News of the World
04-21-2026, 05:46 AM
MIDDLE EAST WAR
Quote:A French paratrooper was killed and three of his fellow peacekeepers wounded in a suspected Hezbollah ambush in southern Lebanon Saturday — less than two days into a fragile 10-day cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon.
A unit that included Staff Sgt. Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment was on a UN mission to clear explosives on a route toward an isolated UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) post in the village of Ghanduriyah when they were attacked at close range.
Montorio was gunned down in a portion of the country that had been cut off due to ongoing skirmishes between Israeli military and Lebanon-based Hezbollah terrorists.
“He was caught in an ambush by an armed group at very close range,” French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said on X.
“Immediately hit by a direct shot from a light weapon, he was pulled back under fire by his comrades, who were unable to resuscitate him.”
Three other French peacekeepers were injured, two of them seriously, according to the UNIFIL.
All four soldiers ambushed wore blue helmets and were working under the banner of the United Nations.
The attack — which Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned — came after a temporary truce was reached Thursday between Israel and Lebanon to halt fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah terrorists that reignited following the start of the Iran war.
French President Emmanuel Macron mourned the loss of Montorio and demanded retribution against the Iran-backed terror group.
“The nation bows with respect and extends its support to the families of our soldiers and to all our military personnel engaged for peace in Lebanon,” Macron posted on X.
Quote:A glamorous Iranian businesswoman with a US green card was arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport for allegedly trafficking arms on behalf of Tehran.
Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills, was taken into custody on Saturday night and charged with brokering deals for Iranian drones, bombs, and millions of rounds of ammunition bound for Sudan, according to the office of the US Attorney for the Central District of California.
Mafi had allegedly conducted the arms deals while in close contact with Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, which provided instruction and funds for her to open a business in the US to operate out of, according to court records.
“She is charged with a violation of 50 U.S.C. § 1705 for brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan,” First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said Sunday, announcing the arrest.
Mafi posted glam pics of herself traveling the world — including posing in a $100,000 Mercedes-Benz roadster.
Mafi, who left Iran in 2013 and became a permanent resident of the US in 2016 under the Obama administration, allegedly used an Oman-registered company, Atlas International Business, to broker weapons deals as recently as 2025, according to court records.
Among the sales was a contract for more than $70 million for Iranian-made Mohajer-6 armed drones from Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.
The drones, along with 55,000 bomb fuses, were transferred in deals with the Sudanese Ministry of Defense, which has been fighting in a bloody civil war since 2023.
Iran has been repeatedly accused of violating a United Nations arms embargo amid the Sudanese civil war, with its drones spotted in use by the government forces.
The civil war has claimed between 61,000 to hundreds of thousands of lives as it enters its fourth year, with the UN’s fact-finding mission identifying the recent mass deaths in Darfur as having the “hallmarks of genocide.”
The conflict has also displaced nearly nine million people, making it one of the worst displacement crises on the planet.
Quote:Iran’s hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leader has effectively taken control of Tehran’s military and negotiation team over the weekend, analysts said.
IRGC commander Maj. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi and members of his inner circle have allegedly taken charge of the Islamic Republic, as evident by Iran’s attacks on ships trying to sail through the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s refusal to join peace talks with the US this week, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank said.
The sudden hardline shift also shows that more moderate members of Iran’s leadership, including Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi, have been sidelined.
Araghchi had initially agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend after reaching a consensus with the Trump administration, but the IRGC demanded it remain shut in the face of the American blockade on Iranian ports.
Vahidi reportedly received the backing of Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary and an IRGC veteran, to control the strait — further cementing Vahidi’s grip on Iran.
The IRCG’s fast attack ships remain Iran’s main form of naval force in the key waterway after US-Israeli airstrikes sank more than 150 vessels of Tehran’s conventional navy during the war.
Iran had attacked at least three ships trying to get through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, signaling that the oil chokepoint remains closed off as hundreds of ships are still stuck in the Persian Gulf.
Vahidi and Zolghadr’s alliance goes beyond the military blockade, with the IRGC commander tapping his ally to join the Iranian delegation earlier this month.
Zolghadr was specifically sent to make sure the delegation was following the IRGC’s commands and those of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who ascended to replace his father at the insistence of the Islamic Guard.
“Zolghadr sent a complaint to senior IRGC leaders, almost certainly including Vahidi, that Araghchi had surpassed his mandate during the negotiations by expressing flexibility regarding Iran’s support for the Axis of Resistance,” the ISW said of the initial peace talks.
Quote:ISLAMABAD — After Iran claimed it had refused to attend a second round of peace talks on Sunday, Tehran is now “willing for a second round” of negotiations — and its bluster so far is mere posturing for the best deal possible, Pakistani sources exclusively told The Post on Monday.
Iran on Sunday had publicly said it would not participate in the next round of US-brokered talks in Pakistan, accusing Washington of making “excessive demands,” shifting positions and continuing a naval blockade it views as a violation of the fragile cease-fire, according to prior reporting.
“Current hard stance is posturing to extract maximum advantage when second round happens,” the person said, citing takeaways from discussions with the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman. However, Iran still had not yet decided whether it would attend as of Monday afternoon local time, the source said.
“For now, no decision has been taken about whether we will have a second round,” the source said. “Whenever we have a decision, we will share details.”
Islamabad remains trusted as mediator by both US and Iranian officials.
“Pakistan remains the sole trustworthy mediator, which means process is on and Islamabad will be the venue whenever a final decision is taken,” the source said.
