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Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new sanctions Tuesday against the president of the International Criminal Court and one of its senior trial lawyers, intensifying the Trump administration’s confrontation with the Hague-based tribunal over its efforts to prosecute officials from countries that do not recognize its jurisdiction.

The latest sanctions target ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. Rubio described the move as part of “our unwavering mission to protect Americans from this sham of a court.”

The United States is not a member of the Rome Statute, the international treaty that established the ICC and defines its authority. Rubio has also urged other nations to cut their ties with the court.

“These individuals have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction,” Rubio said in a statement.

Under the sanctions, Americans are generally prohibited from conducting transactions with Akane and Seye and could face penalties for doing so. The measures also effectively cut the two ICC officials off from the American financial system.

The ICC responded by criticizing the administration’s action, telling The Hill that “measures targeting judges, prosecutors and staff who work towards the fulfilment of the mandate that was conferred to the ICC by States undermine the rule of law.”

“When judicial actors are threatened for applying the law, it is the international legal order itself that is placed at risk,” the statement continued.

The court vowed that it remains “undeterred and stands firmly behind its personnel and behind victims of unimaginable atrocities.”

“The Court will continue to fully discharge its mandate with independence and impartiality, in full accordance with the Rome Statute and in the interest of victims of international crimes,” the court added.

The ICC is expected to issue a more extensive official response to the sanctions early Wednesday.

Rubio had signaled last month that the administration intended to dramatically increase pressure on the court, promising to use American diplomatic and governmental power to dismantle the institution “brick by brick.” Among the measures he outlined were additional sanctions, travel restrictions, visa cancellations, penalties targeting organizations affiliated with the ICC and diplomatic efforts encouraging other countries to leave the court.

The Trump administration has already sanctioned several ICC judges and prosecutors following the tribunal’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, who previously served as Israel’s defense minister, in connection with the Gaza war.

Washington’s dispute with the ICC predates the Gaza case. The United States has also strongly objected to the court’s previous investigation into the conduct of American military personnel in Afghanistan.

The administration’s sanctions campaign has triggered a series of legal challenges in American courts. Three ICC judges filed a lawsuit in New York in June arguing that sanctions imposed against them by the Trump administration violate U.S. law.

Two human rights organizations filed a separate lawsuit in July seeking to block sanctions against ICC officials. The groups argued that the administration’s actions had produced a “chilling effect” on their efforts to document alleged Israeli crimes against Palestinians.

Four additional human rights organizations filed another lawsuit against the Trump administration last week, contending that the sanctions imposed on ICC personnel are unlawfully obstructing their work involving international criminal justice.

COVID-19 infections are climbing across virtually the entire United States, according to new federal estimates, although serious illness and COVID-related emergency room visits remain at very low levels.

Modeling from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that “COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 50 states.” As of mid-August, the agency was not estimating declining infections in any state, while no estimate was provided for Iowa.

The widespread increase does not appear, at least so far, to be producing a corresponding surge in severe disease. The CDC continues to classify COVID-related visits to hospital emergency departments as “very low.”

Wastewater surveillance is providing another window into the summer increase. Because people infected with COVID can shed the virus regardless of whether they have symptoms or seek medical care, sewage monitoring can detect community spread that might otherwise go unnoticed. Wastewater surveillance “can pick up signs of infection even from people who feel perfectly healthy,” according to the CDC.

Hawaii and Mississippi currently stand out as the two states with “moderate” levels of COVID activity detected in wastewater, although the available wastewater information for Mississippi is limited.

The West and South are showing somewhat greater viral activity than much of the rest of the country. Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Washington are currently classified as having “low” wastewater levels, while the remaining states are listed as “very low.”

The increase comes as the XFG lineage remains a major focus of federal health officials. The CDC continues to use genomic surveillance to track the proportions of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants around the country.

Despite COVID’s current upward trajectory, two other major respiratory illnesses are less prevalent. CDC wastewater monitoring shows influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, appearing at lower levels than COVID.

Meanwhile, a newly formulated COVID vaccine designed for the 2026-2027 season is expected to become available beginning this fall. The Food and Drug Administration has advised vaccine manufacturers that the updated shots should use the JN.1-lineage XFG variant in a monovalent vaccine to more closely match viruses now circulating.

The decision followed a May 28 meeting of the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, which reviewed variant circulation, vaccine effectiveness, immune-response data and other evidence before recommending XFG for the new formula.

Manufacturers had indicated to the FDA that they were prepared to produce XFG-targeted vaccines for the upcoming season, and Moderna said in materials submitted to the agency that it was prepared to supply its updated formulation by mid-August.

The latest numbers suggest that the United States is experiencing another period of increased COVID transmission heading toward the end of summer. For now, however, federal data indicate a significant distinction from earlier waves: infections may be increasing broadly, but severe cases remain comparatively uncommon.

Google is preparing to launch a new Gmail program that will allow qualifying political campaigns and organizations to bypass the platform’s standard spam filters, potentially sending more campaign and fundraising emails directly into users’ inboxes ahead of the November midterm elections.

The Gmail Verified Sender Program is scheduled to begin Sept. 8, according to eligibility requirements published by Google in its Help Center. Political senders that qualify will be able to avoid Gmail’s usual spam filtering as long as they comply with the program’s rules, including keeping their spam-complaint rate below 0.3% over a rolling 14-day period.

Mike Hahn, president of digital at Republican fundraising firm Frontline Strategies, welcomed Google’s decision, telling Campaigns & Elections that the change should have come sooner.

“Republicans have faced censorship from Big Tech for the better part of a decade and we finally have an opportunity to put our money where our mouth is,” Hahn said. “I hope all good actors take advantage of this program.”

