Shortly after 23:00 local time, Sheinbaum delivered the traditional proclamations honouring figures from Mexico's fight for independence. This year's ceremony also recognised Indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples and migrants, while celebrating freedom, equality, justice and democracy .

Sheinbaum concluded by hailing a free, independent and sovereign Mexico before ringing the historic bell and waving the national flag over the crowd.

The ceremony followed hours of musical and cultural performances in the Zocalo, with Intocable among the main acts. In 2025, Sheinbaum became the first woman in Mexican history to lead the traditional Grito from the National Palace.

The Grito commemorates Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla's call for resistance against Spanish rule on September 16, 1810. Mexico's independence struggle ended in 1821.

"To clarify, the Secretariat of National Defence rescue brigade was not approved by the Colombian Government ," Sheinbaum said.

"It is not a conflict ; there is no problem," she added, explaining that Colombia had requested food and medicines but required certification for rescue teams.

Mexico is continuing to send humanitarian aid aboard Hercules aircraft, including food and medical supplies requested by Colombian authorities. Sheinbaum said the military rescue brigade remained ready to deploy if authorised, noting that its members had participated in rescue operations in 98 countries.

According to the Mexican government, the brigade comprises 255 personnel from the Army, Air Force and National Guard, along with 20 K-9 teams.

Colombia has limited the entry of international rescue teams, although Mexico's Topos Azteca and two US-provided teams have been authorised. The earthquake has killed at least 265 people, injured 3,494 and left 496 missing, according to the latest figures. More than 25,000 families have been affected.

"We can review what happens in other Latin American countries and what happens in our country. And this is a form of interference in Mexican politics . That is my opinion, because I see no other reason," she said.

Sheinbaum said there was no ongoing investigation against Lopez Beltran, but added that authorities would act if evidence of a crime emerged.

"We are not going to cover up anyone if they committed a crime," she said.

"But we are not going to open an investigation just because the US takes away someone's visa. So, what is the motive? The motive would be that we had a request, or an investigation stating that someone, some politician from any political party, was involved in some crime. Then the investigation continues and proceeds," she added.

Lopez Beltran disclosed the visa revocation in a letter addressed to US President Donald Trump . He claimed the decision was ordered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau.

He described the move as "political and propagandistic in nature" and with a "Hitlerian style", arguing that US officials had no evidence of "any immoral or criminal act."

Lopez Beltran also called the decision a "perverse outrage" and accused Landau and Rubio of acting like "gang leaders" who were "spying on, harassing, interfering with and harming" countries, governments and politicians they considered "communists, threats or narco-terrorists."

In May 2026, Lopez Beltran resigned as Organisation Secretary of Mexico's ruling Morena party and from his role on the National Elections Commission. He also announced plans to seek a federal deputy seat.

She said Mexico was prepared to provide assistance following the damage caused by the earthquake.

"And, of course, all the support that the people of Colombia may require, if necessary, we will be there," she said.

Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted Colombia's Foreign Ministry to reiterate its willingness to provide support. No Mexican nationals had been reported among those affected.

According to the Colombian Geological Service (SGC), the earthquake had its epicentre in San José del Palmar, Chocó, at a depth of approximately 103 kilometres. It was the strongest earthquake recorded in Colombia in the past decade.

More than 70 deaths have been reported nationwide. Pereira, Manizales and Cali were among the cities affected, while tremors were also felt in Venezuela , Ecuador and Panama.

In a security alert issued on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Mexico announced the suspension but did not disclose the nature of the threat. Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla later said the inspections had been paused to protect personnel after recent arrests linked to extortion activities in the state.

The inspections, conducted by the US Department of Agriculture, are required before Mexican avocados can be exported to the United States. USDA personnel oversee plantations and packing facilities to ensure fruit complies with US phytosanitary standards. Similar security incidents have forced temporary suspensions in the past.

Michoacán, the source of most Mexican avocado exports to the United States, has long been a hotspot for organised crime, with several cartels operating in the region. Beyond drug trafficking , criminal groups have built lucrative extortion rackets targeting the avocado industry, often referred to locally as "green gold".

“There was a 6.8 earthquake. It is still not known exactly, but it is around that,” he said before official measurements were released.

“There is no serious impact on maritime matters, only some beaches are expected to rise by up to half a meter, the water level due to the tsunami effect from the earthquake,” Ángeles added.

Mexico's National Seismological Service later reported that the earthquake measured magnitude 7.4 and was centred about 135 kilometres southwest of Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas.

Several strong aftershocks followed, including earthquakes measuring magnitudes 6.5 and 6.3.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had spoken with authorities in Chiapas and ordered emergency response protocols to be activated.

She added that no damage had been reported at the time of her remarks.

Mexico lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most seismically active regions, where earthquakes and volcanic activity are frequent due to the movement of tectonic plates.

Southern Asia recorded the largest net migration loss in Asia, while Western Asia remained the region’s strongest migration destination, according to migration data compiled from the UN Population Division and international migration studies .

A visual analysis published by Seasia Stats and World Visualized showed Southern Asia posting a net migration balance of -2.2 million people over a five-year average period, far exceeding outflows recorded in Eastern, South-Eastern and Central Asia .

Western Asia stood out as the only Asian subregion with positive net migration, recording a net gain of approximately 434,000 people.

Net migration measures the difference between immigrants entering a region and emigrants leaving it.