The uncertainty comes as President Trump told The Post on Sunday that the US would soon restart negotiations, dispatching top representatives — including special envoy Steve Witkoff — to the region, even as tensions remain high and the cease-fire nears expiration.
Meanwhile, Pakistani officials also forcefully pushed back on a Reuters report that claimed Islamabad’s Field Marshal Asim Munir urged Trump to abandon the US blockade on Iranian ports to advance negotiations.
“No security source has given any input to any news agency, including Reuters,” a source told The Post. “This is classic misinformation and fake reporting.”
The Reuters report had suggested Trump was considering the proposal after speaking with Munir, underscoring the sensitivity surrounding Pakistan’s role as a mediator in the high-stakes talks.
Quote:A Los Angeles dad grieving the death of his teenage nephew in Iran says he received a personal letter from President Donald Trump offering condolences — and a promise to stand with the Iranian people.
Majid Moghadasi, an Iranian American living in Woodland Hills, told The Post his nephew, Erfan Faraji, was killed on Jan. 8 during anti-government protests that rocked the Islamic Republic.
His death, just two days after his 18th birthday, came as the regime killed up to 36,500 in a January crackdown.
Estimates vary from 7,000 to 36,000 killed in the regime’s January crackdown on the unrest.
Two days after learning of the teen’s death, Moghadasi said he reached out directly to the White House, pleading for help.
Moghadasi’s deeply personal plea described how his nephew was fatally shot in the streets of Shahr-e Rey, south of Tehran, just for taking part in protests.
“He was an innocent teenager with dreams and a future ahead of him. His only act was standing up against injustice,” Moghadasi wrote, adding that Iranian authorities had responded to demonstrations “not with dialogue, but with live ammunition.”
He urged Trump to continue taking a firm stand against the Iran.
Just days later on Jan. 13. Trump wrote back that he and First Lady were “devastated” by the loss.
“Erfan will be held in my heart, and I promise never to forget or forgive the terrible events that took him from us,” the letter reads.
“Please know that my Administration will always stand with the Iranian people in their quest for freedom and democracy.”
The president also vowed then that efforts were underway then to hold Iran’s leadership accountable, writing that his administration was “working diligently to ensure that the Ayatollah and his murderous regime are brought to justice.”
Quote:ISLAMABAD — President Trump said he is willing to meet with senior Iranian leaders if a breakthrough is reached — as he brushed off the regime’s threats to boycott the latest round of peace talks.
“I have no problem meeting them,” Trump told The Post Monday. “If they want to meet, and we have some very capable people, but I have no problem meeting them.”
Trump’s willingness to meet with Tehran underscores the urgency surrounding the negotiations as the US-Iran cease-fire is set to expire Wednesday evening Washington time, per the president’s latest deadline.
Trump signaled that Iran must come to the table for serious discussion — just hours after Tehran claimed it would not be meeting the American delegation in Islamabad.
“We’re supposed to have the talks,” Trump said in a brief interview, brushing aside doubts about whether negotiations would fall apart. “So I would assume at this point nobody’s playing games.”
The president confirmed that Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and adviser Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, are set to head to Islamabad to prepare for the meetings.
“They’re heading over now,” Trump said.
The delegation is set to arrive Wednesday, sources told CNN, putting into question how the end of the cease-fire will play out up against the deadline.
Trump said it was “highly unlikely” for the cease-fire to be extended, noting that he expects the fighting to resume if no deal is made by then, Bloomberg reported.
Quote:US stocks fell and oil prices surged Monday as tensions over the Iran war heated up again, after President Trump announced the US Navy had seized an Iranian cargo vessel and Tehran sent mixed signals on resuming talks.
The Nasdaq fell 0.3%, snapping its 13-day winning streak , while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat. The S&P 500 edged down 0.2%.
Brent crude oil prices jumped 5.6% to settle at $95.48 and West Texas Intermediate rose 6.9% to $89.61. National average gasoline prices dipped slightly to $4.04 a gallon – still over 30% higher than prices before the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February.
Traders feared rising tensions in the Middle East after Trump on Sunday announced that the US Navy had blown “a hole in the engineroom” of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that attempted to skirt the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian ship “is under US Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
In a post earlier Sunday, Trump said Iran had fired bullets in the strait at foreign vessels, calling it “A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement!”
“Oil likely has further upside in the near term given the scale of disruption through Hormuz, but…the market still sees this as a temporary shock rather than a permanent shortage,” Esther Sholes, senior macro analyst for Take Profit Trader, told The Post.
“While supply could partially recover within weeks if the Strait reopens, a full normalization would take months and depends on a durable ceasefire and the return of insurers and shippers.”
After Iran refused to join another round of peace talks in Pakistan, Trump reiterated his threat to bomb the nation’s power plants and bridges, which critics have claimed would constitute a war crime.
Quote:WASHINGTON — President Trump told The Post he “will not be rushed” to end the Iran war on its 52nd day — and lashed out at Democrats and Republicans trying to force him to end the conflict.
“How bad is it that when you are in the middle of negotiations and you have got the Iranians in a perfect position, including being militarily defeated, and you have Democrats and some Republicans asking to settle it now?” Trump said in a phone interview.
“As a negotiator — and I am a great negotiator — how bad is it, when you have people from your own country trying to reach a deal?” he fumed.
“They are helping the other side. The other side has nothing, they have no cards, but they are using this to delay. When [Senate Minority Leader Chuck] Schumer was in, he was in Afghanistan for so long.”
“I have only been in this for five weeks. I will not be rushed,” he said.
Trump from the onset predicted a rapid conclusion and last week said Iran privately agreed to core US demands that Tehran abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons and relinquish an estimated 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium — despite less conciliatory Iranian public statements.
