Did Britney Spears just move to Mexico?

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December 4, 2024

American pop star Britney Spears stirred up a media duststorm this week by announcing she was moving to Mexico.

On the occasion of her 43rd birthday on Monday, Spears posted a video on Instagram in which she declared that the paparazzi have “always been incredibly cruel to me” with their “pictures and the way they’ve illustrated me.”

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A post shared by XILA MARIA RIVER RED (@britneyspears)

“I know I’m not perfect, at all, by any means, but some of it is extremely mean and cruel,” the pop icon continued.

“And that’s why I’ve moved to Mexico.”

The story was picked up Tuesday by multiple media sources after TMZ published new photos in which Spears is seen landing in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur — reportedly one of her favorite vacation destinations. The photos showed a smiling Spears sporting a white trench coat, black hat and sunglasses.

Monday also marked the day on which her divorce from husband No. 3, Sam Asghari, became legal.

However, in an update posted early Wednesday morning, TMZ wrote: “Despite what she posted on IG, Britney hasn’t actually moved to Mexico. Sources told us she was just saying quirky things online, and she’s actually on a solo birthday trip for a few days.”

In another video posted on her birthday — also criticizing the paparazzi for publishing photos that make her look like she’s wearing “a white Jason mask” — the Mississippi-born, Louisiana-bred artist said, “I’m turning 5 this year. I’m turning 5 years old, and I have to go to kindergarten tomorrow.”

Britney Spears seen looking the healthier and happiest she has been in a long time while dancing at a hotel bar in Los Cabos, Mexico.

This new sighting comes just weeks after her husband demanded she give him a substantial settlement after claiming she physically abused him. pic.twitter.com/lS1wO4g8tj

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) September 9, 2023

Cabo San Lucas is reportedly one of Spears’ favorite vacation destinations.

Nicknamed the “Princess of Pop,” Spears became a star by captivating audiences with her dance moves, innovative videos, catchy songs and fashion.

Her 1998 breakout hit “… Baby One More Time” — included on an album that was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks — launched her to superstardom as a 17-year-old. Then her 2000 hit “Oops! … I Did It Again” solidified her status as a pop icon.

Over the next 12 years, she had more big hits — including “Toxic” in 2003 and “S&M” with Rihanna in 2011 — but controversy became her calling card.

In addition to mental health problems and rocky marriages all played out in the public eye, Spears in 2008 lost control of personal, professional and financial affairs when a conservatorship was granted to her father, Jamie Spears, and other designees. This sparked outrage among her fans and the emergence of the #FreeBritney movement.

In 2021, a court ended the conservatorship, and in 2022, she went on to have a duet hit with Elton John, “Hold Me Closer” — for which the video was filmed in Mexico City and México state.

With reports from E! Online, TMZ, Infobae, Variety and El Universal

A master artisan on why a guayabera makes for ‘an investment of a lifetime’

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Ana Paula De la Torre

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December 4, 2024

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A man wearing a Guayabera — The guayabera, a traditional Caribbean shirt, has become a symbol of Mayan culture. The best tailors have made creating guayaberas their life's work. (Guayaberas Finas Cab/Instagram)

For Ricardo Rosado Cab, his first encounter with the iconic guayabera shirt was quite organic. His grandfather, Pedro Cab Paas, a Mayan descendant from Hocabá, Yucatán, founded one of the best guayabera brands in the world: Guayaberas Cab. Pedro crafted the guayabera worn by the famous writer Gabriel García Márquez when he received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982.

Márquez asked Pedro Cab to modify the traditional Colombian outfit known as the liquiliqui into a guayabera. Prior to the ceremony, the writer announced that he would wear the “Caribbean national costume” to the event: the guayabera.

Gabriel García Márquez wore a guayabera when he received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982. (Guayaberas Finas Cab)

Pedro Cab was also responsible for creating guayaberas for celebrities such as Prince Harry of England and King Juan Carlos I of Spain. His legacy is undeniable; today, Ricardo Rosado Cab represents the third generation continuing the personalized creation of this beautiful garment.

What makes the guayabera special

The guayabera’s origins can be traced to the Caribbean, specifically Cuba, at the end of the 18th century. The story goes that a woman designed a garment for her husband to collect and store guavas, which is why the classic guayabera features four pockets. Interestingly, over time, Yucatán, Mexico, emerged as the capital of guayabera production, while the state of Veracruz adopted it as part of its traditional attire.

