Species in the Yucatán Peninsula like jaguars, Central American tapirs and white-tailed deer have habitat around the the Maya Train. (Shutterstock)
The Sélvame del Tren activist collective has criticized a contract between Tren Maya S.A. de C.V. and a private company that has been tasked with deterring wildlife from the railway tracks.
Under the contract, the company Susoma Soluciones Ambientales S. de R.L. de C.V., is responsible for scaring away, capturing, removing and even euthanizing “harmful” species that pose a threat to the operation of the Maya Train. These species include jaguars (Panthera onca), Central American tapirs (Tapirus bairdii) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).
The contract outlines that the staff of Susoma Soluciones Ambientales, S. de R.L. de C.V., based in Toluca, Mexico state, has the right to conduct “wildlife control” through a variety of mitigation activities. These include scaring away wildlife with fireworks, installing nets and traps and using tranquilizer darts for larger animals, among other methods.
“Measures like these not only represent a direct attack on local fauna,” Sélvame del Tren stressed in a statement, “but also a violation of Mexican environmental laws and international commitments regarding conservation.”
The agreement also calls for the company to develop a habitat management program that reduces the presence of wildlife attractors, through practices that include pruning flora, relocating tree species, creating natural barriers and building alternative watering holes away from the train tracks to keep animals away.
According to local media, the Maya Train paid 9 million pesos (US $444,000) to Susoma Soluciones Ambientales for the wildlife control services under this agreement, effective from Sept. 3, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) lists the jungles in the southeastern Mexican states of Quintana Roo, Yucatán and Campeche — along with jungles in Belize and Guatemala — as among the largest in terms of priority landscapes for jaguar conservation.
María José Villanueva, director of Conservation for WWF in Mexico, said the jaguar faces significant challenges in the region due to fragmentation of the jungle caused by the Maya Train’s construction, the subdivision of land for new real estate developments and polluting projects such as pig farms.
The contract with the federal government calls for Susoma Soluciones Ambientales to develop a habitat management program to reduce wildlife that they say has questionable practices. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
In contrast, preliminary results of the latest jaguar census in Mexico in September found that in most of the study’s areas, the species’ population has remained stable or even increased since the previous jaguar census, which was completed in 2018.
The census’ final results will be announced in February 2025.
This week, the Senate approved modifications to the Federal Rights Law, increasing the fee for international visitors. (Especial/Cuartoscuro)
Traveling to Mexico will be more expensive for international tourists starting in 2025.
On Tuesday, the Senate approved modifications to the Federal Rights Law, increasing the fee for international visitors. Furthermore, the government announced new taxes for international tourists in the Riviera Maya region.
📌 Con el propósito de actualizar las cuotas por la prestación de servicios públicos e incorporar beneficios para los pueblos y comunidades indígenas, afromexicanas, personas con discapacidad y adultos mayores, el Senado aprobó reformas a la Ley Federal de Derechos. pic.twitter.com/95OFTHHYRU
The Employers’ Confederation of Mexico Quintana Roo (Coparmex), warned that the new fees would turn the state’s ports 213% more expensive than an average Caribbean port.
The Riviera Maya is a marketing designation of several resort locations in the state of Quintana Roo.
Here’s everything you need to know.
International visitors soon to pay more to enter Mexico
Starting next year, the existing fee for international travelers entering Mexico will increase from 717 pesos (US $35) to 860 pesos (US $42). The new tax will apply to all international tourists vacationing in Mexico, including cruise ship passengers.
Previously, cruise ship visitors were exempt from the fee because their average stay in the country tends to be six hours. However, last month, Congress voted to impose a US $42 immigration fee on every passenger of each cruise ship that docks at any of the country’s ports.
Officially known as the “Non-Resident Fee,” the tax will apply to all cruise passengers stopping in Mexico starting in 2025, regardless of whether individuals disembark.
Airport immigration services fee goes up slightly
The law also increased the fee for airport immigration services to passengers on international flights departing Mexico, which will increase from 185 pesos (US $9) to just over 223 pesos (US $10).
