INTERNACIONAL
Family of American hostage tortured in Lebanon wins landmark case against Iran
After a nearly four-year search for justice, a U.S. court has found in favor of the family of a Lebanese American man held hostage in Lebanon, finding that the Islamic Republic of Iran, working through its proxy Hezbollah, should be held liable for their father’s kidnap and torture.
Two of Amer Fakhoury’s daughters, Guila and Zoya Fakhoury, told Fox News Digital that on May 1, a U.S. District Court judge found Iran responsible for Fakhoury’s imprisonment.
«This is the first lawsuit to prove Iran’s influence over Lebanon,» Guila said. «We were very happy about the judgment.»
‘HOSTAGE IN LEBANON:’ NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILY RECOUNTS FATHER’S DETAINMENT, TORTURE IN NEW BOOK
During President Trump’s first term, his administration helped secure the release of New Hampshire businessman Amer Fakhoury. (Fakhoury Family)
Amer Fakhoury was arrested a week after traveling to Lebanon with his family in September 2019. After his arrest, a newspaper linked with Hezbollah alleged that Fakhoury, formerly a member of the South Lebanon Army, had been the «butcher» of Khiam, a detention center where grave human rights abuses were reported to have taken place.
Though he was released from a military prison in December 2019, it was only after the Lebanese Supreme Court dropped charges against Fakhoury in March 2020 that he was able to return to the U.S. By the time of his return, Fakhoury had lost 60 pounds and was suffering from late-stage lymphoma, along with rib fractures and other health complications. He died in September 2020 at the age of 57.
Proving Fakhoury’s suffering and torture was a battle for the family, though Guila said the State Department’s classification of her father as a hostage was instrumental in proving the nature of Fakhoury’s captivity.
SENS. CRUZ, SHAHEEN PROPOSE SANCTIONS AGAINST LEBANESE OFFIICALS OVER AMERICAN PRISONER
Proving that Iran was behind the imprisonment was more difficult. In fact, while Guila said some people «kind of laughed» that the family blamed Iran for their father’s mistreatment, Zoya said «Iran’s influence in Lebanon in recent years further proves our point.»
Because Iran never responded to the suit, Guila said the family was forced to provide evidence her father witnessed of Hezbollah’s control over «every government agency in Lebanon,» including the military hospital, military court, and the Lebanese General Directorate of General Security, the country’s intelligence apparatus that Guila said arrested and tortured Fakhoury.
In Beirut, an arch glorifying Hezbollah and Iran’s leader Ali Khamenei, and people gather outside a hospital after the arrival of several men wounded by exploding handheld pagers, in Beirut. (Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images | AP Photo/Bassam Masri)
Even when the Lebanese judicial system found Fakhoury innocent of multiple false charges that he was a killer, a terrorist and an Israeli agent, Guila said officials told Fakhoury that they had to keep him «because Hezbollah wants [him] in prison.»
Fakhoury’s family faced difficulties even before filing their case in May 2021. Zoya says Hezbollah officials in Lebanon have been issuing threats to the family since Fakhoury’s death. In addition to Iran failing to respond to the suit, Guila said Lebanese General Directorate of General Security officials interfered with the lawsuit by asking to have their names and agencies removed. She says the judge denied the request.
Long periods of silence from the court also made the wait for justice difficult, Zoya said. «The last four years, we were fearful,» she explained. «We were worried maybe nothing’s going to come out of this.»
While the family is grateful for the judgment they received, Guila says they believe the settlement awarded through the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act was «a bit of an unfair decision» and did not «take into account the pain and the suffering of the family.»
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Amer Fakhoury and his family during Christmas 2018. (Courtesy of the Fakhoury family)
Still, the landmark judgment paves the way for others to find justice, the family says. «We’re hoping, with this administration, to use the judgment that we have and the work that we’ve been doing in the [Amer] Foundation to continue the accountability efforts,» Guila said. «A lot of other Lebanese citizens [and] American citizens that have been targeted by the Lebanese government, by Hezbollah in Lebanon, can now use this case to get justice for what happened to them,» Zoya explained.
The sisters said the next steps in their journey are to find justice for their father and will involve requesting the State Department to sanction «officials in Lebanon who were traitors and working with Hezbollah and Iran.»
