President Donald Trump divulged how Chinese President Xi Jinping responded to his inquiry about releasing Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong businessman imprisoned after his outspoken criticism of the Chinese government.
Lai, 78, is serving a 20-year sentence after the communist regime found him guilty of sedition and conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign forces.
“I brought up Jimmy Lai. I would say the response to that was not positive. He said that he’s been, you know, he said it’s been sort of his worst nightmare,” Trump told “Special Report” in an interview airing Friday.
Trump said he spoke with Xi “at length” about Lai’s declining health as the media mogul remains in a Hong Kong prison under reportedly harsh conditions.
Millionaire media tycoon Jimmy Lai poses during an interview at the Next Digital offices in Hong Kong on June 16, 2020.(Anthony Wallace/AFP)
“I said, well, I would appreciate it if you would release him. He’s gotten old and he’s probably not feeling too well, it would be nice,” the president told Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier.
“I did not feel optimistic. I have to be honest with you about that one.”
“I’m more hopeful than I’ve ever been that he is the president and this is the administration that will free my father, and we are just so extremely grateful,” she said before Trump spoke with Xi about Lai’s release.
Lai, who was imprisoned in 2020, founded a pro-democracy newspaper that regularly criticized the Communist Party, which Chinese authorities say was an effort to undermine the government.
Despite being unable to secure Lai’s release from Hong Kong, Trump touted the “hundreds” of prisoners he has helped release, including American Pastor Andrew Brunson from Turkey.
The president also criticized former President Joe Biden’s prisoner release strategy, which he suggested was a waste of American money.
“I’ve gotten hundreds of people out, and, by the way, I don’t pay a lot of money. I don’t pay any money, like Biden, where they give $6 billion all the time to get people out,” he said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026.(Kenny Holston/Pool Photo via AP)
Lai’s release is not the only topic the two world superpowers cannot agree on. Another central fault line is Taiwan, which Xi warned could cause “clashes and even conflicts” between the United States and China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, reviews the troops during his inspection of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army PLA garrison stationed in the Macao Special Administrative Region, south China, Dec. 20, 2024.(Li Gang/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Though, Xi did offer to help the United States broker a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, striking a more collaborative tone.
Trump indicated a “fantastic future” of U.S.-China relations and praised Xi as a “great leader” during the talks. He departed back to Washington, D.C., on Friday.
Nora Moriarty is a Production Assistant at FOX News.
The Pentagon hasquietly dismantled a program it is legally required to operate to prevent and respond to civilian deaths in US military operations, according to its internal watchdog.
A report released by the department’s inspector general concluded the US military no longer has the people, tools or infrastructure needed to comply with two federal statutes requiring it to maintain a functioning civilian casualty policy, and operate a Civilian Protection Center of Excellence (CP CoE).
Donald Trump’s administration has been accused of making deep cuts to the Pentagon’s civilian harm mitigation and response (CHMR) program, designed to handle training and procedures critical in limiting civilian harm in theaters of war.
While the program has not been officially canceled, the inspector general’s report said that funding had ended for a data management platform; committee meetings had halted; and many dedicatedpersonnelhad been lost or reassigned.
“As a result, the DoW may not comply with its civilian casualties and harm policy,” the report read. “A policy required by federal law.”
The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment.
The program was created by Lloyd Austin, then defense secretary, in January 2022, under Joe Biden, following years of deadly US bombing campaigns in Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Airwars, a civilian harm monitor, estimated that US drone and airstrikes killed at least 22,000 civilians – and perhaps as many as 48,000 – in the 20 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
Limiting casualties has not been a top priority under Hegseth’s tenure at the Department of War,rebranded on his watch from Department of Defense last September. When pressed on civilian casualties in Iran, he has pivoted to blame the country’s regime for placing rocket launchers in civilian areas, and also claimed no nation in history had taken more precautions than the US to avoid civilian deaths.
The inspector general’s report, and people familiar with the office, tell a different story.
“My assessment is that they’ve left a semblance of the department because Hegseth was taking heat for illegal operations,” said Wes J Bryant, an air force combat veteran who was the chief of civilian harm assessments on the CP CoE program.
He described a stream of forced resignations and halted investigations since Hegseth assumed his post, saying there are only seven people left reporting to the program, and that they are “locked out of all operations” and have been relegated to “a closet office” in Virginia.
Bryant was forced out of his job last spring, as the Trump administration removed safeguards that once restrained US forces from authorizing the use of lethal force, according to a ProPublica report.
The inspector general’s report, published on 13 May, points to an inflection point in February, when two senior officials – the acting under secretary of war for policy, Elbridge Colby, and the secretary of the army, Dan Driscoll – separately proposed to Hegseth the program be cut or eliminated.
One proposal went further, according to the report, and recommended scrapping its action plan and its underpinning departmental instruction entirely. Then, without waiting for a response, the military began acting as if the cuts had already been approved.
Later that month, the US launched strikes on Iran.
Responding to a draft report in December, Colby argued in a letter that the Pentagon was in compliance with federal law, claiming that its leadership “already collaborates with the CP CoE and provides components with sample materials related to lessons learned from previous civilian casualty and harm events, including examples of strike cell tactics, techniques, procedures, and cognitive bias mitigation training”.
Colby said the department would deliver on its training goals by the end of next year. Her letter described a review of CP CoE was “underway”, and claimed the unit continued to operate with “dedicated full-time staff”.
The CHMR steering committee – a senior body chaired by Colby, and Christopher Mahoney, vice-chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, tooversee the entire program – held its last meeting in December, according to the report.
One combatant command official told the inspector general that their command had “largely divested their CHMR personnel, functions, and responsibilities as of March 2025”, weeks after the proposals surfaced. Another told the IG they “did not want to spend resources on actions or making future commitments for a program that may be significantly changed”.
The report found that the steering committee did not assign clear offices of primary responsibility to each of the programs 133 actions until that December, which was the final year of a four-year plan. Its implementation tracking tool contained data a senior official acknowledged was “incomplete and inaccurate”.
