Saturday on the sidelines of a global gathering of airline executives in Rio de Janeiro.

"We're just assuming the cost," Heilbron said. "Yields have been adjusted, but we're not covering 100 per cent. It's a partial impact."

Trump urges more 'surgical' strikes against Hezbollah: NBC

US President Donald Trump called for more "surgical" strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon in an interview broadcast Sunday. 

"I'd like to see Lebanon have a better life. I'd like to see a more surgical attack on Hezbollah. I think it should be more surgical," Trump said, according to a transcript of the interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," recorded Friday.

Iran's World Cup team arrive in Tijuana with US tensions high

Iran’s national soccer team arrived in Tijuana ahead of three World Cup matches in the United States, amid tensions that have turned the world’s biggest sporting event into a soft-power contest between the warring countries.

The squad touched down shortly after 5am (1200 GMT) in the Mexican city, across the border from San Diego, after an overnight flight from Turkey where they have been training for the past three weeks.

As the team’s bus pulled away from Tijuana airport, it paused briefly so members of the federation could wave to about 20 fans holding Iranian flags. A cordon of military and police escorted the team from the airport to the Marriott hotel, which will serve as their base.

Bahrain says Wilayat al-Faqih is 'political project wrapped in religious cover'

Bahrain's Minister of Interior warned that Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist), is a "political project wrapped in a religious cover".

It said an arrested group was secretly working to "achieve Iranian expansion in the name of religion." Necessary action will be taken against anyone who violates the law and exploits religious occasions to serve political objectives, the Bahrain ministry added.

Bahrain's Interior Minister also warned "mourning for the Wali al-Faqih is prohibited and punishable."

Trump says not demanding that Lebanon be part of short-term deal with Tehran

Opec+ countries to adjust production by 188,000 bpd from July

Opec+ agreed on Sunday a fourth increase in its oil output targets in as many months.

The seven members — Saudi Arabia, Oman, Russia, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Kuwait, and Algeria, decided to increase targets by 188,000 barrels per day from July, the statement said.

Trump says will not unfreeze Iran assets, lift sanctions 'upfront'

Trump said he will not unfreeze Iranian assets or lift sanctions upfront as part of any deal. However, Trump indicated it could come after the deal, saying: "If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking."

Airlines fuel bill to surge to about $350 billion in 2026

IATA expects airlines' fuel bill to surge to about $350 billion this year from roughly $252 billion in 2025, with fuel accounting for nearly a third of operating costs.

That is eroding profitability per passenger, with airlines now expected to earn about $4.50 per passenger, roughly half last year's level.

On the upside, IATA expects industry revenues to rise 9.4 per cent to around $1.16 trillion this year, driven by steady travel demand, higher fares, and growing income from extras such as seat upgrades and onboard services.

Aircraft shortages are also squeezing the sector. Delivery delays at Boeing and Airbus are forcing airlines to keep older, less fuel-efficient planes in service for longer, raising maintenance bills and blunting efforts to improve margins, Walsh said.

Airline industry halves 2026 profit forecast as fuel costs rise

The global airline industry nearly halved its 2026 profit forecast on Sunday, citing conflict in the Middle East that has driven up fuel costs, disrupted key air corridors and exposed the fragility of a sector operating on thin margins.

The International Air Transport Association, which represents more than 370 airlines accounting for about 85 per cent of global air traffic, said in its annual report that it now expects the industry to post a combined net profit of $23 billion in 2026, well below a previous projection of about $41 billion and down from $45 billion in 2025.

The downgrade underscores airlines' exposure to geopolitical shocks and fuel volatility, even as passenger demand remains resilient, planes are flying fuller and revenues are set to rise to more than $1.1 trillion.

"There are two major factors: one is the significant increase in jet fuel prices, which has gone way higher than I think anybody would have expected, and then the disruption to the airlines in the Gulf region, so that combination has led us to reduce the forecast," IATA Director General Willie Walsh told Reuters at the group's annual meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

Walsh said he expects some smaller airlines to go bankrupt or be taken over by bigger carriers this year and next as higher fuel costs bite. U.S. low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines shut down last month, the first airline casualty of the Iran war.

Airlines are also expected to cut unprofitable routes to protect margins, while fares — which have surged since the start of the Iran war — are unlikely to fall soon, Walsh said.

Israeli strike hits two buildings in Beirut southern suburbs: Lebanese state media

An Israeli attack on Beirut's southern suburbs hit two buildings in the area, Lebanese state media reported Sunday after Israel said it struck the Hezbollah stronghold.

"The raid on Beirut's southern suburbs targeted two apartments in two buildings," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said.

US resolution text demands Iran give IAEA access to nuclear sites, uranium stocks

A draft resolution the US has prepared and sent to other countries on the UN nuclear watchdog's board ahead of a meeting this week demands Iran provide "precise information" on its bombed nuclear sites and enriched uranium stocks.

Iran must "provide the (International Atomic Energy) Agency with precise information on nuclear material accountancy and safeguarded nuclear facilities in Iran" and "grant the Agency all access it requires to verify this information" without delay, the text seen by Reuters on Sunday said.

The draft resolution for the IAEA board meeting stressed that Iran's non-proliferation treaty safeguards agreement "cannot be unilaterally amended or suspended."

Israel military strikes 'militant command centre' in Beirut's southern suburbs: PM's office

Israel's military struck "militant command centre" in Beirut's southern suburbs, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Sunday.

"In accordance with the directives of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Katz, the Israel Defence Forces have just struck a militant command centre in Beirut's Dahiyeh district, in response to Hezbollah's fire towards Israeli territory," his office said.

US forces redirect 132 vessels, disable 6 till June 7

As of June 7, US Centcom forces have redirected 132 commercial vessels and disabled 6 to ensure compliance with the US blockade against Iran.

Egypt hosts new round of talks with Hamas

Egypt began hosting a new round of truce talks with leaders from Hamas and other Palestinian factions, sources from Hamas and other sources close to the negotiations said. The talks are expected to last for a few days.

Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce. Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed more than 950 Palestinians since the start of the truce, while Palestinian militant attacks have killed four Israeli soldiers.

Last year's deal established a Board of Peace led by Trump to oversee a phased ceasefire, and was ratified by the United Nations Security Council.

However, many of the toughest areas of dispute, including the disarmament of Hamas, Israeli withdrawal and make-up of a Gaza government, were postponed to later in the process. The Board of Peace negotiators have been talking to both sides on the disarmament issue.

UAE President appoints new director general of nuclear regulation authority

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a federal decree appointing Hamed Ali Mohammed Al Kaabi as the new Director General of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation.

PGSA says 'striving to provide' safe passage for commercial vessels

The PGSA body said on its social media account that despite the "aggressive war by US and the Zionist regime against Iran and the restrictions resulting from the war", PGSA is "striving to provide" safe passage for commercial vessels in cooperation with Iran armed forces.

UAE condemns Israeli attack on Lebanese army vehicle

The UAE expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli attack on a Lebanese army vehicle in southern Lebanon, which resulted in the death of soldiers.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed the UAE's categorical rejection of any attacks that infringe upon Lebanon's sovereignty, security, and stability, or target its legitimate institutions.

The Ministry emphasised the UAE's full solidarity with the Lebanese government and its support during this critical period for Lebanon, reiterating its commitment to supporting Lebanon's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed its sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims, and to the government and people of Lebanon, following this attack.

Israeli military issues evacuation warning to residents of Lebanon's Tyre

The Israeli military has warned residents of Tyre in Lebanon and surrounding areas to evacuate, seemingly before strikes.

Sheikh Nahyan hails Filipino contribution amid regional tensions

As the UAE navigates a period of regional tension, the country’s Filipino community used this year’s Philippine Independence Day celebrations to reaffirm its commitment to the nation it calls a second home.

Speaking at the event, which brought together around 40,000 members of the Filipino community at the Dubai World Trade Centre today to mark the 128th anniversary of Philippine Independence, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, praised the community’s contributions to the UAE and highlighted the country’s resilience in the face of recent challenges.

Describing the Philippines as a nation “shaped by courage, strengthened by sacrifice, sustained by faith,” Sheikh Nahyan said these same qualities are reflected in the lives of Filipinos living and working in the UAE.

Read the entire report from KT's Nandini Sircar here.

World Cup fever muted in Iran

Iranian football fans are struggling to muster up excitement as the World Cup looms near, where Team Melli will play in a country that Iran is currently at war with.

In a Tehran neighbourhood dotted with shops selling football jerseys and sporting goods, 17-year-old employee Houman said Portugal jerseys were the bestsellers, with Spain and Brazil also popular. "This World Cup is different for Iranians," he said. "I don't see the same enthusiasm as past editions."

Team Melli's aspirations on the field have been overshadowed by what has been an especially trying year for Iranians.

Shervin, a 42-year-old photographer from Tehran, was among those finding it difficult to get excited about the football.

"In Iran, no one truly cares about football now, just as no one seems to care about the hardship and difficult living conditions of the Iranian people," he told AFP journalists based in Paris. "It makes me angry."

"The situation looks particularly difficult for the national team players, who have to play in a country Iran is in conflict with," said Mohammad Pahlevan, an 18-year-old high school student wearing an AC Milan jersey.

Meanwhile, Ali, a self-professed football fanatic from the northern city of Tonekabon, said he wasn't in the mood this year after decades of fandom.

"As someone who has loved football and followed every World Cup since 1994, it's heartbreaking to realise that I feel no excitement at all for the upcoming tournament," the 49-year-old told Paris-based AFP journalists.

One killed in Israel shooting

One person was killed and five injured on Sunday in a suspected terror shooting in central Israel near the occupied West Bank, the Israeli ambulance service said.

The Israeli police said a suspected shooter in the attack was "neutralized," without providing further details. The police did not immediately identify the suspected shooter.

Israel's ambulance service said a 35-year-old man died of gunshot wounds, while five others were wounded, including two with what the ambulance service described as serious injuries.

The reason for the shooting is not clear.

OPEC+ set for fourth oil quota hike since Hormuz closure, sources say

OPEC+ is set to agree on Sunday a fourth increase in oil output targets in as many months, three OPEC+ sources said.

The war has cut oil flows via the Strait of Hormuz, creating the world's biggest ever supply crisis as key OPEC+ members have been unable to supply customers in full since the end of February.

Seven core members of OPEC+, which groups OPEC and allied producers including Russia, have increased their output quotas from April to June by almost 600,000 barrels per day.

UAE calls for more international protection of nuclear facilities after Barakah attack

At a meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Abdullah Balala, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, delivered the UAE's statement in the wake of the drone attack that targeted the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, reported WAM.

The meeting was convened at the request of Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. It comes after a visit to the UAE earlier this week by the Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi.

During the meeting, Al Balala reiterated the UAE’s strongest condemnation of the terrorist attacks targeting civilian nuclear infrastructure. He stressed that the meeting was not only about the incident in the UAE, but also about international responsibility in the protection of nuclear facilities dedicated to peaceful purposes.

He warned that attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities carry grave risks and could lead to serious humanitarian, environmental and economic consequences that extend beyond national borders, stressing that even if no radioactive effects occur, the absence of damage does not diminish the seriousness of the attack.

Economic cost of war for Israel

The enormous costs of Israel's multi-front war and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's determination to turn his country into a "super-Sparta" of the Middle East are driving up the defence budget and raising fears of cutbacks in education and healthcare, reports AFP.

The total cost of the series of interconnected regional conflicts that began with Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 stood at 405 billion shekels ($138 billion) as of late April, according to the governor of the Bank of Israel, Amir Yaron.

"That's a huge figure, more than 17 percent of GDP," he said during a recent economic conference in Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv.

Just the military campaign against Iran, which began with a wave of US-Israeli strikes on February 28, incurred an additional cost of 35 billion shekels ($12 billion) for the state up until a ceasefire took effect on April 8, according to an initial estimate by the finance ministry.

Following the adoption of the 2026 budget in late March, the government noted the defence ministry's budget had more than doubled since October 2023.

To support the war effort, the government borrowed heavily on international markets in 2024 and 2025.

It has reached the point where public debt now accounts for more than 69 percent of GDP, compared to 60 percent before the war, according to the Treasury. 

Taxes and social security contributions have also increased.

Israeli military says it intercepted two projectiles that crossed from Lebanon

The Israeli military said it intercepted two projectiles that crossed into Israeli territory from Lebanon on Sunday, after sirens sounded in the areas of Yiftah and Ramot Naftali.

Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have not halted with the Lebanese militant group rejecting proposals linking a ceasefire to its disarmament, saying Israel must first halt its attacks and withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon.

Iran has made a ceasefire in Lebanon between its close ally, Hezbollah, and Israel a condition for any peace deal with the United States.

Hezbollah entered the war on March 2, saying it was retaliating for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader at the start of a conflict that has since killed thousands in Lebanon and displaced more than a million people.

Strait of Hormuz closure affects 1 billion lives: UN

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is affecting nearly one billion lives, as 65 of the 75 least developed countries and small island states depend on imported oil, according to the United Nations.

"Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are sending shockwaves through the global energy system. Vulnerable economies are on the front line. Of 75 economies – least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS) – 65 depend on imported oil. For these countries, rising energy prices will translate into higher costs and difficult trade-offs – between covering fuel bills and investing in essential public services. This will affect nearly one billion lives," said the Strait of Hormuz Disruption report issued by the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

Read the entire report from KT's Waheed Abbas here.

US sees growing espionage threat from Israel: NYT

Recent US intelligence reports have raised concerns about Israeli spy agencies eavesdropping on US negotiators working on a peace deal with Iran, amid rising concern over a more general counterintelligence threat by Israel, reported New York Times.

The Defense Department declined to comment. A White House official, speaking on the condition their name not be used, said the account was false.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington also disputed claims that Israel poses a counterintelligence threat, saying Israel does not spy on US officials or entities.

The reports include concerns that Israel has stepped up its efforts to eavesdrop on senior US officials, including Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s top negotiator; Elbridge A. Colby, the Pentagon’s top policy official; and one of his main deputies, Michael P. DiMino IV.

Another report, written by the Defense Intelligence Agency and other military intelligence offices and focused on earlier events going back several years, said the counterintelligence threat level posed by Israel had been increased in recent weeks to the top level, from high to critical. The report outlines various efforts by Israel to spy on US military personnel and government officials.

The reports and the intensified concern about Israeli spying come at an especially sensitive time. Israel and the U.S. have been fighting the war against Iran together and have never had such close military coordination as they do now, with Israeli military officers working side by side with their American counterparts at US Central Command.

The US military is sharing huge amounts of tactical and operational information with its Israeli counterparts. But senior US officials said Israel is looking for insights into Trump’s strategy and shifting stances on the peace talks.

The new warning could potentially complicate efforts to further integrate military war planning between US Central Command and Israel, especially if the Pentagon makes a decision to place new restrictions on information shared with Israeli officers.

There has already been tension between the two nations as Trump pursues a peace deal even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel seeks to further degrade Iran’s capabilities, weaken or topple its theocratic government and assault Tehran’s proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah.

Iran World Cup squad to arrive in Mexico today

Iran's World Cup squad is expected to arrive in Mexico early Sunday under the shadow of a bitter diplomatic row between Tehran and Washington, after the United States refused to issue visas for some team support staff.