The law also increased the fee for airport immigration services to passengers on international flights departing Mexico. (Senado de México via X)
New US $5 tax in the Riviera Maya
In 2025, cruise ship passengers visiting ports in the southeastern state of Quintana Roo will have to pay an additional US $5 fee that is earmarked the National Disaster Prevention Fund. This fee is intended to help rebuild tourism infrastructure potentially affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters in the area.
Why has Mexico increased tourist fees?
The move to increase travel fees for international tourists aims to raise funds for investment in Mexico’s public works and social assistance programs.
Of the total revenue generated from the international travelers’ fee, 67% will be allocated to the Ministry of National Defense (Defensa). The funding will be used for:
operational expenses
administrative services
construction
acquisitions and leasing
supplementary projects
equipment procurement
installation and investment in infrastructure related to Defensa’s management of state-owned companies.
The remainder of the fee will be allocated to the Federal Treasury. The law doesn’t mention a specific destination for that portion of the funds.
Meanwhile, 83% of the funds collected from the US $10 immigration services fee will be allocated to the National Migration Institute (INM) to modernize its equipment and infrastructure along Mexico’s southern border. The remainder will be allocated to the Federal Treasury.
The U.S. accused Mexico of providing a "safe haven" for drug traffickers. (Omar García Harfuch/X)
Security Ministry Omar García Harfuch announced Tuesday that federal authorities had completed the largest fentanyl bust in Mexican history, seizing more than 1,000 kilograms of the synthetic opioid in the northern state of Sinaloa.
In a late-night post to X, García said that personnel with the navy, the army, the National Guard, the Federal Attorney General’s Office and the federal Security Ministry confiscated “more than 1 tonne of fentanyl pills” in “two different actions” in Sinaloa, which is home to the powerful Sinaloa Cartel.
The Security Ministry (SSPC) said in a statement on Wednesday that more than 1,000 kilograms of fentanyl was seized Tuesday at two addresses in Ahome, a coastal municipality that borders the state of Sonora.
Precursor chemicals, containers, vehicles, industrial mixers and scales were also confiscated, the ministry said.
The SSPC said that the estimated “economic impact” of the fentanyl bust was approximately US $400 million.
The record fentanyl seizure came eight days after United States President-elect Donald Trump pledged to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican exports “until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”
Amid escalating threats from incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexico has stressed the case that it is already taking strong action against drug trafficking. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)
At her Wednesday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged what she called “the largest seizure of fentanyl pills” in Mexico, and told reporters it came after a lengthy investigation.
“To think of a tonne of fentanyl, we’re talking about more than 20 million doses,” she said.
Sheinbaum noted that García traveled to Sinaloa on Tuesday and will remain in the state for a few days.
Security Minister Omar García Harfuch traveled to Sinaloa on Tuesday to help coordinate the state’s security strategy against cartel infighting. (José Betanzos/Cuartoscuro)
Zambada alleges he was kidnapped and forced onto a U.S.-bound private plane by Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera.
The Sinaloa Cartel, which was founded by Zambada, Guzmán Loera and others, “is largely responsible for the massive influx of fentanyl into the United States over the past approximately eight years,” according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
That cartel and other criminal organizations including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel manufacture fentanyl pills in Mexico with Chinese-made precursor chemicals smuggled into the country through Pacific coast ports, according to Mexican and U.S. authorities.
She said in October that she would like to see the minimum wage increase by around 12% per year during her six-year term in government. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico’s minimum wage will increase 12% on Jan. 1 to 278.80 pesos (US $13.75) per day in most of the country, the federal government announced Wednesday.
The same increase will apply to the minimum wage in Mexico’s northern border free zone, lifting the daily rate there to 419.88 pesos (US $20.70).
Labor Minister Marath Bolaños told reporters on Wednesday that the new minimum wage of 8,364 pesos was agreed upon by the business sector, unions and the federal government. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Labor Minister Marath Bolaños López told President Claudia Sheinbaum’s morning press conference that Mexico’s business sector, unions and the federal government all agreed with increasing the minimum wage by 12%.
