Mojtaba Khamenei named Iran’s new supreme leader after father’s death
Iran’s Assembly of Experts has elected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new supreme leader, according to Iranian state television.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is the second-eldest son of Ali Khamenei and was born in Mashhad in 1969.
His early childhood coincided with his father’s rise as a revolutionary figurehead opposing the monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
After the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Ali Khamenei moved from a dissident cleric to a senior government official, holding key posts in the regime including deputy defense minister.
The family moved from Mashhad to Tehran, where Mojtaba attended Alavi High School, which is a school that is known for educating members of Iran’s political and religious elite.
There, he received a general and religious education and graduated in 1987. In 1989, after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Ali Khamenei was appointed supreme leader.
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That same year, Mojtaba began his formal clerical studies in Tehran. He studied under his father as well as Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, who later served as Iran’s chief justice.
Over the years, Mojtaba was seen constantly with his father and was also regarded as an influential figure behind the scenes.
In an Axios interview last week, when asked about reports suggesting Mojtaba Khamenei was the new supreme leader, President Donald Trump said, “Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone who will bring harmony and peace to Iran.” Trump also said “They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela.”
In 2019, the U.S. sanctioned Mojtaba Khamenei under Executive Order 13867. The U.S. Treasury Department stated that he had been “representing the supreme leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position aside from work in the office of his father.”
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The Treasury also said that the supreme leader had delegated part of his leadership responsibilities to Mojtaba.
It said he worked closely with commanders of the IRGC’s Quds Force and the Basij Resistance Force, positioning him as a key player in both domestic and international security affairs.
Mojtaba is married to the daughter of former Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel.
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Among Ali Khamenei’s sons, he is considered the most powerful and politically influential, according to reports.
Jesse Jackson’s son rips three presidents after emotional memorial service
During his father’s memorial service on Saturday, Jesse Jackson Jr. offered a sharp rebuke of the tributes given by former Democratic presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, noting that the trio shared one thing in common: they didn’t really know his father.
“Yesterday I listened for several hours of three United States presidents who do not know Jesse Jackson,” Jackson Jr. said on Saturday.
The reverend’s son called out the idea that his father’s life wasn’t defined by the “political order,” but by a commitment to those who were marginalized.
“He maintained a tense relationship with the political order, not because the presidents were White or Black, but the demands of our message, the demands of speaking for the least of these — those who are disinherited, the damned, the dispossessed, the disrespected — demanded not Democratic or Republican solutions, but demanded a consistent, prophetic voice that at no point in time sold us out as a people,” Jackson Jr. continued.
Jesse Jackson died at the age of 84 on February 17 in Chicago.
Following the death of Rev. Jackson, his son held a press conference where he requested politics be kept out of the services, and the focus to be kept on Jackson’s legacy.
“Do not bring your politics out of respect to Rev. Jesse Jackson, and the life that he lived, to these ongoing services. Come respectful, and come to say thank you. But these ongoing services are welcome to ALL—Democrat, Republican, liberal, and conservative. Right-wing, left-wing. Because his life is broad enough to cover the full spectrum of what it means to be an American,” Jackson Jr. said in February, one day after his father’s death.
Among the notable attendees paying their respects in Chicago for the late Rev. Jesse Jackson — a longtime civil rights leader, two-time Democratic presidential candidate and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition — included former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Rev. Al Sharpton and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
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Obama, Clinton and Biden each spoke at Jackson’s funeral.
Obama reportedly took aim at President Donald Trump during his speech, saying “every day we wake up to some new assault on our democratic institutions.”
Bill Clinton called Jackson a friend, and recalled his conversation with the reverend during his impeachment.
Biden told mourners at Rev. Jesse Jackson’s memorial service Friday that he is “a h— of a lot smarter than most of you,” a pointed remark that stood out during his tribute to the late civil rights leader. Biden made the comment while recounting how he was mocked as a child for his stutter and how speech impediments are often mistaken for a lack of intelligence.
