and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

In a phone interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Zampolli said his “request is not a political request,” but rather meant as a contingency plan in case Iran could not participate in the soccer tournament.

After suggesting to the FT that, with four previous titles, the Italian national team’s appearance in the World Cup would be justified, he told the AP it was his “dream … for the Italian people and the American-Italian people.”

Italian officials pushed back hard at the suggestion, with Sports Minister Andrea Abodi saying Thursday, “first of all, it’s not possible. Secondly, it’s not a good idea.”

Luciano Buonfiglio, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, which oversees all sports in Italy, also dismissed the idea, saying he “would feel offended,” as “you need to deserve to go to the World Cup.”

CBS/AP

#Live #Updates #Witkoff #Kushner #Iran #peace #talks #Pakistan #White #HouseWar, Iran, Israel, Ceasefire, Donald Trump, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Middle East, Oil and Gas, Benjamin Neta​nyahu, Strait of Hormuz"> Live Updates: Witkoff, Kushner to head to new Iran peace talks in Pakistan, White House says Sports officials in four-time world champion Italy say the country is not interested in replacing Iran at the upcoming 2026 World Cup, following a suggestion of the move by a Trump administration official.Iran has not withdrawn from the World Cup, and the team is preparing to play in the championship taking place this year in the U.S., Mexico and Canada despite the ongoing war in the Middle East. FIFA, the global soccer authority behind the World Cup, has insisted that Iran’s group stage games in California and Washington state will go ahead as planned in June.The Financial Times reported this week that Paolo Zampolli, the U.S. special envoy for global partnerships, had suggested the swap to President Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.In a phone interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Zampolli said his “request is not a political request,” but rather meant as a contingency plan in case Iran could not participate in the soccer tournament.After suggesting to the FT that, with four previous titles, the Italian national team’s appearance in the World Cup would be justified, he told the AP it was his “dream … for the Italian people and the American-Italian people.”Italian officials pushed back hard at the suggestion, with Sports Minister Andrea Abodi saying Thursday, “first of all, it’s not possible. Secondly, it’s not a good idea.”Luciano Buonfiglio, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, which oversees all sports in Italy, also dismissed the idea, saying he “would feel offended,” as “you need to deserve to go to the World Cup.”CBS/AP #Live #Updates #Witkoff #Kushner #Iran #peace #talks #Pakistan #White #HouseWar, Iran, Israel, Ceasefire, Donald Trump, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Middle East, Oil and Gas, Benjamin Neta​nyahu, Strait of Hormuz
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and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

In a phone interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Zampolli said his “request is not a political request,” but rather meant as a contingency plan in case Iran could not participate in the soccer tournament.

After suggesting to the FT that, with four previous titles, the Italian national team’s appearance in the World Cup would be justified, he told the AP it was his “dream … for the Italian people and the American-Italian people.”

Italian officials pushed back hard at the suggestion, with Sports Minister Andrea Abodi saying Thursday, “first of all, it’s not possible. Secondly, it’s not a good idea.”

Luciano Buonfiglio, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, which oversees all sports in Italy, also dismissed the idea, saying he “would feel offended,” as “you need to deserve to go to the World Cup.”

CBS/AP

#Live #Updates #Witkoff #Kushner #Iran #peace #talks #Pakistan #White #HouseWar, Iran, Israel, Ceasefire, Donald Trump, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Middle East, Oil and Gas, Benjamin Neta​nyahu, Strait of Hormuz">Live Updates: Witkoff, Kushner to head to new Iran peace talks in Pakistan, White House says

Sports officials in four-time world champion Italy say the country is not interested in replacing Iran at the upcoming 2026 World Cup, following a suggestion of the move by a Trump administration official.

Iran has not withdrawn from the World Cup, and the team is preparing to play in the championship taking place this year in the U.S., Mexico and Canada despite the ongoing war in the Middle East. 

FIFA, the global soccer authority behind the World Cup, has insisted that Iran’s group stage games in California and Washington state will go ahead as planned in June.

The Financial Times reported this week that Paolo Zampolli, the U.S. special envoy for global partnerships, had suggested the swap to President Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

In a phone interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Zampolli said his “request is not a political request,” but rather meant as a contingency plan in case Iran could not participate in the soccer tournament.

After suggesting to the FT that, with four previous titles, the Italian national team’s appearance in the World Cup would be justified, he told the AP it was his “dream … for the Italian people and the American-Italian people.”

Italian officials pushed back hard at the suggestion, with Sports Minister Andrea Abodi saying Thursday, “first of all, it’s not possible. Secondly, it’s not a good idea.”

Luciano Buonfiglio, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, which oversees all sports in Italy, also dismissed the idea, saying he “would feel offended,” as “you need to deserve to go to the World Cup.”