Migration experts say Western Asia’s positive migration trend is largely driven by Gulf economies, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait, which rely heavily on foreign labour across construction, healthcare, domestic work and technology sectors.

The World Bank and the International Organisation for Migration have repeatedly identified the Gulf region as one of the world’s largest migrant worker destinations due to higher wages and strong labour demand.

Large migrant populations from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines continue moving to the Gulf in search of economic opportunities.

Southern Asia’s large negative migration balance reflects longstanding outward migration patterns from countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Economic opportunity, overseas employment, education and family reunification remain among the biggest drivers of migration from the region, according to UNESCO and UN migration reports.

India alone has one of the world’s largest overseas diasporas, with millions of citizens living and working abroad.

Eastern Asia and South-Eastern Asia also recorded net migration losses, though at much smaller levels compared to Southern Asia.

Ageing populations, slowing economic growth and changing labour markets are believed to be reshaping migration trends in countries including China, Japan and South Korea.

Meanwhile, Southeast Asian nations continue experiencing both outbound labour migration and growing urban migration within the region.

The International Organisation for Migration estimates there were more than 281 million international migrants worldwide in recent years, with Asia remaining central to global migration flows.

“They asked us if they can stay overnight in Mexico. And we said yes, there is no problem, we have no issue with it. So, they are looking for the venue to be in Tijuana, so that they can stay overnight and travel to the games that will take place in the United States . So, we have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” the Mexican president stated.

Iran is scheduled to play all three of its group-stage matches in the United States during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to Sheinbaum, US authorities reportedly do not want the team based in the country between matches.

The proposed arrangement would likely see the Iranian team staying in Tijuana, a Mexican border city near Southern California , while travelling into the United States for matches.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The tournament is expected to involve complex travel and coordination arrangements as teams move across North America for the expanded competition.

According to IMF data compiled by African business intelligence platform Intelpoint and visualised by World Visualized, Nigeria achieved a GDP above $100 billion in 1994, just 34 years after independence in 1960.

The ranking tracks how long African countries took to surpass the $100 billion GDP mark between 1988 and 2025, revealing significant differences in growth trajectories across the continent.

Angola ranked second, reaching the milestone 36 years after independence, while Algeria followed at 43 years. Morocco, Kenya and South Africa also featured prominently among Africa’s fastest-growing economies by long-term GDP expansion.

The findings highlight how resource wealth, population growth, industrialisation and economic reforms have shaped Africa’s emergence as one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions.

Nigeria’s rise to a $100 billion economy was driven largely by oil exports, rapid urbanisation and its growing population, which is now estimated by the United Nations to exceed 220 million people.

As Africa’s largest oil producer for decades, Nigeria benefited heavily from petroleum revenues during the late 20th century, helping finance infrastructure, banking expansion and import-driven consumer growth.

Economic analysts say Nigeria’s large domestic market also gave it advantages unavailable to many smaller African economies.

Despite repeated currency crises, inflation shocks and governance challenges, the country remains one of Africa’s largest economies by nominal GDP alongside South Africa and Egypt.

The International Monetary Fund has projected continued medium-term growth for Nigeria, supported by services, telecommunications, financial technology and a fast-expanding digital economy.

Angola reached the $100 billion threshold in 2011, approximately 36 years after independence from Portugal in 1975.

The country experienced one of Africa’s fastest economic expansions during the 2000s, largely due to booming crude oil exports and rising Chinese investment after the end of its civil war in 2002.

At its peak, Angola became one of China’s largest African oil suppliers, helping fund large-scale infrastructure reconstruction projects including roads, railways and housing developments.

However, economists note that Angola’s heavy dependence on oil left the economy vulnerable to global commodity price swings, particularly during the 2014 oil market collapse.

Algeria and Morocco both ranked among the continent’s fastest economies to surpass a $100 billion GDP.

Algeria crossed the mark in 2005, driven largely by hydrocarbon exports. The country possesses some of Africa’s largest natural gas reserves and remains a major energy supplier to Europe.

Morocco reached the milestone in 2008 after decades of gradual industrial diversification and export-oriented growth.

Unlike several oil-dependent economies, Morocco expanded sectors including automotive manufacturing, phosphates, renewable energy and tourism.

The country has increasingly positioned itself as a manufacturing and logistics hub connecting Europe and Africa through major infrastructure projects such as the Tangier Med port complex.

Kenya became one of the newest African economies to exceed a $100 billion GDP, reaching the threshold in 2019.

The East African nation has built a reputation as one of the continent’s leading technology and financial centres, anchored by Nairobi’s role as a regional commercial hub.

Kenya’s economy has benefited from growth in mobile banking, agriculture, transport and digital services .

Ghana reached the $100 billion benchmark in 2025, according to the IMF-based Intelpoint analysis, highlighting the growing economic significance of West Africa beyond Nigeria.

The country has expanded rapidly over the past two decades through gold production, oil exports, cocoa trade and services growth.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia crossed the threshold in 2022 after roughly 81 years, despite never being formally colonised apart from a brief Italian occupation during the 1930s and 1940s.

Ethiopia recorded some of the world’s fastest growth rates during the 2000s and 2010s, powered by state-led infrastructure investment, manufacturing expansion and agricultural reforms.

However, conflict, debt pressures and foreign exchange shortages have recently slowed momentum in Africa’s second-most populous country.