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MND Local: More flights, more unauthorized beach vendors and other seasonal news from Los Cabos

By
Chris Sands
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Los Cabos coastal view
Los Cabos always maintains its laid-back attitude, even when there’s breaking news. (Marco Samaniego/Unsplash)

“Few elements shape the development and sustainability of a tourism destination as decisively as air connectivity,” Rodrigo Esponda Cascajares, Managing Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board, wrote in a recent article for Mexico Business News. “The destination’s capacity to connect with national and international markets determines not only how many visitors it attracts, but the very trajectory of its economic and social development. Connectivity is the bridge between opportunity and viability and, when managed strategically, the cornerstone of sustainable tourism.

“A widely held belief in the tourism industry is that airlines will only inaugurate a route once passenger demand justifies it. In practice, however, that view is overly simplistic. Air routes are not purely reactive outcomes of demand; they are strategic enablers of growth.”

2 new flights announced for Los Cabos 2026, and another is expected soon

Southwest plane pasted over Cabo San Lucas
Southwest Airlines is among the carriers offering new flights to Los Cabos in 2026. (Instagram)

Esponda’s belief in the power of connectivity as a driver for tourism in Los Cabos has long been evident. Since he assumed his current job nearly a decade ago, in October 2016, new flights connecting Los Cabos to the world have appeared with regularity. Currently, for example, there are flights to Los Cabos from 32 destinations in the U.S., 16 within Mexico, 11 in Canada, one in Europe, and one in Central America — the latter connecting to markets in the Caribbean and South America. And yes, more are on the way in 2026.

In fact, during the Los Cabos VIP Summit in November, the 19th edition of the business forum that brings together key players in the tourism sector, Esponda confirmed two new non-stop flights from Indianapolis and Las Vegas, via Southwest Airlines, that will begin service during the coming year. 

Non-stop flights from Indianapolis to Los Cabos on Southwest will commence on March 5, 2026, or just in time for Spring Break. Flights from Las Vegas, meanwhile, are slated to begin next June and will be notable as the only non-stop service available to Los Cabos from “Sin City.” Las Vegas to Puerto Vallarta flights start at the same time and are part of a broader strategy by Southwest to expand its international service.

A third new flight for 2026 should also be announced at some point, as Esponda told me during a recent interview that he’s expecting a flight from Boston to Los Cabos to be added by the end of next year. 

Out-of-control beach vendors in Cabo San Lucas 

Only a few months ago, during the summer, Los Cabos looked as if it had finally solved the problem of unauthorized vendors on Cabo San Lucas’ ever-popular Playa El Médano. At the time, it was reported that 300 unauthorized vendors had been swept from the pristine two-mile stretch of golden sand by municipal officials, and that only the 698 properly permitted vendors would remain to annoy tourists and locals alike. Not only that, but new uniforms and ID cards had been issued to avoid any future confusion.

However, on Nov. 10, when the Los Cabos Coordinating Council (CCC) called a press conference to announce that the problem of unauthorized vendors had increased, confusion once again seemed to reign. Although, to be clear, when they said the number of unpermitted vendors was 300 — the same number quoted just months earlier — it felt more like business as usual. 

Beach vendor in Los Cabos
Inspectors check a vendor at Médano Beach in Cabo San Lucas to make sure he’s properly permitted. His merchandise suggests he’s not.  (Ayuntamiento de Los Cabos)

An ongoing issue

Several groups have chimed in on the effects of the ongoing issue. The head of the CCC noted that unauthorized vendors were in effect taking money out of the pockets of those who are permitted, a point also made by the head of the Revolutionary Workers’ Confederation (COR), who, while speaking on behalf of the vendors, noted that Médano Beach has become oversaturated with unlicensed sandy salespeople. The head of the Hotel Association, meanwhile, reported the obvious: that tourists are complaining. Because … of course. No one’s idea of a great vacation is having to say “No, gracias,” every 30 seconds.

The problem was soon addressed, with a government representative saying that most of the unauthorized vendors have now been removed. But the odds of the problem popping up again in the near future seem pretty high, based on past results. As to why that is, Adrián Mendoza, leader of the COR, may have hit on the reason when he cited a lack of institutional control. Julio Castillo Gómez, president of the CCC, went even further, per Peninsular Digital, suggesting that “if any alleged collusion between officials and the unregulated vendors is confirmed, then complaints will be filed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.” 

Los Cabos golf course wins prestigious award

Solmar Golf Links, the picturesque Greg Norman-designed course that originally premiered in 2020 on the Pacific Coast of Cabo San Lucas, has been named Latin America’s Best Course for 2025 by the World Golf Awards. It’s not the first layout on the Baja California peninsula to earn the distinguished title — Danzante Bay in Loreto won it in 2019. But it’s certainly a feather in the cap for one of Los Cabos’ best but most underrated courses. 

Known for Norman’s British-style revetted bunkering and the distinctive island green on the par-3 17th, Solmar Golf Links has also garnered good press for its environmentally responsible approach to course design. SeaDwarf Paspalum, in which the fairways and greens are covered, is a grass known to reduce water and fertilizer requirements. Solmar Golf Links is also one of two courses in Los Cabos certified by Audubon International for its wildlife and habitat management. (Fred Couples’ Twin Dolphin is the other.)

