INTERNACIONAL
Panama and US lock in new security pact for Canal as China tensions simmer
The United States and Panama have officially signed a new defense and security pact aimed at reinforcing control over the Panama Canal, a move that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claims is critical to pushing back against China’s growing grip in the region.
In a press release posted Wednesday night on X, the Panama Canal Authority confirmed that Panama’s Minister for Canal Affairs and Hegseth signed a joint declaration that reaffirms Panamanian sovereignty and outlines new military cooperation.
The deal «reaffirms respect for, and the recognition of, Panamanian sovereignty over the interoceanic waterway,» the Canal Authority stated.
It also upholds both nations’ commitment to the Neutrality Treaty and the legal framework that governs canal operations, including Panama’s Constitution, the treaty itself, and the Canal’s Organic Law.
HEGSETH SAYS PANAMA AGREED TO ALLOW US WARSHIPS TO TRAVEL ‘FIRST AND FREE’ THROUGH CANAL
But the declaration goes beyond words. It lays out plans for a cost-sharing model to cover services provided to U.S. warships and auxiliary vessels, with the goal of keeping it «cost-neutral.»
«Efforts will be made [to] develop a mechanism which will allow compensation for services provided to warships and auxiliary vessels, seeking a cost-neutral basis,» the statement reads. «This mechanism will be evaluated jointly with the Ministry of Security of Panama.»
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks in Panama City on April 9, 2025. (FRANCO BRANA/AFP via Getty Images)
According to Hegseth, a broader framework is also in the works, one that would guarantee U.S. warships «first and free» passage through the Panama Canal.
Hegseth announced Wednesday that U.S. and Panamanian officials had already signed a memorandum of understanding, and that a final document is on the way to formally secure toll-free priority for American naval vessels.
The Canal Authority, meanwhile, emphasized that this agreement is just the start. «The declaration constitutes a first step in establishing this model, which will be developed in later stages.»
US, PANAMA ‘TAKING BACK’ CANAL FROM ‘CHINA’S INFLUENCE,’ SAYS HEGSETH
While the U.S. builds up its military coordination, the Panama Canal Authority confirmed that collaboration already includes «engineering, security, and cybersecurity,» key focus areas for both governments as they push back against foreign interference.
The move comes just as the U.S. prepares to deploy the USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship, to the region in a show of presence and partnership.
Earlier this week, Hegseth visited U.S. troops, met with Panamanian officials, and toured the canal. He warned sharply that China’s reach in the Western Hemisphere is already too big, and still growing.
Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino shakes hands with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during the signing of a bilateral agreement in Panama City on April 9, 2025. (FRANCO BRANA/AFP via Getty Images)
«Make no mistake, Beijing is investing and operating in this region for military advantage and unfair economic gain,» Hegseth said. «They operate military facilities and ground stations that extend their reach into space. They exploit natural resources and land to fuel China’s global military ambitions. China’s factory fishing fleets are stealing food from our nations and from our people.»
Hegseth stressed that war is not the objective. «Together, we must prevent war by robustly and vigorously deterring China’s threats in this hemisphere,» he said.
He also made clear that the U.S. is taking steps to counter Chinese-controlled infrastructure in Panama.
«China-based companies continue to control critical infrastructure in the canal area,» Hegseth said. «That gives China the potential to conduct surveillance activities across Panama. This makes Panama and the United States less secure, less prosperous and less sovereign. And as President Donald Trump has pointed out, that situation is not acceptable.»
Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino (C) looks on as Panama’s Security Minister Frank Abrego (L) and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth get ready to sign a bilateral agreement, in Panama City on April 9, 2025. (FRANCO BRANA/AFP via Getty Images)
Hegseth was blunt: «The United States will not allow China to threaten the canal’s operation.» He added, «To this end, the United States and Panama have done more in recent weeks to strengthen our defense and security cooperation than we have in decades.»
Despite the growing military and political coordination, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has publicly denied that China controls the canal.
«I completely reject that statement,» Mulino said, pushing back on earlier claims from the U.S. State Department that a deal had already been reached guaranteeing toll-free passage for U.S. warships. The Canal Authority added that it has «not made any adjustments» to its fee structure.
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Hegseth did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News’ Morgan Philips contributed to this report.
“¡Ay, se está quemando! ¡Ay, se está quemando!”, dicen unos jóvenes que siguen bailando mientras graban con sus celulares las llamas en el techo del bar Le Constellation, en la estación de esquí de Crans-Montana.
No parecen darse cuenta de la gravedad de la situación, que pronto se convertirá en “una de las peores tragedias que conoció Suiza”, según las palabras del presidente de la Confederación, Guy Parmelin.
