The investment will go toward increasing sourcing from domestic suppliers, among other goals. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Home Depot, the multinational home improvement retail corporation, announced it will invest US $1.3 billion over the next five years to strengthen its presence in Mexico, generate employment, and increase the percentage of locally sourced products.
Home Depot Mexico CEO José Antonio Rodríguez announced the investment plan during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Thursday morning press conference. Sheinbaum praised Home Depot — the largest home improvement retailer in the United States — for its commitment to Mexico.
The US $1.3 billion of funds will be invested over the course of the next five years, the CEO said. (Presidencia)
“By increasing local sourcing and expanding operations, it is not just creating jobs but also boosting the country’s overall economic development,” Sheinbaum said, adding that the investment dovetails with the administration’s Plan México policy.
Plan México is an industrial policy that seeks to provide investment incentives and collaboration between the government and the private sector, both foreign and domestic, with the goal of making Mexico the 10th-largest global economy. It also aims to strengthen domestic markets and increase the percentage of locally produced goods in key industries.
Ximena Escobedo, head of the Productive Development Unit at Mexico’s Economy Ministry, said Home Depot currently employs over 18,000 people in Mexico. The expansion is expected to directly create an additional 2,000 jobs and indirectly contribute to the creation of a further 10,000 positions.
Rodríguez, the CEO, said the investment demonstrates the company’s confidence and commitment to Mexico.
Home Depot Mexico plans to open five stores a year for the next five years, CEO José Antonio Rodríguez said. (Presidencia)
“We started with just four stores and 500 employees [in 2000],” Rodríguez said. “Today, we operate 140 stores in more than 100 cities with 18,000 associates, and we are ready to take the next step.”
Among the key aspects of the investment plan:
Opening an average of five new stores per year to reach 165 locations with 20,000 employees by 2030.
Strengthening e-commerce capabilities.
Expanding logistical infrastructure by establishing specialized distribution hubs across the country.
Although roughly 85% of Home Depot’s products come from Mexican suppliers, Rodríguez said the company aims to increase this figure to 100%, with plans to export these products to Home Depot stores in the United States and Canada.
Fly, feast and film in Jalisco this month as we preview the very best of Jalisco culture in March. (Turismo con Sabor)
We’re entering the third month of the year and spring is almost here. In Guadalajara, that means crisp air, pleasant temperatures and blossoming flowers. The city’s perfect weather in March is perhaps the reason why there are so many outdoor events. With all the joy of the new season around, what’s on in Guadalajara in March for you to enjoy?
However, the highlight of the month seems to be music, as the city is hosting more than the usual dose of musical events. Whichever event you choose to welcome spring, enjoy!
La Mirilla is one of the city’s most popular bazaars. There, you can find everything — from fashionable jewelry to interior decor, to footwear, extravagant art and more. The bazaar also features food stalls, arts and crafts stations and live music on the Mirilla Sounds stage. Best of all, it’s pet-friendly!
Location: Parque Silvano Barba.Av. Rubén Darío 2788, Jardines de Providencia. Date: March 1 and 2 Cost: Free of charge
Carnaval season is here and with it, bullfighting festivals. Organized by Jalisco’s Charros Association, the event will see charreadas (cowboy shows), becerreadas (calf and cowboy shows) and escaramuzas (female equestrian shows). The festival will also see bullfighting shows and live music.
Location: Lienzo Charro Ajijic. Revolución 80, Ajijic Date: March 1 to 4 Cost: Tickets start at 100 pesos
The Kiev Ballet is arriving in Mexico, here to perform Tchaikovsky’s epic Swan Lake. The group is fresh from a successful season of touring in Spain and promise to bring all the glamor and glory of Russian aristocracy with them. The story follows Prince Siegfried, who is in love with Odette, a young woman turned into a swan by the spell of the evil von Rothbart and Odile, a black swan and daughter of the sorcerer.
This event is recommended for the whole family from children from one year and up.
Location: Teatro Diana. Av. 16 de Septiembre 710, Mexicaltzingo Date: March 7 and 8 Cost: Tickets start at 1,300 pesos
The Viña a la Copa festival brings together wine producers from all over the world. In its 15th edition, the festival will feature over 600 exhibitors, with workshops, tastings and pairings. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about wine from expert sommeliers and chefs.
Where: Salón Bellaterra. Av. Naciones Unidas, 8600 When: March 28 and 29 Tickets: Early bird specials 1,200 pesos, 2,000 pesos day of
The new season of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra has begun, and March has an exciting repertoire.
The ensemble will be directed by different conductors every time, performing classics from Mozart, Roldán, Tchaikovsky, Copland, Beethoven, Wagner and more.
Where: Teatro Degollado. C. Degollado s/n, Zona Centro When: Every Thursday and Saturday during March Tickets: Starting at 100 pesos.
Air balloon festival in Sayula
(Players of Life)
Just a two-hour drive south from Guadalajara is the Magic Town of Sayula (not to be confused with Sayulita), which will host its first-ever air balloon festival.
Hot air balloons will depart at 6 a.m., but various activities will take place throughout the day, including the launch of three thousand paper lanterns. The event will also see mariachi music, food stalls, a play area and more.
