International

US indicts 17 Iranians over $20m cyber-theft campaign targeting 322 global institutions

Published

2 months ago

August 19, 2026

US indicts 17 Iranians over $20m cyber-theft campaign targeting 322 global institutions

Justice Department Unseals 14-Count Superseding Indictment Alleging Massive Hacking Operation Conducted on Behalf of Iranian Government and IRGC

The United States has charged 17 Iranian nationals in connection with an alleged massive cyber-theft campaign that targeted hundreds of universities, private companies, government agencies, and non-governmental organisations across the globe. The US Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that a 14-count superseding indictment had been unsealed against members of the Mabna Institute, an Iran-based company accused of conducting coordinated cyber intrusions since at least 2013, according to multiple reports.

The indictment, which has been assigned to US District Judge Jesse M. Furman in the Southern District of New York, represents one of the most extensive cyber-related prosecutions ever brought against Iranian actors. Nine of the 17 defendants were previously charged in a seven-count indictment announced in March 2018, while Tuesday’s superseding indictment adds eight additional defendants to the case, expanding the scope of the alleged criminal enterprise.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg stated that the defendants allegedly hacked universities and research institutions worldwide at the behest of entities including Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stealing large volumes of information and intellectual property. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also stated that the defendants allegedly operated a “hacking-for-hire” network targeting intellectual property belonging to American and allied universities, companies, and government agencies for the benefit of the Iranian government. The US authorities stressed that an indictment is merely an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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The alleged hacking campaign targeted a staggering number of victims globally, including 144 US-based universities and 178 foreign universities, totalling 322 academic institutions worldwide. The hackers are alleged to have targeted more than 100,000 university professor accounts globally and successfully compromised about 8,000 accounts across the identified universities. The campaign, which began around 2013 and continued through at least December 2017, targeted academic research and intellectual property across fields including science and technology, engineering, social sciences, and medicine.

The Justice Department said the hackers stole at least 31.5 terabytes of academic data and intellectual property, including journals, theses, dissertations, and electronic books. Some of the stolen material was allegedly sold through websites operated or affiliated with members of the conspiracy, transforming stolen academic resources into a profitable underground enterprise. Beyond universities, the defendants allegedly compromised employee email accounts at at least 42 US-based private companies, 11 foreign companies, and several government agencies and non-governmental organisations.

The alleged hacking campaign extended beyond academic institutions to include several high-profile government and non-governmental organisations. The Justice Department identified the following entities as among those targeted: the US Department of Labor, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the states of Hawaii and Indiana, the United Nations, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The superseding indictment also alleges that members of the group targeted HBO and were involved in hacking private companies and government entities, causing victims to incur more than $20 million in investigation and remediation costs.

A central element of the indictment is the alleged connection between the Mabna Institute and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Justice Department alleged that many of the cyber intrusions were conducted on behalf of the IRGC and other Iranian government and university clients. The Mabna Institute was founded around 2013 by Gholamreza Rafatnejad and Ehsan Mohammadi, according to the Justice Department. The organisation allegedly assisted Iranian universities and research institutions in obtaining unauthorised access to scientific resources outside Iran while also providing hacking services to Iranian government and private entities.

This mirrors actions taken by the US Treasury Department in March 2018, when it announced sanctions against the Mabna Institute and 10 individuals, stating that the group had been acting at the behest of the IRGC. The Treasury Department had also noted that one of the hackers involved had attempted to extort $6 million from a US media company and was previously indicted in November 2017, demonstrating a pattern of aggressive cyber-operations and financial extortion.

The US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice programme is offering up to $10 million for information leading to the location of five of the defendants: Behzad Mesri, Mojtaba Galekuhi, Arman Kahzadian, Keyvan Fayaz, and Saber Shahbazi Ballojeh. This substantial reward reflects the seriousness with which US authorities view these alleged cyber-operations and their commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The case highlights the persistent challenge of state-sponsored cyber-operations and the ongoing efforts by US authorities to hold perpetrators accountable through legal and financial measures. With the charged individuals believed to be outside the United States and no extradition treaty with Iran, their apprehension remains uncertain. However, the US continues to pursue international cooperation and legal avenues to bring them to justice, signalling that such cyber-operations will not go unanswered.

US indicts 17 Iranians over $20m cyber-theft campaign targeting 322 global institutions

International

400 French Schools Shut as Students Protest Teacher Shortages, Poor Facilities

Published

18 hours ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

400 French Schools Shut as Students Protest Teacher Shortages, Poor Facilities

Students across France have staged demonstrations over what they describe as deteriorating conditions in the country’s public schools, including overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, poor facilities and inadequate funding.

The protests, which began in the Paris region, have spread to several cities, including Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon, Lille, Rennes and Toulouse, disrupting activities in hundreds of schools.

Students have blocked school entrances and staged demonstrations outside their schools, while some protests have escalated into clashes with police, vandalism and fires.

Authorities said the unrest had affected more than 1,000 high schools, with about 400 schools expected to remain closed because of blockades or damage.

The students’ complaints centre on several issues affecting their daily learning experience. They have reported classrooms with as many as 35 to 40 students, shortages of teachers and other school staff, damaged buildings and inadequate classroom facilities.

Some students have also complained about long school days, staff absences and periods without teachers for particular subjects.

At some schools, students and parents have raised concerns about the condition of buildings, including leaks and other maintenance problems. Complaints have also been made about uncomfortable classroom temperatures during periods of hot weather.