The minimum wage is set by the National Minimum Wage Commission, which includes representatives from business groups, unions and the government.
Sheinbaum noted that the monthly minimum wage will increase to 8,364 pesos (US $412) in most of the country and 12,596 pesos (US $620) in the northern border area.
She highlighted that the 12% increase is more than three times higher than the projected inflation rate in 2025.
Congress in October approved a constitutional reform bill that stipulates that annual increases to Mexico’s minimum wage must be higher than the prevailing inflation rate.
When the daily rate for 2024 was announced just over a year ago, its dollar equivalent was about US $14.50, or $0.75 higher than the 2025 rate based on the current exchange rate.
The US dollar bought about 17 pesos at the start of 2024 whereas it currently buys around 20.3 pesos. The peso has depreciated significantly since Mexico’s elections were held in early June.
The 29.87-peso increase to the daily minimum wage that will take effect on the first day of 2025 is equivalent to just US $1.47. The 44.99-peso increase in the northern border zone represents a raise of US $2.21 per day.
En la conferencia matutina se anunció el incremento de salario mínimo de 12% para 2025.
Es el menor incremento desde el sexenio de Peña Nieto.
No se espera que genere presiones inflacionarias adicionales.
Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Banco Base, noted on X that the increase in percentage terms is the lowest since the six-year term of former president Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-18).
The increase is not expected to generate additional inflationary pressure, she added.
Minimum wage on Jan. 1 will be more than triple the rate when AMLO took office
When former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office in December 2018, Mexico’s daily minimum wage was just 88.36 pesos. The new rate that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, will be 215.5% higher.
Bolaños said on Wednesday that the purchasing power of the minimum wage will be 135% higher than it was in 2018. That figure takes into account price increases due to inflation over the past six years.
The increase in the minimum wage during López Obrador’s presidency helped lift millions of Mexicans out of poverty. The government’s welfare programs have also contributed to lower poverty rates.
Bolaños said that the federal government has a “vision of shared prosperity” and a “fair Mexico for everyone.”
Sheinbaum took the opportunity to criticize previous federal governments for failing to increase Mexico’s minimum wage by any significant amount.
“As you know, during the entire neoliberal period [1982-2018], what they bragged about abroad was cheap labor in Mexico,” she said.
“This speaks of the dehumanization of those governments. You can’t go abroad to brag about starvation wages,” Sheinbaum said.
Spears was seen landing in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, on Tuesday. (Britney Spears/Facebook)
American pop star Britney Spears stirred up a media duststorm this week by announcing she was moving to Mexico.
On the occasion of her 43rd birthday on Monday, Spears posted a video on Instagram in which she declared that the paparazzi have “always been incredibly cruel to me” with their “pictures and the way they’ve illustrated me.”
“I know I’m not perfect, at all, by any means, but some of it is extremely mean and cruel,” the pop icon continued.
“And that’s why I’ve moved to Mexico.”
The story was picked up Tuesday by multiple media sources after TMZ published new photos in which Spears is seen landing in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur — reportedly one of her favorite vacation destinations. The photos showed a smiling Spears sporting a white trench coat, black hat and sunglasses.
Monday also marked the day on which her divorce from husband No. 3, Sam Asghari, became legal.
However, in an update posted early Wednesday morning, TMZ wrote: “Despite what she posted on IG, Britney hasn’t actually moved to Mexico. Sources told us she was just saying quirky things online, and she’s actually on a solo birthday trip for a few days.”
In another video posted on her birthday — also criticizing the paparazzi for publishing photos that make her look like she’s wearing “a white Jason mask” — the Mississippi-born, Louisiana-bred artist said, “I’m turning 5 this year. I’m turning 5 years old, and I have to go to kindergarten tomorrow.”
Britney Spears seen looking the healthier and happiest she has been in a long time while dancing at a hotel bar in Los Cabos, Mexico.
This new sighting comes just weeks after her husband demanded she give him a substantial settlement after claiming she physically abused him. pic.twitter.com/lS1wO4g8tj
Cabo San Lucas is reportedly one of Spears’ favorite vacation destinations.