The most deadly US strike on Iran since the US and Israel launched the war, on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary school in Minab, occurred on 28 February – around the same time as the inspector general found that CHMR’s operations had ground to a halt.
The inspector general gave the Pentagon until 12 June to provide the office with a plan.
Madison Hunke, US program manager at the Center for Civilians in Conflict, said: “We are seeing devastating levels of civilian harm in Iran since February. If that’s any indication of the Department’s current approach to civilian harm after gutting 90% of it’s CHMR workforce, it’s hard to imagine what future US operations might look like if these programs are further degraded.”
Fraser — who was born in Indianapolis — has a new movie coming out called “Pressure,” in which he plays General Dwight D. Eisenhower in the hours leading up to the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
IndyCar and IMS President Doug Boles said that this makes Fraser a perfect choice to start a race that is an American and Memorial Day weekend tradition.
BRENDAN FRASER SAYS AMERICA IS ‘DOING IT WRONG’ COMPARED TO JAPAN AFTER ‘EYE-OPENING’ EXPERIENCE
“Brendan stars in a movie about one of the most pivotal moments in World War II,” Boles said in a statement. “His presence atop the flag stand is fitting as we honor the service and sacrifice of our military heroes on Memorial Day Weekend and prepare for another iconic edition of the world’s greatest race.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
“Brendan was also born in the Circle City, and we’re incredibly excited to give him a warm Hoosier welcome as he returns for ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”
Actor Brendan Fraser poses on the red carpet at the “Rental Family” Los Angeles premiere at the DGA Theater Complex on Nov. 12, 2025.(Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Searchlight Pictures)
Fraser is best known for roles in the “Mummy” franchise and, more recently, won an Academy Award for his performance in the 2022 film “The Whale.”
He has been in some great stuff. Maybe steer clear of the live-action “Dudley Do-Right” movie. Not his fault. That was just a terrible idea to begin with.
It’s always great to see some serious star power getting in on not just IndyCar’s biggest race, but one of the biggest races on the planet.
Qualifying takes place on Saturday and Sunday, while the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will be on Sunday, May 24, with coverage getting started at 10 a.m. ET on Fox.
Three women and one child are among the civilians killed in Israel’s latest attacks on Gaza City.
Published On 15 May 202615 May 2026
At least seven Palestinians have been killed and dozens injured in two Israeli air strikes on a residential building and a civilian vehicle in Gaza City, according to medical sources.
The deaths on Friday come as Israel said it carried out a strike on Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the head of the armed wing of Hamas in Gaza.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said they targeted “one of the architects” of the October 7 attacks. Their statement did not say whether Haddad was killed.
Hamas has not commented, and Al Jazeera has not independently confirmed Israel’s claim.
Medical sources told the Anadolu news agency that three of the Palestinian victims were killed in a strike on a civilian vehicle, and four others died in an attack on a building in the Rimal neighbourhood in western Gaza City.
Three women and a child were among the dead, sources told Al Jazeera. Anadolu said at least 45 others were injured, several reportedly in critical condition.
“According to witnesses on the ground the attack involved at least four missiles,” said Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Gaza, Ibrahim Al Khalili. He added that a “massive fire” engulfed the residential building that was struck.
There was “panic” at the scene as Palestinians were forced to flee, said Al Khalili.
This latest Israeli attack comes on the 78th anniversary of the Nakba – a day of remembrance for the estimated 750,000 Palestinians who were expelled from their homes during the 1948 war due to the creation of Israel.
Gathering around a residential apartment as a fire burns after Israeli shelling, according to the Ministry of Health, in Gaza City, May 15, 2026. [Ebrahim Hajjaj/Reuters]
Al Khalili explained that the attack site west of Gaza City is “overcrowded” because many people moved from east of Gaza City in search of refuge from countless Israeli military operations.
Mahmoud Basel, Gaza’s civil defence spokesman, said hundreds of people were living inside the residential building that was targeted.
“The missile was fired without any pre-warning or notification. We are talking about a number of [dead]. We are talking about a big number of wounded, among them families,” Basel told the Reuters news agency.
Netanyahu and Katz’s statement said they targeted Haddad because he was “responsible for the murder, abduction, and injury of thousands of Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers”.
The statement also accused Haddad of being an obstacle to Trump’s Gaza peace deal as he refused to “disarm Hamas of its weapons and demilitarise the Gaza Strip”.
Despite Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, fighting has persisted in the enclave. Since the “ceasefire” was established last October, close to 850 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Al Khalili said many Palestinians thought the ceasefire would bring “relief”, but it continues to bring nothing but “tragedy”.
Louisiana’s GOP Senate primary is set to take place, testing President Trump’s influence as incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy faces multiple challengers, including Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow. Meanwhile, the ongoing redistricting battle in the Louisiana Legislature has delayed House primaries until the fall, with winners potentially not decided until a December 12th runoff.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., accused his primary opponent, Rep. Julia Letlow, of taking a “Nancy Pelosi approach” to stock trades, claiming she made investments within days of subcommittee hearings involving those companies.
“She’s done well for herself financially,” Cassidy told Fox News Radio’s Jessica Rosenthal. “Kind of the Nancy Pelosi approach to stock markets, I’ll just point out, which is public record.”
Cassidy argued public records show Letlow had bought or sold shares within days of subcommittee hearings related to those companies. Letlow previously denied similar allegations in April after attack ads leveled the same point.
A split image shows Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., left, and Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., right, as Letlow pushed back against campaign attacks highlighting her past involvement with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives during Louisiana’s GOP Senate race.(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“I most certainly did not break federal law,” Letlow told Fox 8 at the time. “I’ve had a portfolio that has been managed by a third party. And it was very important to me, whenever I was elected to Congress, to make sure that I had absolutely no direction over it.”
But Cassidy claims Letlow’s broker has not provided proof the trades were made independently. “She claims that her broker did that independently. They asked the broker for a letter to that effect, and the broker would not give the letter,” he said.
