INTERNACIONAL
Trump’s approach to Africa lauded by top Republican as recent airstrikes show ‘outside the box’ thinking
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FIRST ON FOX: The Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has lashed out at China, Russia and Iran for threatening U.S. national security interests in Africa in exclusive comments to Fox News Digital.
In a wide-ranging interview, Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, discussed the Trump administration’s approach to Africa, highlighting terrorism, war and concerns over trade on the continent. Risch emphasized the importance of Africa to the U.S.
«The economic opportunities in Africa cannot be understated, and the United States needs to have a seat at the table regarding trade and investment in the region,» he said. «At the same time, there are serious national security challenges we need to address head on to include terrorism, widespread conflicts affecting regional stability, migration and trafficking.»
TRUMP’S CRITICISM OF SOUTH AFRICA’S VIOLENT CRIME CRISIS RECEIVES UNEXPECTED LOCAL SUPPORT
Sen. Jim Risch, R-ID, spoke to Fox News Digital on Africa. (Bonnie Cash-Pool/Getty Images)
Russia, China and Iran have been criticized by Risch as being ‘malign actors’ in Africa, accused of military interventions, exploitative trade practices, and in Iran’s case, reported to be working on an agreement to extract refined «yellowcake» uranium for its controversial nuclear program.
«The malign actions of China and Russia, and even regional actors like Iran, are serious challenges to our national security interests in Africa,» Risch said. «Countering the influence of these aggressors is as much about the U.S. pursuing greater partnerships with African states as it is about responding to the challenges put forward by countries like Russia and China in Africa.»
Risch weighed in on the role of the U.S. military on the continent, saying it «is to protect the American people, first and foremost, and that goal should remain the same in Africa. We have serious security threats in Africa, and we must take them seriously. Remember, Osama bin Laden hid in Sudan, bombed our embassies there, and planned his 9/11 attack.»
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)
Then there’s the question of Islamist terror. Risch said he was «concerned about the spread of Islamist militants throughout parts of Africa, and has supported efforts to work with countries to help them get this situation under control.»
He added, «I am mindful that it is ultimately not up to us to confront this problem, and we have to stop being the only major player providing international support. Others, including African nations, must do more.»
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose for a family photo during the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 23, 2024. (ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
REPUBLICAN SENATORS MOVE TO BLOCK SOMALIA TERROR FUNDING UNTIL ALLIES PAY ‘FAIR SHARE’
Washington has Somalian terror clearly on its radar. In banning Somalians from entering the U.S. earlier this month, a White House proclamation stated, «The United States Government has identified Somalia as a terrorist safe haven.»
Al-Qaeda and Islamic State-affiliated terrorists operate openly. The U.S. military, through its Africa Command, has ramped up action against the groups since President Trump took office. So far this month, the U.S. has already carried out six air strikes against Islamic State in Somalia.
Al-Shabab fighters conduct military exercise in northern Mogadishu’s Suqaholaha neighborhood, Somalia, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010. (Farah Abdi Warsameh/AP Photo)
«I have advocated so strongly for the United States to build an approach that relies less on a central government partner that has not delivered, and more on partners in Somalia and the region to bring about effective counterterrorism gains.
«Fortunately, President Trump’s Africa policy has already shown he thinks outside the box, as demonstrated by the handling of recent airstrikes on Somalia with less hand-wringing, and more direct and decisive action.»
In Sudan, Russia and Iran have been fingered as protagonists pushing military agendas and war. An estimated 150,000 have been killed, and more than 12 million displaced, since civil war broke out in April 2023.
«The war in Sudan must end, and the partition of the Sudanese state must be prevented. This is the worst humanitarian disaster in the world, and a playground for malign actors backing both sides,» he said.
Supporters of Niger’s National Concil of Sefeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) hold a Russia (R) and a Chinese (L) flag as they gather at Place de la Concertation in Niamey on August 20, 2023. (AFP via Getty Images)
BOLD MOVE TO KEEP AMERICANS SAFE FROM ‘TERRORISTS’ IS BASIS FOR US TRAVEL BAN FOR SOME AFRICAN NATIONS
On President Donald Trump’s spearheading of efforts to bring peace to the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Risch said, «I know this administration is working hard to secure a deal between DRC and Rwanda that will end the fighting. America must serve as a counterweight to China’s critical minerals deals in the region, but can’t fully do so until the region is more stable.»
In South Africa, government ministers continue to meet with senior Russian, Chinese and Iranian officials. The African National Congress political party, which South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is the leader of, has hosted officials from the Hamas terror group. Yet the country benefits from duty-free benefits for products like cars and fruit in the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA, and other trade deals.
