INTERNACIONAL
UN global comms arm under fire for anti-Israel bias as critics call for reforms
As a major «liquidity crisis» looms for United Nations entities in the face of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) funding cuts, with experts saying the Trump administration should examine the U.N.’s media branch, the Department of Global Communications, for its role in churning out anti-Israel propaganda.
«The U.N. continues its spin-cycle messaging machine without washing out its waste and inefficiencies,» former National Security Council Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Organization Affairs Hugh Dugan told Fox News Digital. «That’s its real liquidity crisis.»
Among the Department of Global Communications’ responsibilities are the provision of press support, upkeep of the U.N. Dag Hammarskjöld Library, heading of worldwide information centers and coordination of the U.N.’s Twitter presence. A full independent review of the Department’s activities is set to begin this year.
HEAD OF UN WATCHDOG SAYS UNRWA HIRED PEOPLE ‘WHO WERE SUPPORTING TERRORISM’
The symbol of the United Nations is displayed outside the Secretariat Building at United Nations Headquarters in New York City on Feb. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and president of Human Rights Voices, expressed her desire for the U.S. itself to examine the Department of Global Communications’ funding. Bayefsky told Fox News Digital that «the United Nations is the world headquarters of global disinformation,» with an «assembly line of lies, hate speech, incitement to violence, and antisemitism [that] is totally out-of-control.»
Bayefsky said it is the «organization itself that poses an integrity risk — to world peace, civilized discourse, and human rights protection. The information environment cultivated by the U.N. has been poisoning the minds of generations of Americans, so isn’t it about time that Washington posed a risk to this U.N. ‘work’?»
The Department’s fixation on Israel was evidenced in a February report about its operations, in which it briefly described crisis communications cells it runs regarding worldwide disasters in Haiti, Sudan and Ukraine, and went into more expansive detail describing its cell on «Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.»
According to the Department, the crisis in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory «required strong messaging and outreach to ensure continued international support for the work of the United Nations and its partners.» The Department also mentioned that the cell «analyzed information integrity risks, such as the spread of misinformation and disinformation about United Nations work.»
Throughout 2024, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) came under serious scrutiny and lost donors after information was uncovered about UNRWA leaders’ and members’ ties to terrorism, and the hate propelled through UNRWA curricula.
UN BLAMES ISRAELIS FOR ATTACK ON COMPOUND BUT DOESN’T MENTION HAMAS, SAYS FORCED TO REDUCE GAZA FOOTPRINT
Aid trucks of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) deliver aid near Gaza City. (Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital asked Melissa Fleming, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Communications, to clarify the department’s allegations of misinformation and disinformation, and to describe why «strong messaging» was required of the department.
Fleming explained that the Department needed to «clearly explain the role» of the U.N. and its humanitarian agencies, and analyze «information environments to better understand trends that might pose risk to the U.N.’s work.»
Dugan, who was a senior advisor to 11 U.S. ambassadors to the U.N. said when it comes to the crisis in Gaza, «there’s some special treatment they’re giving to that region and the coverage of it, which I think is concerning to me.» He noted that cells focusing on Haiti, Ukraine, and Sudan «don’t talk about misinformation [or] disinformation.» The situation, he said, «wreaks… of the U.N.’s hand in propagandizing and service as a type of mediator of what information gets to whom, and when, and how.»
Asked how many hours the Department of Global Communications devoted to its various crisis cells, Fleming said that time «is determined by a number of factors,» including «the scale of the crisis and the speed of developments on the ground,» and the level of international interest and U.N. events involved with the crisis. Fleming added that cells meet more often «in the early stages of a crisis.»
Fleming said that «the Israel-Occupied Palestinian Territory crisis communications cell has met on a weekly basis for approximately one hour» following the attacks of Oct. 7, 2023. She noted that this was «equivalent to the frequency and timing of meetings for the Ukraine crisis during the first year of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation in 2022.»
WORLD FORGETS ‘CATASTROPHIC’ WAR IN SUDAN AS RUSSIA, IRAN, OTHERS REPORTEDLY FEED FIGHTING WITH ARMS
Fighters of the Sudan Liberation Movement, a Sudanese rebel group active in Sudan’s Darfur State which supports army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, attend a graduation ceremony in the southeastern Gedaref state on March 28, 2024. (AFP via Getty Images)
Fleming did not state how much time has been devoted to the Haiti or Sudan crisis cells. The organization’s report on its activities refers to the situation in Sudan as a «massive humanitarian crisis.»