CBS/AP

#Live #Updates #Witkoff #Kushner #Iran #peace #talks #Pakistan #White #HouseWar, Iran, Israel, Ceasefire, Donald Trump, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Middle East, Oil and Gas, Benjamin Neta​nyahu, Strait of Hormuz

Sports officials in four-time world champion Italy say the country is not interested in replacing…

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“The planned consolidation of the European network is being carried out across Lufthansa Group’s six hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome,” the airline said. “Passengers will therefore continue to have access to the global route network, particularly long-haul connections.” 

Several other major airlines — in both Europe and the U.S., which is far less reliant on fuel supplies from the Middle East — had already announced temporary flight cuts. 

Air Canada, Delta, and other airlines announced cancellations earlier this month. 

“The spike in oil prices is big news in general and the impact on jet fuel prices is pronounced,” Stephen Rooney, lead economist at Tourism Economics, told CBS News last week. “Jet fuel is a huge cost for airlines, especially on longer-haul flights.”

#Live #Updates #Iran #attacks #ships #Strait #Hormuz #thousands #U.S #forces #Middle #EastCargo Ship, War, Iran, Israel, Ceasefire, Donald Trump, United States Military, Oil and Gas, Strait of Hormuz"> Live Updates: Iran attacks ships in Strait of Hormuz as thousands more U.S. forces head for Middle East Germany’s flag carrier airline Lufthansa said Wednesday that it was canceling 20,000 short-haul flights within Europe to save money, citing the dramatic spike in the price of jet fuel caused by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has dramatically constrained the flow of petroleum products through the Strait of Hormuz.“In total, 20,000 short-haul flights will be removed from the schedule through October, equivalent to approximately 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel, the price of which has doubled since the outbreak of the Iran conflict,” the airline said in a statement. “The planned consolidation of the European network is being carried out across Lufthansa Group’s six hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome,” the airline said. “Passengers will therefore continue to have access to the global route network, particularly long-haul connections.” Several other major airlines — in both Europe and the U.S., which is far less reliant on fuel supplies from the Middle East — had already announced temporary flight cuts. Air Canada, Delta, and other airlines announced cancellations earlier this month. “The spike in oil prices is big news in general and the impact on jet fuel prices is pronounced,” Stephen Rooney, lead economist at Tourism Economics, told CBS News last week. “Jet fuel is a huge cost for airlines, especially on longer-haul flights.” #Live #Updates #Iran #attacks #ships #Strait #Hormuz #thousands #U.S #forces #Middle #EastCargo Ship, War, Iran, Israel, Ceasefire, Donald Trump, United States Military, Oil and Gas, Strait of Hormuz
World news

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“The planned consolidation of the European network is being carried out across Lufthansa Group’s six hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome,” the airline said. “Passengers will therefore continue to have access to the global route network, particularly long-haul connections.” 

Several other major airlines — in both Europe and the U.S., which is far less reliant on fuel supplies from the Middle East — had already announced temporary flight cuts. 

Air Canada, Delta, and other airlines announced cancellations earlier this month. 

“The spike in oil prices is big news in general and the impact on jet fuel prices is pronounced,” Stephen Rooney, lead economist at Tourism Economics, told CBS News last week. “Jet fuel is a huge cost for airlines, especially on longer-haul flights.”

#Live #Updates #Iran #attacks #ships #Strait #Hormuz #thousands #U.S #forces #Middle #EastCargo Ship, War, Iran, Israel, Ceasefire, Donald Trump, United States Military, Oil and Gas, Strait of Hormuz">Live Updates: Iran attacks ships in Strait of Hormuz as thousands more U.S. forces head for Middle East

Germany’s flag carrier airline Lufthansa said Wednesday that it was canceling 20,000 short-haul flights within Europe to save money, citing the dramatic spike in the price of jet fuel caused by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which has dramatically constrained the flow of petroleum products through the Strait of Hormuz.

“In total, 20,000 short-haul flights will be removed from the schedule through October, equivalent to approximately 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel, the price of which has doubled since the outbreak of the Iran conflict,” the airline said in a statement. 

“The planned consolidation of the European network is being carried out across Lufthansa Group’s six hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome,” the airline said. “Passengers will therefore continue to have access to the global route network, particularly long-haul connections.” 

Several other major airlines — in both Europe and the U.S., which is far less reliant on fuel supplies from the Middle East — had already announced temporary flight cuts. 

Air Canada, Delta, and other airlines announced cancellations earlier this month. 

“The spike in oil prices is big news in general and the impact on jet fuel prices is pronounced,” Stephen Rooney, lead economist at Tourism Economics, told CBS News last week. “Jet fuel is a huge cost for airlines, especially on longer-haul flights.”

#Live #Updates #Iran #attacks #ships #Strait #Hormuz #thousands #U.S #forces #Middle #EastCargo Ship, War, Iran, Israel, Ceasefire, Donald Trump, United States Military, Oil and Gas, Strait of Hormuz

Germany's flag carrier airline Lufthansa said Wednesday that it was canceling 20,000 short-haul flights within…