International
Australia closes farms as avian flu spreads
Avian influenza continues to spread in the Australian state of Victoria, where more than 500,000 chickens have been slaughtered. Strict quarantine zones have also been established that restrict the movement of birds and equipment. Australian health authorities say that avian influenza is mainly spread among wild waterfowl.
The highly pathogenic strain H7N3 of avian influenza has been found in four farms, while another virus, H7N9, has been detected in a fifth property in the last seven weeks in the state of Victoria. Australian farms have been quarantined. At least 580,000 birds have been slaughtered as part of extensive biosecurity controls.
Japan and the United States have temporarily banned imports of poultry from Victoria as a precautionary measure.
In Australia, some supermarkets are restricting the amount of eggs that consumers can buy due to supply chain disruptions.
Avian influenza is a viral disease found all over the world. It spreads between birds or when contaminated food and equipment for animals moves between areas.
Danyel Cucinotta is vice president of the Victoria Farmers’ Federation, an industry group. She told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Tuesday that the virus can spread quickly.
“There is very little we can do and no matter how good their biosecurity is, you can’t prevent wild birds from entering. This is a particular flight route for migratory birds. There are orders that all the birds are locked up. It’s about protecting our birds and protecting the food supply chain,” he said.
Avian influenza strains identified in the states of Victoria and Western Australia can infect people, but experts insist that cases are rare.
The virus can also infect cows. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said that avian influenza has infected dairy cows in more than 80 herds in several states since the end of March.
At least three workers in the U.S. dairy industry. The United States has tested positive for avian influenza after exposure to infected livestock. The three patients are recovering.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States said that infections do not change their assessment that avian influenza is a low risk for the community in general and that they have not seen evidence of person-to-person transmission.
International
Mexico City Mayor Invites U2 to Perform at Iconic Zócalo Plaza
Irish rock band U2, which spent Tuesday and Wednesday filming a new music video for its song Street of Dreams in the Historic Center of Mexico City, received an invitation to perform at the capital’s iconic Zócalo square from Mayor Clara Brugada.
Brugada shared the invitation through social media posts accompanied by photos and a video showing her meeting with the band members.
“This is an invitation for you to perform in our wonderful public square, the Zócalo. You are welcome here, and we would love to have you,” Brugada said in the video while handing a document to Bono, the band’s lead singer.
Bono responded by saying that the group would like “to begin its new tour in Mexico City.”
Referencing one of the band’s most famous songs, In the Name of Love, Brugada said she was greeting Bono along with The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr..
“Welcoming U2 to our capital means celebrating music, connection and the emotion that can be felt in every corner of this city,” Brugada wrote in one of her messages. “We are a city open to the world, vibrant and full of stories shared from the stage to the streets.”
She also described the Zócalo as “the country’s most important public square” and a cultural landmark for Latin America.
Over the years, the Zócalo has hosted massive concerts by internationally renowned artists and bands including Roger Waters, Paul McCartney, Manu Chao, Café Tacvba, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Los Tigres del Norte, La Maldita Vecindad, Silvio Rodríguez, Joan Manuel Serrat, Rosalía and Shakira, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans.
International
Marco Rubio Urges China to Help Restrain Iran Amid Gulf Tensions
Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Washington hopes to persuade China to take a more active role in stopping Iran from escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf, arguing that the crisis directly threatens Asian commercial interests.
“It is in China’s interest to resolve this situation. We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to stop what it is doing now and trying to do in the Persian Gulf,” Rubio said during an interview with journalist Sean Hannity on Fox News while traveling aboard Air Force One.
The top U.S. diplomat said the conflict and concerns over the possible disruption of the Strait of Hormuz have already affected China’s interests.
Rubio noted that “a Chinese cargo ship was struck over the weekend,” referring to the exchange of attacks reported last Friday between Iran and the United States.
The remarks come amid growing international concern over rising tensions in the region and the potential impact on global trade routes and energy supplies.
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
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International4 hours agoMexico City Mayor Invites U2 to Perform at Iconic Zócalo Plaza