Google, meanwhile, said the initiative is intended to provide greater predictability for political senders while preserving Gmail users’ ability to determine what appears in their inboxes.

“Following our previous pilot, this program is designed to connect people with the emails they want to receive while keeping them fully in control of their inboxes,” the spokesperson said. “To participate, bulk senders must meet strict security and compliance requirements, ensuring that messages people receive are relevant, useful, and verified.”

The new policy comes after years of complaints from Republicans who have accused Gmail’s spam-filtering system of disproportionately diverting conservative fundraising messages away from recipients’ primary inboxes. The dispute ultimately contributed to a lawsuit filed against Google by the Republican National Committee in 2022, though the case was later dismissed.

Eric Wilson, executive director of the Republican-aligned Center for Campaign Innovation, also applauded Google’s decision in a post on X.

“Glad to see Google’s action on this front,” Wilson wrote. “Democrats’ email marketing infrastructure gave them a leg up in the fundraising battle that had nothing to do with their message or candidates.”

The announcement, however, has also drawn criticism from those who argue that political organizations should remain subject to the same restrictions governing other large-scale email senders.

Josh Nelson, CEO of the progressive digital advertising platform Civic Shout, pointed to Google’s longstanding recommendations regarding bulk email practices.

“Google’s own long-standing advice to bulk email senders has been simple: Don’t send email to people who didn’t sign up to receive it,” Nelson said. “Political campaigns should have to play by those same rules.”

Nelson acknowledged that both major political parties are “guilty of sending unwanted email” but maintained that Republicans have “historically been far worse offenders.”

Political campaigns seeking admission to the program will be required to authenticate their sending domains through Campaign Verify, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization. They must also register with Google’s Postmaster Tools and satisfy the other eligibility and compliance standards established by Google.

For Gmail users, the practical effect could become increasingly noticeable as the midterm elections approach. Political messages that Gmail’s existing system might otherwise have directed into spam folders could instead appear directly in recipients’ inboxes once the new program takes effect.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Nineteen years ago, tragedy struck the Eckstein family when R’ Shlomo Tzvi Eckstein זצ״ל passed away, leaving behind eleven young children. Among them were his twin sons, Asher Anshel and Aharon Yosef, who were just six months old.

Their mother was left to raise eleven children on her own. Baruch Hashem, nine of the children have since married—and now, after nearly two decades, it is the twins’ turn to begin their own families.

Asher Anshel’s wedding will take place NEXT WEEK on August 24, 2026.

Aharon Yosef’s wedding will take place on October 26, 2026.

Two weddings. Just weeks apart.

As these two chashuve yesomim prepare to build their homes, the family and community are coming together to help make these simchos possible and allow both young men to begin married life with dignity and simcha.

We invite you to take part.

Every contribution, large or small, can make a real difference and help bring these two weddings to fruition.

Please donate today and help give these two yesomim the opportunity to enter their new lives with joy and dignity.

Donations can be made through the campaign. Donors’ Fund Tax ID: 11-3235771. Please make sure to designate the donation to the Eckstein account and write “Twin Weddings” in the memo.

May every person who helps bring simcha to these two yesomim be blessed with the fulfillment of the words:

אם אתה משמח את שלי אני משמח את שלך

Thank you for your generosity and support.

Tizku L’Mitzvos.

Please Donate today.

For the first time, a panel of experts has released clinical guidelines outlining how e-cigarettes can be used as a tool to help adult cigarette smokers quit.

The recommendations from a Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco panel say e-cigarettes should be considered alongside established smoking-cessation options, including nicotine replacement products and medications such as varenicline and bupropion. The guidance was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

While emphasizing that e-cigarettes carry health risks of their own, the authors concluded that vaping is less harmful than cigarette smoking and may be more effective at helping smokers quit than conventional nicotine replacement treatments.

“This work is about correcting misperceptions that act as barriers to evidence-based care for smokers and expanding the tools clinicians can use to support smoking cessation among their patients,” lead researcher Eleanor Leavens said in a news release. She is an assistant professor of population health at the University of Kansas.

“There is no single approach that will help all smokers quit, but by providing patients with a menu of options and engaging in a risk-benefit conversation, they have a better chance of quitting for good and improving their overall health,” Leavens said.

In their review of the available evidence, the researchers said smokers who switch to vaping can substantially reduce their exposure to dangerous chemicals and cancer-causing substances, with reductions reaching as high as 90% in some cases.

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved e-cigarettes as a smoking-cessation treatment, the researchers said there is high-certainty evidence linking their use with higher quit rates than nicotine replacement options such as patches, gum and nasal sprays.

“Unlike NRT (nicotine replacement therapy), e-cigarettes typically deliver nicotine rapidly and similarly to cigarettes,” the panel wrote in its paper. “Although such delivery poses a risk of greater dependence and long-term use relative to NRT, it may also contribute to e-cigarettes’ being more satisfying and a more effective substitute for cigarettes relative to NRT and contribute to a reduced risk of relapse.”

The panel said physicians counseling smokers should work with their patients to weigh the benefits and risks of the available approaches and determine which cessation method is most appropriate for each individual.

For patients who choose e-cigarettes as their method for quitting, the guidelines advise doctors to steer them toward FDA-authorized vaping products whose benefits have been determined to outweigh their risks. Patients should be encouraged to vape whenever they ordinarily would have smoked, transition completely away from cigarettes as rapidly as possible, and combine the effort with behavioral counseling to increase the likelihood of success.

“Behavioral support should focus on complete cessation of cigarettes and should include setting a quit date for cigarette use,” researchers wrote.