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Overall, the memorial largely focused on Jackson’s legacy as a civil rights leader who helped shape the modern Democratic Party and broaden political participation in the United States.
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NYC bomb suspects allegedly shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ before explosive attack
The NYPD announced Sunday that a third suspicious device has been recovered as part of an ongoing investigation into an improvised explosive device (IED) thrown during dueling protests outside Gracie Mansion a day earlier.
Police said officers identified a suspicious device inside a vehicle on East End Avenue between 81st and 82nd streets and temporarily evacuated nearby buildings while the Bomb Squad assessed the threat.
“The NYPD has safely removed the suspicious device from the area for further testing, and those who were evacuated are now allowed to return to their residences. The area remains closed to vehicular traffic,” the NYPD wrote on X.
FBI New York confirmed Sunday evening the second device recovered near Gracie Mansion has also been identified as an IED.
Earlier Sunday, city officials said one of the confirmed devices was capable of causing “serious injury or death.”
The incident unfolded Saturday morning near East End Avenue and East 87th Street, steps from Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
One protest was organized by right-wing activist Jake Lang to oppose public Muslim prayer. Counter-protesters also gathered nearby. Although police initially kept the groups separated, tensions escalated after pepper spray was deployed during a confrontation.
Approximately 30 minutes later, authorities say an 18-year-old counter-protester ignited and threw a device toward the protest area.
Police say the 18-year-old then retrieved a second device from a 19-year-old, lit it, and attempted to flee. Both suspects — Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi — were taken into custody.
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Three federal law enforcement sources told Fox News that one suspect allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” before igniting and throwing the IED.
The devices thrown near Gracie Mansion were allegedly charged with TATP (triacetone triperoxide), retired NYPD inspector Fox News contributor Paul Mauro told Fox News Digital, citing multiple sources.
“[TATP] is a favorite of real terrorists, and not something two street-level knuckleheads would likely produce,” Mauro said. “This was no M-80 wrapped in nails and tape. It’s very hard to detect, very powerful, and extremely unstable.”
The NYPD Bomb Squad X-rayed two of the devices and rendered them safe. They are now being transported to Quantico for further analysis, Mauro said.
He also noted that a vehicle registered to a relative of one of the suspects was located in the Upper East Side area.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has not issued a public statement about the bomb incident, but condemned protester Jake Lang, who he called a “White supremacist.”
“Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism. Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our city’s values and the unity that defines who we are,” Mamdani said.
Lang claims the bombs were thrown at him and his supporters by pro-Islam protesters.
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Trump ally in Europe dissolves parliament amid growing constitutional crisis
The Balkan nation of Kosovo is facing a constitutional crisis after a deadline passed for electing a new head of state. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, an ally of President Donald Trump, dissolved parliament and called for snap elections.
With conflicts raging around the globe and pressure on the NATO contingent based in the West Balkan nation to keep the peace, Osmani told reporters that “precisely because the geopolitical situation is that complex, it is important to finish this electoral process which is coming up. It is very hard now to imagine what will happen next,” she said, according to Kiro7.
Trump recently praised Kosovo’s president for the “great job” she is doing in her country in a February speech. Osmani accepted an invitation from Trump to join the Board of Peace in January and has pledged resources to the International Stabilization Force for Gaza.
Kosovo faces another possible domestic change that could impact Osmani’s standing. There is chatter of an impending reduction or reorganization of the international NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, which has been in place since 1999 to stabilize the country following war in the Balkans.
The commander of the peacekeeping force, Maj. Gen. Özkan Ulutaş, said in February that the U.S. does not plan to reduce its troop numbers in Kosovo, according to Reporteri. About 600 American troops are currently deployed in the country.
Following Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008, tensions between the countries have remained high.
Former Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko told Fox News Digital, “Kosovo needs governance and then a compromise for the election of the president.” He said he “hopes that the Constitutional Court will provide a solution.”
