International
López Obrador describes the elections in Mexico as “historic” after the review of the electoral body
The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, pointed out that the election day of last June 2, in which the ruling party Claudia Sheinbaum prevailed, was “historic” due to the participation and the election of a woman to the Presidency of the country.
“It was a very important participation, it was a historic choice in several ways: because of the number of votes cast in general, never; because of the number of votes with which a candidate wins, in this case a candidate, I obtained like 31 million we are talking about 5 million more,” the president said during his morning press conference.
The Mexican ruler also described as historical the fact that in 200 years a woman had not ruled, he said.
López Obrador thus referred to the stage of review and certification of the results of the elections in Mexico that concluded on Sunday and opened the period of challenges and qualification by the Electoral Tribunal of the Judiciary of the Federation (TEPJF).
He also boasted that after the district calculations revealed over the weekend by the National Electoral Institute (INE) in which Sheinbaum obtained 35.9 million votes, which meant 59.76% of the total votes, in addition to the fact that his party, National Regeneration Movement (Morena) won seven governorships.
In addition, López Obrador also detailed that the coalition of Morena and the Green Ecologist of Mexico (PVEM) and Labor (PT) parties obtained a total of 373 deputies, which would give him a qualified majority.
While in the Mexican Senate, he said, the alliance reached 83 seats, very close to the qualified majority.
Regarding the overrepresentation in the Congress of the Union, he indicated that the electoral authorities are the ones who will decide, although he stressed that the Constitution is quite clear on the issue.
“There is a debate that if the representation of plurinominals is well resolved, so that there is no overrepresentation, that will also be decided by the authority and the Constitution is quite clear in that, but that also in the Electoral Tribunal,” he said.
“Congratulations to the people of Mexico, that this is something very important. The forecasts that were made in a pessimistic way, fortunately, were not fulfilled. Hopefully, and we have already talked about that, there is self-criticism, which is not turning the page around and ‘we will continue to do the same,’” he emphasized.
The elections of June 2 were the largest in the history of Mexico because more than 98 million people were called to the polls to renew more than 20,000 positions, including the Presidency, the 500 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and the 128 in the Senate.
International
Trump moves to reclassify marijuana as less dangerous substance
Former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous addictive substance, a move aimed at encouraging medical research without immediately opening the door to federal-level decriminalization.
Trump said that “people were begging” him to make the decision, particularly individuals suffering from chronic pain. He stressed, however, that the measure “is not at all a decriminalization” of marijuana for non-medical use.
“I’ve always told my children: don’t use drugs, don’t drink, don’t smoke,” Trump added. He is a well-known teetotaler.
A senior government official described the decision as “common sense” during a briefing with reporters, noting that marijuana and CBD-based products — a compound derived from cannabis known for its relaxing properties — are already widely used in the United States by patients dealing with chronic pain.
Most U.S. states currently allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes, and more than 20 states, along with the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., have also legalized recreational use.
International
Shakira’s El Salvador concerts sell out in hours, fans demand more dates
The sell-out of all three announced Shakira concerts in El Salvador in less than 24 hours has sparked a collective call for additional dates, highlighting an overwhelming demand that transcends borders and positions the country as a cultural hub in Central America.
Ticket sales for Shakira’s Central American residency confirmed the artist’s massive impact across the region. The three shows scheduled for February 12, 14, and 15 in El Salvador sold out in under 24 hours, triggering an immediate public response from fans who were unable to secure tickets and are now urging promoters to open new dates, according to an official statement from promoters Two Shows and Fenix Entertainment.
Even before ticket sales officially opened, thousands of people joined virtual queues that exceeded the usual capacity of the country’s ticketing platforms. Despite logging in early and waiting for hours, many users were unable to complete their purchases and were ultimately left without tickets, Two Shows reported.
The unprecedented demand was widely documented through screenshots, testimonials, and social media posts, showing slow-moving waiting lists, ticketing websites overwhelmed by traffic, and purchase processes that failed to go through despite users following all required steps within the designated timeframes.
According to the organizers, demand to see Shakira perform in El Salvador remains strong even after the sell-out. Meanwhile, hotels have reported booking inquiries beyond the announced concert dates, pointing to a larger-than-expected tourism influx tied to the event.
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.
Trump moves to reclassify marijuana as less dangerous substance
Shakira’s El Salvador concerts sell out in hours, fans demand more dates
Rubio rules out 2028 presidential bid if Vance runs
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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