International

Pretrial detention for terrorism detainees in Ecuador

Photo: FGR

September 1|

The court in charge of the criminal proceedings against those involved in the recent explosion of a car bomb in the La Mariscal sector, north of Quito, Ecuador, ordered Friday the remand in custody for the six detainees.

The Attorney General’s Office informed that, following its request, the judge ordered preventive detention for the six defendants for the alleged crime of terrorism while the prosecutorial instruction will last 30 days.

According to legal information, the crime of terrorism, typified in article 366, numeral 2 of the Organic Integral Penal Code, presents a penalty ranging from 10 to 13 years of imprisonment.

“The Prosecutor ordered the practice of several proceedings that were exposed in the hearing of qualification of flagrancy and formulation of charges, as elements of conviction for the crime of terrorism, for which today they are remanded in custody,” said the agency through a statement.

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In this sense, the Public Prosecutor’s Office pointed out that among the elements are “the reports of the chemical tests performed to the vehicle and the motorcycle that were used to perpetrate the attack; the sequence of images in which the accused appear carrying out activities related to the explosion; the report of the recognition of the place of the facts, the chain of custody and others”.

The Prosecutor’s Office pointed out that the detainees bought a can of fuel in a gas station located in Francisco de Orellana and 6 de Diciembre avenues. Later, they went to Ulpiano Páez and Robles streets, where they sprayed gasoline on a car and a motorcycle and then set them on fire.

Carlos Alfredo C., Hugo Andrés E., Christian Andrés B., Luis Darío M., Antoni Daniel A. and Marco Antonio T. are being prosecuted for the explosion of a vehicle on Tuesday at Robles and Ulpiano Páez streets.

The Ecuadorian Police confirmed the explosion this Thursday of a second car bomb in Quito. It was a van-type vehicle with two LPG cylinders inside, exploded near the building of the National Service of Integral Attention to Adults Deprived of Liberty and Adolescent Offenders (SNAI).

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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..

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“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.

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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.

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“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.