The dispute erupted just days before Thursday's kickoff of the 2026 World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Iran team departed Turkey, where they had been training, on Saturday bound for Mexico, Iranian television announced. They are expected to arrive early Sunday in Tijuana, a border city in northwest Mexico where they will be based for the tournament's duration.

Iran are due to play their three group games on US soil, making the first World Cup to see a host nation receive the team of a country it is at war with.

Etihad orders more widebody planes; CEO says not planning to cut flights

Etihad Airways is ordering more widebody planes as the Middle East carrier expects to be flying about 8 per cent more than a year ago by June 15, CEO Antonoaldo Neves said in an interview, according to Reuters.

He said on the sidelines of a global gathering of airline CEOs in Brazil on Saturday that the Abu Dhabi carrier is buying widebody planes in the double digits, declining to specify further.

Etihad is restoring flights after making cuts in March as the Iran war turned regional, raising fuel prices, Neves said.

He said Etihad does not plan to trim costs by cutting flights at the moment.

"The biggest cost we have is an empty plane," he said. "So the way I cut cost is I don't have empty planes."

US, Iran strikes in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday

Here is what happened yesterday in the latest violence that threatened the already fragile ceasefire between US and Iran.

• US forces struck Iranian coastal radar sites in Goruk and Qeshm Island on Saturday after shooting down drones launched by Iran toward the Strait of Hormuz, the US military said.

• The US military believed the four Iranian drones were targeting regional maritime traffic, a US official told Reuters.

• Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it had attacked US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for US strikes and fired at four tankers trying to cross the strait without its permission.

• The US military then said late on Saturday it shot down two Iranian attack drones threatening Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic.

US eyes Iranian assets for Gulf allies' reconstruction: Source

The US government will attempt to redirect Iranian assets to Gulf states for rebuilding and repairs of damage caused by Iran, a source familiar with the matter said according to Reuters.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has directed a team to assess costs for damages already inflicted on Gulf allies by Iran, the source said, adding that the US will consider using Iranian assets for repairs of any future destruction as well. The disclosure came a day after Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, told CNN that a peace deal to end the three-month war hinged on the release of $24 billion in Iranian assets frozen by the United States.

The source on Saturday did not specify what kind of assets the Treasury was examining. The language used to describe the new measures did not appear limited to frozen assets.

Entering third month of ceasefire

The ceasefire between US and Iran is as fragile as ever, with the two parties trading blows in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, with Gulf countries Kuwait and Bahrain brought into the violence.

US forces struck Iranian coastal radar sites in the strait early on Saturday after shooting down drones launched by Iran. A further two Iranian attack drones that were threatening shipping in the strait were also shot down, the US military said later that day.

The IRGC said it retaliated against US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, and Kuwait's army said on Saturday it engaged seven ballistic missiles that passed over residential areas, resulting in material damage but no casualties.

In some hope for talks continuing between the two warring parties, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reportedly travelled to Tehran on Saturday with a letter for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, an Israeli strike killed three Lebanese soldiers in what President Aoun called a "flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty".

Stay tuned to Khaleej Times today as we bring you the latest developments on Day 61 of the ceasefire. For a recap of what happened yesterday, click here.

US President Donald Trump said in a recent interview with NBC News’ "Meet the Press" that he would not unfreeze Iranian assets or lift any sanctions before a peace deal is reached.

Trump said he would consider those steps after an agreement is done. "Comes after," he said. "Yeah. If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking. Yeah."

Trump also said that he was not demanding that Lebanon be a part of a short-term deal with Tehran.

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The war has cut oil flows via the Strait of Hormuz, creating the world's biggest-ever supply crisis as key OPEC+ members including Saudi Arabia have been unable to supply customers in full since the end of February.

Seven core members of OPEC+, which groups OPEC and allied producers including Russia, have increased their output quotas from April to June by almost 600,000 barrels per day.

In reality, the group's production has collapsed due to export cuts by Gulf members, averaging 33.19 million bpd in April compared with 42.77 million in February, according to OPEC figures.

On Sunday, the seven members decided to increase targets by 188,000 bpd from July, the statement said. This is the same as the June hike, which was adjusted down from monthly increases of 206,000 bpd in May and April to take into account the UAE exit.

The seven of 21 OPEC+ members who met on Sunday are Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Oman. In recent years, only the seven plus the UAE when it was a member have been involved in the group's output policy decisions.

Three other OPEC and OPEC+ meetings, including one of all OPEC+ ministers, were also scheduled for Sunday. The meeting of all OPEC+ ministers is not expected to make any changes to group-wide output policy, OPEC+ sources said earlier on Sunday.

Despite laws guaranteeing free schooling for children aged six to 14, poverty and migration continue to keep many out of classrooms, particularly in sprawling cities like Mumbai where many families survive through low-paying informal work.

Crippling urban poverty also means young children selling knick-knacks on streets are still a fairly common sight at crowded traffic intersections in big Indian cities.

But the non-profit that runs the free school is determined to educate its underprivileged cohort, many of whom come from homeless families that barely eke out a living.

Wedged between gleaming skyscrapers and busy roads, the "Signal Shala", or traffic signal school, caters to several dozen children who have been left out of the formal education system, according to Bhatu Sawant, founder of the initiative.

"These children can't go to (a regular) school. So (I thought) let's do this. Let's bring the school to them," Sawant, 45, told AFP.

India runs one of the world's largest public school systems, but government data for 2024-25 still identified nearly 1.2 million children as "out of school", a catch-all categorisation that covers both those who have never been to school or dropped out.

Free meals

For Sawant, India's government-run schools are simply "not flexible enough for these children", while private ones charging exorbitant fees are out of the question.

The signal school operates from repurposed air-conditioned containers placed on a narrow strip of land beneath a flyover, where classes and play unfold amid the constant rumble of traffic overhead.

Its approach is tailored to the realities of street life.

Every morning, the school bus drives through the cramped lanes of Mumbai's slums, picking up students -- a lifeline for parents who can't afford transportation.

When the children file in, the first order of business is a shower, as many have no easy access to bathing facilities.

Lockers are provided for books and uniforms that otherwise cannot be kept safe or clean while living in slums or on the streets.

Three meals are provided free, with school hours longer than normal.

Classes are split by ability rather than age, with teachers adapting lessons for children who may never have held a pencil before.

Older students are also taught basic skills like sitting still, speaking clearly and staying focused.

The challenges are particularly acute when it comes to kids from the semi-nomadic Pardhi community, who often do not speak the local language.

"When the children came here, they didn't know what the days of the week were, what the 12 months were or what the seasons were," said teacher Tejasvi Borade, as the container walls rumbled from the steady stream of cars passing above.

Robotics and AI

For the students, the school serves as a sanctuary from the harshness of the real world.

"I feel very happy seeing the school bus," said 12-year-old Pooja Pawar, whose parents take on odd jobs at construction sites.

"The school clothes feel nice. The breakfast is good... In school, we make cake... and dance."

For others, it represents an opportunity long denied.

Balaji Laxman, who once sold tissues at traffic lights to earn a few hundred rupees -- the equivalent of several US dollars -- a day, said the classrooms represent a chance to imagine a different future.

"I want to become a doctor," Laxman, 12, said with a shy smile.

While the school steers many children towards vocational pathways, Sawant said the broader ambition is to ensure they are not left behind in a rapidly changing world.

"We have to prepare them for the 21st century," said Sawant, who has set up two similar schools on the outskirts of Mumbai which have robotics labs among other facilities.

"They should know robotics, AI, computers, 3D printing," said the educator who relies on private and corporate donations for funding, with the government helping with the infrastructure.

"Everything that elite class children are doing well in, they should know all of that."

Syrian authorities have arrested two former officials linked to the government of former president Bashar Al Assad as part of an ongoing crackdown on individuals accused of crimes committed during the country's conflict.

The Ministry of Interior said the arrests involved Gassan Assaf, a former office manager to military commander Suhail al-Hassan, and Shuaib Mahmoud Ibrahim, a former military commander accused of taking part in operations against opposition-held areas.

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According to the ministry, Assaf was detained by the Counter-Terrorism Directorate. Authorities said he was involved in massacres against civilians in western rural areas of Aleppo and of orchestrating bombings targeting public security institutions.

In a separate operation in the Masyaf area of Hama province, security forces arrested Ibrahim following an intelligence-led surveillance operation and ambush. Authorities also seized a cache of weapons hidden in the area.

The ministry said Ibrahim admitted to possessing weapons and concealing them with another individual in the Masyaf area. Efforts are continuing to locate the second suspect and recover the remaining weapons.

Ibrahim has been referred to the Counter-Terrorism Directorate for further investigation before being transferred to the judiciary.

The arrests are part of a broader effort by Syria's new authorities to track down former officials and military figures accused of violations against civilians during the conflict.

The campaign follows the overthrow of Assad's government by opposition forces led by Ahmed al-Sharaa in December 2024, ending more than two decades of Assad family rule. Since then, the new administration has launched a series of security operations aimed at restoring stability and holding those accused of wartime crimes accountable.

Pyongyang has long insisted on its right to nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes, although they are forbidden under the terms of UN Security Council sanctions. It enshrined its nuclear status in its constitution in 2023.

"The DPRK's status as a nuclear weapons state is the line of no retreat," Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong said in the English version of a statement published by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), using the North's official name.

"We will never tolerate any threat or compromise related to our sovereignty and security," she said.  

She also cited reported US weapons sales to South Korea, describing them as the "ceaseless arms buildup of the hostile countries", in justifying Pyongyang's efforts to strengthen its arsenal. 

Kim Yo Jong is a key player in the North's communications and foreign policy and her statement came on the eve of Xi's visit, which, according to state media, is scheduled to take place on Monday and Tuesday.

Beijing is a vital source of political and economic support to North Korea, one of the most diplomatically isolated countries in the world and which is under heavy international sanctions.

Xi's visit to Pyongyang will be his first in seven years, and comes after he hosted back-to-back summits with US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin last month.

Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear state since Kim Jong Un's 2019 summit with Trump collapsed over the scope of denuclearisation and sanctions relief.

North Korea's leader has since been emboldened by the war in Ukraine, securing critical support from Moscow after sending thousands of troops to fight alongside Russian forces.

He inspected a major munitions factory at the weekend and called for it to boost production capacity, according to a separate KCNA report on Sunday. 

This was "in order to supply enough quantity of missiles", it quoted him as saying.

Escapist dreams

Kim Yo Jong also criticised Washington over its comments that the goal of denuclearising North Korea had been reaffirmed during the summit between Trump and Xi in Beijing last month. 

The White House posted a fact sheet following the summit stating that "President Trump and President Xi confirmed their shared goal to denuclearize North Korea", but Kim Yo Jong said it was false.

"Still, some officials in the United States have failed to wake from their escapist and anachronistic dreams," she said.

"This is nothing but an old practise of the US for spreading false information."

Kim Yo Jong also rejected Washington's attempts to deny or challenge the North's status as a nuclear power, saying it "has no legally binding force". 

"The line of steadily beefing up the nuclear war deterrent for self-defence, clarified by the head of state, is an irreversible final conclusion to be carried out unconditionally," she said. 

The statement underscores Pyongyang's "sensitivity" to any suggestion of a US-China agreement on North Korean denuclearisation, Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP. 

"Kim's core message was a categorical rejection of reports of US-China discussions on North Korean denuclearisation as 'false information'," he said. 

It is possible that Pyongyang had "confirmed with Beijing" during the coordination process for the summit that such discussion had not taken place, Hong said. 

CJP is a parody of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that has garnered millions of followers on social media since its launch last month. It was started by Abhijeet Dipke, a former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) activist, not as a political party but as a satirical youth collective that has emerged as a hugely popular movement.

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Here's a look at the phenomenal response that Dipke, originally from Aurangabad (now known as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), has elicited in recent weeks and his plans for his group over the coming days:

Who is Abhijeet Dipke?

The 30-year-old Dipke is originally from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) in Maharashtra. After getting a degree in journalism from Pune, he moved to the US, where he did a two-year master’s degree in Public Relations.

How did the word ‘cockroach’ emerge at the centre of the controversy?

The name, CJP, started as a meme after India’s Supreme Court chief justice Surya Kant in an open court hearing in mid-May, compared people who get fake law degrees or misuse the judicial system to ‘cockroaches’ and ‘parasites of society.’ The chief justice later clarified that his comments were misquoted and he was referring to individuals who entered the legal and media professions with fraudulent degrees, not to unemployed youth.

“I am pained to read how a section of the media has misquoted my oral observations made during the hearing of a frivolous case,” he said. “What I had specifically criticised were those who have entered professions like the Bar (legal) with the aid of fake and bogus degrees. Similar persons have sneaked into the media, social media, and other noble professions as well, and hence they are like parasites.” He added that he was proud of the Indian youth, who he saw “as the pillars of a developed India.”

Referring to a case where a person was aggressively pursuing a senior advocate designation, Surya Kant and another judge referred to the social media activity of the person and said: “There are already parasites of society who attack the system and you want to join hands with them. There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment or have any place in profession. Some of them become media…social media…RTI activists…and start attacking everyone.”

How did Dipke get catapulted to the limelight over the past few days?

Days after Surya Kant’s remarks, Abhijeet saw the online outrage on the use of ‘cockroaches’ and ‘parasites’ and launched his CJP. “Someone who is there to safeguard our freedom of expression is comparing us to cockroaches and parasites just for putting forward our opinion,” Abhijeet told the media.

After returning to India, Dipke told reporters he would continue with the agitation demanding the sacking of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, for his decision to award the contract for a new ‘on-screen marking’ system to a controversial firm. “Dharmendra Pradhan has wronged an entire generation, said Dipke. “If he is not removed or does not step down within the next 7 days, we will be forced to continue our protest on the ground.”

What are the five demands of CJP?

Last month, CJP released their five core demands, which they claim resonate with India’s frustrated youth.

They include:

1. If the CJP comes in power, no Chief Justice shall be granted a Rajya Sabha (Upper House) seat as a post-retirement reward.

2. If any legit vote is deleted, whether in a CJP or opposition-ruled state, the CEC shall be arrested under UAPA, as taking away voting rights of citizens is no less than terrorism.

3. Women shall receive 50 per cent reservation, not 33 per cent, without increasing the strength of Parliament. Additionally, 50 per cent of all Cabinet positions shall be reserved for women.

4. All media houses owned by Ambani and Adani shall have their licences cancelled to make way for truly independent media. Bank accounts of Godi media anchors shall be investigated.

5. Any MLA or MP who defects from one party to another shall be barred from contesting elections — and from holding any public office — for a period of 20 years.

They also demand:

• Free WiFi for all citizens - because the internet is a human right, not a luxury for the employed.

• Afternoon naps mandated by law - productivity is overrated, rest is revolutionary.

• Weekly rant sessions in Parliament - every complaint deserves a dedicated audience.

• Resume gaps celebrated, not questioned - employment history is just a social construct.

• Official recognition of laziness as a valid lifestyle choice - dignity for all, judgment for none.

At the forefront is Sarthak Sidhant, a Grade 12 whistleblower, who appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education in Delhi to tell them how the CBSE tenders had been rigged to favour a certain company — COEMPT Eduteck.