Leé también: El dramático relato de un familiar del exdueño del bar que se incendió en Suiza en Año Nuevo
Al menos 40 muertos y alrededor de 115 heridos, la mayoría de ellos en estado grave, dejó el impactante incendio durante los festejos de Año Nuevo.
La tragedia se desató alrededor de la 01:30 de la madrugada en el sótano del bar Le Constellation, un lugar popular entre los jóvenes locales y los turistas con capacidad para 300 personas.
En el video se ve que un joven intenta apagar las llamas con un trapo. Otra secuencia, grabada momentos después, muestra a los jóvenes tratando de escapar de la fiesta mientras el ambiente se tiñe de naranja.
Se dan vuelta y corren hacia las escaleras que conducen a la única salida del establecimiento en medio del caos resultante.
Unas 40 personas murieron en el incendio y más de 100 resultaron heridas. (Foto: captura de video).
Un tercer video, grabado afuera del bar, muestra el pánico total. Gritos, empujones, personas tratando de salir por la ventana y apiladas en la escalera de la entrada.
“La gente corría a través de las llamas... Había gente intentando abrir las ventanas con sillas”, relató Alexis Laguerre, un joven que pasaba con unos amigos por delante del bar cuando vieron humo y luego llamas, al canal de televisión público suizo RTS.
Leé también: Conmoción mundial: confirman que una promesa del deporte de 16 años murió en el trágico incendio en Suiza
Así escapaban del bar que se prendió fuego en Suiza. (Foto: captura de video).
Los testimonios de terror de los sobrevivientes: botellas con bengalas y un fuego que se propagó a toda velocidad
Según informó el portal de noticias BFMTV, Emma y Albane, dos jóvenes francesas que pudieron escapar del lugar tras romper una ventana, aseguraron que “había pánico absoluto” y que “todos gritaban”. Así quedó el bar tras el incendio, que comenzó en el subsuelo. Foto: AFP/Police Cantonale Valaisanne).
Las jóvenes aseguraron que el fuego empezó después de que una de las camareras colocara una bengala de cumpleaños sobre una botella y se prendieran fuego los paneles acústicos de espuma colocados en el techo.
El testimonio de Victoria, otra sobreviviente francesa, publicado por el medio Blick, coincidió con esta versión: “Una bengala colocada en una botella de espumante prendió fuego el techo cuando una mujer, que estaba subida a los hombros de otra persona, levantó la botella demasiado alto”.
Unas bengalas colocadas en botellas de espumante: así habría comenzado la tragedia en Suiza. (Foto: X/BFMTV).
Las llamas se propagaron “a una velocidad vertiginosa”, según la testigo, lo que generó que un gran número de personas que estaban en el lugar terminaran gravemente heridas, e incluso muertas.
Además, las mujeres que la puerta de salida del bar era muy pequeña para la cantidad de personas que quería escapar del fuego, lo que desataba aún más el caos. Así era por dentro el bar Le Constellation. (Foto: crans-montana.ch).
“Lo sigo viendo una y otra vez”, comentó Laëtitia, de 17 años, una sobreviviente entrevistada el jueves por la noche también por BFMTV.
“El fuego se propagó muy rápido, había mucho humo y nos costaba respirar. Luego hubo una explosión. Había una sola puerta para 100 personas. Todos se empujaban como locos. Me encontré debajo de tres o cuatro personas que ardían. Había gente muerta alrededor mío”, comentó. Coches funerarios llegan al bar Le Constellation para llevarse los cuerpos de las víctimas fatales. (Foto: AFP/Maxime Schmid).
“Levanté las manos y un chico que no conocía me agarró y me ayudó a salir. Estaba en shock. Nadie entendía nada, ni los que se estaban quemando parecían entender”, dijo con la voz entrecortada.
Más de 100 heridos
El consejero de Estado suizo Stéphane Ganzer declaró este viernes que “entre 80 y 100 personas se encuentran en estado crítico”. Dada la gravedad de las lesiones, muchas personas aún no fueron identificadas.
Así era por dentro el bar de la tragedia en Suiza. (Foto: gentileza crans-montana.ch).
El servicio de urgencias del principal hospital del Valais se saturó, por lo que algunos heridos fueron trasladados a Lausana, Ginebra o Zúrich, e incluso a Francia e Italia.
La fiscal general del cantón, Béatrice Pilloud, indicó que se movilizaron importantes recursos “para identificar a las víctimas y devolver sus cuerpos a las familias”, aunque “puede llevar varios días”.
El presidente suizo, Guy Parmelin, que asumió el cargo el jueves, anunció que las banderas ondearán a media asta durante cinco días tras esta “tragedia de proporciones aterradoras y sin precedentes”.