So, what makes a guayabera so special? In Ricardo’s words, “The guayabera is the quintessential etiquette garment in a tropical environment. The quality of the fabric, the aesthetics of the design, its elegance, and its freshness make it one of the finest pieces of clothing.”. This is why it is renowned worldwide. “It is very breathable, protects you from the sun, and is incredibly presentable,”, adds Rodrigo Rosado, Ricardo’s 27-year-old son and the fourth generation in his family to craft guayaberas. “Moreover, a good guayabera can last for decades,” he continues.

“Today, the variety of designs includes the Classic (featuring the four front pockets), the Presidential (so named because many Mexican presidents wear it, characterized by the folds on the chest), the Gala (used for formal occasions such as weddings), and the Industrial series with embroidery,”, explains Rosado Cab.

Two men wearing Mexican "Guayaberas" — Guayaberas are mostly worn by men and are traditionally handcrafted in the Yucatán Peninsula. (Maurice Marcellin/Wikimedia Commons)

Originally, guayaberas were made from 100% cotton, but now industrial versions are primarily crafted from polyester. However, Guayaberas Cab offers handmade, personalized options in Irish linen, Italian linen, or 100% Swiss cotton.

The legacy of Pedro Cab Paas

There is no doubt that Pedro Cab Paas is a legend in the world of guayaberas. Ricardo recounts how his grandfather started the business: “He moved from Hocabá to Mérida and began making guayaberas himself. His initiative was extraordinary, especially for a specific quality: Each piece is personalized and handmade to this day.”

“A single piece takes at least 15 days to complete and is crafted by skilled tailors. In the case of the design known as Deshilado, it can take up to three weeks to finish. The Deshilado design is one of the most intricate because it includes handmade unraveling designs in the cuffs, collar, or chest,” says Rodrigo.

“My grandfather was self-taught; he possessed a natural talent and learned through observation, acquiring the empirical knowledge necessary to create personalized guayaberas for various body types — short, medium, and tall — rather than producing them in bulk,”, argues Ricardo.

The Cab family business, seen here in its early days, has dressed national and international celebrities. (Guayaberas Cab/Instagram)

The fine guayaberas are handmade. As for prices, a personalized one in Italian linen costs around 7,000 pesos, one in Irish linen around 3,000 pesos, one in 100% Swiss cotton costs about 5,000 pesos, and the industrial versions (a mixture of cotton and polyester) are around 700 pesos.

“The purer the fabric, the higher the quality. The more polyester you find in your guayabera, the lower the quality,” Ricardo explains.

A good guayabera is an investment for life. A personalized piece, crafted with tradition and high-quality fabric, is a timeless, flattering, and fashionable garment that will never go out of style.

What else do you know about Guayaberas?

Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.

Warm your frozen heart with a hot morning champurrado

By

Stephen Randall

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December 4, 2024

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Long before friends started to over-analyze your Spotify Wrapped top 10 list and Black Friday deals flooded your feed, there was champurrado — a rich, velvety drink that wrapped you in warmth, like the embrace of a grandmother who always knew when you needed one. It hailed from the land of corn and cacao, where the Olmecs, Maya, and Mexica were hard at work crafting pyramids, waging wars, and finding ingenious ways to proclaim their superiority — often with the help of cacao, which was not just an ingredient, but a currency.

Here’s the funny thing: champurrado wasn’t born in some fancy palace with golden cups. Nope, it bubbled to life in clay pots, stirred by people who knew how to stretch a good thing. It was cacao and maize — two ingredients that literally built civilizations. The Olmecs started it, and the Maya ran with it, adding froth and some spiritual pizazz. By the time the Mexica got hold of it, they had turned the drink into an energy booster for warriors and a bribe for their gods. How’s that for multitasking?

In 2018, USAID launched the second-annual Digital Development Awards (the “Digis”) to recognize USAID projects that harness the power of digital tools and data-driven decision making. The Peruvian Digital Inclusion in the Peruvian Amazon was one of five winners chosen out of the 140 applicants. — Champurrado is a drink older than Mexico itself, made from cacao and corn. (USAID Digital Development/Wikimedia Commons)

Then came the Spaniards. They showed up, pointed at everything, and said, “Mine.”. They tried cacao and nearly spit it out — it was bitter, spicy, and definitely not the dessert they were expecting. So they added sugar, cinnamon, and enough sweetness to make it palatable for their European sensibilities. Thus, champurrado as we know it was baptized into the chaotic family of humanity.

