International
Between weddings and gifts, Venezuelans celebrate the Day of Love and Friendship
The celebration of Love and Friendship Day did not go unnoticed this Friday in Venezuela, where flowers, gifts of all kinds and even collective weddings broke everyday life in a country immersed in recent months in a political crisis following the presidential elections of July 2024, in which Nicolás Maduro was proclaimed winner among opposition claims.
Among the preferred flowers, balloons and chocolates, as EFE could verify in the streets of Caracas, to express their feelings to loved ones or friends, and, for lack of a budget, there was no lack of hugs and affectionate greetings.
Others took the opportunity to swear eternal love to their better half at collective weddings held in the Venezuelan capital and the city of Maracaibo, in the west of the country.
Altamira Square, in the heart of the municipality of Chacao (east of Caracas), hosted this Friday the union, in civil marriage, of a group of couples in a ceremony that has become a tradition to celebrate love on Valentine’s Day.
This time, 16 couples lived a special day, which included a makeup session for the ladies, rental of the suits for the wedding, photo sessions and an outdoor act in which the “yes, I accept” was heard.
The director of Municipal Justice of the Mayor’s Office of Chacao and civil registrar, Alejandro Urdaneta, explained to EFE that the activity, promoted by the local mayor, Gustavo Duque, reached its third edition this year and has as a framework the fountain of the Altamira Square, its obelisk and different recovered spaces.
The contractors, who previously registered with the municipal entity, also enjoyed a toast, gifts and a bottle of champagne to celebrate with their relatives.
One of the brides was Farides Galvis, 65, a pensioner and currently a housewife, who formalized before the law her union with her partner, which began 11 years ago.
She, born in the Colombian city of Valledupar, and he, a native of Barranquilla, met when Galvis was returning from work at her now husband’s kiosk.
“I’m looking for a husband,” the brand new bride who responded to her then suitor, who, without hesitation, said: “That’s me.”
Andreína Mendoca, 25, was also getting ready to celebrate her wedding, who told EFE that they chose this date because it was a “symbolic” day.
“We got the date, the opportunity, we wanted to formalize our home properly,” added this young woman, who has been sharing life with Johan for five years.
Also in Maracaibo, the capital of the state of Zulia, 39 couples got married in a collective wedding organized by the mayor’s office and another ten answered the invitation of a shopping center to formally unite their lives.
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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Central America1 day agoArévalo Announces Overhaul of Guatemala’s Prison System Amid Security Crisis
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