The president last week blockaded Iran’s ports following an unsuccessful first round of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan — with a second round expected to start as early as this week.
Trump said one day after the joint US-Israeli attack began on Feb. 28 that he expected the war to last “four weeks or so.”
The War Powers Resolution of 1973, which the White House argues is unconstitutional, says the president must receive congressional approval for conflicts lasting longer than 60 days.
Some of Trump’s Republican allies in Congress say he needs to wrap up the campaign — which over the weekend featured Marines capturing an Iranian tanker that tried to break through the US blockade.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said last week that the “clock is ticking” and that “I hope that we are arriving at an exit strategy here to bring this to a close to preserve our security interests and bring down the cost of gasoline.”
Quote:WASHINGTON — President Trump told The Post he has two questions for Pope Leo XIV about his opposition to the Iran war — after the pontiff continued to voice opposition.
“Why does the pope think it is fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon and to kill 42,000 unarmed protesters?” Trump said in an early morning interview.
The president expressed irritation at criticism coming from the American-born pope, stressing his case for the war as a two-week cease-fire nears its end 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 The Post’s request for comment.
Trump argues that he’s serving the long-term cause of peace by crippling Iran’s military power and nuclear enrichment, and he has bristled for weeks at the Roman Catholic leader’s rebukes.
Leo has called for an end to the “madness of war” and denounced “arrogant” leaders who wage armed conflict.
God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them,” the pope said in a Palm Sunday mass on March 29.
Trump, in turn, has called the pope naive and “terrible for foreign policy.”
The pope opposed the conflict as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth invoked Christianity in support of the US military.
EDITORIAL
OK, I'm not Catholic so I couldn't care any less about Pope Leo's misstatements, yet, I can clearly see that he's unable to see what's truly happening in the Middle East.
How can he treat this war like other conflicts? This is not like Vietnam or Korea where world powers simply wanted to take control of a portion of land and make sure they followed their policies to the letter. Obviously, powers like Russia and China wanted to impose communism while the US promoted capitalism.
This time, the war isn't just about influence, but it's definitely involved here. We're talking about a country that has been calling the USA and Israel the Great Satan and Little Satan respectively. Iranian political and religious leaders have called for the destruction of those countries multiple times since 1979.
They were developing a dangerous nuclear program. Apparently, they were transporting those nuclear materials to secret locations in Iran and possibly China as well. Yes, Chinese airplanes were involved, they have been tracked by other military forces and specialized websites. Iranian authorities didn't let UN inspectors confirm that their uranium enrichment process haven't surpassed the 60% military grade at all. Still, they kept producing more and more enriched uranium. They had purchased the related technologies from other nuclear powers like Russia AND Pakistan. And are we still supposed to believe that they're not producing a nuclear bomb?
Even the events occurring in the last week demonstrate how Iran doesn't care about free trade when they chose to block the Hormuz Strait not once but at least twice now. According to international law, any natural waterway like that strait can be transited freely, without needing to pay ANY toll or extortion to anybody. Even so, Iran is still charging Chinese, Indian and French vessels for transporting oil outside the Persian Gulf.
As of yet, Iran has attacked positions in Cyprus and Turkey, both NATO members, and the EU just preferred to do absolutely nothing about that. I mean, doesn't Cyprus mean anything to them now? And why didn't Erdogan take it personal this time? He's been at odds with Tehran for quite some time, and his forces are still fighting Iranian backed rebels in Syria. Add to this mess the attack against a German military post in the Middle East, too.
Before ending this editorial, I would love to remind you of all those protesters that have been killed in the past few months in Iran. Don't their lives matter to people like Pope Leo or the EU leaders? Are the IRGC and the Basij forces supposed to continue massacring their own people and get off scot-free?
How can he treat this war like other conflicts? This is not like Vietnam or Korea where world powers simply wanted to take control of a portion of land and make sure they followed their policies to the letter. Obviously, powers like Russia and China wanted to impose communism while the US promoted capitalism.
This time, the war isn't just about influence, but it's definitely involved here. We're talking about a country that has been calling the USA and Israel the Great Satan and Little Satan respectively. Iranian political and religious leaders have called for the destruction of those countries multiple times since 1979.
They were developing a dangerous nuclear program. Apparently, they were transporting those nuclear materials to secret locations in Iran and possibly China as well. Yes, Chinese airplanes were involved, they have been tracked by other military forces and specialized websites. Iranian authorities didn't let UN inspectors confirm that their uranium enrichment process haven't surpassed the 60% military grade at all. Still, they kept producing more and more enriched uranium. They had purchased the related technologies from other nuclear powers like Russia AND Pakistan. And are we still supposed to believe that they're not producing a nuclear bomb?
Even the events occurring in the last week demonstrate how Iran doesn't care about free trade when they chose to block the Hormuz Strait not once but at least twice now. According to international law, any natural waterway like that strait can be transited freely, without needing to pay ANY toll or extortion to anybody. Even so, Iran is still charging Chinese, Indian and French vessels for transporting oil outside the Persian Gulf.
As of yet, Iran has attacked positions in Cyprus and Turkey, both NATO members, and the EU just preferred to do absolutely nothing about that. I mean, doesn't Cyprus mean anything to them now? And why didn't Erdogan take it personal this time? He's been at odds with Tehran for quite some time, and his forces are still fighting Iranian backed rebels in Syria. Add to this mess the attack against a German military post in the Middle East, too.
