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President Donald Trump announced Friday that Vice President J.D. Vance will take the lead in combating fraud across the United States, declaring he will now serve as the administration’s “fraud czar.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said fraud in the U.S. “is massive and pervasive” and emphasized that Vance’s new responsibilities would play a key role in shaping the country’s future. He added that “the job he will be doing, in conjunction with many great people within the Trump Administration, will be a major factor in how great the future of our Country will be.”

“We will call him the ‘FRAUD CZAR,’” Trump continued, “and his focus will be ‘EVERYWHERE,’ but primarily in those Blue States where CROOKED DEMOCRAT POLITICIANS, like those in California, Illinois, Minnesota (Somalia beware!), Maine, New York, and many others, have had a ‘free for all’ in the unprecedented theft of Taxpayer Money. The numbers are so large that, if successful, we would literally be able to balance our American Budget.” The President did not offer evidence for these assertions.

The vice president’s office pointed to an Executive Order signed by Trump on March 16 that created a federal anti-fraud task force aimed at coordinating efforts to combat misuse of government funds. The order states that the group will “coordinate and accelerate a comprehensive national strategy to stop fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs, including programs administered jointly with State, local, tribal, and territorial partners,” and names Vance as its chairman.

Vance convened the task force for the first time last week in a closed-door meeting. Ahead of the session, he indicated that tackling fraud would require coordination across multiple levels of government, describing it as a “a whole-government approach.”

“This is not just the theft of the American people’s money,” Vance said, according to The Associated Press. “It is also the theft of critical services that the American people rely on.”

Addressing fraud has become a central pillar of Trump’s second-term agenda, with the administration focusing particular attention on certain states. Minnesota has been a repeated target, with federal childcare funding frozen and more than $250 million in Medicaid funds temporarily suspended amid allegations of misuse. Trump has also cited those claims in defending stepped-up immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis.

California has also been a major focus. In his Friday post, Trump stated that “raids have already started in L.A.” A day earlier, federal authorities announced the arrest of eight individuals accused of involvement in healthcare fraud schemes in and around Los Angeles. That same day, the White House’s rapid response account on X highlighted that Vance’s task force had suspended more than 200 hospice and healthcare providers in the state.

Officials in both Minnesota and California have pushed back, saying their governments have long worked to combat fraud. They also pointed to past pardons issued by Trump to individuals convicted of fraud-related offenses.

Earlier this year, Vance revealed plans to create a new Justice Department position focused specifically on fraud investigations, reporting directly to him and the president. Weeks later, Trump selected Colin McDonald for the role of Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement. McDonald was officially sworn in on Wednesday by Vance.

A growing number of international airlines have extended or expanded cancellations of flights to and from Israel as the security situation continues to deteriorate, with some carriers suspending service for months and others postponing a return indefinitely.

Dozens of airlines have announced updated timelines since the outbreak of the war, citing safety concerns. United Airlines has halted its U.S.–Tel Aviv route through September 7, according to a report by Ynet.

Air Canada has likewise extended its suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv until September 7. Delta Air Lines announced it will not resume service to Tel Aviv until at least September 5, and has also postponed the launch of its planned Boston route indefinitely.

The Lufthansa Group said its airlines—including Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines—will suspend flights to Tel Aviv through May 31. Eurowings and Lufthansa Cargo have extended their suspensions until April 30.

Low-cost carrier Wizz Air said it will not operate flights to Israel through April 20. Greece’s Aegean Airlines has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until April 30, while British Airways has canceled its service through May 31. Flydubai has also pushed its suspension through the end of April.

Italy’s ITA Airways announced it will not resume flights until April 10. Iberia Express, part of the IAG group, has canceled all Tel Aviv flights through late March.

LOT Polish Airlines confirmed all flights to Tel Aviv are canceled through May 31. Air Baltic has also suspended flights through the same date. Spain’s Air Europa has halted service until May 3, while Greece’s Sky Express suspended flights through March 31.

Air France has canceled flights to Tel Aviv through April 19, and KLM has suspended operations until late March. Romania’s Animawings has also canceled flights through March 31.

Additional cancellations include Flydubai flights through late March, Air India through March 31, and Ethiopian Airlines through April 16. Norwegian Air has delayed its planned return to Israel until June 15, according to Ynet.

Etihad Airways has suspended flights until April 16, while Air Seychelles has canceled service through April 30. TAP Air Portugal has halted flights until May 1. EasyJet has announced it will not operate flights to Tel Aviv at all during the upcoming summer season.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump unveiled a proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027 on Friday, marking one of the largest military spending requests in decades and underscoring his focus on strengthening U.S. armed forces.

The major increase in Pentagon funding had been signaled even before the U.S.-led war with Iran began. At the same time, the proposal calls for a 10% reduction in non-defense spending, with certain responsibilities shifted to state and local governments.

“President Trump promised to reinvest in America’s national security infrastructure, to make sure our nation is safe in a dangerous world,” wrote Budget Director Russell Vought.

