INTERNACIONAL
‘Wave of freedom’ sweeps Latin America as Trump ally takes fight to Marxist terror group

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UNITED NATIONS — Colombian Vice President José Manuel Restrepo said his country is embracing President Donald Trump’s push for a new security alliance across the Western Hemisphere, but drew a clear line on the role American forces would play inside Colombia, telling Fox News Digital that Colombian troops — not U.S. forces — will carry out operations against the country’s armed groups.
Restrepo spoke with Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview days after joining Trump and other regional leaders at a Shield of the Americas meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where Trump called the initiative the «largest and most powerful alliance for economic and national security ever to convene in the Western Hemisphere.»
Trump urged members to treat what he called «narco terrorists» as common threats and impose sanctions on U.S.-designated terrorist organizations.
Restrepo said he personally discussed the region’s changing political and security landscape with Trump. The shift in Colombia comes amid a broader political realignment across Latin America, with De La Espriella’s June victory adding Colombia to a group of countries including Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and Panama that have moved to the right, fueled in part by voter concerns over crime, economic weakness and political instability.
TRUMP ALLY ‘EL TIGRE’ SWORN IN AS COLOMBIA’S NEW PRESIDENT AMID CONTINENT’S RIGHTWARD SHIFT
President Donald Trump, center, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, second from left, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz and Chile’s President-elect Jose Antonio Kast pose for a family photo during the Shield of the Americas» Summit in Doral, Fla., on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
«There is a wave of freedom, a wave of democracy, a wave of free market. … There is a new momentum for the region and we have to take advantage of that momentum. That’s what I said to President Trump,» Restrepo told Fox News Digital. «If we want to keep and preserve democracy in the region, the Shield of the Americas is going to be the best opportunity to do it.»
Asked what Trump told him, Restrepo said the president agreed and expressed respect for Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella.
«Colombia is a new partner. In my opinion, it’s one of the most important partners for the United States in the region,» Restrepo said.
That partnership is already being tested in the fight against drug trafficking and armed groups.
WHITE HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS ‘STEEPEST’ EVER DECLINE IN US CASUALTIES FROM CARTELS AMID BOAT STRIKES

A police officer stands guard on a street following a military operation against the drug-related armed group Conquering Self Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN) in Santa Marta, Colombia on September 23, 2026. Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella sent troops into Santa Marta after an armed group attacked shops and burnt vehicles across the Caribbean city, he announced on September 22, 2026. The chaos followed an earlier announcement by the president that authorities had killed 13 members of the self-styled Conquering Self Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN), an armed group which controls cocaine trafficking routes. (Marco Perdomo / AFP via Getty Images)
In August, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Colombia had authorized «joint military operations to destroy terrorists and terror networks» and told reporters that Washington had discussed possible joint strikes against groups including the National Liberation Army, or ELN, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization, and remnants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
«Designated terrorist organizations, with partnered governments, will be legitimate targets of the United States government,» including in Colombia, Hegseth said when asked whether such operations were expected, according to Reuters.
But when pressed by Fox News Digital on whether joint U.S.-Colombian strikes remained an option, Restrepo appeared to narrow the scope of direct American involvement.
«The United States helps us on security, helps us information, helps us on technology, but the public forces of Colombia are those who are going to act in those places,» he said.
US FORCES OBLITERATE SUSPECTED ‘NARCO-TERRORIST’ VESSEL IN LETHAL EASTERN PACIFIC STRIKE, KILLING 3