Before ending this editorial, I would love to remind you of all those protesters that have been killed in the past few months in Iran. Don't their lives matter to people like Pope Leo or the EU leaders? Are the IRGC and the Basij forces supposed to continue massacring their own people and get off scot-free?
Quote:US Marines took command of the Iranian-flagged vessel that tried to break the US blockade in the Gulf on Sunday, dramatic new video shows.
Footage released by US Central Command shows the moment Marines aboard the USS Tripoli amphibious assault ship took off to board the Iranian Touska, which was caught trying to enter the Arabian Sea.
The Marines are seen departing on a helicopter, with a cut showing the aircraft hovering over the Touska as the troops descended onto the ship and took control.
“The Marines rappelled onto the Iranian-flagged vessel, April 19, after guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) disabled Touska’s propulsion when the commercial ship failed to comply with repeated warnings from US forces over a six-hour period,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
President Trump hailed the interception and enforcement of the blockade on Iran’s ports, saying the Spruance blew a hole in the Touska’s engine room to halt the ship in the Gulf of Oman.
“Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel,” the president said on Sunday. “The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!”
The incident marked the first time the US had taken custody of an Iranian tanker after establishing the blockade last Monday.
Iran slammed the move as a clear violation of the cease-fire, which Trump said is to expire Wednesday night, describing the seizure of the boat as an “act of aggression.”
Quote:The Iranian ship that President Donald Trump said has been captured by U.S. Marines has made many visits to Chinese ports, according to analysis of shipping data by Newsweek.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on Monday to the seizure of the Iranian-flagged cargo ship the Touska.
"We hope all relevant parties will adopt a responsible attitude, abide by the ceasefire agreement, avoid escalating tensions or intensifying contradictions," spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.
The action comes days after Trump announced a naval blockade of Iranian ports, which he said would stay in place until there was a deal between the U.S. and Iran over unblocking the Strait of Hormuz.
"Our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room," Trump said of the capture of the Touska on Truth Social, adding that U.S. Marines had custody of the vessel, which was under U.S. Treasury sanctions.
Touska’s Links To China
The Touska is owned by Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, Iran’s national maritime carrier.
The International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, assigns an IMO number to each vessel, which it retains throughout its service life even as its owners change its name. The Touska’s IMO is 9773301. It was formerly known as the Adalia and the Sahand.
Since its inclusion in 2019 on the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list, the Touska has made multiple trips to Chinese ports, according to a Newsweek review of historical movement data.
The Touska most recently departed Iranian waters on February 22 via the port of Shahid Rajaee and transited the Strait of Malacca in early March before calling at Zhuhai port in southern China on March 9.
USA
Quote:California oil output is climbing — even as Sable Offshore battles to keep its pipeline restart alive.
The company announced it is accelerating output across its California sites as new wells come online Monday, with a third platform set to begin operations later this year.
Shares rose 3.7% in premarket trading, according to Offshore Engineer.
The push follows last month’s restart of oil flows through the pipeline system linking the Santa Ynez offshore platforms to California refineries — a move now at the center of a legal standoff.
Judge Donna Geck of the Santa Barbara Superior Court said last week a state injunction on the gas giant was still in place, blocking it from restarting and handing a win to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The oil giant vowed to fight the “show-cause” process in court next month and pointed out that the president had given it the green light to reopen.
Despite the ongoing battle, production is already on the rise. Forty wells on Platform Harmony and Platform Heritage are now active, each churning out around 750 barrels of oil daily.
Once all 74 wells are operational, output is expected to average roughly 700 barrels per day per well, the outlet reported.
And another boost is on the way, Platform Hondo is expected to begin production in June 2026, with output projected at about 10,000 barrels per day — lifting volumes from the Santa Ynez Unit.
Back in March, Trump signed an executive order to resume oil drilling operations off the Southern California coast, citing national energy security concerns.
Quote:(FOX40.COM) — Two California men pleaded guilty this week to H-1B visa fraud after claiming foreign workers would get jobs at the University of California.
Sampath Rajidi and Sreedhar Mada, both 51-year-old Dublin residents, submitted their pleas Thursday, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. Both were charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud and face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Between June 2020 and January 2023, Rajidi and Mada submitted fraudulent H-1B visa petitions for “numerous beneficiaries,” prosecutors said. H-1B visas are given to foreign workers who are in specialized professions.
At the time, Mada served as chief information officer of Davis-based University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Officials said Mada could not hire H-1B workers for his department without additional authorization.
Rajidi falsely claimed on the applications that recipients would work at the University of California, and Mada’s status as a UC supervisor lent credibility to those fraudulent claims.
“In reality, both defendants were aware that the positions listed on the petitions did not exist,” officials said in a news release.
The Mada and Rajidi instead turned to other employers, suggesting they hire the H-1B visa recipients. As a result, prosecutors say the pair “gained an unfair advantage” over other firms, depleting the total number of H-1B visas available to competitors.
Rajidi and Mada are set to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on July 30.
The University of California was informed of the investigation in 2024, a spokesperson for the office of the university president said. The university initiated its own internal review, determined Mada violated school policy and “took appropriate corrective action.”
“This matter involves the actions of a single individual acting outside the scope of University policy and authority,” the UC spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “There is no finding of, or information suggesting, broader institutional misconduct. The university’s oversight processes functioned as intended by identifying the issue, enabling a thorough investigation, and ensuring prompt corrective action.”
Quote:Emergency officials responded Monday after a small plane crashed in a parking lot in the San Fernando Valley community of Pacoima, California.