In January, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that rebel actions in Sudan constituted genocide. Blinken described how tens of thousands of Sudanese individuals had died in conflict, that 30 million required humanitarian aid and that 638,000 were experiencing «the worst famine in Sudan’s recent history.»
Blinken stated that Sudanese rebel group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) «and RSF-aligned militias have continued to direct attacks against civilians, have systematically murdered men and boys — even infants — on an ethnic basis, and (have) deliberately targeted women and girls from certain ethnic groups for rape and other forms of brutal sexual violence.»
The U.N.’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan did not mention genocide in its September 2024 findings that «Sudan’s warring parties have committed an appalling range of harrowing human rights violations and international crimes, including many which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.»
Conversely, the U.N. Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices declared in November 2024 that «Israel’s warfare in Gaza is consistent with the characteristics of genocide, with mass civilian casualties and life-threatening conditions intentionally imposed on Palestinians.»
Hamas terrorists left Kibbutz Be’eri, a village near Gaza, in ruins. (Tomer Peretz)
Former national security advisor Jake Sullivan said last year that the Biden administration does «not believe what is happening in Gaza is a genocide.»
David May, a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that «the focus on an imagined genocide, Gaza, is taking time and focus away from an actual genocide, Sudan.» May added that «essentially, the Department of Global Communications is tasked with presenting a Palestinian narrative and uses U.N. funds to act as another pro-Palestinian U.N. body.»
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May said that «while the United States withholds funding to the United Nations proportionate to the budgets of Palestinian-specific bodies, Washington does not account for more general U.N. departments carrying out an anti-Israel agenda.»
Dugan expressed concern over the Department of Global Communications’ emphasis on its role in combating misinformation in its latest report. It «sends its mandate to go far beyond daily relations with the press corps,» he explained, and instead «sets them up to be judge, jury and executioner on storylines and narratives that the secretariat employees find offensive.»
INTERNACIONAL
350 atletas salvadoreños competirán en el Ironman 70.3, el evento internacional más grande del año
El Ironman 70.3, que se celebrará en el lago de Ilopango este fin de semana, contará con la participación de 350 atletas salvadoreños, dentro de un total de casi 1,200 inscritos. La cifra fue confirmada por Pablo Sáenz, presidente de Latam Sports, durante la entrevista AM de Canal 10. El evento ha congregado atletas de diversas partes del mundo y se prevé el ingreso de cientos de turistas a raíz de esta competencia internacional.
“Están inscritos casi 1,200 atletas, de los cuales 350 son salvadoreños”, dijo Sáenz. El resto de los competidores proviene de diferentes puntos de Centroamérica, China, Europa y Sudamérica, lo que convierte a la competencia en una de las más diversas y con mayor proyección internacional para El Salvador en 2026.
El evento representa la primera vez que la franquicia Ironman 70.3 escoge como sede al país centroamericano. La competencia está diseñada para mostrar la capacidad organizativa y el atractivo turístico de El Salvador, además de impulsar el turismo deportivo. La presidenta del Instituto Salvadoreño de Turismo (Istu), Eny Aguiñada, que también estuvo como invitada en el mismo espacio de entrevista, afirmó que la selección del lago de Ilopango para la primera etapa de natación refleja el compromiso con el desarrollo de eventos de talla internacional y la estrategia de posicionamiento impulsada desde el gobierno.
La organización del Ironman 70.3 en El Salvador requirió un proceso complejo de postulación y preparación. Pablo Sáenz explicó que la iniciativa surgió tras constatar el potencial del país: “Escogimos este como un potencial lugar para hacer este evento. Fuimos y tocamos las puertas al gobierno, Eny y la ministra (de Turismo, Morena Valdez) nos recibieron después de varios intentos. Aquí estamos hoy y estamos muy felices. Hemos recibido un gran apoyo del gobierno. Estamos apuntando todos para el mismo camino, que es hacer grande a este país, El Salvador, ponerlo en el mapa mundial como corresponde y mostrar su belleza al mundo”, declaró Sáenz.
Entre los requisitos para albergar la competencia, Latam Sports priorizó la seguridad, la calidad de la infraestructura y la conexión vial. El propio Sáenz subrayó que San Salvador dispone de las condiciones óptimas para recibir tanto a los atletas como a los visitantes extranjeros: “La infraestructura está perfecta para abastecer a todos los atletas, sus acompañantes y todos los turistas que vengan”. puntualizó.
En conferencia de prensa, la ministra de Turismo aseguró hoy que esperan el ingreso de más de 4,000 visitantes para este evento, que ha generado fuerte expectativa entre los salvadoreños.
