DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States and Iran reached an initial agreement early Monday that would extend their shaky ceasefire and lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but challenges immediately loomed, including Israel insisting it would hold onto land seized in Lebanon as it battles Hezbollah.

Details of the deal, which would potentially allow desperately needed oil and natural gas to reach the global market through the critical waterway, were not immediately released. Iran signaled implementation would not start until the signing, which key mediator Pakistan said would take place Friday in Switzerland.

But the memorandum of understanding over the war already faced hurdles. Israel’s continued hostilities with the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Israel bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs Sunday, nearly derailed the negotiations. Israel joined the U.S. in launching the war on Feb. 28.

Israel says it won’t withdraw from Lebanon

In the first official Israeli comments after the announcement of the deal, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel won’t withdraw from land seized in Lebanon as the interim deal is pending. Katz said Israel plans to stay “indefinitely” in lands it holds in Lebanon, as well as Syria and the Gaza Strip. Iran has tied the interim deal over the war to halting Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Katz also threatened that if Iran attacks Israel over Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Israel will strike Iran with “great force.”

Over the past 2 1/2 years, Israel has taken control of areas in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria amounting to 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of territory — an area that is slightly smaller than New York City.

Meanwhile, the deal between the U.S. and Iran gives just 60 days to resolve what to do about Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and its atomic program. That took years to resolve in Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from that accord in his first term, setting the stage for the tensions that culminated in the war.

“Congratulations to all!” Trump wrote on social media as he celebrated his 80th birthday Sunday with a UFC cage match fight at the White House.

He added, “I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade,” which was imposed in retaliation for Iran’s grip on the crucial waterway.

The Prime Minister announced the restriction in a Downing Street press conference as he warned social media was having an impact on children’s happiness and mental health.

Sir Keir said he would not compromise on the “safety and happiness of our children”.

He said he was confident the ban can be effective but acknowledged some children would find their way around it.

Making the announcement on Monday morning, the Prime Minister said: “This is not something I do lightly, and I will not present it as cost-free, as if social media has brought no benefits to young people, because clearly that is wrong.

“But government is always about choices, and it’s clear to me that a full ban is the right choice.

“I come to it as a parent myself. I know exactly the fears that we all feel when we’re thinking about this issue.

“All I’ve ever wanted for my own children, hand on heart, is for them to be happy and for them to be safe, and I think that’s what any parent wants, but I ask the question now, ‘do we truly believe that social media creates a happy environment for our children?’

“Do we truly believe that it’s a place where they can feel safe? I don’t think I even need to answer those questions, do I?

“Every parent can see it with their own eyes. Social media is making children unhappy.”

Starmer said social media was “making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse” children and “could even be harming their mental health – exposing them to content that is dangerous, because that’s what grabs the attention”.

He added: “It’s designed to be addictive, of course it is. Features like the infinite scroll, they’re designed to lock you in for hours, and if nothing else, there’s an opportunity cost to that.

“It stops children doing their homework, reading, playing with their friends outside, going to bed a decent hour.

“Now that may not sound like much, but these are the activities that help a child develop into an adult.

“We know how important they are. We just never thought that something would come along to threaten them.”

What apps will be banned in UK under-16s social media ban?

More details on the exact apps have yet to be confirmed, but it’s understood that social media platforms, TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, X, YouTube, Snapchat, and Reddit will be banned for under-16s.

The ban will also stop under-16s from accessing romantic or sexual AI chatbots.

The PM did confirm that there will be a limit on their ability to chat with strangers on gaming and live-streaming platforms.

The ban is expected to come into full force by Spring 2027.

Why is social media being banned for under-16s?

The ban comes in response to overwhelming support during a government consultation, which found that 91% of parents backed raising the minimum age for social media access to 16.

The consultation on the proposals closed on May 26 and drew about 116,000 responses, making it the second-largest in history.

More than 83% of parents who responded said the risks of social media outweigh the benefits for children.

Among younger respondents, 62% said restricting high-risk features would improve their safety online.

However, 72% expressed concerns about feeling left out if such restrictions were introduced.

Los Angeles is often nicknamed “Tehrangeles” – a fact that drew smiles from both player and manager when it was mentioned at the news conference.

Many Iranian-Americans will be heading to SoFi Stadium on Monday where Iran will open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand.

Many will not be there to cheer, but to protest.

Fifa has banned the pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flag – a powerful symbol for many Iranians living abroad.

The decision has angered parts of the diaspora.

“You don’t come to Los Angeles and tell us we can’t fly the Lion and Sun flag,” said activist Arezo Rashidian, who is helping organise demonstrations outside the stadium.

