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Federal agents arrested Shamim Mafi at Los Angeles International Airport before the Iranian national boarded a flight out of the country, for allegedly trafficking weapons for the Iranian regime, the Justice Department said.

Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, was charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and faces up to 20 years in federal prison, the department said on Monday.

“This individual came from Iran and gained legal status under the Obama administration,” stated Todd Blanche, acting U.S. attorney general. “While enjoying a life in the United States, this woman was allegedly breaking the law by brokering lethal weapons deals with Iranian adversaries. This will not stand, and anyone who breaks our laws and threatens national security will be prosecuted to the fullest extent.”

According to the department, Mafi, who owns and runs a company in Oman, became a lawful permanent resident in October 2016.

“In early 2025, Mafi brokered weapons deals on Iran’s behalf through her company,” including a contract worth more than $70 million “for the sale of the Iranian-made Mohajer-6 drone from Iran’s defense ministry to Sudan’s military,” the Justice Department alleged. “She coordinated the Sudanese delegation’s travel to Iran and was paid more than $7 million.”

“She also brokered the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses to Sudan and submitted a letter of intent to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to purchase the bomb fuses for Sudan,” per the department. “Mafi also brokered the sale of millions of rounds of ammunition from Iran to Sudan.”

Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Americans must receive permission from the U.S. Treasury Department to do business with goods or services tied to the Iranian government, and they cannot work with people whom the federal government has blocked, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a U.S.-designated terror group, and the Iranian defense ministry.

“At no time did Mafi apply for or obtain the required licenses from the U.S. Treasury Department to engage in any transactions alleged in the complaint’s affidavit,” the Justice Department stated. “She also never registered with or applied for approval from the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls to engage in brokering activities with respect to U.S. or foreign defense articles.”

The Justice Department added that records, which the federal government obtained after executing a search warrant, showed that Mafi and an Iranian intelligence officer contacted one another 62 times between December 2022 and June 2025. JNS

Iran is working to coordinate closely with allied militias as the ceasefire with the United States nears its end, amid growing concern that fighting could resume in the near future.

A political source in Iraq told Kan News that Tehran is actively engaging with Shiite militias in the country in preparation for a possible renewal of hostilities with the United States.

In recent days, Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani visited Iraq, in what was described as an effort to preserve Iran’s influence in the neighboring country amid tensions with Washington. Qaani, who survived the war and had not been seen publicly since its outbreak, arrived in Baghdad for a visit that was characterized as an attempt by the Iranian regime to help secure the appointment of a prime minister aligned with Tehran.

However, according to the Iraqi political source who spoke with Kan News correspondent Roi Kais, Qaani’s trip also had a military dimension, aimed at coordinating and “aligning positions” with leaders of pro-Iranian militias.

During the course of the war, these Iran-backed militias carried out attacks on American targets in Iraq and across the region. The Iraqi source said that officers from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards closely supervised their operations throughout the conflict.

Qaani’s visit appears intended to ensure that these forces are prepared for another round of fighting if Pakistan’s mediation efforts fail. At the same time, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have also signaled that they are ready to resume hostilities if the ceasefire collapses.

{Matzav.com}

FBI Director Kash Patel sued the Atlantic and staff writer Sarah Fitzpatrick in federal court, alleging that the magazine ran a “sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece” against him on Friday with the intention of marring his reputation.

In the complaint, filed in federal district court in D.C. on Monday, Patel says he is seeking $250 million in damages plus any proceeds from the article.

The Atlantic’s article contained extensive reporting – attributed to anonymous people – alleging Patel engaged in “excessive drinking” and “unexplained absences” while leading the FBI. The FBI declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The complaint alleges that several incidents detailed in the article are defamatory. These incidents include that Patel was often intoxicated with White House and Trump administration staff, that meetings had to be rescheduled following nights on which he drank, and that staff had to use “breaching equipment” to access rooms when Patel had reportedly been unreachable.

“We stand by our reporting on Kash Patel, and we will vigorously defend The Atlantic and our journalists against this meritless lawsuit,” Anna Bross, a spokeswoman for the Atlantic, said in a statement to The Washington Post.

The Post has not independently verified the Atlantic’s reporting.