The president’s budget blueprint reflects policy priorities but does not carry legal authority. While it outlines the administration’s goals, Congress ultimately controls federal spending decisions and frequently modifies or rejects such proposals.

The White House plan is meant to serve as a guide for lawmakers as they craft appropriations bills to fund the government. Vought discussed the proposal with House Republicans during a private call on Thursday.

Ahead of a national address on the Iran war, Trump emphasized that military readiness remains his top concern, setting the stage for a likely clash with lawmakers over spending priorities.

“We’re fighting wars. We can’t take care of day care,” Trump said at a private White House event Wednesday.

“It’s not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare — all these individual things,” he said. “They can do it on a state basis. You can’t do it on a federal.”

The proposal includes a series of key funding initiatives and cuts.

Among them, the administration seeks to bolster immigration enforcement by eliminating refugee resettlement funding, maintaining current levels for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and expanding detention capacity using prior increases in Department of Homeland Security funding, including space for 100,000 adults and 30,000 families.

The plan also calls for a 13% funding boost for the Department of Justice to target violent crime and what the administration describes as migrant-related offenses.

Another provision includes a $10 billion allocation within the National Park Service for “construction and beautification” projects in Washington, D.C.

The budget would increase funding for aviation safety by $481 million to support hiring more air traffic controllers.

It also proposes canceling more than $15 billion in funding from a previous bipartisan infrastructure law, including money for renewable energy programs, and reducing support for environmental justice initiatives and climate-related grants through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The plan includes a 19% cut to the Department of Agriculture, reductions to certain university grants, a 13% decrease for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and roughly a 12% cut to the Department of Health and Human Services, including reductions to programs that assist low-income households with heating costs.

The White House framed many of the cuts as targeting programs that direct federal resources to low-income communities.

For instance, the proposal would eliminate Community Services Block Grants, which fund programs such as job training, financial counseling, and housing assistance. The administration said these funds have been “hijacked by radicals” to promote equity initiatives and green energy policies.

The plan also seeks to cut $106 million from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which it claims has “pushed radical gender ideology onto children.”

Republican leaders in Congress praised the proposed increase in military spending, arguing it is necessary to maintain U.S. global military superiority amid rising threats.

“America is facing the most dangerous global environment since World War II,” said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala.

Democrats, however, sharply criticized the proposal, warning that it prioritizes defense while slashing essential domestic programs.

“This budget represents ‘America Last,’” Boyle said.

The proposal comes as the federal government continues to run annual deficits approaching $2 trillion, with total national debt exceeding $39 trillion.

Roughly two-thirds of the government’s estimated $7 trillion annual spending goes toward entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which continue to grow due to demographic trends.

The remaining portion of the budget is typically divided between defense and domestic programs, each receiving close to $1 trillion, making them the central battleground in congressional budget debates.

Trump’s broader fiscal agenda has also been shaped by last year’s major tax and spending package, which included at least $150 billion for defense over several years and $170 billion for immigration enforcement efforts through the Department of Homeland Security.

The administration is relying on Republican majorities in Congress to advance its spending priorities, particularly defense funding, as it did previously.

The proposal outlines that $1.1 trillion of defense spending would go through the standard appropriations process, requiring bipartisan support, while $350 billion would be passed through budget reconciliation, allowing Republicans to approve it with a simple majority.

The release of the budget comes as lawmakers remain deadlocked over current funding levels and Department of Homeland Security appropriations, with Democrats pushing for changes to immigration enforcement policies that Republicans oppose.

Amid the ongoing stalemate, Trump announced Thursday that he would sign an executive order to ensure that Department of Homeland Security employees who have gone unpaid during the prolonged partial government shutdown—now in its 49th day—receive their salaries.

In his first budget after returning to office last year, Trump sought sweeping reductions in federal spending, aligned with efforts led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to shrink the size of government.

However, despite aiming for a significant reduction in non-defense spending, Congress ultimately kept those expenditures largely unchanged.

Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, strongly criticized the latest proposal.

“Trump wants to build a ballroom—I want to build more affordable housing, and only one of us sits on the Appropriations Committee,” Murray said.

New York City is seeing a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents even as overall crime, including murders, has dropped to historic lows, according to new data released Thursday by the NYPD.

Through the first three months of the year, 54 homicides were recorded across the five boroughs—the lowest figure since record-keeping began in the early 1990s and below the previous first-quarter low of 60 set in 2018, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said while presenting the latest crime statistics.

“Citywide, major crime dropped with over 1,400 fewer reported crimes compared to 2025, murders and shootings reached their lowest levels ever recorded for a first quarter, and our public housing developments had the safest start to the year for gun violence in history,” Tisch said.

“These results are driven by our precision policing strategy to go after guns, take down violent gangs, and put officers on foot posts where they are needed most,” she added.