Once a smoker has completely stopped using cigarettes, the guidelines say physicians can consider advising the patient to gradually reduce nicotine exposure from vaping.

“The most important goal to keep in mind is maintaining complete abstinence from cigarettes,” the team wrote.

The recommendations were developed by the Harm Reduction Workgroup of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, an international nonprofit organization that does not accept tobacco-industry funding.

“Cigarette smoking causes about 30% of all cancer deaths in the United States and most people want to quit but struggle to do so,” Leavens said. “Adding clear guidance on e-cigarettes gives clinicians a practical tool that can help people move away from combustible tobacco and toward better health.”

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, seeking to force the Republican governor to extradite an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent accused of shooting a man in Minneapolis and then falsely describing what led to the incident.

Christian Castro, an ICE agent who has been jailed in Cameron County, Texas, since May 29, is charged in Minnesota with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime. The charges stem from a Jan. 14 shooting during Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s since-concluded immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities.

Minnesota prosecutors allege that Castro fired through the front door of a Minneapolis residence, striking Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg. The bullet ultimately became lodged in the wall of a child’s bedroom.

According to the criminal complaint, Castro subsequently told another officer that he had been attacked with a broomstick and snow shovel. Prosecutors contend that his account is contradicted by video footage, physical evidence and the testimony of four other witnesses.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz sent a formal extradition request to Abbott on June 2, seeking Castro’s return to Minnesota to face the charges.

Ellison’s lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Texas, argues that Abbott does not have the authority to simply refuse the request. The complaint points to the Supreme Court’s 1987 decision in Puerto Rico v. Branstad, which held that the Constitution’s Extradition Clause creates a mandatory duty for the governor of a state where a fugitive is located.

“This is not a legally discretionary task,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said.

In addition to seeking an order compelling Abbott to approve Castro’s extradition, Ellison is asking the court to temporarily prohibit Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Trevino from releasing the ICE agent.

Under Texas law, Castro can remain jailed for as long as 90 days while awaiting extradition. Once that period expires, he could be released, with Aug. 26 looming as a possible release date.

Ellison said during a news conference that authorities consider Castro a flight risk, particularly because he is being held close to the Mexican border. The lawsuit alleges that Castro has spoken from jail with a woman in Mexico about marrying her and purchasing a home there following his release.

The standoff marks a sharp break from the way Texas and Minnesota have handled extradition requests between the two states in the recent past.

According to Ellison’s office, Abbott approved Minnesota’s previous 11 extradition requests in an average of approximately 30 days, while Walz approved 21 requests from Texas in fewer than five days. Moriarty also said Abbott has signed three unrelated Minnesota extradition requests since Castro was taken into custody.

Abbott’s office told CBS Minnesota that it would not comment on pending extradition matters.

Texas Democratic Reps. Sylvia Garcia and Vicente Gonzalez have also called on Abbott to approve Castro’s transfer to Minnesota.

The lawsuit names Trevino alongside Abbott as a defendant and asks the federal court to compel the governor to sign the extradition warrant. Minnesota is also seeking attorneys’ fees and other costs associated with the case. Ellison warned Abbott in an Aug. 13 letter that legal action would follow unless the warrant was signed by 5 p.m. Monday. Abbott did not sign it.

Mexico is objecting to the Trump administration’s reported practice of deporting some Mexican citizens to Guatemala and Honduras rather than returning them directly to Mexico, saying Tuesday that it has never entered into an agreement permitting such removals.

CBS News reported that the Trump administration has quietly been transporting Mexican deportees to the two Central American countries. The report cited two Department of Homeland Security officials who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

According to the officials, one purpose of the policy is to discourage illegal immigration from Mexico by placing some deported Mexican nationals significantly farther from the U.S.-Mexico border.

One DHS official said the practice has been underway for several months and that hundreds of Mexican citizens have been deported to Guatemala and Honduras. The exact number of people affected remains unclear.

“The Government of Mexico accepts the return of all its nationals. It therefore rejects the deportation of Mexican nationals to third countries and has no such agreement in place,” Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement to CBS News. “Mexico consistently takes the steps necessary to ensure the safe and dignified return of all its nationals to national territory.”

The Trump administration has substantially increased its use of third-country deportations, in which migrants are removed to nations other than their countries of citizenship. According to CBS News, the approach has generally been used when a migrant’s home country, including Cuba, refuses or restricts deportation flights, or when an individual has legal protections preventing removal to his or her country of origin.

Mexico presents a different situation because it has traditionally accepted its citizens who are deported from the United States. The country has also received migrants from other Latin American nations who were removed by U.S. authorities.

“This is almost entirely punitive,” Adam Isacson, a researcher at the Washington Office on Latin America who studies regional migration patterns, told CBS News.

Isacson said sending Mexican migrants to Guatemala or Honduras creates an additional obstacle for anyone considering another attempt to enter the United States illegally, while simultaneously serving as a warning to other migrants.

“It’s the same as the purpose of sending them to Ecuador or Africa or anywhere else: to broadcast the hardship, to make sure people know that this is a possible consequence of remaining undocumented in the United States, and to encourage people to self-deport,” he explained.

Asked by Newsmax about the reported practice, both DHS and the White House defended President Trump’s overall deportation campaign but did not specifically answer questions concerning Mexican citizens being transported to third countries.

“The Trump Administration is utilizing all lawful options to carry out the largest deportation operation in history, just as President [Donald] Trump promised,” a DHS spokesperson told Newsmax.

A White House official offered a similar defense, telling Newsmax, “The Trump Administration is using all the tools in our toolbox to carry out the largest, lawful deportation operation of criminal illegal aliens in history.”

