The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly investigating how Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei built a global investment portfolio with exposure to Wall Street banks, according to a Bloomberg News report published Thursday, June 18, 2026. Bloomberg cited officials familiar with the matter. The Justice Department had not publicly commented on the reported investigation when Reuters published its account. Mojtaba Khamenei Transactions Under Reported DOJ Review The investigation is reportedly part of a broader examination of allegations involving money laundering and corruption. Investigators are reviewing transactions involving companies overseen by Khamenei and examining the role U.S. financial institutions may have played in processing them, according to the report. JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup are among the banks reportedly under review. The report did not establish that either bank had violated U.S. law. JPMorgan, Citigroup and DOJ Responses Reuters said Citigroup declined to comment on the report. JPMorgan Chase and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment when the story was published. The existence of an investigation does not mean criminal charges will be filed. Bloomberg reported that Khamenei, rather than the banks, was the primary focus of the inquiry. Why the Report Matters As Iran’s supreme leader, Khamenei has final authority over major matters of state, including the country’s foreign policy and nuclear program. The reported investigation could attract further scrutiny of financial transactions connected to Iranian political networks and their potential exposure to U.S. institutions. However, the inquiry remains at the investigative stage. No charges or findings of wrongdoing were announced in the report. Related: Mojtaba Khamenei Approves US-Iran Agreement as Swiss Talks Advance

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei approved the U.S.-Iran agreement despite reservations, giving political backing to an interim memorandum as negotiations moved forward in Switzerland. In a written message issued Thursday, June 18, 2026, Khamenei said he authorized the memorandum after President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials assured him that Iran’s rights and the interests of what Tehran calls the “Resistance Front” would be protected.

More than 30,000 soccer fans packed San Pedro Square for one of San Jose’s World Cup watch parties, turning the downtown district into a crowded international fan zone. Some supporters were turned away after the Mexico-South Korea screening reached capacity. San Pedro Square World Cup Watch Parties Boost Downtown Businesses The San Jose Earthquakes designated San Pedro Square as the official Soccer Celebration headquarters, bringing large match-day cro

Texas leaders praised New World screwworm funding awards intended to support projects combating the pest and protecting the state’s livestock industry. The announcement presented the awards as part of efforts to prevent the New World screwworm threat from harming animals and livestock operations in Texas. The supplied information did not specify the funding amount, grant recipients, project locations or implementation timeline. New World Screwwo

The US-Iran deal has opened a 60-day diplomatic window, but it has also sharpened security concerns in Israel. Israeli officials and analysts worry that Tehran could receive economic relief while decisions on uranium enrichment, ballistic missiles and regional armed groups remain unsettled. The negotiation period began on Thursday, June 18, 2026, under an interim memorandum approved by President Donald Trump and Iranian leaders. The framework seeks to halt hostiliti

The USMNT Round of 32 match date is Wednesday, July 1, 2026, after the United States beat Australia 2-0 and secured first place in World Cup 2026 Group D. The Americans will play at 5:00 PM PT, or 8:00 PM ET, in Santa Clara, California, against a third-place qualifier whose identity will be determined later. USMNT Round of 32 match date, time and opponent The United States will face a third-place team from Group B, E, F, I or J at San Francisco Bay Area

A major fire tore through the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic, at approximately 11:00 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time on Friday, June 19, 2026, forcing authorities to evacuate about 1,690 guests. Dominican emergency authorities confirmed that Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian tourist, died in the fire. Three people were transported to medical facilities, while six others were treated at the scene for injuries and symptoms that included smo

Why is the B-52 called the BUFF? The nickname is an informal Air Force term for the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, reflecting the bomber’s immense size, unconventional appearance and decades of service. B-52 BUFF Meaning and Origin Boeing gave the long-range bomber the official name Stratofortress, suggesting strength and high-altitude power. Aircrews and maintainers instead embraced BUFF, commonly presented in public as “Big Ugly Fat Fellow.” Inside

Pakistan’s FATF grey-lit history has returned to attention following India’s election to the vice-presidency of the global financial-crime watchdog. Read more about India’s first election to the FATF vice-presidency and why the appointment matters. India’s new leadership position gives New Delhi greater visibility i

What is FATF, and why can its decisions affect governments, banks and investors worldwide? The Financial Action Task Force is the leading international body that sets standards for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of weapons proliferation. The organisation has received renewed attention after India was elected FAT

India has been elected FATF vice-president for the first time, placing senior official Vivek Aggarwal in a key leadership role at the global body that sets standards against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. The Financial Action Task Force announced the appointment after its plenary meeting in Paris on Friday, June 19, 2026. Aggarwal, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service officer and secretary in India’s Ministry of Culture, will serve from Ju

The Japan housework gender gap is drawing renewed attention after images of Japanese fans cleaning stadium seats during the FIFA World Cup 2026 won international praise. A viral post argued that the same sense of responsibility should extend to chores and unpaid care work at home. Viral post links stadium cleanup to unpaid work The post urged Japanese men to “share unpaid care work at home,” arguing that their contribution to househo

Ram Mandir Donation Records Under SIT Scanner Over Missing 60 kg Silver Ayodhya, June 20, 2026: The ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in Ram Mandir donation records has widened after 60 kg of silver bars donated during the consecration ceremony were reportedly found missing from official records. The silver bars were said to have been offered to Ram Lalla during the Pran

