INTERNACIONAL
Iran’s Africa activities pose ‘significant threats to US national security’
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The State Department and the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have joined a chorus of analysts this week in warning Fox News Digital of «significant threats to U.S. national security» from the actions of Iran in Africa.
Tehran is accused of reportedly buying uranium in Niger, supplying drones in violation of a U.N. arms embargo to forces in Sudan and promoting the growth of destabilizing Islamist fundamentalism and terrorism on the continent.
«Iran’s long arm of terror stretches around the globe, including in Africa», Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, told Fox News Digital, adding, «Iran is an enemy to freedom everywhere, and a threat to U.S. national security; our partners in Africa must proceed with caution before engaging with this dangerous, authoritarian regime.»
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General Abdourahamane Tiani (2nd L), the head of the military regime in Niger, greets the thousands of people who gathered at the largest stadium in Niamey for the launch of festivities marking the first anniversary of his coming to power after the July 26, 2023, coup that overthrew civilian president Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2004. (Photo by Boureima Hama/AFP via Getty Images)
Reports surfaced initially last year from first the French media outlet Africa Intelligence, and then the Washington-based NGO the Institute for Science and International Security, that the West African nation of Niger had been negotiating the sale to Tehran of $56 million worth of so-called yellow cake – uranium oxide. The 300 tons of uranium, some of which, one source suggests, has been partly delivered already, would allegedly be enough to make 30 nuclear weapons.
Analysts say Niger could be preparing to sell even more ‘yellow cake’ to Iran. Uranium in the country has up until recently been mined by mostly French companies, such as Orano. But Niger’s military leaders, who came to power in a coup in 2023, announced that they will revoke mining licenses and nationalize mining operations. Iran is said to want to strike a deal to start uranium mining itself in Niger, particularly around Imouraren, an area where the ground is estimated to contain 200,000 tons of the metal.
In a move seen to be towards Russia and Iran, Niger ended an agreement with the Biden administration last year, which led to the closing of two U.S. military bases in the country that were used for anti-terror operations.
A U.S. and Niger flag are raised side by side at the base camp for air forces and other personnel supporting the construction of Niger Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger. The U.S. handed over its last military base in Niger to the country’s authorities, the US Department of Defense and Niger’s Ministry of Defense announced in a joint statement on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Carley Petesch, File)
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«In Niger, French outlets covering the continent have reported that there is a secret agreement between Iran and Niger trading uranium oxide for either drones or energy,» Behnam Ben Taleblu told Fox News Digital. Taleblu, senior Director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) added, «The Islamic Republic is an opportunistic actor, both in the Middle East and further abroad.»
A State Department spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that Iran’s activities in Africa are on their radar, saying, «On Niger, we are monitoring the possibility of an Iranian acquisition of uranium. We would have serious concerns about Niger, or any country, transferring uranium to Iran.»
The spokesperson continued, «Iran’s continued development of its nuclear program, (and its) role as the leading state sponsor of terrorism, and destabilizing regional behavior, pose significant threats to U.S. national security and to global stability.
«The President has been clear: Iran cannot ever have a nuclear weapon.»
An army soldier walks in front of the Republican Palace in Khartoum, Sudan, after it was taken over by Sudan’s army on Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo)
Iran, said to be interested in Sudan’s gold, has been supplying Mohajer-6 drones to Khartoum’s government, according to the U.S. Africa Command’s Africa Defense Forum. They were used effectively by Sudan in recently reclaiming the capital city, Khartoum and the Presidential Palace.
The FDD’s Taleblu added, «Iranian drones are active on four continents today, one of which is the African continent, particularly when looking at the conflicts in Sudan and Ethiopia.»
The State Department spokesperson weighed in «On Sudan, we are aware of reports. Both the RSF and the SAF have used weapons acquired from foreign actors against the civilian population and infrastructure and have committed human rights violations and abuses.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addresses the nation on Iranian state television broadcast in Tehran, Iran on June 18, 2025. (Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
«Supplying arms to any of the belligerents prolongs the conflict and heightens the risk of further destabilization in Sudan and the region. The United States calls for an end to all external support to the warring parties, and urges all our partners to press for a comprehensive cessation of hostilities, and increased, unhindered humanitarian access,» the spokesperson concluded.
Then there is Iran’s reported psychological warfare against Africa’s communities. «Iran’s core Africa strategy is to export its ideology into those communities as a counter-balance to what it sees as anti-Iranian efforts in the Middle East,» Frans Cronje, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Yorktown Foundation for Freedom and a former head of the South African Institute of Race Relations told Fox News Digital.
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Cronje continued, «Africa has 1.5 billion people. Approximately a third of those are Muslim and make up a quarter of all Muslims worldwide, more than the number in the Middle East. Muslims serve as dominant groups across much of North Africa and down the African east coast.»
«The Iranian Africa strategy can be thought of as having three components,» Cronje stated. «The first is the provision of training and material support to extremist groups in Africa to aid in the export of terror globally, and to target Christians and pro-Western communities on the continent, whilst creating a high-threat environment for Western investors.
