International
The White House rules out pardoning Julian Assange despite the request of his lawyers
The White House said on Thursday that it is not considering granting a presidential pardon to the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, as requested by his lawyers.
The White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, responded with a brief “no” when the journalists aboard the Air Force One presidential plane asked her if that option was being considered.
The question arose as a result of the statements of Assange’s lawyers and his wife, Stella Assange, who in recent hours announced that they would ask the president of the United States, Joe Biden, for a presidential pardon with the aim of cleaning up Assange’s criminal history.
Assange’s release was made possible after an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that was formalized on Wednesday during a hearing in a court in Saipan, in the Northern Mariana Islands, in which he pleaded guilty to violating the U.S. espionage law as part of the pact.
A criminal charge related to the largest leak of classified documents in the history of the United States, which occurred in 2010 and that questioned the role of that country in the world by revealing atrocities in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan.
At the hearing, in exchange for acknowledging her responsibility, Judge Ramona Villagomez sentenced Assange to 62 months in prison, acknowledging the time already served in the high-security prison of Belmarsh (United Kingdom), so he was released and can return to his native Australia.
This episode puts an end to a 14-year-old saga that began in 2010 with the largest leak of classified documents in the history of the United States, with which WikiLeaks revealed attacks on civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the mistreatment of prisoners in Guantánamo, among other issues.
Initially arrested in 2010 at the behest of Sweden for a case of abuse now filed, Assange was in the middle of a complex extradition process to the United States, where he was accused of 18 crimes that involved a possible penalty of more than 170 years in prison.
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.
Mexico City Mayor Invites U2 to Perform at Iconic Zócalo Plaza
Marco Rubio Urges China to Help Restrain Iran Amid Gulf Tensions
Panama confirms drug contamination of El Salvador coffee shipment occurred on its territory
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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International1 day agoTrump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
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International4 days agoRussia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
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Central America1 day agoPanama confirms drug contamination of El Salvador coffee shipment occurred on its territory
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International51 minutes agoMarco Rubio Urges China to Help Restrain Iran Amid Gulf Tensions
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International49 minutes agoMexico City Mayor Invites U2 to Perform at Iconic Zócalo Plaza