Despite those gains, hate crimes rose sharply. Confirmed incidents increased from 128 in the first quarter of 2025 to 143 during the same period this year, marking an 11.7% jump. Of those, 78 were classified as anti-Jewish incidents, accounting for 55% of all reported hate crimes.

The largest percentage increase was seen in anti-Muslim incidents, which rose to 12 cases this year compared to just five during the same timeframe last year, a 140% increase.

“The hate crimes that we are seeing really vary across the board,” Tisch told reporters Thursday. “It could be something an act of violence. It could be drawing a symbol on a wall, like, for example, a swastika.”

Tisch also said the department is changing how it reports such incidents, introducing separate categories for reported hate crimes and those confirmed through investigation.

“What I can tell you is that the NYPD has released this month the gold standard for data about hate crimes,” Tisch said. “We’ve done this in consultation with experts in the field, and that is data about reported crimes and data about confirmed crimes.”

Elsewhere in the report, officials noted an increase in reported rapes, with 523 cases this year compared to 475 last year. Tisch attributed part of the rise to a 2024 change in state law that broadened the legal definition of rape.

Overall major crime across the city declined by 5.3% in the first quarter of 2026, with 25,582 incidents reported compared to 27,003 during the same period last year.

Tisch said subway crime saw an early spike at the start of the year but later stabilized.

“I believe in January and February, we did see an uptick in crime on our subways,” she said. “I believe a significant portion of that was related to adjustments that we made in our ejection strategy based on the Code Blue, based on the cold temperatures that we are seeing.

“We ended the quarter down, actually 1% in subway crime,” she added. “So we had a very good month of March. We basically brought crime fall in all categories in transit, and again, once the weather normalizes and we can go back to our normal ejection strategy in transit.

“We also added 150 officers to transit at the end of February, and those officers, I think, also made it.”

Crime in public housing also declined, dropping 7.2% so far this year.

The data further showed a 28% drop in murders, nearly a 21% decline in burglaries, and reductions in grand larceny, robberies, auto theft, and retail theft—including an 18.2% decrease in the Bronx.

“The stories of these numbers in aggregate is one of remarkable progress,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Thursday. “They speak to an NYPD using every lever at its disposal to deliver a safer New York City to all who call it home.”

A man in his 70s collapsed after choking on matzah at a hotel in Tiveriah, suffering cardiac and respiratory arrest before emergency responders successfully revived him.

The incident occurred overnight between Thursday and Friday, when Hatzalah volunteers were dispatched to the hotel following reports of a man choking. Together with Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics and medics, the responders performed advanced resuscitation efforts on the man, who was found without a pulse and not breathing. After his heart was restored, he was transported for further treatment to Poriya Medical Center in northern Israel.

Hatzalah medics Yochanan Shapira and Metanel Etzel described the scene: “When we arrived at the scene with an MDA ambulance, we found a man approximately 70 years old unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing, after choking while eating matzah. Together with MDA paramedics and medics, we performed advanced resuscitation efforts which included removing the food, chest compressions, providing respiratory assistance, and administering an electric shock, and after, b’chasdei Shamayim, his heart resumed beating, he was evacuated for further treatment at Poriya Medical Center.”

Recent U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that Iran is not expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in the near future, as control over the critical global oil route remains its most powerful point of pressure against the United States, according to three individuals familiar with the findings.

The analysis suggests Tehran may continue restricting access through the strait to keep energy prices elevated, using that pressure to push President Donald Trump toward ending the nearly five-week-long conflict.

The intelligence also underscores a broader concern: rather than weakening Iran, the ongoing war may be enhancing its regional influence by demonstrating its ability to threaten one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

Trump, however, has publicly minimized the difficulty of reopening the strait, through which roughly 20% of global oil supply passes. On Friday, he suggested U.S. forces could take action to restore access.

“With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE,” he posted on his Truth Social platform.

Military and policy experts have cautioned that any attempt to forcefully reopen the strait could come at a steep cost, potentially dragging the United States into an extended ground conflict, given Iran’s strategic position along one side of the narrow waterway.

“In the attempt to try to prevent Iran from developing a weapon of mass destruction, the U.S. handed Iran a weapon of mass disruption,” said Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, a conflict-prevention organization.

Vaez added that Iran recognizes the strategic advantage it now holds, noting that its control over global energy flows through the strait “is much more potent than even a nuclear weapon.”

Trump’s messaging on how to address the situation has varied. At times, he has made reopening the strait a condition for a ceasefire, while also suggesting that Gulf nations and NATO partners should take the lead in ensuring maritime access.

A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump is “confident that the strait will be open very soon” and has made clear that Iran will not be permitted to dictate traffic through the passage once the war ends.

At the same time, the official noted that Trump has emphasized that other countries “have far more at stake in preventing this outcome” than the United States.

Since the conflict began on Feb. 28, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has employed a range of tactics to disrupt commercial shipping through the strait, despite being outmatched militarily.

