New York
Two Philadelphia teenagers, Emir Balat (18) and Ibrahim Kayumi (19), were charged with federal terrorism offenses after attempting to detonate IEDs packed with explosives outside Gracie Mansion during an anti-Muslim protest. Prosecutors say the pair hoped to surpass the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing’s death toll (three fatalities) and pledged allegiance to ISIS after arrest.
Balat allegedly threw lit devices—one handed by Kayumi—while shouting threats; both failed to explode and were later safely detonated by NYPD. Bodycam footage captured Kayumi saying “ISIS” when asked his motive. A notebook in their car listed bomb components and TATP explosives. The suspects drove from Pennsylvania, with Kayumi’s family filing a missing-persons report. Both face life sentences if convicted; trial is pending.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman used his State of the County address to tout his anti-crime and pro-ICE policies while taking shots at Gov. Kathy Hochul. He boasted Nassau is “not a sanctuary county,” highlighting joint operations with federal agents that removed over 2,000 “criminal” migrants since last year and a 7% drop in major crime. Blakeman also noted no tax increases for four years, 600 new law enforcement hires, and seven bond rating upgrades. He criticized Hochul for spending billions on migrant programs and vowed to end such policies statewide if elected governor. Nassau Democrats called the speech “political theater” prioritizing his 2026 ambitions over county needs, accusing him of ignoring Democratic requests on infrastructure and public safety grants.
Approximately 20 Orthodox Jewish teachers in New York City lost a grievance against the Department of Education after their request for a religious observance day during Passover was denied. The DOE required them to use personal or vacation leave instead, departing from what United Jewish Teachers President Moshe Spern described as decades of established practice. Spern cited a 1999 arbitration ruling that had previously accommodated such absences without penalty. He criticized the decision as inconsistent and disrespectful to religious obligations, arguing it forces observant educators to choose between faith and employment benefits.
A group of Jewish teenagers was assaulted outside a Manhattan pizzeria near Broadway and 40th Street after one ordered a “kosher” slice, according to attorney Andrew C. Laufer, who represents the victims’ neighbor. Laufer said the assailants hurled antisemitic slurs before attacking the boys. The pizzeria owner called police, leading to the arrest of the suspects. No serious injuries were reported. Laufer condemned the silence surrounding rising antisemitism, stating, “Our kids are paying the price.” He did not name the pizzeria or release suspect details. The NYPD is investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
Neil Hurlock, 20, with a prior criminal record, was arrested at his home in Brooklyn and charged with multiple hate crimes for allegedly assaulting a 54-year-old Jewish commuter on a southbound N train at Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center station Monday morning. Police say Hurlock punched the victim repeatedly, ripped off his yarmulke, and shouted antisemitic remarks before fleeing with the yarmulke. Investigators identified him through station surveillance footage. The victim sustained minor injuries but did not require hospitalization. Hurlock faces charges including assault as a hate crime, robbery, and menacing. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is leading the investigation.
U.S.
President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base for six U.S. soldiers killed in action during ongoing operations in the Middle East. The solemn ritual, one of the most somber duties of a commander in chief, involved the respectful return of the fallen service members’ remains to American soil. Trump, joined by grieving families and military officials, observed the process as caskets were carried from aircraft to waiting vehicles. During his first term, Trump described such ceremonies as “the toughest thing I have to do” as president.
A Southwest Airlines flight from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale was diverted to Atlanta after the crew reported a passenger disturbance. The FBI confirmed there was no bomb threat involved. The passenger, who was speaking in his native language, was removed by police upon landing but faced no criminal charges. Flight 2094 touched down safely at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Passengers remained on the ground for more than 80 minutes before the plane resumed its journey to Fort Lauderdale early. The airline has not released additional details about the nature of the disturbance or the passenger’s identity.
The U.S. military has lost two more MQ-9 Reaper drones in Operation Epic Fury, increasing the total number destroyed in the conflict to 11. The latest incidents bring the combined replacement cost of the downed Reapers to more than $330 million, with each drone valued at approximately $30 million. The Reapers, unmanned aerial vehicles used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strikes, have been a key asset in ongoing operations but remain vulnerable to advanced air defenses and electronic warfare.
President Donald Trump informally polled about 25 Republican donors and allies at a recent Mar-a-Lago gathering on their preference for the 2028 GOP presidential nominee, asking whether they favored Secretary of State Marco Rubio or Vice President JD Vance. According to multiple attendees cited by NBC News, the room overwhelmingly supported Rubio, erupting in loud cheers when his name was mentioned. Trump did not express a personal preference during the discussion and made no formal endorsement. The straw poll reflects early jockeying among prominent Trump-era figures, with Rubio’s diplomatic experience and Vance’s close association with the president both viewed as assets.
American employers unexpectedly cut 92,000 jobs in February 2026, signaling continued strain in the labor market despite earlier gains. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.4% from January’s level, the Labor Department reported Friday. January’s job growth was revised down to 126,000 from an initial estimate. Economists had forecasted a modest increase of 60,000 jobs for February, making the contraction a significant miss. The weakness was widespread across sectors, with manufacturing and retail particularly hard-hit amid high interest rates and softening consumer demand. The report reinforces caution around the economic recovery, though some analysts note seasonal factors and weather disruptions may have contributed to the decline. The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain its current policy stance pending further data.
Israel
Iran launched a ballistic missile at central Israel, believed to have carried a cluster bomb warhead, causing injuries at two impact sites. Magen David Adom reported six people hurt, including one man in his 40s seriously wounded in Tel Aviv and a 25-year-old plus a 56-year-old injured in Petach Tikva. Police identified more than a dozen impact points across the region, consistent with sub-munitions dispersal. First responders treated victims on scene before hospital transport. The IDF confirmed intercepting most incoming projectiles but noted some penetrated defenses. No fatalities occurred. Israeli authorities are investigating the warhead type and origin as part of the ongoing response to Iranian aggression.