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The Kosovo Parliament has been besieged by stalemate for more than a year. Balkan Insight reported that a February 2025 poll failed to result in the formation of a government. Snap elections in December resulted in a win for the Vetevendosje party of Prime Minister Albin Kurti, but the party could not garner enough support from the opposition to elect a president.
Friday’s vote failed because the session fell 14 members short of a quorum. Opposition members boycotted the vote because they did not support Kurti’s nominee, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo Glauk Konjufca.
Osmani met with opposition party leaders Friday, a meeting Kurti chose not to attend. The prime minister said that “there should be a failure to elect a president in the third round before dissolving parliament and going to new elections.”
Kurti’s party has appealed to the Constitutional Court for a review of the constitutionality of the election process, according to the European Western Balkans site.
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New elections may be held as early as April 5, opposition leader Ramush Haradinaj suggested.
Majko told Fox News Digital that he does not see the debate between the parties as a problem, explaining that their ranking in the elections would not change even if they were held again. He said the idea of early elections is an exhausting political crisis that does not produce solutions.
US military sinks another drug boat on suspected narco-terrorists, killing 6
The Pentagon on Sunday announced that U.S. forces have carried out a lethal strike on a vessel allegedly carrying suspected narco-traffickers in the Eastern Pacific, killing six people on board.
The U.S. Southern Command said it conducted “a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations” at the direction of the new leader of the Southern Command, Gen. Francis L. Donovan of the Marine Corps, who took over in January.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the Southern Command said in a press release.
Six men on the ship were killed but no U.S. forces died in the attack on the vessel, according to the Southern Command.
The latest strike brings the death toll in the Trump administration’s attacks on ships carrying people it accuses of drug smuggling to at least 156, according to The New York Times.
This was the 45th strike since the U.S. began targeting boats in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific in early September and comes amid a recent increase in the pace of strikes, the newspaper reported.
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The attack on Sunday was one of the deadliest boat strikes the military has conducted in recent weeks.
“Going on offense with Operation Southern Spear has restored deterrence against the narco-terrorist cartels that profited from poisoning Americans,” Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said last week. “Last month, we went a few weeks without targeting a single boat. Why? Well, because we couldn’t find a whole lot of boats to sink, and that’s the whole point is to establish deterrence from narco-terrorists who have been able to traffic almost unfettered.”
The Pentagon has refused to release the identities of those killed in the strikes since last fall or provide evidence of drugs on board.
The administration has been scrutinized in recent months over the strikes, including by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has raised concerns about killing people without due process and the possibility of killing innocent people.
“I look at my colleagues who say they’re pro-life, and they value God’s inspiration in life, but they don’t give a s‑‑- about these people in the boats,” Paul said in January. “Are they terrible people in the boats? I don’t know. They’re probably poor people in Venezuela and Colombia.”
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The senator previously cited Coast Guard statistics that show a significant percentage of boats boarded on suspicion of drug trafficking are innocent.
Pennsylvania state trooper gunned down during traffic stop, Gov Shapiro says
A Pennsylvania state trooper was shot and killed on Sunday night while conducting a traffic stop in Chester County, according to officials.
The shooting happened in West Caln Township shortly after 9 p.m. during a traffic stop near Compass and Michael roads.
Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that the trooper, identified as Timothy O’Connor, died from the shooting.
“I am profoundly saddened to announce that tonight, Pennsylvania State Police family lost a son, lost a hero, and lost a dedicated public servant,” Shapiro said at a press briefing.
“Corporal Timothy O’Connor is killed tonight doing what he’s dedicated his life to. And that is serving others, keeping our community safe, looking out for his fellow Pennsylvanians, especially right here in Chester County,” he continued. “Our entire Commonwealth, State Police family, Chester County, are mourning the loss of Corporal O’Connor.”
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Chester County Commissioner Eric Roe said he was praying for the trooper.
