International
Spain and Mexico evoke 85 years of republican exile: “A great day for democracy”
Spain and Mexico remembered this Thursday the 85th anniversary of the arrival of the “Sinaia”, the first ship with Republican exiles that arrived on the Mexican coasts in 1939, as a transcendental milestone in the “fraternal community” between the two countries and a celebration of “democracy.”
“The Sinaia was the first ship of exile, the first ship of hope (…) Today is a great day for democracy,” said the Spanish Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, in his speech.
The event, held at the residence of the Spanish ambassador to Mexico, Juan Duarte, coincided with another June 13, 1939, when the ship arrived on the coast of Mexico in Veracruz with more than 1,500 people on board fleeing the dictatorship of Francisco Franco at the end of the civil war, between 1936 and 1939.
The ceremony was attended, in addition to the Spanish Minister Torres, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Mexican Government, Alicia Bárcena; the Mexican politician and son of President Lázaro Cárdenas (1934-1940), Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, as well as diplomats and representatives of the Spanish exile in Mexico.
It was precisely under the initiative of President Cárdenas that Mexico led to the arrival of Spanish Republicans, and it is estimated that in the period 1939-1942 between 20,000 and 25,000 Spaniards entered Mexico.
“Beyond the pain that has never gone, the exile brought very beneficial elements. He enriched Mexico and Mexico was enriched with the exiles,” said 90-year-old Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas.
The Mexican politician received one of the first diplomas of tribute and recognition given by the Spanish Government during the ceremony for the “indefatigable” work of his father and mother, Amalia Solórzano.
For his part, Bárcena stressed that the “face” of the exiles “was, is and will be fruitful” and consolidated that Spain and Mexico became “a fraternal and supportive community.”
The chancellor also narrated that the ship that left France with 1,598 passengers reached the coasts of Veracruz (Mexico), three weeks later with 1,599 with the birth of a baby on the crossing who was named Susana Sinaia, in memory of the boat and symbol of hope.
Remarking that his was the first visit of a minister of Democratic Memory to Mexico, Torres stressed “the length of exile.”
“How many suitcases bought, how many suitcases thrown away,” he lamented.
In addition to a historical drama, Torres said, it was “a huge loss of talent,” by citing among the figures who arrived in Mexico fleeing the Franco dictatorship the poets León Felipe, Manuel Altolaguirre and Luis Cernuda; as well as the philosophers María Zambrano and José Gaos.
Precisely, among the diplomas given to relatives were the Altolaguirre and Gaos and even some who traveled on board those first Spanish ships when they were barely boys and girls, such as the writer Angeline Muñiz Haberman, who read an emotional poem about the persistence of exile.
As part of the commemoration activities, the Spanish Government designated the historic Spanish Athenaeum of Mexico on Wednesday as the first Place of Memory abroad.
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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