Of course, it bears noting that Solmar Golf Links isn’t the only local course to receive plaudits. Two local loops made Golf Digest’s list of the “World 100 Greatest Golf Courses” for 2024-2025: Jack Nicklaus-designed Cabo del Sol Cove Club (#100) and the Davis Love III-crafted Diamante Dunes Course (#47).

Chris Sands is the former Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best and writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook. He’s also a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily.

North American World Cup or Americana Fever Dream? After watching the 2026 draw, we’re confused

By
Ian Ostroff
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It was supposed to be a moment of trans-continental collaboration, but the 2026 World Cup draw perfectly demonstrated the imbalance in North American politics. (FIFA)

“I should not say soccer,” comedian Kevin Hart said at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw on Friday in Washington, D.C. “The rest of the world calls it football. I do know my Messi from my Michael Jordan. I know my Cristiano from my Steph Curry. And I know my Bellingham from my Tom Brady. I’m educated.”

Hart’s joke, whether he meant it to be or not, was a complex mix of humorous self-effacement on behalf of the United States for its reputation of ignorance about the world’s number-one sport, and a defensive — almost defiant — assurance that while soccer is generally the fifth most popular sport in the U.S. behind American football, basketball, baseball and ice hockey, the U.S. had done its homework and is fit to be running things.

President Sheinbaum on stage next to Trump and Carney, holding a paper reading Mexico
The three North American leaders shared the stage with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino (left), but despite the presence of all three countries at the draw, the proceedings felt deeply exclusionary to any nation that wasn’t the U.S. (Presidencia)

While Hart’s remarks were undoubtedly well-intentioned, they unintentionally captured the spirit of what, as a Mexican Canadian, I found problematic about this World Cup draw. This two-and-a-half-hour event to announce the details of the upcoming FIFA men’s soccer tournament, intended to evoke a spirit of collaboration between the three host countries — Mexico, the U.S. and Canada — instead felt like a greatly unbalanced ode to American greatness, one in which my two countries were treated like sideliners.

Sure, this event was held in Washington D.C., so the spectacle was bound to be a bit U.S.-centric. But was awarding U.S. President Donald Trump a newly created FIFA Peace Prize the best way to make fellow World Cup host leaders Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico and Mark Carney of Canada feel like equal players? The Village People, an iconic American band known for their hit “YMCA,” was also the main headliner — a longtime Trump rally anthem that has become something of a political signature. 

Claudia Sheinbaum and Mark Carney, on the other hand, were supporting characters at best to a show centered around the U.S. president.

Even the celebrities participating in the draw felt like tone-deaf choices. For example, Heidi Klum was Hart’s cohost, a German-American supermodel known for being one of the judges on the U.S. television show, “America’s Got Talent.” She’s a global icon, sure, but was she the best choice out of a plethora of Mexican, Mexican American and Canadian celebrities that would’ve done a great job hosting? The short answer is no. 

Salma Hayek, Eva Longoria, popular hosts like Mario Lopez and comedians like Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias would’ve made great picks to host the show. What about Mike Myers, a world-famous Canadian celebrity who’s a well-known soccer fan? Or Canadian women’s football legend Christine Sinclair, a CONCACAF champion who’s scored more international career goals than any male or female player? Pairing Toronto native and actor/comedian Russell Peters with a funny Mexican American like Fluffy (or, God forbid, an actual Mexican) would’ve been a chef’s kiss choice by representing all three host nations. 

But instead, an overwhelming number of American celebrities were highlighted in the draw: Shaquille O’Neal, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers — with MAGA-approved Wayne Gretzky as the token Canadian. It was obvious most of the presenters were kind of asked to do it at the last minute without having a general baseline knowledge of the beautiful game — and, in some cases, how to pronounce certain countries’ names. If you had asked most of these U.S. celebrities beforehand if they’re a fan of the game, they might’ve used the word “soccer” in their responses. 

What were you thinking, Mr. Infantino? (Gianni Infantino/Instagram)

Where were Mexican celebrities like football coach Rafa Marquez, boxer Canelo Alvarez, or singer Luis Miguel? What about Mexican American actress Jessica Alba or some top female Mexican footballers like Scarlett Camberos and Teresa Noyola, the latter a Mexican American footballer who’s played on the Mexican women’s team? A variety of these sorts of athletes and celebrity presenters would’ve given the show more life. 

Where there were fragments of Mexican and Canadian representation at the 2026 draw, it was deeply buried under Americana, to the point where it was confusing: The World Cup Draw is supposed to be about celebrating all the nations that have made it into the tournament; it’s supposed to be as inclusive as you can get, but this time, it seemed like Trump and the United States took the liberty of organizing the global event to be all about themselves. It was like being invited to a Day of the Dead event in Oaxaca and being offered hamburgers and milkshakes. 

