International
They confess plans to immolate themselves at a Taylor Swift concert after canceling her performance in Vienna
The Minister of the Interior of Austria, Gerhard Karner, said on Thursday that “a tragedy has been avoided” at Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna since the main suspect intended to be immolated this Thursday or tomorrow in front of the stadium where the show was going to be held.
“A tragedy has been avoided” in Swift’s concerts but the situation is “serious,” said Karner, who indicated that the main suspect has confessed his plans and the manufacture of the explosive was very advanced. The police are not looking for other suspects but the investigations continue.
The goal, according to the Austrian Police, was to “kill himself and a large crowd at the concert scheduled for today or tomorrow.” After the arrests were known, Taylor Swift announced yesterday the cancellation of the three concerts planned in the Austrian capital.
According to the investigators, there are three detainees, a 19-year-old leader, a second 17-year-old suspect who had recently been hired as a member of the private security device of the concert and a third under the age of 15.
That 17-year-old was arrested by anti-terrorist teams in the vicinity of the Ernst Happel stadium and, apparently, he intended to facilitate the actions of the leader.
Various substances were found in the records, including hydrogen peroxide as well as technical and material devices for the manufacture of pumps, such as detonators, cables and machines to start an explosion.
Among the material seized, according to the Police, there is also a police siren that is suspected to be used to make its way and facilitate the arrival at the site of the attack or the escape.
The detainees had focused on the attack plans since the end of July and the leader of the cell had sworn allegiance to the terrorist group Islamic State.
The 19-year-old arrested in Ternitz, 65 kilometers from Vienna, resigned from his job on July 25 and declared that he “had great plans for the future,” Franz Ruf, director general of Public Security, explained to the press.
“Since then, he has focused on the preparations for a terrorist attack,” Ruf added, who indicated that they had also taken measures to change his physical appearance.
“The results of the research show that hydrogen peroxide was used as a precursor in the manufacture of explosives, and this explosive was effectively manufactured. The main nineteen-year-old suspect has confessed everything,” added the police official.
Ruf indicated that the Police are not looking for more suspects nor are there other concrete indications, but he stressed, like Karner, that at the moment we do not have to lower our guard and the investigations must continue.
The director of the internal intelligence service (DSN), Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, confirmed that the investigation was produced thanks to information from foreign secret services and said that young people, especially the 19-year-old, had become radicalized on the internet.
“He consumed and spread a lot of propaganda, and as we saw after the seizure of his mobile phone yesterday, he also constantly downloaded and shared instructions for the manufacture of bombs,” he explained.
“He had been informed about the manufacture of pumps and the necessary materials, and during the raiding of his house yesterday a lot of material was found,” he added.
The confession of the 19-year-old jihadist indicates that, in addition to the explosives, they intended to attack with knives Swift’s followers who were on the outskirts of the stadium where the concert was going to be held.
The goal, according to Haijawi-Pirchner, was to “kill himself and a large crowd at the concert today or tomorrow.”
The director of the DSN indicated that although there are no more fleeing suspects, it is possible that people in the environment of the detainees knew about their plans and it is necessary to continue investigating.
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.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
Panama confirms drug contamination of El Salvador coffee shipment occurred on its territory
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
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