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 21: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) speaks during a meeting with President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House on May 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)
Risch told Fox News Digital, «I have consistently raised national security concerns about South Africa’s AGOA eligibility. AGOA is set to expire later this year, and President Trump’s current tariff regime already overrides many of its benefits. I remain critical of the South African government’s posture, which is why I applauded Secretary Rubio’s decision not to allow U.S. representation at the G20.»
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In November, South Africa is due to hand over the chairmanship of the G20 to the U.S. But at this time Washington is not sending a single official to the handover ceremony.
Fox News Digital reached out to the South African government, but received no response.
INTERNACIONAL
Virginia slammed for ‘truly demonic’ election that excused political violence to spite Trump, critics say
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Many political observers nationwide equated an upset win by Virginia Attorney General-elect Jay Jones and the Democratic ticket as a «demonic» example of the left putting politics ahead of decency.
A majority of Virginia voters ignored scandals that roiled Jones’ campaign, including his envision of murdering a top Republican lawmaker and their children, to put him in office and unseat more than a dozen GOP state delegates.
«They overlooked it because they hate Trump more than they care about what … the Virginia attorney general[-elect] said,» Outkick founder Clay Travis told Fox News on Wednesday.
«Miyares did an incredible job. This is an example of outrage at Trump motivating the turnout,» Travis said on «America’s Newsroom.»
LIBERAL MEDIA DOWNPLAYS SCANDAL OF DEM VIRGINIA AG HOPEFUL JAY JONES’ TEXTS FANTASIZING MURDER OF GOP LAWMAKER
President Trump juxtaposed next to Jay Jones, Democratic nominee for Virginia Attorney General. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Mike Kropf/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP, Pool)
Travis said Trump was clearly a driving force and that there were some Spanberger voters who split tickets in favor of outgoing Attorney General Jason Miyares, but that Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’ losing margin was too much in an era of rare ticket-splitting.
He said one key observation is that Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger received 600,000 fewer total votes than Trump himself did in the president’s losing battle in Virginia one year prior.
When Trump is off the ballot, Republicans also don’t appear to turn out to vote, he said – as figures from heavily conservative southwestern Virginia bore that out Tuesday night.
JAY JONES INVOKES TRUMP NEARLY 50 TIMES DURING VIRGINIA AG DEBATE, TIES MIYARES TO ‘MAGA’
WTAR radio host Kerry Dougherty, who co-hosts an AM dial show in Hampton, wrote on X that Virginia needs to «buckle up.»
«Democrats last night installed a deranged sociopath in the attorney general’s office. A man who may find his law license suspended over chicanery with community service hours. Yep, they preferred him to a moderate, smart and successful Republican. We’re in deep trouble.»
Elsewhere, Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, argued that the political left shows little concern for victims of political violence, calling Jones’ victory the latest proof.
«A deranged lib murders Charlie Kirk, and Democrats respond by electing a sociopath who – in his own words – wants his political opponents and their children dead. Truly demonic,» Gill, wrote on X.
«Truly evil,» added Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS HAVE A VIOLENCE PROBLEM
A text message from Jay Jones to Del. Carrie Coyner. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
Uthmeier tried to help Miyares in the closing days of the race, appearing with him, Earle-Sears and now-outgoing Dels. Geary Higgins, R-Lovettsville, and Ian Lovejoy, R-Warrenton, at a closing-days rally in New Baltimore.
Virginia Republican voters were also vocal the morning after – as one wrote that it’s clear his neighbors would be alright if he was dead.
«At least I now know that all of my neighbors with Jay Jones signs up are okay with political violence,» the voter wrote on X.
SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS AFTER DISGRACED DEM NOMINEE LEANS ON TRUMP ATTACKS IN VIRGINIA AG DEBATE
«I can no longer in good conscience be associated with them. They obviously want me dead too.»
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson played out the scenario such Jones voters may have thought through before voting:
«Democrats in Virginia saw these texts from Jay Jones and decided ‘yup, he has my vote’,» Johnson said.
JAY JONES’ ‘TWO BULLETS’ SCANDAL OVER VIOLENT TEXTS EXPECTED TO DOMINATE VIRGINIA AG DEBATE
«Truly evil. You can’t live in a country with people that want you dead.»
Jack Posobiec, a conservative commentator and editor at Human Events, responded to Jones’ post-scandal win with his own recollection of political violence:
«I saw a leftist murder Charlie Kirk and I saw them celebrate it,» Posobiec said.
«While conservatives have spent the last few weeks arguing with each other, Democrats just elected an Attorney General who openly fantasizes about murdering us and watching our children die in our arms,» added commentator Matt Walsh.
«These people are the enemy. What more do you need to see? Seriously. What more do you need to see?»
«Ruthless» podcast producer Leigh Wolf wrote on X that the election results in Virginia are the «first empirical evidence» in the public sphere that proves Democrats writ-large support political violence as a tool to achieve power.
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«They saw with their own eyes this absolute psycho go into graphic detail about the need to murder children as a means of achieving political outcomes, and they voted yes,» Wolf said.