“Chester County’s brave police officers put their lives on the line for us every day. I thank all of them for their extraordinary bravery and sacrifice,” Roe said on Facebook.
Rams splurge on newly acquired star with record $31M per year deal after trade
The Los Angeles Rams not only traded for Trent McDuffie – they just made him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
When the Rams struck a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs last week, they addressed a key need this offseason. But McDuffie was only set for one more year with his fifth-year option picked up by Kansas City, though reports said both sides would likely agree to an extension.
The Rams and McDuffie agreed to a four-year, $124 million extension, including $100 million in guaranteed money, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
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In turn, McDuffie is now the highest-paid at his position in the league with an average annual value of $31 million in new money. He will be paid $13.6 million in 2026 on his fifth-year option.
The Rams sent over their No. 29 pick in this year’s NFL Draft to acquire McDuffie, as well as 2026 fifth- and sixth-round selections and a 2027 third-round pick.
McDuffie, a First-team All-Pro in 2023, has Super Bowl pedigree, playing a starting role in the secondary for two rings as part of the Chiefs’ dominance in recent seasons. He set a career-high in tackles last season (63), while totaling seven passes defended, one sack, and one forced fumble.
For his early career, McDuffie has 34 passes defended, eight forced fumbles, 5.5 sacks and 246 combined tackles. He is one of the best at his position, which is why Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tweeted, “damn,” after news broke that McDuffie was moving out west.
McDuffie, though, heads back home, having been born in Westminster, California, which is part of Orange County. He even discussed the possibility of playing somewhere other than Kansas City, hoping, if anything, he would be going back to California.
“If I could play for another team, I’d probably want to play close to my family, so that would probably be the L.A. Rams so that my family could come see every single game,” McDuffie said during a back-to-school event in August 2025, per ESPN.
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McDuffie’s deal comes before what’s expected to be a hectic free agent period, beginning on Monday when the legal tampering window opens at noon ET. During that time, players and teams are allowed to agree to terms on an extension, which would clear when the new league year begins on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET.
Ancient herb known as ‘nature’s Valium’ touted for improving sleep and anxiety
Valerian, an herbal supplement long used for sleep and relaxation, has been referred to as “nature’s Valium” — but experts are divided on whether it truly compares to the prescription sedative.
The herb, which is sold as a dietary supplement in the U.S., is a common ingredient in products marketed as “mild sedatives” and sleep aids, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Valium, the brand name for diazepam, is used to treat anxiety, seizures and muscle spasms by calming the nervous system, Cleveland Clinic notes.
Valerian supplements are derived from the roots of Valeriana officinalis, a flowering plant native to Europe and Asia that has also naturalized in northeastern America, according to the American Botanical Council (ABC).
The plant has a “long history of medicinal use,” per the ABC, with the primary goal of reducing anxiety and stress as well as improving sleep quality. It has historically also been used for migraines, fatigue and stomach cramps.
Dried valerian roots can be prepared as teas or tinctures, while other plant materials and extracts have been distributed as capsules or tablets, per the NIH.
The agency noted, however, that there is a “relatively small amount of research” investigating the herb’s impact on various conditions.
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However, Stefan Gafner, Ph.D., chief science officer of the American Botanical Council in Texas, confirmed that some clinical trials have explored valerian root’s effects.
A 2020 medical review published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine found that both powdered root and root extracts show a “clear” benefit in treating anxiety, Gafner told Fox News Digital.
The researchers concluded that valerian could be a “safe and effective herb to promote sleep and prevent associated disorders.”
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While valerian may have some benefits, Gafner said he doesn’t think it “makes sense” to compare it to diazepam (Valium).
“I can understand that both are used to relieve anxiety, but valerian is a much milder ingredient, and is really used for mild cases of anxiety and sleep issues,” he told Fox News Digital.