But it didn’t stay in the hands of conquerors or kings. It slipped into the kitchens of everyday people, where its purpose was less about gods and gold and more about keeping you from freezing your butt off on a cold morning. They thickened it with masa harina, sweetened it with piloncillo, and stirred it into something that felt like home.

Today, champurrado isn’t just a drink. It’s a survivor. It’s a reminder that no matter how crazy things get, you can always simmer some cacao, whisk in a little corn, and sip your way to a moment of peace.

Champurrado Recipe

Champurrado is a traditional Mexican chocolate-based atole, perfect for chilly mornings or festive gatherings. Here’s a step-by-step recipe to make it.

Woman with tamale and champurrado in the downtown area of Tijuana sheltered from the low temperatures. — Despite its sacred ingredients, champurrado is less about gods and gold and more about keeping you from freezing your butt off on a cold morning. (Cuartoscuro)

Ingredients (Serves 4-6)

4 cups water
1 cinnamon stick
1 star anise (optional)
1 tablet (about 3.5 oz) Mexican chocolate (such as Abuelita), chopped
4 cups milk (or almond milk for a dairy-free option)
1/2 cup masa harina (corn flour)
1/2 cup piloncillo (or brown sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Simmer the Spices:
- In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
- Add the cinnamon stick and star anise (if using). Simmer for 5 minutes to infuse the flavors.
Dissolve the Masa Harina:
- In a small bowl, whisk the masa harina with 1 cup of milk until smooth, ensuring no lumps.
Combine Ingredients:
- Remove the cinnamon stick and star anise from the water.
- Slowly stir in the masa harina mixture into the saucepan. Continue stirring to prevent clumping.
- Add the remaining milk, chopped chocolate, piloncillo (or brown sugar), and vanilla extract.
Cook and Stir:
- Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon to avoid burning.
- Cook until the champurrado thickens to your desired consistency (about 5-10 minutes). It should be creamy but pourable.
Taste and Adjust:
- Taste the champurrado and adjust sweetness as needed by adding more piloncillo or sugar.
Serve Hot:
- Pour the champurrado into mugs and serve immediately. Enjoy with pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread) or tamales.

Chicken Tamales to go from Delta Fast Food. — Pair your champurrado with a fresh tamale for the ultimate winter warmer! (LRD615/Wikimedia Commons)

Final Thoughts

Champurrado is what happens when chocolate and corn get together and decide to make a warm hug in a mug. Drink it warm, drink it thick, and don’t think too hard about why it makes you so happy. You’ve earned it. Or maybe you haven’t. Either way, it’s delicious.

Stephen Randall has lived in Mexico since 2018 by way of Kentucky, and before that, Germany. He’s an enthusiastic amateur chef who takes inspiration from many different cuisines, with favorites including Mexican and Mediterranean. He also runs the Recipe Rankers YouTube channel.

Homicides decline as crackdown on high-impact crime intensifies: Tuesday’s mañanera recapped

By

MND Staff

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December 3, 2024

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Sheinbaum during Dec. 3 mañanera — Sheinbaum's security cabinet reported on Tuesday that they've arrested 5,333 people for "high-impact crimes" such as murder and kidnapping in the past two months. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

Barely a day goes by without another report of a massacre in Mexico. Just last weekend, eight people were killed in a shooting in Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato, and seven people were murdered in an attack in Jiutepec, Morelos.

But despite the constant stream of bad news — cartel infighting in Sinaloa, turf wars in Guerrero, violence in the border region of the southern state of Chiapas, etc. — homicide numbers are, in fact, falling in Mexico, as highlighted by senior security official Marcela Figueroa Franco at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s morning press conference on Tuesday.

Dec. 3, 2024 mañanera — Following the portion of the Tuesday presser that is dedicated to national security, the president addressed a potential United States invasion of Mexico and the progress that has been made toward mining lithium in Sonora. (X)

During the second part of the federal government’s fortnightly security update, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch presented data on arrests and drug seizures since Sheinbaum took office on Oct. 1.

Later in her Tuesday morning presser, the president herself responded to reporters’ questions on topics including a potential U.S. invasion of Mexico and the progress that has been made toward mining lithium in Sonora and other parts of the country.