Suiza, Incendio, Año nuevo
INTERNACIONAL
Washington officials blast conservatives for Minnesota-style day care fraud claims in new state
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A top blue-state governor slammed conservatives for inflicting «deep damage» on the Somali–American community, while the state’s top prosecutor warned of potential charges after citizen journalists filmed encounters with alleged Minneapolis-like day care addresses and streamed them online.
Citizen journalists have raised public visibility of rampant fraud allegations in Minnesota, with a large part of the allegations stemming from within the Somali community there. Weeks after Gov. Tim Walz came under fire, other bloggers traveled to Seattle and King County, Washington, to visit what they claimed were similarly fraudulent day care sites — drawing Olympia’s ire.
Former White House Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief Elon Musk highlighted media posted by Kristen Magnuson, who, along with Cam Higby — an independent journalist recently connected with Charlie Kirk’s conservative Turning Point USA organization — and podcaster Jonathan Choe, sounded the alarm about alleged Minneapolis-style situations cropping up in the Pacific Northwest.
«They are fraud-maxxing this exploit,» Musk claimed in response to a post by Magnuson that included a video scrolling a list of up to 539 daycare centers in Washington state that she said allegedly listed Somali as the primary language.
TIM WALZ PUSHES BACK ON MINNESOTA FRAUD ALLEGATIONS FOLLOWING VIRAL DAYCARE VIDEO
Meanwhile, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, took to X to post several photos of himself meeting with what he said were Somali community leaders.
In those meetings, Ferguson said he «discuss(ed) the deep damage inflicted by Donald Trump’s harmful rhetoric and reckless deportations. Here in Washington state, we recognize that diversity is a strength.»
Democrats have claimed such «damage» as an uptick in anti-Somali rhetoric and some liberals have condemned citizen journalists taking it upon themselves to visit alleged day care sites.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson speaks at a podium in Seattle. (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
When Fox News Digital attempted to recreate the 539 day care center list Wednesday from the official Department of Child and Youth Services website, the option to select Somali as a primary language had either been removed or was not there. Magnuson said several of the day cares lacked addresses or other standard identifying information.
MINNESOTA’S NEW MEDICAID FRAUD PREVENTION FIX WON’T MAKE ‘ANY DIFFERENCE,’ FORMER FBI AGENT SAYS
Choe replied to Washington Gov. Ferguson on X, warning that he has a «serious Somali fraud problem in (his) state,» particularly in King County, Washington, which Choe alleged was «especially out of control.»
FEDS LAUNCH ‘MASSIVE’ INVESTIGATION AFTER VIRAL VIDEO ALLEGES MINNESOTA DAYCARE FRAUD
«Hey Bob, can you explain this for us?» Higby replied to Ferguson on X, while including a video of him reportedly approaching an address in Federal Way, Washington, that he alleged received more than $200,000 in subsidies.
In the video, a man who accompanied Higby approached the door of the apparent residence and asked if the building was «Dhagash Family Child Care» — as a female voice responded, «no,» and Higby said «rustling» could be heard as his partner approached a home security camera.
In another video, Higby alleged he went to an address listed for a day care that allegedly received $800,000 in subsidies in the town of Kent, Washington, but found «no daycare here» when he approached what appeared to be a residential address.
HHS CUTS OFF MINNESOTA CHILD CARE PAYMENTS OVER ALLEGED DAYCARE FRAUD SCHEME
«Records show massive subsidy payments following inspections reflecting risk of death to children,» Higby wrote.
«There are 539 childcare centers in Washington state that list Somali as the primary language. Most don’t even give a street address. I don’t know how many of these are submitting fraudulent claims for state grants and subsidies, but I have a strong hunch the number is not zero,» read a separate statement from Magnuson.
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) told Fox News Digital that the agency «appreciate(s) our licensed child care providers and the important work they do to care for and educate our youngest learners.»
«We take fraud seriously. Washington state utilizes a variety of measures to minimize fraud. For example, DCYF conducts unannounced site visits at every licensed childcare provider at least once per year,» the agency said.
DCYF also randomly audits its rolls to confirm the accuracy of disbursements to the day care providers, the agency said, verifying attendance and matching families authorized to receive such benefits. The agency said it tallied 1,440 audits in 2024.
Of the lack of addresses found by Magnuson, DCYF said the state has addresses for every provider listed even if the public-facing website lacks full data, and that about 5,500 providers or 2.6% statewide do list Somali as their «language spoken.»
DCYF told Fox News Digital that anyone suspecting fraud should contact the state’s hotline directly at 1‐800‐562‐6906.
FEDS LAUNCH ‘MASSIVE OPERATION’ IN MINNESOTA AMID FRAUD SCANDAL
Washington state government reporter Carleen Johnson also replied to Ferguson’s tweet saying she visited several «Somali-run home daycare centers» in Federal Way, comparing her visits to those of YouTuber Nick Shirley in Minneapolis.