Where: Centro Regional de Comercio de Sayula When: March 29, 30 and 31. 7:00 am to 11:00 pm. Tickets: Free of entry
The 12th edition of the International Festival of Art and Independent Cinema will take place in the Chapala Riviera this year. The public and the committee organizer will vote on the best films, if you’ve ever fancied yourself as a film critic, now’s your chance to live your dreams.
Awarded films will receive a diploma of recognition and a mention as the best film in its specific category.
Location: Cine+Lago. Plaza Bugambilias, Ribera de Chapala, Ajijic, Jalisco Date: March 29 and 30 Cost: All films for 799 pesos (US $40)
Rumors of the Lake is a workshop consisting of monthly four sessions, led by different writers each month. March’s edition will be hosted by Guadalajaran poet Laura Solórzano.
Where: Centro para la Cultura y las Artes de la Ribera. Carr. Chapala-Jocotepec 168, La Floresta, Ajijic, Jalisco. When: Every Saturday starting March 1 Tickets: 100 pesos per session
Guadalajara is about to dive into the world of coffee during the Expo Café and Gourmet. The event will showcase not only the absolute best of the coffee world but also some of the best street food in Jalisco.
Location: Expo Guadalajara Date: March 13 to 15 Cost: 140 pesos online, 160 pesos at the box office
Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras.
Paseo de la Reforma is Mexico's most famous street, with a history to match. Here are 10 facts you didn't know about this grand promenade. (Fernando Paleta/Unsplash)
If streets could talk, Mexico City’s Paseo de la Reforma would fill multiple volumes. This magnificent boulevard serves as the capital’s main artery, where centuries of history, culture, and daily life converge under purple rain and everlasting sunshine. From imperial dreams to democratic protests, Pride parades to late-night esquites, Reforma offers a glimpse of Mexican identity. A walk down the lively boulevard reveals a past and present, tradition and innovation, and the struggle and celebration that unveils the reality of life in one of the world’s greatest cities. Whether you’re planning your first visit or you’re a foreign resident trying to uncover exactly what makes Mexico City tick, these ten aspects of Reforma reveal why it’s much more than just another pretty urban avenue.
The avenue had royal beginnings
(Pinterest)
Construction began on this grand boulevard In 1864, during Emperor Maximilian I’s brief reign in Mexico. Originally named Paseo de la Emperatriz — the Promenade of the Empress — legend claims Max commissioned the avenue so his wife Carlota could watch him travel to and from meetings in the Historic Center from her perch in Chapultepec Castle.
At the time, Paseo de la Reforma was much narrower than it is today, lined with imported elm and ash trees from Europe, as well as gardens and classical statues that added to the promenade’s elegance. However, by the time construction finished, Maximilian’s empire was crumbling. After his execution, President Benito Juárez renamed it Paseo de la Reforma — Promenade of the Reform — to commemorate his liberal reforms that restored the republic.
Its style shifted with the times
The 40-year dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz saw the construction of the iconic roundabouts on Paseo de la Reforma known as glorietas, as well as the emblematic Angel of Independence statue, designed by Antonio Rivas Mercado. Post-revolutionary modernization brought a series of Art Deco buildings including the National Lottery Building, and with Mexico’s economic growth of the 1950s came several international-style office buildings. True transformation arrived in the 1980s-90s when glass skyscrapers like Torre Mayor reshaped Mexico City’s skyline. Today, 21st-century architectural marvels stand alongside historic monuments, creating a tangible timeline of Mexican history.
Sunday is for cycling
A Mexico City man takes his pug on a bicycle ride down Reforma Avenue. (Moisés Pablo Nava/Cuartoscuro)
Sundays transform Reforma into a hub of exercise and community. CDMX’s program “Muévete en Bici,” launched in 2007, encourages the city to get out and move by closing the entire avenue to cars from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Between the streams of cyclists, you’ll find Zumba classes, roller skating lessons and badminton matches taking place. Families with young children, professional cyclists in training and tourists on rented bikes all share the avenue.
It’s home to the ultimate spring spectacle
(Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Come March and April, Paseo de la Reforma transforms into a breathtaking purple corridor when dozens of jacaranda trees burst into bloom and shower petals onto the sidewalks. The annual spectacle has become one of the capital’s most photographed natural phenomena, signaling spring’s arrival in colorful fashion.
Local photographers and artists time their visits to Mexico City with the sole intention of capturing the fleeting purple haze. Even though the trees aren’t native — they were actually brought from South America by a Japanese master gardener — they’re beloved in Mexico City and turn the ordinary commute down Reforma into a magical experience as blossoms drift down like gentle purple rain.
Every day is a veritable fiesta of street food
(Lisbeth Chavez/Cuartoscuro)
A stroll along Reforma is, at times, nothing more than a gastronomic obstacle course of street food vendors. Mornings are delightfully overrun with coffee sellers with massive steel containers, sliced fruit topped with chile and lime, and sugary churros fresh from the fryer.
Midday brings the aroma of elotes and esquites, perfectly-fried potato chips, and an array of candies and nuts. The real treasures emerge on weekends: carts selling coconut water hacked open before your eyes and rainbow-colored fruit cups sprinkled with Tajín chili-lime seasoning. Not sure which cart to choose? Whichever has the longest line of locals is definitely your best bet for lunch.
