INTERNACIONAL
Report details rising pressure on underground Catholics as China denies crackdown
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The Chinese government is increasing pressure on underground Catholic communities to join the state-controlled church while tightening surveillance and restrictions on an estimated 12 million Catholics, according to a Human Rights Watch report.
The group said in its report that the increased pressure is part of a decade-old campaign to ensure religious groups align with Communist Party ideology.
The Associated Press reported that the Chinese government has rejected the claim, saying Human Rights Watch is «consistently biased against China.»
China’s Catholics have long been split between a state-run church and an underground church loyal to the Vatican. In 2018, Pope Francis reached a deal allowing the Chinese government a role in appointing bishops to ease tensions.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during an international business meeting at The Great Hall Of The People on March 28, 2025, in Beijing, China. (Ken Ishii/Pool/Getty Images)
«A decade into Xi Jinping’s Sinicization campaign and nearly eight years since the 2018 Holy See-China agreement, Catholics in China face escalating repression that violates their religious freedoms,» Human Rights Watch researcher Yalkun Uluyol said in the report. «Pope Leo XIV should urgently review the agreement and press Beijing to end the persecution and intimidation of underground churches, clergy, and worshipers.»
The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s office told The Associated Press that Human Rights Watch «fabricates all manner of lies and rumors, and lacks any credibility whatsoever.»
The office added that the government «oversees religious affairs in accordance with the law and protects citizens’ freedom of religious belief and normal religious activities.»
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A man looks on at a Catholic church in Zhuozhou, China’s northern Hebei province on April 22, 2025. In 1951, newly communist China severed ties with the Holy See, forcing Catholics to choose between membership in the state-run Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association or non-sanctioned churches loyal to the pope. But under Pope Francis, China and the Vatican signed a 2018 agreement allowing both Beijing and the Holy See a say in appointing bishops in an attempt to close the schism in China’s 12-million-strong Catholic community. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP) / To go with AFP story Vatican-religion-pope-China,FOCUS by Mary Yang and Isabel Kua (Photo by ADEK BERRY/AFP via Getty Images) (Adek Berry/AFP)
Human Rights Watch said its researchers are not allowed into China and that the report is based on interviews with people outside the country who had firsthand knowledge of Catholic life in China, along with experts on Catholicism and religious freedom.
The 2018 agreement stipulates that Beijing proposes candidates for bishop, which the pope can veto, though the full text has never been made public.
In June 2025, Pope Leo XIV, who had just become the pope, appointed a Chinese bishop under the 2018 agreement and said he would continue to honor the deal «in the short term.»
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Pope Leo XIV waves as he arrives at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral in Bamenda, on the fourth day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa, on April 16, 2026. (Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images)
«I’m also in ongoing dialogue with a number of people, Chinese, on both sides of some of the issues that are there,» Leo said. «It’s a very difficult situation. In the long term, I don’t pretend to say this is what I will and will not do, but after two months, I’ve already begun having discussions at several levels on that topic.»
Since 2018, Human Rights Watch says Chinese authorities have pressured underground Catholics to join the state-run church through detentions, disappearances and house arrests, citing accounts from unnamed individuals who have left China.
The report also said China has tightened ideological control, surveillance and restrictions on religious activity and foreign ties, including requiring state approval for clergy travel, while officially recognizing and closely overseeing five religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam.
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Xi Jinping said in 2016 that he would «Sinicize» the country’s religions, a policy aimed at aligning religious practices with Communist Party ideology.
Human Rights Watch said authorities have taken sweeping steps to curb religious practice, including tearing down churches and crosses, blocking gatherings at unregistered churches and seizing religious materials not approved by the state.
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The group said the broader «Sinicization» campaign has also led to intensified crackdowns on Tibetan Buddhists and Muslims.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman advanced Monday evening to a runoff election against Mayor Karen Bass in a heated race that has garnered national attention.
The outcome sets up a general election that pits Bass, an incumbent fending off criticism about her record, against Raman’s progressive message of government-led affordability measures. The result means Spencer Pratt, a Republican and former «The Hills» reality TV star, is out of the race, according to The Associated Press.
Voters will decide the overall winner on Nov. 3.
«I’m incredibly honored that voters have given us the opportunity to advance to the general election for Mayor of Los Angeles,» Raman said in a statement. «… If you’re as frustrated by the broken status quo as I am, I hope you’ll join our movement to build a city that works for everyone.»
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A Los Angeles city councilwoman and progressive candidate for mayor Nithya Raman, left, pictured alongside incumbent mayor Karen Bass, right (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images; Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
In a post on X, Bass took aim at both Pratt and what she characterized as the «MAGA agenda,» while also criticizing Raman.