These measures have included attacks on civilian vessels, the deployment of naval mines, and demands for transit fees, effectively choking off passage and driving global oil prices sharply higher, while also triggering fuel shortages in countries dependent on Gulf energy supplies.

The spike in energy costs carries potential political consequences in the United States, raising inflation concerns as Trump and Republican candidates prepare for the upcoming November midterm elections.

According to the intelligence findings, Iran is unlikely to relinquish this strategic advantage anytime soon, the sources said, declining to specify which agencies produced the reports.

“It is certainly the case that now that Iran has tasted its power and leverage over the strait, it won’t soon give it up,” said one of the sources. All three spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the information.

Experts warn that any military effort to reopen the strait would be fraught with danger. The narrow waterway, which separates Iran from Oman, is just 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, with shipping lanes only about 2 miles wide in each direction—making vessels and military forces highly vulnerable.

Even if U.S. forces were to seize territory along Iran’s southern coast or nearby islands, analysts say the IRGC could continue to threaten the strait using drones and missiles launched from deeper within Iranian territory.

“All it takes to disrupt traffic and deter vessels from passing through is one or two drones,” said Vaez.

Some analysts believe Iran will seek to maintain its ability to regulate traffic through the strait even after the war, viewing it as a critical tool for rebuilding its economy, potentially by charging commercial vessels transit fees.

Tehran “is going to look to maintain the leverage that they have rediscovered by disrupting traffic” through the strait, former CIA Director Bill Burns said in a Foreign Affairs magazine podcast on Thursday.

Burns said Iran is likely to use its control over the waterway as leverage in future negotiations with the United States, aiming to secure “long-term deterrence and security guarantees” while also extracting “some direct material benefits” such as passage fees to support post-war reconstruction.

“That,” he said, “sets up a really difficult negotiation right now.”

Israeli forces launched airstrikes on Saturday targeting Iran’s Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex in Khuzestan Province, striking critical infrastructure and bringing production at one of the country’s largest industrial sites to a standstill, according to Iranian officials and reports.

The strikes hit the massive facility near Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini, focusing specifically on two central utility units—Fajr 1 and Fajr 2—which provide electricity, gas, and industrial water to more than 50 petrochemical plants operating within the complex. According to The New York Times, two senior officials from Iran’s oil ministry confirmed that the attack forced a complete shutdown of operations across the entire site.

Hamed Shams, who oversees marketing and communications for the petrochemical sector within Iran’s oil ministry, wrote on social media that the damaged infrastructure supplies power to the surrounding plants and, in the summer, “plays a key role in providing electricity to 500,000″ people in Khuzestan Province.

Iranian authorities described the Bandar Imam facility as a cornerstone of the country’s petrochemical industry, with an annual output of 72 million tons. The complex supports a large portion of the local population—estimated at around 300,000 residents—and produces essential materials including polymers, chemicals, and inputs used in plastics, textiles, fertilizers, and medical equipment.

Two senior figures in the oil ministry said the shutdown represents a devastating economic setback for Iran, whose economy is already under strain. They estimated it could take roughly two years to rebuild the damaged utility systems and restore the facility to full capacity.

Khuzestan Province Governor Seyed Mohammadreza Mavalizadeh visited the site following the attack and told Iranian media that emergency responders and firefighting teams arrived quickly. According to his office, the strikes left five people dead and 170 others wounded. Footage circulating on social media showed heavy smoke and flames billowing from within the complex.

Mavalizadeh added that additional Israeli strikes hit other facilities in the area, including the Razi, Karoun, and Bandar Imam petrochemical plants. Iranian state television reported that the entire complex was evacuated after the bombardment.

“Attacking Mahshahr’s petrochemical plants means attacking the heart of Iran, the vital arteries of Iran’s economy,” Mehdi Bostanchi, who heads a private industrial complex and represents a group of Iranian industrial leaders, said in a social media post.

Petrochemical exports make up roughly a quarter of Iran’s total exports to about 60 countries, generating between $10 billion and $15 billion annually and serving as a major revenue stream as the country works to lessen its reliance on crude oil.

The strike is part of a broader escalation involving Israeli and American attacks on Iranian infrastructure in recent days, which have also targeted steel production facilities, pharmaceutical and research centers, as well as key transportation hubs including airports and seaports.

Astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission reported detecting a strange burning odor coming from the spacecraft’s advanced $23 million toilet system, which had already experienced issues shortly after launch.

“Regarding the smell, I just wanted to make sure you all were tracking the EGS notes of the kind of burning heater smell that was coming from toilet several times,” astronaut Chrisna Koch, who repaired the system on Thursday, radioed to mission control on Saturday, Space.com reported.

Koch added that the source of the odor could not be definitively determined, explaining, “It was never identified as the source, what it exactly was, but it was identified as an unknown smell,” Koch said.

According to the crew, the odor resembled that of an old electric heater being used after sitting idle for a long period, the report noted.