Neither the White House nor DHS explained why Mexican nationals would be deported to Guatemala or Honduras instead of Mexico, responded directly to the Mexican government’s objections, or clarified what legal or diplomatic arrangements allow the third-country removals.

Dear Matzav Inbox,

GroupMe, owned by Microsoft, has announced that it is shutting down its free SMS messaging service, a feature that has been available since GroupMe launched in 2010. Users who rely on SMS will receive a notice and have seven days before they lose access, although their chats will remain available through the GroupMe app.

For many people, the solution is simple: download the app. But for many frum Jews, it isn’t.

GroupMe’s SMS option has become an important tool for family, neighborhood, school, shul and community chats. Many frum Jews do not have smartphones, and many kosher phones cannot receive MMS messages, which are generally required for standard group texting. GroupMe provided a unique solution by allowing people with basic phones to participate in the same groups through ordinary SMS.

Ending this service means that many people who have deliberately chosen not to own smartphones will suddenly be excluded from groups they have participated in for years.

A Change.org petition has been created asking Microsoft and GroupMe to reconsider and continue supporting SMS messaging. It can be found at the GroupMe SMS petition or through the shortened petition link.

Hopefully, if enough people make their voices heard, GroupMe will recognize that while SMS may seem outdated to some, for many frum families it remains an essential way to stay connected.

A Matzav Reader

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email MatzavInbox@gmail.com

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The opinions expressed in letters on Matzav.com do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Matzav Media Network.

Dr. David Morens, a onetime senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci, pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to conspiring to evade federal transparency and records requirements by concealing communications involving COVID-19 research grants.

While working at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Morens deliberately conducted government-related business through a personal email account in an effort to avoid requirements under the Freedom of Information Act and the Federal Records Act.

Federal prosecutors said Morens concealed or destroyed communications concerning COVID-19 research funding, including discussions surrounding an attempt to restore a controversial coronavirus research grant.

According to his guilty plea, Morens and two unnamed co-conspirators communicated in writing about keeping their exchanges beyond the reach of public disclosure. They used Morens’ personal Gmail account instead of his official National Institutes of Health email address, including when sharing information from NIH that was not publicly available.

The plea agreement also states that one of the co-conspirators rewarded Morens with wine for his “behind-the-scenes shenanigans” and arranged to have the gift delivered to Morens’ home in Maryland.

Prosecutors said Morens subsequently discussed an official action he could take to “deserve” the gift. That action involved writing a scientific commentary for a prominent medical journal arguing that COVID-19 originated naturally.

According to the guilty plea, the same co-conspirator also suggested that Morens could receive additional benefits, including meals at Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris, New York and Washington, D.C.

The case has also drawn renewed attention to Fauci’s relationship with Morens. During a recent Senate hearing, Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination when questioned about his dealings with his onetime adviser.

Fauci had previously addressed Morens’ conduct during a House committee hearing in 2024, describing what Morens had done as “wrong” while maintaining that he had not been involved in those activities.

Morens could receive as much as five years behind bars. His sentencing is scheduled for November.

“Dr. Morens has taken responsibility for what he did and will continue to do so,” his defense attorney, Timothy Belevetz, said in a statement.

{Matzav.com}

Amazon is preparing for a dramatic expansion of its drone delivery network, with plans to bring the service to suburban communities across nearly 500 U.S. cities by the end of the year, potentially giving millions of additional customers access to packages delivered through the air.

The company says eligible orders could arrive at customers’ homes in as little as 30 minutes.

Amazon’s delivery drones are capable of transporting packages weighing up to five pounds.

The ambitious rollout is expected to further escalate Amazon’s competition with Walmart as the two retail giants race to offer increasingly rapid delivery options.

Both companies are building delivery networks that combine traditional drivers with drones to move customers’ purchases to their homes as quickly as possible.

Under Amazon’s new plans, its drone operation would grow to more than six times its current nationwide footprint. The expansion will reach hundreds of additional communities, including areas around Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland and Boise.

Flights will largely be concentrated in suburban neighborhoods, avoiding dense downtown areas, skyscrapers and major airports that can complicate drone operations.

Amazon says its drones have already transported hundreds of thousands of packages this year. Even with the planned expansion, however, drones will account for only a small portion of the hundreds of millions of packages the company delivers annually.

The technology also faces significant practical limitations. Beyond the five-pound weight restriction, trees, landscaping, backyard obstacles and even inflatable swimming pools can make it difficult for drones to identify suitable locations to safely lower packages.

Amazon must also navigate regulatory requirements in each community where it intends to establish drone operations.

Another potential obstacle is noise, particularly as the number of flights increases in residential neighborhoods.

“It’s still an experiment. It’s still in test and learn mode,” said Sucharita Kodali, a retail analyst with Forrester.

Kodali said some customers may initially try drone delivery simply for the novelty of seeing a package arrive from the sky. Whether consumers will regularly choose the service remains uncertain, she said, while Amazon continues working to determine whether the economics of widespread drone delivery make sense.

Amazon Prime members placing orders worth more than $50 will be able to use drone delivery at no additional charge. Prime customers with smaller orders will pay $2.99 for the service.

Customers without Prime memberships will be charged $4.99 for a drone delivery.

By comparison, Prime members generally receive standard deliveries for free, while nonmembers pay a flat delivery charge on standard shipments below $35 and can pay as much as $12.99 for same-day delivery where that option is offered.

Kodali said the technology may ultimately prove particularly valuable for lightweight products that customers need quickly, such as prescription medications.

Amazon is far from alone in exploring the possibilities. DoorDash and other delivery companies are also testing drones as a way to transport food and other merchandise directly to consumers.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told shareholders in his annual letter in April that the company has gained substantial experience from operating drones at 11 locations spread across Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas.