Homicides down almost 7% this year

Figueroa Franco, head of the National Public Security System, presented preliminary data that showed there was a total of 2,234 homicides in November.

She noted that there was an average of 74.5 murder victims every day last month. That was the lowest daily average for any month this year, although it’s likely that the figure will be revised upward.

Figueroa also presented data that showed there was an average of 82.3 homicides per day in the first 11 months of 2024. She highlighted that the daily average was 6.9% lower than that recorded in 2023.

Compared to 2018, when former president Enrique Peña Nieto was in office for the first 11 months of the year, the decline in homicides between January and November was 18.2%.

#VideosLaJornada En el mes de noviembre se registraron en México 2 mil 234 homicidios dolosos, lo que representa un promedio mensual de 74.5, informó la titular del Secretariado Ejecutivo del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública, Marcela Figueroa.https://t.co/nuoY2QsNov pic.twitter.com/7F7ZDSTzIv

— La Jornada (@lajornadaonline) December 3, 2024

Figueroa told reporters that 49.5% of the homicides recorded in the first 11 months of the year — 13,463 of 27,558 — occurred in just seven states.

Guanajuato was the most violent, accounting for 10.3% of all murders in Mexico this year, followed by Baja California, México state, Chihuahua, Jalisco, Guerrero and Nuevo León.

Since Sheinbaum was sworn in on Oct. 1, Guanajuato has recorded the highest number of murders among Mexico’s 32 federal entities followed by Sinaloa, where a war between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel has claimed hundreds of lives in recent months.

More than 5,000 arrests for ‘high-impact crimes’ since Oct. 1

García Harfuch reported that 5,333 people were detained for ‘high-impact crimes’ such as murder and kidnapping between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1.

He also said that 57.9 tonnes of drugs were seized in the period, not including more than 415,000 fentanyl pills.

In addition, Mexican authorities confiscated 2,471 firearms in the two months after Sheinbaum took office, Harfuch said.

Security Minister Omar Harfuch García said that the seizure of narcotics in Mexico over the past two months will ensure that “more than 50 million doses” of drugs don’t reach the streets. (X)

Most guns used in violent crimes in Mexico are smuggled into Mexico from the United States.

García said that the seizure of narcotics in Mexico over the past two months will ensure that “more than 50 million doses” of drugs don’t reach the streets, “preventing these substances from destroying families and communities.”

“… Taking these weapons off the streets means less violence, less firepower for criminal organizations and more tranquility for Mexican families,” he added.

“… These actions are designed to protect families and build peace in our country,” García said.

‘There won’t be an invasion’ of Mexico

Sheinbaum was once again asked about the possibility of the United States government sending the U.S. military into Mexico to combat cartels during the second Trump administration.

“It won’t happen, there will be a good relationship with President Trump,” she said.

“… There won’t be an invasion, that’s not a scenario we have in mind,” Sheinbaum reiterated.

“And in any case, we have our national anthem,” she added tongue-in-cheek.

The lyrics of the anthem are bellicose in nature, urging Mexicans to defend their homeland amid any foreign invasion.

Preparations to mine lithium in Mexico are ongoing, Sheinbaum says

More than two years after lithium was nationalized in Mexico and the state-owned company Litio para México (LitioMx) was created, no lithium has actually been mined in Mexico.

But Sheinbaum assured reporters that LitioMx is working toward that goal.

She noted that extracting lithium in Sonora and other parts of the country is complicated because “in contrast to South America, it’s mixed with clay here.”

The Mexican Petroleum Institute and the National Council for Humanities, Science and Technology have developed methods to extract lithium from clay and LitioMx is looking at how those methods can be applied on a large scale, Sheinbaum said.

She also said that LitioMx is looking at how much lithium will cost to mine in Mexico.

“So we’re still working. … We’re going to continue supporting LitioMx,” Sheinbaum said without specifying any date when lithium mining in Mexico might commence.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

Citibanamex separation now complete, says Citigroup

By

MND Staff

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December 3, 2024

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Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser said Monday that the separation of Banamex from Citi México "represents an important milestone in our simplification." (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

Citigroup announced on Monday that it has completed the separation of retail bank Banamex from its institutional banking business in Mexico as it prepares to list Banamex on the stock exchange.

“With this separation complete, effective December 1, Citi will now operate two separate financial groups in Mexico: Grupo Financiero Citi México and Grupo Financiero Banamex,” the New York-based bank and financial services company said in a statement.

Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser is overseeing Mexican retail bank Banamex’s separation from Citi México, part of her strategy to simplify Citigroup’s structure. (Wikimedia Commons)

“The separation into these financial groups marks a significant step in the execution of its strategic plan to simplify the firm,” the company added.

Citigroup purchased Banamex – one of Mexico’s largest banks – in 2001.

It announced in May 2023 that it would seek to sell Banamex on the stock exchange, ending conjecture that a US $7 billion sale to the conglomerate Grupo México was imminent.

On Monday, Citigroup said that it “continues to actively work on the proposed IPO of Grupo Financiero Banamex.”

The timing of the listing, it added, “will be driven by regulatory approvals and market conditions to maximize shareholder value, which remains a priority for Citi.”

Reuters has reported that Citigroup has considered a dual stock listing for Banamex, possibly in Mexico City and New York.

The headquarters of the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) en Mexico City. — Banamex may end up with a dual stock listing in both Mexico City and New York, according to Citigroup. (Shutterstock)

Commitment to Mexico ‘as strong as ever,’ says CEO

Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser said Monday that the separation of Banamex from Citi México “represents an important milestone in our simplification and brings us closer to our long-term vision of a more connected bank that is focused around our core strengths.”

“We are proud to have executed this process thoughtfully and with full transparency. Our commitment to our clients in Mexico is as strong as ever, and we will continue to connect Mexico and the world through our market-leading investor and corporate client platforms,” she said.

“We will now prepare for the Banamex IPO, focused on optimizing value for our shareholders.”

According to the Citigroup statement, Citi México will maintain “a significant presence” in Mexico and continue to serve Citi’s institutional clients here through “a full-service bank,” Citi Banco México, and through the brokerage Citi México Casa de Bolsa.

Approximately 3,000 Citi México employees will serve around 2,000 institutional clients, including “financial institutions, governments, investors, multinationals, and national companies seeking to internationalize,” according to Citigroup.

For its part, Banamex will continue to operate as a full-service bank, “offering retail banking, including wealth management services, consumer loans, residential mortgage lending, deposits, payroll services, payments and a full suite of commercial banking products,” Citigroup said.

“… With its digital-first mentality, innovative online banking and mobile apps and an extensive network of approximately 1,300 branches and more than 9,100 ATMs across the country, Banamex will continue to offer a full range of financial services to nearly 20 million clients, furthering its 140-year legacy in Mexico,” the company said.

“Over 39,000 employees currently supporting these businesses, as well as Banamex’s art collection and historical buildings, and the social and cultural associations (Fomentos), will continue to be part of the Banamex financial group,” Citigroup added.

Banamex had revenue of more than US $4.7 billion in the first nine months of 2024, the Wall Street Journal reported last week.

“Banamex accounted for about 8% of Citi’s total revenue in the first nine months of 2024,” the newspaper said.

With reports from Reuters

French aerospace manufacturer Safran invests US $35M in Querétaro plant

By

MND Staff

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December 3, 2024

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Mexican-government and Safran officials in a horizontal line preparing to cut a ribbon launching a new assembly line at Safran's aerospace parts manufacturing plant. — At the ribbon-cutting event, Querétaro Minister of Sustainable Development Marco del Prete, third from left, told attendees, "Be proud of what you do, because a piece of Querétaro is flying around the world.” (Feria Aeroespacial México)

French aerospace equipment manufacturer Safran Group has inaugurated a new assembly line as part of a 720-million-peso (US $35.4 million) plant extension project in the state of Querétaro on Wednesday.

This followed an October announcement of a new facility in the northern state of Chihuahua, expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

Mexico's Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard holding an engine part while other officials look on at a Safran México plant in Queretaro. — Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard checks out an engine part on display at Safran’s Querétaro plant. (Marcelo Ebrard/X)

“This plant symbolizes our commitment to excellence and our mission to push the boundaries of talent and aerospace technology in Mexico,” said Philippe Errera, Safran Group’s Director of International and Institutional Relations. “Querétaro, with its talent and vision, has become a key partner, and Safran is proud to contribute to the development of this region, where ideas become reality.”

Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who attended the event, emphasized government support for Safran’s projects to ensure Mexico maintains a significant role in its operations.