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The demonstrations have, however, been accompanied by incidents of violence and vandalism in some locations. Police have reported confrontations with protesters, while some school entrances and surrounding property have been damaged.

France’s Education Ministry said 65 education workers, including 40 school heads, had been injured during the unrest. Police officers have also sustained injuries in some clashes.

French authorities said more than 2,000 people had been arrested since the protests began, with most of those detained reported to be teenagers.

The government has acknowledged concerns about school conditions and education resources, while condemning acts of violence and destruction. Officials have also warned that violent groups could exploit the demonstrations.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray has announced plans for discussions involving students, teachers’ unions and parents to address concerns raised during the protests.

The unrest has also brought attention to France’s proposed 2027 education budget. The planned allocation is expected to increase by 1.7 per cent to about €65.53 billion, excluding teacher pensions, although the increase is below the current inflation rate.

Teachers’ unions have separately announced a nationwide strike, adding pressure on the government to address concerns over staffing, working conditions and education funding.

While students have continued to demand improvements in their schools, the authorities are working to restore normal operations in affected institutions and prevent further violence.

The protests have placed France’s education system under renewed scrutiny, with the availability of teachers, classroom sizes, school infrastructure and education funding emerging as central issues in the dispute.

400 French Schools Shut as Students Protest Teacher Shortages, Poor Facilities

International

Trump Threatens Iran With ‘Very Hard’ Response Over Flydubai Attack

Published

1 day ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

US President Donald Trump

Trump Threatens Iran With ‘Very Hard’ Response Over Flydubai Attack

US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would face a “very hard” response if investigators establish that Tehran was connected to the attempted attack on a Flydubai passenger aircraft bound for Israel.

Trump made the statement on Thursday as authorities continued investigating the motive behind the Flydubai cockpit attack, in which the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and caused the aircraft to plunge thousands of feet before passengers and other crew members intervened.

Asked at the White House whether the co-pilot had links to Iran, Trump indicated that investigators were examining the possibility.

“Based on what I’m hearing, yes,” Trump said, while stressing that the matter was still being investigated. He later warned that Iran would be hit “very hard” if Tehran was found to have been involved.

The incident occurred on Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv, Israel, on September 30.

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The aircraft was carrying more than 170 passengers when the co-pilot, identified by Israeli authorities as an Omani national, allegedly attacked the captain in the cockpit. The aircraft then entered a steep descent, dropping more than 14,000 feet in about 30 seconds, according to reports.

The injured captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and overpower the co-pilot. Passengers and crew then helped stabilise the aircraft, while reserve pilots aboard the flight took control.

The aircraft eventually made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the injured captain received medical attention and the suspect was taken into custody.

The incident has generated competing assessments over the possible motive. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the co-pilot appeared to have been radicalised, but he also indicated that it was too early to determine whether Iran was involved.

The United Arab Emirates has launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, including whether it involved terrorism, prior planning or direction from an outside actor. Authorities have yet to publicly establish an Iranian role.

Reuters reported that the motive remained unclear, while investigators from several countries were examining the incident. Flydubai has also suspended its flights between Dubai and Israel as investigations continue. (Reuters)

The incident comes amid heightened US-Iran tensions, with Washington already increasing its military presence in the Middle East. Trump’s warning has therefore added to concerns that confirmation of an Iranian connection could trigger further escalation.

For now, however, the alleged Iran-Flydubai link remains under investigation, and no publicly released evidence has established that Tehran directed or supported the cockpit attack. (AP News)

Trump Threatens Iran With ‘Very Hard’ Response Over Flydubai Attack

International

Israeli Actor, Flight Instructor Among Two Killed In California Plane Crash

Published

3 days ago

September 30, 2026

Trends Admin

Israeli Actor, Flight Instructor Among Two Killed In California Plane Crash

Israeli actor and flight instructor Guy Kapulnik, 46, and his passenger, Taylor Laska, 33, have died after a light aircraft crashed into a field in California, United States.

The fatal crash occurred on Thursday, September 24, 2026, near Hesperia in San Bernardino County.

Emergency responders were alerted to the crash shortly before 10am after the small aircraft went down in an open field.

Both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.

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The aircraft, identified as a single-engine Aeronca 7AC Champion, crashed near Summit Valley Road and Telephone Canyon Road, about three miles from Hesperia Airport.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, but the cause of the crash had not been established as of Wednesday.

Kapulnik was not only a pilot and flight instructor but also an actor who appeared in several Israeli and international film productions.

He trained at the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Jerusalem before building a career in the entertainment industry. His acting credits included Room 514, Salsa Tel Aviv, Watch Over Me and Lebanon.

After moving to Los Angeles, Kapulnik continued acting while pursuing his passion for aviation. He obtained his pilot’s licence and later became a certified flight instructor.

His aviation career saw him teach aspiring pilots, with friends and former students describing him as passionate about flying and committed to helping others learn.

Kapulnik had also previously served as an officer in Israel’s elite Unit 669, a specialised search-and-rescue unit.

His death has triggered an outpouring of tributes from friends, colleagues and people who knew him through aviation and acting.

Those who knew him remembered him as an adventurous and energetic man who pursued several passions throughout his life, including acting, flying and life at sea.

The passenger, Laska, was also killed in the crash.

Investigators from the relevant aviation authorities are continuing to examine the wreckage and circumstances surrounding the incident to determine what caused the aircraft to crash.

Kapulnik’s funeral is expected to take place in Israel.