At each site, drones depart from an Amazon warehouse and can serve an area of roughly 175 square miles. That means multiple launch facilities are necessary to provide drone coverage throughout a major metropolitan region.

“Prime Air now has a design that’ll scale plans to serve communities with 30 million customers by year-end, and expects to deliver half a billion packages by the end of this decade (with an aim to deliver inside 30 minutes),” Jassy wrote.

At the same time, Amazon is continuing to pour resources into its conventional delivery infrastructure, including warehouses, smaller fulfillment facilities positioned closer to customers and its truck fleet, as it seeks to shrink delivery times from days to hours — or even minutes.

The company has already received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration and has secured waivers permitting its drones to operate beyond the visual line of sight of their pilots.

Amazon has also invested heavily in collision-avoidance and other safety technologies intended to enable its drones to detect and steer clear of aircraft and other potential hazards while making deliveries.

The federal government has proposed broader regulations that would make it easier for drone operators to conduct flights beyond a pilot’s direct line of sight, potentially opening the door to even greater use of delivery drones. Those rules, however, have not yet been finalized.

{Matzav.com}

The Justice Department announced Tuesday that 17 people connected to an Iran-based hacking operation have been charged in an extensive cyber campaign that allegedly targeted American universities, businesses and government agencies, with some of the attacks carried out for the benefit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York unsealed a 14-count superseding indictment against individuals affiliated with the Tehran-based Mabna Institute, accusing the group of orchestrating a years-long series of cyber intrusions.

According to the Justice Department, the Mabna Institute has been conducting coordinated hacking operations since at least 2013, penetrating computer networks belonging to 144 universities in the United States and another 178 universities abroad.

The alleged operation extended well beyond academia. Prosecutors said the hackers also targeted at least 42 American private-sector companies, 11 foreign companies, five U.S. federal and state government agencies and two nongovernmental organizations.

“Today’s charges, which include eight additional defendants, reveal the broader network allegedly behind a sweeping, state-sponsored campaign to steal research and intellectual property from American universities, businesses, and government institutions,” Jamie McDonald, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a news release.

“More than eight years after making the original indictment public, these charges make clear that the passage of time will not deter us from identifying and pursuing those who target the United States from abroad.

“Cyber operations have become a central instrument of national power, and attacks on American and allied institutions carry direct consequences for our security and economic strength.

“This office and our partners will continue to protect American innovation and pursue accountability for the individuals behind these attacks.”

Prosecutors said the hackers attempted to gain access to more than 100,000 professors’ accounts around the world. Approximately 8,000 email accounts belonging to professors at American and foreign universities were successfully compromised.

The operation allegedly resulted in the theft of approximately 31.5 terabytes of academic information and intellectual property. The stolen material included scholarly journals, theses, dissertations and electronic books.

Justice Department officials said members of the hacking group obtained stolen usernames and passwords and then used those credentials to enter university computer systems.

The stolen material was allegedly monetized through websites serving customers in Iran. One site sold academic documents, while another offered customers access to compromised professors’ accounts, enabling them to enter university library systems.

Federal prosecutors said at least part of the hacking campaign was undertaken to benefit the IRGC as well as other Iranian government and university clients.

Nine of the defendants had previously been charged under seal in a seven-count indictment filed in February 2018.

That original indictment was made public the following month.

The newly unsealed superseding indictment charges the defendants with varying combinations of conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, computer fraud involving unauthorized access for private financial gain, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

A conviction on either the computer-intrusion conspiracy charge or computer-fraud charge can carry a maximum prison term of five years. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and substantive wire fraud each carry potential maximum sentences of 20 years.

Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence.

The State Department’s Rewards for Justice program is also offering rewards of as much as $10 million for information that helps authorities locate five of the defendants: Behzad Mesri, Mojtaba Galekuhi, Arman Kahzadian, Keyvan Fayaz and Saber Shahbazi Ballojeh.

{Matzav.com}

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The United Arab Emirates announced Tuesday that it is immediately suspending all trade, commercial activity and financial transactions with Iran until further notice, a sweeping move that comes amid renewed tensions between the two countries and accusations that Tehran fired ballistic missiles toward Emirati territory.

Afra Al Hameli, director of the Strategic Communications Department at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the action was prompted by escalating developments in the region that Abu Dhabi believes pose a danger to peace and security both in the Middle East and around the world.

Despite the dramatic economic step, Al Hameli emphasized that the UAE continues to regard dialogue, cooperation and greater regional integration as crucial tools for achieving long-term stability, peace and prosperity. She added that the Emirates remains committed to safeguarding the international financial system, following international law and maintaining established global standards.

Abu Dhabi also said it intends to continue supporting efforts aimed at protecting financial stability throughout the region and internationally.

The decision came after the UAE Defense Ministry accused Iran of firing two ballistic missiles in the direction of the country, although officials said neither projectile ultimately struck Emirati land.

“UAE air defenses detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the country, with the first falling outside the country’s territorial waters, while the second fell within the territorial waters,” the ministry said in a social media post.

Tehran rejected the allegation that it was responsible for the launches. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei called the UAE’s claims “baseless” and cautioned that “false flag operations” could be involved.

The UAE was one of several countries across the region that came under Iranian attack following the outbreak of war between Iran, the United States and Israel in late February. Those Iranian strikes ended after a ceasefire was reached and the sides signed a framework agreement in mid-June aimed at bringing the conflict to an end.

The Wall Street Journal reported in May that the UAE had secretly participated in dozens of airstrikes against Iran during the fighting, coordinating the operations with the United States and Israel. According to the report, military installations and energy infrastructure were among the targets, and Emirati operations continued even after the ceasefire was announced.