«You can’t hand wave away violence as the actions of a few fringe radicals when you affirmatively vote in favor of those tactics.»
In their responses to Jones’ victory, voices on the left steered clear of the question of condoning violence, including one of the attorney general-elect’s top backers, Senate President L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth.
Lucas posted a clip drawn from Fox News video of Jones greeting voters in Norfolk, which an official at the Republican Attorney General’s Assocation trimmed down to show the Democrat appearing to try to kick a dog in a potentially playful manner.
Lucas re-envisioned that clip as a GIF of Jones making the kicking motion toward the dog – but instead hitting Attorney General Jason Miyares, whose avatar went flying upward toward the sky.
Elsewhere, Democratic state Sen. Mamie Locke of Hampton commented that Democrats wins instead showed that her party won because «Republicans cannot govern, do their jobs and would rather shut the government down than feed people or provide them health care.»
«And, Trump, you were on the ballot. Maybe not literally, but your failed policies were,» Locke said. «Voters told you how they felt about those failures. Your efforts to distract, distort, discourage, discredit, and destroy this country has Virginians and citizens all over America fighting back. This is just the beginning.»
Anti-Trump commentator Tim Miller also commented on X about those observers expressing fears as some conservatives have.
After conservative commentator Megyn Kelly said that «God save Republicans and their children in VA,» Miller called it «the first known case of Spanberger Derangement Syndrome.»
Fox News Digital also reached out to Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi for her view on whether Jones’ election and that of Democrats writ large should be connected with a passivity toward political violence.
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INTERNACIONAL
Kristi Noem se reunió con el presidente Daniel Noboa para evaluar las capacidades de la antigua base militar de EEUU en Ecuador
La secretaria de Seguridad Nacional de Estados Unidos, Kristi Noem, se reunió este miércoles en la ciudad costera de Manta con el presidente de Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, para evaluar las capacidades de la antigua base militar local, utilizada por fuerzas estadounidenses entre 1999 y 2009, informó la ministra de Relaciones Exteriores ecuatoriana, Gabriela Sommerfeld.
“Hemos visitado la base de Manta junto al presidente y realizado un recorrido para conocer sus capacidades operativas, las condiciones de sus instalaciones, la ficha técnica de las pistas y el tipo de aeronaves que pueden operar allí”, detalló la funcionaria en un video difundido por la Cancillería.
Por su parte, la portavoz Carolina Jaramillo calificó la visita como parte del proceso de fortalecimiento de la cooperación bilateral en seguridad, migración y desarrollo.
La funcionaria estadounidense Noem llegó este miércoles a la Base Aérea Eloy Alfaro de Manta, ciudad considerada estratégica y que podría albergar “bases potenciales” para operaciones conjuntas con agencias estadounidenses, según detalló Jaramillo, en conferencia de prensa en Quito.
La visita se enmarca en el próximo referéndum nacional, programado para el 16 de noviembre, en el que los ecuatorianos decidirán, entre otras cuestiones, si permiten nuevamente la instalación de bases militares extranjeras en el país. Estados Unidos expresó su interés en este tema.
En la visita también participaron los ministros ecuatorianos del Interior, John Reimberg, y el de Defensa, Gian Carlo Loffredo. Este último destacó que la cooperación giró en torno a recursos y equipos tecnológicos: “Aunque las fuerzas de seguridad ejecutan las operaciones, son los recursos tecnológicos los que permiten identificar amenazas en zonas extensas como el territorio marítimo ecuatoriano”.
Loffredo afirmó además que la lucha contra el narcotráfico trasciende fronteras y requiere estrategias integradas. Reimberg insistió en la prioridad del gobierno de Noboa de combatir el crimen organizado y consideró clave “escoger aliados en esta lucha” con las organizaciones criminales.
El jueves, Noem tiene programada una visita a una base militar en Salinas, en la costa suroeste de Ecuador. Durante una década, Manta funcionó como centro de operaciones de aeronaves estadounidenses para vuelos antidrogas, hasta que la constitución de 2008 prohibió las bases extranjeras en territorio ecuatoriano.
Salinas, por su parte, sirvió como base militar estadounidense durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Actualmente, ambas instalaciones están bajo control de las fuerzas armadas ecuatorianas.
El presidente Daniel Noboa anunció la semana pasada que Ecuador y Estados Unidos descartaron la instalación de una base militar estadounidense en Galápagos en el marco de la estrategia antidrogas de Washington.
Si el referéndum es aprobado por la ciudadanía, las agencias de seguridad y defensa de Estados Unidos podrán operar en conjunto con las fuerzas policiales y militares ecuatorianas en las bases habilitadas para combatir el crimen organizado, confirmó la vocera ecuatoriana Jaramillo.