The assembly line will support Safran’s increase in CFM LEAP production. The CFM LEAP is an engine used widely in Airbus aircraft. There are 8,500 LEAP units in operation worldwide and an order backlog exceeding 11,600 units, according to Safran.

Safran assembly director Jean-Francois Locufier said that the company has a goal of assembling 100 LEAP 1A engines at the facility by 2027.

The extension makes Querétaro the only final assembly site in Mexico for single-aisle commercial aircraft engines, alongside existing Safran facilities in France and the United States.

Safran Aircraft Engines Mexico (SAEM) spans a total 279,861 square feet of operational space and employs 650 people. The expansion adds 46,284 square feet of operational buildings and 91,493 square feet of logistics warehouses, supporting the creation of 150 jobs, according to Safran officials.

Two men on step ladders work on an airplane turbine, apparently building it — Safran’s new Queretaro plant will be the only final assembly site in Mexico for single-aisle commercial aircraft engines. The others are in the U.S. and France. (Safran/Facebook)

Querétaro is a hub for aerospace manufacturing in Mexico. As of 2022, it had received 50% of all foreign direct investment in the industry over the last decade and ranked as the world’s eighth most competitive region in the aeronautical sector.

“With this plant, Mexico will position itself among the few countries capable of covering the entire engine life cycle — from manufacturing parts and modules to final assembly, repair, maintenance, and engine testing,” said CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines Jean-Paul Alary at the Farnborough Airshow this past July.

The November inauguration followed an announcement in Oct. of a new facility to be built in Chihuahua this year. Safran System’s Plant 6 will manufacture evacuation products, slides and rescue equipment and is expected to open by the end of 2024.

“Safran is betting a lot on Mexico, for the simple fact that it is a completely strategic country, toward one of the largest consumers of aerospace products which is the United States and also a visibility to the Brazilian market,” said President of Safran Mexico Alejandro Cardona Seeman during the BJX Summit Aerospace 4.0 2024.

Safran, Mexico’s largest aerospace employer — known for providing the engines for the supersonic passenger aircraft the Concorde — has operated in Mexico for more than 34 years. It currently has 18 facilities in Chihuahua, Querétaro, Baja California and Mexico City, as well as over 14,000 employees in Mexico.

With reports from Aviacionline and Mexico Now

Cold front expected to bring freezing temperatures this week

By

MND Staff

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December 3, 2024

1

The Mexico City skyline with a layer of fog over it. — Higher elevations across Mexico will see freezing or just below freezing temperatures Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, according to Mexico's National Meterological Service (SMN). (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

As cold front No. 12 enters the country, parts of Mexico are bracing for heavy rains and a drop in temperatures, according to the National Meteorological Service (SMN).

The cold front will enter from the northeast and interact with a low-pressure channel extending over the eastern regions.

infographic of rain predictions for 12 states in Mexico, with Tamaulipas and Veracruz expecting the most at 50-75 mm and Coahuila, Guanajuato and Chiapas expected cloudbursts of between 5-25 mm — Heavy rain will be an issue for the Gulf Coast states Tamaulipas and Veracruz, with 50-75 millimeters (approximately 2 to 3 inches) of rain expected. (SMN)

Here is the rain forecast for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday:

Very heavy rainfall (50 to 70 millimeters): Tamaulipas and Veracruz.
Heavy rainfall (25 to 50 millimeters): Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Puebla and Oaxaca.
Scattered showers (5 to 25 millimeters): Chiapas, Coahuila and Guanajuato.

Furthermore, scattered rains are expected in Tlaxcala.

Dense fog banks are expected in the northeast, center and east of the country, as are strong gusts of wind on the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, the Yucatán Peninsula, the Isthmus and the Gulf of Tehuantepec. In these areas, waves are expected to reach 2 to 3 meters high.

Meanwhile, below-freezing temperatures are expected in higher regions across the country.

Mountainous areas of Chihuahua, Durango, México state, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala and Puebla will see freezing temperatures range between minus-5 to minus-10 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures in high regions of Baja California, Sonora, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro and Veracruz will range between minus-5 and zero degrees Celsius.

Finally, higher elevations in Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí and Mexico City will see temperatures between zero and 5 degrees Celsius.

In contrast, hot temperatures ranging between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius are expected in the states of Sinaloa, Nayarit, Michoacán and Guerrero, as well as on the coast of Oaxaca. Meanwhile, the states of Jalisco and Colima, southern Morelos, Puebla, Campeche, Yucatán and the coast of Chiapas are all expecting temperatures ranging between 30 to 35 degrees Celsius.