Letlow’s campaign fired back in a statement to Fox News Digital, calling the claims a ploy to save his campaign.
“This is a last-ditch effort by Bill Cassidy to smear Julia Letlow because he knows he is going to lose tomorrow,” Letlow’s campaign spokesperson Katherine Thordahl said.
Chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Feb. 25, 2026, in Washington, D.C.(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“President Trump endorsed Julia Letlow because he knows she is a strong conservative who will stand with him and fight for the America First agenda in the United States Senate. At the end of the day, Bill Cassidy will do or say anything to distract from his own record, including his vote to impeach President Trump.”
Cassidy also reiterated comments labeling Letlow a “liberal,” pointing to past remarks she made advocating for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The comments came from a 2020 video of Letlow interviewing to become president of the University of Louisiana Monroe. In the footage, Letlow called the school’s record on faculty gender diversity “shameful,” praised DEI efforts around the country and said she wanted to open the school’s first DEI division.
Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., attended a news conference with Republican lawmakers in the Capitol Visitor Center on Jan. 20, 2022, in Washington, D.C.(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“She is saying there should be a completely staffed department of DEI reporting to the president and having input before any decision was made,” Cassidy said on the podcast. “Now that’s not the way folks in Louisiana believe.”
Earlier this week, Letlow took to the “Fox News Rundown” podcast to defend her record, arguing that DEI programs she once oversaw were “hijack[ed]” by the political left and turned into “Marxism.”
“DEI six years ago was introduced in higher education as something that could be a tool to encourage students, staff, faculty to work hard and go achieve the American dream,” Letlow said.
“I quickly witnessed the left completely hijack any of those efforts and turn it into indoctrination of our students, Marxism, holding people down instead of lifting them up,” she added.
Letlow said the DEI issue is more complex than the ads or Cassidy suggest, arguing it was initially presented as a tool for student success but later was distorted into something she opposes.
“Once I witnessed that firsthand because I was in education, I spent the last five years in Congress fighting against it,” she added.
Madison is a writer for Fox News Digital on the Flash team.
As the World Cup approaches its kickoff day, the participating teams are getting closer to finalising their squads and planning their final few weeks before the June 11 opener in Mexico.
With the majority of the expanded rosters for the 48 teams announced, the attention will now shift towards travelling to the United States, Mexico and Canada for the last phase of their friendly matches and training sessions.
Meanwhile, in the host nations, the tournament’s hospitality sector is busy putting together finishing touches before teams’ arrivals at their base camps.
Here’s what we know about the World Cup base camps, training facilities and locations:
What are World Cup base camps?
A base camp is the primary location chosen by every participant nation for their pre-tournament training and acclimatisation, as well as the duration of their group-stage games in the World Cup.
A base camp comprises everything from accommodation to practice football fields, gyms, post-training recovery facilities, performance evaluation centres and anything else a team may need during the competition.
The three host nations hold an advantage, whether it’s climate acclimatisation, home crowd support or fewer logistical hurdles, over the 45 nations, who endure international travel and adjustments to local climate.
Where are the base camps for World Cup teams?
All 48 teams have selected a base camp from the FIFA-approved catalogue to suit their requirements and the locations of their group-stage fixtures.
The locations are a mix of local sports complexes, university sports facilities and luxury hotels.
These base camps will primarily be used until the group stage of the tournament, which runs from June 11 to 27.
The 32 teams advancing to the knockouts will have the option of extending their stay at the same location or moving closer to their next match venue.
Algeria: Lawrence, Kansas, US
Training: Rock Chalk Park, University of Kansas Accommodation: DoubleTree, Lawrence Fixtures: Argentina (June 16, Kansas City), Jordan (June 22, San Francisco), Austria (June 27, Kansas City)
Algeria were the first team, in February, to make Kansas their home, owing to the proximity to Kansas City Stadium, where they will open their campaign against Argentina.
Argentina: Kansas City, Missouri, US
Training: Sporting KC Performance Center Accommodation: Hotel Savoy, Kansas City Fixtures: Algeria (June 16, Kansas City), Austria (June 22, Dallas), Jordan (June 27, Dallas)
The defending champions will be in the home state of the Kansas City Stadium in Missouri, less than 20 minutes from its training centre that boasts five elite football fields, a performance lab and training facilities for athletes.
The team will have heightened security at the training centre. The holders will enjoy custom facilities at the hotel, similar to their stay at the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, where the eventual champions cooked their traditional barbecue meat at Qatar University in Doha.
Argentina face Algeria in their opening match in Kansas City before facing Jordan and Austria in Dallas, Texas.
Australia: Oakland, California, US
Training: Oakland Roots Sports Club Accommodation: Claremont Resort and Club Fixtures: Turkiye (June 14, Vancouver), USA (June 19, Seattle), Paraguay (June 25, San Francisco)
The Socceroos will make their home in Northern California after a pre-World Cup camp in Sarasota, Florida, and a friendly match against Mexico in Los Angeles on May 30.
Austria: Santa Barbara, California, US
Training: Harder Center, University of California at Santa Barbara Accommodation: Ritz-Carlton Fixtures: Jordan (June 17, San Francisco), Argentina (June 22, Dallas), Algeria (June 27, Kansas City)
Austria will train at the University of California at Santa Barbara’s football facility, which often hosts the US men’s and women’s national teams.
They arrive on the West Coast in early June, before travelling to nearby Santa Clara for their first game.
Belgium: Renton, Washington, US
Training: Seattle Sounders Training Centre Accommodation: Hyatt Regency, Seattle Fixtures: Egypt (June 15, Seattle), Iran (June 21, Los Angeles), New Zealand (June 26, Vancouver)
The Red Devils will be based in the state of their tournament opener and train at the Providence Swedish Performance Centre and Clubhouse, home to Major League Soccer (MLS) club Seattle Sounders.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: St Louis, Missouri, US
Training: Washington University Orthopedics High Performance Center Accommodation: Unconfirmed Fixtures: Canada (June 12, Toronto), Switzerland (June 18, Los Angeles), Qatar (June 24, Seattle)
Bosnia return to the World Cup after a decade and have chosen St Louis as their home away from home. Although none of their matches is in the state of Missouri, St Louis is home to the largest Bosnian population outside Europe.