«To that end the global terror threat index scores for several African countries have come to exceed those of traditional Middle Eastern terror staples. Africa’s Christians face increasing volumes of horrific attacks, including Christian church burnings and beheadings, and it has become common for Africa to account for the bulk of global terror-related deaths annually.
In this June 6, 2018, frame grab from Islamic Republic Iran Broadcasting, IRIB, state-run TV, three versions of domestically built centrifuges are shown in a live TV program from Natanz, an Iranian uranium enrichment plant, in Iran.
«The second is to identify both Shia and Sunni communities that can be radicalized against the West as well as against Iranian opponents in the Arab world. Iran has employed Al-Mustafa academic and cultural centers in over 30 African countries to train clerics and religious leaders.
«A third pillar of the strategy is that Iran has deepened diplomatic and economic cooperation ties with scores of African governments and business organizations to win trade and investment deals that help it evade global sanctions, as well as securing the diplomatic support of African governments on global fora such as the U.N., for measures ranging from its nuclear weapons program to its investment in proxy forces that threaten Israel.
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«For example,» Cronje concluded, «just a few months ago, over 700 delegates from nearly 40 African countries attended an investment conference in Tehran.»
Summing up, the FDD’s Taleblu said «the threat the Islamic Republic poses on the African continent is both significant and diverse. From seeking to export its revolution through religious indoctrination via state-linked religious seminaries, to drone sales, the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism has not missed this opportunity to cause chaos while flying below the radar of the West.»
INTERNACIONAL
Tailandia y Camboya acuerdan una reunión en Malasia para negociar el fin de los combates y la disputa fronteriza
Los enfrentamientos
Vehículos militares en la provincia de Sisaket, mientras Camboya y Tailandia dijeron que el otro había lanzado ataques de artillería en áreas fronterizas en disputa la madruga. Foto ReutersTailandia,Camboya
INTERNACIONAL
Freedom Caucus lawmaker Ralph Norman vows to ‘shake things up’ in South Carolina governor bid
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A lawmaker in the conservative House Freedom Caucus is launching his campaign to be governor of South Carolina.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who came to Congress in 2017, kicked off his Palmetto State bid with a Rock Hill campaign rally on Sunday.
«I am running for governor to shake things up, clean up Columbia, and finally take down the corrupt political establishment once and for all,» Norman is telling voters, according to prepared remarks obtained by Fox News Digital. «I owe nothing to the lobbyists. I owe nothing to the Columbia bureaucratic elite. My allegiance is to you, the people of South Carolina.»
As part of his campaign platform, Norman is promising to establish a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) «commission» in the state «that roots out waste, fraud, and abuse.»
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Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., is launching his campaign for governor on Sunday (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Norman is also running on the promise of fixing South Carolina’s infrastructure, implementing term limits for state lawmakers, tort reform, and pledging to «let the people vote on judges.»
Currently, a majority of state judgeships in South Carolina are decided by the General Assembly. Some positions, including magistrate judges, are appointed by the governor.
Norman is also promising «to use the bully pulpit to bring my case directly to the people» and to «use the veto pen.»
His campaign speech also touches on socially conservative goals like advocating for school choice, and restricting school bathrooms by gender at birth.
«And if that all doesn’t work, I’m telling you now that any so-called «Republican» RINO legislator that doesn’t stand for reforms the people are calling for doesn’t deserve to be in office and we’ll beat them in Republican primaries if that’s what it takes,» Norman’s speech says.
Norman is joining a crowded Republican primary field with his Sunday announcement. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell are also in the race.
Meanwhile, Norman’s House colleague, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., is also said to be considering a campaign for governor.
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Current Gov. Henry McMaster is term-limited (Joshua Boucher/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
And in a state that President Donald Trump won by nearly 20 points in 2024, the commander-in-chief’s endorsement – both in the primary and general election – will likely be critical.
Norman pointed out in his speech that both he and Trump have a background in real estate; both men led development companies that were founded by their fathers.
«We need business leaders – people who have signed both the front and the back of a paycheck. Folks who have built something, taken risks, made money, and yes, lost money too,» Norman said. «Thankfully, we have a great businessman – and fellow developer – back in the White House! Just look what a difference President Trump has made in six months.»
He also cast himself as a disruptor who helped move «the needle by making our budget more conservative,» in reference to the House Freedom Caucus’s push to move Trump’s «big, beautiful bill» to the right.
And while the group was successful in doing that in the House, the Senate watered down several of those wins during its time considering the bill. The Senate version ultimately passed the House, with Norman and other Freedom Caucus members voting in support.
«Some say I have earned a reputation of being uncompromising, always trying to make a bill more conservative,» Norman’s speech says. «Well folks, I’ll take that as a compliment and I am proud of it.»
As a member of Congress, Norman sits on the House Committee on Financial Services, House Budget Committee, and House Rules Committee.