The IDF struck Hezbollah command centers and associated infrastructure in the southern Lebanon town of Ansar, targeting sites from which the terror group launched rockets toward northern Israel. The precision airstrikes, conducted by fighter jets, destroyed multiple buildings used for coordination, weapons storage, and planning attacks on Israeli civilians and military positions. The IDF stated the operation directly responded to repeated violations of the November 2024 ceasefire and UN Resolution 1701, which prohibits Hezbollah military presence south of the Litani River. No Israeli casualties were reported from the rocket fire or the strikes. Hezbollah confirmed the loss of infrastructure but claimed no senior operatives were harmed.
The IDF struck and eliminated Hezbollah’s Nasr Unit commander, Abu Hussein Ra’ab, in an overnight airstrike, Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed. Ra’ab led Hezbollah’s elite unit responsible for operations against Israeli targets. Katz reported over one million Lebanese civilians heeded Israeli evacuation warnings, with approximately 650,000 leaving Beirut’s southern suburbs and 500,000 fleeing southern Lebanon ahead of strikes on Hezbollah positions. The warnings aimed to minimize civilian casualties while targeting terrorist infrastructure. Katz stated Israel will persist with operations against Hezbollah to restore security in northern Israel and enforce the ceasefire.
Two people were killed and one seriously wounded in central Israel during Iran’s latest missile barrage on Monday, Magen David Adom confirmed. Iranian ballistic missiles, reportedly armed with cluster munitions, struck at least six sites, scattering submunitions that evaded some defenses and caused civilian casualties. Rescue teams treated victims on scene before hospital transfers; the seriously injured individual remains in critical condition. The IDF reported intercepting the majority of incoming projectiles, though several penetrated, triggering widespread shelter alerts and secondary explosions. No military personnel were harmed in the attack. Israeli officials condemned the strike as a direct escalation, with Prime Minister Netanyahu vowing a forceful response to restore deterrence.
WORLD
Iranian state media announced that Mojtaba Khamenei, the 55-year-old son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been named the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. The decision follows the killing of Ali Khamenei in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike. Mojtaba, long considered a leading candidate despite lacking formal clerical rank comparable to his father, was selected by the Assembly of Experts in an emergency session. He has wielded significant behind-the-scenes influence for years, particularly in security and intelligence affairs. Iranian officials framed the succession as ensuring continuity and stability during a period of external aggression. Opposition figures and exiled dissidents dismissed the move as an illegitimate power grab, predicting increased internal repression.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abouel Gheit strongly condemned Iran for launching missile and drone strikes against several Arab countries during its ongoing conflict with the U.S. and Israel. In a virtual meeting of Arab foreign ministers, Abouel Gheit stated that Iran’s attacks on Arab neighbors “can’t be justified” and represent a “reckless policy” that threatens regional stability and violates Arab sovereignty. He criticized Tehran for escalating tensions beyond its direct adversaries, endangering innocent civilians and infrastructure in Arab states. The remarks reflect growing frustration among Arab governments over Iran’s aggressive actions, including recent missile barrages that targeted Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Abouel Gheit called for unified Arab opposition to such provocations while urging de-escalation to prevent a wider war.
An Iranian ballistic missile was launched toward Turkish territory and was successfully intercepted by NATO air defense systems. The missile, part of Iran’s retaliatory barrage following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was downed before reaching populated areas, with no casualties or damage reported. Turkish officials condemned the attack as an unprovoked violation of sovereignty and a direct threat to NATO’s southeastern flank. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed the alliance’s collective defense mechanisms were activated, marking the first instance of an Iranian missile targeting a NATO member state.
Iraq’s national power grid experienced a complete nationwide blackout, the Electricity Ministry announced, with the cause still under investigation and no immediate restoration timeline provided. The shutdown affected all 24 governorates, halting electricity supply to homes, hospitals, businesses, and water treatment plants. Officials ruled out sabotage or external attack in initial assessments but have not excluded technical failure, overload, or cyber intrusion. Emergency generators at critical facilities were activated, though fuel shortages limited their effectiveness in many areas. The ministry urged citizens to conserve power and avoid unnecessary usage once supply resumes. This marks Iraq’s most severe grid collapse since 2022.
France has deployed around a dozen naval vessels, including an aircraft carrier strike group led by the Charles de Gaulle, to the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and potentially the Strait of Hormuz. The mission provides defensive support to allies amid escalating regional tensions following Iranian missile attacks on Israel and shipping threats from Houthi forces. French officials described the deployment as a show of solidarity with partners and a commitment to freedom of navigation in critical waterways. The carrier group includes frigates, destroyers, and support ships equipped with advanced air-defense systems. This marks France’s largest naval presence in the region in recent years.
Harley Finkelstein, president of Shopify and a prominent Jewish philanthropist who keeps his net worth private, announced significant weekend donations to multiple Chabad on Campus centers across Canada. The contributions aim to support student programming, mental health resources, and community events at universities amid heightened global antisemitism concerns. The move follows recent controversy sparked by U.S. commentator Tucker Carlson’s remarks questioning Chabad’s influence and motives, which drew widespread criticism from Jewish organizations and leaders. Finkelstein, a longtime Chabad supporter, described the funding as an affirmation of the movement’s positive role in fostering Jewish identity and campus inclusion. Chabad representatives expressed gratitude for the timely support, noting increased demand for their services at Canadian universities.