INTERNACIONAL
El Festival de Cine de Mar del Plata anunció su programación con el estreno en inglés de Pablo Trapero y el debut como director de Diego Peretti
La edición número 40 del Festival Internacional de Cine de Mar del Plata , que se celebrará del 6 al 16 de noviembre, presentó el listado completo de competencias y jurados para su programación 2025.
La sección Competencia Internacional congregará a una amplia variedad de producciones provenientes de múltiples países. Por Argentina participarán La casa, de Gustavo Triviño, y Muña Muña, de Paula Morel Kristof. Entre los representantes internacionales se encuentran Leo & Lou, de Carlos Solano por España, La gioia, de Nicolangelo Gelormini por Italia, y The Sea, de Shai Carmelli-Pollak, que representará a Israel y ha sido seleccionada como su candidata para los premios Oscar.
También competirán Calle Málaga, de Maryam Touzan por Marruecos, Oca de Karla Badillo por México, 18 Holes to Paradiso, de Joao Nuno Pinto, por Portugal, la nueva película de Pablo Trapero titulada & Sons, por Reino Unido, Ungrateful Beings, de Olmo Omerzu por República Checa, Flood, de Martin Gonda por Eslovaquia, y Vache Folle, de Hugo Diego García y Lorenzo Ventivoglio, por Suiza.
El jurado para la Competencia Internacional estará integrado por el periodista Juan Carlos Arciniegas, de Colombia, el productor Paul Zaentz, de Estados Unidos, el director Juan Baldana, de Argentina, la directora de festival Helher Escribano, y la actriz Nashla Bogaert.
En la Competencia Latinoamericana se destacó la inclusión de La muerte de un comediante, ópera prima como codirector de Diego Peretti, junto al documental 3000 kilómetros en bicicleta, de Iván Vescovo, ambos por Argentina. Desde México participarán Dreams, de Michel Franco, y La vida es, de Lorena Villarreal. Otras producciones representativas son Rey del ring, de Rodrigo Sepúlveda, por Chile, Cordillera de fuego, de Jayro Bustamante, por Guatemala, Perros, de Gerardo Minutti, por Uruguay, Night Shift, de Filipe Matzembacher, y Marcio Reolon, por Brasil, El corazón del lobo, de Francisco J. Lombardi, por Perú, Extranjera, de Michelle Malley Campos, por Puerto Rico, Malecón, de Carlos Larrazabal, por Cuba, y Espina, de Daniel Poler, por Panamá. El jurado estará compuesto por la directora Gabriela Tagliavini, la productora María Gowland y el sonidista Víctor Tendler.
En la Competencia Argentina, Risa y la cabina del viento, de Juan Cabral suma la participación de Diego Peretti y el debut cinematográfico de Cazzu. El hombre de la luna, de Rodrigo Pérez Green incluye en su elenco a Rodrigo de la Serna y su hermano Manuel. Además, The Letter, de Rodrigo H. Vila presenta un elenco internacional encabezado por Harvey Keitel y Britt Robertson.
Sobresalen también Pensamiento lateral, de Mariano Hueter, protagonizada por Itziar Ituño, y Desbarrancada, de Guadalupe Yepes. Entre los documentales seleccionados figuran Criollos, de Matías Tamborenea, Recen por mí: la historia de Francisco, de Facundo Bartucci y Vlasta, el recuerdo no es eterno, de Candela Vey y Tino Pereira. El jurado está integrado por el periodista Carlos Morelli, el director Alberto Gieco y la directora de arte Coca Oderigo.
La Competencia En Tránsito está conformada por seis películas, entre ellas Fan de Mariela di Naro y Olivera & Corman: Hollywood en Argentina, de José Tripodero y Martin Capaldi. El jurado encargado está compuesto por la periodista Catalina Dlugi, la productora Ana Aizemberg y el director de arte Federico Mayol.
Por primera vez, el festival organizará una Competencia Internacional de Cortometrajes, que tendrá propuestas de España (Sexo a los 70, Every Light in Between), Austria (The Cycle of Life, junto a Alemania en The Swimsuit), China (Ayi, We Will Follow the Wind), Israel (In Another Day) e India (Moti). El jurado estará conformado por Larry Laboe, el periodista Pablo de Vita y la directora Claudia Pino Saravia.