NASA engineers on the ground initially theorized that the smell might be linked to orange insulation located on the hygiene bay door of the toilet system.

Despite the unusual issue, mission control approved continued use of the restroom and indicated there were no “major concerns” related to the odor, according to Space.com.

The latest development follows an earlier malfunction shortly after liftoff on April 1, when the urine hose in the spacecraft’s Upper Waste Management System failed but was quickly repaired by Koch the next day.

A fourth individual has been taken into custody in connection with last week’s arson attack on ambulances belonging to Hatzolah in north London, according to the Crown Prosecution Service, as reported by the BBC.

Prosecutors told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that the suspect was apprehended this morning at the courthouse itself, where police were seen escorting a man out of the building. Authorities indicated that four people were involved in carrying out the attack.

Earlier that same day, three suspects already charged in the case appeared before the court and were ordered held in custody.

Those charged include two British men, ages 20 and 19, along with a 17-year-old who holds dual British-Pakistani citizenship.

All three face charges of arson with intent to damage property, along with recklessness regarding whether lives could have been put at risk.

The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that a 19-year-old man, previously identified by officers, was arrested at the courthouse on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and has been taken into custody.

The attack occurred in the early hours of March 23, when Hatzolah ambulances were deliberately set on fire in the parking lot of a shul in Golders Green. The court was told the destruction caused is estimated at nearly £1 million.

During proceedings, it was stated that there is strong evidence indicating the incident was a “premeditated and targeted attack against the Jewish community”.

In a related development, two additional men, ages 45 and 47, were arrested last week in connection with the case but were later released on bail pending further inquiries, with conditions extending until late April.

Prosecutors added that authorities are continuing to examine whether an Iranian-backed group that claimed responsibility for the incident had any role in the attack.

The investigation is being handled by counter-terrorism police, although officials clarified in a statement Friday that the case “has not been declared as terrorism” at this stage.

The incident comes amid a broader surge in antisemitic activity across London in recent years. Just last month, a Jewish-owned bakery in the city was vandalized following a pro-Palestinian Arab protest, during which demonstrators accused the business of “funding Israel.”

In December, anti-Israel protesters targeted another bakery in London that is owned by Israelis.

The previous month, police intervened to relocate an anti-Israel protest away from St. John’s Wood Synagogue after dozens of demonstrators gathered outside.

A month earlier, an Israeli academic delivering a lecture at City St. George’s, University of London, was disrupted when anti-Israel activists stormed the classroom, shouting accusations and issuing threats.

Iran’s top military leadership today dismissed President Donald Trump’s ultimatum threatening to destroy key Iranian infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened within 48 hours, signaling a further escalation in the standoff between the two countries.

Earlier, Trump issued a sharply worded message on Truth Social, warning Tehran to act immediately. He wrote, “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”

In response, General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi condemned the warning in remarks carried by AFP, calling Trump’s threat “a helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action”.

He also issued a direct warning of his own, stating, “the simple meaning of this message is that the gates of hell will open for you”.

Since the outbreak of the current conflict, Iran has effectively blocked or severely disrupted passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The regime has declared the strategic waterway “closed,” while threatening commercial shipping and deploying military capabilities including fast attack boats, drones, missiles, and reportedly naval mines.

On Wednesday, Trump asserted that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had reached out to Washington seeking a ceasefire.

“Iran’s new regime president, much less radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!” the President announced on Truth Social.

Trump made clear that any such arrangement would hinge on reopening the critical shipping route. “We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”

Iran swiftly rejected that claim, with its Foreign Ministry describing the report as “false and baseless.”

Separately, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps insisted it maintains full authority over the waterway, declaring that the Strait of Hormuz “is firmly and decisively under the control” of its forces.

“This strait will not be opened to the enemies of this nation through the ridiculous spectacle by the president of the United States,” the statement added.

President Donald Trump informed Attorney General Pam Bondi that her time in the administration had come to an end during a car ride from the White House to the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

As the two traveled to attend oral arguments in a closely watched birthright citizenship case, Trump reportedly told her, “I think it’s time,” the Wall Street Journal reported.

Bondi, who took office as U.S. Attorney General last February, is said to have asked the 79-year-old president if she could remain in the position through the summer.

According to the report, Trump declined her request.

Discussions about Bondi’s future had been ongoing for months, with Trump expressing concerns about the pace at which she was advancing his policy priorities, the report said.

Sources told the outlet that her removal was not triggered by a single issue but rather “a steady drip of frustrations,” including the handling of the Epstein files and dissatisfaction with the level of favorable media coverage surrounding the Justice Department.

Despite being told earlier in the day, Bondi remained at the White House that evening and attended Trump’s primetime address on the war with Iran.

Her departure marks the second major personnel change in Trump’s administration, following his earlier decision to remove Kristi Noem from her role as Secretary of Homeland Security.

“We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much-needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future, and our Deputy Attorney General, and a very talented and respected Legal Mind, Todd Blanche, will step in to serve as Acting Attorney General,” Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday.