Sarthak said he has done "what a concerned citizen should do. Every person should have the civic sense to read through things and try to make the system transparent, even if it is not."

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How did he expose their flaws?

The student detailed his process in a chat with Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.

When a fellow student, Nisarg Adhikari, an ethical hacker sent Sarthak vulnerabilities related to the CBSE portal, Sarthak noticed that all of them were from OnMark, which is COEMPT Edutek's online solution for OSM evaluation.

With COEMPT having a reputation for vulnerabilities with multiple universities using OnMark, Sarthak said it gave him "a sense of curiosity on why CBSE, on which the future of 17 lakh students are decided, are using such an insecure platform?

He then studied the tenders that CBSE issued, taking a deep dive into these documents, confirming that the tender was changed thrice, and "the rules were rewritten multiple times" before the contract was awarded to COEMPT.

Sarthak called this "suspicious" behaviour, and added that even after the changing of tenders, proper security audits were not conducted.

When Rahul Gandhi questioned why decision makers did not find these issues with the OSM method if an 18-year-old was able to spot the loopholes, Sarthak said this means one of multiple things.

Those in charge "either were not serious about their jobs, or they liked COEMPT, or they are not serious about students' future," he added.

'Record of poor performance'

Sarthak pointed out that the initial 'request of proposal' document contained a clause that stated that the service provider will be disqualified if there is a record of poor performance.

COEMPT has a record of poor performance; in 2019, in the Telangana State Board Exams, 23 students killed themselves after a technical glitch led to faulty marks and mishandling of results, Sarthak pointed out.

COEMPT wins tender short time before OSM implemented

The first tender was issued in February, later cancelled, the second issued in May, also cancelled, and the third was issued in August, Sarthak said.

When COEMPT won the tender, which Indian media says took place in December, it was just 74 days before CBSE implemented OSM marking, Sarthak said.

"There was not enough time for preparation. Teachers have said they were not given enough tutorials, there were crashes and system issues."

Moreover, in August, the request of proposal was issued, and just one month later, in September, a corrigendum was issued, which is an official document issued by the tendering authority to correct or amend a previously published tender notice.

This corrigendum took away the power of CBSE to blacklist COEMPT if a data breach occurred, Sarthak told Rahul, to which the Indian opposition leader replied: "Why would CBSE take away power from themselves?"

The conclusion he derived from all the discrepancies he found was that "CBSE was rewriting the rules to favour COEMPT", the young whistleblower said.

Why would CBSE give the contract to a company that "already destroyed 3.5 lakh students in Telangana?" The same system was implemented nationwide, with the same results [of anguish among students], he added.

Sarthak sees a future for himself in civic tech, analysing government policies and citizen issues from a digital aspect.

The Israeli police said a suspected shooter in the attack was "neutralised", without providing further details.

The police did not immediately identify the suspected shooter.

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"Large police forces remain at the scene, and searches are continuing," it said.

Israel's ambulance service said a 35-year-old man died of gunshot wounds, while five others were wounded, including two with what the ambulance service described as serious injuries.

The shootings took place in three separate areas in central Israel close to the Palestinian West Bank city of Qalqilya. Palestinian group Hamas praised the shooting but did not claim responsibility for the attack.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he held a security assessment and is monitoring the "deadly shooting attack".

The strong performance comes even as the country remains sixth in the global GDP rankings in nominal dollar terms, a position largely influenced by currency movements and statistical revisions rather than economic fundamentals.

The latest data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) showed that the economy grew 7.7 per cent during FY26, accelerating from 7.2 per cent in 2023-24 and 7.1 per cent in 2024-25. Growth gained further momentum in the January-March quarter, with GDP expanding 7.8 per cent, underscoring the strength of domestic demand, government spending and investment activity.

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The performance comes at a time when many major economies are grappling with sluggish growth, persistent inflationary pressures and trade disruptions triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the figures as evidence of India's growing economic strength and resilience. "India's economy grew by 7.7 per cent in FY 2025-26, with growth accelerating to 7.8 per cent in the fourth quarter, underscoring its resilience and underlying strength built over the last 12 years through the mantra of Reform, Perform and Transform," Singh said in a post on X.

He added that India continues to stand out as the world's fastest-growing major economy at a time when many countries are facing economic uncertainty.

The latest growth figures have provided reassurance to policymakers as the economy navigates external headwinds stemming from higher energy costs, supply-chain disruptions and currency volatility. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently trimmed its growth outlook for the current fiscal year, citing the potential impact of geopolitical tensions, rising crude prices and imported inflation.

Economists note that India's growth story continues to be driven by strong domestic consumption, rising public infrastructure investment, rapid digitalisation and manufacturing expansion under flagship initiatives such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) programme.

While India's growth trajectory remains enviable, its position in the global GDP rankings has attracted attention. According to the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook estimates, India is currently the world's sixth-largest economy in nominal GDP terms, behind the United States, China, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. India's nominal GDP is estimated at between $3.9 trillion and $4.1 trillion.

However, economists argue that the ranking does not fully reflect the country's economic strength. The shift is largely attributable to the depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar and revisions made under the new GDP base year series. Since global rankings are measured in dollar terms, a weaker rupee reduces the dollar value of economic output even when real growth remains robust.

India's economic fundamentals continue to compare favourably with those of its global peers. The country remains the world's third-largest economy when measured by purchasing power parity (PPP), behind only the United States and China. This metric adjusts for differences in the cost of living and purchasing power across countries and is often regarded as a better measure of domestic economic scale.

Moreover, India continues to outpace most major economies on growth. While advanced economies are expected to expand at rates of between 1 and 3 per cent over the coming years, India's growth is projected to remain above 6 per cent, making it one of the most dynamic large economies globally.

The medium-term outlook remains encouraging. Massive investments in transport infrastructure, logistics networks, renewable energy, manufacturing capacity and digital services are expected to sustain economic momentum. India's growing consumer market, expanding middle class and favourable demographics continue to underpin long-term growth prospects.

Several international institutions, including the IMF and World Bank, expect India to regain ground in the global GDP rankings over the coming years. Many projections indicate that the country could emerge as the world's third-largest economy in nominal GDP terms by the early 2030s, overtaking both Japan and Germany.

For now, India's latest growth performance sends a clear message. Despite geopolitical shocks, currency pressures and an uncertain global economic environment, the country's growth engine remains among the strongest in the world. As investors seek opportunities in an increasingly volatile global landscape, India continues to offer one of the most compelling long-term economic stories of the decade.

In Gaza City, a drone strike killed eight people and wounded 15 others in the Jawazat camp for displaced people, according to the civil defence, a rescue service that operates under the authority of Hamas.

The city's Al-Shifa Hospital also reported receiving eight bodies.

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"We targeted terrorists in that sector," the Israeli army told AFP, without providing further details.

Further south, a 25-year-old man, Muhannad Othman Farwana, was killed in the morning in a strike on a tent, the civil defence said.

Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis said the man's body had been brought in along with several wounded.

In a statement, the Israeli army said Farwana was "a terrorist cell commander in the military wing" of Hamas, adding he had been killed in a precision strike.

The strike hit his tent on the roof of his house, just before he was due to get married later in the day, said his cousin Mohammed Farwana.

"The whole family was ready to celebrate his wedding. Now, we're attending his funeral instead," he told AFP.

The civil defence announced in the evening another person was killed in an Israeli strike in southeast Gaza City, identifying him as a 37-year-old man.

Israel and Hamas accuse each other of near-daily violations of the truce meant to halt the war in Gaza, which was triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

At least 951 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, according to Gaza's health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.

The Israeli army has reported five deaths in its ranks during the same period.

Restrictions imposed on media outlets and limited access in Gaza prevent AFP from independently verifying tolls or freely covering the violence there.

Recent US intelligence reports have raised concerns about Israeli spy agencies eavesdropping on US negotiators working on a peace deal with Iran, amid rising concern over a more general counterintelligence threat by Israel.

Israel and the US have long known, and tolerated, that each was spying on the other. But an intensified Israeli effort to learn about US positions in talks with Iran has crossed a line, according to some US officials.

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The reports include concerns that Israel has stepped up its efforts to eavesdrop on senior US officials, including Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s top negotiator; Elbridge A Colby, the Pentagon’s top policy official; and one of his main deputies, Michael P DiMino IV.

Another report, written by the Defense Intelligence Agency and other military intelligence offices and focused on earlier events going back several years, said that the counterintelligence threat level posed by Israel had been increased in recent weeks to the top level, from high to critical. The report, to which the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency contributed, outlines various efforts by Israel to spy on US military personnel and government officials.

The reports and the intensified concern about Israeli spying come at an especially sensitive time. Israel and the US have been fighting the war against Iran together and have never had such close military coordination as they do now, with Israeli military officers working side by side with their American counterparts at US Central Command.

The US military is sharing huge amounts of tactical and operational information with its Israeli counterparts. But senior US officials said that Israel is looking for insights into Trump’s strategy and shifting stances on the peace talks.

The new warning could potentially complicate efforts to further integrate military war planning between US Central Command and Israel, especially if the Pentagon makes a decision to place new restrictions on information shared with Israeli officers.

There has already been tension between the two nations as Trump pursues a peace deal even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel seeks to further degrade Iran’s capabilities, weaken or topple its theocratic government and assault Tehran’s proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah. The DIA report was drafted after incidents in which US defense personnel in Israel detected that software to tap their communications had been surreptitiously installed on their phones.

The Defense Department declined to comment. A White House official, speaking on the condition their name not be used, said the account was false.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington also disputed claims that Israel poses a counterintelligence threat, saying that Israel does not spy on U.S. officials or entities.

The developments were described by several current and former US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters.

They said that in some respects, the counterintelligence warning is no surprise. Israel has long engaged in aggressive intelligence collection operations against its enemies and its allies, as does the United States.

Still, Israel’s counterintelligence threat level is now higher than any other ally and higher than some adversarial countries. Of US allies, only South Korea, which is rated at high in certain situations, approaches the concern with Israel’s espionage efforts, the officials said.

The aggressiveness of the Israeli intelligence collection on top US officials during the second Trump administration has been “unhinged,” one senior official said.

Two senior US military officials said that US personnel, particularly those serving in Israel or with Israeli counterparts, were well aware of the counterintelligence risks before the new report.

The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal assessments, said US personnel employ a range of security procedures and protocols to help counter the threat and to protect their cellphones and other electronic devices, especially while traveling in Israel, but declined to describe those measures in detail for security reasons.

Cooperation between the two militaries is very close, but each side also needs to keep its most sensitive information secret.

At the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, Israel, for instance, US and Israeli military and diplomatic personnel work side by side to enforce the Gaza ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian efforts. But the building also has a US-only floor and an Israeli-only floor where personnel from each country can discuss the most sensitive topics.

The report says counterintelligence incidents began increasing in late 2024, as the Biden administration pressed Israel to curb its attacks on Gaza, and continued into 2025, as the Trump administration weighed options to attack Iran.

The report, which incorporated contributions from a number of military intelligence agencies, also details several episodes in recent years. In 2021, Israeli military intelligence officers were caught planting listening devices at DIA headquarters. Last year, officers from Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, were discovered to have tried to plant a listening device in a Secret Service vehicle.

While the DIA document does not explicitly discuss the peace negotiations, other recent intelligence reports have raised concern about Israelis listening to Witkoff and other top negotiators as they try to reach a long-term agreement for a peace deal between the US and Iran.

The tendency of some senior Trump administration officials to fly on private aircraft, to conduct national security business on their personal phones and to reject staffing from US embassies abroad made them especially vulnerable targets for the spy services of allies and adversaries alike, said a former senior US official who has dealt extensively with Israel.

Other current officials also acknowledged the use of personal cellphones by top US officials have made them easy targets for eavesdropping.

US and Israel were largely aligned at the beginning of the war with Iran, with Trump endorsing Netanyahu’s long-sought goal to push the theocratic government from power. But the war aims quickly diverged, as the United States focused more on trying to erode Iran’s military capabilities to force concessions at the bargaining table, while Israel hoped the Iranian hard-line government would lose its grip on power.

It is not entirely clear why Colby, who is in charge of Pentagon policy, would be a target. But he is one of the most prominent proponents inside the US government of a restrained foreign policy. DiMino is in charge of Pentagon policy for the Middle East, making him a person of natural interest to Israel.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times

It has been two months since the ceasefire began in this regional conflict, yet no formal agreement has been reached, as tensions and diplomatic activity continue across the region.

Iran’s navy claimed it fired warning shots at US destroyers in the Gulf of Oman, but US Central Command denied the allegation.

Meanwhile, reports emerged that Oman’s Mina al Fahal terminal had suspended oil loading following an explosion near its mooring berths, although Petroleum Development Oman later said operations were continuing normally.

The US also announced new Iran-related sanctions targeting an alleged network accused of disguising Iranian LPG exports as Omani shipments to bypass restrictions.

Separately, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited a national laboratory in Tennessee to consult nuclear experts ahead of potential talks with Iran.

US military says Iran launched 7 missiles at Kuwait, Bahrain

US military officials said Iran launched seven ballistic missiles toward neighbouring Kuwait and Bahrain on Friday, hours after reporting that four Iranian “one-way attack” drones had been intercepted.

In a statement posted to X, US Central Command said it intercepted six of the missiles Iran launched, and the seventh "did not reach its intended target".

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it targeted US bases with missiles in retaliation for US strikes and also fired on four tankers attempting to cross the Strait without permission.

According to Centcom, the attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic, prompting US forces to strike Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island to prevent further maritime attacks.

The statement said no US personnel were harmed in the incident.

Kuwait responds to early morning drone and missile threats

Kuwaiti air defence systems were responding to hostile missile and drone attacks in the early hours of the morning.

The military said that any sounds of explosions are the result of air defence systems intercepting the incoming threats and urged the public to follow all safety and security instructions issued by the relevant authorities.

US says Iranian claims of damaging US 5th fleet headquarters are false

Iran FM urges Lebanon president to save country from 'real foe' 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday rejected remarks by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that Lebanon was a bargaining chip for Tehran.

Aoun said on Friday that Iran was using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with the United States and that Lebanese people were paying the price for Iran's interests.

"Had Lebanon been a bargaining chip for Iran, we'd have a deal long ago," Araghchi posted on X. "Save Lebanon from your real foe, Mr President."

Explosions heard near Kuwait airport and in Bahrain: AFP

Multiple explosions were heard in areas near Kuwait International Airport, reported AFP's correspondent in Kuwait, whose military announced it was responding to "hostile" missile and drone attacks.

In Bahrain's capital, Manama, an AFP correspondent there reported hearing explosions and interceptions as air raid alerts rang out.

US approves $2billion anti-drone weapons sale to Kuwait

The US announced Friday its approval of a $1.98 billion arms sale to Kuwait, one of the countries in the region hit by Iranian strikes during the conflict.

In a statement, the US State Department said it would allow purchases of counter-drone technology from defence company Anduril, which was founded by a supporter of Trump.

Earlier this week, Kuwait officials "condemned Iranian aggression" when a drone strike on its international airport killed one person and injured 63 others. 

IRGC warns US of consequences of Hormuz Strait closure to oil, gas exports if US ‘mischief’ continues

US energy secretary says lower gas prices will ultimately take resolution with Iran

The US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Friday that lowering pump prices will ultimately take a resolution with Iran to get more oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Asked what it will take to lower soaring gas prices for all Americans, Wright said it would take a deal with Iran.

