INTERNACIONAL
Pope Leo says he ‘can’t comment’ on 20-year sentence of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai

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Pope Leo XIV this week said he «can’t» comment on the 20-year sentence imposed on a democracy activist in Hong Kong.
«I can’t comment,» the American-born Leo told EWTN News, which covers Catholic news globally, while speaking to reporters in Italy.
He added, «Let’s pray for less hatred and more peace and work for authentic dialogue. God bless you all.»
Hong Kong publisher and democracy activist Jimmy Lai, who is a converted Catholic, was sentenced to 20 years by Beijing last month for violating their 2020 national security law, which U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called «unjust and tragic.»
Pope Leo XIV this week said he «can’t» comment on the 20-year sentence imposed on a democracy activist in Hong Kong. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images; Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)
«The conviction shows the world that Beijing will go to extraordinary lengths to silence those who advocate fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong,» Rubio said in a statement. «The United States urges the authorities to grant Mr. Lai humanitarian parole.»
The 78-year-old founded the now-closed Hong Kong-based Apple Daily in 1995, while the island was still under British rule.
Lai’s sentence closed one of the country’s most consequential national security cases since Beijing imposed the sweeping new law in 2020 in the wake of months-long anti-Chinese Communist Party protests in 2019, which were sparked by fears Beijing was eroding Hong Kong’s promised autonomy.

Lai has already been in custody since 2020. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)
They were followed by a sweeping security crackdown that criminalized dissent and reshaped the city’s legal system.
CHINA PHONY CONVICTION OF JIMMY LAI IS A WARNING
Lai had been arrested several times during the 2019 protests, and he was detained at his home in 2020. His newspaper was also raided at the time and closed.
He was found guilty in December of attempting to undermine national security.

Jimmy Lai supporters in Los Angeles last month. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump said in December that he had personally urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to release Lai.
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«I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked to consider his release,» Trump said. «He’s not well, he’s an older man, and he’s not well, so I did put that request out. We’ll see what happens.»
pope leo xiv,china,world,hong kong
INTERNACIONAL
Mamdani endorses planned NYC ‘No Kings’ rally, derides ICE as ‘rogue agency’

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Friday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished, blasting the federal agency as «rogue» and «reckless» as questions mount over the city’s handling of illegal immigration following the fatal subway killing of an elderly veteran.
During a news conference announcing new street safety efforts, the mayor said he has spoken to President Donald Trump about immigration enforcement operations in the city, claiming ICE a «rogue agency.»
«We’re making clear that no one is above the law in this city, that everyone has to follow the rule of law,» Mamdani said. «I have made clear to the president, both in our private conversations and our public conversations, about the fact that I believe that ICE is a rogue agency.»
Mamdani added that he believes ICE is «reckless» and «delivers nothing toward the furthering of the cause of public safety.»
SHANGHAI SABOTAGE: INSIDE SINGHAM’S SECRET STRATEGY TO DEMONIZE AMERICA
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Friday that ICE should be abolished. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
«I’ve also been public about my belief that ICE is an entity that should be abolished, and that is critically important in our city, where we’ve seen too many New Yorkers living in fear of even going to what would otherwise be routine immigration check ins,» he said. «… What we’ve had in the interim is a federal entity that has been operating with a level of impunity, and that has to come to an end.»
The mayor went on to support protests against the Trump administration, endorsing the «No Kings NYC» protest planned for Saturday in Manhattan.
«I think that rallies are an incredibly effective way for New Yorkers to both organize together and make it clear what their vision is for the city, for the state, for this country,» Mamdani said. «I think that what we’ve seen is that there’s an attempt to make many in our city feel as if they are alone, when they believe that ICE has no place in our city, when they believe that every single New Yorker who lives in this city belongs in this city, and should be made to feel as if such.
DHS EXPOSES BACKGROUND OF NYC CITY COUNCIL EMPLOYEE AFTER MAMDANI FUMED OVER ARREST

Agitators waving flags at a «No Kings» rally in Los Angeles. (SIPA USA)
«What these rallies are — are also an opportunity to realize that you are not in the minority when you have those beliefs. You are, in fact, one of a growing coalition of people who want to see a shred of decency, dignity and humanity come back to our city and our country’s politics.»
Reporters did not question Mamdani about the recent murder of 83-year-old Air Force veteran Richard Williams, who died after he was allegedly shoved onto New York City subway tracks by an illegal immigrant from Honduras. Mamdani has yet to publicly comment on the killing.
When asked if Honduran national Bairon Posada-Hernandez, 34, would be turned over to ICE, the mayor’s office referred Fox News to the Department of Corrections (DOC).
HOMAN SAYS NYC MAYOR MAMDANI ‘MADE IT CLEAR HE’S NOT GOING TO WORK WITH ICE’ ON IMMIGRATION