Entre los cortometrajes latinoamericanos en competencia se listan Presépio, por Brasil, Entre tormentas, por Puerto Rico, Época de plagas, por Ecuador, Domingo familiar y Hasta pronto, por México, y Kusi sonríe, por Perú. Los mismos jurados designados para la competencia latinoamericana de largometrajes evaluarán estos títulos.
La Competencia Argentina de Cortos seleccionó obras como Testarossa, de Ignacio Sesma, Mientras tanto, de Flor Berthold y Carla Scatarelli, Gymbro, de Estefanía Maisterra y Tomás Canepa, y El borde de las cosas, de Justo Dell Acqua Árbol. El jurado encargado será el mismo asignado a la competencia nacional de largometrajes.
El festival, uno de los eventos culturales más relevantes de la agenda local, abrirá el 6 de noviembre con la proyección de El beso de la mujer araña, dirigida por Bill Condon, quien asistirá junto al protagonista Tonatiuh. En el acto inaugural, la actriz y cantante Marilina Ross recibirá uno de los Astor de Plata a la Trayectoria.
[Fotos: prensa Festival de Cine de Mar del Plata]
INTERNACIONAL
Trading barbs from light-hearted to vicious, mayoral candidates make final appeal to New Yorkers
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New York City mayoral contenders relentlessly criticized their opponents as they made their final pitch to voters Wednesday night in the last debate before early voting starts Saturday.
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, Independent candidate and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa once again traded barbs on the debate stage, meeting for the second time in less than a week.
Wednesday’s debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City came as billionaires called for Sliwa to drop out of the mayoral race this week to consolidate support for Cuomo against Mamdani and as more than 650 rabbis nationwide, including those from the largest New York City synagogues, signed an open letter condemning Mamdani for what they said was anti-Israel rhetoric.
‘TIME FOR A CHANGE’: OUTSIDE 30 ROCK, NEW YORKERS TRADE CHANTS AND ARGUMENTS DURING TENSE MAYORAL SHOWDOWN
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa participate in the second New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York City, Oct. 22, 2025. (Hiroko Masuike/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Both issues were on full display Wednesday night as Mamdani fielded questions about his support for Israel. When asked if Mamdani has any regrets about his «longstanding» anti-Israel views, the democratic socialist affirmed his commitment to protecting Jewish New Yorkers.
TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FIERY NYC MAYORAL DEBATE: ‘HE LITERALLY HAS NEVER HAD A JOB’
«You won’t denounce ‘globalize the intifada,’ which means, ‘Kill Jews.’ There’s unprecedented fear in New York. It was not several rabbis. It was 650 rabbis who signed the letter, not several,» Cuomo said. While Mamdani refused to condemn the phrase «globalize the intifada» during the primary, he has since said he would «discourage» others from using the slogan.
«I’ve heard from Jewish New Yorkers about their fears about antisemitism in this city, and what they deserve is a leader who takes it seriously, who roots it out of these five boroughs, not one who weaponizes it as a means by which to score political points on a debate stage,» Mamdani fired back in a fiery moment.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa participated in the second New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, on Oct. 22, 2025, in New York City. (Hiroko Masuike/Pool/Getty Images)
Sliwa also chimed in, telling Mamdani that Jewish New Yorkers are «frightened» and «scared.»
«They view you as the arsonist who fanned the flames of antisemitism,» Sliwa charged, accusing him of being in support of a «global jihad.» New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand issued an apology earlier this year for «mischaracterizing Mamdani’s record» when she made the same suggestion.
«I have never, not once, spoken in support of global jihad,» Mamdani said. «That is not something that I have said and that continues to be ascribed to me. And, frankly, I think much of it has to do with the fact that I am the first Muslim candidate to be on the precipice of winning this election.»
Moderators for the final New York City mayoral debate were Spectrum News NY1 Political Anchor Errol Louis, WNYC’s Brian Lehrer and The City’s Katie Honan.
The first question posed to candidates during Wednesday’s debate focused on the federal raid in New York City’s Chinatown neighborhood on Tuesday that led to the arrest of nine migrants from West Africa who were in the United States illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani’s supporters gathered outside LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City in New York City Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)
All three candidates agreed that the Trump administration was beyond its jurisdiction on Tuesday. Cuomo called the raid «dangerous.»
