Overseas Firms to Pay $451.6 Million in US Bogus Options Case
Three Israeli citizens and their offshore businesses were ordered by a federal judge to pay $451.6 million in connection with an international binary-options fraud case brought by a US derivatives watchdog.
The penalty was imposed by Judge Jeremy Daniel of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois after the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission in 2019 accused the firms and their leaders of peddling illegal, off-channel options trades that led to customers losing millions of dollars.
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Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Inside Iran's Spy Crisis: Who Helped Israel's Attacks as 700 Arrested?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iran executed three men on Wednesday accused of spying for Israel, raising the total number of executions linked to espionage during the recent conflict to six, according to state-run media. The men were charged with smuggling "assassination equipment" and aiding sabotage operations targeting critical Iranian infrastructure. These executions come amid a sweeping crackdown that has seen over 700 arrests in just 12 days. The arrests and executions follow a ceasefire that ended nearly two weeks of intense drone and missile strikes between the two countries. Despite the temporary pause in direct hostilities, Tehran's purge of alleged Israeli collaborators continues aggressively, underscoring the regime's determination to dismantle a sprawling network of spies within its borders. Why It Matters Iran's sweeping crackdown has exposed the depth of Israel's alleged infiltration into Iranian territory. Tehran claims that Israeli operatives, aided by domestic collaborators, enabled precision strikes and assassinations inside the country during the recent conflict. This suggests Israel's intelligence services are now capable of influencing the battlefield with help from deeply embedded human assets. A picture taken on June 13, 2025 shows a partial view of a destroyed apartment in a building targeted by an Israeli strike on the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning. Israel carried out... A picture taken on June 13, 2025 shows a partial view of a destroyed apartment in a building targeted by an Israeli strike on the Iranian capital Tehran early in the morning. Israel carried out strikes against Iran early on June 13, targeting its nuclear and military sites, after US President Donald Trump warned of a possible "massive conflict" in the region. More Getty Images What to Know Iranian authorities have disclosed that many of the arrested and executed spies come from ethnic minority groups, primarily Kurds and Azeris near Iran's western and northwestern borders. State media reports that Israeli intelligence leverages these communities' socioeconomic vulnerabilities and deep local knowledge to recruit operatives who use encrypted messaging apps and cryptocurrency to transmit sensitive military and nuclear-related information, complicating Tehran's detection efforts. Training and Collaboration Among the accused spies are individuals believed to have provided critical intelligence enabling Israeli drone and missile strikes on Iranian targets. According to FarsNews, some operatives received training abroad in countries including Georgia and Nepal, arranged by Israeli intelligence. Tehran also accuses Iranian expatriates and dissident groups sympathetic to Israel of supporting logistics, communication, and funding. According to a recent Economist report, Israeli intelligence's multi-year, high-tech espionage campaign—including Mossad agents posing as foreign nationals—has played a pivotal role in gathering intelligence on Iran's accelerating nuclear program and missile capabilities, with alleged cooperation from U.S. agencies. A man reads a book named "The Mossad in Tehran" as he takes shelter with others in an underground metro station as a precaution against possible Iran missile attacks, in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv,... A man reads a book named "The Mossad in Tehran" as he takes shelter with others in an underground metro station as a precaution against possible Iran missile attacks, in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. More Oded Balilty/AP Photo Human Rights Groups Warning Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned Iran's intensifying crackdown following the ceasefire that ended nearly two weeks of conflict. They warn the government is using the conflict as a pretext to escalate repression, citing concerns over forced confessions, lack of due process, and the rising use of capital punishment. Rights advocates are calling for transparent investigations and judicial oversight, warning that the wave of arrests and executions could further destabilize an already fragile and volatile situation. What People Are Saying Amnesty International: "Iranian authorities must halt all plans to carry out arbitrary executions and protect all those arrested over accusations of espionage for Israel from enforced disappearance, torture and other ill‑treatment." Iran's Fars News Agency: "Since the beginning of Israel's attack on Iran, the Zionist regime's spy network has been highly active in the country." What Happens Next As Tehran seeks to consolidate control after the conflict, the balance between national security and human rights remains a critical and unresolved issue. The international community continues to watch closely as tensions simmer and Iran's spy crisis deepens.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
New Mideast tensions fail to boost trans-Pacific container rates
Global energy markets and container shipping were rocked late last week as Israel and Iran continued to trade missile strikes, as well as by ongoing concerns over Tehran's retaliation for U.S. bombings and the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz. While these scenarios held significant implications for oil markets and logistics, a tentative ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has offered a degree of relief, potentially averting major disruptions. Tanker flows through the Strait of Hormuz and operations at Dubai's Port of Jebel Ali, busiest in the Persian Gulf, largely remained normal even during the conflict, as did activities at Israeli ports. Iranian missiles did claim a number of Israeli fatalities in at least one location. With the immediate Middle East crisis seemingly de-escalating, attention is now shifting back to the U.S. trade war and upcoming tariff expirations. Countries other than China that are subject to U.S. reciprocal tariffs have until July 9 to finalize agreements, or they could face increased duties. Progress in negotiations with major trading partners like the European Union, Canada, and Vietnam remains limited, though a tentative agreement has been reached with the United Kingdom. President Donald Trump has indicated a willingness to apply tariffs unilaterally if deals aren't met, though some administration officials suggest extensions for those negotiating