It was the site of a scandal
(Mexico City/Unsplash)
Today, the nude statue of Diana the Huntress is yet another iconic landmark on Mexico City’s grandest avenue, but it didn’t get there without controversy. In an attempt to modernize the then-Federal District, President Lázaro Cárdenas commissioned a sculpture of the Roman goddess as a representation of the strength and bravery of Mexican women. Diana’s uncovered curves caused such an uproar that several conservative groups, including the Mexican League of Decency, attempted to dress her in underpants. Diana’s presence was so contentious that the model’s identity remained a secret for half a century. While you won’t see her clad in a bikini anymore, the Huntress continues to reflect broader societal debates about public art and female representation in Mexico.
It’s an open-air shopping mall
(Mexico City Tourism/Cuartoscuro)
More than just food, Paseo de la Reforma is an open-air street market, with vendors selling everything from lucha libre masks to tablecloths, woven friendship bracelets to hand-painted ceramic vases. Throughout the year, temporary pop-up shops appear to celebrate special events — flower festivals, book fairs, and tourism conventions — where unique products are available for sale. Many locals come here in October for Day of the Dead items, and in December to stock up on Christmas decorations. These sidewalk treasures offer authentic Mexican crafts, especially useful when picking up last-minute souvenirs.
There are a flurry of festivals throughout the year
(Gobierno de la Ciudad de México/Cuartoscuro)
Reforma transforms throughout the year for celebrations that showcase Mexico’s vibrant culture. Since 2016, inspired by the opening scene of the 2015 James Bond movie “Spectre,” a massive parade fills the boulevard on Day of the Dead with elaborate floats and costumed performers. Each June, hundreds of thousands join the Pride march, turning Reforma into a rainbow-colored celebration that grows larger every year.
Independence Day shuts down the boulevard for an annual military parade, and concerts light up the lanes to ring in the New Year. During Mexico City’s yearly tourism convention, representatives from each Mexican state set up shop, enticing potential travelers with samples of local delicacies and artisanal crafts.
There’s nature among its traffic jams
(Chivista)
Reforma’s western end runs through Chapultepec Park, a magnificent 678-hectare green oasis that’s more than twice the size of New York’s Central Park. This ancient woodland provides a necessary balance to the boulevard’s urban energy.
Reforma itself remains surprisingly verdant: not only is the entire avenue lined with trees and native Mexican plants — including seasonal flowers for Christmas and Day of the Dead — but environmental initiatives have recently expanded Reforma’s green credentials. Wander down the boulevard and you’ll notice vertical gardens appearing on buildings and new pedestrian areas incorporating sustainable design. This green connection makes Reforma more than just a transportation artery. Today, it’s a living corridor connecting the city’s commercial heart to its natural lungs.
It’s Mexico City’s meeting place for protesters
(Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
No street better embodies Mexico’s democratic spirit than Reforma, the site of countless protests since the early 20th century. The wide, straight design has leveraged space for everything from President Francisco I. Madero’s 1913 Loyalty March to the student protests of 1968.
Not all gatherings are political, however. When Mexico’s national soccer team scores a World Cup victory, thousands spontaneously converge at the Angel of Independence to celebrate. During earthquakes, residents have used Reforma as an evacuation route and gathering point. This dual identity as both protest space and celebration venue means Reforma is more than just a street. It’s a representation of the myriad lives that bustle about every day in Mexico’s thriving capital.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog or follow her on Instagram.
Sonora Gov. Alfonso Durazo, right, with Foxconn CEO Young Liu after the two signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the possibility of developing smart cities in Sonora. (Alfonso Durazo/X)
Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn and the state of Sonora announced on Wednesday that they had signed a memorandum of understanding covering “Smart City cooperation.”
Young Liu, chairman and CEO of Foxconn, and Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo signed the MOU.
If the deal ends up going through, Sonora would host the first Smart City Foxconn has worked on outside of Taiwan. (Alfonso Durazo/X)
Foxconn, formally known as the Hon Hai Technology Group, said in a statement that the MOU “is a step toward supporting the Mexican state in its goal to explore intelligent city solutions.”
“… Foxconn will work with the Sonora state government to promote smart city solutions, starting with transportation, public security and ports,” the Taipei-based company said.
Foxconn said it will also work with the Sonora government to “provide the state’s residents, businesses and local governments with a better digital experience and governance.”
In its partnership with Sonora, the company said it will leverage its experience in “Smart City innovations” in the Taiwanese port city of Kaohsiung as well as its “unique Build-Operate-Localize business model.”
During a visit to Taiwan in January, Governor Durazo learned about the “security and transport model Foxconn applies in the city of Kaohsiung,” the Sonora government said in a statement.
“… This agreement with Foxconn doesn’t just put us on the path to continue positioning the state at the forefront of research, innovation and technological development but will also contribute to the construction of a prosperous and healthy future for Mexican families,” Durazo said Wednesday.
2021 Kaohsiung Smart City Smart Life
A video detailing how Kaohsiung, a major port city in Taiwan that worked with Foxconn, uses automation, data collection, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to make city’s infrastructure, security and emergency response more efficient and more responsive to in-the-moment conditions.
He said that Mexican academics, business people and students will also participate in the partnership between the state of Sonora and Foxconn.
The governor asserted that Sonora and Foxconn have a “win-win plan.”
On social media, he said that “Sonora is ready to build the future of Mexico!”
According to the Foxconn statement, Liu said that “digitalization and AI-enabled urban governance are important for cities to become intelligent and provide more smart services to businesses and the public.”