Nicknamed the “Princess of Pop,” Spears became a star by captivating audiences with her dance moves, innovative videos, catchy songs and fashion.
Her 1998 breakout hit “… Baby One More Time” — included on an album that was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks — launched her to superstardom as a 17-year-old. Then her 2000 hit “Oops! … I Did It Again” solidified her status as a pop icon.
Over the next 12 years, she had more big hits — including “Toxic” in 2003 and “S&M” with Rihanna in 2011 — but controversy became her calling card.
In addition to mental health problems and rocky marriages all played out in the public eye, Spears in 2008 lost control of personal, professional and financial affairs when a conservatorship was granted to her father, Jamie Spears, and other designees. This sparked outrage among her fans and the emergence of the #FreeBritney movement.
The guayabera, a traditional Caribbean shirt, has become a symbol of Mayan culture. The best tailors have made creating guayaberas their life's work. (Guayaberas Finas Cab/Instagram)
For Ricardo Rosado Cab, his first encounter with the iconic guayabera shirt was quite organic. His grandfather, Pedro Cab Paas, a Mayan descendant from Hocabá, Yucatán, founded one of the best guayabera brands in the world: Guayaberas Cab. Pedro crafted the guayabera worn by the famous writer Gabriel García Márquez when he received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982.
Márquez asked Pedro Cab to modify the traditional Colombian outfit known as the liquiliqui into a guayabera. Prior to the ceremony, the writer announced that he would wear the “Caribbean national costume” to the event: the guayabera.
Gabriel García Márquez wore a guayabera when he received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982. (Guayaberas Finas Cab)
Pedro Cab was also responsible for creating guayaberas for celebrities such as Prince Harry of England and King Juan Carlos I of Spain. His legacy is undeniable; today, Ricardo Rosado Cab represents the third generation continuing the personalized creation of this beautiful garment.
What makes the guayabera special
The guayabera’s origins can be traced to the Caribbean, specifically Cuba, at the end of the 18th century. The story goes that a woman designed a garment for her husband to collect and store guavas, which is why the classic guayabera features four pockets. Interestingly, over time, Yucatán, Mexico, emerged as the capital of guayabera production, while the state of Veracruz adopted it as part of its traditional attire.
So, what makes a guayabera so special? In Ricardo’s words, “The guayabera is the quintessential etiquette garment in a tropical environment. The quality of the fabric, the aesthetics of the design, its elegance, and its freshness make it one of the finest pieces of clothing.”. This is why it is renowned worldwide. “It is very breathable, protects you from the sun, and is incredibly presentable,”, adds Rodrigo Rosado, Ricardo’s 27-year-old son and the fourth generation in his family to craft guayaberas. “Moreover, a good guayabera can last for decades,” he continues.
“Today, the variety of designs includes the Classic (featuring the four front pockets), the Presidential (so named because many Mexican presidents wear it, characterized by the folds on the chest), the Gala (used for formal occasions such as weddings), and the Industrial series with embroidery,”, explains Rosado Cab.
Guayaberas are mostly worn by men and are traditionally handcrafted in the Yucatán Peninsula. (Maurice Marcellin/Wikimedia Commons)
Originally, guayaberas were made from 100% cotton, but now industrial versions are primarily crafted from polyester. However, Guayaberas Cab offers handmade, personalized options in Irish linen, Italian linen, or 100% Swiss cotton.
The legacy of Pedro Cab Paas
There is no doubt that Pedro Cab Paas is a legend in the world of guayaberas. Ricardo recounts how his grandfather started the business: “He moved from Hocabá to Mérida and began making guayaberas himself. His initiative was extraordinary, especially for a specific quality: Each piece is personalized and handmade to this day.”
“A single piece takes at least 15 days to complete and is crafted by skilled tailors. In the case of the design known as Deshilado, it can take up to three weeks to finish. The Deshilado design is one of the most intricate because it includes handmade unraveling designs in the cuffs, collar, or chest,” says Rodrigo.