The team is scheduled to play Panama in an international friendly on June 6 while in St Louis for a six-day training camp.
Brazil: New York and New Jersey, US
Training: Columbia Park Training Facility, New Jersey Accommodation: Ridge Hotel, New York City Fixtures: Morocco (June 13, New Jersey), Haiti (June 19, Philadelphia), Scotland (June 24, Miami)
The five-time world champions have chosen the Big Apple as their home and will be training in neighbouring New Jersey at the state-of-the-art facility used by MLS team New York Red Bulls.
[Al Jazeera]
Canada: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Training: National Soccer Development Centre Accommodation: The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver Fixtures: Bosnia (June 12, Toronto), Qatar (June 18, Vancouver), Switzerland (June 24, Vancouver)
Taking advantage of their host nation status, Canada have made their base camp in Vancouver, where they play two of three group stage matches.
Vancouver will host seven of the 104 World Cup matches, including knockouts.
The Blue Sharks will train on Florida’s west coast. They will travel to the neighbouring state of Georgia to make their World Cup debut before staying in-state for their second game and heading to Houston for their final group-stage fixture.
Colombia: Guadalajara, Mexico
Training: Atlas AGA Academy Accommodation: Grand Fiesta Americana Country Club Fixtures: Uzbekistan (June 17, Mexico City), Democratic Republic of Congo (June 23, Guadalajara), Portugal (June 27, Miami)
The home of Atlas FC will serve as the official base camp of Colombia’s national team. The state-of-the-art performance centre, inaugurated in 2023, has six professional football fields and a sport science and medical centre.
Croatia: Alexandria, Virginia, US
Training: Episcopal High School Sports Complex Accommodation: Hotel AKA Alexandria Fixtures: England (June 17, Dallas), Panama (June 23, Toronto), USA (June 27, Philadelphia)
Podium finishers in 2022, Croatia enter the 2026 tournament as one of its dark horses. The European side have chosen none of their group-stage fixture venues for their base camp and will be based in Virginia.
Curacao will join fellow debutants Cape Verde in Florida, but will be based in Boca Raton. The team’s accommodation is just a 10-minute drive from the training facility.
The nation of roughly 150,000 people will support The Blue Wave as they look to make a splash in the tournament.
Czechia: Mansfield, Texas, US
Training: Mansfield Multipurpose Stadium Accommodation: The Sheraton, Fort Worth Fixtures: South Korea (June 11, Guadalajara), South Africa (June 18, Atlanta), Mexico (June 24, Mexico City)
The state-of-the-art stadium in Texas, set to open this year, will host Czechia and later serve as the home for North Texas SC. The team, returning to the World Cup after 20 years, will stay approximately 40 minutes away from the training facility.
DR Congo: Houston, Texas
Training: Houston Sports Park Accommodation: Omni Houston Hotel Fixtures: Portugal (June 17, Houston), Colombia (June 23, Guadalajara), Uzbekistan (June 27, Atlanta)
The last time DR Congo took to the World Cup pitch, the West African nation was known as Zaire.
The Leopards return to the global tournament for the first time since 1974 and have chosen Houston as their base camp, where they will train at a multipurpose sports facility, home to MLS club Houston Dynamo FC and hosts the US women’s football league at its eight professional playing fields.
Ecuador: Columbus, Ohio, US
Training: Columbus Crew Performance Centre Accommodation: Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph Fixtures: Ivory Coast( June 14, Philadelphia), Curacao (June 20, Kansas City), Germany (June 25, New York-New Jersey)
With Moises Caicedo cleared to play in Ecuador’s opener against the Ivory Coast, La Tri will look to go beyond the group stage at the World Cup.
Ecuador, boasting one of the youngest squads at the tournament, will be a 10-minute drive from the performance centre that is home to MLS side Columbus Crew.
Egypt: Spokane, Washington, US
Training: Gonzaga University Accommodation: Northern Quest Resort and Casino Fixtures: Belgium (June 15, Seattle), New Zealand (June 21, Vancouver), Iran (June 26, Seattle)
Egypt’s decision to make a base camp in Washington aligns with the team’s group stage match schedule. Mohamed Salah’s side will be centred on the west coast of both Canada and the US.
England: Kansas City, Missouri, US
Training: Swope Soccer Centre Accommodation: The Inn at Meadowbrook Fixtures: Croatia (June 17, Dallas), Ghana (June 23, Boston), Panama (June 27, New York-New Jersey)
Three’s a party as England, Argentina and the Netherlands have all chosen Kansas City, Missouri as their base camp. Harry Kane’s side will be roughly 20 minutes away from their training centre.
France: Waltham, Massachusetts, US
Training: Bentley University Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel, Boston Fixtures: Senegal (June 16, New York-New Jersey), Iraq (June 22, Philadelphia), Norway (June 26, Boston)
Two-time champions France will stay 20 minutes from their training facility at Bentley University. According to the university, courses will continue without interruption, while the French team will be provided additional security to ensure their safety on campus.
One of the top favourites to win the World Cup, Les Bleus will head to nearby New Jersey to kick off their campaign.
Germany: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, US
Training: Wake Forest University Accommodation: The Graylyn Estate Fixtures: Curacao (June 14, Houston), Ivory Coast (June 20, Toronto), Ecuador (June 25, New York-New Jersey)
Four-time champions Germany have chosen the W Dennie Spry Soccer Stadium as their training centre, reportedly one of the best collegiate football facilities in the US. The team’s choice of luxury boutique hotel Graylyn Estate was due to its proximity to the training facility and privacy, conditions that mimicked the team’s home ground in Herzogenaurach, according to head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
The team’s organising committee at Wake Forest University has already stated that there would be no access to the team either at their training facility or at Graylyn.