He said that “Foxconn is delighted to have this opportunity to cooperate with the state of Sonora to expand its Smart City platform to its first location outside of Taiwan.”
“… Foxconn will deploy the platform so Sonora can join the ranks of smart cities,” Liu said.
What is the Smart City platform?
Foxconn said that Smart City “is one of three platforms, alongside Smart EV and Smart Manufacturing, that Foxconn is advancing as an emerging platform service company.”
“… The Smart City transformation can lead to data-driven decision-making and increase government efficiency. The sharing and connecting of multiple services will lead to smart transportation and smart tourism,” the company said.
The initiative could benefit state capital Hermosillo as well as smaller cities in Sonora such as Nogales, San Luís Rio Colorado and the port city of Guaymas.
Foxconn will also collaborate on Mexico’s project to build its own homegrown electric vehicle, introduced here by President Claudia Sheinbaum last month. The vehicles will be built in Sonora. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
The Sonora government noted that the northern state “has the most significant deposits of strategic minerals in the country, which are necessary for the manufacture of electric cars and batteries.”
Durazo said “Sonora is ready to be the center of the electric transportation revolution in Mexico and at the forefront of the incorporation of the benefits of artificial intelligence in the daily lives of Sonora residents.”
He said that 30 students from Sonora are currently studying courses related to electrical vehicle production at Taiwanese universities. The governor also noted they are receiving training directly from Foxconn.
“Thanks to three years of work through [the] Plan Sonora [renewable energy initiative], today we have this collaboration alliance with the largest technology company in the world to evaluate the possibility of developing an entire new-generation industrial ecosystem,” Durazo said.
Liu said that Foxconn is “honored to be invited to participate in the Olinia project.”
“Going forward, with the support of Mexico’s overall policy conditions, we will jointly explore the possibility of industrial cooperation in areas such as electric vehicles, electric buses and batteries,” he said.
President Sheinbaum announced that the federal government would initially enter into a six-month agreement with gas station owners. (Presidencia)
Among the issues President Claudia Sheinbuam spoke about at her Thursday morning press conference were a “voluntary” price cap for gasoline, the importance of investment promotion and a political memoir she has written.
Here is a recap of the president’s Feb. 27 mañanera.
Regular gasoline (known as Magna at Pemex stations) will be capped at 24 pesos a liter for the next six months. (Galo Cañas Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)
Price of gas to be capped at 24 pesos per liter for 6 months
Sheinbaum noted that later in the day her government would formally enter into an agreement with gas station owners to cap the price of regular gasoline (Magna) at no more than 24 pesos (US $1.17) per liter for six months.
“It’s for six months initially,” Sheinbaum said, adding that there will be a review of the gas price cap once the agreement expires.
On Thursday afternoon, Sheinbaum said on social media that the government had signed “a historic agreement with gas station owners to voluntarily establish a maximum price of 24 pesos [per liter] for magna gasoline.”
“We protect families’ finances,” she added.
Investment promotion a ‘fundamental task’ of the Economy Ministry
Shortly after the CEO of Home Depot México announced that the company would invest US $1.3 billion in Mexico over the next four years, Sheinbaum told reporters that promoting investment is a “fundamental task” of the Economy Ministry, headed up by Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard.
She also noted that the recently-announced Plan México economic initiative “establishes a series of incentives to invest in certain places” based on the specific “characteristics” of different parts of the country.
A company that uses a lot of water can’t open a plant in the north of the country, “where there is no water, or in areas that have shortages of potable water,” Sheinbaum said.
The Plan México development program offers investment incentives based on what each region has to offer. The Baja corridor, for example, includes green energy projects like solar farms. (CFE)
Not all investment should go to the north, “as was the history of our country,” Sheinbaum said, adding that the government continues to promote investment in the historically disadvantaged south and southeast, as did the government of her predecessor, former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
“This is a permanent job of the Economy Ministry. … It’s not just investment for investment’s sake but rather investment that creates good jobs, well-paid jobs,” she said, adding that her government is also committed to the development of infrastructure, healthcare facilities and housing in the new industrial corridors.
A reporter noted that Sheinbaum has been working on a book about the transition of power from the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador to her administration.
The president said the book is called “Diario de una transición histórica” (Diary of a Historic Transition) and is currently “under review.”
She said she was looking for a publishing house, and hoped it would be available in “one or two months.”
Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico’s first female president on Oct. 1, four months after she became the second Morena party candidate to win a presidential election in Mexico. She says her government is building the “second story” of the so-called “fourth transformation” initiated by López Obrador.
Though they were unable to meet in person at the G7 Summit after Trump left early, Sheinbaum spoke with the US leader by phone on Tuesday. (Donald Trump/Facebook)
A day after suggesting that Mexico and Canada might receive another month’s reprieve from tariffs, U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday indicated that his proposed tariffs will indeed go into effect on March 4.
On Wednesday, upon being questioned about whether or not he was going to delay tariffs on Mexico and Canada, he said he was not, but then, after remarks about fentanyl coming through Mexico and Canada, went on to mention that on April 2, “the tariffs will go on,” appearing to suggest that Mexico and Canada had until that date to avoid tariffs.
Trump’s latest social media post on the U.S. Mexico and Canada tariffs issue gives an emphatic March 4 start date. But he appeared to contradict himself the day before by using an April 2 date in reference to tariffs, perhaps conflating his “reciprocal tariffs” date with a start date for Mexico and Canada.