“This is the largest Iranian community outside Iran. Many of us came here after the revolution. We’re opposing Fifa’s ban and standing in solidarity with the people of Iran.”

Many members of the diaspora are hostile towards Iran’s regime, and some see the squad as an extension of the Islamic Republic.

“It’s unfortunate that the regime turns athletes into mouthpieces.” said Rashidian. “We want athletes to remain athletes.”

Despite that, she and many others still plan to attend the match.

“We understand the pressure they’re under,” she said. “We’ll carry our colours. We’ll cheer for Iran – the country – held captive by the Islamic Republic.”

But while protesters prepare to make their voices heard outside the stadium, Iran’s players say their focus remains on football.

“As players of the national team, we play for every single Iranian, whether in the diaspora or in Iran,” Taremi said.

“In every country people have different opinions. We are here to unite people and bring joy. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We don’t get involved in politics.”

That may be the ideal.

But for Iran’s team, keeping politics outside the stadium could prove difficult in a tournament where football has often felt like a sideshow for this squad.

“There is no winning for Iran’s team,” investigative football journalist Samindra Kunti said.

“Given the circumstances, the political pressure, the location of the matches and the diaspora in Los Angeles, they’re under enormous pressure.”

“It’s impossible to avoid the politics.

“Everything becomes a reminder of their situation.”

The players face pressure from home, pressure from the host nation and pressure from a diaspora determined to make its voice heard.

All before a ball has been kicked.

The government has confirmed if it will introduce a curfew as part of its social media ban

The Government has confirmed that it will be looking in more detail at introducing overnight curfews as part of its social media ban that it introduced today, June 15.

Sir Keir Starmer announced this morning that under-16s will be banned from a range of social media in a “big moment for our country.” The Prime Minister said the Government is looking to “‘move at speed” to pass the legislation as he made the announcement today (June 15).

The Prime Minister announced the restriction in a Downing Street press conference as he warned social media was having an impact on children’s happiness and mental health.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

Sir Keir said he would not compromise on the “safety and happiness of our children” and that he was confident the ban can be effective but acknowledged some children would find their way around it.

Reports had indicated the announcement would include a night-time social media curfew for 16 and 17 year olds. But in an update after Sir Keir’s speech, the Government has confirmed it will be looking in more detail at overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18-year-olds and ‘will set out more detail in July’.

Under 16s social media ban to come in next year

Announcing the ban for all children under the age of 16, the Prime Minister confirmed that the Government will seek to pass the legislation before Christmas this year, in the hope that the law will come into effect in early 2027, ‘probably around spring time’.

The government says it plans to use the same model for a social media ban as Australia, which would capture user-to-user platforms, whose purpose is to enable social interaction and which allow users to post material, alongside algorithms.

The ban will therefore include platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. However, messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal will not be included in the social media ban.

So-called AI ‘romantic companion’ chatbots – designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay with users – will have to enforce a minimum age of 18. Similar intimate functionalities will be restricted for under-18s on AI chatbots more widely.

The Government also announced that it will take “world leading” action on gaming and live streaming platforms so strangers will not be able to contact children, Sir Keir Starmer said.

Speaking at the press conference, Sir Keir Starmer said: “This is not something I do lightly, and I will not present it as cost-free, as if social media has brought no benefits to young people, because clearly that is wrong.

“But government is always about choices, and it’s clear to me that a full ban is the right choice. I come to it as a parent myself. I know exactly the fears that we all feel when we’re thinking about this issue.

“All I’ve ever wanted for my own children, hand on heart, is for them to be happy and for them to be safe, and I think that’s what any parent wants, but I ask the question now, ‘do we truly believe that social media creates a happy environment for our children?’

“Do we truly believe that it’s a place where they can feel safe? I don’t think I even need to answer those questions, do I? Every parent can see it with their own eyes. Social media is making children unhappy.”

He added that social media was “making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse” children and “could even be harming their mental health – exposing them to content that is dangerous, because that’s what grabs the attention”.

He said: “It’s designed to be addictive, of course it is. Features like the infinite scroll, they’re designed to lock you in for hours, and if nothing else, there’s an opportunity cost to that.

“It stops children doing their homework, reading, playing with their friends outside, going to bed a decent hour. Now that may not sound like much, but these are the activities that help a child develop into an adult.

“We know how important they are. We just never thought that something would come along to threaten them.”

The announcement comes following a public consultation on the issue, which closed on May 26 and received about 116,000 responses, making it the second-largest in history.

Over 83% of parents who responded said social media risks outweigh the benefits for children – with 91% backing a minimum age of 16 before platforms can offer their services to children.