"The pathway to bring gasoline and diesel prices back down is to get more oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz," he said in an interview. "Ultimately that's going to be a resolution with Iran."

He added that the higher gas prices were justified by the military effort to remove Iran as a nuclear threat.

"We're paying extra, but we're solving a major geopolitical challenge, a major threat to national security, a major threat to that whole region of the world," Wright said. "That's a cost that we're getting something for."

US confirms Iranian footballers granted visas for World Cup

Players from Iran's World Cup team have been granted visas to enter the United States, Reuters reported on Friday.

A White House official confirmed the news to Reuters, offering that the players had received their visas overnight, shortly after Iranian ambassador to Mexico Abolfazl Pasandideh had said they didn't have them late Thursday.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Iran moved their base of operations to Tijuana, Mexico, from their original plan of Arizona, due to concerns over the continued conflict between both countries.

"Iran's participation in the World Cup, even on the soil of what is seen as its enemy, shows that Iran seeks peace," Pasandideh said.

Trump says Iran has '22 per cent' of missiles left

Iran still has "21, 22 per cent" of its missiles left, Trump said Friday, in a week in which Tehran fired dozens of them toward regional neighbours, despite a sputtering ceasefire.

"They still have capacity. They have some missiles; they have some drones. I would say, percentage-wise, maybe 21, 22 per cent of their missiles," Trump told NBC News in an interview.

That figure for Iran's missile stockpile is higher than the one of 18 per cent Trump gave in May. He has often claimed to have completely destroyed Iran's war-fighting capacity. 

Watch: Trump calls Iran conflict 'practice', downplays war

US President Donald Trump referred to the ongoing Iran conflict as “not really a war,” describing it instead as a “military conflict” and a “practice,” during a campaign event in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin on Friday, June 2.

“The situation with Iran seems to be going quite well,” Trump said, addressing a press pool on Friday upon his arrival in Wisconsin for a scheduled public event, as shared by the White House, as he downplayed the tensions.

He also appeared to minimise the scale and intensity of the ongoing hostilities, despite continued exchanges involving Iranian forces, US assets, and Israeli military formations.

“It’s really not much of a war,” the US president said, characterising the high-stakes confrontation in more casual terms, before adding, “But it’s a military conflict. It’s practice.”

IAEA’s Grossi praises UAE Barakah power plant team for May 17 attack response

During a visit to the UAE, Grossi met the team that responded to the May 17 drone strike at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, praising their professionalism, skill, and day-to-day readiness in upholding nuclear safety standards and noting that a young woman was among those involved in the response.

Grossi strongly condemned attacks on nuclear infrastructure, warning that such actions pose serious risks.

He said that any attack on a nuclear power plant is 'simply unacceptable', adding that international law, IAEA resolutions, and long-standing global norms clearly prohibit such actions.

Lebanon says Israeli strike kills 5 including woman, paramedic

Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike in the south on Friday killed five people, including a woman and an emergency worker, despite ceasefire talks, condemning "the targeting of paramedics carrying out rescue operations".

"The Israeli enemy strike on the town of Zebdine in the Nabatieh district killed five people, including a woman and a paramedic from the Risala Association, and wounded two people, including a paramedic," a ministry statement said, referring to emergency responders affiliated with Hezbollah ally the Amal movement.

Iran adviser says negotiations at deadlock, demands $24billion in frozen assets

“The negotiations are at a deadlock, and Trump must break this deadlock,” Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, told CNN in an exclusive interview on Friday.

Rezaei also called for the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets, describing it as an important step toward rebuilding trust.

He said that if Trump is serious about negotiations, unfreezing the funds would serve as a test of confidence in reaching an agreement, stressing that the money belongs to Iran.

Efforts to turn the truce into a lasting settlement have repeatedly stalled amid continued retaliatory strikes by both sides.

Lebanese army says soldiers, officer killed in Israeli strike on military vehicle

Lebanon's army said Saturday that several soldiers had been killed in an Israeli strike on a vehicle in the south, days after the two countries announced a conditional truce following talks in the United States.

"A number of military personnel, including an officer, were martyred in a barbaric Israeli raid targeting a military vehicle on the Khardali–Nabatieh road," the army said in a statement posted to X.

Under the conditional truce, Hezbollah is supposed to stop its attacks against Israel and withdraw from near the border, while the Lebanese army will deploy to new "pilot zones" in the area where it would exercise exclusive control.

Bahrain says targeted by Iran, denounces 'blatant aggression'

Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday denounced Iranian attacks against its territory and neighbouring Kuwait, saying the two Gulf states intercepted seven missiles launched at dawn.

It described the incident as a 'blatant aggression' and a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of both countries.

The Ministry warned that such actions threaten the security and stability of the Arabian Gulf region.

US forces said early Saturday they intercepted incoming missiles headed toward the region, with no reports of casualties or damage.

Bahrain's security is 'red line' that cannot be compromised 

Bahrain reaffirmed its commitment to peace and stability in the region, stressing that restraint should not be mistaken for tolerance.

It underlined that the defence of its sovereignty, security, stability, and people remains a red line that cannot be compromised, adding that it will take all legitimate measures to safeguard its security, with confidence in the support of its allies.

The Bahraini Foreign Ministry issued a statement following reported Iranian attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait at dawn today.

Bahrain said the choice now lies with those launching missiles and drones, either to pursue a path of peace and cooperation or face isolation and marginalisation.

Bahrain calls for freedom of navigation in Hormuz 

The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on Iran to immediately halt what it described as unjustified attacks and to move toward peace.

It urged the full and unrestricted opening of the Strait of Hormuz, in line with international law guaranteeing freedom of navigation, and called for compliance with relevant UN resolutions.

It also demanded the disclosure of naval mine locations and cooperation in their removal, as well as the establishment of a safe humanitarian corridor to ensure the passage of civilian vessels and the safe return of more than 20,000 stranded seafarers.

It further stressed that defending Bahrain's sovereignty, security, stability, and the protection of its people is a red line on which the country will not compromise.

"The choice now lies with those launching missiles and drones today: either engage in the path of peace and cooperation, or condemn themselves to isolation and marginalisation," it added.

The statement was issued following reported attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait at dawn today.

Kuwait resumes air traffic after 2-hour closure following Iran attack

According to the state news agency, Kuwait briefly closed its airspace from 4.15am to 6.15am as a precaution following an Iranian missile and drone attack before reopening it after the situation stabilised.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said emergency procedures were activated in coordination with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and aviation facilities.

During the closure, 11 flights operated by Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways were diverted to nearby airports as a precaution.

Bahrain has issued a statement following reported Iranian attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait at dawn today, denouncing the attacks.

Lebanese President strongly condemns Israeli attack

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned an Israeli strike that targeted a Lebanese Army patrol on Saturday, killing two officers and a soldier.

He described the attack as a blatant violation of Lebanese sovereignty and international law, saying it comes amid continued escalation that threatens security and stability in southern Lebanon despite Beirut's efforts in negotiations with Washington to end the ongoing Israeli attacks.

Aoun extended his condolences to the Lebanese Army and the families of the victims, praising the sacrifices of the fallen servicemen in defending the country and its sovereignty.

Pakistan's interior minister to travel to Tehran on Saturday, Iranian media reports 

Iran says IAEA is politicising oversight of Tehran's nuclear programme

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that the UN nuclear watchdog should avoid turning technical reports into 'tools of political pressure' if it wanted to contribute to a diplomatic solution.

He said that the loss of the agency's oversight at some facilities resulted from the attacks rather than a lack of cooperation by Iran, adding that the International Atomic Energy Agency was using the consequences of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites to create "ambiguity" about Tehran's nuclear programme.

Iran slams US 'discriminatory treatment' over World Cup visa refusals

Iran on Saturday slammed World Cup host the United States over what it called "discriminatory treatment" in not granting visas for some members of the Iranian delegation to the tournament.

"Why do you not say that visas were denied to a large portion of the managerial and executive staff, technical advisers, and others who are an integral part of any national football team?" the Iranian embassy in Turkey said in a post on X, referring to an earlier announcement by US envoy Tom Barrack that visas had been granted to players.

"You have now escalated the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran's national football team to its highest level," the embassy added.

On Friday, Barrack praised the US embassy in Ankara over its "work processing visas for Iran's national football team" after the head of the Iranian football federation, Mehdi Taj, said on the same day that the Iranian delegation had submitted passports for visas.

But reports on Saturday from the Iranian media, including sports media Varzesh3, said members of the delegation, including Taj along with executive members and analysts, have not been granted visas.

Israeli military says incident 'under review' after 2 Lebanese officers, 1 soldier killed

Two Lebanese officers and one soldier were killed on Saturday in an Israeli strike on a military vehicle on the Khardali-Nabatieh road in south Lebanon, the Lebanese army said.

Later, the Israeli military said it targeted the vehicle after identifying what it described as a threat to its forces and receiving indications that Hezbollah was preparing to fire on Israeli troops from the area.

It said an initial inquiry showed that two Lebanese army officers and a soldier were inside the vehicle and that the incident was under review.

Kuwait denounces Iranian attack

Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned repeated Iranian attacks, including the latest at dawn today, calling them a clear threat to civilians and regional stability and ignoring international calls to stop such actions.

It said the attacks violate Kuwait’s sovereignty and break international law, the UN Charter, and UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026).

The ministry warned the escalation is pushing the region toward greater tension at a time when international efforts are trying to reduce conflict, adding that the attacks cannot be justified under any circumstances.

It also said Kuwait reserves the right to take all necessary steps to protect its security, territory, and vital facilities.

Bahrain says destroyed 3 missiles, several drones from Iran

The Bahrain Defence Force said Iran continues what it described as hostile attacks using missiles and drones targeting civilians in the Kingdom.

It said Bahrain’s air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 3 missiles and several drones.

The statement follows an earlier condemnation from Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry, which described the attacks at dawn as a flagrant violation and reaffirmed the country’s right to self-defence.

It also urged the public to exercise caution, avoid approaching any suspicious objects linked to the attacks, and report them immediately.

Kuwait responds to 3 shrapnel-related incidents

Kuwait fire forces official spokesperson said that the authority responded at dawn on June 6, to three shrapnel-related cases. Two of them were "fire incidents," while the third was a case of "securing sites", the official said.

Kuwait has urged residents not to approach or handle any fires or objects suspected to be resulting from the fall of shrapnel.

Saudi condemns Iran attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait

Saudi Arabia condemned Iran's "brutal attacks" which it termed a "blatant violation" of Bahrain and Kuwait's sovereignty.

These continued Iranian attacks signify further escalation and push the region toward tension and instability, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Egypt stands in solidarity with Bahrain, Kuwait following Iranian aggression

Egypt strongly condemned the Iranian attack that targeted Kuwait and Bahrain at dawn today, calling it a blatant violation of sovereignty and a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and stability of the Arabian Gulf region and beyond.

It affirmed full support for Kuwait and Bahrain in confronting the attack, expressing solidarity with the Kuwaiti and Bahraini people and backing all measures taken to protect their security, stability, territory, and vital installations.

UAE condemns Iranian terrorist attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait

The UAE strongly condemned Iranian terrorist attacks that targeted Bahrain and Kuwait with missiles and drones at dawn today.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said these terrorist attacks constitute a blatant violation of Bahrain's and Kuwait's sovereignty and a threat to their security and stability.

The Ministry expressed the UAE’s full solidarity with Bahrain and Kuwait and its support for all measures taken to preserve their security and stability.

Tehran accuses US of denying visas for some members of World Cup delegation

The US has refused to grant visas to 15 members of Iran's delegation, state television reported.

"Visas have been issued for the national team and the technical staff, and there are 15 members of the administration and management whose visas are problematic and have not been issued by the US," a state television reporter said from the Turkish city of Antalya, where the team is holding a training camp.

The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada kicks off this Thursday.

Lebanese Army shares photos of fallen personnel

The Lebanese Army issued a statement, mourning two officers and one soldier who were killed by a hostile Israeli strike earlier today.

Photos of the the officers, Wessam Sabrah and Eli Alkhouri, and the soldier, Hussein Abd Elali Ghazal, were shared by the force.

The army clarified that details of the funerals will be published later.

Kuwait engages 7 ballistic missiles

Kuwait's armed forces detected and intercepted seven hostile ballistic missiles inside Kuwaiti airspace, the army said in a statement, with the missiles being intercepted over several residential areas, resulting in the fall of debris and causing material damage

The attack did not result in any injuries, the statement clarified.

The army shared a toll of the hostile projectiles that targeted the country since the beginning of war. Take a look:

Qatars condemn attack on Lebanese Army patrol

Qatar condemned the Israeli attack that targeted a Lebanese army patrol on the Khardali-Nabatieh road, and resulted in the death of two officers and a soldier.

In a statement by the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Doha said that it considers the attack a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of the sovereignty of Lebanon, as well as a clear breach of international law.

It called on the international community to "assume its responsibilities by compelling the Israeli occupation authorities to cease their repeated attacks on Lebanon, to respect international conventions and laws, and to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701".

Iran condemns 'flagrant ceasefire violation' by US

Iran has condemned the US attack on radar and coastal surveillance facilities in Sirik area and Qeshm island, calling it a "flagrant ceasefire violation.

In a statement, the Iranian Ministry of Foriegn Affairs said that repeated truce violations show the US has no intention of reducing tensions.

"The US will be responsible for any consequences of its illegal actions and any further escalation," it added.

Iran's hostile acts constitute irresponsible escalation: GCC

Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), strongly condemned and denounced the continued Iranian attacks targeting Kuwait and Bahrain.

In a press statement, Albudaiwi said that the Iranian regime’s continued malicious acts targeting infrastructure and civilian facilities demonstrate its intent to undermine security and stability in the region and derail peace efforts.

"These treacherous Iranian hostile acts constitute a serious and irresponsible escalation, a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms, and a direct threat to the security and stability of the region," he added.

The security of Kuwait and Bahrain, he stated, is an integral part of the security of the GCC states, affirming that the GCC countries stand united and steadfast alongside both nations and fully support all measures they take to safeguard their security, protect their sovereignty and preserve the safety of their territories.

Airline chiefs vs fuel shock, fare test

In Rio De Janeiro, Global airline chiefs opened their annual summit facing a sharper test of the industry's post-pandemic recovery, as the Iran war drives up fuel costs and disrupts airspace while carriers try to cushion the blow with higher fares and tighter capacity.

The annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will conclude on June 8.

IATA, which represents more than 370 airlines accounting for about 85% of global air traffic, had forecast a record $41 billion in net profit this year for the industry before the war. Industry executives and analysts expect that outlook to be lowered at the meeting.

Lebanon to open second international airport within months

Lebanon launched the rehabilitation of its second airport, Rene Mouawad Airport, on Saturday, in preparation for an opening within months.

Lebanon currently has one international airport, in Beirut next to the capital's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold that has been subjected to heavy Israeli bombardment during successive wars.

The new airport, in the town of Qlayaat in Lebanon's northernmost province of Akkar, near the border with Syria, has been used as a military base by the Lebanese army for decades.