The newspaper had earlier reported that UAE forces were directly involved in attacks against Iranian infrastructure. Among the strikes attributed to the Emirates was an operation targeting a major oil refinery on Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump announced Tuesday night that he was putting a planned 50% tariff on most Canadian imports on hold for three days, saying the United States and Canada had reached a tentative agreement and suggesting that the long-stalled Keystone XL pipeline could be revived as part of the breakthrough.

“I have paused the 50% Tariffs against Canada, that were scheduled to kick in tomorrow morning for a three day period,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, “based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!”

Trump then raised the possibility that the agreement could breathe new life into Keystone XL, the massive pipeline project that was abandoned after President Joe Biden revoked a key permit shortly after taking office in 2021.

“The great Keystone XL Pipeline, long ago killed by Sleepy Joe Biden, may be awoken from the grave!” Trump wrote.

The president followed that message by posting an AI-generated image depicting himself pulling a pipeline marked “Keystone” from the ground alongside a damaged tombstone bearing the words “Buried by Biden.”

Trump’s announcement came less than two hours before the 50% duties were scheduled to begin, averting an immediate escalation in the growing trade dispute between Washington and Ottawa. The decision followed a day of intensive discussions involving Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

First proposed in 2008, Keystone XL was designed to carry as much as 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day over roughly 1,200 miles from Alberta to Nebraska. From there, the oil would enter existing pipeline networks supplying refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The pipeline became a major political and environmental battle during the Obama administration and was eventually stalled amid strong opposition from environmental groups. Trump later moved to revive the project during his first term, but Biden revoked a critical cross-border permit in January 2021. TC Energy, the Calgary-based company behind the project, officially abandoned it several months later.

The tariffs that Trump has now temporarily suspended would cover approximately $20 billion in Canadian goods, representing roughly 5% of Canada’s annual exports to the United States. Products including wine, hockey sticks and cement were expected to face the new duties, while critical minerals, fish, potash and energy products were among those slated for exemptions.

Canadian officials had warned that Ottawa would respond to the new U.S. tariffs with additional levies on American products, threatening to intensify a trade confrontation between two countries that exchanged approximately $880 billion in goods and services last year.

Tensions have also been evident among Canadians. A petition calling for the removal of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, a Trump ally and onetime Michigan congressman, has accumulated nearly 218,000 signatures since July 21.

Carney had declined to publicly discuss details of the negotiations while the talks were underway.

″We are negotiating,” Carney told reporters Monday, speaking in French. “The negotiations are very intense and delicate. This is not the time to talk about negotiations in public.”

Trump first unveiled the 50% tariffs last month, shortly after he was seen speaking with Carney during the World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina. The president invoked Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 as the legal basis for the duties.

The Depression-era provision gives a president authority to impose tariffs of as much as 50% on goods originating in countries deemed to have discriminated against American businesses. The broader tariff law enacted during that period has long been criticized by economists who contend that protectionist trade measures helped deepen the worldwide economic downturn.

Trump has argued that Canadian trade policies unfairly disadvantage American products, specifically pointing to automobiles, alcoholic beverages and cheese.

Canada, along with China, was one of only two countries to impose retaliatory tariffs against the United States following Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff measures last year.

The three-day reprieve now gives Washington and Ottawa additional time to finalize the documents behind the agreement Trump announced Tuesday night, with the president’s remarks raising the prospect that a revived Keystone XL project could become a major component of a broader U.S.-Canada trade deal.

{Matzav.com}

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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Sarah Rochel Yisroelson a”h, a daughter of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l and the widow of Rav Yosef Yisroel Yisroelson zt”l. She passed away overnight at Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak. She was 93.

Just last Wednesday, Rebbetzin Yisroelson participated in the engagement celebration of her youngest grandchild. The following day, she collapsed, and her condition subsequently deteriorated, requiring hospitalization. Her many descendants gathered near her room to recite Tehillim, and during the night she passed away.

Rebbetzin Yisroelson was born in Yerushalayim on 3 Teves 5693 to her father, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l, the renowned posek hador, and her mother, Rebbetzin Sheina Chaya a”h, a daughter of Rav Aryeh Levin zt”l.

She was raised in a home permeated with Torah and witnessed firsthand the extraordinary mesirus nefesh of her parents for Torah despite difficult circumstances.

Upon reaching marriageable age, she married Rav Yosef Yisroel Yisroelson zt”l, who served as rosh kollel of Kollel Bar Shaul in Rechovot and authored the sefer Kitzurei Halachos. He was known as an exceptional talmid chochom who lived quietly and avoided public recognition.

Together, Rebbetzin Yisroelson and her husband established a home founded upon Torah and yiras Shomayim. She devoted herself to supporting her husband and enabling him to dedicate himself to his learning.

For decades, the Yisroelsons lived at 5 Chazon Ish Street in Bnei Brak, where their neighbors included Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l and Rav Yitzchok Grodzensky zt”l.

Rebbetzin Yisroelson was deeply devoted to her father and would travel from Bnei Brak to his home twice each week to take care of his household needs. She would arrive at approximately 11:30 a.m. and remain until 7 p.m. When her work was finished, she would approach her father before returning to Bnei Brak and wish him “a gute nacht.” Rav Elyashiv would respond warmly, thanking her for everything she had done and blessing her that she merit success, bracha and nachas from all her descendants.

During the final years of Rav Elyashiv’s life, his extraordinary hasmadah intensified even further, to the point that he was reluctant to interrupt his learning for virtually anything. During that period, even when his daughter came to say goodbye before leaving, Rav Elyashiv would simply nod his head toward her rather than interrupt his learning.