Ghana: Smithfield, Rhode Island, US
Training: Bryant University Accommodation: Unconfirmed Fixtures: Panama (June 17, Toronto), England (June 23, Boston), Croatia (June 27, Philadelphia)
The Black Stars’ base camp selection came from the quality of sporting facilities and “artistic impression” of Bryant University, according to the national sport authority’s director general. Rhode Island’s tourism, culture, and nightlife also influenced the team’s decision on their base camp.
Haiti: Galloway Township, New Jersey, US
Training: Stockton University Accommodation: Sheraton Atlantic City Center Hotel Fixtures: Scotland (June 13, Boston), Brazil (June 19, Philadelphia), Morocco (June 24, Atlanta)
Haiti are one of four teams to have made New Jersey their home camp for the World Cup owing to the location of all three group stage matches.
Haiti return to the World Cup after a five-decade hiatus, having last played in 1974.
Iran: Tuscon, Arizona, US
Training: Kino Sports Complex Accommodation: Unconfirmed Fixtures: New Zealand (June 15, Los Angeles), Belgium (June 21, Los Angeles), Egypt (June 26, Seattle)
Iran’s presence at the World Cup remains contentious, uncertain and closely watched as the tournament inches closer.
FIFA insists the team will play at the World Cup, while Iran rebutts those claims with its own demands for certain concerns to be addressed. US President Donald Trump said the team is more than welcome to participate, but that it might not be safe in the country
However, preparations in Tucson are in full swing as the city and sports complex prepare to “welcome them with open arms”, according to Jon Pearlman, president of FC Tucson.
Iraq: White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, US
Training: Greenbrier Sports Performance Center Accommodation: The Greenbrier Resort Fixtures: Norway (June 16, Boston), France (June 22, Philadelphia), Senegal (June 26, Toronto)
Iraq return to the World Cup after 40 years and will be doing so in style when they stay at luxury resort where 28 US presidents have stayed. The performance centre is on the grounds of the resort, accounting for virtually no travel time between training and rest.
Iraq are the only team to have chosen West Virginia as their base camp with matches nearby.
Ivory Coast: Chester, Pennsylvania, US
Training: Philadelphia Union Subaru Park Accommodation: Hotel Du Pont Fixtures: Ecuador (June 14, Philadelphia), Germany (June 20, Toronto), Curacao (June 25, Philadelphia)
The former AFCON champions have chosen the state-of-the-art facility known as a premier MLS venue.
“We’ve built one of the most unique sports campuses in North America specifically to support and develop world-class soccer, and there’s no better validation of that vision than welcoming recent African champions to train here,” Philadelphia Union’s President Tim McDermott said.
Japan: Antioch, Tennessee, US
Training: Nashville SC Vanderbilt Health Training Center Accommodation: Ritz Carlton, Bacara Fixtures: Netherlands (June 14, Dallas), Tunisia (June 20, Monterrey), Sweden (June 25, Dallas)
Wataru Endo’s side, another dark horse in the tournament, will reside and train in Nashville, which will host nine Olympic football matches at LA2028.
Jordan: Portland, Oregon, US
Training: University of Portland Accommodation: The Nines Hotel Fixtures: Austria (June 17, Atlanta), Algeria (June 22, San Francisco), Argentina (June 27, Dallas)
Debutants Jordan have chosen the US West Coast as their base camp, where they will train at the University of Portland’s sports facility, which regularly hosts NCAA teams as well as the US’ men’s and women’s football teams.
Mexico: Mexico City, Mexico
Training and accommodation: Centro de Alto Rendimiento Fixtures: South Africa (June 11, Mexico City), South Korea (June 18, Guadalajara), Czechia (June 24, Mexico City)
Mexico have chosen their capital as base camp as the nation gears up to host their third World Cup. The training centre not only doubles as the team’s accommodation but is conveniently just 15 minutes away from the iconic Azteca Stadium, where they play South Africa and Czechia.
Aside from a roaring home crowd and an absence of logistical hurdles, the team’s biggest advantage comes from being acclimatised to the high altitude conditions that other teams won’t be able to match as easily.
Morocco: Basking Ridge, New Jersey, US
Training: Pingry School Accommodation: Somerset Hills Hotel Fixtures: Brazil (June 13, New York-New Jersey), Scotland (June 19, Boston), Haiti (June 24, Atlanta)
Morocco are one of four teams to make their base camp in New Jersey, one of the most sought-after locations for teams at the World Cup and home to roughly 10,000 people of Moroccan descent.
The Atlas Lions’ training facilities at Pingry School, also served as a base camp when the US previously hosted the World Cup in 1994. The institution recently underwent upgrades that include two international-standard grass fields and modern training facilities.
Netherlands: Kansas City, Missouri, US
Training: KC Current Training Centre Accommodation: Hotel Kansas City Fixtures: Japan (June 14, Dallas), Sweden (June 20, Houston), Tunisia (June 25, Kansas City)
The Dutch will make themselves at home at the state-of-the-art facility, which is the first purpose-built training complex for a women’s professional sport team in the US (Kansas City Current).
The team’s arrival in June might not be as iconic as their famous orange double-decker bus arriving in Galveston, Texas this month.
The bus started as a joke among friends to watch the Euro 2004 championship in Portugal, but has turned into a national treasure for the football team.
New Zealand: San Diego, California, US
Training: University of San Diego Torero Stadium Accommodation: Hyatt Regency La Jolla Fixtures: Iran (June 15, Los Angeles), Egypt (June 21, Vancouver), Belgium (June 26, Vancouver)
The Kiwis join Switzerland as one of two teams in San Diego as they return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010.
Norway: North Carolina, US
Training: University of North Carolina Greensboro Accommodation: Grandover Resort and Spa Fixtures: Iraq (June 16, Boston), Senegal (June 22, New York-New Jersey), France (June 26, Boston)
The same training facility that hosted Brazil’s SE Palmeiras for the FIFA Club World Cup will now be home to Martin Odegaard’s side.
According to UNGC Spartans, the university’s sport side, Norway will host a public community training session on June 10 and will be the team’s only scheduled public appearance as they prepare for the World Cup.