«You don’t send ICE in without coordinating with our police,» Cuomo said, arguing he would have personally called President Donald Trump if he was mayor to tell him the administration was «way out of bounds.» Sliwa agreed that the matter should have been left up to the NYPD.
Mamdani took the criticism a step further, calling ICE a «reckless entity that cares little for the law and even less for the people that they’re supposed to serve,» urging an «end to the chapter of collaboration between City Hall and the federal government, which we’ve seen under» Mayor Eric Adams. Adams is no longer seeking re-election after he built a reputation for his willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration on immigration reform.
At one point, candidates were allowed to ask their opponents a question, sparking a tense moment between Cuomo and Mamdani. Cuomo asked how Mamdani could pose for a photo with an anti-LGBTQ advocate. Mamdani said had he known, he wouldn’t have agreed to take the picture.
Mamdani clapped back, asking Cuomo, «What do you say to the 13 women that you sexually harassed?» Cuomo has continued to deny the allegations and said the cases were dropped.
The latest Fox News survey, conducted Oct. 10-14, ahead of the first general election debate last week, revealed that Mamdani has gained a substantial lead in the race because voters see him as the best candidate to tackle the city’s top problems.
According to the poll, Mamdani has a 21-point lead among New York City registered voters with 49% of voters backing Mamdani, while 28% go for Cuomo and 13% favor Sliwa. Mamdani also rose above the 50% threshold among likely voters, garnering 52% support, while Cuomo picked up 28%, and Sliwa received just 14%.
Supporters for New York City Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa gathered outside LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City ahead of the final debate Wednesday, Oct. 22. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)
But as Mamdani, ever the social media-savvy candidate, warned his followers on Wednesday, it was Cuomo who was the favorite to win the nomination just weeks before the Democratic primary. By consolidating support with New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, cross-endorsing each other to topple Cuomo through ranked-choice voting, Mamdani pulled the political upset that has since landed him on the national stage.
Since winning the primary, Trump has labeled Mamdani a «100% Communist Lunatic» and «my little Communist.» Mamdani has rejected that moniker, affirming he is a democratic socialist.
Nevertheless, the odd-year election has captivated a national audience at a time when Democrats are still grappling with devastating losses last year. And with Trump back in the White House, Democrats nationwide are seeking to capitalize on growing discontent over his sweeping, second-term agenda.
Less than two hours before candidates took the stage Wednesday, The New York Times reported that Mamdani intends to keep New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch on as his police commissioner if elected in November, citing two senior campaign aides and two more sources who were briefed on the plans.
New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani answers reporter questions after the final debate on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, ahead of Election Day. (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)
«I can confirm that reporting,» Mamdani said on the debate stage. «My administration will be relentless in its pursuit of safety and affordability for every New Yorker, and the delivery of that will require us to put together a team of the best and the brightest.»
Mamdani applauded Tisch for taking on a «broken status quo charter to deliver accountability, rooting out corruption and reducing crime across the five boroughs.» Cuomo and Sliwa also confirmed they would keep her on as commissioner if elected.
The Democratic nominee has faced a slew of criticism on the campaign trial for his past comments, including calling the NYPD «racist, anti‑queer & a major threat to public safety» in 2020, among other insults. Mamdani made a public apology to the NYPD during a Fox News interview last week.
Ahead of those competitive midterm elections expected next year, Republicans have already seized on Mamdani’s progressive politics, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who is considering a run for governor. Her campaign said in a recent statement, «Kathy Hochul literally has endorsed a full blown jihadist pro-terrorism Mayor of New York City.»
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Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., endorsed Mamdani last month after previously withholding her support. Fellow New York Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have still yet to coalesce behind the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, although Jeffries indicated this week that a decision is imminent.
This week, Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis and hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman urged Sliwa to drop out of the race, arguing that a vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani. The New York Post editorial board even joined the calls for Sliwa to drop out, but the Republican nominee has maintained he is staying in the race.
Fox News’ Kirill Clark contributed to this report.
zohran mamdani,andrew cuomo,curtis sliwa,new york city,2025 2026 elections coverage,nyc mayoral elections coverage
INTERNACIONAL
Tensión Estados Unidos-Colombia: Donald Trump ahora dice que Gustavo Petro es un «matón» y un «mal tipo» que fabrica «muchas drogas»
El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, aseguró este miércoles que su homólogo colombiano, Gustavo Petro, es un «matón y un mal tipo» y lo acusó de fabricar «muchas drogas», días después de imputarle ser un «líder del narcotráfico».