Unlike valerian, diazepam carries a risk of dependence and is generally prescribed short-term, the expert said, and the spectrum of potential adverse effects is “very different.”
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Gafner said he “absolutely” recommends the use of valerian root to relieve anxiety and stress and to improve sleep.
“I have used it myself and I believe it’s an ingredient with well-documented benefits, especially for people with problems falling asleep,” he said. “It is well-tolerated and very safe… although some sources caution [against] driving a car or using heavy machinery when using valerian.”
Dr. Joseph Mercola, a board-certified family medicine osteopathic physician and author of the new book “Weight Loss Cure,” said valerian’s comparisons to Valium may “exaggerate what the science actually shows.”
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“Valerian root contains compounds that appear to enhance calming brain chemicals, particularly the neurotransmitter GABA, which helps quiet nerve activity and supports relaxation,” the Florida-based expert told Fox News Digital.
“Some studies do report modest improvements in sleep quality or shorter time to fall asleep, while others find no meaningful difference compared with placebo.”
Side effects may include headaches, dizziness, digestive upset or next-day grogginess, Mercola noted, adding that he would not recommend it as a primary strategy for anxiety, stress or sleep.
“Because long-term safety studies remain limited, and supplement quality varies widely, you should approach valerian with caution rather than view it as a universal sleep solution,” he advised.
“You should approach valerian with caution rather than view it as a universal sleep solution.”
“I encourage people to focus first on strategies that correct the underlying drivers of poor sleep,” Mercola advised. “When you fix those foundations, you often find that you no longer need an herbal sedative at all.”
“Bright sunlight during the day helps regulate your circadian rhythm and signals your brain to produce melatonin later at night,” he said. “At the same time, complete darkness [at night] supports the hormonal signals that allow deep, restorative sleep.”
Certain nutrients can also promote relaxation and sleep quality, including magnesium, which helps to regulate the nervous system, according to the doctor.
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GABA may help to calm nerve activity, reduce stress markers and improve perceived sleep quality, Mercola said, while glycine — taken at about 3 grams an hour before bed — may support relaxation, promote the body’s nighttime temperature drop, and improve sleep onset and overall quality.
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“When you combine sunlight exposure, magnesium, GABA and glycine, you support the biological systems that control sleep instead of relying on a sedating herb with mixed evidence,” the doctor concluded.
Fox News Digital reached out to valerian root manufacturers requesting comment.
Jessica Alba flaunts romance with ‘Top Gun’ star in steamy Mexico getaway
Jessica Alba shared a peek at her loved-up getaway to Mexico City with boyfriend Danny Ramirez.
The actress posted a carousel of images from their fun-filled trip, which included exploring the city and going to restaurants together.
Alba shared sweet moments in the photo dump, including an image of herself kissing Ramirez on the cheek and another photo of Ramirez kissing her cheek.
The mother of three captioned the carousel: “The best week in one of my favorite cities – belly full, heart fuller #CDMX.”
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Alba stunned in a casual white top, cream cardigan, jeans and baseball cap as she enjoyed tacos.
They also walked around the city, and the star shared a sweet snap of them together – with Alba gazing lovingly at Ramirez.
Alba also posted artwork she saw, and historical pieces that featured Frida Kahlo.
She also sported an all-black ensemble for another day out exploring the city.
Alba and Ramirez were first seen together in May 2025, and were seen arriving back to Los Angeles from Cancún, Mexico in July.
According to an Us Weekly source, “they were friends before it turned romantic and have a lot of mutual friends.”
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They made their red carpet debut on Oct. 3, 2025, at the “Valentina” premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival.
Soon after, while the star was in Australia filming her new movie “The Mark,” Alba debuted her relationship with the Top Gun star.
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She shared a photo of her holding hands with Ramirez while walking down a wooden staircase leading to the beach.
Her Instagram post marked the first time they appeared together on social media.
Alba filed for divorce from her husband of 16 years, Cash Warren, in February 2025.