Panama: New Tecumseth, Ontario, Canada
Training: Nottawasaga Training Center Accommodation: Nottawasaga Resort & Conference Centre Fixtures: Ghana (June 17, Toronto), Croatia (June 23, Toronto), England (June 27, New York-New Jersey)
Panama is the only country whose base camp Canada will host, aside from their own national team, and the Latin Americans will be across the country, closer to Toronto.
Paraguay: San Jose, California, US
Training: San Jose State University Spartan Soccer Complex Accommodation: Signia by Hilton San Jose Fixtures: USA (June 12, Los Angeles), Turkiye (June 19, San Francisco), Australia (June 25, San Francisco)
The South American side return to the World Cup after 16 years and will be based at the San Jose State University, which promises to offer them “a seamless logistical experience throughout their World Cup experience”.
Portugal: Palm Beach County, Florida, US
Training: Garden North County Districts Park Accommodation: Four Seasons Fixtures: DR Congo (June 17, Houston), Uzbekistan (June 23, Houston), Colombia (June 28, Miami)
The 10-field facility, which hosted Real Madrid for the FIFA Club World Cup, will now serve as the training facility for Cristiano Ronaldo’s side.
The city’s sport commission believes that Portugal and Curacao’s stay in Palm Beach will “deliver meaningful economic benefits to the region.
Qatar: Santa Barbara, California, US
Training: Westmont College Accommodation: Courtyard by Marriott Fixtures: Switzerland (June 13, San Francisco), Canada (June 18, Vancouver), Bosnia (June 24, Seattle)
Qatar join Austria in Santa Barbara as they train at Westmont, which has previously hosted MLS teams, the US Women’s National Team, and Brazil’s Botafogo Club during the FIFA Club World Cup.
Saudi Arabia: Austin, Texas, US
Training: Austin FC Stadium Accommodation: The Four Seasons Fixtures: Uruguay (June 15, Miami), Spain (June 21, Atlanta), Cape Verde (June 26, Houston)
The Green Falcons will train at the home of Austin FC and stay at a 20-minute drive from the facilities.
Saudi Arabia will be appearing at their seventh World Cup. They had their best outing at their debut in 1994, in the US, when they reached the Round of 16. They will host the World Cup in 2034, marking the first time the expanded 48-team tournament will be held in a single nation.
Scotland: Charlotte, North Carolina, US
Training: Atrium Health Performance Park Accommodation: The Renaissance, Charlotte South Fixtures: Haiti (June 13, Boston), Morocco (June 19, Boston), Brazil (June 24, Miami)
The team chose the MLS side’s facility in February for its top-tier facilities and logistical convenience. Charlotte is a two-hour flight to Boston, where the team play Haiti and Morocco, and to Miami, where they face off against former champions Brazil.
Senegal: Piscataway, New Jersey, US
Training: Rutgers University Accommodation: The Heldrich Hotel Fixtures: France (June 16, New York-New Jersey), Norway (June 22, New York-New Jersey), Iraq (June 26, Toronto)
The team’s accommodation is a 13-minute drive from the training grounds and 35 minutes from New York-New Jersey Stadium, where they play France and Norway.
The Lions of Terenga enter the tournament as a dark horse with the potential to advance beyond the group stage, though it seems unlikely they’ll match their best showing of 2002, when they reached the quarterfinals.
South Africa: Pachuca, Mexico
Training: Universidad del Futbol Accommodation: Camino Real Pachuca Fixtures: Mexico (June 11, Mexico City), Czechia (June 18, Atlanta), South Korea (June 24, Monterrey)
The Bafana Bafana will be under the global spotlight as they kick off the tournament’s first game against hosts Mexico in Mexico City.
The team have set up camp in Pachuna at a facility that boasts two football fields and a FIFA-certified Center of Medical Excellence.
South Korea: Guadalajara, Mexico
Training: Chivas Verde Valle Accommodation: Westin Fixtures: Czechia (June 11, Guadalajara), Mexico (June 18, Guadalajara), South Africa (June 24, Monterrey)
South Korea will stay at the home of Liga MX side CD Guadalajara, just 10 minutes from their matches against Czechia and Mexico.
The city was reportedly chosen as base camp for its high altitude to facilitate acclimatisation training, according to South Korean newspaper Chosun Daily.
Spain: Chattanooga, Tennessee, US
Training: Baylor School Accommodation: The Embassy Suites Fixtures: Cape Verde (June 15, Atlanta), Saudi Arabia (June 21, Atlanta), Uruguay (June 26, Guadalajara)
The world’s number one team will plant themselves in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the elite private school that has “long embraced a global focus”, according to the institution founded in 1893.
Baylor is adding finishing touches to its campus, including 10-foot blackout fences for the team’s privacy, according to the local Channel 9.
Sweden: Frisco, Texas, US
Training: FC Dallas Stadium Accommodation: The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa Fixtures: Tunisia (June 14, Monterrey), Houston (June 20, Houston), Japan (June 25, Dallas)
Sweden join Czechia in making a base camp in northern Texas at FC Dallas Stadium, currently undergoing a $182 million renovation before the 2028 MLS season.
Graham Potter’s men will begin their campaign in Monterrey against Tunisia before flying back from Mexico to play the Netherlands in Houston and Japan in Dallas in the group stage matches.
Switzerland: San Diego, California, US
Training: San Diego Jewish Academy Accommodation: The Fairmont Fixtures: Qatar (June 13, San Francisco), Bosnia (June 18, Los Angeles), Canada (June 24, Vancouver)
The Swiss have chosen San Diego for its proximity to Los Angeles, where they play Bosnia, as well as the airport to fly to San Francisco to play Qatar and Vancouver to play hosts Canada.
The team’s accommodation is an eight-minute drive from the academy.
Switzerland play Jordan in St Gallen on May 31 before flying to San Diego to play a friendly against Australia on June 6.