Someone once asked Rebbetzin Yisroelson whether she was hurt that her father merely nodded to her while giving warm brachos to the many others who came to see him.

She replied: “My father warmly blesses everyone who comes to his home because he knows that they need it. But he knows me and knows that I am happy with every second that he learns, and therefore I prefer to forgo his farewell blessing as long as I do not interrupt his learning or take away from his precious moments.”

During her lifetime, Rebbetzin Yisroelson sat shivah for four of her sisters: Rebbetzin Batsheva Esther Kanievsky a”h, Rebbetzin Leah Auerbach a”h, Rebbetzin Dina Ettel Berlin a”h and Rebbetzin Shoshana Zilberstein a”h. She also mourned the passing of her brothers, Rav Shlomo Elyashiv zt”l and Rav Avrohom Elyashiv zt”l.

She is survived by her sons, Rav Dov Yisroelson, a distinguished talmid chochom; Rav Avrohom Tzvi Yisroelson, rov of Chanichei Rabbeinu Chaim Ozer; Rav Shlomo Yisroelson, an educational supervisor at Talmud Torah Avi Ezri-Halichos Shmuel; and Rav Lipa Yisroelson, publisher of the seforim of Rav Elyashiv, among others. She is also survived by her son-in-law, Rav Dovid Sofer, rov of the Alfei Menashe kehillah in Bnei Brak.

She is also survived by her brothers, Rav Moshe Elyashiv and Rav Binyomin Dovid Elyashiv, and her sister, Rebbetzin Rimer.

Yehi zichrah baruch.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that an attack on a Jewish woman wearing an Israeli flag may constitute racial discrimination, allowing most of her lawsuit to proceed toward trial.

Kimmara Sumrall accused Janine Ali, 74, of approaching her from behind during a demonstration at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., in November 2024 and pulling the Israeli flag tied around her neck, briefly choking her.

Mark Goldfeder, director of National Jewish Advocacy Center, which is representing Sumrall, told JNS that “today, the court denied the motion to dismiss, which means the case is going forward.”

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden rejected Ali’s argument that the flag did not represent Jewish identity. “Sumrall supports Israel as an expression of her Jewish identity,” he wrote in the ruling.

“The Star of David, emblazoned upon the Israeli flag, symbolizes the Jewish race,” he wrote. “Battery, particularly involving a racial symbol, is strong evidence of racial discrimination.”

McFadden added that “it is quite a stretch to say that yanking on a flag tied around someone’s neck is an objection to state policies; battery is not a legitimate form of protest.”

Goldfeder called the ruling a “massive win.”

“The ‘it’s just anti-Zionism not antisemitism’ excuse has now been raised, briefed and rejected,” Goldfeder said. “On the record. Every defendant who reaches for that excuse will now find this opinion waiting.”

According to the filing, Sumrall had previously witnessed Ali, at other demonstrations, calling Jews “baby killer” and accusing Jews of “committing genocide” and being “disgusting ex-IDF soldiers.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Pro-Israel candidates from both parties scored major victories across Florida on Tuesday, with Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds, Republican Rep. Randy Fine and Democratic Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jared Moskowitz all defeating opponents who had made hostility toward Israel a prominent part of their campaigns.

Donalds easily captured the Republican nomination for governor, positioning himself to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis while dealing a decisive defeat to James Fishback, whose campaign drew attention for its outreach to the “groyper” movement associated with Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes.

With 87% of ballots counted, Donalds had received 762,364 votes, or 48.3%, while Lt. Gov. Jay Collins was a distant second with 393,248 votes, or 24.9%. Fishback finished third with 163,261 votes, or 10.4%.

The Associated Press called the Republican gubernatorial contest for Donalds roughly an hour after polls closed.

Fishback has denied harboring hostility toward Jews, but his campaign was heavily focused on opposition to Israel and was also marked by repeated racial jabs at Donalds, who is black.

Among other proposals, Fishback promised to remove Florida state investments from Israel and signed a “contract with Florida” pledging not to accept money from the pro-Israel group AIPAC. He also referred to food served at the University of Central Florida as “goyslop” and repeatedly called Donalds “By’rone,” apparently seeking to make his first name sound more stereotypically black.

Donalds, by contrast, has been an outspoken supporter of Israel and has previously characterized the Jewish state as the United States’ closest ally in the Middle East.

The Republican congressman will now advance to the November general election, where he will face David Jolly, a onetime Republican congressman who secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Republicans also rejected an explicitly antisemitic challenge to Jewish Rep. Randy Fine, who comfortably retained the GOP nomination for his House seat against social media personality Dan Bilzerian.

With 87% of ballots counted, Fine had 42,898 votes, or 56.8%, compared with Bilzerian’s 13,816 votes, or 18.3%.

Bilzerian, who has approximately 29 million Instagram followers and has previously denied the Holocaust, made antisemitic rhetoric a central feature of his campaign.

Days before the primary, Bilzerian posted an AI-generated video asking “should we revisit that Austrian painter’s opinions” alongside an image of Adolf Hitler. The video also depicted Fine wearing a yarmulke while horns appeared to grow from his head.

The video prompted widespread condemnation from Republicans, Democrats and Jewish organizations.

The Republican Jewish Coalition celebrated the results, praising Fine for defeating a “neo-Nazi” and Donalds for overcoming “one of the most openly bigoted campaigns in recent memory.”

“James Fishback spent this race trafficking in vile racism and antisemitic filth,” stated Matt Brooks, CEO of the coalition. “He peddled antisemitic conspiracy tropes to his supporters while courting the endorsement and praise of white nationalist Nick Fuentes.”