«We won on Tuesday — and LA rejected Spencer Pratt and the MAGA agenda. Next, we’ll win in November!» Bass wrote. «Because this is an election with a choice between whether we keep making change together or Nithya Raman, who allows encampments near schools and fights against hiring more cops, yet is MIA on saving Hollywood jobs and fighting back when ICE invades LA.»
Raman, a member of the Los Angeles City Council and Democratic Socialists of America, has served as chair of the Housing and Homelessness Committee since 2023. She has also been dubbed a Mamdani-style socialist, referring to far-left New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
In her view, there is more the city could be doing to address not just its homelessness problem, but also increasing housing supply, maintaining public safety, furthering climate goals and pushing back against federal immigration enforcement efforts.
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Raman has also been dubbed a Mamdani-style socialist, referring to far-left New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
«We can bring LA back to what it really is: one of the most creative, beautiful and most hopeful places in the world. But only if we come together to fight for it,» Raman said in a campaign video.
During the race, Raman pitched herself as a hopeful alternative to Bass’ leadership and what she called a fear-fueled campaign from Spencer Pratt, a rightward-leaning independent who gained traction in the closing weeks of the campaign.
«We have a mayor who has failed to lead this city and, on the other hand, a right-wing extremist, powered by MAGA, who’s channeling people’s frustrations about this city into fear and anger and hatred,» Raman said.
Bass, who first came into office in 2022, argues she has a track record that is taking the city in the right direction.
Despite fending off criticisms about the Palisade fires, a stubbornly visible homelessness population and budget deficits, Bass argued she’s taken steps to address all of those areas in her three years in the role.
LOS ANGELES MAYOR BASS SAYS ‘HELL YEAH’ SHE REGRETS GHANA TRIP AFTER WILDFIRES RAVAGED CITY
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said «it depends» when asked whether noncitizens should be allowed to vote in local elections. (Getty Images)
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«Los Angeles is at a turning point. After decades of rising homelessness, under-built housing and a shrinking police force, it’s Mayor Karen Bass who finally stepped up to change how City Hall works,» Bass’s website reads.
«Homelessness is down, more housing is being built and LAPD is hiring new officers.»
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom endorsed Bass on May 28.
Bass originally won election in 2022 in a 54.8% to 45.2% victory over independent challenger Rick J. Caruso.
elections, gavin newsom, democrats elections, primary results, homeless crisis
INTERNACIONAL
La Unión Europea aseguró que las sanciones occidentales por la guerra en Ucrania ya le costaron a Rusia más de USD 1,2 billones
La alta representante de la Unión Europea para Asuntos Exteriores y Política de Seguridad, Kaja Kallas, afirmó este lunes que las sanciones occidentales impuestas a Rusia por la guerra en Ucrania ya le costaron entre 1,2 y 1,5 billones de dólares, y defendió la necesidad de aumentar la presión económica sobre Moscú mediante nuevas medidas restrictivas.
«Las cifras hablan por sí solas“, declaró Kallas tras la reunión informal de ministros de Defensa de la Unión Europea celebrada en Nicosia, Chipre. La funcionaria sostuvo que el impacto de las sanciones sobre la economía rusa es significativo y afirmó que, “ladrillo a ladrillo, los cimientos de la economía de guerra rusa se están derrumbando”.
Las declaraciones se produjeron mientras la Unión Europea avanza en la preparación de un nuevo paquete de sanciones. Según explicó Kallas, los ministros de Asuntos Exteriores del bloque analizarán la próxima semana propuestas contra más de 80 personas y entidades vinculadas a Rusia.
De acuerdo con la jefa de la diplomacia europea, las nuevas medidas estarían dirigidas contra el complejo militar-industrial ruso, además de responsables de violaciones de derechos humanos y propagandistas. La iniciativa forma parte de la estrategia comunitaria para incrementar el costo económico y político de la guerra para Moscú.
Kallas vinculó directamente la política de sanciones con los intentos de acercar una salida negociada al conflicto. Según indicó, la presión sobre Rusia debe mantenerse porque Bruselas no considera que el Kremlin esté preparado para avanzar hacia conversaciones sustanciales con Ucrania.
«Tengo la impresión de que Rusia todavía no está preparada. Por eso también necesitamos más paciencia estratégica“, afirmó. La responsable europea agregó que “no somos nosotros quienes estamos pidiendo estas conversaciones. En realidad, es Rusia quien tiene que hablar con nosotros si quiere poner fin a esta guerra”.
La alta representante insistió en que la Unión Europea debe hacer “todo lo posible” para que ambas partes lleguen a una negociación, aunque sostuvo que Moscú debe demostrar con hechos su disposición a avanzar por la vía diplomática.
«Al final tendrán que llegar a un acuerdo“, señaló Kallas. Sin embargo, remarcó que los ataques rusos continúan y que esa situación dificulta hablar actualmente de un escenario real de negociaciones.