Lebanese Minister of Transport and Public Works Fayez Rasamny inaugurated the airport "after more than fifty years of promises, delays and waiting".

Rehabilitation is due to begin next week and will take at least three months, going through a pilot phase before the airport is put into full service in November 2026, according to local media.

Rene Mouawad Airport

The Rene Mouawad airport will be able to handle about 114,000 passengers in its first year, rising to more than 600,000 by its fourth year, he said.

The rehabilitation work at the new aviation hub is being carried out by the Lebanese company Sky Lounge, which on Saturday posted on its Instagram page a video of a test flight between Beirut airport and Qlayaat airport.

Rene Mouawad Airport, named after a former Lebanese president who was elected in the 1980s, was built by the French army as an airstrip in the 1930s.

It was used for civilian purposes in the 1960s and was bombed by Israel during an earlier war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

Beirut airport has continued to operate despite during the beginning of flare-ups between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2, and an earlier war in 2023 and 2024.

Saudi Arabia offers condolences to families of Lebanese victims

Saudi Arabia has extended its sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of victims of the Israeli attack on a Lebanese Army patrol, expressing its solidarity with Lebanon and its people in the face of anything that threatens the country's security and stability.

The Kingdom strongly condemned "the continued Israeli aggression against the sisterly Republic of Lebanon, reaffirming its complete rejection of any targeting of Lebanon’s sovereignty and its armed forces".

Lebanese army chief travels to Pakistan

General Rodolphe Haykal, the Lebanese army chief, has departed for Pakistan in response to an invitation from his Pakistani counterpart, Field Marshal Asim Munir, the army said in a statement.

Iranian World Cup squad en route to Mexico

Iran's national football team took off from Turkey en route to Mexico to take part in this year's World Cup, according to state TV, after its players were granted US visas late the night before.

The team "took off this evening for Mexico to participate in the World Cup after a 15-day training period" in Turkey, Iranian state TV reported. "The national team will arrive in Tijuana after a 20-hour flight."

Aftermath of Israeli strike

In the southern Lebanese village of Saksakiyeh, people gathered to inspect extensive damage at a building that was targeted in an Israeli bombardment, as civil defence teams worked hard to extenguish fires at the scene.

AFP photos showed the building badly damaged. Take a look:

Unifil mourns fallen Lebanese army personnel

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) has issued a statement to express its heartfelt condolences to Lebanon's army over the Israeli attack that resulted in the death of two officers and one soldier in Nabatiye.

Pakistan minister arrives in Iran

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran and is scheduled to meet with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported on Saturday.

Naqvi met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before traveling to Tehran and received instructions regarding negotiations between Iran and the United States, the report said.

Deferring jet orders would be costly for Middle Eastern carriers: IATA VP

Deferring jet orders due to uncertainty and higher jet fuel prices caused by the war in Iran would be unwise for Middle Eastern carriers, as the decision could be costly in the long term, a vice president of the airline trade group IATA said on Saturday.

Kamil Al-Awadhi, regional VP for Africa and the Middle East, told reporters that he does not expect the war and higher costs to affect aircraft orders from Middle Eastern carriers. The region's airlines are major buyers of jets from planemakers Boeing and Airbus.

Deferrals are "not wise because that deferral will cost you," he said, citing long waiting times for aircraft. He made the remarks on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) annual summit this weekend in Rio de Janeiro.

Given the waiting time for Airbus’s latest generation of single-aisle planes, it would take years for operators to get their planes, Al-Awadhi said.

Kuwait condemns deadly attack in Lebanon

Kuwait has condemned the Israeli attack on a Lebanese Army patrol earlier today, reaffirming its categorical rejection of the continued violations and calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities.

150 targets in 48 hours

Israel's military said it had struck around 150 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon over the past two days.

"Over the weekend, the IDF struck weapons storage facilities, command centers, rocket launchers, and additional Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites," the military said in a statement, adding the sites had been used "to advance and execute terror attacks against IDF soldiers".

Explosion on Kharg island

Iran's Fars news agency has reported that the explosion sound heard on Kharg island was a result of controlled ammunition detonation.

Iran team must enter, leave US on match day: Ambassador

Iran's World Cup squad has been notified they must enter and leave US soil on the same day as any match they must play in the United States, the country's ambassador to Mexico said.

Due to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Tehran, Iran's team is now based in Mexico, instead of their intended site in Tucson, Arizona.

"We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day," Iran's envoy Abolfazl Pasandideh told reporters.

Two months of ceasefire

Sixty days have now passed since a ceasefire was declared in the US-Israel-Iran war that broke out on February 28, killing thousands, disrupting travel and energy supplies worldwide.

US forces struck Iranian coastal radar sites after shooting down drones launched by Iran toward the Strait of Hormuz.

In the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait's army said it engaged seven ballistic missiles that passed over residential areas, resulting in material damage but no casualties. Sirens sounded in Bahrain and residents were urged to seek shelter. The country said it intercepted and destroyed three missiles and several drones.

Three Lebanese army personnel were killed in an Israeli attack on their patrol despite a truce between the two countries.

Diplomatic efforts to end the war continued, however, as Pakistani Interior minister arrived in Tehran and the Lebanese Army chief travelled to Islamabad.

Keep reading Khaleej Times to stay up to date with the latest developments on this top story.

Due to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Tehran, Iran's team is now based in Mexico, instead of their intended site in Tucson, Arizona.

"We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day," Iran's envoy Abolfazl Pasandideh told reporters.

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Salim Kumar has long battled liver-related health complications. After a liver cirrhosis diagnosis, a condition he has discussed openly with the public, the actor ultimately underwent a liver transplant, according to Indian media outlets.

Salim Kumar has not been very active professionally in recent years, but fans hold on to his old movies, with dialogues from them forming a part of every day life for Malayalees.

Born on October 10, 1969 in Kerala, Kumar is known for films like Karuttha Joothan, Abu, Son of Adam and Compartment.

Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, seven months old, was killed near Hebron on Friday evening while travelling in a car with his parents, who were also struck by Israeli army gunfire.

After a preliminary investigation, the army said one of its soldiers had opened fire on "uninvolved civilians" after their vehicle sped up in the direction of the troops. 

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In Hebron's cemetery, a few dozen people accompanied the father, Fahd Abu Haikal, who was holding his son's small body wrapped in a Palestinian flag, an AFP team saw. 

His wife, wounded in the face, is still in hospital but in stable condition, he told AFP. 

"We were going from Bethlehem to Hebron. Suddenly I heard a noise, I stopped the car and raised my hands," he recounted. 

"I heard gunshots and a second later I saw a bullet go through the windshield and then pierce my arm," the 42-year-old said. 

"My wife was hit by a bullet that went through the right side of her face." 

"I still can't grasp what happened," he said. 

"When more than one bullet is fired, when there's no warning shot and no warning at all, it can't be a mistake." 

'Yet another victim'

The child's grandmother, Feryal Abu Haikal, 65, was also in the vehicle. 

"I heard gunshots and I thought it was a warning shot to scare us into turning back, then my daughter-in-law was screaming and I saw her covered in blood," she told AFP. 

"An infant who had barely begun his life became yet another victim of Israeli occupation!" the office of Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa said on X. 

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and violence has sharply escalated in the Palestinian territory since the Gaza war began in 2023.

Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 1,080 Palestinians -- many of them militants, but also scores of civilians -- in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, according to an AFP tally based on figures from the Palestinian health ministry.

In the same period, at least 44 Israelis, including soldiers and civilians, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations, Israeli official figures show.

Hussein was finally allowed in, but the team's photographer was barred from entering the United States, said the official who works for the Iraqi Olympic Committee, but has close contacts with the team.

There was no immediate comment from the Iraqi Football Association, or from Hussein, the figure who scored the goal that secured the team's qualification for the finals.

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US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Homeland Security Department did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on the reported questioning that was also covered by Iraqi media.

Fans came out in the early hours of the morning to greet the Iraq squad at the airport, holding flags and asking players to pose for pictures less than a week before the start of the tournament, video on social media showed.

Hussein's phone was inspected after he arrived, the Iraqi official said.

"National team photographer Talal Salah was held for more than 10 hours, underwent similar phone checks, and was ultimately denied entry into the United States," the official added.

Iraq are returning to the World Cup for the first time since making their debut 40 years ago.

Hussein, 30, leads a potent frontline that also features Ipswich Town's Ali Al-Hamadi and talented youngsters Ali Jassim and Youssef Amyn.

Iraq face France, Senegal and Norway in Group I.

The tournament being co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico gets under way on Thursday.

In its daily update on the situation, the World Health Organization tallied 452 confirmed cases, including 82 deaths, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the outbreak was declared three weeks ago.

In neighbouring Uganda, meanwhile, it counted 19 confirmed cases, including two deaths. The total of 471 cases and 84 deaths, based on numbers reported by the DRC and Ugandan governments, marked a hike of 100 cases and 20 deaths from a day earlier.

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The increase came amid warnings that the outbreak, which the WHO has declared an international public health emergency, could eventually swell to become the largest on record.

A top official at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that models indicated that without strong public health interventions, the current outbreak risked rivalling the scale of the 2014 West Africa epidemic, which saw over 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths.

"That scale is possible," said Jason Asher, director of CDC's Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics, during a press briefing.

Ebola, which is spread through close contact and bodily fluids, has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years.

The current outbreak was declared on May 15 in northeastern DR Congo, but the virus is believed to have spread under the radar for some time beforehand.

There are no approved vaccines or treatments for the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola behind the outbreak.

The WHO and the African CDC on Friday launched a $518-million plan to battle the outbreak over the next six months, focusing among other things on boosting surveillance, laboratory testing and infection prevention.

"The outbreak is moving fast, and we are still playing catch-up," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.

"We need to stop the outbreak where it is, support countries that are responding today, and ensure that neighbouring countries are ready to detect and act quickly if cases appear," he said.

"This is a serious outbreak and its one we know how to stop but we need to move fast and together."

US President Donald Trump referred to the ongoing Iran conflict as “not really a war,” describing it instead as a “military conflict” and a “practice,” during a campaign event in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin on Friday, June 5.

Speaking at a roundtable with farmers, Trump said the United States had made progress in dealing with Iran, claiming efforts had “largely finished” a situation he described as a potential nuclear threat.

“We were having record stuff and then we had to put out a fire. We had to extinguish a nuclear weapon… this was going to be a very capable country that was going to have a massive nuclear presence. And we weren’t gonna let that happen,” he said, adding that the outcome was either already resolved or close to completion.

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He also suggested that any resolution would come “one way or the other,” adding it could be through a formal agreement or a more difficult path, while hinting at ongoing negotiations with Tehran.

“As you know with Iran, they have no navy… four days 159 ships at the bottom of the sea. Not that we like that but that’s the way it is. And the blockade is unbelievable,” Trump said.

Watch the video below, as posted by the White House:

The US president also pointed to recent economic data, saying job numbers had exceeded expectations despite the conflict.

"I'm delighted to report that for third month in a row, the jobs numbers... smashed all expectations by actually three times," he said, adding that 172,000 jobs were created in May.

Trump used the event to urge voters to support Republicans ahead of upcoming elections, warning of economic consequences if Democrats return to power.

The Wisconsin stop is part of a broader campaign effort focused on rural voters, with Trump linking energy prices, agriculture costs, and international tensions to domestic economic concerns.

Lebanon launched the rehabilitation of, Rene Mouawad Airport, its second airport on Saturday, in preparation for an opening within months, at a time when the country faces constant fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.

Lebanon currently has one international airport, in Beirut next to the capital's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold that has been subjected to heavy Israeli bombardment during successive wars.

The new airport, in the town of Qlayaat in Lebanon's northernmost province of Akkar, near the border with Syria, has been used as a military base by the Lebanese army for decades.

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Lebanese Minister of Transport and Public Works Fayez Rasamny inaugurated the airport on Saturday "after more than fifty years of promises, delays and waiting".

"Today we are moving from promise to execution," Rasamny said, adding that the goal is for the airport to be "operational in a few weeks" to serve travellers to Mersin, Istanbul and Dubai, adding there are plans to expand the destinations to Saudi Arabia, Cairo and Athens at a later stage.

Lebanon is also in contact with low-cost airlines, such as Ryanair and Pegasus, he said.

Rehabilitation is due to begin next week and will take at least three months, going through a pilot phase before the airport is put into full service in November 2026, according to local media.

The work is being carried out by the Lebanese company Sky Lounge, which on Saturday posted on its Instagram page a video of a test flight between Beirut airport and Qlayaat airport.

In a speech during the opening ceremony, the company's chairman, Ziad Munla, said, the passenger terminal will be completed "within 90 days after completing the required approvals and licenses".

The airport will be able to handle about 114,000 passengers in its first year, rising to more than 600,000 by its fourth year, he said.

The opening of the airport aims to create jobs in Akkar, one of Lebanon's poorest governorates with a high unemployment rate.

Rene Mouawad Airport, named after a former Lebanese president who was elected in the 1980s, was built by the French army as an airstrip in the 1930s.

It was used for civilian purposes in the 1960s and was bombed by Israel during an earlier war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

Beirut airport has continued to operate despite during the Israel-Hezbollah war that began on March 2, and an earlier war in 2023 and 2024.

Lebanon has been forced to repeatedly pursue international guarantees that Israel will not target Beirut airport, which it has previously accused Hezbollah of using to transport money and weapons. 

Lebanese authorities have repeatedly denied the Israeli allegations.

Since the beginning of the war — which started on February 28 when US and Israel launched "preemptive strikes" on Iran — several Gulf countries have endured attacks targeting civilian areas, nuclear plants, and oil and petroleum facilities. These had largely ceased after US President Trump declared a ceasefire aimed at allowing both countries to negotiate a deal. The talks, in progress for several weeks, however, have yet to yield a proposal agreeable to both sides.

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Trump on June 3 said, when asked to define a ceasefire, that "in that part of the world ceasefire is when you're shooting in a more moderate manner."

Despite a broad agreement to pause daily strikes, multiple instances of hostilities have been recorded over the last 56 days on both sides, with Iran continuing to target regional US bases and assets, in what Tehran says are mostly retaliatory strikes against US aggression.

Here is a timeline of how hostilities have unfolded since April 8:

• April 8: The very first day of the ceasefire saw UAE intercepting 17 ballistic missiles and 35 drones. At the time, although some parties considered Lebanon to be included in the US-Iran ceasefire agreement, Israel disagreed and carried out what were some of its biggest strikes till then against Hezbollah in Lebanon. While a ceasefire was later called on that front too, the attacks in Lebanon have continued.

• April 13: The US blockaded Iranian ports to restrict maritime traffic to and from the Islamic Republic, in an act Iran called a ceasefire breach.

• April 16: Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire. However, Hezbollah and Israel traded blows every subsequent day of the shaky truce.

• April 18: One soldier was killed and others wounded in an attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. Meanwhile, two Indian-flagged vessels carrying crude oil were attacked while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. A US destroyer then fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that tried to evade the US naval blockade.

• April 20: Iranian forces targeted three container ships in the Strait of Hormuz, seizing two and firing on a third.

• April 24: Two explosive-laden drones launched from Iraq targeted northern border posts in Kuwait.

