International
Macron: the return of dialogue in New Caledonia will not be made with institutional setback
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, held a first meeting with political leaders in New Caledonia on Thursday to try to relaunch a dialogue between communities that puts an end to the riots, without an institutional setback.
Macron bet on the return to calm, but warned that this cannot be done by reversing the institutional level, specifically on the result of the three self-determination referendums held in that territory of the South Pacific in recent years.
“The appeasement cannot be not respecting the popular expression that has already been manifested,” he said, according to the images of the meeting disclosed by the Elysée.
However, Macron did not clarify whether the controversial constitutional law that opens the electoral census of the territory, whose approval in the French Parliament unleashed the wave of protests at the beginning of last week, will be maintained.
At the beginning of the meeting, a minute of silence was observed for the six deaths of last week, four civilians and two gendarmes.
The meeting took place at the residence of the High Commissioner (Government delegate) in the autonomous territory, and attended by independence leaders such as the presidents of the regional government, Louis Mapou, and the president of the regional Congress, Roch Wamytan.
They also attended loyalist leaders, such as the president of the southern province (one of the three that make up the territory), Sonia Backès, or the mayor of the capital, Numea, Sonia Lagarde.
Macron was in favor of not renewing the state of emergency, declared by the Government last week and which expires on Monday the 27th, but he conditioned it to the return of the situation to normal and all the barricades on roads and streets mounted by independence groups to be removed.
He also said that the reinforcement of a thousand police and gendarmes sent last week to reinforce the 1,700 agents already present in the territory will remain “as long as necessary,” even until the end of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The latter conclude on September 8.
Macron arrived on Thursday morning local time in the territory for a visit of about twelve hours, with the aim of giving a boost to the dialogue.
Although the situation has improved with respect to the worst moments of last week, it has not yet fully normalized.
A large part of the population continues to have problems with access to food and basic hygiene products due to the destruction of shops and travel difficulties, according to local media.
On the other hand, the damage of the riots amounts to about one billion euros, as reported today by the Chamber of Commerce of Industry, with about 200 companies burned and more than 2,000 unemployed workers.
International
Rubio rules out 2028 presidential bid if Vance runs
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would not seek the presidency in 2028 if current Vice President JD Vancedecides to run as the Republican nominee to succeed President Donald Trump.
“If JD Vance runs for president, he will be our candidate, and I will be one of the first people to support him,” Rubio said in an interview with Vanity Fair, in which he appeared alongside other senior members of the presidential cabinet.
Rubio, 54, and Vance, 41, are widely viewed as two of the leading Republican figures who could headline the party’s ticket in the 2028 election. Under the U.S. Constitution, Trump is barred from seeking another term after completing two presidential mandates.
In a lighthearted moment during the interview, Vance jokingly offered photographers $1,000 if they managed to make him look better than Rubio in the photos. Both leaders have received public backing from Trump, who last October floated the idea of a joint ticket featuring Rubio and Vance, without clarifying who would lead it.
“I think that if they ever teamed up, they would be unstoppable. I don’t think anyone would run against us,” Trump said at the time.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who also took part in the interview, confirmed that Trump does not intend to violate the 22nd Amendment, which prohibits a third presidential term, though she acknowledged that the president is “having fun” with speculation about a possible return to office.
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, served as a Republican senator from 2010 to 2025. He sought the party’s presidential nomination in 2016 but was defeated by Trump after a bruising primary contest. His name was floated as a potential vice presidential pick in 2024, but Vance ultimately secured the spot. After taking office, Trump appointed Rubio as secretary of state, making him the first Latino to hold the position.
International
Authorities search for armed and dangerous suspect in fatal Brown University attack
According to the statement, investigators are “seeking the public’s help to identify and speak with an individual” who was seen “near” the suspect at the time of the attack.
The Providence Police Department in Rhode Island released three photos of the person of interest, whose face has been blurred. In the images, the individual is wearing navy blue clothing, what appears to be a green hood, and carrying a light-colored backpack.
Earlier, authorities had released several photos and videos of a suspect described as “approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a stocky build,” dressed in dark clothing, with their face covered by a surgical mask and wearing a beanie. The suspect’s identity remains unknown.
Authorities are offering a $50,000 reward for any information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person responsible for the killings, who is considered armed and dangerous.
The gunman opened fire on Saturday at Brown University’s engineering and physics building, where exams were being held, killing students Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov. The names of the nine people injured have not been released.
International
Police investigate deaths of Rob Reiner and wife as apparent homicide
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is investigating the deaths of Hollywood actor and filmmaker Rob Reinerand his wife as an “apparent homicide,” amid a wave of tributes to the director of classics such as When Harry Met Sally.
According to U.S. media reports on Sunday, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead at their Los Angeles mansion with what appeared to be stab wounds.
Several political figures shared messages of condolence following the reported deaths of the director of A Few Good Menand his wife.
While the LAPD did not officially confirm the identities of the victims, it stated that homicide detectives were dispatched to the Reiner residence.
“At this time, no additional details are available and the investigation into an apparent homicide is ongoing,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement posted on social media.
LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told reporters that no arrests have been made and that no individuals are currently being questioned as suspects.
“I’m not going to confirm whether anyone is being questioned at this moment or not. We are going to try to speak with as many family members as we can,” Hamilton said.
CNN reported that a family spokesperson confirmed the deaths of Reiner and his wife.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, former U.S. President Barack Obama, and former Vice President Kamala Harrisissued statements expressing their condolences.
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