La prueba comenzará en el lago de Ilopango, donde los participantes deberán completar la etapa de natación en aguas tranquilas, con corrientes mínimas y visibilidad clara de las boyas a lo largo del recorrido. En la entrevista de Canal 10, Sáenz describió el entorno: “Es un lago profundo en la parte a 750 metros desde la orilla. Es profundo, poca turbulencia. Los nadadores van a tener una natación satisfactoria. Lo bueno de nadar en un lago como este, que el agua no se mueve, es que las boyas se ven desde cualquier punto. La navegación va a ser muy sencilla”.
Tras la natación, los atletas recorrerán 90 kilómetros en bicicleta sobre la carretera Panamericana, en una ruta que alterna subidas exigentes en la salida de Apulo y tramos de descensos rápidos. La etapa de ciclismo fue calificada por la organización como de dificultad media. El evento culminará con 21 kilómetros de carrera pedestre en el Centro Histórico de San Salvador, un circuito que resalta la renovación urbana y la transformación de la ciudad en los últimos años.
En cuanto al impacto económico, la presidenta del Istu anticipó que el Ministerio de Turismo presentará cifras oficiales después del evento, aunque ya se prevé un efecto positivo debido al arribo de atletas, familias y equipos de apoyo. La logística ha involucrado la coordinación de diferentes carteras de Estado, desde el Ministerio de Obras Públicas hasta el Ministerio de Salud, además de la articulación con el sector privado para garantizar la calidad de los servicios turísticos.
La competencia de Ironman 70.3 no contará en esta edición inaugural con categoría profesional. Pablo Sáenz explicó que la licencia para este primer año exige realizar una edición piloto solo con atletas amateurs, aunque se espera una disputa reñida por el primer lugar de la clasificación general.
Las autoridades locales han solicitado a los habitantes de San Salvador y zonas aledañas que consulten los canales oficiales del gobierno para conocer los cierres viales y las rutas alternas durante la realización del evento. Además, invitaron a la población a sumarse como espectadores y a brindar su apoyo a los atletas nacionales.
corresponsal:Desde San Salvador, El Salvador
INTERNACIONAL
Democrats cheer Supreme Court move blocking Trump tariffs — despite past support for trade duties
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Democrats quickly applauded the Supreme Court’s decision Friday blocking President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy, calling the duties an unfair tax on Americans, even as some in the party have previously supported using tariffs as leverage in trade disputes.
«The Supreme Court decision striking down the harmful Trump tariffs is a big victory for the American people. And another crushing defeat for the wannabe king,» House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in a statement.
«Trump’s illegal tariff tax just collapsed. He tried to govern by decree and stuck families with the bill. Enough chaos. End the trade war,» Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in an X post of his own.
TRUMP SAYS TARIFFS CRITICAL TO NATIONAL SECURITY AS SUPREME COURT PREPARES LANDMARK DECISION
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., left, pictured alongside House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., right, at a press conference in January 2026. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The Supreme Court ruled that Trump lacks power to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a law that gives presidents powers to «regulate» transactions with foreign entities in response to «unusual and extraordinary threats.»
The Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that the law falls short of including tariff powers.
Yet several prominent Democrats have previously supported tariffs when wielded for their own policy goals.
Despite condemning Trump’s use of IEEPA in his second term, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., once urged Congress on the House floor to use tariffs to push back on China’s growing market power.
«In terms of tariffs, it’s interesting to note that the average U.S. MFN [Most Favored Nation] tariff on Chinese goods coming into the United States is 2%, whereas the average MFN tariff on U.S. goods going into China is 35%,» Pelosi said, referring to tariffs China had imposed on the U.S.
Further, former President Joe Biden largely left Trump’s first-term tariffs against China in place with little resistance from Democrats, who controlled both chambers of Congress at the time.
Trump, in his second term, has used tariffs as a point of leverage against other countries, threatening steeper trade costs with countries that didn’t see eye-to-eye with the goals of his administration.
6 HOUSE REPUBLICANS DEFY TRUMP ON KEY AGENDA ITEM IN DEM-PUSHED VOTE
President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order imposing tariffs on imported goods during a «Make America Wealthy Again» trade announcement event in the White House Rose Garden April 2, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Trump argued his policies would enable the country to bring in more revenue while also achieving more of its goals abroad.
According to data provided by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Trump’s tariffs brought in $30.4 billion in January alone. Over the past fiscal year, the Treasury indicated the tariffs had raked in $124 billion.
