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June 22, 2026

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Trump appointee leading $205bn US agency had personal ties to Epstein, emails show | Trump administration

Ben Black, the head of a little-known government investment agency funded by billions of dollars from US taxpayers, had personal and business ties to Jeffrey Epstein, according to emails and business filings released by the Department of Justice. His father, Leon Black, had once been the disgraced financier’s highest-paying client – calling on the convicted sex offender for tax advice and to orchestrate payments to women, according to the New York Times and Bloomberg. A Guardian review of more than 5,000 records from Epstein’s private correspondence found that Ben Black invested in the same company as the financier in 2011

June 22, 2026

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Iran Soccer Escalates Tensions With U.S.

Iran’s soccer federation hit back hard with a statement, calling Mullen’s remarks “FAKE” and an “outright and undeniable lie.” The statement said Mullen’s comments “represent a clear attempt to cover up discriminatory behavior and unreasonable restrictions imposed on the Iranian national team delegation.” (Eleven members of the team’s traveling party were denied U.S. visas for the World Cup). The federation called the U.S. a “law-breaking country.” “All I can tell you is that Secretary Mullen is accurate,” Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force on the FIFA 2026 World Cup, tells TIME in a telephone interview on

June 22, 2026

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Iran says “no tangible progress” made in talks as Hezbollah rejects Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement

The U.N. 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 U.N. humanitarian agency OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) said in a revised appeal for the country. “Repeated displacements, insufficient shelter capacity and limited prospects for safe return are deepening vulnerability,” it said, warning that “affected people are rapidly exhausting their coping capacities, and essential services are under increasing strain.” The U.N. had appealed for $308 million

June 21, 2026

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BREAKING: Iran refuses handshake with US delegation as live broadcast is cut

Iran’s delegation at talks with the United States in Switzerland refused to take part in a handshake ceremony and a joint photo session with the American side, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported, citing a source close to the negotiating team, News.az“>NeNews.az“>ws.az reports. According to the source, the organizers of the meeting and the US delegation had planned to open the talks with a symbolic handshake and a joint photo opportunity between Iranian and American representatives. However, the head of the Iranian delegation and other members of the team rejected the format and said they would not appear in a photo

June 21, 2026

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World Cup hydration breaks: Ads worth $250m in USA alone, so are they here to stay?

“Amercians have been used to in-play ads for 40, 50 years, so culturally this fits right in,” says Rob di Gisi, lecturer in sport management at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. “There is very little pushback here. Any changes which make games more Americanised will be embraced without people noticing.” Fellow US broadcaster Telemundo, which shows matches in Spanish and is aimed at Latino Americans, is one of the few broadcasters which has decided not to show ads during the breaks. During Canada’s opening match last week, its commentator said: “We prefer the old school way. We should be

June 21, 2026

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Iran’s Military Says Hormuz Blockaded Again, Blames US and Israel

Strait of Hormuz. AFP/Yonhap News Iran has declared it will again blockade the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s largest oil shipping route, citing violations of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on ending the war with the United States. The move comes just two days after passage resumed under a US-Iran agreement. On Thursday, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran’s integrated military command, issued a statement declaring the closure. “In response to the United States’ clear violation of the principle of good faith and failure to fulfill its commitments, including non-compliance with Article 1 of the MOU on ending the war, and

June 21, 2026

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Here’s all the teams the United States could face in the Round of 32

The United States men’s national team has spent decades trying to convince the world it belongs among soccer’s elite. Now, after two matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it is forcing everyone to pay attention. Friday’s 2-0 victory over Australia secured the Americans a place in the knockout stage with one group match still to play, something no U.S. team had accomplished before. Combined with Paraguay’s 1-0 victory over Turkey, the U.S. officially clinched first place in Group D. The accomplishment adds to a growing list of milestones for a team many have labeled America’s “Golden Generation.” Now attention

June 21, 2026

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Trump news at a glance: Republicans pledge to secure funding for White House ballroom | Trump administration

A US Senate official on Saturday removed security funding that could be used for Donald Trump’s planned $400m White House ballroom from a massive spending package, Democratic lawmakers said, imperilling Republican efforts to devote taxpayer money to the contentious project. The decision by the Senate’s parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, deals a blow to Trump and his administration, which has sought the money for security purposes related to the ballroom. Trump has said construction of the ballroom will be funded by private donors. But Senate Republicans are seeking $1bn in taxpayer funding to the Secret Service for security upgrades, including the ballroom,

June 21, 2026

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Iran, U.S. officials depart for talks as Israeli strikes put truce, Hormuz status in doubt

Listen to this article Estimated 5 minutes The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. A high-level Iranian team arrived in Switzerland on Saturday for peace talks with the U.S., Iranian state media reported, as U.S. Vice-President JD Vance departed Washington for ‌meetings that Pakistan said will begin on Sunday. The Iranian delegation was led by chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf and included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as well as senior security, central bank and oil officials, Iranian media said. Although

June 21, 2026

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Anna Moesch Breaks Torri Huske’s US Open Record With 52.11 100 Freestyle

2026 Pro Swim Series – Indianapolis Women’s 100m Freestyle — Final Top 8 Finishers: Anna Moesch (Greater Somerset County YMCA) – 52.11 *U.S. Open & Pro Swim Series Record* Torri Huske (New York Athletic Club) – 53.05 Kate Douglass (New York Athletic Club) – 53.09 Rylee Erisman (Laker Swim) – 53.24 Liberty Clark (Indiana University) – 53.51 Cadence Vincent (University of Alabama Swim Club) & Erika Pelaez (NC State University) – 54.21 (tie) N/A Erin Gemmell (Longhorn Aquatics) – 54.43 Anna Moesch swam to a new US Open Record, breaking Torri Huske‘s record of a 52.43 from 2025. Moesch also swam to a new Pro Series record, breaking the old mark