However, by Thursday morning, Trump clarified on his social media accounts that Canada and Mexico tariffs would go into effect on March 4, “as scheduled.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded shortly thereafter, saying during her morning press conference that she was confident that ongoing talks would allow Mexico to avoid the extra duties. She added that she hoped to talk to Trump in the coming days.
As of 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Trump appeared to be holding his ground on the March 4 date. An anonymous White House official told the news agency Reuters Thursday that “there are ongoing discussions with the Chinese, Mexico and Canada. The official also said, “We’ve gotten a good handle on the migration issue, but there are still concerns on the other issue of fentanyl deaths.”
The sweeping 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada had been paused on Feb. 3 for one month. Sheinbaum said Trump postponed the tariffs after she and the U.S. president had “reached a series of agreements” involving security and trade. One result of those agreements involved Mexico sending its troops to the Mexico-U.S. border to patrol on the Mexican side and to collaborate with U.S. authorities.
But since then, the Trump administration has sent mixed messages about whether the duties would take effect once the delay expired. More confusion was sown Wednesday and Thursday.
The U.S. president wrote that illicit drugs “are still pouring into our Country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels.”
The press conference that helped sow confusion Wednesday.
“We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled,” Trump added.
This contradicted statements made the day before, on Wednesday, by White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett, who spoke in an interview with CNBC.
Discussing Trump’s first full Cabinet meeting of his second term on Wednesday with the news network, Hassett said the president would not make a decision on tariff policies until he evaluated a study to be started April 1.
However, White House officials told the media afterward that the April 1 was for Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs.” Trump has said that the U.S. will impose tariffs on any country that imposes tariffs on the U.S.
Meanwhile, Mexico sent a trade delegation to Washington, D.C., including Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, Thursday, supposedly to stave off tariffs. The status of those meetings are not currently clear.
Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, right, with U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer Thursday at the USTR offices in Washington, D.C. (Economy Ministry/X)
China trade muddies the waters
The point of contention goes beyond the issue of drugs. The U.S. government has accused Mexico of allowing Chinese products to pass into the United States, letting Chinese manufacturers to, in effect, use Mexico as a back door to avoid U.S tariffs on China.
Sheinbaum has long claimed that this is not true, saying in November that “the idea that (Chinese) products are entering through Mexico is false.”
Last week, Mexico and the U.S. established a bilateral working group to discuss trade and tariff policies. The Trump administration has said that among the conditions it wants met in order to avoid imposing tariffs on Mexico is that Mexico levy taxes on Chinese imports.
Fortune magazine reported that Mexico “has ramped up efforts to crack down on cheap imports from China,” though Sheinbaum has framed it as “a move to support domestic industries” rather than a step to appease Trump.
In Thursday morning’s Truth Social post, Trump said that China, which already faces 10% U.S. tariffs on its products, “will likewise be charged an additional 10% Tariff.”
He also said that his plan to impose reciprocal tariffs on foreign nations that have duties on U.S. imports “will remain in full force and effect.”
Unlike other bands that have faced narco threats, Grupo Firme's chart-topping banda and norteña songs generally avoid themes related to drug-trafficking. (Grupo Firme/Facebook)
The Mazatlán Carnival — especially important this year as the city attempts to revive its tourism economy — has been rocked by two prominent regional Mexican music acts cancelling performances due to narco threats.
Every year, Mazatlán hosts one of the world’s largest Carnival celebrations. (Esto Es Sinaloa)
Grupo Firme, scheduled to perform on Saturday, canceled their show after a narcomanta (narco banner) threatening the band was found in Tijuana alongside a severed head. The message warned, “Grupo Firme, if you play at the Mazatlán Carnival, we will kill you all … even the one who puts on the lights … remember that you live in Tijuana.”
Hours later, singers Jorge Medina (who was born in Mazatlán) and Josi Cuen also canceled their performance, which was scheduled for Thursday night, citing “issues beyond our control.”
While they didn’t explicitly mention threats, the timing raised suspicions of a connection — and highlighted the growing influence of drug cartels on the music industry.
In January, Mexican corridos tumbados singer Natanael Cano received threats on a narco banner hung outside a high school in Hermosillo, Sonora. Allegedly placed by the Los Mata Salas criminal group, the banners accused Cano and two other music stars of supporting a rival gang.
Peso Pluma, another huge star of corridos tumbados and narcocorridos — music that often glorifies the exploits of cartels, outlaws and criminal kingpins and forgives violence against women — canceled several concerts in 2023 after receiving death threats, including one written on a narco banner in Tijuana that used the signature “CJNG” for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
To replace the seven-member Grupo Firme — a Latin Grammy winner in 2021 for best banda album — in Mazatlán on Saturday night, the famous Aguilar family has stepped up.
Their concert of regional Mexican music — mariachi, ranchera and norteño — will be headlined by nine-time Grammy and Latin Grammy award winner Pepe Aguilar along with his daughter Ángela and son Leonardo, themselves recording stars with several Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations between them.
Grammy-winning Mexican regional star Pepe Aguilar, along with children Ángela and Leonardo, will step in as the lead act for the Mazatlán Carnival. (Gobierno de Sinaloa)
Scheduled to fill in for Medina and Cuen on Thursday night was an act of former Mexican stars billed as ’90s Pop Tour.
