INTERNACIONAL
China launches third aircraft carrier as Xi pushes military modernization against US influence
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China formally brought its next-generation aircraft carrier, the Fujian, into active service Wednesday — a milestone in its drive to transform the People’s Liberation Army Navy into a force capable of projecting power far beyond Asia’s shores.
The Fujian is China’s third aircraft carrier, compared with the U.S.’s 11, and the first that it designed and produced at home. It’s one of the most significant milestones in President Xi Jinping’s push to modernize the People’s Liberation Army by 2035, part of a sweeping military overhaul aimed at countering U.S. influence in the Indo-Pacific.
China’s state media said the Fujian will continue sea trials and flight tests before becoming fully combat-ready, but its commissioning signals Beijing’s growing confidence in operating larger, more complex warships. The 80,000-ton vessel is equipped with electromagnetic catapults that can launch heavier aircraft, including advanced J-35 stealth fighters, giving it longer range and greater strike capacity than China’s two previous carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong.
Defense analysts say the Fujian marks a shift toward a true blue-water navy — one designed to operate far from Chinese shores — bolstering Beijing’s ability to project power across the Indo-Pacific and potentially into the western Pacific, where U.S. carriers have long dominated. Still, China remains years away from matching the U.S. Navy’s global reach or experience in carrier operations. The Fujian is conventionally powered, limiting its endurance compared with America’s nuclear fleet.
TRUMP’S AIRCRAFT CARRIER VISIT SENDS CHINA A MESSAGE: US SEA POWER STILL RULES THE WAVES
A commissioning and flag-presenting ceremony of the Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier and the first that it has both designed and built itself, equipped with electromagnetic catapults, seen on right at a naval port in Sanya city in southern China’s Hainan Province. (Li Gang/Xinhua via AP)
The Fujian’s launch also reignited debate over the use of electromagnetic catapults — a technology Beijing has embraced and one that President Donald Trump has publicly criticized as unreliable.
Speaking aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington while visiting sailors in Japan, Trump announced his intention to sign an executive order directing the United States Navy to revert to steam-powered catapults and hydraulic elevators on new carriers, rejecting the modern electromagnetic system (EMALS) as too costly, unreliable and difficult to repair.
«They’re spending billions to build stupid electric. And the problem is, when it breaks, you have to send it up to MIT…. The steam — you can fix it with a hammer and a blowtorch. And it works just as well, if not better,» Trump said.
TRUMP SAYS MISSILES FOR JAPAN’S F-35S WILL ARRIVE ‘THIS WEEK’ DURING VISIT TO USS GEORGE WASHINGTON
China’s third conventionally powered aircraft carrier, the Fujian, conducted a maiden sea trial on May 7, 2024. (Ding Ziyu/Xinhua via AP)
He told the assembled sailors: «When we build aircraft carriers, it’s steam for the catapults, and it’s hydraulic for the elevators. We’ll never have a problem.»
News of the Fujian’s commissioning prompted immediate concern in Japan, which has been expanding its own defense capabilities in response to China’s growing military power. Minoru Kihara, a former defense minister who now serves as chief cabinet secretary under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, said the launch showed that Beijing is «extensively and rapidly strengthening its military power without transparency.»
The U.S. has 11 aircraft carriers in operation, like the USS Theodore Roosevelt pictured above. ( U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
Kihara told reporters that Japan believes China is working to extend its naval and air operations farther from its shores and warned that Tokyo will «calmly but decisively respond» to any potential threats.
The United States maintains a carrier strike group presence in the western Pacific and conducts regular freedom-of-navigation operations near disputed islands to counter China’s territorial assertions.
A senior War Department official told Fox News Digital this week: «China’s military buildup sends a signal to all that Beijing intends to use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.»
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Still, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and his Chinese counterpart appeared to smooth over some tensions in a meeting last week, agreeing to establish military-to-military communications channels to «deconflict.»
«We have more meetings on that coming soon. God bless both China and the USA!» Hegseth wrote in a post on X after the meeting.
china,defense,military tech,navy,pacific
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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