«Es un matón y un mal tipo. Es un tipo que fabrica muchas drogas», declaró Trump a los reporteros en el Despacho Oval. «Ha hecho mucho daño a su país. Les está yendo muy mal».
El mandatario estadounidense se refirió al colombiano días después de anunciar el fin de la ayuda financiera a Colombia por su inacción en la lucha contra el narcotráfico y señalar a Petro como un «líder del narcotráfico».
«Tienen fábricas de cocaína. Cultivan todo tipo de porquerías y las drogas malas que entran en Estados Unidos generalmente pasan por México, y más le vale tener cuidado y tomar medidas muy serias contra él y su país», añadió Trump.
El magnate republicano aseguró que lo que Petro le «ha hecho a su país es una trampa mortal».
Estas declaraciones y el anuncio del fin de las ayudas se producen en medio de la escalada de las tensiones entre Bogotá y Washington por la guerra que EE.UU. ha declarado contra el narcotráfico.
Video
Dos muertos tras el ataque de EE.UU. contra otro supuesto barco con drogas.
La presencia de navíos y aeronaves militares estadounidenses en aguas del mar caribe han provocado el rechazo de gobiernos como el colombiano y el venezolana, elevando aún más las tensiones con Trump.
Este miércoles, el Pentágono anunció un nuevo ataque contra una supuesta narcolancha, esta vez en aguas del Pacífico frente a Colombia.
El lunes, Colombia llamó a consultas a su embajador en Washington y denunció una amenaza de invasión por parte de Estados Unidos luego del anuncio de Donald Trump de que retirará la ayuda financiera a Bogotá por «fomentar» la producción de drogas.
El ministro del Interior de Colombia, Armando Benedetti, denunció una «amenaza» de «invasión» de Trump, quien pareció sugerir algún tipo de intervención de Washington contra la producción de droga en el país sudamericano.
Trump detuvo el domingo el apoyo económico a Bogotá por supuestamente «fomentar» el narcotráfico y afirmó que debería «cerrar» los narcocultivos de «inmediato, o Estados Unidos se los cerrará».
La relación entre ambos países, que históricamente fueron aliados, entró en su peor momento con la llegada de Trump a la Casa Blanca mientras en Colombia gobierna el primer presidente izquierdista de su historia. Esa mala tensión creció en el último mes.
El primer episodio ocurrió a fines de septiembre en Nueva York, cuando el presidente Gustavo Petro -que había viajado a Estados Unidos para asistir a la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas- participó de una manifestación por Gaza que se llevó a cabo en esa ciudad en la que instó a los soldados norteamericanos a desobedecer al líder de la Casa Blanca.
Como consecuencia de esa participación, Washington decidió revocarle el visado de ingreso al país, acusándolo de «actos temerarios e incendiarios» durante la protesta.
Las tensiones se agudizaron por el despliegue militar de Estados Unidos en aguas del Caribe. Petro ha denunciado que los ataques letales contra embarcaciones acusadas de transportar drogas son desproporcionados y constituyen un “asesinato”.
Con una publicación en redes sociales, el presidente estadounidense tildó a su par colombiano de “capo de las drogas” que tiene «bajos índices de aprobación y es muy impopular». Y le advirtió además que “más le vale” frenar operaciones del narcotráfico «o Estados Unidos las cerrará por él, y no lo hará de manera amable».
Petro, quien puede ser tan expresivo en redes sociales como su homólogo estadounidense, rechazó las acusaciones de Trump y defendió su trabajo para combatir el narcotráfico en Colombia, el mayor exportador mundial de cocaína.
“Tratar de impulsar la paz de Colombia no es ser narcotraficante”, escribió Petro. Insinuó que Trump estaba siendo engañado por sus asesores y dijo que Trump estaba siendo “grosero e ignorante con Colombia”.
El Festival de Cine de Mar del Plata anunció su programación con el estreno en inglés de Pablo Trapero y el debut como director de Diego Peretti
Trading barbs from light-hearted to vicious, mayoral candidates make final appeal to New Yorkers
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