in good faith. In the China-U.S. trade imbroglio, a deal to maintain a 30% baseline on Chinese imports was anticipated, but details have been scarce. Despite this, the initial surge in demand following the May 12 tariff pause, ahead of the August 12 deadline for reduced U.S. tariffs, may be subsiding. Carriers, having increased trans-Pacific capacity by 13% since March, are now seeing container spot rates decline sharply, particularly to the West Coast. SONAR's Freightos Baltic Index showed Shanghai-Long Beach prices are back to late May levels at approximately $3,700 per forty foot equivalent unit (FEU), and East Coast rates have dropped from $7,200 to $6,300 per FEU. While Asia-Europe rates saw a 6% increase last week to $3,100 per FEU, Asia-Mediterranean prices are down 9% to $4,400. Freightos research chief Judah Levine in a note said that these trends suggest that despite the onset of peak season demand and some capacity shifts, market conditions are not supporting mid-month rate increases, though prices remain significantly higher than at the end of May. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls maritime chief Sola steps down Maersk stops Haifa service prior to Iran missile attacks Tanker rates surge, Maersk still sailing through Strait of Hormuz Solar to power half of Port Newark box terminal's energy needs The post New Mideast tensions fail to boost trans-Pacific container rates appeared first on FreightWaves. Sign in to access your portfolio
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
7 Israeli troops killed in a Gaza bombing as Palestinian officials say Israeli attacks kill 79
JERUSALEM — Israel on Wednesday reported one of its deadliest days in Gaza in months as its military said seven soldiers were killed when a Palestinian attacker attached a bomb to their armored vehicle, while health officials in the battered enclave said Israeli attacks killed 79 people over the past day. The attack on the Israeli troops, which occurred on Tuesday, quickly drew the nation's attention back to the grinding conflict with the Hamas militant group after nearly two weeks of war between Israel and Iran. Among the 79 reported killed in Gaza were 33 people who died while trying to access aid. Palestinian witnesses and health officials say Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on crowds heading toward desperately needed food, killing hundreds in recent weeks. The military says it has fired warning shots at people it said approached its forces in a suspicious manner. Israel has been fighting in Gaza since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. U.S.-led ceasefire efforts have repeatedly stalled. Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, the army's chief spokesman, said the soldiers were attacked in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, where the army has operated on and off throughout much of the war. 'Helicopters and rescue forces were sent to the spot. They made attempts to rescue the fighters, but without success,' he said. The army said another soldier was seriously wounded in a separate incident in Khan Younis. It gave no further details, but Hamas claimed on its Telegram channel it had ambushed Israeli soldiers taking cover inside a residential building. Over 860 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the war began, including more than 400 during the fighting in Gaza. The initial Hamas attack killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 others hostage. Some 50 hostages remain in captivity, at least 20 of whom are believed to still be alive. With a fragile ceasefire holding between Israel and Iran, President Trump said there has been 'great progress' in Gaza ceasefire talks, without elaborating. 'I think we're going to have some very good news,' Trump told reporters at the NATO summit. He credited the U.S. interference in the Israel-Iran war for progress on Gaza, saying that 'I think that it helped a little bit, it showed a lot of power.' Some Palestinians in Gaza City expressed frustration that the war has dragged on for nearly two years, while the conflict between Israel and Iran lasted 12 days before a fragile ceasefire. 'I live in a tent and now my tent is gone too and we're living in suffering here. The war between Israel and Iran ended in less than two weeks and we've been dying for two years,' said Um Zidan, a woman displaced from northern Gaza. Gaza health authorities had announced on Tuesday that the number of Palestinians killed in the war has risen above 56,000. Experts say Israel's blockade and military campaign have driven the population to the brink of famine. Mazen al-Jomla, a displaced resident of Shati camp, questioned why war in the coastal enclave has stretched on, noting that Israel's assault on Iran was based on accusations of possessing nuclear weapons. 'We have been suffering for two years; from horrors, destruction, martyrs and injured people,' he said. 'What do they (Israel) have left here? There are no houses, trees, or rocks, or humans left. Everything was destroyed.' The latest reported death toll of 56,156 is higher than in any previous Israeli-Palestinian fighting. The health ministry in Gaza doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants but says more than half of the dead have been women and children. The ministry said the dead include 5,759 who have been killed since Israel resumed fighting on March 18, shattering a two-month ceasefire. Israel says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, which operates in heavily populated areas. Israel says over 20,000 Hamas militants have been killed, though it has provided no evidence to support that claim. Hamas has not commented on its casualties. Israeli forces shot and killed a 66-year-old Palestinian woman during a raid on Wednesday in east Jerusalem, her husband and a local Palestinian official said. Joudah Al-Obeidi, a 67-year-old resident of the neighborhood's Shuafat refugee camp, said his wife Zahia Al-Obeidi was standing on the roof of their home when Israeli forces stormed the camp and shot her in the head. He said she had posed no threat. 'It is a crime,' he told The Associated Press. 'What danger did a sick 66-year-old woman pose to them?' Israeli police said they were investigating the incident, saying a woman had arrived at a military checkpoint with 'serious penetrating injuries' and was pronounced dead. They said Israeli forces fired at 'rioters' who threw rocks and heavy objects at them during the operation, hospitalizing one officer with a head injury from a large rock. Marouf Al-Refai, the Palestinian official, said Israeli forces stormed the Shuafat refugee camp overnight, killing Al-Obeidi with a shot to the head around 10 p.m. and took her body away. Israel captured east Jerusalem, including the Old City and its holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, in the 1967 Mideast war. It considers the area to be part of its capital – a move that is not internationally recognized. Palestinians want an independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital. Frankel writes for the Associated Press.