Medina and Cuen, who have teamed up on a tour titled Juntos (Together), are both former lead singers of the successful grupera band La Arrolladora Banda El Limón, which started in the Sinaloa town of El Limón de los Peraza.
Other scheduled performers at this year’s Mazatlán Carnival — iconic opera singer Plácido Domingo, 22-time Latin Grammy Award winner Alejandro Sanz and three-decade norteño favorites La Adictiva from Sinaloa — remained in the lineup.
As for the narco threats against the musicians, the Mazatlán threats are part of a growing trend of cartel intimidation targeting regional Mexican musicians.
“Personally, I think the government is losing control of this situation,” singer Julio Preciado said in the online newspaper Infobae. “I don’t know where we are going with this. The situation is very complicated.”
Some say the threats have effectively given cartels power to curate festival and concert lineups, with the states of Baja California, Sinaloa and Jalisco being hotspots for this phenomenon. Some cities, like Tijuana, have attempted to address the issue by banning narcocorridosin public shows.
While Peso Pluma, Natanael Cano and Fuerza Régida have long sung about the narco lifestyle, Grupo Firme was once praised by former Mexico president Andrés Manuel López Obrador for not doing so. He even played the band’s song “Ya Supérame” during a press conference.
President Sheinbaum's list of highway upgrades are an impressive number of projects whose start dates are staggered between projects already in progress, projects starting this year, and others starting in 2026. (Margarito Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro)
The federal government on Wednesday presented a 173-billion-peso (US $8.4 billion) plan to upgrade highways across Mexico, an initiative President Claudia Sheinbaum described as “extremely important.”
At her morning press conference, Sheinbaum said that “expansion” and “major maintenance” projects will be carried out on a large number of Mexico’s highways, many of which are in “the most vulnerable areas of the country.”
President Sheinbaum’s plan is expected to create nearly 330,000 jobs throughout Mexico. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
“It’s a very interesting, extremely important program,” she said.
“… We allocated a very large part of the resources to the most vulnerable areas — for the good of all the poor come first,” Sheinbaum said, using a favorite slogan of former Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, her predecessor and mentor.
The highway plan “has to do with connecting the country to strengthen economic development and improve people’s living conditions,” Sheinbaum said.
Mexico’s Federal Infrastructure, Communications and Transport Minister Jesús Antonio Esteva Medina gave a detailed rundown of the National Highway Infrastructure Program (PNIC), in which some 4,000 kilometers of highway will be upgraded.
He spoke about highway projects already underway and work that will commence later this year and in 2026.
Among Mexico’s cities set to benefit from the projects are Cancún, Pachuca, Toluca, Zihuatanejo, Tampico, Saltillo and Guaymas.
This bridge, which was completed in August, is one of two slated for the town of La Concordia, Chiapas, where previously, locals’ only option to cross the La Angostura dam had in been small boats. (Government of Mexico)
Projects scheduled for completion in 2025
Esteva first spoke about four ongoing projects, in which close to 16 billion pesos (US $782.6 million) was invested:
A 16.8-kilometer highway upgrade between Real del Monte and Huasca in Hidalgo. The project is due to be completed in March.
A 2.1-kilometer project in the municipality of La Concordia, Chiapas, that includes the construction of two bridges. The project is scheduled for completion in October.
The 11.2-kilometer Nichupté Bridge in Cancún, Quintana Roo. The bridge is slated for completion in August.
A 96.2-kilometer highway upgrade between San Ignacio, Sonora, and Tayoltita, Durango. The project is due to be completed in May.
Projects scheduled to start this year and next
Esteva presented 10 major “priority” highway projects, seven of which are scheduled to start either next month or in April. The total projected outlay on the 10 projects is 118.47 billion pesos. The work is forecast to create almost 330,000 jobs.
In various cases, only certain sections of the highways between the cities listed below, rather than the entire highways, will be upgraded.
Projects to start in March
A 1.86-billion-peso, 69-kilometer highway upgrade between Bavispe, Sonora, and Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua. The project is expected to take one year and create 17,543 jobs.
A 124-million-peso, 7-kilometer bypass and bridge project in the state of Morelos. The Tierra y Libertad Circuit and Jojutla Bridge project is expected to take one year and create 1,455 jobs.
A 28.27-billion-peso, 478-kilometer highway upgrade project between Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and Zihuatanejo, Guerrero. The highway between the two cities runs for almost 900 kilometers, with over half of the distance to be modernized. The project is expected to take five years and create 84,822 jobs.
An 11.2-billion-peso, 130-kilometer highway upgrade project between Macuspana, Tabasco, and Escárcega, Campeche. The project is expected to take four years and create 33,591 jobs.
Projects to start in April
A 13.5-billion-peso, 382-kilometer highway upgrade project between Cuautla, Morelos, and Marquelia, Guerrero, via Tlapa, Guerrero. The project, which also runs through part of the state of Puebla, will widen the highway from two lanes to four. The project is expected to take five years and create 40,506 jobs.
A 6.67-billion-peso, 97-kilometer highway upgrade project between Pachuca, Hidalgo, and Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosí, via Huejutla, Hidalgo. The project is expected to take three years and create 20,022 jobs.