James Burrows Dies At 85: Friends Director Who Shaped TV Comedy James Burrows, the legendary television director who helped shape the laughter of generations through shows like Friends, Cheers, and Will & Grace, has died at the age of 85. His death marks the end of a remarkable career that helped define modern American sitcoms for more than five decades. Burrows was regarded

Andy Burnham Makerfield Win Puts Starmer Under Pressure Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster after a decisive Makerfield win has strengthened his political position and added fresh pressure on Keir Starmer’s Labour leadership. Burnham’s Comeback Raises Labour Leadership Questions Andy Burnham’s return to Parliament after a commanding

Bedford Train Collision: Driver Killed, 89 Injured Near London A serious train crash near Bedford, north of London, left one East Midlands Railway driver dead and 89 people injured on Friday evening, June 19, 2026. Emergency services launched a major response after two London-bound passenger trains were involved in the accident while travelling towards London St Pancras station.

A sudden blaze tore through a beachfront resort in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic, turning a routine holiday setting into an emergency evacuation zone. The fire erupted inside the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach property and quickly spread across connected sections of the complex, forcing guests and staff to abandon rooms and move toward open safe zones. Wind conditions accelerate spread across structures Initial assessments from emergency officials suggest that strong coastal winds played a major role in accelerating the fire. Parts of the resort reportedly included lightweight roofing materials, which allowed flames to move rapidly between buildings. Smoke was visible across the shoreline within minutes, disrupting nearby tourist activity and prompting immediate containment efforts. Large-scale evacuation of guests and staff Authorities confirmed that nearly 1,700 people were evacuated from the resort and surrounding areas as a precaution. Evacuation procedures were carried out in phases, prioritizing guests in the most affected blocks before expanding to adjacent zones. Emergency teams coordinated movement toward designated safe areas while ensuring transport and crowd control across the property. Emergency response focused on containment and safety Firefighters and civil defense units deployed multiple teams to control the situation and prevent further structural damage. The priority initially remained evacuation due to the speed of spread and changing wind direction. Once the perimeter was secured, responders began targeted suppression efforts to stop the fire from reaching nearby hospitality properties along the coast. Fatality confirmed as investigation begins Officials confirmed that one woman died in the incident, marking the most serious impact of the fire. Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the cause, focusing on structural safety standards, fire prevention systems, and compliance within the resort complex. Early scrutiny is expected to examine whether existing safety protocols were sufficient for a high-occupancy coastal facility. Tourism impact and safety concerns under review The incident has raised fresh concerns over fire preparedness in high-density tourist resorts across the Caribbean region. Authorities are now reviewing whether additionalsafety audits or stricter building regulations are required to prevent similar emergencies. Further updates are expected as damage assessments continue and investigators reconstruct the sequence of events.

Delhi Health Procurement Scam: Doctor Arrested, Over 100 Officials Under Scanner Delhi’s alleged multi-crore health procurement scam has widened after the ACB arrested a former CPA official and began examining the role of several doctors and officials.   Delhi Health Procurement Scam: Doctor Arrested, Over 100 Officials Under Scanner New Delhi, June 20: The

A United Nations discussion intended to review conflict-related sexual violence and child protection issues turned sharply contentious in New York, as disagreements over a Gaza-focused report escalated between Israel’s delegation and senior UN officials. What began as a policy review quickly shifted into a direct diplomatic exchange over credibility, methodology, and political framing of the findings. Dispute over credibility of conflict data The tension intensified when Israel’s representative, Danny Danon, challenged the validity of a UN monitoring report that documented violations affecting children in multiple conflict zones, including Gaza. He argued that the findings reflected institutional bias and selective interpretation of incidents involving Israeli forces and related actors. His remarks prompted immediate pushback from UN officials present in the session. Sharp exchange between diplomats and UN officials UN representative Vanessa Frazier responded by rejecting the criticism of the report’s integrity, stressing that the data was compiled through established verification mechanisms used in conflict monitoring worldwide. She objected to what she described as personal accusations directed at UN personnel, which further escalated the exchange. The discussion momentarily lost procedural focus as both sides defended their positions more forcefully. Findings highlight scale of child impact in conflict zones The report at the center of the debate outlined thousands of grave violations affecting children across active conflict regions during the year. It attributed a significant portion of documented incidents to multiple parties operating in high-intensity zones, while also calling attention to the broader deterioration of child safety in war-affected areas. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has previously expressed concern over rising figures and warned that persistent patterns of violations could trigger stronger international accountability measures. Broader diplomatic divide over accountability frameworks The confrontation reflects a continuing divide between Israel and United Nations institutions regarding how conflict data is collected, interpreted, and publicly presented. Israel has consistently rejected allegations of bias in UN reporting, while UN bodies maintain that standardized monitoring systems are essential for documenting humanitarian conditions in active war zones. The latest exchange underscores how reporting on civilian harm has become a recurring point of friction in international diplomacy, particularly in relation to Gaza.

US Iran negotiations in Switzerland have entered a renewed phase, but the environment remains unstable as regional conflicts continue to shape the direction of talks. Diplomatic representatives from both sides are attempting to revive stalled communication lines, with mediation support from regional actors working behind the scenes to prevent another breakdown. The discussions are being positioned as an attempt to rebuild trust after repeated interruptions, though expectations remai