Weather authorities advised residents to stay informed about weather conditions in their areas and to take necessary measures to ensure their safety.

Mexico News Daily

US sanctions Gulf Cartel for smuggling red snapper

By

MND Staff

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December 3, 2024

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Closeup of multiple dead red snapper fish, still fully intact, on ice — The US Treasury Department says that transnational criminal organizations rely on a variety of illicit schemes to fund operations. Illegal fishing is one of the latest. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)

U.S. authorities have sanctioned five alleged members of Mexico’s Gulf Cartel for smuggling red snapper fish caught in U.S. waters. The sanctions consist of property seizures and other penalties imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department accused the alleged cartel members of using fishing boats to facilitate drug and migrant smuggling under the guise of being commercial fishermen. During these journeys, the U.S. government claims, the boats fish for red snapper, a commercially valuable but ecologically vulnerable species.

Men in a small motorized fishing boat that bears the name "Jacqueline" painted in cursive on it. — Because the valuable red snapper is more abundant there, the cartel is fishing illegally in U.S. waters. (US Coast Guard)

The magazine Newsweek describes the Gulf Cartel as one of the most powerful crime syndicates in Mexico while identifying the northern border cities of Reynosa and Matamoros — both in the state of Tamaulipas and across from McAllen and Brownsville, Texas – as strongholds for the cartel. The boats, U.S. officials said, often launch from Playa Bagdad, east of Matamoros, on the Gulf coast.

The Department claims transnational criminal organizations rely on a variety of illicit schemes to fund operations. Illegal fishing is one of the latest.

“The Gulf Cartel engages in the illicit trade of red snapper and shark species … based out of Playa Bagdad,” the Department said. “Apart from their use for IUU (illegal, unregulated, or unreported) fishing in U.S. waters, [the boats] are also used to move illicit drugs and migrants into the United States.”

The fishing of red snapper and shark species is strictly regulated in the United States. Because those species are more abundant there, Mexican fishermen cross into U.S. waters.

“They then bring their catch back to … Mexico, where the product is ultimately sold and, oftentimes, exported into the United States,” the Department alleges. “This activity earns millions a year … and also leads to the death of other marine species inadvertently caught by the accused.”

Francisco Javier Sierra Angulo, 35, alias “El Borrado,” was identified by Treasury officials as the prime suspect. Sierra Angulo is believed to be the leader of the Gulf Cartel in Matamoros.

Also named were Raúl Decuir García, 53, alias “La Burra”; Ildelfonso Carrillo Sapien, 48, alias “El Chivo”; and brothers Ismael “Mayelo” Guerra Salinas, 35, and Omar “Samorano” Guerra Salinas, 38.

The Guerra Salinas brothers allegedly run the Gulf Cartel’s operations in Playa Bagdad. The other two suspects operate the fishing boat company.

With reports from Newsweek, CBS News and El País

Mexico City’s tuition-free university to expand nationwide under new decree

By

MND Staff

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December 3, 2024

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The first campus outside of Mexico City will be in Comitán, Chiapas, the birthplace of Rosario Castellanos (1925-1974). (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

President Claudia Sheinbaum has signed a decree to elevate the Rosario Castellanos University (URC) in Mexico City to a nationwide higher education institution starting next year.

Officially known as the Rosario Castellanos Institute of Higher Education of Mexico City, the university began operations in 2019 during Sheinbaum’s term as the head of the Mexico City government. It currently offers undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate degrees at no cost to students.

The new decree will transform the institution into the Rosario Castellanos National University, and seeks to establish campuses in cities surrounding the federal government’s priority development poles, known as Poles of Wellbeing. These include the northern border zone, el Bajío and the Gulf of California, among others.

The first campus outside of Mexico City will be in Comitán, Chiapas, the birthplace of Rosario Castellanos (1925-1974), a prominent thinker, poet, writer and diplomat after whom the university is named.

“We’re working closely with state governments to start lessons in the first semester of 2025,” the head of Mexico’s Sciences, Humanities, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Conahcyt), Rosaura Ruiz, said during Sheinbaum’s morning press conference on Monday.

Ruiz explained that Conahcyt will request temporary facilities from state governments while the university’s permanent facilities are under construction.

The Rosario Castellanos University in Mexico City — Currently, the university has 55,000 enrolled students across six campuses in Mexico City, in addition to 6,000 graduate students. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

The head of Conahcyt also announced that the next city to get a Rosario Castellanos University will be Tijuana, Baja California. Puebla, Yucatán and Sonora are likely to follow suit.

As in Mexico City, the university’s additional campuses will allow students to complete their studies while following a hybrid program, online or on-site.

Currently, the university has 55,000 enrolled students across six campuses in Mexico City, in addition to 6,000 graduate students. It offers 23 bachelor’s degrees, five specialties, seven master’s degrees and three doctorates.

Today, Mexico has approximately 4 million people enrolled in college, compared to the 1.9 million it reported in 2000. Still, Mexico’s percentage of students enrolled in higher education, at 38%, lags behind other Latin American countries like Brazil (50%) and Argentina (89%).

States showing the largest gaps in access to higher education include Chiapas and Oaxaca.

Sheinbaum’s government seeks to extend the educational offer to 300,000 students across the country through the Rosario Castellanos National University, as well as the University of Health, the Benito Juárez University, the National Technological Institute of Mexico (TecNM) and state universities.

With reports from Forbes

Formal employment propels Mexico’s job market forward in October

By

MND Staff

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December 3, 2024

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In the first 10 months of the year, the size of Mexico's workforce increased by 723,563, according to INEGI. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

Mexico’s unemployment rate fell to 2.5% in October, down from 2.9% a month earlier, according to official data.

The national statistics agency INEGI reported Tuesday that 1.53 million people were unemployed at the end of October, a reduction of 254,000 compared to the end of September.

With the addition of over 445,000 jobs, October was Mexico’s second-best month this year for job creation. (Isaac Esquivel/Cuartoscuro)

The unemployment rate in October was not far off the record low of 2.3% in March.

Mexico’s economically active population — people aged 15 or over who are working or looking for work — was just over 61.4 million people in October, according to INEGI.

The size of Mexico’s total workforce increased by almost 446,000 in October compared to September to reach 59.87 million. October was Mexico’s second-best month this year for job creation.

The increase in the size of the Mexican workforce in October — considering both formal and informal sectors of the economy — came after some 276,000 jobs were lost in September.

Juan Carlos Alderete, head of economic analysis at Banorte, said that the latest jobs data suggested that “weakness seen on certain fronts” in recent months was only temporary.

The creation of more than 445,000 jobs in October occurred despite a slowdown in the Mexican economy.

The top of the facade of the Bank of Mexico building in Mexico City, which features a sculptured man and woman in ancient Roman-style dress on either side of a block of stone saying Banco de Mexico — Mexico’s economy has slowed in 2024 after growing 3.2% in 2023. (Rogelio Morales Ponce/Cuartoscuro)

Mexico’s economy grew just 1.5% in annual terms in the first nine months of the year, compared to 3.2% in 2023. The Bank of Mexico is forecasting that economic growth this year will be just 1.2%.

Colima has Mexico’s lowest unemployment rate, Tabasco the highest

INEGI data shows that the unemployment rate in the small Pacific coast state of Colima was just 1.2% in October, lower than any other state.

Nine other states had unemployment rates below 2%: Campeche, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Oaxaca and Puebla.

The Gulf coast state of Tabasco had the highest unemployment rate among Mexico’s 32 federal entities in October. Of the state’s economically active population, 4.1% didn’t have a job.

Ten other states had unemployment rates of 3% or higher in October: Coahuila, Chiapas, Mexico City, Durango, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.

60% of new jobs created in October are in the formal sector

Of the 446,000 new jobs created in October, 269,000 are in the formal sector and 177,000 are in the informal sector.

In October, 54.1% of all people with jobs worked in Mexico’s vast informal sector, which includes street vendors and many domestic workers.

Informal workers don’t pay income tax and don’t have access to formal employment benefits such as holiday pay and access to the Mexican Social Security Institute health care program.

Over 700,000 jobs added this year

In the first 10 months of the year, the size of Mexico’s workforce increased by 723,563.

The newspaper El Economista reported that Mexico recorded net job additions in five months — February, March, May, July and October — and net job losses in January, April, June, August and September.

Of Mexico’s 59.87 million workers at the end of October, around 5.6 million, or 9.4% of the total, were classed as underemployed, meaning they would like to work more hours.

With reports from El Universal and El Economista