Blanche is considered a potential long-term choice for the position, though Trump is also reportedly considering Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin for the role.

Zeldin, a former congressman from Long Island, is viewed as a leading contender among a group of Trump allies that also includes Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, Texas Attorney General and Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Bondi addressed her dismissal Thursday night, pledging her continued support for Trump.

“Leading President Trump’s historic and highly successful efforts to make America safer and more secure has been the honor of a lifetime, and easily the most consequential first year of the Department of Justice in American history,” she posted on X.

“I remain eternally grateful for the trust that President Trump placed in me to Make America Safe Again.”

The FBI is warning that Americans’ personal information could be gathered and stored in foreign countries—even by people who have never installed a foreign-developed app themselves—due to how widely used mobile platforms access contact data.

According to the alert, details such as names, phone numbers, and email addresses can be extracted from someone else’s contact list if a friend or relative grants an app permission to access their device, potentially exposing the information of non-users.

While scrutiny in recent years has largely focused on TikTok and its connections to China, the FBI’s latest warning indicates the issue is far broader and applies to a wide range of apps developed outside the United States.

In a public service announcement, the agency said that many commonly used foreign-built apps—especially those linked to China—can gain access to extensive data once users approve permissions, including full address books containing information about both users and individuals who have never used the app.

The bureau cautioned that some apps may continue harvesting data even when not actively in use, and in certain cases, that information could be stored on servers located in countries where authorities may have legal access to it.

“Developer companies can store collected data on users’ private information and address books, such as names, e-mail addresses, user IDs, physical addresses, and phone numbers of their stored contacts,” the FBI said. “The app can persistently collect data and users’ private information throughout the device, not just within the app or while the app is active.”

Although the FBI did not identify specific companies, the warning is believed to apply to a number of popular apps developed by Chinese firms, including video-editing tools, shopping platforms, and social media networks that rank among the most downloaded in the U.S.

Officials have long expressed concern that data collected by Chinese-linked apps could be used to build detailed profiles of Americans, track relationships and networks, and potentially assist intelligence-gathering operations—especially if accessed under China’s national security laws.

The FBI noted that apps operating within China are subject to those laws, which could compel companies to provide user data to the government if requested.

The agency also highlighted warning signs that may indicate excessive data collection, such as abnormal battery drain, sudden spikes in data usage, or suspicious account activity following installation.

Users were advised to minimize the amount of information they share, install apps only from official app stores, and routinely review app permissions. The FBI also cautioned that downloading apps from unofficial sources can expose devices to malware designed to access personal data without authorization.

Years of scrutiny over TikTok ultimately led to a 2026 agreement requiring its Chinese parent company to transfer control of its U.S. operations to an American-led ownership group in response to national security concerns.

The FBI’s latest advisory underscores that the risks tied to foreign-developed apps are not limited to a single platform but extend to a much broader digital ecosystem used by millions of Americans.

Iran declared today that a newly deployed air defense system—credited by Tehran with downing two American aircraft—will enable it to “definitely achieve full control” of its airspace, as U.S. and Israeli strikes against the country continue.

The claim was issued by Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya joint military headquarters in remarks carried by state media, according to Reuters.

According to a report in The New York Times, Iran may have relied on its Third Khordad system, a mobile medium-range surface-to-air missile platform, to bring down an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet.

Other analysts suggested a different approach may have been used, pointing to passive infrared tracking systems that allow Iranian forces to follow and target aircraft without emitting radar signals—making detection by U.S. jets far more difficult, ABC News reported.

The F-15E, valued at approximately $31 million, is believed to have crashed in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province in southwestern Iran near the Iraqi border. Both crew members ejected; one was recovered following the Friday incident, while the second remains unaccounted for.

During a follow-up rescue mission, an A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog” was also struck. The aircraft ultimately went down after reaching Kuwaiti airspace, though the pilot managed to eject safely.

These incidents mark the first confirmed U.S. aircraft losses inside Iran since hostilities began on Feb. 28. To date, the U.S. military has conducted strikes on more than 12,300 targets throughout the conflict.

American officials have maintained that the ongoing bombardment has significantly weakened Iran’s offensive capabilities, claiming its missile and drone programs have been reduced by more than 90%.

Meanwhile, with the F-15E’s weapons systems officer still missing, reports indicate that armed local tribesmen have joined the search effort, as authorities have reportedly offered a $60,000 reward and urged civilians to assist in locating the missing crew member.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing intense backlash from elected officials and critics after focusing on gun violence rather than the perpetrators in response to the fatal shooting of a 7-month-old baby in Brooklyn.

The mayor issued a statement following the killing of Kaori Patterson-Moore, who was struck by a stray bullet while sitting in her stroller Wednesday, when a gunman riding a moped opened fire in what authorities believe was a gang-related shooting.

