U.S. President Donald Trump has made his first trip aboard a new Air Force One aircraft gifted by Qatar, valued at 400 million dollars. The specially designed Boeing 747-800 features a dark blue lower body with red and gold accents, replacing the traditional light blue scheme. Inside, it includes luxury carpets, reclining seats, wooden paneling, and seat belts bearing the presidential seal. Trump used the aircraft to travel to North Dakota to visit the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, becoming its first official visitor ahead of the U.S. 250th anniversary.

The aircraft serves as an interim replacement between the 36-year-old existing Air Force One and two delayed new models not expected before 2028. Analysts noted that the plane lacks missile defense and advanced communication systems, suggesting it is more suited for domestic flights. The U.S. Air Force confirmed limited interior changes and said the conversion cost less than 400 million dollars.

The gift from a Middle Eastern nation has raised ethical questions, though Trump described it as a practical replacement and praised Qatar’s goodwill. He has indicated the aircraft may eventually be displayed in a presidential library.

US Vice President JD Vance stated that the United States will not resume military operations against Iran unless there is a clear objective or necessity. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Vance emphasized that President Trump would not redeploy American forces to Iran unless absolutely required. He warned that any attempt by Iran to rebuild its nuclear program or target commercial vessels would prompt Washington to reconsider its current strategy.

According to the report, the US administration is focusing on continuing discussions with Iran in good faith. In June, both countries reached a memorandum of understanding aimed at permanently ending the war that began in late February, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and lifting the US blockade on Iranian ports. Negotiations for a final agreement are still ongoing.

Earlier on Wednesday, President Trump said that Iran’s nuclear disarmament process was “progressing well,” indicating cautious optimism about the diplomatic track between the two nations.

Russia has started importing petrol from India by sea to ease a worsening fuel shortage triggered by ongoing Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure. Two industry sources confirmed the move on Wednesday, noting that at least 60,000 metric tons of petrol have already been shipped in two tankers carrying 30,000 to 40,000 tons each. Fuel rationing, long queues, and record-high prices have been reported across Russia’s 11 time zones.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Russia is in talks with several countries to secure fuel imports at acceptable prices, though neither the Russian Energy Ministry nor India’s Oil Ministry commented. A third source indicated Russia plans to import about 400,000 tons of petrol monthly from multiple countries, including Belarus, which has already increased its rail shipments. President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries have caused regional shortages but insisted the situation is under control.

Russia’s parliament recently approved tax amendments to subsidize fuel imports in line with Indian supply costs. Meanwhile, data from LSEG and Kpler showed India’s crude oil imports from Russia hit record highs in June.

A US Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter made an emergency landing in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday, leaving one service member missing and three others injured. The US military confirmed that the injured personnel are in stable condition and that there are no indications the incident was caused by hostile action.

According to the US Navy’s Fifth Squadron, warships and equipment have been deployed in the area to search for the missing pilot. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident. The helicopter had been deployed from the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush operating in the region.

Experts noted that performing an emergency landing at sea is highly dangerous even for experienced pilots, as helicopters risk overturning due to their heavy weight upon water impact. The incident occurred amid intermittent clashes in the region despite an ongoing truce between the United States and Iran, keeping US forces on high alert.

Host nation United States advanced to the round of 16 in the World Cup after defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in San Francisco. Despite being reduced to ten men following a red card to forward Folarin Balogun in the 65th minute, the Americans maintained control and composure to secure the victory. Malik Tillman and Balogun scored the goals that sealed the win before a packed home crowd.

The United States dominated possession and tempo from the start, holding 78 percent of the ball up to the 24th minute. Balogun opened the scoring just before halftime after a deflected attack initiated by Tillman. Bosnia’s efforts to equalize were hindered when veteran striker Edin Džeko left the field injured early in the second half. Despite numerical advantage after Balogun’s dismissal, Bosnia failed to capitalize as the U.S. defense held firm.

The United States will face Belgium in the round of 16 on July 7. The team now aims to surpass its previous best World Cup performance, a quarterfinal appearance in 2002.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the ongoing discussions in Qatar regarding Iran’s nuclear disarmament are progressing well. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump said the meetings in Doha, attended by his special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, had gone very well. He dismissed fears that a full-scale war could resume, saying significant progress had been made.

Trump added that the U.S. military had delivered a strong strike against Iran the previous week but emphasized that diplomatic processes were now proving effective. He described the current state of U.S.-Iran relations as moving forward positively.

The remarks highlight a shift from military confrontation to diplomatic engagement, with the U.S. leadership expressing optimism about the direction of the talks in Qatar.

The United States and several Gulf countries have imposed sanctions on financial institutions and individuals linked to Hezbollah. According to the US Treasury Department, the sanctions target 16 individuals and five entities, including Al-Qard al-Hassan, Bayt al-Mal, and their top leaders. Al-Qard al-Hassan is described as a nonprofit financial organization that provides interest-free loans and operates under Hezbollah’s network of charitable entities, which also includes schools, hospitals, and low-cost grocery stores.

The sanctions were issued through the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center, a coalition formed in May 2017 during former President Donald Trump’s first term. The center includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. The move reflects continued coordination between the United States and its Gulf partners to disrupt financial networks associated with Hezbollah.

The announcement underscores ongoing efforts to curb Hezbollah’s financial operations across the region, though the immediate impact of the sanctions was not detailed in the report.

France will organize a spectacular light show at the Statue of Liberty in New York to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. The French Consulate announced the plan on Monday, saying the performance will be pre-recorded and broadcast at the start of ABC Network’s 25-hour special program on July 4, the US Independence Day. The event aims to present the monument in a way never seen before, highlighting its symbolic and emotional significance.

