International

Pope Leo XIV blesses Giro d’Italia riders in Vatican Ceremony

Pope Leo XIV offered his blessing to the Giro d’Italia peloton, presenting the riders as “role models for all the youth in the world,” as the cyclists passed through Vatican City during the 21st and final stage of the race on Sunday.

Riders pedaled at a slow pace through the famous gardens of the world’s smallest state during the neutralized start of the last stage.

Leo XIV was presented with a replica of the iconic pink jersey—the “maglia rosa” worn by the race leader—by Urbano Cairo, owner of RCS Sport, the Giro’s organizing company.

The cyclists stopped to greet the pontiff, and the four wearers of the race’s distinctive jerseys, including race leader Simon Yates and Mexican rider Isaac del Toro, best young rider, dismounted their bikes to shake hands with him.

“Welcome to the Vatican. I’m pleased to greet you on this final stage of the Giro; I hope it will be a beautiful day for everyone,” Pope Leo XIV said in a brief address.

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“You are role models for all the youth of the world—not just in Italy—because cycling is one of the most important sports in the world,” added the first American pope in history, before offering his blessing to the riders.

The Giro previously passed through the Vatican in 1974 and 2000. This year’s route through the Vatican was initially planned as part of the Jubilee celebrations—a holy year held every 25 years when pilgrims from around the globe visit the city—but later became a tribute to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21.

International

Texas Senate approves bill allowing citizens to sue over abortion pills

The Republican-controlled Texas Senate approved a bill on Wednesday that would allow anyone to sue individuals who facilitate the delivery of abortion pills in the conservative state, where abortion is heavily restricted.

The measure, which the state House approved in late August, now awaits the signature of Governor Greg Abbott to take effect. According to the Texas Senate website, the law passed with 17 votes in favor and 9 against.

Once enacted, any citizen could file a lawsuit against alleged violators and seek a minimum of $100,000 in damages. While the legislation does not criminalize women seeking abortion pills, it prohibits the prescription, manufacturing, or shipment of such drugs.

The law represents another win for the anti-abortion movement in the United States, fueled by a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that sharply curtailed abortion rights in several states.

Senator Bryan Hughes, a Republican, defended the bill on X (formerly Twitter), saying it aims to “protect the baby growing in the mother’s womb” and prevent pharmaceutical companies from sending “toxic pills” to Texas for profit.

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In contrast, Democratic Senator Carol Alvarado, quoted by the New York Times, criticized the law, claiming it effectively turns Texans into bounty hunters.

International

Israel’s Defense Minister threatens Yemen’s houthis with “ten biblical plagues”

Israel’s Defense Minister announced on Thursday that his country would inflict the “ten plagues” described in the Bible on Houthi rebels in Yemen, following an escalation of attacks against Israel.

“The Houthis are once again firing missiles at Israel… We will bring the ten plagues upon them,” wrote Israel Katz on X (formerly Twitter), referencing the biblical plagues that struck Egypt to compel Pharaoh to free the Israelites.

Earlier, the Israeli military reported that a missile launched from Yemen landed outside Israeli territory, a day after intercepting two other projectiles fired by the Houthis.

The Iran-backed Yemeni rebels have vowed to intensify attacks on Israel, after their Prime Minister and 11 other senior officials were killed last week in Israeli airstrikes.

Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, the Houthis have carried out numerous missile and drone attacks on Israel, citing solidarity with the Palestinians. In response, Israel has launched multiple retaliatory strikesagainst Houthi-controlled targets in Yemen, including ports and the capital, Sana’a.

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International

DeSantis plans “Panhandle Pokey” after court orders closure of Alligator Alcatraz

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Tuesday plans to build a new migrant detention center in the state’s northwest region, called “Panhandle Pokey,” following a court ruling ordering the closure of “Alligator Alcatraz” by October.

During a press conference, DeSantis justified the proposed facility, referencing the Florida Panhandle and using “pokey,” a colloquial term for jail. He estimated that 70,000 migrants in Florida already have deportation orders.

The new center, for which further details have not yet been released, would complement the “Deportation Depot”, another facility DeSantis announced in August in a former northern Florida prison, with a capacity of 1,000 to 1,500 detainees.

“So we are in the process of figuring out how to open the Panhandle Pokey, and we’ll have that in the Panhandle, and the mission continues,” said the Republican governor.

The announcement comes two weeks after a ruling by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams for the Southern District of Florida, which ordered the dismantling of Alligator Alcatraz within 60 days. Environmental groups had filed the lawsuit. The center, opened on July 3 west of Miami, quickly became a symbol of the Trump administration’s immigration policy, with former President Donald Trump visiting the site two days prior.