After the draw concluded, I went on with my day, thinking about how we should’ve seen a deeper sense of collaboration. If this foreshadows what we’ll see in 2026, there’s a real fear it may turn into an overdone U.S.-style Super Bowl spectacle that’ll alienate fans and be about everything but watching the world’s game at the highest level. 

Case in point: FIFA has just announced that — for the first time ever — the final game will feature a Super Bowl-style halftime show. 

Ian Ostroff is an indie author, journalist, and copywriter from Montreal, Canada. You can find his work in various outlets, including Map Happy and The Suburban. When he’s not writing, you can find Ian at the gym, a café, or anywhere within Mexico visiting family and friends.

Homicides continue to drop across much of Mexico: Tuesday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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President Sheinbaum smiles and gestures from the podium of her morning press conference
President Sheinbaum reported Tuesday that the downward trend in violence continues across the country. (Graciela López / Cuartoscuro.com)

Mexico’s security situation and a bilateral water dispute were the central focus of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Tuesday morning press conference.

In the first half of the mañanera, security officials presented the latest data on homicides, arrests, firearm seizures and drug confiscations across Mexico.

The president on Tuesday discussed the circumstances surrounding Mexico’s late water deliveries to the U.S., and expressed confidence that a deal would be struck. (Juan Carlos Buenrostro/Presidencia)

Later in the presser, Sheinbaum expressed confidence that her government would reach a deal with its U.S. counterpart to stave off Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 5% tariff on Mexican goods if Mexico doesn’t promptly release a significant quantity of the water it owes to the United States under the terms of a 1944 treaty.

(Read MND’s story on Trump’s tariff threat and Sheinbaum’s response here.)

Here is a recap of the president’s Dec. 9 mañanera.

Homicides down 29% in 2025 

Marcela Figueroa Franco, head of the National Public Security System, presented preliminary data that showed there was an average of 65.1 homicides per day in Mexico during the first eleven months of the year.

The figure represents a decline of 29% compared to the daily average of 91.7 homicides across 2024.

Figueroa highlighted that the decline in homicides compared to 2018 — when former president Enrique Peña Nieto was in office for the first 11 months of the year — was 35%.

32 fewer murders per day in November than in the final month of AMLO’s presidency

At the start of her presentation, Figueroa reported that the average daily homicide rate in November was 37% lower than the average rate in September 2024, the final month of Andres Manuel López Obrador’s presidency.

There was an average of 54.7 homicides per day last month, according to preliminary data, whereas the daily average was 86.9 in September 2024.

The 37% reduction in homicides in November compared to September 2024 “is equivalent to 32 fewer homicides per day,” Figueroa noted.

Sheinbaum has attributed the decline in homicides during her presidency to the federal government’s security strategy, based on four key tenets, including the strengthening of intelligence and investigative practices and the enhancement of coordination between the different levels of government.

National Public Security System chief Marcela Figueroa Franco noted that the drop in homicides between September 2024 and November 2025 meant there were 32 fewer deaths per day on average last month. (Juan Carlos Buenrostro / Presidencia)

More than half of all murders in Mexico this year occurred in 7 states 

Figueroa presented data that showed there were 21,743 homicides across Mexico in the first 11 months of the year.

Just over half of those murders — 11,031 or 51% of the total — occurred in just seven states:

  1. Guanajuato: 2,388 murders were committed in the Bajío region state between January and November. The figure accounts for 11% of all homicides in the period. Guanajuato has led Mexico in homicides in recent years. A number of organized crime groups operate in the state, including the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel and its main rival, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
  2. Chihuahua: 1,661 homicides, accounting for 7.6% of the total between January and November. The northern border state’s largest city, Ciudad Juárez, is among Mexico’s 50 most violent municipalities.
  3. Baja California: 1,586 homicides, accounting for 7.3% of the total. This state’s largest city, Tijuana, is also among Mexico’s 50 most violent municipalities.
  4. Sinaloa: 1,541 homicides, accounting for 7.1% of the total. Rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel have been engaged in a bloody war in the state for over a year.
  5. México state: 1,424 homicides, accounting for 6.5% of the total. México state is Mexico’s most populous state.
  6. Guerrero: 1,240 homicides, accounting for 5.7% of the total. The state’s largest city, Acapulco, is one of Mexico’s 50 most violent municipalities.
  7. Michoacán: 1,191 homicides, accounting for 5.5% of the total. The federal government last month presented “Plan Michoacán for Peace and Justice,” a 57-billion-peso (US $3.1 billion) initiative that the government devised in response to the murder of the mayor of Uruapan on Nov. 1 and general insecurity in the state.

Murders have declined in 26 of 32 states 

Figueroa also reported that homicides declined in 26 of Mexico’s 32 federal entities between January and November compared to the same period of last year.

Zacatecas recorded the largest decrease, with murders declining 70.5%. There were 137 homicides in Zacatecas between January and November, the eighth lowest count among Mexico’s 32 federal entities.

Four other states recorded year-over-year reductions above 50%. They were:

  • Chiapas: -57.9%
  • Quintana Roo: -56.7%
  • Nuevo León: -53.4%
  • San Luis Potosí: -51.8%

Among the other states that recorded a decline in homicides between January and November were the two most violent ones. Murders fell 15.9% in Guanajuato and 11.5% in Chihuahua.