“This is not our first family to know this pain,” said the mayor, responding to the murder of infant Kaori Patterson-Moore, who was struck and killed by a stray bullet in her stroller Wednesday as a gunman on a moped opened fire in a suspected gang-related incident.

“Too many children have never grown up into becoming adults. To parents who’ve had to bury those they love most.

“We cannot accept it as normal in our city. We cannot grow numb to this pain, and today is a devastating reminder of just how much more work there is to be done… to combat gun violence across the city.”

Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (R-Queens) sharply criticized Mamdani, accusing him of ignoring the real issue by refusing to hold criminals accountable.

“Literally anything but blaming the criminals who our system releases onto our streets repeatedly, over and over again, with no consequences,” Paladino posted on X Thursday. “Absolute disgrace.”

Commentator Brittany Hughes also weighed in, pointing to another recent killing in the city and arguing that Mamdani selectively avoids addressing certain types of crime.

“an 83-year old veteran was killed in New York City last month after being randomly pushed onto the subway tracks by an illegal alien. Mamdani didn’t say a word because trains aren’t a good political prop, and he won’t condemn criminal aliens.”

She was referring to 83-year-old Vietnam War veteran Richard Williams, who was killed March 8 after being shoved onto subway tracks in Manhattan, allegedly by a migrant suspect.

Rafael A. Mangual, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, said Mamdani’s response reflects an unwillingness to directly confront violent offenders.

“Hizzoner’s remarks about the heinous crime ‘suggests that he is uncomfortable with acknowledging that the murder of Kaori Patterson-Moore was committed by two evil thugs whose callous disregard for the value of human life should disqualify them from ever experiencing freedom,’” Mangual told Fox News Digital.

“Framing this as a gun problem rather than an evil gangbanger problem is more familiar territory for a self-styled progressive whose political base is constituted by people simultaneously — if dissonantly — committed to the cause of gun control as well as efforts to reorient the criminal justice system to be more lenient toward the offenders who pull triggers.”

Police said 21-year-old Amuri Greene has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the infant’s death.

Authorities also took a second suspect into custody Friday, identifying him as 18-year-old Matthew Rodriguez, who was arrested in Pennsylvania.

Investigators allege that Rodriguez was operating the moped used in the attack, transporting the suspected shooter who opened fire near the intersection of Humboldt and Moore streets in the Bushwick neighborhood.

The president of the Yerushalayim Magistrate’s Court, Judge Shmuel Herbst, turned down a police request to prohibit journalist Arnon Segal and his son from entering the Old City for 45 days following an incident tied to a Korban Pesach demonstration.

Segal and his son had been taken in for questioning after he filmed his son leading a young goat intended for use as a Korban Pesach near the Old City.

In his ruling, Herbst wrote that there was no basis for suspecting a criminal act and dismissed the allegation of animal abuse. “I did not find that a reasonable suspicion exists,” he wrote, adding, “We all love animals, but most of us also eat them. It cannot be said that every animal destined for slaughter makes the person slaughtering it an abuser.”

The judge characterized the act as a form of protest against the current status quo on Har Habayis, explaining that “its time has passed and its sacrifice is null,” since the designated time for the offering had already passed. He also opened his decision with a historical and halachic discussion, stressing that the Korban Pesach is a central mitzvah connected to Yetzias Mitzrayim and the geulah of Klal Yisroel.

Responding to police claims that the incident created a security threat, Herbst ruled that no concrete evidence had been presented to support that concern. “Claims of danger and volatility require proof, and such proof was not brought before me,” he stated, cautioning against relying on broad assumptions and noting that long-standing “security axioms” must be reevaluated carefully.

Herbst also pointed out that Segal and his son live in Ir Dovid, near the Old City, and that banning them entirely from the area would be an excessive restriction on their freedom of movement. Instead, he ruled they would be barred only from Har Habayis, which is already closed to visitors during the Yom Tov period.

Attorney Nati Rom of Honenu praised the decision, stating, “There are real judges in Yerushalayim. A ruling that respects the deep yearning of the people of Israel is one that honors the judicial system. I hope the police will draw conclusions.”

Segal also responded to the ruling, noting that the court had rejected the request for a prolonged ban and had highlighted the importance of the Korban Pesach in its reasoning. “There are real judges in Yerushalayim,” he echoed.

Several Iranian strikes were reported in Bnei Brak from Friday night through Motzaei Shabbos, including a direct hit on a residential building on Rechov Kehillos Yaakov and another impact in the city center on Shabbos afternoon, leaving widespread destruction in their wake.

In one of the incidents, a residential apartment was hit, causing significant damage to the unit and leaving the entire building badly affected.

A 24-year-old man was transported to Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center after suffering from smoke inhalation, with his condition listed as light. Magen David Adom (MDA) personnel also provided treatment at the scenes for several residents experiencing shock.

Footage captured by security cameras on Rechov Kehillos Yaakov documented the moment of impact Friday night, showing a massive blast that resulted in extensive destruction. One of the affected homes belonged to MK Moshe Gafni of United Torah Judaism, where windows were blown out and frames were ripped from their fittings.