Colombian president Abelardo De La Espriella takes part during an event announcing the new military chiefs for his government at the Jose Maria Cordova Military Cadets Academy in Bogota, Colombia August 26, 2026. (Sebastian Barros/Long Visual Press/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Asked specifically whether Colombia would have the «boots on the ground,» Restrepo replied: «We will have our group, our public forces on the ground.»
The tougher posture comes as Colombia confronts renewed violence from armed and drug-trafficking groups. This week, De La Espriella ordered the military into Santa Marta after the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada, an illegal armed group involved in drug trafficking, responded to the killing of one of its senior leaders with an «armed strike,» threats, roadblocks and attacks that left businesses shuttered and public transportation disrupted. More than 500 soldiers and 600 police officers were deployed, according to the Colombian presidency.
The new government is also seeking to reverse former President Gustavo Petro’s «total peace» policy, which pursued negotiations with several armed organizations. Before taking office, De La Espriella announced that he would dismantle key elements of the policy and reactivate arrest warrants against members of illegal armed groups.
Restrepo went further, accusing the former government of creating «the idea of impunity» and saying the new administration instead intends to confront groups it considers terrorists.
US, SHIELD OF THE AMERICAS CONDEMN ‘ONGOING EFFORTS’ TO OVERTHROW BOLIVIA’S ELECTED PRESIDENT AMID UNREST

Firefighters extinguish a fire in a burnt truck following a military operation by the Colombian Army against the drug-related armed group Conquering Self Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN) in Santa Marta, Colombia on September 22, 2026. Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella sent troops into Santa Marta after an armed group attacked shops and burnt vehicles across the Caribbean city, he announced on September 22, 2026. The chaos followed an earlier announcement by the president that authorities had killed 13 members of the self-styled Conquering Self Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN), an armed group which controls cocaine trafficking routes. (Idinael Fernandez / AFP via Getty Images)
He said that when the new government took office, «around 30%» of Colombia’s regions lacked effective territorial control — a figure Fox News Digital has not independently verified — and said the administration was seeking to regain those areas through stronger security forces, intelligence gathering, drug eradication and extraditions.
Restrepo also argued that the same security debate should extend to the United Nations, where Colombia used its General Assembly address this week to call for reforms and an international definition of terrorism. The UN has had a global counterterrorism strategy since 2006, but member states have for decades failed to agree on a comprehensive international convention defining terrorism.
Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday also announced that the country was suspending all diplomatic relations with Iran.
«This sovereign decision aligns with the pillars guiding the Government’s foreign policy regarding national and hemispheric security, as well as the fight against transnational crime, taking into account alleged links between the Iranian government and international terrorist groups and other narcoterrorist groups that threaten the country’s security,» the Ministry wrote in a statement posted to X.
MELANIA TRUMP’S HOME-COUNTRY LEADER RIPS UN ‘DOUBLE STANDARDS’ AS TRUMP PROMISE IS REVEALED

Colombian Vice President Jose Manuel Restrepo attends a Shield of the Americas event on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, US, September 22, 2026. (Kylie Cooper/Reuters)
«I think this is a moment in which the United Nations have to reflect on its own future,» Restrepo told Fox News Digital, calling for greater efficiency and effectiveness as well as international agreement on terrorism.
«The only way to attain peace, which is one of the main objectives of the UN, is through confronting terrorism,» he said, arguing that countries need greater intelligence sharing, judicial cooperation and coordination.
With Secretary-General António Guterres set to leave office at the end of the year, Restrepo said the transition could offer the institution an opportunity to change.
«I think that the UN has a new moment and the UN has to take advantage of that opportunity,» he said.
Restrepo added that the institution also needed to address what he described as the inconsistent application of human rights standards.

Officials shared a video showing what appeared to be various weapons laid out on a table. (@FuerzasMilCol/X)
«Human rights should apply to all, regardless of political considerations,» Restrepo said. «Ideology cannot decide to whom we are going to apply or not human rights.»
colombia, united nations, national security, narco terror, south america, foreign policy
INTERNACIONAL
Diputados guatemaltecos impulsan ley para regular derechos de conductores y repartidores de aplicaciones en Guatemala