Tunisia: Monterrey, Mexico
Training: El Barrial Training Center Accommodation: Unconfirmed Fixtures: Sweden (June 14, Monterrey), Japan (June 21, Monterrey), Netherlands (June 25, Kansas City)
Tunisia’s base camp choice of Monterrey is convenient for their matches there against Sweden and Japan before they fly to Kansas City to play the Netherlands.
The training centre is home to Liga MX club CF Monterrey, the women’s team and their youth squads. It is widely considered one of Latin America’s premium football training facilities, featuring multiple natural grass pitches.
Turkiye: Mesa, Arizona, US
Training: Arizona Athletic Grounds Accommodation: The Courtyard Mesa Fixtures: Australia (June 14, Vancouver), Paraguay (June 19, San Francisco), USA (June 25, Los Angeles)
Turkiye are the only Group D team to set up base camp outside California, with the choice of Mesa, Arizona at a facility that boasts 24 multipurpose grounds. The team will stay 10 minutes away.
Travel will be hectic for Turkiye, who first fly to Vancouver to play Australia before heading to San Francisco to play Paraguay and then further down south to Los Angeles to face hosts USA.
[Al Jazeera]
USA: Irvine, California, US
Training: Great Park Sports Complex Accommodation: Unconfirmed Fixtures: Paraguay (June 12, Los Angeles), Australia (June 19, Seattle), Turkiye (June 25, Los Angeles)
The hosts will be at home in Irvine at retired military airbase Great Park.
US Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said the facilities are “simply outstanding” and the perfect environment for the team to train during the World Cup.
Uruguay: Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Training: Mayakoba Training Center Accommodation: Fairmont Mayakoba Fixtures: Saudi Arabia (June 15, Miami), Cape Verde (June 21, Miami), Spain (June 26, Guadalajara)
Uruguay will be based at the Mexican resort city with a training centre a few minutes away from their accommodation.
Their proximity to Cancun Airport helps as they take a two-hour flight to Miami, where they play Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde before playing Spain in Guadalajara at the opposite end of Mexico.
Uzbekistan: Marietta, Georgia, US
Training: Atlanta United Training Center Accommodation: JW Marriott Fixtures: Colombia (June 17, Mexico City), Portugal (June 23, Houston), DR Congo (June 27, Atlanta)
The new home for football in America was inaugurated this month, but will first see a test run from Uzbekistan after the debutants chose the facility in March.
The White Wolves will play a string of closed-door friendly matches against domestic Super League clubs before continuing their preparations against Canada in Edmonton, Alberta on June 1 and the Netherlands in NewYork City on June 8.
The Lebanese government filed a sharply worded complaint with the United Nations arguing that the Islamic Republic of Iran has abused diplomatic immunity by refusing to recall its ambassador after Beirut demanded his expulsion and to stop alleged terrorist activities on its soil, according to a recently surfaced letter from late April.
The disclosure of the letter, which is reportedly a precedent-setting move by Lebanon, comes amid a second day of talks in Washington between Israel and Lebanon to normalize relations (the countries are in a state of war) and dismantle the Iranian-regime-backed Hezbollah terrorist movement in Lebanon.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Friday that “The United States facilitated talks between Israel and Lebanon have resumed today and are ongoing. The atmosphere of talks has been very positive, even exceeding expectations.”
A mourner holds a portrait of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a funeral procession on March 5, 2026, for members of Iraq’s pro-Iran paramilitary group Kataeb Hezbollah killed in a strike in Baghdad the previous day.(Ahmed Al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images)
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott wrote on X on Friday that “On May 14 and 15, the United States hosted two days of highly-productive talks between Israel and Lebanon. The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress. The State Department will reconvene the political track of negotiations on June 2 and June 3.”
He added that, “In addition, a security track will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29 with military delegations from both countries. We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border.”
As the sides report back to their capitals, the potentially game-changing letter in which Lebanese ambassador to the U.N. Ahmad Arafa, slammed Iran for inserting alleged terrorists from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) into Lebanon “under the guise of diplomatic activity,” has given hope to critics of Iran and Hezbollah.
Arafa said, according to the letter, that Iran committed “unlawful acts in blatant defiance of the decisions of the Government of Lebanon.” He continued, “This Iranian conduct constitutes direct and blatant interference in the internal affairs of Lebanon and drags the country into a war it did not choose to become involved in.”
Michael Needham, counselor for the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad, and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter pose for a photo before a meeting at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 2026.(Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
The U.S. and the European Union have classified the IRGC as a terrorist entity.
The letter took the Iranian Ambassador to Beirut, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, to task for “blatant interference” in Lebanon.
According to Lebanon’s U.N. letter, Beirut argued that Iran is violating the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and interfering in Lebanon’s state of affairs.
Iranian protesters carry flowers in front of a large banner of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah during a protest in Tehran on Sept. 30, 2024, condemning an Israeli air strike on Hezbollah’s Beirut headquarters and the killing of Nasrallah and IRGC Quds Force commander General Abbas Nilforoushan.(Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto)
When asked about the details of the letter, a spokesperson for Lebanon’s ambassador to the U.S. declined to comment. The spokesperson also declined to weigh in on the current talks with Israel in Washington.
Walid Phares, a leading U.S. expert on Lebanon and the Mideast, told Fox News Digital that “Many have considered the Lebanese memo to the U.N. as the start of the Lebanese government change of attitude towards Iran and a sign of escalation by Beirut. While the tone of the letter and its narrative make people feel that there is a government resistance to Iran and Hezbollah reality is still lesser.”
He added that “The subject of the last quarrel is a legal change of status regarding the presence of Iranians on Lebanese soil. The Lebanese government has decided not to grant Iranians, government, and private citizens an automatic visa waiver, which upset Iran and Hezbollah. Besides, Tehran is furious at the fact that the Lebanese government has not been helpful in dealing with the elimination of a number of IRGC members killed in Lebanon by Israel. Tehran blames the foreign ministry of Lebanon, particularly foreign minister Youssef Raggi, for the ‘lessening of solidarity with Iran.”‘
Smoke rises from Israeli airstrikes in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, on April 5, 2026.(Emilio Morenatti/AP)
According to Phares, “Raggi represents a Lebanese Christian bloc in the parliament, who is not sympathetic to the regime. However, the actual talks in D.C. are designed by the Lebanese government to show the Trump administration that the ‘state wants to talk’ but not to reach an agreement that would trigger Hezbollah’s wrath. The leaders of the Lebanese state are not yet where the U.S. and Israel expect them to be.”