The aircraft came down around 11:10 a.m. near Ralston Avenue and Van Nuys Boulevard, landing upside down in the parking lot of an O’Reilly Auto Parts store, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) told Newsweek. Aerial footage posted by NBC Los Angeles showed the plane inverted among parked vehicles. High‑voltage power lines were also reported damaged in the crash.
A fire department spokesperson told Newsweek the male pilot was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not immediately known. KTLA reported the pilot was 70-years-old. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement that a Cessna 172 crashed in Pacoima around 11:20 a.m. and that the pilot was the sole occupant. The agency said it will investigate.
San Fernando Valley Crash: What to Know
The crash occurred in an area surrounded by several airports that serve general aviation traffic in the San Fernando Valley.
The site in Pacoima is just north of Whiteman Airport, a small general‑aviation facility frequently used for flight training and private aircraft. Van Nuys Airport, one of the busiest general‑aviation airports in the country, is about 4 to 5 miles southwest, while Hollywood Burbank Airport, which handles commercial passenger flights, is about 5 to 8 miles to the south.
“Our thoughts are with the pilot, who was taken to the hospital after today’s accident," the Whiteman Airport Coalition said in a statement. "We are grateful that no one else was injured and that first responders moved quickly to secure the scene. Based on initial reports, a single-engine Cessna operating near Whiteman Airport struck power lines and landed in a nearby commercial parking lot. The aircraft is owned by Vista Aviation at Whiteman Airport and was being rented by the pilot at the time of the incident."
The statement continued: "This accident is now under investigation by the appropriate local and federal authorities. It’s important that the facts are allowed to come forward before any conclusions are drawn.”
Authorities often note the proximity of these airports as part of early investigations while determining a flight’s origin and intended destination.
Quote:When one former Keyport, NJ, resident started keeping tabs on all the cancer diagnoses on and around his childhood street, the numbers were “freaking snowballing.”
In recent interviews with NJ.com, Rusty Morris, 46, recounted how he’d collected the names of so many neighbors that he eventually created a map, marking the houses with red Xs for the sick.
His parents’ house had an X, for his father’s prostate cancer. A house down the street had two Xs, for his uncle and his uncle’s wife.
In total, Morris placed 28 Xs just on First Street, where he grew up, and 41 throughout the borough of Keyport in Central Jersey, about 30 miles south of Newark.
Speaking to the outlet about the map, Alexis Mraz, associate professor at the College of New Jersey’s Department of Public Health, said it looked like a “crazy high percentage [of cancer patients].”
“That looks insane,” she said.
While doctors, local civil servants, state and federal officials and residents can’t say definitively what’s behind the cancer cases and whether they’re connected, many point to the nearby dump that was closed in 1979 — and that it has been oozing carcinogenic chemicals into the surrounding air, water and soil for at least 50 years, per local reports and multiple environmental assessments.
Because of potential toxic exposures, it’s very possible that Morris’ map is an undercount.
“There are likely more cancer cases,” Mraz said. “I think it’s definitely worth looking into.”
NJ.com reporters cite multiple medical experts from around the country who agree that the site needs more — and urgent — study, and that there’s mounting evidence of a potential “cancer cluster.”
The 50-acre plot that eventually became a landfill started in the early 20th century as a small aircraft hub, and bears this legacy in its current name: Aeromarine Industrial Park. In 1962, it transitioned into a dumping site, until it was shut down.
Quote:WASHINGTON — Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned from her position on Monday amid an internal misconduct probe, making her the third cabinet official to depart the Trump administration this year, sources told The Post.
Chavez-DeRemer, 58, will follow four other staffers out of the Department of Labor who were all investigated and resigned amid the Office of Inspector General’s sprawling inquiry.
Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling will replace her as acting secretary. NOTUS first reported on the secretary’s exit.
White House spokesman Steven Cheung announced minutes after the report that Chavez-DeRemer “will be leaving the Administration to take a position in the private sector.”
“She has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labor practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives,” Cheung posted on X.
Chavez-DeRemer in a statement on X said she was “looking forward to what the future has in store” and that it “has been an honor and a privilege to serve in this historic Administration and work for the greatest President of my lifetime.”
President Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in March, and Attorney General Pam Bondi the following month, making her the most recent victim of the cabinet shake-up.
Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito had been expected to conclude the DOL investigation in the coming weeks, sources noted.
President Trump had already fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in March, and Attorney General Pam Bondi the following month.
Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito had been expected to conclude his Labor Department investigation in the coming weeks.
The Post first exposed a whistleblower complaint filed against the labor secretary in January that alleged she drank in the office during work hours, created a hostile work environment with her top aides and was pursuing an extramarital affair with her security guard.
The complaint also claimed she committed “travel fraud” by having those aides — chief of staff Jihun Han and deputy Rebecca Wright — “make up” official trips to destinations where she could spend time with family or friends on the taxpayers’ dime.
...
Her husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, was also accused by female staffers of sexual assault, but prosecutors declined to bring charges in late February for the alleged incidents inside DOL headquarters in Washington, DC.
According to the DC Metropolitan Police Department report filed in late January, a female DOL staffer cited “sexual contact against her will.”
DeRemer’s attorney James Bell said his client “categorically, unequivocally, and emphatically denies each and every one of the allegations.” He was still barred from entering department headquarters at the time of his wife’s resignation.
Quote:The maniac who slaughtered seven of his children and one of their cousins in Louisiana on Sunday was set to do battle with his estranged wife in divorce court Monday.
Stress-riddled Army vet Shamar Elkins, 31, called his mom, Mahelia Elkins, and stepdad Marcus Jackson on Easter Sunday to tell them that his wife of two years, Shaneiqua Pugh, had filed for divorce — chillingly adding that he wanted to kill himself and was drowning in “dark thoughts,” the New York Times reported.