In a separate incident on Shabbos afternoon, another strike in the city center led to the collapse of walls in an apartment, effectively destroying the unit and causing major structural damage to the surrounding building. MDA teams continued scanning the area to ensure no additional victims were trapped or injured.

City officials, together with Home Front Command personnel, arrived at the various locations to evaluate the extent of the damage and coordinate response efforts. Residents were reminded to adhere to safety instructions and enter protected spaces immediately upon hearing sirens.

Israeli Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Yosef sharply condemned a High Court decision issued on Shabbos night permitting a hearing regarding demonstrations at Habima Square in Tel Aviv, in light of Home Front Command guidelines on large gatherings.

In its ruling, the court approved a framework allowing up to 600 demonstrators at Habima Square, while limiting attendance at other locations across the country to a maximum of 150 participants.

“This is an unlawful act in a Jewish state,” Rav Yosef stated. “These judges sit on Shabbos, trample the law, and compel state representatives to respond on the holy day in complete contradiction to the law. They are acting recklessly and crudely trampling the traditions of Israel and our holy Torah.”

He noted that the religious tzibbur had the option to insist on holding the traditional Birkas Kohanim at the Kosel, but refrained due to the ongoing war. At the same time, he said, left-wing demonstrators turned to the court specifically in order to protest and be mechalel Shabbos.

Rav Yosef went on to say that confidence among the religious public in the judicial system has eroded, describing what he sees as a consistently one-sided and anti-religious posture.

“There is not a single religious Jew today who places trust in this brazen group of the Supreme Court. Through their actions, they have become enemies of Judaism,” he said.

“We will fight with all our strength for the identity of the State, and in the end, Judaism will be what prevails.”

New intelligence cited by The Telegraph indicates that, since the war began, four Chinese vessels have docked in Iran carrying materials used in the production of solid fuel for missile engines, raising concerns about Tehran’s potential to expand its ballistic arsenal.

The report states that the ships sailed from Gaolan port in Zhuhai, a major center known for housing some of China’s largest liquid chemical storage facilities.

According to expert assessments, the cargo may have included sufficient quantities of sodium perchlorate to support the manufacture of hundreds of ballistic missiles. At the same time, uncertainty remains over whether Iran is currently capable of producing such weapons after recent strikes by the United States and Israel damaged key facilities.

Against this backdrop, President Donald Trump warned Iran that it has 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face serious repercussions.

Previously, Trump had threatened to strike Iran’s critical infrastructure, including its power grid, oil installations, and desalination plants, cautioning that such an attack could effectively “return the country to the Stone Age.”

President Donald Trump tonight shared newly released video showing American airstrikes carried out in Tehran, highlighting the impact of the operation on Iran’s military leadership.

Posting the footage on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Many of Iran’s Military Leaders, who have led them poorly and unwisely, are terminated, along with much else, with this massive strike in Tehran!”

Earlier in the day, Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, saying the country faces severe consequences within 48 hours if it fails to change course.

In a message posted on Truth Social, he wrote, “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”

Since the conflict began, Iran has effectively blocked or heavily restricted access through the Strait of Hormuz. The regime has declared the passage “closed,” threatened commercial shipping, deployed fast attack boats, drones, and missiles, and reportedly placed naval mines in the area.

A far-left anti-war protest took place this evening in Habima Square in Israel, with police moving in to disperse participants after the crowd exceeded the permitted limits. Ten demonstrators were taken into custody.

At the scene, a police officer urged the crowd to leave, warning that the gathering posed a danger to public safety. He later announced that authorities would begin clearing the area, stating, “If necessary, we will use force.”

The protest came after a High Court ruling issued during Shabbos permitting a demonstration of up to 600 participants in the square. The court criticized what it described as inconsistent enforcement, noting that Home Front Command restrictions were being applied to protests while similar guidelines were not uniformly enforced at other events and locations. “This situation is difficult to reconcile,” the ruling stated, adding that officials were aware of other gatherings where regulations had not been enforced.

The decision drew sharp backlash across the political spectrum, particularly because it was issued on Shabbos, raising strong concerns of Chillul Shabbos. The Shas party denounced the move as “a trampling of the sanctity of Shabbat” and announced plans to file a formal complaint against the judges after Yom Tov.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also sharply criticized the ruling, warning that it places the public at risk. “Supreme Court judges making such decisions – whose side are you on?” he said, adding that demanding a response within an hour on Shabbos is unreasonable and undermines security.

Deputy Communications Minister Yisrael Eichler condemned the ruling in strong terms, calling it “a declaration of war against the sanctity of Shabbat,” and accusing the justices of being out of touch and intent on eroding Jewish tradition.

UTJ chairman MK Moshe Gafni likewise spoke out against the decision, describing it as reckless and insensitive. He said issuing such a ruling on Shabbos was done “to prove their superiority over the public in Israel.”