• April 24 to May 3: Israel and Hezbollah traded blows for days, with multiple people in Lebanon, including Hezbollah members, killed in the strikes as Israel continued its ground offensive in the southern part of the country.

• May 4: UAE air defences engaged 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles, and four drones from Iran on May 4. A drone attack caused a fire to break out at Fujairah Oil Industries Zone, injuring three Indians. Meanwhile, an Adnoc-owned tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, targeted by two drones.

• May 5: UAE air defences dealt with another missile threat from Iran.

• May 7: Three people were injured as UAE defence forces engaged 3 ballistic missiles and 2 drones. The US struck an Iranian port and port city in the early hours of May 7. It also struck an Iranian oil tanker and another ship, triggering retaliatory attacks from Iran on their naval vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.

• May 10: The UAE engaged two drones on May 10 and no injuries were reported. A commercial cargo ship coming from Abu Dhabi was attacked in Qatar's territorial waters by a drone. Kuwait too reported hostile drones entering its airspace.

• May 13: Kuwait said it had detained four individuals affiliated with IRGC attempting to infiltrate its waters, while Iran said that the GCC country had 'unlawfully attacked' a vessel and arrested four of its citizens.

• May 14: Israel and Hezbollah continued to strike each other, with several Israeli and Lebanese civilians injured in the conflict.

• May 17: UAE engaged three drones that entered from the western border on May 17. Two were intercepted, while the third struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Al Dhafra, causing a fire. No injuries were reported, and radiation safety levels were not affected. Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed three drones from Iraqi airspace on the same day.

• May 19: The UAE Ministry of Defence announced that, in 48 hours, air defence systems had successfully detected and engaged 6 hostile drones.

• May 22: The Israeli military carried out an airstrike in south Lebanon, killing two people in an area where it was fighting Hezbollah.

• May 23: Israel staged airstrikes and raids in Lebanon that killed 10 people, targeting an area near the Syrian border.

• May 25: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered intensified strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, leading to the targeting of Hezbollah infrastructure and multiple villages.

• May 26: US forces attacked missile sites in southern Iran and boats trying to lay mines, according to the US Central Command.

• May 27: The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah command centres in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre.

• May 28: Iran’s Guard launched an attack targeting an American air base in retaliation for US strikes on Iranian targets. The US military carried out new strikes on Iran, targeting a military site in Bandar Abbas. Kuwait's army said its air defences responded to missile and drone threats, but did not say where they were coming from.

• May 30: Israeli military said it intercepted several projectiles launched from Lebanon, but that one had hit near a town in northern Israel. Hezbollah later claimed responsibility for the attacks.

• May 31: An Israeli strike near a hospital in Tyre in south Lebanon wounded 13 staffers. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said later that it had "conducted self-defence strikes on Iranian radar and command and control sites for drones in Goruk, Iran and Qeshm Island."

• June 1: Kuwait armed forces dealt with missile and drone attacks. Iran said that it had targeted a US air base in the region in retaliation for US strikes, without specifying the location of the base.

• June 2: Both Kuwait and Bahrain were targeted on this day. Two Iranian missiles fired at Kuwait fell short or broke apart en route, the US military said, and three missiles launched at Bahrain were "immediately intercepted" by US and Bahrain air defence forces.

• June 3: A total of 13 ballistic missiles and 17 drones were intercepted over several residential areas. At least 63 people were injured and one individual killed as Iranian drones targeted Kuwait International Airport, causing the airport to shut down and airlines to cancel flights.

• June 6: Kuwait announced engaging 7 ballistic missiles at dawn, intercepting them over residential areas. The attack did not result in injuries, but material damage was reported. Kuwait Fire Force responded to three shrapnel-related cases, including two fire incudents. Bahrain said that it intercepted and destroyed three missiles and several drones launched by Iran.

The ministry identified the infant as Sam Fahd Abu Haikal and said he died at the scene, while his parents sustained gunshot wounds and were in moderate condition.

The baby's grandmother said the family was driving near Checkpoint 17 when they saw Israeli military vehicles and soldiers in the distance and stopped the car. She said shots were then fired toward them, which they initially believed were warning shots.

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"One bullet struck my grandson, traversed his face and crossed his head, striking his mother's cheek where it lodged," she said, adding that the bullet had also grazed the father's finger and that the mother was in hospital.

The Israeli military said that during operational activity in the Hebron area on Friday, soldiers perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them, and one soldier fired single shots at the vehicle. It said three Palestinians were wounded and evacuated for medical treatment.

An initial military inquiry found that those injured were "uninvolved civilians", the military said, adding that the incident was under review and that the findings would be submitted to the relevant authorities.

Tel Rumeida, an area of Hebron where Israeli settlers live under heavy military protection among Palestinian residents, has long been a flashpoint for violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Over 700,000 settlers live in East Jerusalem and the West Bank among more than 3 million Palestinians, according to a European Union report ​in 2024.

After experiencing health complications, he was admitted and remains under close medical observation, according to Indian media.

Fans are currently awaiting a health update as the actor is beloved for his quick wit, stellar comic timing, and unforgettable performances in cinema.

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Salim Kumar has long battled liver-related health complications. After a liver cirrhosis diagnosis, a condition he has discussed openly with the public, the actor ultimately underwent a liver transplant, Indian media reported.

Salim Kumar has not been very active professionally in recent years, but fans hold on to his old movies, with dialogues from them forming a part of every day life for Malayalees.

In 2010, he won the National Award for Best Actor for his performance in the movie 'Adaminte Makan Abu' (translation: Abu, Son of Adam).

Carrying paper cockroach masks and pamphlets, the protesters called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who has faced criticism over the irregularities, including question paper leaks and technical glitches.

"We want accountability from the government," Utkarsh Raj, a medical college aspirant, told AFP at the protest site, which was watched closely by police officers in riot gear.

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"How is it that exam papers get leaked in this country? How is this right?" added Raj, 16.

Protesters were led by Abhijeet Dipke, a 30-year-old Boston University graduate who arrived in New Delhi from the United States on Saturday.

His parody party — "Cockroach Janta Party" (CJP), a play on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — has won millions of followers on social media since its launch last month.

"The youth of the country will no longer fear anyone, they will fight," Dipke, a former political communications strategist for the opposition Aam Aadmi Party, told supporters at the rally.

"Cockroaches don't ever fear, they never die either," said Dipke, as others shouted in unison.

The movement emerged after India's Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly likened young people who criticised the government to "cockroaches" and "parasites" during a court hearing, sparking outrage among the youth. Kant later said his comments were taken out of context.

CJP's popularity has soared, using the slogan "a political front for the youth, by the youth, for the youth".

'No credibility'

Protesters said young people were justifiably angry.

"India deserves better administration of such crucial exams by the government," said 20-year-old Sarthak, who gave only one name.

Last month, authorities scrapped the nationwide medical college entrance exam after investigators uncovered a question paper leak.

Indian media reported suicides of teenagers following the fiasco over the National Eligibility Entrance Test (Neet), one of the country's most competitive exams.

That came on top of another scandal related to online marking system in tests taken by nearly two million high school students.

"Young people have to give these exams and they can't have a situation where these exam systems have no credibility left," said Sapan Gyan, 52, who accompanied his sons to the protest.

The CJP's Instagram handle has over 22 million followers — more than double the BJP's nine million followers on the same site, as well as the main opposition Congress Party's 13 million.

Despite rapid economic growth, millions of people in the world's most populous nation still struggle to find stable and well-paying jobs, fuelling discontent among the youth.

Youth unemployment in the country, typically covering people aged 15 to 24, was estimated at around 16 percent, according to the International Labour Organisation.

In recent years, some of India's neighbours including Bangladesh and Nepal have witnessed youth-led movements against perceived corruption and political apathy that toppled incumbent governments.

Sooryavanshi, 15, is fresh off a breakout campaign in the Indian Premier League in which he topped the scoring charts with 776 runs in 16 matches, while also breaking Chris Gayle's record for most sixes in a season.

His performances for the Rajasthan Royals made him the first player in IPL history to be named both the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the Best Emerging Player, with many tipping him for a spot in the senior Twenty20 International side.

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Should Sooryavanshi go on to make his debut against either Ireland or England, he would become the youngest player to represent an Indian men's senior team, bettering great Sachin Tendulkar, who made his debut aged 16.

"We've seen what he can do, towards playoffs, almost single-handedly carried Rajasthan Royals," selection panel chairman Ajit Agarkar told reporters.

"Not just this season, had a great start and to back-it up in a competition that is as competitive and high-pressure, he's a game-changer. We've got high hopes of him and he has picked himself."

Agarkar added that Iyer, who replaces Suryakumar Yadav, had been appointed captain after guiding Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the Indian Premier League title in 2024, while also leading other franchises in the league.

Iyer last played a T20I in 2023.

"Led a team to (IPL) title, his own performances been good. He was close to being part of the World Cup squad, in my opinion was a 'stand-out candidate'," Agarkar added.

India play Ireland in two T20Is later this month, before a five-match series against England in July.

The BCCI also named their squad for this year's men's cricket competition at the Asian Games in Japan, which includes veteran bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

The Asian Games men's competition will begin on September 24, with the final scheduled for October 3.

T20I Squad for Ireland and England series: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Squad for Asian Games: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Several soldiers have been killed in an Israeli strike on a vehicle in south Lebanon, Beirut's military said Saturday, days after the two countries announced a conditional truce following talks in the United States.

"A number of military personnel, including an officer, were martyred in a barbaric Israeli raid targeting a military vehicle on the Khardali–Nabatieh road," the Lebanese army said in a statement posted to X.

A ceasefire that was supposed to end the fighting in Lebanon between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect on April 17 but has not been respected.

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Hezbollah and Israel have frequently exchanged accusations of violating the truce, with each side justifying its attacks with alleged violations committed by the other side.

A further conditional truce was announced by Lebanese and Israeli envoys this week in Washington.

It would require Hezbollah to stop firing and withdraw from near the Israeli border and would see Lebanon's army deploy to new "pilot zones" in the area, where it will exercise exclusive control. 

But Hezbollah has rejected the agreement, calling for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.

On Saturday, Israel renewed evacuation orders for five villages in Lebanon's south and east, telling residents to move north of the Zahrani River.

"In light of the terrorist Hezbollah's violation of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is forced to act against it with force," the Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on Telegram.

Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East war when Hezbollah attacked Israel on March 2 to avenge the February 28 killing of Iran's supreme leader.

Israel responded with an extensive campaign of airstrikes in Lebanon and a ground invasion.

Iran insists Lebanon be included in any agreement with the United States to end their wider war.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said in an interview with CNN that aired on Friday that Iran must stop interfering in Lebanon. 

"It's not your country, it's our country," he said. "It's not your job to interfere in our country."

"They are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiation with the United States. It's unacceptable," he added.

"Hezbollah must understand that (there is) no other way but to sit and talk, no other way to solve this problem and to save what's left except through negotiation and diplomacy," Aoun added.

"The majority of the Lebanese people are fed up with war."

Kuwaiti air traffic resumed after an Iranian attack caused a temporary, 2-hour closure of Kuwaiti airspace, and the diversion of 11 flights.

The closure, from 4.15am to 6.15am on Saturday, was a "precautionary measure" following the Iranian attack which involved missiles and drones, the country's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said.

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Emergency procedures and plans were activated to ensure the safety of passengers, crew and civil aviation facilities, Kuwait News Agency reported.

Eleven flights, operated by Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways, which were diverted to neighbouring airports — Dammam and Riyadh — have since returned to Kuwait International Airport after air traffic resumed.

Iran attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain

Seven ballistic missiles were launched toward Bahrain and Kuwait in the latest escalation. All the missiles were successfully intercepted, according to Bahrain authorities.

In the early morning hours on Saturday, Kuwait reported that its air defence systems were engaging hostile missiles and drones. The authorities alerted the public that explosion sounds may be heard due to interceptions.

Bahrain sounded the warning siren on early Saturday, urging residents to stay calm and head to the nearest safe place. Bahrain condemned the Iranian attacks, warning the Islamic Republic not to "equate patience to weakness".

Bahrain said that the protection of its people is a "red line that cannot be compromised," and asked for the immediate cessation of attacks, cooperation in removing mines, and allowing the safe departure of sailors stranded in Hormuz.

Bahrain said "security is not built with missiles or drones" as it confirmed being targeted by fresh Iranian attacks. Tehran also launched missiles towards Kuwait.

"Patience does not equate to weakness", the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, as the country stressed it was committed to peace and stability in the region. However, defending sovereignty and security, and protecting its people is a "red line that will not be compromised," Bahrain warned.

These remarks come in a statement on Saturday by Bahrain's Mofa, carried by Bahrain's News Agency, condemning the seven Iranian ballistic missiles launched towards Kuwait and Bahrain, which were "successfully intercepted".

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"Security is not built with missiles and drones, nor is stability maintained by planting mines", Bahrain said, urging Iran to disclose the locations of sea mines and cooperate in removing them.

The country also called on Iran to "immediately cease unjustified attacks and embrace peace."

The country called the fresh Iranian attacks a "blatant aggression" which violates international laws, and a threat to the security and stability of the Arabian Gulf region.

Bahrain said it remains "confident in the support of its brothers and allies" as it takes all legitimate measures to safeguard its security.

With freedom of maritime navigation guaranteed by international law, Iran must comply with relevant Security Council resolutions and "fully open the Strait of Hormuz without restriction and without fees," the statement read.

With over 20,000 sailors stranded, Bahrain called on Iran to open a safe humanitarian corridor that guarantees the safe passage of civilian ships, and allow sailors' departure and safe return to their families.

Abhijeet Dipke, 30, who has lived in the United States for the past two years, had said his family and friends feared he could be arrested on his return to India.

Dozens of police officers gathered near Jantar Mantar in central New Delhi on Saturday, barricading some of the surrounding roads as protesters shouted slogans demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

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Modi's government has blocked the movement's X account in the country, a move the Cockroach Janta Party has challenged in a Delhi court. Senior cabinet minister Kiren Rijiju has accused the group of seeking followers from arch-enemy Pakistan and the "anti-India gang".

The group, which has amassed roughly 22 million Instagram followers since launching in mid-May, is the largest online expression of dissent against Modi's 12-year-old rule, fuelled by persistently high youth unemployment and recurring leaks of examination papers that threaten to derail the careers of millions of students.

Political analysts say the group's popularity has begun to dent Modi's image despite his party's recent victories in key state elections, even as wider frustration grows over rising fuel prices and gas shortages brought by the Iran war.

Police used loudspeakers to direct people to Saturday's designated protest site.

"This is a peaceful movement for the youth of the nation," said movement spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka. Dipke is "ready for a long and big day in India's politics", Ranka said.

India has nearly 400 million people aged 15 to 29, and generating non-farm jobs for them remains one of its biggest challenges despite rapid growth. The urban youth jobless rate was nearly 14 per cent in April. Many educated young people are also stuck in low-paid or insecure jobs that do not match their skills, economists say.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who had criticised Tehran for interfering in his country, to save Lebanon from its "real foe".

"Based on Mr. Aoun's comments, one would think it's Iran that has occupied 1/5 of Lebanon, displaced 1/4 of Lebanese and [is] bombing his country on daily basis... Save Lebanon from your real foe, Mr. President," Araghchi wrote on X.