An 18.6-billion-peso, 317-kilometer highway upgrade project between Toluca, the capital of México state, and the Guerrero resort city of Zihuatanejo. The project is expected to take six years and create 55,776 jobs.
Some of the expansion projects will involve taking land by eminent domain. These landowners in San Pedro Pochutla, Oaxaca, gathered on Jan. 31 to hear about compensation for land to be used to upgrade and expand the Salina Cruz-Zihuatenejo highway. (Government of San Pedro Pochutla)
Projects to start in 2026
A 6.39-billion-peso, 67-kilometer highway upgrade project between Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí, and Tampico, Tamaulipas. The project is expected to take four years and create 19,191 jobs.
A 7.72-billion-peso, 85-kilometer highway upgrade project between Saltillo and Monclova in the northern border state of Coahuila. The project is expected to take five years and create 23,172 jobs.
An 18.14-billion-peso, 347-kilometer highway upgrade project between Guaymas, Sonora, and the Sonora-Chihuahua border near Yécora. The project is expected to take four years and create 33,591 jobs.
Other PNIC projects
Mexico’s Federal Infrastructure, Communications and Transport Minister Jesús Antonio Esteva Medina. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Esteva also detailed a range of other National Highway Infrastructure Program initiatives. They include:
The Oaxaca Highway Program, in which 6 billion pesos will be invested to carry out eight highway projects to improve connectivity between various cities and towns in the southern state.
The Guerrero Highway Program, in which almost 1.9 billion pesos will be invested to build new bridges and widen and repair existing ones. The state of Guerrero bore the brunt of Hurricane Otis in 2023 and Hurricane John last year.
The execution of 18 bridge, viaduct and traffic circle projects on the federal highway network. More than 11.8 billion pesos will be invested in the projects, which will be carried out in Mexico City, Colima, Querétaro, Quintana Roo and Veracruz, among other states.
The execution of five “mixed investment” (private-public) projects, to which the government will contribute more than 30 billion pesos. They include a new bypass that links to the Tijuana-Ensenada highway and an international bridge project in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas.
Esteva also highlighted that the current government has carried out minor highway maintenance work, such as the repair of potholes and the removal of weeds, along 33,000 kilometers of road, or about three-quarters of the federal highway network.
The justices upheld an order requiring the zoo to provide veterinary attention, environmental enrichment and an adequate living space for Ely. (SEDEMA/Cuartoscuro)
A Mexico City zoo must implement measures to improve living conditions for an allegedly depressed elephant, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday — the high court’s first-ever ruling in favor of the rights of an individual animal.
The Supreme Court did not find sufficient evidence to establish that the zoo had committed abuse or animal cruelty. (Lucía Hernández/X)
The ruling confirms a lower court’s order last year in favor of the elephant, which instructed the zoo to “implement the required measures to guarantee the well-being of the elephant, as well as its living conditions and protection.”
Experts say this ruling sets a precedent for future cases.
“This is a relevant and important precedent in our country for all animals living in these types of centers, to ensure that they are properly treated and with dignity,” Marcos Mario Czacki Halkin, Ely’s lawyer, said in a statement.
In the ruling, the panel of four justices agrees that there are no reasons to move Ely to another place, since they didn’t find reasons to determine that the zoo is “committing acts of abuse or animal cruelty against the animal.”
Ely’s problems started in 2016, when she went through several illnesses and her enclosure-mate Maggie, another elephant, died. Elephants are socially intelligent animals that are known to mourn and even bury their dead.
After Maggie’s death, Ely lost weight and began to bang her head against the walls of her enclosure, prompting her defenders to dub her “the saddest elephant in the world.”
Ely’s case reached the courts after activists claimed that Ely suffered from depression due to the conditions she was held in after Maggie’s death, when she was alone without other animals for company.
“I was very moved to see the state Ely was in,” Diana Valencia, founder and director of the animal rights group Opening Cages and Opening Minds, said to CNN about her reaction when she first met Ely. “It was heartbreaking, and I made her a promise. They will stop treating you like this.”
Han pasado 15 días sin que Claudia Sheinbaum pueda tomar una decisión respecto al traslado de Ely, la elefante más triste de México.
Su salud está claramente comprometida y ya no puede esperar.
— Lucía Hernández | Amo La Ciencia (@YoAmoaLaCiencia) September 6, 2022
Valencia admitted that the zoo has improved Ely’s living conditions, but only after public pressure; it expanded the elephant enclosure and added two more elephants in 2023 and 2024, to keep her company.
Veterinarian Gabriela Uribe Acosta, the zoo’s director, expressed confidence that the facility could fully comply with the court’s order to improve Ely’s life. She assured that Ely is stable and not depressed. Uribe also noted Ely is more active and has developed new vocalizations, particularly since the other elephants joined her.
Wednesday’s ruling also follows a recent SCJN decision that declared Mexico City’s laws against animal abuse and cruelty to be constitutional.
Festivals, fun and fundraisers are all taking place in San Miguel de Allende in March. (Scott Umstaddt/scott-pix.com)
March in San Miguel de Allende is a celebration of community spirit. This vibrant month transforms the city into a dynamic stage where art, music, film, and ancient traditions come together in a wide array of events. Whether you’re drawn to the soulful notes of live concerts, are willing to be mesmerized by indigenous dancers, celebrate your renewal with the arrival of Spring, or want to pitch in to help our furry friends, this month has something for everyone.