«There were no children and no one willing to chat with this reporter. They threatened me with police,» she said.
Amid the videos dropping, Washington Democratic Attorney General Nicholas Brown said his office received complaints from Somali residents «after reports of home-based daycare providers being harassed and accused of fraud with little to no fact-checking.»
«We are in touch with the state Department of Children Youth and Families regarding the claims being pushed online and the harassment reported by daycare providers,» Brown said, adding that showing up on a person’s porch and «threatening or harassing them is not an investigation; neither is filming minors who may be in the home.»
SENATE PRESSURE MOUNTS AS MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL CONTINUES TO UNFOLD
Brown urged anyone subjected to that treatment to contact police or his office’s Hate Crimes & Bias hotline.
«If you think fraud is happening, there are appropriate measures to report and investigate,» Brown said in a statement. Where «fraud is substantiated and verified by law enforcement and regulatory agencies, people should be held accountable.»
Higby responded to Brown appearing to reference his work, tweeting that «journalists showing up to daycares and asking for applications is not harassment or threatening — unless of course, it’s a fraudulent daycare, then it may be threatening to the fraud ring.»
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The FAA issued a ground stop for the Seattle airport. (Reuters/Chris Helgren)
Neither Brown’s nor Ferguson’s office responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment by press time.
According to Newsweek, Magnuson filtered her searches for Somali as the primary language of a day care, and added a filter for Washington «Early Achievers» program beneficiaries, which «entitles them to state funding. That second filter cut the number of centers returned to 274,» according to the outlet.
minnesota fraud exposed,somali immigrant community,washington,democrats elections,elon musk,childrens health
INTERNACIONAL
Witnesses give harrowing accounts of New Year’s horror that erupted due to Swiss ski resort bar fire
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Eyewitnesses have been recounting the nightmare they saw after a fiery blaze erupted at a bar in Switzerland leaving dozens dead and others wounded earlier this week.
«I thought my little brother was inside so I came and tried to break the window to help people to exit, and after that I went in,» a man, aged 18, said, according to the BBC. «I saw people burning… I found people burning from head to foot, no clothes anymore,» he recalled, noting, «It was very shocking.»
The man’s brother was not harmed, the outlet reported.
«I went in this bar every day this week — the day I didn’t go, it burned,» he noted, according to the outlet.
An individual named Daniella was heading home with her husband from a dinner when she witnessed some of the horror, the BBC reported.
OFFICIALS RACE TO IDENTIFY MOSTLY YOUNG VICTIMS OF DEADLY SWISS ALPS BAR FIRE
Police officers and rescuers stand next to a firefighters’ vehicle on the site of a fire that ripped through the bar Le Constellation in Crans-Montana on January 1, 2026. (Maxime Schmid / AFP via Getty Images)
«People were running in all directions, screaming and crying. I saw several people being carried out on stretchers,» she told the outlet. «A young man came up to me and said he’d seen hell — things he would never forget. And then I just froze.»
Gianni Campolo, 19, headed to the bar to assist first responders after getting a call from a friend who escaped the fire, according to the Associated Press.
AT LEAST 40 DEAD IN FIRE AT SWISS ALPS BAR DURING NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATIONS, POLICE SAY
Mourners gather to leave flowers and candles at the scene after a fire broke out overnight at Le Constellation bar on Jan. 1, 2026, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. (Harold Cunningham/Getty Images)
«I have seen horror, and I don’t know what else would be worse than this,» Campolo informed TF1, according to the AP.
Ferdinand Du Beaudiez, a 19-year-old who escaped from the fire in the bar, said that he went back in to look for his brother, his girlfriend and others, said he «couldn’t think to let them stay in the fire when I was alive outside.»
He said the first time he headed back in, he found a person «laying in the stairs» who «was completely burned, clothes were burned» — he explained that he could not tell if the individual was a man or a woman. He «slid» the person «on the ground, and he was being taken care of, um, outside … » the survivor recalled.
MASSIVE BLAZE ENGULFS HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND WHARF; FIREFIGHTERS RACE TO CONTAIN FLAMES
This photograph shows the area around the bar Le Constellation after a fire ripped through the venue during the New Year’s Eve celebrations in the luxury Alpine ski resort town of Crans-Montana, on Jan. 1, 2026. (Maxime Schmid / AFP via Getty Images)
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The second time he headed back in, he experienced «more smoke,» and he «could breathe less,» he said, explaining he «went in, couldn’t see anything and went straight out.»
He eventually found his girlfriend, who told him where his brother was.
disasters,fires disasters,aftermath disasters
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