French Consul in New York, Cedric Foussigno, told AFP that the two nations share a 250-year friendship that remains strong and deep, motivating France to do something special for the occasion. France originally gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States in 1886, and it has since become one of the country’s most iconic landmarks.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, France also sent its air force aerobatics team to the US earlier in June. On June 9, eight Alpha Jets from the Patrouille de France flew over Manhattan, painting the sky in the colors of the French flag and passing above the Statue of Liberty.

The United States Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, striking down an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. The ruling confirms that every person born on US soil retains the constitutional right to citizenship. Chief Justice John Roberts stated that citizenship is the 'right to have all rights' and reaffirmed that the framers of the 14th Amendment guaranteed citizenship for all individuals born freely within the country.

Birthright citizenship has been a core constitutional principle in the United States for nearly 160 years, established under the 14th Amendment. It ensures that almost everyone born in the country automatically becomes a US citizen. The Supreme Court’s decision is being viewed as a reaffirmation of this long-standing constitutional commitment.

According to the ruling, the decision could reduce the number of undocumented residents in the coming decades, as Trump’s order would have denied citizenship to children born in the US to undocumented immigrant parents, potentially increasing the undocumented population.

US Vice President JD Vance described Iran’s refusal to join the planned talks in Doha, Qatar, as a “Persian bargaining tactic.” Speaking on The Michael Knowles Show, Vance said that technical-level discussions between Washington and Tehran were already underway and scheduled to continue the next day. He noted that the talks were part of an ongoing process rather than a new negotiation.

Vance commented that Iran’s public statements appeared both interesting and frustrating, as Iranian officials publicly denied peace talks while acknowledging technical discussions on a peace agreement with the United States. He characterized this dual approach as a rhetorical style he found difficult to interpret.

Responding to criticism over US engagement with Iran, Vance added that President Donald Trump had demonstrated readiness to use military force if necessary but preferred to do so only to achieve specific objectives.

US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has declared that the United States should not spend any more money on what she described as Israel’s genocide in Palestine. She announced her support for a bill seeking to end approximately $3.3 billion in annual US military assistance to Israel.

In a post on social media platform X, Tlaib said that the US should not fund an army accused of committing genocide in Palestine, ethnic cleansing in Lebanon, and war crimes in Iran. She added that most Americans and a large majority of Democrats favor ending military aid to Israel and urged lawmakers to listen to their constituents.

Other Democratic lawmakers who have expressed support for the bill include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Greg Casar, and Ilhan Omar. The bill was introduced by Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie, known for opposing US military interventions abroad, including potential conflict with Iran.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russia’s air defense forces shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones heading toward the capital overnight. He stated that six enemy drones were destroyed by the Defense Ministry’s air defense units, bringing the total number of downed drones to 46. Emergency services were deployed to areas where drone debris fell.

Sobyanin noted that Ukraine has intensified long-range drone attacks on Russia in recent months, particularly targeting energy infrastructure, which serves as a key revenue source for the Kremlin. The conflict has now entered its fifth year, according to AFP reports from Moscow.

Earlier, Russia claimed to have downed 660 Ukrainian drones between Thursday and Friday, marking one of the largest such incidents since the war began. Last week, a Ukrainian strike caused a fire at an oil refinery in southeastern Moscow.

In Texas, a surge of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment has followed a contentious Republican primary runoff election. Local Muslims report growing hostility in daily life, from schools and universities to public spaces. Incidents include a man burning the Quran near praying students at the University of Houston and verbal harassment of women wearing traditional attire. Muslim delegates at the Texas GOP convention were told to convert to Christianity or leave the country, while a viral video showed two Muslim women being abused in a grocery store. The woman involved received significant online fundraising support, endorsed by Republican Congress member Nancy Mace.

At the Texas Republican Party convention, delegates added a “Don’t Shariah Our Texas” clause to their legal priorities, calling for criminalizing Shariah law. Experts note that no one is attempting to implement Shariah in Texas. Muslim leaders and activists, including Dr. Suleman Lalani and Nayla Syed, have voiced concern over the normalization of hate speech and the politicization of religion. They warn that such rhetoric fosters fear and division within communities.

The state’s education board also approved a new social studies draft that reduces lessons on slavery and civil rights, prompting further concern about marginalization of minority perspectives.

A United States court has sentenced Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui to 30 years in prison for fraud and embezzlement involving billions of dollars. Once considered among China’s wealthiest figures, Guo fled to the US in 2017 after facing corruption allegations in China, which he denied. In New York, Judge Analisa Torres ruled that Guo exploited pro-democracy supporters to amass large sums of money, which he used to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Guo, also known as Miles Guo and Ho Wan Kwok, had presented himself as a critic of the Chinese Communist Party and gained a strong online following among the Chinese diaspora. Between 2018 and 2023, he raised over one billion dollars from supporters, claiming the funds would promote democracy in China. Instead, prosecutors said he spent the money on luxury items including a mansion, a Lamborghini, and a yacht.

Guo denied the charges, insisting the funds were used for political activities. His associate, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, had previously collaborated with him on anti-CCP campaigns before facing separate fraud charges in the US.

U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded that petrol stations and other fuel retailers immediately lower prices following a decline in global oil rates. In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that retailers could face serious consequences if they fail to reduce prices for consumers. He noted that oil prices had dropped to 68 dollars per barrel and were continuing to fall, yet retail fuel prices remained high.

Trump emphasized that retailers must act quickly to adjust prices and avoid overcharging, which he described as illegal. His warning comes after a period of sharp increases in oil prices triggered by the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, during which Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supply.

Oil prices have since declined as Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding and moved toward a potential final agreement, easing market tensions and prompting Trump’s call for lower domestic fuel prices.