Diputados ex oficialistas presentaron en el Congreso de Guatemala una iniciativa para reconocer derechos laborales de conductores y repartidores de aplicaciones, con acceso a salario mínimo, seguro médico y seguridad social.
La propuesta busca incorporar estas tareas al Código de Trabajo y otorgar una relación laboral formal a quienes transportan personas, alimentos o documentos mediante plataformas digitales.
El proyecto ya fue entregado a la Dirección Legislativa del Congreso y deberá ser conocido por el pleno antes de pasar a una comisión para su análisis. Pérez espera que la iniciativa reúna el respaldo de la mayoría de los legisladores para avanzar hacia una eventual aprobación.
La propuesta está acompañada por los diputados Samuel Pérez, Román Castellanos, Patricia Orantes, Andrea Reyes, Ronalth Ochaeta y Orlando Pérez.
Su alcance incluye a quienes trabajan para servicios de transporte y entrega gestionados desde aplicaciones móviles.
“Esta es una ley importante para cubrir los derechos laborales como seguro médico y salarios dignos para quienes prestan estos servicios para transporte de personas, alimentos o documentos”, afirmó Pérez.
La iniciativa plantea que estos trabajadores accedan al Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social, conocido como IGSS, y a las protecciones previstas para el resto de los empleados del país.

El Código de Trabajo como marco para repartidores y conductores
La incorporación al Código de Trabajo busca extender la protección legal a quienes dependen de estas actividades como fuente principal de ingresos.
El planteamiento persigue tres objetivos: ampliar la cobertura laboral, garantizar beneficios básicos durante la prestación del servicio y actualizar la legislación ante las nuevas modalidades vinculadas al comercio y al transporte digital.
La propuesta responde a una expansión de las plataformas en un mercado laboral sin una cifra oficial consolidada sobre el número de personas que trabajan como conductores o repartidores. Aplicaciones como Uber, InDrive, Urban, Picap y Yango se convirtieron en alternativas de ingresos para cientos de guatemaltecos.
El fenómeno se desarrolla en un país donde alrededor de 5,3 millones de personas trabajaban en el sector informal en 2025, equivalentes al 66% de la población económicamente activa, de acuerdo con el Observatorio Centroamericano de Violencia Laboral. Las plataformas han ganado presencia entre jóvenes y personas con obstáculos para acceder a empleos formales, aunque suelen ofrecer flexibilidad sin prestaciones asociadas.
El reparto a domicilio muestra la dimensión de esa actividad: Uber Eats superó los cuatro millones de pedidos en Guatemala desde su lanzamiento e integró a más de 1,400 comercios a su sistema, según datos de la empresa.
La ausencia de cobertura médica, aportes previsionales y otras garantías laborales constituye uno de los problemas que la iniciativa pretende atender.
La actualización normativa busca adaptar la legislación guatemalteca a la economía digital, según detalló Publinews. El debate también se vincula con otras propuestas legislativas recientes sobre las formas de trabajo creadas por la tecnología.
Más de 60 leyes en el mundo sobre trabajo en plataformas
La discusión en Guatemala ocurre mientras distintos países ensayan fórmulas para definir el vínculo entre las plataformas y quienes prestan servicios a través de ellas. Hasta 2024 existían al menos 60 legislaciones sobre trabajo en plataformas digitales y más de 120 fallos judiciales sobre la naturaleza de esa relación laboral.
En junio, la Organización Internacional del Trabajo aprobó en Ginebra un convenio destinado a equiparar los derechos de los trabajadores de plataformas con los del resto de los empleados. El instrumento contempla salario mínimo, seguridad social y protección frente al despido, y entrará en vigor 12 meses después de que al menos dos Estados miembros lo ratifiquen.
España aprobó en 2021 la Ley Rider, que presume una relación laboral directa para los repartidores de comida a domicilio. La norma obliga a las plataformas a contratarlos formalmente y les reconoce salario mínimo, vacaciones pagadas, cotizaciones a la seguridad social y negociación colectiva.
El Reino Unido adoptó otro criterio tras un fallo de su Tribunal Supremo en 2021, que clasificó a los conductores de Uber como workers, una categoría intermedia con derechos laborales mínimos, pero sin equipararlos plenamente a empleados.
Chile promulgó en 2022 la Ley 21.431, una de las primeras regulaciones de América Latina sobre esta actividad.
El modelo chileno permite elegir entre un régimen de dependencia y otro de independencia. Quienes optan por la segunda modalidad deben acceder obligatoriamente a seguridad social en salud, pensiones y seguros contra accidentes laborales, además de contratos formales y transparencia sobre el funcionamiento de los algoritmos.
México avanza en una reforma de su Ley Federal del Trabajo para reconocer prestaciones a los colaboradores que superen un umbral mínimo de ingresos. En Colombia, la reforma laboral de 2025 estableció un esquema dual por el que las plataformas cubren el 60% de los aportes de salud y pensión de los repartidores independientes.
Congreso de la República de Guatemala,legislatura,documento oficial,política
INTERNACIONAL
Florida GOP nominee blasts 20-year Dem incumbent as a ‘socialist’ rubber-stamp with ‘precious little to show’