Under defamation law, Patel – as a public official – would probably have to demonstrate that the Atlantic acted with “actual malice,” a legal standard established in the landmark 1964 Supreme Court decision in New York Times v. Sullivan.

To reach that standard, Patel would have to prove not only that the Atlantic’s claims were false but also that they knew they were false and published with reckless disregard for the truth. “They are so demonstrably and obviously false, or easily refuted,” the complaint said of the allegations, “that it was at best reckless to publish them.”

On Friday, Jesse R. Binnall, an attorney for Patel, posted on social media a letter sent earlier that day to Fitzpatrick and David Baumgarten, the Atlantic’s general counsel. “Should you publish these false allegations, Director Patel will take swift legal action to uphold his reputation,” Binnall wrote in the letter. In his accompanying post on X, Binnall said the Atlantic was “on notice” that its reporting was false and defamatory. “They published anyway,” he wrote. “See you in court.”

“Defamatory speech is not free speech, and it is an honor to represent Kash Patel in this lawsuit seeking accountability for The Atlantic article’s malicious falsehoods,” Binnall said in a statement to The Post on Monday.

Patel, formerly a staunch critic of the FBI, has led the bureau since February 2025.

Since taking the job, Patel has overseen a purge of dozens of career agents, many of whom were involved in investigations of President Donald Trump and his allies, and has shifted bureau resources from intelligence gathering and complex investigations of white-collar fraud toward assisting in Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts and policing violent crime.

Those efforts have at times been overshadowed by public scrutiny of Patel’s personal life. His frequent use of an agency Gulfstream jet for various trips, including to visit his girlfriend, a country music singer, and to see the 2026 Milan Olympics, has drawn public criticism.

During his Olympics trip, a video circulated showing Patel drinking beer with members of the U.S. men’s hockey team during a locker room celebration of their gold medal win.

Federal regulations require the FBI director to use government aircraft for all travel. Patel and his spokespeople have maintained that he uses the jet for personal trips far less than his predecessors. He flew to Milan for official meetings with law enforcement partners in Italy, they said, before he attended the hockey game.

Patel’s boss, Trump, has sued several news outlets following unfavorable coverage.

Trump, who has for years called the media “the enemy of the American people” has sued several news organizations for defamation over critical reporting about him, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the BBC. Some, including ABC and CBS, have settled with Trump out of court.

Trump has long railed against the Atlantic, deriding the publication as a “failing Radical Left Magazine” and its editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, as a “con man.” Last year, Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal group chat where Defense Department officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, detailed military plans for strikes in Yemen.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Scott Nover, Jeremy Roebuck 

Apple has announced a major leadership change, with CEO Tim Cook set to step down and John Ternus taking over the role, marking a significant transition for the company after more than a decade under Cook’s leadership.

The transition has been in progress behind the scenes for some time, but is now entering a public phase. It is expected to be finalized later this year.

As part of the shift, Cook will move into the position of executive chairman of Apple’s board, while Ternus, who currently serves as senior vice president of hardware engineering, will assume the role of chief executive officer. Following Ternus’s move, Johny Srouji will expand his responsibilities, and Tom Marieb will also take on a more direct role within the company.

The leadership change is scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026, when Ternus officially replaces Cook as CEO. In the interim, Srouji and Marieb are stepping into their expanded roles immediately to support the transition.

Apple confirmed the leadership change in an official Newsroom announcement, stating that the board unanimously approved the move following a long-term succession planning process.

Cook will remain in his position as CEO through the summer, working closely with Ternus to ensure a smooth handover. In his new role as executive chairman, Cook is expected to focus on select company matters, including engagement with policymakers around the world—a role that reflects his experience in global relations over the past decade.

In a statement included in the announcement, Cook reflected on his tenure and expressed confidence in his successor.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world,” said Cook. “John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future. I could not be more confident in his abilities and his character, and I look forward to working closely with him on this transition and in my new role as executive chairman.”

Ternus also issued a statement, expressing gratitude and outlining his vision for the company’s future.

“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” said Ternus. “Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor. It has been a privilege to help shape the products and experiences that have changed so much of how we interact with the world and with one another. I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come, and I am so happy to know that the most talented people on earth are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any one of us. I am humbled to step into this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.”

Cook has led Apple since 2011, when he succeeded Steve Jobs, who passed away later that year.