Jackson said he told his despondent stepson that he could overcome problems if he stood tough.
Elkins replied grimly, “Some people don’t come back from their demons,” Jackson recalled to the outlet.
The killer then ended up shooting the eight children execution-style Sunday morning. He also turned his gun on Pugh, who was hit several times in the head and stomach, and the woman believed to be his girlfriend, Christina Snow, who was shot in the head. Kin identified Snow as the girlfriend, KSLA reported.
Pugh was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, officials said. Snow also was severely wounded.
Elkins had two previous convictions: for driving while intoxicated in 2016 and for the illegal use of weapons in 2019, the outlet said.
In March 2019, a police report detailed that the National Guard vet pulled a .9mm handgun from his waistband and shot at a vehicle five times after a driver pulled a handgun on him — with one of Elkins’ bullets being discovered near a school where children were playing.
He also had a history of alluding to mental-health struggles and marriage woes on Facebook.
“Dear God, Today I ask You to help me guard my mind and my emotions. When negativity arises, remind me to say, ‘It does not belong to me,’ in the name of Jesus,” Elkins wrote April 9.
Quote:D4vd could face the death penalty after gruesome details emerged when the singer was charged with murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas — more than seven months after the teen’s dismembered body was found in a Tesla linked to him.
D4vd, real name David Burke, was charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances — lying in wait, murder of a witness to an investigation and murder for financial gain — in an announcement made by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman on Monday.
He’s also charged with lewd and lascivious sexual acts with an individual under 14 years old, and mutilating the human remains of a body.
The special circumstance of murder of a witness to an investigation is because Rivas was a witness in the lewd-and-lascivious investigation. Officials say the murder for financial gain circumstance was added because they believe D4vd thought allegations of sexual relations with a minor could derail his music career.
He faces a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole or even the death penalty — which will be determined later.
Evidence against D4vd includes witness testimony and documents, according to Hochman. He also asked other witnesses to come forward during a press conference Monday. Hochman said there is digital, physical and forensic evidence that investigators have also gathered.
The charges come just a few days after the singer was taken into custody at his Hollywood Hills home by the LAPD’s robbery-homicide division Thursday. He was being held without bail.
“We came to the home with a probable cause arrest warrant for him,” LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division commanding officer Capt. Scot M. Williams confirmed to The California Post on the scene.
Exclusive footage obtained by The California Post showed the performer in cuffs and surrounded by LAPD officers as he was escorted away from his Hollywood hideout.
Quote:The top House Oversight Committee Republican, James Comer, said Monday that the growing group of missing or dead scientists was a national security threat that lawmakers were taking seriously.
Speaking to Fox News, Comer, a Kentucky Representative, suggested a lack of shared information between agencies had left missing links between the cases, which have drawn more scrutiny and speculation in recent weeks. The group of 11 people worked in a variety of fields, including national security, pharmaceuticals, and anti-gravity technology.
“It does appear that there’s a high possibility that something sinister is taking place here,” Comer told Fox News. "It's very unlikely that this is a coincidence. Congress is very concerned about this. Our committee is making this one of our priorities now because we view this as a national security threat."
11 Missing, Dead Scientists: Who Are They?
On Thursday, the growing list of deaths or disappearances of U.S. experts in advanced space, defense and nuclear fields in recent years was called “pretty serious stuff” by President Donald Trump, who added that he hoped the series was "a coincidence."
Among the missing are retired Air Force Major General William Neil McCasland, last seen February 27 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and aerospace engineer Monica Reza, who disappeared in June while hiking in California. Both have been cited by online sleuths as part of a pattern, though officials have not linked the cases.
Below is the list of workers with ties to advanced research whose disappearances or deaths have attracted public interest.
Amy Eskridge—Scientist reportedly researching anti-gravity technology.
Died: 2022.
Michael David Hicks—Research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory; worked on the DART Project and Deep Space 1 mission.
Died: July 2023.
Frank Maiwald—Principal researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Died: July 2024.
Anthony Chavez—Former employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Missing since: May 2025.
Monica Reza—Director of Materials Processing at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Missing since: June 2025.
Melissa Casias—Administrative worker at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Missing since: June 2025.
Steven Garcia—Government contractor at a New Mexico facility for the Kansas City National Security Campus.
Missing since: August 2025.
Nuno Loureiro—Director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center.
Died: December 2025.
Carl Grillmair—Caltech astrophysicist who worked on NASA’s NEOWISE and NEO Surveyor missions.
Died: February 2026.
William "Neil" McCasland—Retired U.S. Air Force major general.
Missing since: February 27, 2026.
Jason Thomas—Pharmaceutical researcher.
Found dead: March 2026.
Quote:A retired FBI agent said there is not a “conspiracy” behind a series of people in the science-based industry who have died or gone missing in the past four years.
“This isn't some large scale conspiracy to take off people who work/worked in science-based industry,” Jennifer Coffindaffer wrote on X.
Coffindaffer told Newsweek that these are “standalone incidents.”
“I see no strings between them, other than they had similar scientific occupations, that’s it,” she said.
FBI Director Says Agency Will Investigate: What To Know
FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News that the agency is investigating the deaths and disappearances of multiple scientists that have attracted widespread attention and online speculation. Officials have not confirmed any links among the recent cases.
“These missing and killed scientists and former professional members of the Department of Energy vary in wide range, and we're working most importantly with our state and local partners who have the jurisdiction on each of these cases, whether they be a homicide or a missing person's case, they have the evidence. What we're going to do is collectively pull it all into one place," Patel said.