The six federal entities where homicides increased in annual terms in the first 11 months of the year were Sinaloa, Campeche, Veracruz, Baja California Sur, Hidalgo and Nayarit.

4 states recorded fewer than 100 homicides between January and November 

The data presented by Figueroa also showed that four states recorded fewer than 100 murders in the first 11 months of the year. They were:

  • Yucatán: 28 homicides
  • Durango: 56
  • Coahuila: 73
  • Aguascalientes: 95

Seven other states recorded 200 homicides or fewer between January and November. They were:

  • Campeche: 108
  • Tlaxcala: 109
  • Baja California Sur: 127
  • Zacatecas: 137
  • Querétaro: 139
  • Nayarit: 176
  • San Luis Potosí: 200

Mexico City recorded the 14th highest number of homicides among the 32 federal entities, with 781 between January and November.

High-impact crimes down almost 14% this year 

Figueroa presented data that showed that an average of 518.2 “high-impact” crimes were reported on a daily basis in the first 11 months of 2025, a reduction of 13.8% compared to 2024.

High-impact crimes include homicide, kidnapping, extortion and violent robbery, among other offenses.

Men in dark uniforms load black bundles into a van labelled "Servicio médico forense"
Crime scene investigators pack up evidence found at a clandestine gravesite in Ciudad Juárez in September. Officials report that high impact crimes like murder and kidnapping are down over 10% so far this year. (Manuel Sánchez/Cuartoscuro.com)

Figueroa highlighted that the incidence of high-impact crimes is down 47% in 2025 compared to 2018. She noted that the incidence of most high-impact crimes, including femicide, kidnapping, burglary and violent vehicle theft, declined between 2019 and 2025, but acknowledged that reported acts of extortion increased 23.1% over the same period.

However, since the launch of the national strategy against extortion in July, reported acts of extortion have declined 20%, Figueroa said. She was referring to the reduction in extortion reports between July (an average of 32.03 per day) and November (25.6 per day).

Almost 39,000 arrests in 14 months

Federal Security Minister Omar García Harfuch reported that 1,761 people were arrested in November for allegedly committing high-impact crimes.

Since the current government took office on Oct. 1, 2024, a total of 38,773 people have been arrested for allegedly committing such crimes, according to data presented by García Harfuch.

The security minister didn’t say how many of those people have faced trial and been convicted of the crimes they allegedly committed. It is common for suspects in Mexico to remain in prison for extended periods of time before facing trial.

García Harfuch also presented data that showed that authorities have seized 311.7 tonnes of drugs over the past 14 months, including more than 4.3 million fentanyl pills, which are manufactured by Mexican crime groups with precursor chemicals illegally imported from China.

He said that 20,169 firearms were confiscated in the same period, and 1,760 methamphetamine laboratories were dismantled by the army and navy.

The dismantling of the clandestine drug labs “represents an economic impact of billions of pesos for organized crime,” García Harfuch said.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

Polls find optimism about Mexico’s World Cup performance — both as competitor and as host

By
MND Staff
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FIFA posters
WIth six months to go before the World Cup, Mexicans are feeling upbeat about their role as host, foreseeing adequate security and a positive image of their country before the world. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro.com)

A pair of polls indicate that not only are Mexicans bullish on their team’s chances of advancing at next year’s World Cup, they also believe their country will feature the best environment of the tournament’s three hosts. 

The newspaper Reforma asked 320 adults from across the country how far they think El Tri will advance in the 2026 World Cup and 83% said Mexico will be one of the two national teams to advance out of Group A. Nearly half of those polled (49%) think Mexico will win its Round of 32 match to reach the Round of 16.

World Cup mascot
Spirits are high in Mexico six months before the World Cup, with polls showing that a solid majority of the population is confident that the team will do well and the nation will shine during its moment in the world’s spotlight. (Victoria Valltierra/Cuartoscuro)

Should Mexico reach the Round of 16, it would mark just the second time in El Tri’s 17 World Cup appearances that it played a fifth match. In 1986 — the last time Mexico hosted the global soccer tournament — El Tri reached the quarterfinals before losing to eventual finalist West Germany.

Nearly two-thirds of those polled by Reforma see Mexico defeating South Africa in the inaugural match in Mexico City and 83% think El Tri will either win or draw vs South Korea in its second group-stage match. The final member of Group A will be determined in March.

Whereas participants in the Reforma survey indicated mild confidence in Mexico’s coach Javier Aguirre (50% said they trust him, 45% said they don’t), another poll of 1,000 adults conducted by Mitofsky found that only 33% voiced satisfaction with Aguirre.

El Tri ended the year on a six-game winless streak (0 wins, four draws, two losses), prompting 70% of those asked to voice discontent with the team’s performance.

The polls also asked about conditions in Mexico for the World Cup (Mexico will host 13 matches in three cities: Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara). 

The Reforma poll found that roughly three-quarters think security will be more than adequate (76% — safe for teams; 74% — safe for foreign fans; 72% — safe for tourists in general). 