During Cook’s leadership, Apple’s market value has grown dramatically, rising from under $350 billion to approximately $4 trillion.

He has overseen every iPhone release since the iPhone 4S, along with the introduction of major products and services including the Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Pay, Apple Vision Pro, and the company’s transition from Intel processors to its own Apple silicon in Mac computers.

Cook also expanded Apple’s services division, driving significant growth in the App Store and launching platforms such as Apple Maps, Apple Music, and Apple TV, further reshaping the company’s business model.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli officials are bracing for the possibility that negotiations between the United States and Iran could break down, with preparations underway for a potential return to military confrontation as the ceasefire approaches its end.

The political-security cabinet convened Monday for an urgent session, along with additional smaller consultations, amid growing concern in Jerusalem that talks may fail. While Washington is pushing toward an agreement, Israeli officials believe Iran’s conduct is making meaningful progress increasingly difficult.

A senior Israeli official, speaking to Channel 12 News, described the deep uncertainty surrounding Tehran’s intentions. “We do not have clear and solid information regarding Iran’s responses, but we find it hard to believe that the current regime, with the extremist elements in the Revolutionary Guards, will agree to a complete surrender of enriched uranium and the dismantling of its nuclear project,” the official said.

In recent days, Israel has shared detailed intelligence with U.S. officials indicating that Iran is using the ceasefire period to rebuild its military capabilities. According to Israeli assessments, Tehran is taking advantage of the pause in fighting to reposition and restore critical components. “Every day without an agreement is good in terms of pressure and economic strangulation on Iran, but bad in terms of Iran rebuilding and redeploying its military assets. That is the equation,” the senior official explained.

Israeli officials believe Iran is deliberately pursuing a strategy of delay, confusion, and deception, in part due to internal disagreements over the terms of a deal. As a result, several possible scenarios are being considered, including an extension of negotiations, incremental progress, or a return to limited hostilities.

At the same time, another Israeli source told Kan News that Israel is prepared to resume fighting against Iran “with American approval.”

So far, no agreement has been reached between Washington and Tehran on the nuclear issue. “We are all waiting for Trump, but at this stage the sides are not close to any agreements,” the senior official said.

In contrast, Al Jazeera reported that President Donald Trump indicated a deal with Iran could be signed as early as Monday in Pakistan.

Amid reports that talks could resume in Pakistan, Israeli officials told Channel 13 News that the provisions currently under discussion—and especially those not being addressed—are a major cause for concern. In Jerusalem, officials are particularly troubled that the missile issue is not part of the negotiations, a gap that could allow Iran to continue producing large numbers of ballistic missiles without restriction. The issue of enriched uranium also remains unresolved.

Earlier, Trump said in an interview with the New York Post that he would be willing to meet directly with senior Iranian officials if a breakthrough is achieved in the negotiations. His comments come at a peak moment of tension, just one day before the ceasefire is set to expire, and as Israeli officials assess that the U.S. president is still aiming to secure a deal despite increasingly forceful rhetoric. At the same time, Trump made clear that he would not hesitate to take military action if the talks collapse.

President Donald Trump said he is pressing Pope Leo XIV with pointed questions over the pontiff’s continued opposition to the war with Iran, escalating a growing public disagreement between the two leaders.

In an early morning interview with The New York Post, Trump said he is seeking clarity from the pope regarding his stance on Iran’s actions and nuclear ambitions. “Why does the pope think it is fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon and to kill 42,000 unarmed protesters?” Trump said.

The president voiced frustration with the criticism coming from the American-born pontiff as a two-week ceasefire in the conflict nears its expiration on Wednesday.

“This is one of the most important wars. I said to the pope you can’t allow them to have a nuclear weapon because they will use it and millions of people will be dead, including Italians and Catholics around the world,” Trump said.

“And you can’t allow a country to kill 42,000 unarmed protesters, many of which were young people who they hanged from a crane in a public square.”

The Vatican press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump has argued that his strategy is aimed at securing long-term peace by weakening Iran’s military capabilities and nuclear program, while expressing irritation at repeated rebukes from the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV has called for an end to what he described as the “madness of war” and has criticized leaders who initiate armed conflict, referring to them as “arrogant.”

During a Palm Sunday mass on March 29, the pope said, “God ‘does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.’”