He said the agency will then “look for connections on whether there are connections to classified access, access to classified information and or foreign actors, and then we will produce that information to the White House and the world because it's of such great public importance."
President Donald Trump has described the incidents as “pretty serious stuff” and said he hoped the cases are “a coincidence.” House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, told Fox News that it is seeking information on the matter from the FBI, NASA, the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense.
Is she
blind? Or did she work for the OBiden administration? 
MEXICO
Quote:An armed man opened fire on tourists at the Teotihuacán pyramids outside Mexico City on Monday, killing one and wounding six before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Mexican authorities said. The shooting unfolded shortly after 11:30 a.m. local time at the Pyramid of the Moon, one of the site's most iconic structures.
The tourist killed was from Canada. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on social media that the shooting would be investigated and that she had been in contact with the Canadian Embassy.
Why It Matters
Teotihuacán drew more than 1.8 million international visitors last year, making it one of Mexico's most significant archaeological and tourist destinations. The attack raises fresh concerns about safety at Mexican tourist sites, which millions of Americans and other foreign nationals visit annually. The site had previously conducted security scans at entry points but had discontinued the practice in recent years—a cessation likely to draw scrutiny in the aftermath of the shooting.
What To Know
The gunman opened fire from atop the pyramid's platform as dozens of tourists were visiting, according to a tour guide who witnessed the shooting and spoke to the Associated Press. Some visitors threw themselves to the ground while others fled down the pyramid's steps; a separate group lay motionless on the platform to avoid being targeted. Four people were wounded by gunshots and two others were injured from falls during the chaos.
The victims include Colombian, Russian and Canadian nationals. Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed on X that one Canadian was killed and another wounded, saying her thoughts were with their family and loved ones. Police officers stationed within the ruins were first to respond, followed by a National Guard unit. Authorities later recovered a gun, a knife and ammunition at the scene.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a security alert Monday confirming it was aware of the shooting and noting that local authorities had secured the area and that all injured victims were receiving medical care. The embassy urged any Americans who were in the vicinity and unharmed to contact friends and family, follow the directions of local authorities, and call 911 in case of emergency. Americans requiring assistance can contact the U.S. Embassy at (55)-2579-2000 from Mexico or 011-52-(55)-2579-2000 from the United States or reach the State Department's Consular Affairs line at 1-888-407-4747.
UK
Quote:A disgraced high school teacher is on trial in the UK for allegedly repeatedly sexually and physically abusing a 13-month-old he was in the process of adopting before smothering the baby to death.
Jamie Varley, 37, and his 32-year-old partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, were charged in the July 2023 death of little Preston Davey, who was described by prosecutors as a “perfectly healthy boy” before meeting the couple, BBC reported.
Preston was first placed in the care of Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley in April 2023 when he was just shy of 10 months old.
The couple, hailing from the coastal town of Blackpool, appeared to be “in a seemingly stable and loving relationship” when they were trusted with Preston, according to Prosecutor Peter Wright.
Wright grimly noted that they turned out to be “wholly unsuited to the role of adoptive parents,” which was only revealed when “it was too late” to save Preston.
Preston was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital in late July 2023, just over three months into his stay with Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley, while suffering from cardiac arrest.
He was pronounced dead within the hour. An autopsy, though, revealed his injuries were far more extensive than the cardiac episode.
Preston’s cause of death was linked to acute upper airways obstruction as a result of smothering. He had also sustained 40 traumatic injuries, including 30 external bruises and a fractured arm, Wright said.
He added that bruises on his thighs, later reviewed by medical experts, were “consistent with a slap with an open hand.” Others on his forehead aligned “with a gripping of the little boy’s head,” as reported by The Guardian.
A speedy investigation led authorities to Varley, who was charged with Preston’s murder.
The morning Preston died, Varley captured multiple images and videos of the visibly abused 13-month-old showing clear signs of respiratory distress while lying on a bed, Wright claimed, as reported by BBC.
Quote:A young woman who started vaping at the age of 15 has been given just 18 months to live — after being diagnosed with lung cancer in her early 20s.
Kayley Boda, 22, of Manchester, in the United Kingdom, was engaging in heavy vaping on a regular basis when she started coughing up a brown substance with “grainy bits” in it in January 2025, news agency SWNS reported.
The retail assistant said doctors turned her away eight times, telling her she had a chest infection — until she began coughing up blood.
After seven biopsies, Boda was diagnosed with lung cancer. She underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of her right lung, as well as chemotherapy — and in February 2026, got the all-clear, the same source reported.
Two months later, though, doctors said the cancer had come back in the pleural lining. Now she’s been given 18 months to live.
The young woman has now issued a warning to others to be aware of the dangers of vaping.
Boda said she smoked a bit as a young teenager. She took up vaping after that.
Then, “a few months after I switched from reusable vapes to disposable ones, I started coughing up brown, grainy mucus,” as SWNS reported.
“Doctors turned me away eight times with a chest infection…. Then I started coughing up blood, so they did an X-ray and found a shadow on my lung,” she added.
“They told me they were 99% sure, [since I was] so young, that it wasn’t cancer, so not to worry about it. When I got the results back, and they told me it was lung cancer, it felt so surreal.”
Boda said she was “very naive” before her diagnosis and thought that “something like this would never happen to me.”
She said that she had surgery to remove half of her right lung.
Quote:British police have arrested two teenagers in connection with a weekend arson attack on a synagogue in northwest London, as Jewish leaders express concern about a wave of incidents targeting their community.
Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes of London’s Metropolitan Police Service on Monday said officers arrested two young men, aged 19 and 17, overnight in relation to the attack on the Kenton United Synagogue in the borough of Harrow.
The department has made 15 arrests related to six attacks on Jewish targets and a Persian-language media organization critical of Iran’s government that occurred over the past few weeks, he said in an interview with the BBC.
One “serious line of inquiry” is that Iran is hiring local criminals to carry out these attacks amid tensions in the Middle East, including the US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic, Jukes said.
“We’ve seen a pattern with other actors of thugs for hire, people taking cash that looks like quick and easy money,” Jukes said. “This is part of the modern hybrid war fought by proxies.”
In the most recent incident, a bottle containing a flammable liquid was thrown through the window of the Harrow synagogue on Saturday night, causing smoke damage, police said.
Counterterrorism police are investigating the series of incidents, which began on March 23 when an arson attack destroyed four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity that serves people of all faiths in north London.
Police on Friday closed Kensington Gardens, a central London park visited by thousands of tourists and local residents every day, after a group that Israel has linked to Iran posted a video claiming Israel’s nearby London embassy was going to be attacked with drones carrying dangerous substances.
Police said the embassy was not attacked, but the force shut the park as officers examined discarded items including two jars containing powder. Police said nothing harmful was found.
Quote:A groom-to-be auctioned off his vintage Pokémon card collection in hopes it would reel in a couple hundred bucks — but wound up selling for enough to cover his entire dream wedding.
Andrew Braund, a teaching assistant in England, and his fiancée Rachel Moseley have spent months tirelessly planning their picture-perfect wedding.
Braund, 37, dusted off his old Pokémon card collection and explored selling it to help ease the financial burden of the bash.
He estimated it would be worth a measly £500, or $673, which would’ve been accurate, were it not for three rogue Charizard cards.
Charizard is a popular fire type from the first generation of Pokémon whose cards sell for anywhere from a couple hundred to tens of thousands of dollars a piece.
“When my friend told me how much the Charizard cards might be worth, I got quite lightheaded. I almost had a panic attack, quite frankly,” Braund told the Daily Journal.
All three of the cards were from the 2003 “Skyridge” series, hailed as one of the best ever produced in the company’s 30-year history. The holographic Charizard is the unofficial “chase” card and, in a perfect condition, can sell for upwards of $40,000.
Braund had the cards graded by PSA, a professional authenticating company. One holographic Charizard was somehow rated a nine, despite decades of poor storage, and sold for a whopping $21,250.
Another near-mint of the same card sold for $16,250. The third, a reverse-holographic Charizard from the same series, sold for $3,500, the outlet reported.
Each sold for at least $1,000 more than originally estimated, raking in a a potluck that crept over $40,000.
Braund was eager to part with the cards, noting that they had “the lowest sentimental value” compared to the favorites from his collection.
“The ones I loved as a kid look worn from being in my pockets all the time,” he said.
"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thessalonians 5:9
Maranatha!
The Internet might be either your friend or enemy. It just depends on whether or not she has a bad hair day.
![[Image: SP1-Scripter.png]](https://www.save-point.org/images/userbars/SP1-Scripter.png)
![[Image: SP1-Writer.png]](https://www.save-point.org/images/userbars/SP1-Writer.png)
![[Image: SP1-Poet.png]](https://www.save-point.org/images/userbars/SP1-Poet.png)
![[Image: SP1-PixelArtist.png]](https://www.save-point.org/images/userbars/SP1-PixelArtist.png)
![[Image: SP1-Reporter.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/GmxWbHyL/SP1-Reporter.png)
My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
Give me a free copy of your completed game if you include at least 3 of my scripts!
Just some scripts I've already published on the board...
KyoGemBoost XP VX & ACE, RandomEnkounters XP, KSkillShop XP, Kolloseum States XP, KEvents XP, KScenario XP & Gosu, KyoPrizeShop XP Mangostan, Kuests XP, KyoDiscounts XP VX, ACE & MV, KChest XP VX & ACE 2016, KTelePort XP, KSkillMax XP & VX & ACE, Gem Roulette XP VX & VX Ace, KRespawnPoint XP, VX & VX Ace, GiveAway XP VX & ACE, Klearance XP VX & ACE, KUnits XP VX, ACE & Gosu 2017, KLevel XP, KRumors XP & ACE, KMonsterPals XP VX & ACE, KStatsRefill XP VX & ACE, KLotto XP VX & ACE, KItemDesc XP & VX, KPocket XP & VX, OpenChest XP VX & ACE
Maranatha!
The Internet might be either your friend or enemy. It just depends on whether or not she has a bad hair day.
My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
Give me a free copy of your completed game if you include at least 3 of my scripts!
Just some scripts I've already published on the board...
KyoGemBoost XP VX & ACE, RandomEnkounters XP, KSkillShop XP, Kolloseum States XP, KEvents XP, KScenario XP & Gosu, KyoPrizeShop XP Mangostan, Kuests XP, KyoDiscounts XP VX, ACE & MV, KChest XP VX & ACE 2016, KTelePort XP, KSkillMax XP & VX & ACE, Gem Roulette XP VX & VX Ace, KRespawnPoint XP, VX & VX Ace, GiveAway XP VX & ACE, Klearance XP VX & ACE, KUnits XP VX, ACE & Gosu 2017, KLevel XP, KRumors XP & ACE, KMonsterPals XP VX & ACE, KStatsRefill XP VX & ACE, KLotto XP VX & ACE, KItemDesc XP & VX, KPocket XP & VX, OpenChest XP VX & ACE