Calling out federal waste and foreign aid subsidies while pointing to his own record of bucking party leadership in Tallahassee, GOP 14th congressional district nominee Mike Beltran promises to bring a sharp litigator’s cross-examination to Washington’s budget crisis.
In an exclusive interview with Digital detailing his bid to unseat 20-year Democratic incumbent Kathy Castor, the former Florida state representative laid out a case rooted in strict fiscal accountability, pledged to challenge even Republican leadership on bloated federal budgets, and warned of the Democrats’ embrace of socialism.
HOUSE CONSERVATIVES UNLEASH MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR MIDTERM BLITZ AGAINST DEM ‘SOCIALIST’ INSURGENCY
Beltran argues that despite her lengthy tenure on Capitol Hill, the people of Tampa Bay have not been served well by Kathy Castor.
«People in Tampa Bay have precious little to show for Kathy Castor’s two decades of incumbency. She’s had no major legislative initiatives. All she’s really done is rename post offices. And all that’s likely to happen if we reelect her is for her to rename every post office from Tampa to Timbuktu.
«She votes with her party over 90% of the time, including radical socialists. She voted in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi and she’s poised to elect the Speaker Hakeem Jeffries. And Speaker Hakeem Jeffries would appoint a Chair Raskin, a Chair Omar, a Chair Cortez, and those folks would push radical policies in Congress that are completely out of line with what Tampa families need.»
Beltran argues that in the Florida Legislature he served as an independent conservative voice, not automatically beholden to party leadership, and pledges to continue that approach in Washington.
«I’ve had the courage to vote against special interests even when my own party had lost its way. I’ve voted against insurance companies, home builders, trial lawyers, I voted against various special interests…whenever somebody was doing something that wasn’t good for Tampa families.
«And I had that bipartisan record throughout my time, starting in 2019 and continuing through to 2024, unlike my opponent who discovered bipartisanship merely weeks ago. So I’m always going to do what’s best for the communities that I represent, regardless of party, regardless of special interests, regardless of pressure. And that’s what I’m proud of, having that independent voting record.»
Beltran argues that the United States needs to reexamine its military and geopolitical relationships, with an eye to fiscal prudence:
«It cannot be a one-sided exchange. You cannot have a wealthy country like Germany spend under 2% of GDP on their military when we’re spending over 5% of our GDP on our military budgets, about a trillion dollars. And a lot of that is spent overseas protecting other wealthy countries.
«You see Ukraine and Israel, they’re defending themselves from their adversaries. They’re doing a good job of that. But we are borrowing $2 trillion a year from countries like China. And that’s causing inflation. And what that says is that we don’t have money to be sending, particularly to wealthy allies like Germany and Spain.
«These are countries where we have bases, where we’ve had trouble getting basing privileges or overflight rights for the conflicts that we do need to engage in. And we shouldn’t be subsidizing them anymore.
«You see Israel spends over 10% of GDP on defense, as does South Korea. Those countries are carrying the weight of their own defense, but we don’t see that from all of our NATO allies. And they’re a lot closer to these rogue states, to these conflict regions than we are. They should be doing more, and they’re doing less, and that’s unacceptable.»
As an attorney, Beltran makes the case that he will bring a strong skill-set to Capitol Hill, to do away with business as usual and to fight for the citizens of Hillsborough County:
«My legal skills are quite good. I’m a good cross examiner. I’ll be good at scrutinizing witnesses who come before committees that I serve on. I’ve litigated in the federal courts, so I know the federal statutes. I know issues that need to be redressed. I know how to write statutes so that they can be easily applied by judges, so that attorneys can counsel their clients on what the law is and what they need to do to comply with that.
«I’m proud to be a practicing attorney. I’ve helped a lot of businesses and individuals throughout Tampa Bay for almost 20 years.
FIRST DATA CENTER BILL CLEARS HOUSE AS BOTH PARTIES SCRAMBLE FOR ANSWERS ON AFFORDABILITY
«And my opponent is also an attorney, but she hasn’t practiced in a very long time. She was, I think, a land use attorney, she says, before she was a county commissioner. But I don’t think she brings that same skill-set. I’ve never seen her cross-examine a witness to any effect. And I haven’t seen her apply her legal skills to any legislative initiative. In fact, it’s kind of difficult to identify anything that she’s enacted that’s of any particular value to Tampa or otherwise.»
Kathy Castor has repeatedly voted against the interests of ordinary Americans in Florida’s 14th district, Beltran argues:
«Well, she opposed tax cuts for the middle class and working class and retirees. She opposed removing taxes on tips, removing taxes on Social Security, removing taxes on overtime.
«And she wanted to pay, through taxpayer funds, for trans surgeries for children. And that was a very recent vote. That wasn’t something that we have to reach into ancient history to find. And I opposed that.
«I see no reason why a single mother here in Hillsborough County should be paying taxes to pay for trans surgeries for minors while she actually is being taxed on her overtime or her tips.»
Beltran pledges to confront the leadership of his own party if he disagrees with their policies, but also notes he will work with Democrats:
«Obviously, we’ve had Republicans who have also spent too much money. And so I’m going to go to Washington. I’m going to work with my party, and I’ll work across the aisle, and I’ll work with any administration that’s in power to identify waste, fraud, and abuse, identify unnecessary government programs, identify savings, and identify cost controls, and make sure that we are the fiscal conservatives that we say we are.
«That’s what’s necessary to save this country because we need to balance the budget and we need pay down the debt and we need to live within our means, because if we don’t balance our budget, then the budget will be balanced for us and it will be done when somebody cuts off our credit and people stop lending to us.»
Finally, as democratic socialist candidates have won Democratic primaries across the nation and in Florida, Beltran notes that Castor has consistently refused to condemn socialist ideology, or candidates with such views in her own party.
«We see Kathy Castor, who’s embraced Angie Nixon, who is one of those avowed socialist candidates. She said that her party was a big tent party, and that needs to be a very big tent to accommodate Angie Nixon…I’m not sure I’d like to be in a tent of any size with her, but my opponent welcomes her with open arms.
«And she’s going to vote in lockstep with these socialists, first to elect Hakeem Jeffries and then to appoint these socialists to committee chairmanships. She’s done very little to distance herself from the radicals within her party. Even as she masquerades recently as a moderate, she will empower the socialists.
«And that’s really what’s at stake in November. It’s not just me, it’s not just Kathy Castor, it is the direction of the country and whether we’re going to embrace these radical policies, or whether we are going to have economic growth and prosperity and safety here in the United States.»
midterm elections, house of representatives politics, house of representatives, florida, politics
INTERNACIONAL
Lluvias dejan tres muertos y mantienen en alerta a varias zonas de Honduras