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Aoun said on Friday that Iran was using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with the United States and that Lebanese people were paying the price for Iran's interests.

"Had Lebanon been bargaining chip for Iran, we'd have a deal long ago," Araghchi posted on X.

US forces struck Iranian coastal radar sites on Saturday after shooting down drones launched by Iran toward the Strait of Hormuz, the US military said, in the latest escalation complicating efforts to end the war between the two countries.

The US military believes the four Iranian drones were targeting regional maritime traffic, a US official told Reuters. US Central Command said on X that the US then struck Iran's surveillance sites in Goruk and Qeshm Island, which are both on the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted US bases in the region with missiles in retaliation for US strikes and fired on four tankers attempting to cross the strait without its permission.

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Kuwaiti air defences were ​intercepting missile and drone attacks of undisclosed origin, state media reported, while in Bahrain sirens sounded and residents were urged to seek shelter. Iran said it had hit US bases in both countries with ballistic missiles but the US military said six missiles were intercepted and a seventh did not reach its target.

The US and Iran have been engaged in largely indirect negotiations to secure an interim deal to halt the three-month-old war that would leave issues including Iran's nuclear programme to further negotiations.

But amid periodic skirmishes, a deal has remained elusive.

As part of any agreement, Tehran wants access to billions of dollars in oil revenue, waivers on sanctions on crude exports, the lifting of a US blockade on its ports and leverage over the strait. Iran has effectively blocked the strait, where about a fifth of the world's oil transited before the war.

US President Donald Trump is facing mounting domestic political pressure due to rising gas prices to bring the unpopular war to an end. He told NBC that while most of Iran's drone and missile manufacturing facilities had been destroyed, the Iranians still have access to about a fifth of their missiles.

"They have some missiles, they have some drones. I would say percentage wise, maybe 21 to 22 per cent of their missiles. It's a lot of missiles, but it's not what it was when we first attacked," Trump told NBC News' "Meet the Press" program, according to excerpts released by the network on Friday.

When asked why Iran’s leaders — if as desperate as he has portrayed them — were not more inclined to strike a deal, Trump said:

"Because they are strong. They're proud. There are things they never thought they'd be doing that they're going to have to do, they've got no choice, and it takes a little while."

After the US and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28, Tehran fired missiles and drones against Gulf states and largely stopped shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict has driven up oil prices and disrupted supply chains for other products. The UN World Food Programme said on Friday that it was pushing millions of people closer to hunger due to rising fuel and transport costs.

Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, told CNN on Friday that a peace deal hinged on the Trump administration unfreezing $24 billion in Iranian assets, and warned that the US would "enter into a dark corridor" if it resumed attacks.

The Iran-backed Hezbollah militia rejected a new ceasefire in Lebanon on Thursday and Israel said it would not withdraw troops from the country, undermining US President Donald Trump's efforts to halt fighting there to forge peace with Tehran.

Israel kept up strikes in southern Lebanon, and Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces would not be withdrawing from the area or halting operations in the country.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that Iran's enemies had already been defeated on the battlefield and were now seeking to sow internal divisions.

The UN nuclear watchdog said on Thursday that it found Iran's nuclear program to be largely unchanged despite three months of war.

Lebanon's death toll from Israeli attacks hits 3,526

The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that 3,526 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across the country since March 2.

According to latest ministry figures, another 10,733 people have also been wounded.

Qatar PM speaks to Kuwait's Foreign Minister

Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received a phone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah.

The call discussed cooperation relations between the two countries, along with ways to support and strengthen them. It also discussed mediation efforts between the US and Iran.

The call also addressed coordinating efforts to support mediation aimed at reducing escalation, which contributes to strengthening security and stability in the region. Al Thani voiced the need for all parties to respond to the ongoing mediation efforts, which would open the way for addressing the root causes of the crisis through peaceful means and dialogue, and lead to a sustainable agreement that prevents renewed escalation.

Kuwait condemns death of UN peacekeeper in Lebanon

Kuwait has condemned the death of a Serbian UN peacekeeper in Lebanon on Thursday from wounds sustained when mortar shells hit his position near Marjayoun.

The Ministry of Foreign expressed Kuwait's categorical rejection of any actions that endanger UN forces, emphasizing the necessity of ensuring the safety of their personnel and enabling them to carry out their duties in accordance with the mandate granted to them and the relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 1701, and calling for a transparent investigation and the holding accountable of those responsible for it.

The Ministry extended its condolences to Serbia, the United Nations, and the family of the deceased, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

Trump says he thinks progress is being made on Lebanon

Trump told reporters in Washington he believed progress was being made in Lebanon and the country deserved to have peace, adding, "It's been going on for a long time, you know."

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and "I actually spoke to Hezbollah about it."

He continued: "And I think progress is made. It's been going on for a long time, you know," he said.

Oman suspends oil loading after drone attack on terminal

Oman's Mina al Fahal terminal has suspended oil loading following an explosion near its single-buoy mooring (SBM) berths, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

The explosion occurred between SBM 1 and 2 berths due to an alleged drone attack, they said.

It was not immediately clear when the attack took place.

Pakistan's Naqvi meets Iranian Interior Minister

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni met to discuss Pakistan-Iran relations and the latest regional situation.

The ministers exchanged views on reduction of tensions and internal security matters. Both interior ministers emphasized the need to continue diplomatic efforts consistently for sustainable peace in the region.

Operations resume at Oman's Mina Al Fahal oil terminal

Operations at Oman's main crude oil export terminal at Mina Al Fahal have resumed, according to Bloomberg News.

Reuters had earlier reported that oil loading was suspended following an explosion near its single-buoy mooring (SBM) berths after an alleged drone attack.

Lebanese-Iranian relations in focus

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun and former Lebanese Ambassador to Iran, Ambassador Hassan Abbas, discussed Lebanese-Iranian relations during a meeting.

Israeli strikes kill 7 in south Lebanon's Tyre: Civil Defence

Israeli strikes overnight in the south Lebanon city of Tyre killed seven people, a source from Lebanon's civil defence told AFP on Friday, despite a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war.

One strike near the Jabal Amel hospital killed four people, wounded seven and lightly damaged the facility, while another elsewhere in the city killed three and wounded five, including two children.

Oman says operations normal at Mina Al Fahal oil terminal

Petroleum Development Oman has confirmed that operations at Mina Al Fahal port are proceeding normally, according to the state news agency.

Israel army warns will attack 3 villages north of Lebanon's Litani River

Israel's military warned residents of three villages north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon to evacuate on Friday ahead of expected attacks against Iran-backed Hezbollah.

"For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move away from the villages and towns by at least 1,000 metres into open areas. Anyone who is near Hezbollah operatives, their facilities, or their weapons endangers their life!" the army's spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X.

Hezbollah's chief engineer killed in Israeli strike in Lebanon last week: IDF

Hezbollah's chief engineer was killed in an Israeli strike in Lebanon last week, the Israeli Defence Forces have announced. The IDF said it struck Abed Harb, the commander of Hezbollah's engineering unit, after he “attempted to harm” Israeli soldiers, Times of Israel reported.

“Harb commanded the engineering unit that was responsible for assembling and deploying explosives intended to harm IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon,” the military says.

The IDF says Harab was a veteran commander in Hezbollah and was responsible for “numerous attacks against IDF soldiers” over the decades.

Trump says he does not need deal with Iran to get enriched uranium

Trump on Thursday said that Washington did not need a deal with Iran to get enriched uranium from the country.

"We could get it right now. I don't think they could stop us if we wanted, but there's no reason to. It's entombed," he told reporters in the Oval Office.

Trump also said that he did not want to meet with Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

But he added that if Washington and Tehran reached a deal, it was possible that the two would meet and added: "If it happened ... I'd be respectful".

UN doubles appeal for Lebanon aid to nearly $640 amid Israel war

The UN on Friday more than doubled its aid appeal for Lebanon as the country reels from Israel's war against Iran-backed Hezbollah, saying nearly $640 million was needed over six months. 

"The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is severe and deteriorating," the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said in a revised appeal for the country.

The UN had appealed for $308 million in March to support a massive emergency response led by Lebanon's government through to the end of May. On Friday it said that another $331 million would be needed through the end of August. 

EU sees no jet fuel shortage amid price surge, transport chief says

There are no signs of jet fuel shortages in Europe in the coming months despite the energy shock from the Iran War, though high prices are prompting airlines to cut uneconomic routes, the European Union's transport chief told Reuters.

The EU has so far weathered the disruption as the Middle East accounts for about 20% of its jet fuel imports, with US and Nigerian supplies largely filling the gap.

Middle East conflict pushing millions into hunger, WFP says

The Middle East conflict is pushing millions of people closer to hunger, as rising fuel and transport costs drive up food prices while funding shortfalls force aid agencies to scale back assistance, the U.N. World Food Programme said on Friday.

In March, the WFP forecast as many as 45 million people could fall into acute food insecurity if oil prices remained around $100 per barrel through June. That scenario is now unfolding, the agency said, with benchmark crude prices staying above that level since early March.

Qatar Airways to increase daily flights to Dubai

Qatar Airways continues to increase its capacity between Qatar and the UAE by gradually expanding frequencies between Hamad International Airport (DOH) and Dubai International Airport from two to five daily services from June 5, 2026.

The existing two daily flights will be increased to three daily flights effective today (June 5), followed by the introduction of the fourth flight from 15 June, and a fifth daily flight resumed during the summer season.

The Gulf carriers are expanding their route networks after ceasefire was announced by the US and Iran.

Hezbollah will withdraw from south Lebanon if Israel pulls back and comprehensive truce reached: Parliament speaker

India beats growth forecasts but Iran war clouds outlook

India's economy grew at a faster pace than expected in the first three months of 2026, driven by strong government spending and a robust services sector, official data showed on Friday.

However, the outlook for the rest of the year has been clouded by the Middle East war.

Gross domestic product rose 7.8 percent in the January-March quarter from the same period a year earlier, according to data from the statistics ministry.

That was down from the 8 percent recorded in the previous quarter but still above market expectations of 7.3 percent GDP growth.

A ministry news release said growth for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which ended in March, came in at 7.7 percent — up from 7.1 percent the previous year.

Friday's reading reaffirms India as the world's fastest major growing economy and will be welcome news for policymakers who face a slate of challenges for the current fiscal year.

However, New Delhi depends heavily on imports for its oil and gas needs, making it particularly vulnerable to the global energy shock caused by the Iran war.

Elevated global crude prices not only threaten to raise input costs and stoke inflation but also drive up India's import bill, potentially widening the current account deficit to a 14-year-high.

Iran fires warning shots at US destroyers in Gulf of Oman: Navy

Iran's navy said it fired warning shots at US destroyers in the Gulf of Oman, according to state media.

Nearly 2 months into ceasefire

With the ceasefire now in its 59th day, Khaleej Times has been closely tracking developments across the region and beyond since April 8, bringing readers continuous updates on every major shift and key moment.

Here’s a look at how the situation has unfolded over the past 58 days in our coverage:

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Oil steadies as Oman says Mina al Fahal operations proceeding normally

Oil prices stabilised on Friday after Oman said operations at its Mina al Fahal port were proceeding normally, following a Reuters report of disruption after an explosion.

Petroleum Development Oman said operations at Mina al Fahal port were unaffected, after three sources told Reuters that oil loading had been suspended following an explosion near its mooring berths.

Oman exports 800,000 to 900,000 barrels per day of crude from the terminal.

Germany warns against travel to Bahrain, Kuwait

The German foreign ministry warned on Friday against travel to Bahrain and Kuwait.

It especially discouraged travel to Bahrain, it said in a statement, citing a still "highly volatile" security situation in the region.

"A further deterioration in the security situation, including significant restrictions on air travel, cannot be ruled out," it said.

Lebanon president says Iran using Lebanon as bargaining chip in US talks

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told CNN that Iran was using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with the United States.

Aoun has repeatedly sought to distance Lebanon from regional conflicts and has said decisions concerning the country's sovereignty and security must be made by the Lebanese state alone.

Lebanese and Israeli envoys in Washington agreed to a truce this week that according to a statement is conditional on a "complete cessation" of Hezbollah fire, without mentioning a halt to Israeli attacks.

Lebanon PM tells Iran to stop treating country as 'bargaining chip'

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Friday urged Iran to stop treating his country, where Israel and the Tehran-backed Hezbollah are at war, as a "bargaining chip" in its negotiations with Washington on the Middle East conflict.

"If I may address a word to Iran, it is this: have mercy on our south, stop treating it and its people as merely a bargaining chip to improve the terms of your negotiations," Salam told a press conference for a UN aid appeal for Lebanon.

US military rejects Iran's claim of firing on American warships

US Central Command on Friday rejected claims that Iranian forces fired warning shots at US warships in the Gulf of Oman and forced them to retreat toward the Indian Ocean.

Ireland bans two Israeli ministers from entering country: Ministry

Ireland on Friday barred Israel's national security minister and finance minister from entering the country over the war in Gaza.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan "has instructed immigration officers to refuse entry to Itamar Ben-Gvir - Minister for National Security of Israel, and Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance of Israel - should they seek to enter the state," said a justice ministry statement sent to AFP.

Iran declares support for Hezbollah with wider peace deal in doubt

Iran has reaffirmed support for its Lebanese ally Hezbollah and demanded that Israel withdraw from southern Lebanon, underscoring complications facing an interim deal to end the broader conflict between the US and Iran.

Tehran has made a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah a condition for any peace deal with Washington to resolve the regional war, now in its fourth month, and restart shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

"This war will end only when it ends in Lebanon as well," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi told Lebanese TV station Al Mayadeen late on Thursday.

France opens 'war crime' probe over Israel treatment of flotilla activists

France has opened an investigation into an alleged "war crime" and "torture" over Israel's treatment of French activists who took part in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, a prosecutor's office said Friday.

The probe was opened at the government's request, the national counterterrorism prosecutor's office (PNAT) said, after activists accused Israeli authorities of mistreatment during their detention last month.

Dubai gold prices lose nearly Dh12

Gold prices continued their downward trend, losing nearly Dh12 per gram on Friday as the precious metal fell below $4,400 an ounce.

According to Dubai Jewellery, 24K gold prices plunged Dh11.75 per gram on Friday, trading at Dh526.75 per gram. Similarly, 22K, 21K, 18K and 14K fell to Dh487.25, Dh467.25, Dh400.5 and Dh312.25 per gram, respectively.

Iran squad hand passports to US embassy for visa approval

Iran's football squad, whose participation in the World Cup remains uncertain, have handed their passports to the US embassy in Turkey for visas, the head of their Football Federation said on Friday.

Mehdi Taj said Iran were following instructions from world football's governing body.

Their quest for the visas comes as Iran and the United States remain locked in negotiations to end the Middle East war that began in February with a massive wave of strikes on the Islamic republic.

The Iranian team is due to fly from Turkey to Spain on Saturday before travelling on to their base camp in Mexico, which has issued visas to the squad.

US issues new Iran-related sanctions: Treasury Department

The United States imposed new Iran-related sanctions on Friday, the US Treasury Department's website showed.

He added that the department would continue targeting Iran’s shadow fleet, shadow banking networks and access to global trade.