Step into a world of color and creativity at Fabrica La Aurora’s Art Walk! This fun-filled afternoon is when all the art galleries throw open their doors to showcase fresh, exciting works by local and international artists. Wander through vibrant spaces, chat and maybe even discover that perfect piece to brighten your home. This cherished Art Walk is a lively celebration where beauty and community mingle in the most delightful way. This is also a fantastic opportunity to meet people in town and make new friends. Get ready to be inspired as you explore San Miguel de Allende’s monthly art extravaganza!
Date: March 1, 5p.m. – 7p.m. Location: Fabrica la Aurora Cost: Free
Delight your eyes and taste buds at the 7th Annual Food in Film Festival. This event blends captivating films with tasty snacks and drinks. The day kicks off at 11:00 with a screening of the documentary “Ella Brennan: Commanding the Table.” At 3:00, join Emblema for an insightful lecture on the history and craftsmanship of their tequila. At 5:00 enjoy the classic “Babette’s Feast” (1987), a story that celebrates the transformative power of sharing a meal.
Date: March 1, 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. Location: Santa Ana Theater at the Biblioteca Pública. Cost:Movies 450 pesos, Lectures 100 pesosTickets
Experience the electrifying sound of Sotol Sonico, a groundbreaking jazz quintet formed by some of the most beloved musicians in San Miguel de Allende: Sergio Carrillo, Beto Robledo, Israel Chavez, Carlos Vargas, and Ricardo Urbina. This dynamic ensemble presents their own creations, original music created in the city that inspires many artists. They blend popular and traditional styles with the freedom of improvisation, creating vibrant rhythms and rich textures.
Date: March 6, 6 p.m. Location: Teatro Angela Peralta Cost: 600 pesos
Festival in Honor of the Lord of the Conquest
(Scott Umstaddt/scott-pix.com)
One of the most deeply-rooted traditions in San Miguel, celebrated for over 400 years, takes place every first Friday of March. The Festival in Honor of the Lord of the Conquest brings together dance groups from San Miguel de Allende and across Mexico to pay homage to the sacred image preserved by the Parroquia of San Miguel Arcángel and mark the start of a prosperous planting season.
At 8 a.m., the Jardín comes alive as hundreds of dancers converge, each adorned with vibrant costumes, high feathered headgear, rattles, and ankle bracelets. Their mesmerizing, rhythmic steps, synchronized to the pulsating beats of drums and shells, create an enchanting event in an ancient ritual of gratitude. The energy grows throughout the day as more dancers continue to arrive and carry the celebration spirit well into the night.
Date: March 7, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Location: Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel Cost: Free
Concierto Música Barroca 1660/1750 Anno di nostro Signore
(Unshow)
Step back in time and immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Baroque music. This program showcases all the classics, including Bach, Corelli, Händel, Vitali and Antonio Vivaldi. Experience the captivating violin of Hiram Herrera Godínez, a member of the National Symphony Orchestra, and the soulful cello of Guillermo Sánchez Romero, one of Querétaro’s most acclaimed performers. This is a unique opportunity to witness masterful interpretations of timeless compositions and experience the spirit of the Baroque era.
Date: March 14, 6 p.m. Location: Casa Nigromante Cost: From free to 448 pesosTickets
Grammy winner and Met Opera soloist Terry Barber will be delighting San Miguel’s music lovers. Known for performing with everyone from the London Philharmonic to Madonna, Terry will delight with this concert at a private home in Los Frailes. Guests will be treated to delicious snacks, sparkling prosecco, and a delightful ice cream social, a fun twist on a classic evening of opera. Best of all, all proceeds benefit the Pro Musica Academy of Music, supporting the next generation of musical talent. It’s a chance to enjoy great company, beautiful opera, and contribute to a meaningful cause.
Date: March 19, 5 p.m. Location: A private home in Los FrailesCost: 2,500 pesos Tickets
The Equinox Community Festival celebrates the arrival of Spring as a season of rebirth and transformation. Set in a serene, natural space that invites creativity and collective learning, this gathering offers a mystical opportunity to deepen your connection to yourself and others. Embrace the flow with a soul-expanding yoga practice, twirl joyfully in a hula hooping workshop, and lose yourself in the liberating rhythms of ecstatic dance. The day reaches its peak in a sacred equinox ceremony, followed by the soulful melodies of Moyenei Valdes. This event also delights everyone with heart-opening cacao treats and fun activities for kids. Seize the day by welcoming the cycles of life in a uniquely embodied way.
Date: March 21, 10am – 8pm Location: Calz. De La Presa 50 Cost: 380 pesosTickets
Cozy up for a heartwarming evening that celebrates the love and charm of our furry friends. The event begins with a welcome cocktail and presentation, followed by a captivating opera performance featuring Estefanía Silva and Gabriela Perales. The Dogs Without Borders Foundation is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming street dogs in San Miguel de Allende and shelters in Austin, Texas. Its mission is to ensure that every dog thrives in a nurturing and safe environment, while also empowering communities through education and fundraising initiatives. Your support will help build a future where every dog finds a forever home.
Date: March 21, 6 p.m. Location: Comunidad by Our Habitas. Interior del Valle de los Senderos. Av. Central 101, Col. Adolfo Lopez Mateos. Cost: US $20Tickets
Sandra Gancz Kahan is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at [email protected]
