International
A federal committee leaves the decision on the purchase of US Steel in the hands of Joe Biden
The United States Foreign Investment Committee (CFIUS), a federal agency chaired by the Treasury Department, told the White House that it is unable to reach an agreement on the purchase of the steel company US Steel by the Japanese Nippon Steel.
The committee informed Washington that it has not reached a consensus on the risk that the operation – valued at 14.9 billion dollars – would pose in national security, thus passing the final decision to President Joe Biden, who has previously opposed the transaction.
“The CFIUS has notified us that the committee has not been able to reach a consensus on the transaction and has sent it to the president to make a decision,” the American company reported today in a statement released on its social networks.
The company indicated that the operation is “the best way” to ensure that US Steel, its employees, communities and customers, “thris in the future.”
And he added that “it improves US national and economic security through investment in manufacturing and innovation and forges a steel alliance to combat China’s competitive threat.”
“We hope that President Biden does the right thing and adheres to the law,” he said.
Biden, who has previously alleged that “US steel companies should be owned by Americans,” is expected to block the operation before leaving the White House.
Last December, Nippon Steel reached an agreement for the acquisition of the American company that was founded 122 years ago, although since then the operation has been quarantined by the US authorities.
The Japanese company also offered to invest another 2.7 billion in modernizing its plants (which are spread throughout the country), guaranteeing jobs and the majority presence of Americans in its management team and its Board of Directors.
The operation – which would create the third largest steel company in the world – has also been opposed by President-elect Donald Trump, who spoke out “totally against the once large and powerful US Steel being bought by a foreign company.”
They ask Nippon for guarantees
Likewise, the president of the United Steelworkers (USW) union, David McCall, is also against the transaction, who has asked Nippon Steel to guarantee the “protection of jobs,” as he believes that the Japanese company will “abandon” the company.
For his part, the company’s CEO, David Burritt, told The Wall Street Journal in September that if the sale was not authorized, U.S. Steel would have to close plants and eliminate thousands of jobs in the country.
The acquisition, designed to compete against Chinese rivals, would create the third largest steel mill in the world.
After the news was announced, US Steel shares on the Wall Street stock exchange fell by 3% in operations after closing.
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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International3 days agoMarco Rubio Urges China to Help Restrain Iran Amid Gulf Tensions
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