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Reforma respondents said they believe Mexico will most benefit economically from playing host to the World Cup, while 23% said the biggest beneficiary will be Mexico’s reputation as a great country to visit.

The Mitofsky poll found that a whopping 70% believe Mexico will provide the best environment for World Cup fans (7.8% said the U.S., 1.7% said Canada). However, the survey also found that respondents believe the U.S. has more attractive stadiums and is likely to be better organized.

With regard to which inaugural game will be the most spectacular, nearly 39% told Mitofsky that the game at Mexico City Stadium on June 11 will be the best. Nearly 29% said the inaugural match in the U.S. on June 12 at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles will be the most spectacular, while only 6% think the June 12 match at Toronto Stadium will be the best.

With reports from Reforma and Ovaciones

Former Chihuahua governor César Duarte arrested for embezzlement

By
MND Staff
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A man in a white shirt under arrest
Former Chihuahua governor César Duarte has been arrested by Mexican authorities on embezzlement and criminal association charges. (Cuartoscuro)

The long-running legal troubles of a former governor of the northern border state of Chihuahua have intensified.

César Duarte was detained on Monday on charges related to the use of ill-gotten resources, the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) said, noting that a warrant for his arrest was issued in May 2024.

Duarte served as the governor of Chihuahua for the PRI party between 2010 and 2016. (Nacho Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

Duarte, Institutional Revolutionary Party governor of Chihuahua between 2010 and 2016 and a federal and state lawmaker before that, was arrested in Chihuahua city and subsequently transferred to the Altiplano federal prison in México state, where he was scheduled to face an initial hearing on Tuesday.

He was taken into custody while awaiting trial on separate embezzlement and criminal association charges that are being prosecuted by the Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office, according to the FGR.

The FGR said in a statement that the ex-governor was arrested on Monday “for his probable responsibility in the crime of operations with resources of illicit origin.”

It is the first federal crime of which Duarte has been formally accused.

The Federal Attorney General’s Office, now led by new Attorney General Ernestina Godoy, pointed to Duarte’s “probable intervention as a public servant in Chihuahua in a money laundering scheme, in which he tried to hide resources of illicit origin diverted from state coffers, using the Mexican financial system for that purpose.”

The arrest of the ex-governor came more than three years after he was extradited to Mexico from the United States. Duarte was detained in Miami, Florida, in July 2020 on corruption charges. He had been working at an auto parts business in that city.

César Duarte disembarking from an aircraft in handcuffs
César Duarte was previously extradited to Mexico from the United States in 2020. (Cuartoscuro)

After his extradition, Duarte was held at a prison in Chihuahua until he was released pending trial in June 2024.

The FGR said that on Oct. 4, 2024, a request was submitted to the United States government for authorization to prosecute Duarte “for a crime distinct to those of embezzlement and criminal association.”

It said that the U.S. — which approved Duarte’s extradition to face embezzlement and criminal association charges in Chihuahua —  granted that authorization on Dec. 4, one year and two months after the request was submitted. Duarte’s arrest came just four days after the U.S. authorization.

The Reforma newspaper reported that “it’s the third time that the United States authorizes Mexico to initiate criminal proceedings … [against] Duarte, although on the two previous occasions the accusations were under common [state] jurisdiction.”

The FGR noted that Duarte “is considered innocent” until proven otherwise.

Triple jeopardy?

Among Duarte’s alleged crimes is the construction of illegal dams to irrigate his ranch in Chihuahua — making him a poster child for illicit water hoarding during recent congressional debates of Mexico’s national water law. (Daniel Agosto/Cuartoscuro)

Duarte’s lawyer, Juan Carlos Mendoza, asserted on Tuesday that his client was arrested on the same charges that are being prosecuted by the Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office.

He claimed that the prosecution of Duarte on what the FGR called a “distinct” federal charge amounts to “triple jeopardy.”

Mendoza also asserted that Godoy “is being misinformed” about his client’s legal situation.

The common jurisdiction charges Duarte faces are related to the alleged embezzlement of 96.6 million pesos (US $5.3 million at today’s exchange rate) from the Chihuahua government between 2011 and 2014.

“How is it possible that he’s now being arrested for events that are already being prosecuted here in Chihuahua,” Mendoza said, adding that a situation of “triple jeopardy” is “something” that he has never seen before.

Duarte is among a large group of former governors of Mexican states who have been accused of — and in various cases convicted of — corruption. They include Javier Duarte of Veracruz, Roberto Borge of Quintana Roo and Roberto Sandoval of Nayarit.

With reports from Milenio, El Universal, Reforma, Aristegui Noticias and El Financiero

Volunteers will rescue dogs abandoned during Virgin of Guadalupe pilgrimage

By
MND Staff
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dog rescuers
When millions of pilgrims descend on the Basilica in Mexico City, scores of dogs and other animals end up abandoned. Some were strays before the event, others became so, but all need care in the aftermath, which the city's animal care agency, AGATAN, will provide this week, with the help of volunteers. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro.com)

As millions of pilgrims prepare to converge on the Basilica of Guadalupe this week, Mexico City officials have launched Operation Pilgrim Dog 2025 to rescue and care for the dozens of stray animals they expect to find around Tepeyac Hill.

Last year, nearly 12 million pilgrims visited the shrine on and around Dec. 12 — the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe (aka the Virgin Mary), one of the biggest dates on Mexico’s Catholic calendar.

stray dogs given food
Authorities reported 68 strays found near the Basilica after the pilgrimage last year, and 150 more some distance away, 15 in critical condition. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro.com)

Rescuers found 68 abandoned dogs near the Basilica in 2024, according to the news outlet N+, while Mexico City’s Animal Care Agency (AGATAN) reported rescuing 150 animals throughout the capital around last year’s festivities, including 15 in critical condition.

Most of the dogs were already strays that had attached themselves to pilgrims on the road, then ended up in the Basilica area, got separated and started forming packs, according to N+.

However, some of the dogs were also owned by families that left them behind because of transportation limits or neglect, officials noted.

Ana Villagrán, head of AGATAN, said her office has coordinated with all 16 boroughs to provide shelter and food for those dogs this year.

“I already have a network in place with all the animal welfare officials in every district,” Villagrán told the newspaper El Sol de México.

Operation Pilgrim Dog 2025 invites citizens and organizations to volunteer, donate supplies and offer temporary homes. 

About 50 volunteers have already signed up to assist this week at the Basilica with veterinary care, feeding and adoptions.

“We are witnessing an act of faith and human migration involving millions of people, and with them come dogs seeking food, a family and help,” Villagrán said in the digital news outlet Animal Político.

The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe this year marks the 494th anniversary of the purported apparition of the Virgin on Tepeyac Hill, located near the Basilica site. Juan Diego, an Indigenous convert to Catholicism, is said to have seen the Virgin Mary appear as Guadalupe on four occasions in December 1531.

An estimated 11 to 13 million pilgrims are expected to visit the Basilica this year, following more than 11 million last year, according to estimates from the National Chamber of Commerce (CanacoANACO).

The chamber is estimating that the pilgrims will generate 1.724 billion pesos (US $94.8  million) in economic activity, a 5.9% increase over last year.

With reports from Animal Político and El Sol de México

Automaker Stellantis planning major expansion of its Mexican operations  

By
MND Staff
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Stellantis plant
After pauses in production earlier in the year out of concern for the Trump tariffs, Stellantis now has major expansion plans for its Toluca plant, including: assemblage of its Cherokee hybrid and Recon EV. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro.com)

Stellantis has announced plans to expand operations at two Mexican plants and launch locally a new electric vehicle (EV) brand in 2026, striking a contrast with other global automakers that have reduced operations in Mexico. 

Stellantis aims to position higher-volume, higher-value-added products in its Mexican production network. The Saltillo plant in the border state of Coahuila will produce the Ram 1500, a full-size pickup truck that will compete directly with Chevrolet’s Silverado, which is manufactured in Silao, Guanajuato.

Stellantis plant in Coahuila
At its Saltillo plant, Stellantis will produce the Ram 1500, a full-size pickup. (Mediastellantis.com)

In its Toluca facility in Mexico state, Stellantis will assemble its Cherokee hybrid and Recon EV, introducing a more diverse and technologically advanced production cycle to the plant. It will also continue to produce its Compass and Wagoneer S models. 

“This is only the beginning of what will happen in Mexico,” said Daniel González, the Stellantis Mexico CEO. “What matters is what comes next.” 

While Stellantis is reconfirming its commitment to the Mexican market, some other automakers have moved operations, citing uncertainty in the industry owing to the introduction of U.S. tariffs across several industries by the Trump administration in the United States. 

General Motors has moved part of its production to the United States, while Nissan plans to close two Mexican plants, in Cuernavaca and Aguascalientes. Tesla has paused the development of a gigafactory in Mexico. 

 The launch of the new Stellantis models has supported the creation of 5,000 jobs in Mexico, according to González. 

“We have eight plants in the country, two main complexes, 13,000 people in the plants and 17,000 in total,” said González. “This shows a company that is betting on Mexico and believes in Mexico.” 

Stellantis will also introduce the Leapmotor brand to the Mexican market next year, with the launch of at least 13 modelss.

The EV startup Leapmotor was founded in China in 2015. In 2024, the firm signed an agreement with Stellantis for the marketing and after-sales service of its cars outside of China, aimed at accelerating its international expansion. 

The expansion of Stellantis in Mexico comes after the firm announced a partial suspension of its Mexico operations in April due to concerns over the potential introduction of auto tariffs by the United States. Since then, however, greater market stability has helped solidify the firm’s position in Mexico. 

 With reports from Expansión and Mexico Business News

Bad Bunny’s sold out tour is bringing big bucks to Mexico City

By
MND Staff
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Puerto Rico's Bad Bunny is expected to bring a bumper windfall to the Mexican capital as he plays a series of sold-out shows this month. (Chris Cornejo/Consequence)

Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny is expected to generate around US $177 million in economic impact when he comes to Mexico City’s GNP Seguros Stadium in December, as part of his “I Should Have Taken More Photos World Tour.”

According to the National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism of Mexico City (Canaco CDMX), 70% of revenue will come from ticket sales, 17% from food and beverage consumption and 12.9% from increased hotel occupancy.

stadium at night
GNP Seguros Stadium, formerly the Foro Sol, was once the home of Mexico City’s baseball team. Now it’s considered the best concert stadium in the world. (OCESA/Cuartoscuro)

Hotels located near the venue are expected to achieve occupancy levels of up to 90% during the concert dates.

Taxis, ride-hailing apps, public transportation, tourist services, convenience stores, transportation, hospitality, and retail will also benefit from the influx of tourist spending.

The concerts, which kick off Wednesday, are expected to gather over 520,000 fans Up to 45% of concertgoers will arrive from abroad, from more than 75 countries.

OCESA, the promoter for the Mexican leg of the tour, said that this phenomenon of people traveling to attend musical events is part of a global trend confirmed by Live Nation’s Living for Live report. The report indicates that 59% of fans worldwide travel at least once a year to attend a concert and that 68% spend as much or more on music-related travel than on other types of trips.

Canaco said that this increased tourism boosts the event’s global impact and solidifies Mexico City’s position as a leading destination for international concerts. The GNP Seguros Stadium was voted the “World’s Best Concert Stadium” in June of this year.

This behavior, OCESA said, is “evident in Mexico with attendees from dozens of countries.” More than 3 million people visited the official Ticketmaster website to try to purchase tickets, turning Bad Bunny’s Mexico City shows into one of the most sought-after musical events in recent history.

Fans lucky enough to get tickets eagerly anticipate “La Casita,” a second stage within Bad Bunny’s show designed as a Puerto Rican house, which evokes a nostalgic, intimate atmosphere to further connect with the audience.

Bad Bunny, winner of the 2025 Latin Grammy for the album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” (I Should Have Taken More Photos) will perform concerts on December 10-16, and 19-21. All dates are sold out.

With reports from Milenio and Quien

Inflation continued climb towards 4% in late November

By
MND Staff
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An old woman buying vegetables at a market stall
November inflation rates in Mexico continued to climb, reaching the highest levels since March, as price rises continue to bite. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

Inflation in Mexico accelerated in November, with the services sector continuing to exert pressure, according to data from national statistics agency INEGI.

The National Institute of Statistics’ (INEGI) National Consumer Price Index recorded a monthly increase of 0.66%, boosting the annual inflation rate to 3.80%.

Banxico Deputy Governor Galia Borja Gomez
Banxico Governor Galia Borja said that inflation risks remained “tilted to the upside.” (Government of Mexico)

Although November’s figure remained within the central bank’s target of 3%, plus or minus one percentage point, it represented a continued increase over October’s rate of 3.57%.

News agency Reuters said the November data was slightly above market expectations, prompting a central bank (Banxico) official to warn of inflation concerns for the coming year.

“Inflation risks remain tilted to the upside,” Banxico deputy governor Galia Borja said in a podcast released on Tuesday. 

She also identified several factors that could further pressure inflation in 2026, including potential tax increases, tariff uncertainty and the renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement.

The closely watched core inflation index — which strips out volatile food and energy prices — came in at 0.19%, quickening the annual rate to 4.43%, the highest since March 2024.

Price pressures increased for food (serrano peppers were up 24.76%, squash prices climbed 17% and tomato prices rose 14.34%) and non-alcoholic beverages, clothing and footwear, furniture, appliances and maintenance, and restaurants and hotels. 

Vegetable prices displayed at a Mexican market
The price of vegetables rose, but some fruits saw a fall in November. (Cuartoscuro)

Electricity costs soared 20.7% and professional services climbed 17%.

On the other side of the ledger, prices for limes (–7.46%), avocados (–7.28%) and oranges (–3.97%) fell.

Even before the release of the latest inflation data, analysts forecast Banxico will reduce the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points at its Dec. 18 monetary policy meeting.

A Citibank survey released last week found that the median forecast for the policy rate at the end of 2025 remains at 7.00%. Banxico lowered its base rate to 7.25% at its Nov. 6 meeting, the 11th straight time it cut the reference rate. 

The inflation data also impacted the price of the U.S. dollar in Mexico. After a strong finish on Monday, the dollar strengthened against the peso in early trading on Tuesday, rising to 18.27 before reversing course. 

The dollar sank then back toward the 18.18 pesos-per-dollar range by 11 a.m. This marks a record low for the peso this year, which hit the 18.23 pesos-per-dollar mark on Friday, and is a number not seen since July 2023. 

With reports from El Economista, Infobae, Reuters and Bloomberg News

Mexico faces new tariff threat from Trump over water debt

By
MND Staff
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The Rio Grande or Rio Bravo flows through Big Bend National Park in Texas
The 1944 Water Treaty requires Mexico to send 1.75 million acre-feet of water per year to the U.S. from tributaries of the Rio Grande, seen here in Big Bend National Park along the border between Texas and northern Mexico. (Big Bend National Park)

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to impose a 5% tariff on Mexican goods if Mexico doesn’t promptly release a significant quantity of the water it owes to the United States under the terms of a 1944 treaty.