Stocks fall as strong jobs data fuels rate hike bets

Shares dipped on Friday after a blowout jobs report fueled bets of a rate hike by the US Federal Reserve and as investors turned defensive ahead of the weekend, wary of the flare-up in Middle East hostilities.

On Wall Street, all three indexes were lower, led by a selloff in technology shares, including AI chipmaker Nvidia. Shares in Broadcom were down nearly 5 per cent continuing losses since the semiconductor company reported underwhelming results on Wednesday.

Tremor in Iran

While tensions persist in the region, southern Iran was shaken by a magnitude 5 earthquake, the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) confirmed.

It occurred at 7:.8pm UAE time, at a depth of 10km

$24 billion in frozen assets

CNN quoted Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, as saying that a potential agreement between Washington and Tehran hinges on Trump's administration agreeing to release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets.

Putin says he wants oil prices to be balanced

Russia wants oil prices on global markets to be balanced and stable amid the US war against Iran, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

Speaking at Russia's annual economic forum, Putin said that the reduction in oil supplies was causing concern in the market, but that Russia was participating in OPEC+ in order to balance the market.

Iran ex-PM hospitalised after years under house arrest

Iran's former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, who was the focus of a 2009 mass protest movement and has spent the last 15 years under house arrest, has been hospitalised after his health deteriorated, an advisor said on Friday.

Mousavi, the last person to serve as Iran's premier before the post was abolished, had claimed to be the rightful victor of the disputed 2009 presidential elections.

Most recently, he urged Iran's clerical leadership to step down because of its deadly crackdown on protesters in January in which many thousands were killed.

Last week, "he suffered a health crisis and was transferred to a hospital," his advisor Ardeshir Amir Arjomand, who is based outside Iran, told BBC Persian.

"He is now hospitalised, although his condition has improved since today," he added.

US approves visas for Iran’s World Cup squad

Iran's national football team players have been granted visas to enter the United States for the Fifa World Cup 2026, a White House official confirmed.

Ship traffic via Hormuz decreased in past 24 hours: IRIB

Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has sharply decreased in the past 24 hours, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) said.

Iranian oil prices fall into discount for first time since April

Iranian oil prices have fallen into discount for the first time since April, as weak demand from Chinese refiners outweighs tighter supply caused by a sharp drop in exports under the US blockade, Reuters reported on Friday.

Iranian Light crude is being offered at a discount of 50 cents to $1 per barrel against ICE Brent for delivery this month to China’s eastern Shandong province, three traders told Reuters.

The grade had traded at premiums of $1 to $2 in the previous two months. Shandong is home to China’s independent refiners, known as teapots, which are among the main buyers of sanctioned Iranian oil.

But weak fuel demand and poor refining margins have forced some of them to cut processing rates.

Lebanon President shares message for Israel, Hezbollah

In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed the urgent need for dialogue in the region, saying it is time for Israel and Hezbollah to “sit and talk” in order to reduce tensions and move toward stability.

Check out what he said here:

Gold falls about 3%

Gold fell about 3 per cent on Friday after a stronger-than-expected US jobs report reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer amid inflation concerns fuelled by the war in the Middle East.

Spot gold was down 2.96 per cent at $4,341.52 per ounce at 1.44 pm EDT (1744 GMT), after falling to its lowest level since March 24 earlier in the session. Bullion was down about 4.3 per cent this week.

US gold futures for August delivery settled 3.1 per cent lower at $4,365.3.

US to give nearly $38 million more for Ebola response: State Department

Amid the conflict, the United States is providing an additional $38 million for Ebola response efforts, raising its total funding to more than $200 million, according to the State Department.

US sanctions Iranian LPG export, 'shadow banking' networks

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on a network allegedly exporting Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from Iran to South and Eastern Asia by falsely flagging it as originating in Oman, the Treasury said.

The network used front companies in China and a "shadow fleet" of vessels, according to a Treasury statement.

The system, designed to evade existing US sanctions, moved LPG worth hundreds of millions of dollars, it added.

The United States has tightened sanctions on Iran since it jointly launched its war on the country with Israel in late February.

In addition, Washington on Friday also sanctioned an Iranian currency exchange house and individuals associated with it for allegedly helping Iran facilitate billions in financial transactions.

Witkoff, Kushner meet nuclear experts: Axios

White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner traveled to the national lab in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on Thursday for consultations with a new team of experts ahead of potential nuclear talks with Iran, Axios reported on Friday citing informed sources.

Why did regional attacks continue despite the ceasefire?

Nearly two months after a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran came into effect on April 8, tensions in the Gulf were jolted again on June 3, when Kuwait and Bahrain reported fresh missile and drone attacks originating from Iran.

The strikes on Kuwait, in particular, mark the most serious escalation yet on a Gulf country since the ceasefire went into effect. One Indian was killed and at least 63 people injured, but Trump insisted that the ceasefire is still intact.

Read our full report on why regional attacks continuing despite US-Iran ceasefire.

Timeline of how hostilities unfolded since April 8

Nearly two months into a ceasefire declared on April 8, tensions continue to persist despite a broad agreement to pause daily strikes. Multiple instances of hostilities have been reported over recent weeks on both sides, with Iran continuing to target regional US bases and assets in what Tehran describes as retaliatory strikes against US aggression.

Here is a timeline of how hostilities have unfolded since April 8:

US to update directive on AI use in weapon systems

The United States will within the next 90 days issue an update to its directive on the use of AI in weapons systems, the White House said in a statement on Friday.

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Nearly two months since a ceasefire was declared on April 8, no formal agreements have yet been reached, as tensions and diplomatic activity continue across the region.

In the latest sign of lingering friction, Iran's navy said it fired warning shots at US destroyers in the Gulf of Oman, according to state media. However, US Central Command rejected the claim, denying that Iranian forces had fired warning shots at US warships or forced them to retreat toward the Indian Ocean.

Meanwhile, Oman’s Mina al Fahal terminal reportedly suspended oil loading following an explosion near its single-buoy mooring (SBM) berths, according to two people familiar with the matter. However, Petroleum Development Oman later confirmed through the state news agency that operations at Mina Al Fahal port are proceeding normally.

The United States imposed new Iran-related sanctions on Friday, according to the US Treasury Department’s website. The measures target a network allegedly involved in exporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Iran to South and Eastern Asia by falsely flagging it as originating in Oman, in a system designed to bypass existing sanctions.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former adviser and son-in-law of Donald Trump, visited the national lab in Oak Ridge, Tennessee for consultations with a team of experts ahead of potential nuclear talks with Iran, Axios reported, citing informed sources.

Separately, Iran’s national football team players have been granted visas to enter the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026, a White House official confirmed.

As the region approaches the 60-day mark since the ceasefire was announced, hopes remain that ongoing diplomatic efforts could help translate the fragile pause in hostilities into a more lasting agreement.

We are closing this live blog for now. Stay with Khaleej Times for the latest updates as developments continue to unfold.

US yet to issue visas to some Iran World Cup staff: Fars News Agency

Iran's Fars News Agency reported that the United States has not yet issued visas to some members of Iran's national football team's technical and administrative staff ahead of the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

This comes after a White House official confirmed that visas had been granted to Iran's players for entry into the United States.

Lebanon says Israeli strike kills 5 including woman, paramedic

Lebanon said an Israeli strike killed five people, including a woman and a paramedic.

The new data, included in a daily situation report published by the health ministry, bring the total number of confirmed cases to 452 since the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola was announced on May 15. There have been 82 confirmed deaths.

The cases remain heavily concentrated in Ituri province in northeast Congo, a remote part of the country with poor health infrastructure and widespread insecurity due to fighting by armed groups.

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The daily total of 71 new cases — 65 in Ituri province and six in North Kivu province — is one of the biggest during the outbreak, the 17th in Congo's history.

"The number of confirmed cases recorded in the two provinces demonstrates rapid and continuous community transmission," the situation report said.

Cases have been confirmed in 17 of Ituri's 36 health zones, as well as in seven health zones in North Kivu and one health zone in South Kivu, the report said. There are also cases in neighbouring Uganda.

Earlier on Friday, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced a $518 million six-month ‌plan to fight Ebola, calling for money and political commitment to halt the spread of an outbreak that is already the fourth-biggest on record.

The strategy aims to help Congo and neighbouring Uganda contain their outbreaks, while assisting other countries to prepare for ​possible cases through measures including enhanced border screening, the WHO and Africa Centres ⁠for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The quake struck at 7.38pm UAE time at a depth of 10km.

The NCM shared the following map that shows the exact location of the tremor:

Last month, a series of nine small earthquakes struck the Pardis area east of Tehran, renewing fears among experts and residents that the Iranian capital could face a major seismic disaster.

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Tehran, a metropolitan area of more than 14 million people, lies near major active faults including the North Tehran, Mosha and Rey fault systems. Iranian experts have repeatedly warned that a major earthquake near the capital could have catastrophic consequences.

Iran is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, and memories remain vivid of the 2003 Bam earthquake, which killed more than 30,000 people.

"They want to call it the Trump Promenade, but I don't know if I want to do that, but it's going to be beautiful," Trump told reporters at the White House, without elaborating on who was asking to name it after him.

The Lincoln Memorial, one of Washington's most iconic landmarks, is a monument to the president who led the United States through its Civil War. It sits at the western end of the National Mall, overlooking the Reflecting Pool, which Trump has also refurbished.

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Trump's latest announcement is part of a broader push by the former property developer to reshape Washington's monumental core. He also intends to erect a 250-foot (76-meter) arch and is building a 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the site of the demolished East ​Wing of the White ​House. Many of his projects have faced court battles, including his bid to renovate the performing arts center named for President John F. Kennedy, which a governing board of Trump appointees renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center. A judge last week ordered the name changed back to the Kennedy Center.

Trump suggested the promenade would be built over two roads that run alongside the memorial to allow pedestrians to cross over the roads and get to the Potomac River and other tourist sites.

"It's a beautiful project, and it's going to take the Lincoln Memorial right down to the Potomac, which it was always scheduled to do," he said.

The White House had no additional information about the project.

Trump's announcement came on the same day that water began flowing into the renovated Reflecting Pool on the Washington Mall. The pool has been of particular interest to Trump, who had a new surface installed in a color he calls "American flag blue." In a related development, a U.S. planning commission on Thursday advanced Trump's plan for a 250-foot Triumphal Arch that would be built across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial.

"When completed, it will be, without question, the Greatest Arch of them all!" Trump said in a post welcoming the development.

The affected fans were notified on Wednesday about tickets that were "allocated at no charge (0 USD) due to a prior payment issue during the checkout process", Fifa said on X.

“The tickets requested by these fans remain reserved, and the affected fans have been invited to complete payment of the correct amount. FIFA regrets the error and any inconvenience caused."

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It was the latest hiccup in what has been a controversial ticketing process for the tournament co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.

Last week the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey said they had issued a subpoena to Fifa over its ticketing practices amid concerns about ‌fans' seat locations at the World Cup. The 48-team tournament runs from June 11 to July 19.

The portal, launched on June 2 for Class 12 students seeking services such as verification of marks and re-evaluation of answer scripts, was targeted by repeated attacks over three days.

According to CBSE, the attacks involved large volumes of malicious traffic from multiple IP addresses in India and abroad, with the apparent aim of disrupting access for legitimate users and attempting unauthorised extraction of information.

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"The attacks were successfully mitigated through continuous 24×7 monitoring and response mechanisms," CBSE said in a statement.

The board said it approached Delhi Police for a detailed investigation and legal action against those responsible, adding that no data breach or unauthorised access had been detected. "Despite these malicious attempts, CBSE's systems and databases remain secure and uncompromised. No data breach or unauthorised access has been detected."

The attacks come at a critical time for students, as the portal is used by thousands of students across the country to access post-result services.

According to a an earlier press release from CBSE, the portal will remain open until midnight on June 6, allowing students sufficient time to complete their applications for verification and re-evaluation.

However, some students continued to report technical issues and glitches on June 5, raising concerns over accessibility and timely submission of forms.

One user wrote on X: "The revaluation payment page is stuck in an endless loading loop and my transaction won't go through. Please fix this portal glitch soon as deadlines are approaching!"

Responding to the complaint, CBSE replied to the post and shared a video tutorial with step-by-step instructions to help users complete the payment process and navigate the portal successfully.

On June 4, X user Aparna779068 also reported reported technical difficulties.

The woman from Uganda who arrived in Jaipur from a Gulf country on Friday morning was flagged during routine airport screening after exhibiting symptoms consistent with Ebola virus. She has since been admitted to RUHS Hospital in Jaipur and placed in strict isolation.

Samples from the woman are being sent to a specialised laboratory in Pune for testing. The Health Department is on high alert following the detection of symptoms associated with the dangerous virus.

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Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) Superintendent Anil Gupta stated that the Ebola virus has not yet been confirmed. The infection can only be confirmed once the report is received. The report is expected by this evening or tomorrow morning.

The Indian government has advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Ebola-hit countries. Countries bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, including South Sudan, are assessed to be at high risk of disease transmission.

Ebola is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by infection with the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola Virus. It is a serious disease with a high mortality rate. At present, no vaccines or specific treatments have been approved to prevent or treat Ebola Disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.

India has not reported any case of Ebola Disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.

Earlier on Tuesday, India delivered critical medical aid to Uganda via the C-17 Globemaster III of the Indian Air Force. The Indian Air Force underlined in a post on X how the mission demonstrates its response capabilities during humanitarian contingencies.

India has extended urgent medical assistance to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to support their Ebola response efforts in response to a request received from the African Union Commission.

Khanal is scheduled to hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday and will depart on Sunday.

Announcing his arrival, Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X, "Warm welcome to Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal of Nepal for his first official visit to India. Continuing with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges, the visit will help further strengthen the special partnership between India and Nepal."

Earlier in the day, during his weekly press briefing, Jaiswal was asked if Khanal's agenda included connectivity, trade, and border infrastructure.

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"The Nepali Foreign Minister has just arrived and will be meeting our External Affairs Minister. We have an expansive agenda with Nepal, ranging from development cooperation and people-to-people ties to trade and investment. We are keen to further strengthen this multifaceted partnership" the MEA spokesperson said.

Jaiswal was also asked if the Foreign Minister would address the recent comments by Nepal's Prime Minister alleging that India has occupied some of their territory.

Jaiswal said, "The meeting will cover all relevant bilateral issues. Regarding border matters, we have already clarified our position and have a bilateral mechanism in place to discuss and resolve such issues. We will provide updates on any high-level visits at the appropriate time."

The visit by Khanal marks the highest-level official engagement from the government of Prime Minister Balendra Shah since it assumed office in March this year.

Khanal's visit comes following an invitation by Jaishankar.

"During the visit, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Khanal will hold a formal meeting with Minister of External Affairs of India Dr Jaishankar in New Delhi. The two sides will discuss matters of mutual interest, with a view to enhancing cooperation across key areas including trade, investment, connectivity, energy and people-to-people ties," the Nepal Foreign Ministry release read.

Falling under a regular exchange of high-level diplomatic visits, this visit is positioned to further solidify the enduring, multifaceted, and ancient bilateral relations shared between Nepal and India.

The announcement also coincides with an ongoing parallel visit by the President of Nepal's Rastriya Swatantra Party Rabi Lamichhane, who met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday.