Iranian-American Woman Arrested at Los Angeles Airport
A 44-year-old California woman, Shamim Mafi of Woodland Hills, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night by federal agents.
Prosecutors allege she was involved in trafficking weapons on behalf of the Iranian government, arranging deals with contacts in Africa, including Sudan.
According to federal authorities, Mafi is accused of brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb components, and large quantities of ammunition. The charges were outlined by Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for California’s Central District, in a statement posted online.
Mafi, an Iranian national and U.S. permanent resident since 2016, reportedly maintained a residence in the United States while frequently traveling to Iran, Turkey, and Oman.
A criminal complaint states she previously lived in Istanbul between 2013 and 2016. During an interview with federal officials, she said her first husband had been an officer in Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security.
Investigators allege that Mafi and an unnamed associate arranged weapons deals through a company called Atlas International. These activities are said to have taken place in multiple locations, including California.
One deal described in the complaint involves the alleged sale of Iranian-made drones to Sudan’s Ministry of Defense, valued at more than €60 million. Authorities claim Mafi earned about €6 million for her role, which reportedly included coordinating travel for a Sudanese delegation to Iran.
Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war since 2023, a conflict that has caused massive civilian casualties and displaced millions.
Images cited in reports appear to show Mafi posing with weapons in a warehouse in Turkey, as well as spending time in California.
If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
Air Canada to Suspend Service to JFK in New York
Air Canada will suspend service to New York's JFK International airport over the summer as the war in Iran creates jet fuel shortages that have sent prices soaring.
Canada's flag carrier said Friday that service from Toronto and Montreal to JFK will cease June 1 and resume Oct. 25.
Service to the New York metropolitan area's two other airports — LaGuardia and Newark — will continue.
Air Canada says it will reach out to customers who are impacted by the suspension with alternate travel options.
As jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict and some lower profitability routes and flights are no longer economic.
The average price for a gallon of jet fuel reached $4.32 on Thursday, up from $2.50 the day before the war in Iran broke out, according to Argus Media.
Delta Air said this month that the tab for higher fuel would add $2 billion to its second-quarter costs. Airlines including JetBlue and United Airlines are raising bag fees to offset skyrocketing fuel costs, while others scale back service.
In an exclusive Associated Press interview Thursday, International Energy Agency Director Fatih Birol said Europe has “maybe six weeks” of remaining jet fuel supplies and said the global economy faces its “largest energy crisis.”
Carnival Corporation Hosts Fun Day in Grand Turk
Carnival Cruise Corporation has existed in the Turks and Caicos Islands particularly in the Nations Capital Grand Turk for 2 decades. This past Saturday the organization hosted a fun day, Our Danae Dennie has more.. Take a listen.
Grand Turk, the capital of the Turks & Caicos islands, may be small but it’s packed with scenic punch and historic charm. Carnival cruises to Grand Turk delivers you to this enchanted island outpost dotted with old windmills, grassy trails and picture-perfect beaches.
Diandra Gray Appointed Education Planner & Policy Manager
The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Diandra Gray to the post of Education Planner and Policy Manager within the Department of Education, under the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture.
Ms. Gray holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Management and Marketing (Hons) from the University of Hull. Most recently, she earned a Master’s Degree in Impact Evaluation for International Development from the University of East Anglia, providing her with specialised skills essential for her new responsibilities.
Beginning her career as an Insurance Administrator with the Financial Services Commission in 2014, Ms. Gray transitioned into the education sector in 2016 as a Scholarship Officer. Since 2018, she has served as the Assistant Education Policy and Planning Officer, gaining direct experience in the strategic development and evaluation of education policies.
Reflecting on her appointment, Ms. Gray shared, “It has been a privilege to contribute to the work of the Ministry of Education, TCIG and the Policy and Planning Unit - work grounded in purposeful strategy toward meaningful impact. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in an even greater capacity as Education Planner and Policy Manager. I step into this role with a deep sense of responsibility and with conviction that God is with me. With that assurance, I remain faithful to serving with integrity and vision for the continued advancement of our beautiful and resilient Turks and Caicos Islands.”
Her Excellency Anya Williams, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service of the Turks and Caicos Islands, commented on the appointment, stating, “I extend my sincere congratulations to Ms. Gray on her promotion to Education Planner and Policy Manager. Having served within the Policy and Planning Unit for several years, she has a clear understanding of the Ministry’s strategic goals. Her academic focus on impact evaluation will be instrumental in ensuring our education policies are effective and data-driven. We look forward to her continued leadership as we work to enhance the educational framework of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Congratulations again Ms. Gray on your well-deserved promotion”.
Premier Re-Arranges Ministerial Responsibilities
Premier - Honourable Charles Washington Misick, has formally communicated to Her Excellency the Governor, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, a re-arrangement of Ministerial responsibilities within the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.
The re-arrangement, provides for the reassignment of Departments and the structured alignment of statutory bodies under the respective Ministries, strengthening governance, accountability, and service delivery across Government.
The Ministry currently known as the Ministry of Home Affairs, Religious Affairs and Transportation has been redesignated as the Ministry of Home Affairs, comprising the following Departments and functions:
• Policy Planning and Administrative Support – Home Affairs
• Registrar General's Office
• Citizenship and Naturalization
• Department of Motor Vehicles
• District Administration – North Caicos
• District Administration – South Caicos
• District Administration – Middle Caicos
• District Administration – Salt Cay
Temporary oversight of the Ministry of Home Affairs has been assigned to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Immgration and Border Services Honourable Jamell Robinson.
The Ministry currently designated as the Ministry of Public Safety and Utilities shall be retitled the Ministry of Public Safety, Gender and Religious Affairs and Social Welfare, comprising the following Departments and functions:
• Policy Planning and Administrative Support – Public Safety, Gender and Religious Affairs and Social Welfare
• Postal Services
• Department of Correctional Services
• Fire and Rescue Department
• Department of Community Support and Engagement
• Department of Rehabilitation and Community Services
• Religious and Gender Affairs
• Department of Family and Children Services
• Civil Aviation Authority
• Air Traffic Licensing Authority
• Telecommunications Commission
In accordance with Sections 34(2)(b) and 36(1) of the Constitution, the appointment of the Honourable Shaun David Malcolm as Minister of Home Affairs, Religious Affairs and Transportation has been revoked, and he has been appointed as Minister for Public Safety, Gender and Religious Affairs and Social Welfare.
The Ministry of Innovation, Technology and Energy shall now assume responsibility for the Water Undertaking department in addition to its existing remit and that ministry falls under Hon. E Jay Saunders.
In a statement, the Premier said that These adjustments are both administrative and strategic in nature, designed to improve coordination across Ministries, strengthen accountability and oversight of Departments and statutory bodies, and enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of public service delivery.
The realignment ensures that Ministerial portfolios are more closely aligned with the Government's policy priorities and the needs of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The revised arrangements took effect on April 18th.
3 DAY PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST APRIL 20TH-22ND
Great Britain Celebrates Queen Elizabeth II - 100th Birthday Memorial
Britain's royal family is leading commemorations for what would be the 100th birthday of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Elizabeth, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, was born on April 21, 1926. She became queen at age 25 and went on to serve 70 years on the throne before her death in 2022 at age 96.
Elizabeth's eldest child, her son King Charles III, kicked off remembrances for his late mom on Monday with a visit to a new fashion exhibit at Buckingham Palace, "Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style," alongside his wife, Queen Camilla.
Today, Tuesday April 21st, Elizabeth's birthday, Charles will deliver a recorded video message marking the occasion and will join members of the royal family in viewing designs for a planned Queen Elizabeth Memorial in London.
The memorial is set to include statues of Elizabeth and her late husband, Prince Philip, near Buckingham Palace, as well as gardens and a glass bridge representing the tiara that Elizabeth wore when she wed Philip in 1947.
On Tuesday evening, Charles and the royal family will host a reception at Buckingham Palace for the late queen's birthday.
Other tributes to Elizabeth on her birthday include the opening of The Queen Elizabeth II Garden in The Regent’s Park, London, attended by her daughter, Anne, the Princess Royal.
A new national charity, The Queen Elizabeth Trust, was also announced to honor Elizabeth of public service.
The Trust, launched with a $50 million endowment from the U.K. government, will aim to preserve and support green spaces and community centers, according to the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, a joint body established by the U.K. government and the royal household.
3 DAY PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST - APRIL 17TH to 19TH
Billy Forbes Opens Football Academy in Turks and Caicos
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands - In a passionate move to inspire the next generation of soccer stars, Billy Forbes, once captain of the Turks and Caicos Islands national football team, has launched his own venture the Forbes Soccer Academy.
The academy represents a heartfelt commitment to nurturing young football talent offering free training and a registration fee that will cover their training kits for children ages 6 and up.
RTC spoke with Forbes about where the idea for this academy came from.
Forbes' journey from the small islands of Turks and Caicos to professional pitches across North America stands as a powerful testament to perseverance. His impressive career spanned multiple prestigious leagues on the international stage.
Forbes also spoke to us about what he hopes to achieve with this academy and how sports impacts and benefits the youth of the TCI.
For families who are interested in signing up or donating to the Forbes Soccer Academy, registration can be done via telephone (1649-242-6061), social media (@Forbessocceracademy), or email (Forbessocceracademy@gmail.com).
In an interview, Forbes stated that we're not just building players—we're building character, community, and champions."
Florida Nursing Assistant Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison
A Florida nursing assistant has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud scheme that targeted hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries across the United States.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Christian “Chris” Cruz, 45 years old, of Pompano Beach, Florida, was sentenced on April 13, 2026, to nine years in prison followed by two years of supervised release.
Cruz was also ordered to pay $3,712,345.70 in restitution and $724,871 in forfeiture.
Prosecutors said Cruz owned and operated a durable medical equipment supplier in Florida that submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary orthotic braces. The fraudulent scheme totaled approximately $11.4 million.
According to court documents and trial evidence, Cruz and a co-conspirator paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain signed doctors’ orders. These orders were then used to ship orthotic braces to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, including individuals who neither requested nor needed the equipment. The company then billed Medicare for reimbursement.
Authorities also said Cruz falsely claimed he was the sole owner of the company, concealing the involvement of his co-conspirator, who is a convicted felon.
Investigators further revealed that Cruz received several hundred thousand dollars from the scheme, which he deposited into his personal bank account. He frequently withdrew cash on consecutive days at different bank branches in South Florida, often in amounts just under the $10,000 reporting threshold.
After a six-day trial in January 2026, a federal jury convicted Cruz of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, four counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to make false statements relating to health care matters, and three counts of structuring.