Las lluvias que afectan a Honduras desde el 19 de septiembre ya dejan tres personas fallecidas, además de múltiples emergencias relacionadas con inundaciones, deslizamientos, caída de árboles y daños en infraestructura, informó este viernes el mayor del Cuerpo de Bomberos, Sergio Madrid.
Las tres víctimas mortales se registraron en el sector de Meámbar, Siguatepeque, luego de que una corriente de agua arrastrara el vehículo en el que se transportaban.
Los cuerpos de socorro continúan desplegados en diferentes puntos del territorio nacional ante las nuevas incidencias provocadas por las precipitaciones.
Uno de los casos que mantiene activa la búsqueda se registra en San Luis, Comayagua, donde un conductor intentó cruzar el río Vallecillo y fue arrastrado por la corriente junto con su vehículo. Hasta este viernes, la persona no había sido localizada.

Madrid informó que el Cuerpo de Bomberos enviaría un contingente desde Tegucigalpa para reforzar las labores de búsqueda en la zona, con el objetivo de localizar al conductor o recuperar su cuerpo.
Entre las emergencias atendidas en el Distrito Central figura un socavón de aproximadamente cinco metros de profundidad, detectado en el bloque 28 de la colonia Kennedy.
De acuerdo con el reporte de Bomberos, el hundimiento se encuentra debajo de dos viviendas y representa una amenaza para alrededor de 14 casas del sector, por lo que las autoridades mantienen vigilancia en el área.
Personal de la UMAPS y de la Alcaldía Municipal realiza inspecciones y evaluaciones con especialistas para determinar el origen del socavón. Entre las hipótesis se analiza una posible ruptura de tubería o el desgaste provocado durante años por la circulación de aguas subterráneas.

Los cuerpos de emergencia también mantienen vigilancia en las colonias Venezuela, Brasilia, La Ulloa, Villanueva sector 7A y Los Pinos, así como en el barrio Cabañas, donde una escorrentía provocó un pequeño derrumbe en las inmediaciones del lugar donde anteriormente funcionó la iglesia San Cayetano.
Bomberos mantiene monitoreo sobre ríos, quebradas y riachuelos de la capital debido al riesgo de crecidas repentinas, algunas de las cuales ya han provocado afectaciones en importantes bulevares y en el Anillo Periférico.
La situación permanece bajo vigilancia debido a que las precipitaciones pueden generar nuevas corrientes de agua y aumentar el riesgo en sectores vulnerables.

Según el reporte de las autoridades de emergencia, el sistema de alertas mantiene a 12 departamentos en Alerta Verde, mientras que los municipios de Quimistán, Santa Bárbara, y Santa Cruz de Yojoa, Cortés, permanecen bajo Alerta Amarilla.
Las lluvias registradas durante la noche también ocasionaron desbordamientos, inundaciones y deslizamientos, con afectaciones reportadas para más de 30 familias en distintos sectores de Santa Bárbara y Yoro.
En Quimistán, el desbordamiento de una quebrada afectó a unas 18 familias. Mientras tanto, en la zona urbana de Pinalejo, las aguas lluvias inundaron alrededor de 10 barrios y provocaron daños en al menos 15 viviendas.
Las autoridades mantienen activados los equipos de respuesta y continúan evaluando las condiciones en las zonas afectadas, mientras persiste el riesgo de nuevas emergencias asociadas a las lluvias.

Las autoridades de emergencia mantienen especial atención en las zonas donde se han registrado crecidas de ríos y quebradas, debido a que la saturación de los suelos podría favorecer nuevos deslizamientos y desprendimientos de tierra.
Los equipos de respuesta permanecen preparados para atender posibles llamados de auxilio y realizar evacuaciones preventivas en los sectores donde aumente el nivel de riesgo.
Ante este panorama, se recomienda a la población mantenerse atenta a los comunicados oficiales, evitar cruzar ríos, quebradas o zonas inundadas y reportar cualquier situación que represente peligro.
Las autoridades continuarán con el monitoreo de las condiciones climáticas y de los sectores que han presentado afectaciones durante las últimas horas.
corresponsal:Desde Tegucigalpa, Honduras
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