A regional official well-versed in the U.N. dispute told Fox News Digital that Lebanon “argued that Iran had not given the Lebanese foreign ministry the list of all Iranians and the details about their place of stay. And that’s why Israel targeted that hotel in Lebanon in which six were killed, which is true.”
The official said that “Iran had not told the foreign ministry of Lebanon about those six people.”
Benjamin Weinthal reports on Israel, Iran, Syria, Turkey and Europe. You can follow Benjamin on Twitter @BenWeinthal, and email him at benjamin.weinthal@fox.com
{“_id”:”6a083831f810ad85070bed80″,”slug”:”pm-narendra-modi-netherlands-visit-updates-address-indian-diaspora-talks-about-cricket-and-sports-2026-05-16″,”type”:”feature-story”,”status”:”publish”,”title_hn”:”PM Modi In Netherlands: PM Modi talks about cricket in Netherlands, with Aryan Dutt Name taken till Vikramjit”,”category”:{“title”:”Cricket News”,”title_hn”:”Cricket News”,”slug”:”cricket-news”}}
Narendra Modi
– Photo: IANS
Expansion
Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on a tour of four European countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Netherlands as part of his visit. PM Modi will meet King William and Queen Maxima here. PM Modi was warmly welcomed in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He also briefly met the Indian expatriates in The Hague and during this he also addressed the Indians. During this period, PM Modi talked about everything from cricket to hosting the Olympics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Netherlands. He interacted with people of the Indian community in ‘The Hague’. During this, while starting his address, he said, ‘So much love and enthusiasm… To be honest, for some time I had forgotten that I am in the Netherlands. It seems as if a festival is going on somewhere in India.
#WATCH | Netherlands: Addressing a community event in The Hague, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “Seeing so much love and enthusiasm, I forgot for a moment that I am in the Netherlands, and it felt like I was attending a festival in India only… It seems like The Hague has… pic.twitter.com/vHmGKp2FVj
‘Netherlands is known for tulips while India is known for lotus’
Netherlands is called the land of tulips and people from all over the world come there to see these beautiful flowers. This beautiful tradition of flowers is also seen in India, especially in the Tulip Garden of Srinagar. Just as the identity of Netherlands is deeply linked to the tulip, similarly the identity of India is also deeply linked to the lotus. Both tulip and lotus flowers tell us that whether the roots are in water or on earth, if they get proper nutrition then they get beauty as well as strength.
The lawyers for Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student targeted for deportation by the United States government over his pro-Palestine advocacy, have called on an immigration appeals court to reopen and terminate his case.
The latest legal appeal points to new evidence, some of which was documented in media reports, that Khalil’s lawyers said it “suggests that the Trump Administration secretly engineered the outcome of his immigration case to make an example of him”.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
It comes just over a month after the Board of Immigration Appeals issued a final order of removal for Khalil, who was first detained by immigration enforcement agents in March 2025, one of several students targeted for their participation in pro-Palestine campus protests that swept the US the previous year.
Khalil, a US permanent resident who is married to a US citizen, has long maintained that he has been unjustly targeted for his political views.
His legal team said on Friday that “apparent procedural abnormalities” support that view.
“It’s clear that the revelations of DOJ misconduct corroborate what we have known since Mahmoud was arrested–that the administration has reverse-engineered its desired outcome by weaponising a farcical proceeding littered with abnormalities,” Johnny Sinodis, a lawyer representing Khalil, said in a statement.
The new evidence includes a report by The New York Times that found that Khalil’s case had been flagged as high priority before it had arrived at the Board of Immigration Appeals, in what his lawyers say indicated the case was being “fast-tracked”.
The report, citing case documents, also found that the court had been instructed to treat Khalil’s case as if he were still in detention custody, which typically results in an expedited processing timeline.
Khalil was released from immigration detention in June 2025 following a federal judge’s order. An appeals court later ruled the judge did not have jurisdiction over the matter. He is also appealing that decision, during which time authorities are barred from re-detaining or deporting him.
The New York Times report also found that three judges at the Board of Immigration Appeals recused themselves from the case. While the reasons for the recusals were not made public, experts familiar with the board’s procedures have said the rate of recusals was extremely rare.
The Board of Immigration Appeals is meant to be independent. Like other immigration courts, it falls under the Department of Justice in the executive branch, which critics say makes it more vulnerable to interference.
Other federal courts fall under the independence of the judicial branch.
The Trump administration has framed Khalil’s deportation as part of a crackdown on anti-Semitism. They have presented no evidence to back the claims against him, and Khalil has never been charged with a crime.
This week, The Intercept news site reported that shortly after he was detained by immigration agents, the FBI had closed an investigation into a tip that Khalil had called for “violence on behalf of Hamas”, saying it did not warrant further investigation.
In targeting Khalil, US Secretary of State Marco had invoked a rarely used provision of the Immigration and National Act that allows the deportation of individuals deemed to be a national security threat based on “past, current or expected beliefs, statements, or associations that are otherwise lawful”.
The manoeuvre raised questions over freedom of speech and whether those protections extended to permanent residents like Khalil. The government later added the claim that Khalil had intentionally failed to disclose his past work for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on his immigration application.
Administration officials have repeatedly stood by the claims and maintained that Khalil received proper due process.
In a statement on Friday, Khalil said the administration “wants to arrest, detain, and deport me to intimidate everyone speaking out for Palestine across this country, and they are willing to violate longstanding US rules and procedures to do it”.
He added, “No lies, corruption, or ideological persecution will stop me from advocating for Palestine and for everyone’s right to free speech.”