Almost two thirds (62%) of children who responded said restricting the high-risk features would make them safer online. But 72% also said they were worried about feeling left out if restrictions came in.Sir Keir last week issued a three-month ultimatum to Apple and Google to make it technologically impossible for children to take, share or view nude images on their smartphones.

The latest move risks prompting a backlash from Donald Trump’s pro-tech US administration, which warned against a blanket ban for under-16s.

In a response to the consultation, the US embassy in London said the country preferred “narrowly targeted requirements”, that “most content should be accessible by default”, and that age verification requirements could “impose disproportionate compliance burdens on American companies”.

Loganair offers flights to and from destinations across the UK and France, including Paris, Jersey, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London.

But the regional airline has revealed it can no longer maintain its current level of service “without impacting the wider business”.

Full list of flights being cut by Loganair

Loganair will reduce flights between Inverness and Stornoway, Orkney, and Shetland from July 19.

There are currently daily flights from Inverness to Orkney (Kirkwall) and Shetland (Sumburgh), and a regular service to Stornoway.

But flights between these destinations will only operate on Saturdays and Sundays from July.

Chief executive of Loganair, Luke Farajallah, speaking to the BBC, said: “We do not take these decisions lightly.”

He continued: “The recent increase in fuel prices, together with escalations in aircraft repair costs, airport fees and route charges, mean that Loganair, Hial and Transport Scotland must find a way to sustain lifeline routes where passenger numbers are limited.”

“These routes matter to us and to the communities they serve, but we must balance that commitment with the long-term sustainability of Loganair and the wider network those communities also rely on.”

Mr Farajallah said that if more funding were secured, then full services could resume in October.

A support package has been offered by Hial, owned by the Scottish government, but it warned that any assistance must be affordable.

Pathetic response by @FlyLoganair as they pull a lifeline Scottish island service.
It looks as if Inverness to Stornoway/Kirkwall/Sumburgh routes are being sacrificed in favour of higher profile non lifeline routes such as new Jersey-Paris venture. https://t.co/87C3V8mjWy

— Iain Mackenzie 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿󠁧󠁧🇪🇺🐦 (@iain_00) June 14, 2026

Advertisement

British Airways and Ryanair among other major airlines to have cut flights

Several other airlines have been forced to cut flights, increase fares, or axe UK routes in 2026.

UK airline Skybus announced back in April that it had ceased all flights between Cornwall and London due to “the huge rise in the global cost of fuel” and “a significant drop in new passenger bookings”.

Aer Lingus has also cut around 500 flights from its schedule due to “mandatory maintenance”.

Rising costs have also seen Ryanair cut flights from 19 airports across the UK and Europe recently.

The budget airline has also been forced to close two of its bases abroad in Thessaloniki and Berlin.

British Airways, like most airlines, was forced to cancel or suspend all flights in and out of the Middle East in March due to the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran.

BA had been set to resume its regular schedule to Dubai International Airport on July 1.

However, this has now been delayed, and all flights between the UK and Dubai have been cancelled until October 25.

All flights to Amman, Bahrain, and Tel Aviv have also been cancelled until October.

BA has also confirmed it is reducing its Doha schedule to one daily flight, set to resume from August 1, according to Time Out.

Wizz Air has warned it could be forced to cut routes from the UK due to rising air passenger duty (APD).

UK airlines that have fallen into administration/liquidation in 2026

Meanwhile, four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation in 2026:

Four UK travel companies have also closed in 2026:

• Regen Central Ltd
• Gold Crest Holidays
• Asiara UK Ltd
• Simply Florida Travel Ltd

Luxury UK holiday company Salamander Voyages shut down back in April after entering administration.

Do the Loganair flight cuts impact your travel plans? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

Sir Keir confirmed the plans at a press conference at Downing Street on Monday, June 15, sharing: “The government will ban access to social media for all children under the age of 16.”

He said: “This is not something I do lightly, and I will not present it as cost-free, as if social media has brought no benefits to young people, because clearly that is wrong.

“But government is always about choices, and it’s clear to me that a full ban is the right choice.

“I come to it as a parent myself. I know exactly the fears that we all feel when we’re thinking about this issue.

“All I’ve ever wanted for my own children, hand on heart, is for them to be happy and for them to be safe, and I think that’s what any parent wants, but I ask the question now, ‘do we truly believe that social media creates a happy environment for our children?’

“Do we truly believe that it’s a place where they can feel safe? I don’t think I even need to answer those questions, do I?

“Every parent can see it with their own eyes. Social media is making children unhappy.”

What apps will be banned as part of the under-16 social media ban?

More details on the exact apps have yet to be confirmed, but it’s understood that social media platforms, TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, X, YouTube, Snapchat, and Reddit will be banned for under-16s.