President Donald Trump’s endorsement will be critical in the race (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
A longtime ally of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Norman was the only House Republican to formally endorse her before Haley dropped out of the race, after which Norman backed Trump.
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He told Fox News Digital of his endorsement in January 2024, «When I supported Nikki Haley, I had the respect of Donald Trump to call him, and I told him what I was gonna do, and I decided I was going to do it.»
It’s worth noting, however, that Norman had been a vocal supporter of Trump since Haley’s exit – and unlike other House Freedom Caucus allies, he did not incur Trump’s wrath for his loyalty to Haley.
He was most recently at the White House earlier this week with other House Republicans for a reception celebrating their legislative successes.
The South Carolina gubernatorial general election will take place in November 2026.
INTERNACIONAL
Estados Unidos y la Unión Europea alcanzaron un acuerdo comercial: “Es bueno para todos”
Donald Trump anunció este domingo que llegó a un acuerdo comercial con la presidenta de la Unión Europea, Ursula von der Leyen.
“Hemos llegado a un acuerdo. Es un buen acuerdo para todos», dijo el presidente de Estados Unidos a los periodistas tras las conversaciones con la jefa de la Comisión Europea, en su complejo de golf en Turnberry, Escocia.
Von der Leyen también lo calificó como un “buen acuerdo”.
Asimismo, Trump confirmó que la UE se comprometió a 750.000 millones de dólares de compra de energía y a 600.000 millones en inversiones suplementarias en Estados Unidos.
La diplomática alemana se congratuló por el “buen acuerdo, que dará estabilidad y previsibilidad” a ambos lados del Atlántico.
El pacto, firmado en Turnberry, desactiva la amenaza de Washington, que había otorgado a Bruselas como plazo máximo el 1 de agosto para evitar que Estados Unidos aplicara un 30% de aranceles generalizados a las exportaciones europeas a partir de esa fecha.
Desde abril, Estados Unidos mantiene un arancel mínimo del 10% a las exportaciones europeas, una cifra que inicialmente iba a ser del 20%, pero que la administración estadounidense redujo a la mitad como gesto de tregua durante la negociación. Los detalles económicos del nuevo acuerdo todavía no se han difundido.
En la reunión previa al acuerdo, Trump dejó en claro que los aranceles europeos no quedarían por debajo del 15%, una posición que las autoridades comunitarias ya contemplaban como posible.
Trump también señaló que los productos farmacéuticos quedarían excluidos del acuerdo porque, en sus palabras: “Tenemos que fabricarlos en Estados Unidos”.
Estados Unidos mantiene el 1 de agosto como fecha límite para la entrada en vigor de los nuevos aranceles aplicados a decenas de socios comerciales. Howard Lutnick, secretario de Comercio, reafirmó la decisión del gobierno estadounidense el domingo y descartó cualquier prórroga.
“No habrá prórrogas ni más períodos de gracia. El 1 de agosto se fijarán los aranceles. Entrarán en vigor. Las aduanas comenzarán a recaudar el dinero y ya está”, afirmó a Fox News, confirmando que la administración actual no contempla extender el plazo para alcanzar acuerdos bilaterales previos a la imposición de estas tarifas.
La Casa Blanca notificó oficialmente a los líderes de numerosas naciones acerca de la inminente medida. A partir del 1 de agosto, productos importados de países como Canadá, México, Japón, Brasil, Corea del Sur, Camboya y Bangladesh enfrentarán tarifas diferenciadas, con gravámenes que varían entre el 25% y hasta el 50%, de acuerdo con el país y el sector. El propósito, según explicaron funcionarios estadounidenses, consiste en incentivar la firma de acuerdos comerciales individualizados que, si se concretan antes de la fecha límite, permitirán condiciones preferentes frente a los aranceles anunciados, como el caso de la Unión Europea tras el reciente anuncio de Washington y Bruselas.
Lutnick aclaró, no obstante, que la entrada en vigor de los aranceles no eliminará la posibilidad de negociaciones futuras. Sostuvo que el presidente Trump mantiene su disposición a concretar acuerdos aun después del 1 de agosto, especialmente con aquellos países dispuestos a modificar prácticas comerciales consideradas desleales por la administración estadounidense.
Hasta este domingo solo Gran Bretaña, Vietnam, Indonesia, Filipinas y Japón habían firmado acuerdos comerciales con Estados Unidos, aceptando niveles arancelarios superiores al 10% general, aunque lejos de los máximos previstos para naciones que no logran pactos.
El esquema gubernamental prevé aranceles del 50% para Brasil, 35% para Canadá, 30% para México, y 25% para Japón y Corea del Sur. Por su parte, Camboya y Bangladesh, proveedores clave de ropa, se encontrarán con tarifas del 36% y 35%, respectivamente. La portavoz de la Casa Blanca, Karoline Leavitt, indicó que el objetivo es presionar para la firma de acuerdos bilaterales bajo los términos estadounidenses. “El presidente y su equipo comercial quieren lograr los mejores acuerdos para el pueblo estadounidense y el trabajador estadounidense”, sostuvo Leavitt.
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