La funcionaria defendió además una combinación de mayor presión económica sobre Rusia y un refuerzo del apoyo europeo a Ucrania. “Lo primero que deberían hacer es acordar un alto el fuego y sentarse a la mesa de negociación. Sin embargo, también observamos ciertos movimientos dentro de Rusia que muestran que no todos están satisfechos con que esta guerra continúe. Por eso debemos aumentar la presión sobre Rusia y, al mismo tiempo, incrementar nuestro apoyo a Ucrania”, declaró.
Kallas también sostuvo que cualquier eventual acuerdo futuro deberá contemplar los intereses de seguridad europeos, especialmente en cuestiones vinculadas a las sanciones y a los activos rusos congelados en Occidente.
Las declaraciones llegaron un día después de la reunión celebrada en Londres entre el primer ministro británico, Keir Starmer; el presidente francés, Emmanuel Macron; el canciller alemán, Friedrich Merz; y el presidente ucraniano, Volodimir Zelensky, quienes respaldaron un alto el fuego con Rusia acompañado de garantías de seguridad para Ucrania.
En paralelo, el comisario europeo de Defensa, Andrius Kubilius, consideró que la evolución reciente de la guerra podría aumentar la presión sobre Moscú. “Parece que Ucrania está empezando a imponerse en distintos frentes, tanto sobre el terreno, cerca de Donetsk y Pokrovsk, como con los ataques en profundidad. Y eso está cambiando toda la narrativa, toda la percepción, hasta el punto de que podría empujar a Putin a negociar”, afirmó.
(Con información de Europa Press)
International,Relations,Diplomacy / Foreign Policy,Europe
INTERNACIONAL
Massachusetts lawmakers pass bill to scrap ‘offensive language’ from state’s General Laws
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The Massachusetts legislature passed a bill that would remove «outdated and offensive language» used to describe people with disabilities in the state’s General Laws.
The measure would eliminate various terms, including «handicapped,» «disabled,» and the «r-word» in favor of language such as «persons with a disability» and «person with an intellectual or developmental disability.»
The bill, which was introduced by Democratic state Sen. Pat Jehlen and listed with 17 petitioners, now heads to Democrat Gov. Maura Healey’s desk.
The 61-page bill updates 346 sections of Massachusetts law.
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The 61-page bill updates 346 sections of Massachusetts law. (Getty Images)
«Language is constantly changing. And it’s changing because of the activism of people who were ignored and demeaned for too long,» Democrat state Sen. Pat Jehlen, the Senate’s primary sponsor of the legislation, said in a statement. «When people tell us they feel insulted and offended by the use of outdated words, we worked to change the legal language. It took a long time, because we kept finding more examples of offensive language. Language and activism will continue to evolve, and there’ll always be more work to do, but this is a gigantic step forward in respect.»
Some of the updated language featured in the bill includes replacing «disabled person» with «person with a disability,» «handicapped» with «disability» and «retarded» with phrases such as «person with an intellectual or developmental disability.»
The legislation also scraps terms such as «crippled» and «deformed» when referring to people with disabilities.
The measure would eliminate various terms, including «handicapped,» «disabled,» and the «r-word.» (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group)
The term «hearing-impaired» was revised to «deaf or hard of hearing» and the «chronically ill» was changed to «persons who are chronically ill.»
Additionally, the bill amends specific legal definitions, including changing the current definition of «caretaker» — which describes an individual or entity responsible for a «disabled person» — to instead use the phrase «a person with a disability.»
«When dusty and dangerous relics of a bygone era darken our laws, it creates the potential for real harm to residents today,» Senate President Karen Spilka, a Democrat, said in a statement. «Thanks to the voices of advocates like former Senate staff member Melissa Reilly and the leadership of Senator Jehlen and Senator Kennedy, the Legislature has acted to make our laws better represent who we are in 21st-century Massachusetts.»
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The bill now heads to Democrat Gov. Maura Healey’s desk. (Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
«With a White House that glorifies, and seemingly longs for, the days when many Americans were discriminated against because of who they are, now is the time to make sure our state laws respect and support the rights and dignity of our residents,» she added.
The passage of this measure comes after a 2024 law that renamed the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission to MassAbility, which state officials argued was a display of a broader effort to modernize disability services and promote inclusion. That law also reflected a broader move away from terms state officials described as outdated or offensive.
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«As lawmakers, we know that words matter,» said state Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano, a Democrat. «This legislation is our latest effort to ensure that our state laws do not use antiquated words that carry negative connotations, words that also serve as a reminder of past injustices.»
The bill passed with broad legislative support, including unanimous recorded votes in both chambers.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Massachusetts GOP for comment.
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