At least one House Republican argued that Democrats’ celebration was ironic given their opposition to tax breaks included in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.
«It is interesting how Democrats are upset that foreigners are being taxed yet they are promoting tax increases across the board, and they never reduced taxes on overtime, tips, or Social Security when they were in power in 2021 and 2022,» the House GOP lawmaker said. «If they truly believed in fair trade, they would’ve pushed harder on the Chinese especially, but they clearly failed to do so.»
That past and present political reality did little to slow the good times from rolling for several congressional Democrats on Friday.
Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, praised the Supreme Court’s decision, framing tariffs as an illegitimate way to increase the country’s revenue.
«This ruling is a victory for every American family paying higher prices because of Trump’s tariff taxes. The Supreme Court rejected Trump’s attempt to impose what amounted to a national sales tax on hardworking Americans,» Boyle said in a statement.
Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., the chairman of the New Democrat Coalition on Trade & Tariffs Task Force, echoed Boyle’s thinking.
THE ECONOMIC POLICIES SHAPING TRUMP’S RETURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE
A view of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 9, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
«[Trump] has repeatedly disregarded the Constitution to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs without credible reason or cause, crushing American consumers and small businesses under these new taxes to help pay for giveaways to his wealthy friends. Now, at last, the Supreme Court has ruled that he broke the law to do so,» Beyer said.
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Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said the court had sided with the longstanding criticisms from Democrats over concerns about Trump’s unilateral powers on tariffs.
«GOOD NEWS: The Supreme Court just ruled that Trump’s tariffs imposed under his ‘emergency authorities’ are unlawful. They affirmed what we’ve been saying this whole time: Only Congress has the power to impose taxes, which includes Trump’s reckless tariffs,» Jayapal said in a post to social media.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
congress,donald trump,economy,supreme court,politics
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The frightening moment an avalanche thundered down a mountainside and slammed into a train traveling through the Swiss Alps was captured by a tourist.
The dramatic incident unfolded on Feb. 17 near the popular ski resort town of Zermatt in southern Switzerland’s Valais canton.
Kirsten Osborne, an Australian woman living in the U.K., was on the train with other passengers when the avalanche suddenly struck, according to Storyful.
She filmed the shocking moment a massive wall of snow barreled down the mountain toward the train.
9 CALIFORNIA SKIERS STILL MISSING AFTER AVALANCHE; 6 RESCUED
A train was struck by an avalanche near Zermatt ski resort in Switzerland’s Valais canton. (Kirsten Osborne/Storyful)
In the video, a child can be heard saying «uh-oh!» several times as the growing wave of powdery snow rapidly approaches.
Within seconds, the train is engulfed in a thick white cloud as the avalanche crashes into it and covers the window in snow, causing the train to shake.
Osborne described how passengers were left stranded for around two hours following the impact.
«We were stuck for two hours before the rescue and provided bus transport to safety,» she said.
UELI KESTENHOLZ, WHO WON SNOWBOARDING’S FIRST OLYMPIC MEDAL IN 1998, DIES IN SWISS AVALANCHE
Kirsten Osborne, an Australian woman living in the U.K., was onboard the train when the avalanche struck. (Kirsten Osborne/Storyful)
Despite the terrifying scenes, no injuries were reported.
Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, the rail company that operates the route, has since confirmed that all passengers were safely evacuated in coordination with emergency services.
«At around 11 a.m. on Tuesday morning, another avalanche occurred between Täsch and Randa,» the company said in a statement.
«A regional MGBahn train was struck by a resulting powder-snow avalanche. No one was injured. Passengers were evacuated in cooperation with the emergency services.
«As a precaution, and in consultation with external local natural hazard specialists, MGBahn has decided to suspend operations on the St. Niklaus–Täsch route until further notice,» the company said.
CALIFORNIA AVALANCHE THAT KILLED 8 IS DEADLIEST IN STATE HISTORY
The incident happened amid dangerous conditions in the Swiss Alps. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP, File)
MGBahn also confirmed it was in «close contact with specialists and experts to assess the situation along the entire route network between Disentis (GR) and Zermatt (VS).»
The incident happened amid dangerous winter conditions in the Swiss Alps, where heavy snowfall has impacted the tourist season.
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The avalanche strike on the train came just a day after another rail incident near the town of Goppenstein, where a train derailed, injuring five people.
Local reports indicated that an avalanche may have been a possible cause of that derailment, although investigations are ongoing.
Large areas of the western Alps have been affected this season by avalanche risks, according to The Times.
europe,avalanche,resorts
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