International
Macron: the return of dialogue in New Caledonia will not be made with institutional setback
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, held a first meeting with political leaders in New Caledonia on Thursday to try to relaunch a dialogue between communities that puts an end to the riots, without an institutional setback.
Macron bet on the return to calm, but warned that this cannot be done by reversing the institutional level, specifically on the result of the three self-determination referendums held in that territory of the South Pacific in recent years.
“The appeasement cannot be not respecting the popular expression that has already been manifested,” he said, according to the images of the meeting disclosed by the Elysée.
However, Macron did not clarify whether the controversial constitutional law that opens the electoral census of the territory, whose approval in the French Parliament unleashed the wave of protests at the beginning of last week, will be maintained.
At the beginning of the meeting, a minute of silence was observed for the six deaths of last week, four civilians and two gendarmes.
The meeting took place at the residence of the High Commissioner (Government delegate) in the autonomous territory, and attended by independence leaders such as the presidents of the regional government, Louis Mapou, and the president of the regional Congress, Roch Wamytan.
They also attended loyalist leaders, such as the president of the southern province (one of the three that make up the territory), Sonia Backès, or the mayor of the capital, Numea, Sonia Lagarde.
Macron was in favor of not renewing the state of emergency, declared by the Government last week and which expires on Monday the 27th, but he conditioned it to the return of the situation to normal and all the barricades on roads and streets mounted by independence groups to be removed.
He also said that the reinforcement of a thousand police and gendarmes sent last week to reinforce the 1,700 agents already present in the territory will remain “as long as necessary,” even until the end of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The latter conclude on September 8.
Macron arrived on Thursday morning local time in the territory for a visit of about twelve hours, with the aim of giving a boost to the dialogue.
Although the situation has improved with respect to the worst moments of last week, it has not yet fully normalized.
A large part of the population continues to have problems with access to food and basic hygiene products due to the destruction of shops and travel difficulties, according to local media.
On the other hand, the damage of the riots amounts to about one billion euros, as reported today by the Chamber of Commerce of Industry, with about 200 companies burned and more than 2,000 unemployed workers.
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
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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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Central America1 day agoPanama confirms drug contamination of El Salvador coffee shipment occurred on its territory
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International2 hours agoMarco Rubio Urges China to Help Restrain Iran Amid Gulf Tensions
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International2 hours agoMexico City Mayor Invites U2 to Perform at Iconic Zócalo Plaza