Bairon Posada-Herandez, an illegal immigrant, is charged with murder after allegedly shoving Richard Williams, 83, and another man, onto Manhattan subway tracks. Williams died from his injuries days later. (Getty Images/Department of Homeland Security)
A DOC spokesperson said the agency processes ICE detainers «consistent with local law,» which limits cooperation.
Under city law, ICE is only notified if there is a detainer backed by a judicial warrant (I-200 or I-205), and the person has a qualifying recent conviction for a violent or serious crime.
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It is unclear if ICE will be notified or take custody of Posada-Hernandez, who has been deported from the U.S. four times, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
DHS officials have asked New York City to cooperate, saying, «Posada-Hernandez is a serial criminal and four-time deported illegal alien who NEVER should have been able to walk our streets and harm innocent Americans. He is now facing murder charges. We are calling on New York sanctuary politicians to not release this murderer. Please join us in praying for Mr. Williams’ family, friends, and loved ones.»
zohran mamdani, new york city, us protests, homeland security, illegal immigrants, donald trump, politics
INTERNACIONAL
Estados Unidos afirma que dos veleros que partieron de México a Cuba con ayuda llegaron «sanos y salvos»

INTERNACIONAL
The race against time to destroy Iran’s illicit nuclear weapons program heats up amid fresh strikes

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The Iranian regime’s retention of key nuclear weapons facilities and its material for building atomic bombs — highly enriched uranium — has led to new efforts by the U.S. and Israeli militaries to take out the last vestiges of the regime’s program.
On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that, that it’s «Air Force Struck the Arak Heavy Water Plant—A Key Plutonium Production Site for Nuclear Weapons.» The Arak plant is located in central Iran.
Prior to Friday’s attack, an IDF spokesperson told Fox News Digital concerning Arak, that there is a «high estimation» that attacks on «uranium enrichment sites are part of the plan.» The IDF declined to answer more specific questions about its target list and if any ground operations to retrieve the nuclear weapons-grade uranium were being considered.
NEXT MOVE ON IRAN: SEIZE KHARG ISLAND, SECURE URANIUM OR RISK GROUND WAR ESCALATION
An IDF infographic shows Iran’s Arak heavy water plant, described as a key infrastructure for plutonium production. (IDF)
Reuters, quoting regime media outlet Fars, reported that joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Friday hit the Khondab heavy water research reactor.
A statement released by the IDF said, «Heavy water is a unique material used to operate nuclear reactors, such as the inactive Arak reactor, which was originally designed to have weapons-grade plutonium production capabilities. These materials can also be used as a neutron source for nuclear weapons.»
The IDF statement added that «The plant was a significant economic asset for the terror regime and served as a source of income for the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, generating tens of millions of dollars for the regime each year.»
The regime’s foreign minister posted a condemnation of Israel and warned the Jewish state, «Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes.»
According to an article published by the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), «The IR-40 Arak, aka Khondab, Heavy Water Reactor and Heavy Water Production Plant date to the early 2000s… The reactor core design was ideal for making substantial amounts of weapon-grade plutonium for nuclear weapons.»
STRIKES MAY SET IRAN BACK — BUT LIKELY WON’T END NUCLEAR PROGRAM, UN WATCHDOG CHIEF SAYS
Jason Brodsky, the policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), told Fox News Digital, «The one nuclear site which hasn’t been hit to date has been Pickaxe Mountain, so striking that site as part of Operation Epic Fury will be important to further degrade the Iranian nuclear program.»
A White House spokesperson referred Fox News Digital to President Trump’s cabinet meeting comments about Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Trump said on Thursday, «We’re free to roam over their cities and towns and destroy all of their crazy nuclear weapons and missiles and drones that they’re building.»

A map shows damage to Iran’s Fordow nuclear site after being struck by the United States in Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22, 2025. (Fox News)
David Albright, a physicist, founder and president of the Institute for Science and International Security told Fox News Digital that with respect to key nuclear weapons facilities that remain, «The elephants in the tent are Natanz and Isfahan. There was an attack on Natanz that the Iranians revealed, but the Israelis said we are not aware of an attack. So it must have been the U.S.,» he claimed.
TRUMP SAYS US, ISRAEL SHATTERED IRANIAN MILITARY CAPABILITIES, PRESSES LEADERS TO SURRENDER: ‘CRY UNCLE’
He said that Natanz has enriched uranium. «The Iranians were doing recovery operations in the underground fuel enrichment plant there and continuing to build this pickaxe mountain tunnel complex, which could hold enriched uranium. Right next to it is another tunnel complex that was built much earlier, around 2007… And the Iranians sealed it up, fortified it. There is something obviously important there.»
Albright said U.S. and Israeli airstrikes «have not attacked the underground Isfahan site. We know, according to the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency], highly enriched uranium is in that site.» He continued that, «There may be an enrichment plant under construction in that underground complex. We would like that site to be attacked.»

Iranian worshippers hold up their hands as signs of unity with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during an anti-Israeli rally to condemn Israel’s attacks on Iran, in downtown Tehran, Iran, on June 20, 2025. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Albright warned that the war should not end like the previous U.S.-Israel war with Iran in 2025 with Tehran retaining the «crown jewels» of its atomic weapons program: highly enriched uranium and a number of centrifuges.
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He warned, «You don’t want it to come out of this war with the same kind of nuclear weapons capabilities that it had at the end of June war with a higher incentive to build a bomb.» He added, that is why it’s so important ‘to finish the job,» in Iran.
war with iran, israel, nuclear proliferation, conflicts
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