La ola de violencia en Ecuador, agravada en 2025, se atribuye al avance de bandas criminales vinculadas al narcotráfico, la extorsión y la minería ilegal. El presidente Noboa, quien declaró un “conflicto armado interno” en enero de 2024, calificó a estas estructuras como “terroristas”. Solo en el primer semestre de 2025, el país registró 4.619 homicidios, un 47% más que en igual periodo de 2024.
(Con información de EFE y AFP)
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El saldo para los montañistas europeos en las altas cumbres de Asia continúa en negativo este año: en las últimas horas, las autoridades de Nepal comunicaron que siete escaladores italianos permanecen desaparecidos desde el lunes, mientras que otros tres resultaron fallecidos el viernes, debido a dos avalanchas en alta montaña, en un pico del Himalaya. Según informaron fuentes de ambas cancillerías (la de Nepal y la de Italia), la búsqueda se reanudará este jueves, en medio de condiciones climáticas adversas.
Todo comenzó el viernes en el pico Panbari Himal, de 6.887 metros de altitud, en el Himalaya nepalí. Una avalancha repentina comprometió gravemente la travesía de dos montañistas italianos, que quedaron sepultados bajo la nieve y este martes fueron decretaros fallecidos. Se trata de Alessandro Caputo, de 28 años, milanés e instructor de ski; y de Stefano Farronato, de 50 años, un horticultor de Bassano del Grappa (un pueblo cercano a Venecia).
El lunes por la mañana, en otro pico del Himalaya, el Yalung Ri (5.630 mts), otra avalancha sepultó el campamento de otro italiano, Paolo Cocco, un fotógrafo oriundo de Fara San Martino (Chieti, centro de Italia). También fue declarado fallecido por las autoridades nepalíes y las italianas, junto con Caputo y Farronato, dado que sus cuerpos fueron recuperados: el de Cocco ya fue trasladado hacia un hospital para extranjeros, mientras que los de los dos primeros fueron recuperados en el pico Manaslu, la octava montaña más alta del mundo, de la que el Panbari Himal es parte, y ya se encuentran en Katmandú, la capital de Nepal, para luego ser repatriados.
Un tercer miembro del equipo de Caputo y Farronaro, Valter Perlino, de 64 años y veterinario de profesión, oriundo de Pinerolo (un suburbio de Turín), sobrevivió a la avalancha del viernes y permaneció en el campamento, debido a que se encontraba lesionado en un pie. Fue él quien pudo dar aviso a los rescatistas. «Aquí, cada metro ganado es fruto de la fuerza, la experiencia y el respeto por la montaña», fue el último mensaje que había podido transmitir el grupo.
Otra fue la suerte de quienes acompañaban a Cocco el lunes, cuando la avalancha en el Yalung Ri los sorprendió. Desde entonces se busca a Marco Di Marcello, biólogo y guía de montaña de 37 años originario de la región de los Abruzos, y a Markus Kirchler, otro italiano del grupo.
Este miércoles, las autoridades deslizaron que ambos tienen pocas posibilidades de sobrevivir, debido a las difíciles condiciones climáticas en la zona de alta montaña donde la avalancha los afectó. La luz de esperanza es que, según trascendió de fuentes oficiales, el GPS de Di Marcello continúa emitiendo señal cada cuatro horas.
A su vez, hay otros cinco italianos a quienes la Farnesina (la casa de Asuntos Exteriores de Italia) no considera desaparecidos pero son intensamente buscados. Se trata de un grupo que perdió el contacto por radio con el operador que les prestaba asistencia, pero este miércoles la Farnesina aseguró, mediante el cónsul italiano en Calcuta (India, pero con competencia en Nepal), Riccardo Dalla Costa, que se retomarán el jueves los esfuerzos por encontrarlos.
Se trata de cinco italianos de la provincia de Como (Lombardía, norte de Italia), que viajaron a Nepal con una agencia con sede en Milán. Entre sus planes declarados se incluía una excursión al Campo Base del Makalu, al oeste del valle del Khumbu, una zona distinta a donde se produjeron los accidentes causados por avalanchas y fuertes nevadas que costaron la vida a sus compatriotas. Se estima que están a 4.800 metros de altitud, aproximadamente.
Mientras tanto, las condiciones climáticas arrecian en el Himalaya nepalí, situación a la que se vinculan las avalanchas. Las labores de rescate se ven extremadamente dificultadas por el mal tiempo, que ha anegado las zonas donde deben realizarse los rescates.
En tanto, el martes por la mañana, cuatro personas heridas —dos alpinistas franceses y dos sherpas nepaleses— fueron evacuadas y trasladadas a Katmandú para recibir tratamiento médico. Entre ellas se encuentran Carole Fuchs, maratonista francesa; Chhulthim Dolma Gurung, actriz y modelo nepalesa; y Raj Gurung, empresario local.
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