Trump’s latest tariff threat came in a Truth Social post, but the U.S. president didn’t specify which goods the proposed 5% duty would apply to or whether USMCA-compliant products would be exempt.

“Mexico continues to violate our comprehensive Water Treaty, and this violation is seriously hurting our BEAUTIFUL TEXAS CROPS AND LIVESTOCK,” he wrote, referring to a bilateral accord that took effect 81 years ago, and which requires Mexico and the U.S. to transfer established quantities of water to each other over five-year cycles.

Trump noted that “Mexico still owes the U.S over 800,000 acre-feet of water for failing to comply with our Treaty over the past five years,” and declared that “the U.S needs Mexico to release 200,000 acre-feet of water before December 31st, and the rest must come soon after.”

“As of now, Mexico is not responding, and it is very unfair to our U.S. Farmers who deserve this much needed water. That is why I have authorized documentation to impose a 5% Tariff on Mexico if this water isn’t released, IMMEDIATELY,” he wrote.

“The longer Mexico takes to release the water, the more our Farmers are hurt. Mexico has an obligation to FIX THIS NOW. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump’s post concluded.

The U.S. is already collecting a 25% tariff on Mexican goods that don’t comply with the USMCA. That duty was imposed in March to pressure Mexico to do more to stem the flow of fentanyl to the United States. The Trump administration has also imposed tariffs on a range of other Mexican products, including steel, aluminum and light and heavy vehicles.

The U.S. president’s threat of an additional 5% tariff on Mexican goods came two weeks after the U.S. Department of State said in a statement that Trump administration officials had met with Mexican officials to “discuss immediate and concrete steps Mexico would take to reduce shortfalls in water deliveries and ensure compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty.”

“The officials examined available water resources and the United States pressed for the maximum possible deliveries to Texas users,” said the statement, which also asserted that “shortfalls in Mexico’s water deliveries have exacerbated water scarcity in Texas and contributed to hundreds of millions of dollars in crop losses for farmers.”

In April, the Mexican and U.S. governments announced they had reached an agreement under which Mexico would immediately deliver water to the U.S.

Prior to that agreement, Trump noted that he had “halted water shipments to Tijuana” in March, and said that his administration would “keep escalating consequences, including TARIFFS and, maybe even SANCTIONS, until Mexico honors the Treaty, and GIVES TEXAS THE WATER THEY ARE OWED!”

Despite Mexico’s agreement in April to deliver more water to the U.S., the 2020-25 treaty cycle concluded in late October with Mexico still owing its neighbor just over 865,000 acre-feet of water, an amount equivalent to just under 50% of the 1.75 million acre-feet of water it is required to send across the northern border every five years from six tributaries of the Rio Grande.

US senators push legislation that blocks water from going to Mexico

Mexico’s failure to meet its obligations in the last five-year cycle of the 1944 water treaty was mainly due to drought, which has been particularly severe in the north of the country.

Under the treaty, the United States has to deliver 1.5 million acre-feet of water from the Colorado River to Mexico every year.

According to the U.S. Congressional Research Service, “the United States typically has met its Colorado River delivery requirements to Mexico pursuant to the 1944 Treaty.”

Sheinbaum confident that the proposed tariff will be averted 

At her morning press conference on Tuesday, President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged Trump’s threat to impose an additional 5% tariff on Mexican goods that are exported to the U.S.

She said that Mexican and U.S. officials would discuss the water issue at a virtual meeting on Tuesday afternoon and expressed confidence that “we’re going to reach an agreement for the benefit of the United States and for the benefit of Mexico.”

Sheinbaum said there are two things that limits Mexico’s capacity to transfer “more water” to the United States.

“One, our country’s own water needs … and two, the size of the pipeline that takes water to the Rio Grande. [There is] a physical part that limits us,” she said.

She acknowledged that Mexico has an obligation to “comply” with the 1944 treaty, but added that its capacity to do so depends on “the amount of water there is and the amount of water that can be taken by the pipelines.”

The president highlighted that Mexico has sent more water to the U.S. in 2025 than in previous years because there was more rain, and said that additional deliveries would be made in the final weeks of the year.

Sheinbaum declared that Mexico’s failure to fully comply with its treaty obligations “it’s not a matter of ill will.”

She added that her government is not saying to its U.S. counterpart that “we don’t want to deliver water.”

“We want to comply with the treaty, but in accordance with the characteristics we have at this time, and we’ll continue working [to deliver water] in January, February, March,” Sheinbaum said.

“That’s why I say we can come to an agreement, if there is really no other issue on the United States’ part. I hope there isn’t” she added.

The latest flare-up in the long-running water bilateral water dispute comes just days after the Mexican and U.S. presidents met at the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C.

On Monday, Sheinbaum said that Trump showed “a lot of respect toward Mexico” in the meeting, which also included Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. There was no indication that Sheinbaum and Trump spoke about water during the meeting, which largely focused on trade, according to the U.S. president

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

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