“Dan Bilzerian did not merely flirt with antisemitism. He made Jew-hatred the entire premise of his campaign,” Brooks said. “Tonight, the Republican voters of Florida’s 6th District stood up to this fanatic and buried Bilzerian’s hateful campaign in the dustbin of history where it belongs.”

On the Democratic side, two prominent Jewish and pro-Israel members of Congress also survived challenges from candidates who have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jared Moskowitz each won their respective Democratic House primaries despite major changes to Florida’s congressional map resulting from Republican-led mid-decade redistricting.

The new boundaries prompted Moskowitz to seek reelection in the 25th Congressional District, which had previously been represented by Wasserman Schultz. She instead moved to the predominantly black 20th Congressional District, a seat left vacant when Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned in April after being federally indicted on fraud charges.

Despite leaving Congress, Cherfilus-McCormick remained a candidate in the Democratic primary. Wasserman Schultz also faced former Broward County Mayor Dale V.C. Holness; Elijah Manley, a self-described democratic socialist and convert to Judaism; and Luther Campbell, the rapper best known for leading the 1980s hip-hop group 2 Live Crew.

All four of Wasserman Schultz’s primary opponents are black.

With 99% of ballots counted, Wasserman Schultz led the field with 29,759 votes, or 45.6%. Holness finished second with 14,985 votes, or 22.9%, followed by Manley with 9,059 votes, or 13.9%. Cherfilus-McCormick received 5,997 votes, or 9.2%, while Campbell finished with 5,520 votes, or 8.4%.

Moskowitz, meanwhile, faced Oliver Larkin in the Democratic primary for the 25th District. Larkin was the only Florida candidate to receive the endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America.

With 91% of ballots counted, Moskowitz held a commanding advantage with 27,584 votes, or 63.5%, compared with Larkin’s 15,867 votes, or 36.5%.

Republicans also held a competitive primary for the 25th District. With 91% of those ballots tabulated, Scott Singer led with 11,603 votes, or 31.3%, while George R. Moraitis was second with 10,162 votes, or 27.4%.

The November outlook differs significantly for Florida’s two Jewish Democratic incumbents. The Cook Political Report currently considers Moskowitz’s newly configured 25th District a toss-up, potentially setting up a closely fought general-election contest, while Wasserman Schultz’s 20th District is rated solidly Democratic.

{Matzav.com}

Conor Kennedy, the son of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been placed on Russia’s international wanted list over his decision to fight alongside Ukrainian forces following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to reports.

Moscow’s Basmanny District Court authorized Kennedy’s “arrest in absentia,” accusing the 32-year-old of serving as a mercenary with Ukraine’s armed forces, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

If apprehended and convicted in Russia, Kennedy could face a prison sentence of between seven and 10 years, the Russian outlet reported.

Kennedy disclosed in October 2022 that he had secretly traveled to Ukraine and enlisted with the country’s International Legion, joining fighters on the front lines against Russian forces. He said at the time that he had kept the decision almost entirely secret, revealing his whereabouts to only one person back home.

“Like many people, I was deeply moved by what I saw happening in Ukraine over the past year. I wanted to help. When I heard about Ukraine’s International Legion, I knew I was going, and I went to the embassy to enlist the next day,” he wrote in an Instagram post.

Kennedy explained that he deliberately concealed his identity and plans from almost everyone around him.

“I told one person here where I was, and I told one person there my real name. I didn’t want my family or friends to worry, and I didn’t want to be treated differently there.”

The third child of RFK Jr. acknowledged that he arrived in Ukraine without a military background and “wasn’t a great shot,” but said he could handle physically demanding tasks and “learned fast.”

“I was also willing to die there,” the Kennedy scion wrote. “So they soon agreed to send me to the northeastern front.”

Kennedy even kept the enlistment secret from his father and his stepmother, actress Cheryl Hines. Rather than tell them that he was heading to Ukraine, he informed his family that he had decided not to take a planned position at a Los Angeles law firm that summer.

The grandson of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy reportedly asked his parents not to press him about where he was going, telling them only that he intended to pursue something he strongly believed in.

“We asked him when he was starting [the job at the law firm],” RFK Jr. previously told People.

“He had a good job and we were looking forward to having him stay with us. And he told us that he had given notice to the law firm and he was doing something else instead.”

His family eventually began suspecting that something unusual was happening when charges from Poland and Ukraine started appearing on his credit card statements, according to the report.

“When he got back, I kind of expressed some — I don’t know — whether it’s anger or whatever,” RFK Jr. said.

“He said to me, when he heard maybe a little bit of anger and concern, ‘Dad, this is what you taught me to do: to stand up for what I believe in.’ And I was like ‘okay.’ ”

“I’m very proud of this. Of my son,” the Trump administration Cabinet secretary added.

RFK Jr. said he and his son did not share the same perspective on the conflict, but he respected Conor’s willingness to personally act on the position he had advocated.

“And I knew his views about the war were not aligned with mine. Although he’s not naive at all about it. … He’d been arguing vociferously for the U.S. intervention and he didn’t want to be one of these people supporting a war and sitting on the sideline.”

After spending approximately two and a half months serving on the front lines in Ukraine, Kennedy returned to the United States and resumed his legal studies at Georgetown University.

Kennedy, who previously had a brief relationship with Taylor Swift and married Brazilian singer-songwriter Giulia Be earlier this year, is currently listed as an associate attorney at the Los Angeles office of Wisner Baum.

Kennedy is not the only foreign national whom Moscow has sought over alleged involvement in Ukraine’s military. Other foreign volunteers placed on Russia’s wanted list reportedly include 37-year-old American citizen Ingram Asbill Tracy James and British citizen Shorney Joseph Richard Ryan.

{Matzav.com}