The ban will also stop under-16s from accessing romantic or sexual AI chatbots.

The PM did confirm that there will be a limit on their ability to chat with strangers on gaming and live-streaming platforms.

The ban is expected to come into full force by Spring 2027.

Sir Keir said that the ban will give children “more freedom to grow up” and “more opportunity”.

The PM has announced a social media ban. (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

Why is social media being banned for under-16s?

The ban comes in response to overwhelming support during a government consultation, which found that 91 per cent of parents backed raising the minimum age for social media access to 16.

The consultation on the proposals closed on May 26 and drew about 116,000 responses, making it the second-largest in history.

More than 83 per cent of parents who responded said the risks of social media outweigh the benefits for children.

Among younger respondents, 62 per cent said restricting high-risk features would improve their safety online.

However, 72 per cent expressed concerns about feeling left out if such restrictions were introduced.

Do you agree with a social media ban for under-16s? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Need to know

Clarkson’s Farm Season 5 is back on Prime Video with Jeremy Clarkson facing fresh challenges at Diddly Squat Farm.

Everything you need to know about what day Clarkson’s Farm is on

1. Clarkson’s Farm Season 5 continues on Prime Video with episodes seven and eight dropping on June 17, following the first six episodes that aired on June 3 and June 10. New episodes drop each Wednesday, with the final two instalments airing this week.
2. Jeremy Clarkson admits he still struggles with basic farming tasks despite years of experience. “After six or seven years of farming, I still can’t attach anything to the back of a tractor,” he confessed. The former Top Gear host has faced major challenges this season, including a heart scare that forced him to make life at Diddly Squat less stressful.
3. Season 5 has also seen Clarkson participate in farmers’ protests against Inheritance Tax and create a Santa’s Grotto at The Farmer’s Dog pub. Executive producer Andy Wilman promises the final episodes will be “much heavier and more emotional than anything we’ve seen before.”
4. Upcoming episodes will feature high-tech farming equipment, Endgame the bull becoming a father, and chilli expert Tomas returning for a spicy pub dinner. Things are set to take a dark turn before the season ends, with the final two episodes expected to be particularly hard on Clarkson.
5. As for what time the episodes will drop, Prime Video tends to release new seasons at midnight Greenwich Mean Time, which is 1am British Summer Time. This is good news for fans because as soon as they wake up on the day of release, the final two episodes will be ready and waiting for them to binge.

READ THE FULL STORY: Clarkson’s Farm season 5 release time: What time are new episodes out?

The Bank Street project will see 11 supported accommodation units and six flats for social rent delivered by Cruden and forms part of North Lanarkshire Council’s ambitious new housing supply programme, which aims to deliver 6,000 new homes by 2035.

A new council housing development at a key site in Coatbridge is now underway.

The Bank Street project will see 11 supported accommodation units and six flats for social rent delivered by Cruden and forms part of North Lanarkshire Council’s ambitious new housing supply programme, which aims to deliver 6,000 new homes by 2035.

The derelict site, which formerly comprised shops, offices and a public house, all of which have since been demolished, is set to transform the gateway to the town centre.

The site, within the Coatbridge, Blairhill and Dunbeth Conservation Area, will see the proposed new-build design complement the area’s heritage while providing modern, energy-efficient housing.

Regeneration of this dilapidated site is in line with the Coatbridge Town Vision, bringing gap sites back into productive use and encouraging new housing provision within town-centre locations. The site will deliver much-needed homes for Coatbridge in the form of social-rented housing as well as supported accommodation.

Attending the sod-cutting ceremony were Convener of Housing, Councillor Michael McPake; Convener of Communities, Councillor Geraldine Woods; and Vice Convener of Housing, Councillor Andrew Bustard. They were joined by representatives from Cruden and the council’s housing team.

Councillor Michael McPake said: “I’m delighted this exciting new project is now underway, transforming a key site on the approach to Coatbridge town centre and providing more housing for the area.

“Our new supply programme is key to delivering transformational change, as set out in The Plan for North Lanarkshire, by providing affordable, modern homes while realising our vision of regenerating town centres and promoting town-centre living.”

The project is being delivered by Cruden and is expected to be completed by summer 2027.

Paul Doran, Development Director of Cruden Homes, said: “It’s great to mark the start of construction at Bank Street, which is another fantastic example of successful collaboration with our valued partners at North Lanarkshire Council. The development will transform this vacant town-centre site into high-quality, energy-efficient homes and play an important role in meeting local housing needs.

“We have also been engaging with local schools while construction is underway to create meaningful opportunities. This includes delivering workshops at Coatbridge High School aimed at inspiring the next generation to explore careers in construction and the built environment.”

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.