Trump has responded by dismissing the pope’s position as misguided, calling him naive and “terrible for foreign policy.”

The dispute has also intersected with comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who publicly invoked Christianity while expressing support for the U.S. military campaign.

As tensions between Trump and the pope intensified, the president also drew attention earlier this month by sharing an image on Truth Social that appeared to depict him as Yoshkah performing a miracle.

The image was later removed, with Trump explaining that he believed it portrayed him as a doctor.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s initiative to declassify government records on unidentified flying objects could bring to light information that even U.S. defense and intelligence agencies are unable to explain, according to Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb.

Trump announced in February that federal agencies would begin identifying and releasing documents related to UFOs—also referred to as unidentified aerial phenomena—pointing to strong public interest and a push for greater transparency.

More recent remarks from the president suggest that the first batch of files could be released “very, very soon,” with officials preparing materials that may include radar readings, satellite images, and military footage.

Loeb, speaking during an appearance on Newsmax TV’s “Wake Up America,” said conversations with lawmakers, along with his own research, indicate that the government is dealing with sightings it cannot fully explain.

“We spoke for about 90 minutes, and it definitely looks like there are objects that either the intelligence agencies or the Pentagon cannot figure out,” Loeb said. “And that’s what makes life interesting.”

The forthcoming release is expected to appear on a government platform—widely believed to be Aliens.gov—as part of a broader effort to consolidate information about UFO encounters and possible extraterrestrial evidence.

Loeb cautioned, however, that not all material will be made available to the public due to national security concerns involving sensitive detection systems and defense capabilities.

“I expect only parts that relate to national security to be redacted or not released at all,” he said. “But it’s really something that all of us should have a look at.”

He stressed that any conclusions drawn from the data must be rooted in scientific analysis rather than speculation.

“It’s all about the data,” Loeb said. “It’s not a matter of belief or conviction or opinion. It’s all about looking at the data and seeing what it means.”

Loeb, who leads Harvard’s Galileo Project, said his team intends to independently examine any released information using advanced observation methods and artificial intelligence.

“We don’t just wait for the government to tell us what is out there in the sky, because we can build telescopes and observe it,” he said.

His research group uses triangulation and machine learning to calculate distances, speeds, and flight paths of unidentified objects, seeking to determine whether any surpass known human technological capabilities.

“We are still searching for something that is not human made,” Loeb said. “Anything human made is boring as far as I’m concerned.”

While speculation has long surrounded government secrecy on UFO sightings, Loeb suggested that the more likely explanation for limited disclosure is uncertainty rather than concealment of extraterrestrial life.

“The most reasonable scenario that I can imagine is there are things that the government cannot figure out,” he said, noting that officials may be reluctant to reveal gaps in knowledge or expose classified technologies.

At a minimum, Loeb argued that increased transparency could enhance national security by improving the ability to detect and analyze unidentified objects, pointing to past incidents such as the Chinese spy balloon that initially went unnoticed.

Still, the potential significance extends beyond defense considerations.

“If we find that we are not alone, that would be the biggest revelation ever made,” Loeb said. “And I think it will bring us to a better place.”

During his current visit to Chicago, Hagaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, created a memorable moment when he signed a baseball for local educator Reb Daniel Harris—the latest addition to an unconventional collection.

Rav Hirsch has been visiting Chicago to garner support for the Olam HaTorah in Eretz Yisroel. Amid the many gatherings and meetings, the brief interaction with Harris stood out, blending warmth, personality, and a touch of creativity.

The baseball that the gadol hador signed joins a growing collection that Harris has been assembling for years—baseballs bearing the signatures of various rabbonim. What began as a simple idea has evolved into a project, with Harris seeking out opportunities to have leading figures in the Torah world sign baseballs.

Those close to the rosh yeshiva noted that the gesture was entirely in character. Rav Hirsch is known for going out of his way to be mesameiach another Yid, even in the midst of a demanding schedule. Signing the baseball, while unconventional, was seen as a simple act of chesed, an opportunity to bring simcha to another person.

Harris’s collection includes signatures from various rabbinic figures, with one notable example being a baseball signed by Rav Aharon Lichtenstein bearing the inscription: “Aharon Lichtenstein, who strives for stardom in another league.”

Other Harris baseballs have been signed by Rav Gedaliah Schwartz and Rav Berel Wein.