“My grandfather was self-taught; he possessed a natural talent and learned through observation, acquiring the empirical knowledge necessary to create personalized guayaberas for various body types — short, medium, and tall — rather than producing them in bulk,”, argues Ricardo.
The Cab family business, seen here in its early days, has dressed national and international celebrities. (Guayaberas Cab/Instagram)
The fine guayaberas are handmade. As for prices, a personalized one in Italian linen costs around 7,000 pesos, one in Irish linen around 3,000 pesos, one in 100% Swiss cotton costs about 5,000 pesos, and the industrial versions (a mixture of cotton and polyester) are around 700 pesos.
“The purer the fabric, the higher the quality. The more polyester you find in your guayabera, the lower the quality,” Ricardo explains.
A good guayabera is an investment for life. A personalized piece, crafted with tradition and high-quality fabric, is a timeless, flattering, and fashionable garment that will never go out of style.
What else do you know about Guayaberas?
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
More luxurious than atole, more traditional than coffee: Champurrado is a chocolate drink fit for a cold winter morning. (Canva)
Long before friends started to over-analyze your Spotify Wrapped top 10 list and Black Friday deals flooded your feed, there was champurrado — a rich, velvety drink that wrapped you in warmth, like the embrace of a grandmother who always knew when you needed one. It hailed from the land of corn and cacao, where the Olmecs, Maya, and Mexica were hard at work crafting pyramids, waging wars, and finding ingenious ways to proclaim their superiority — often with the help of cacao, which was not just an ingredient, but a currency.
Here’s the funny thing: champurrado wasn’t born in some fancy palace with golden cups. Nope, it bubbled to life in clay pots, stirred by people who knew how to stretch a good thing. It was cacao and maize — two ingredients that literally built civilizations. The Olmecs started it, and the Maya ran with it, adding froth and some spiritual pizazz. By the time the Mexica got hold of it, they had turned the drink into an energy booster for warriors and a bribe for their gods. How’s that for multitasking?
Champurrado is a drink older than Mexico itself, made from cacao and corn. (USAID Digital Development/Wikimedia Commons)
Then came the Spaniards. They showed up, pointed at everything, and said, “Mine.”. They tried cacao and nearly spit it out — it was bitter, spicy, and definitely not the dessert they were expecting. So they added sugar, cinnamon, and enough sweetness to make it palatable for their European sensibilities. Thus, champurrado as we know it was baptized into the chaotic family of humanity.
But it didn’t stay in the hands of conquerors or kings. It slipped into the kitchens of everyday people, where its purpose was less about gods and gold and more about keeping you from freezing your butt off on a cold morning. They thickened it with masa harina, sweetened it with piloncillo, and stirred it into something that felt like home.
Today, champurrado isn’t just a drink. It’s a survivor. It’s a reminder that no matter how crazy things get, you can always simmer some cacao, whisk in a little corn, and sip your way to a moment of peace.
Champurrado Recipe
Champurrado is a traditional Mexican chocolate-based atole, perfect for chilly mornings or festive gatherings. Here’s a step-by-step recipe to make it.
Despite its sacred ingredients, champurrado is less about gods and gold and more about keeping you from freezing your butt off on a cold morning. (Cuartoscuro)
4 cups milk (or almond milk for a dairy-free option)
1/2 cup masa harina (corn flour)
1/2 cup piloncillo (or brown sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Simmer the Spices:
In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
Add the cinnamon stick and star anise (if using). Simmer for 5 minutes to infuse the flavors.
Dissolve the Masa Harina:
In a small bowl, whisk the masa harina with 1 cup of milk until smooth, ensuring no lumps.
Combine Ingredients:
Remove the cinnamon stick and star anise from the water.
Slowly stir in the masa harina mixture into the saucepan. Continue stirring to prevent clumping.
Add the remaining milk, chopped chocolate, piloncillo (or brown sugar), and vanilla extract.
Cook and Stir:
Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon to avoid burning.
Cook until the champurrado thickens to your desired consistency (about 5-10 minutes). It should be creamy but pourable.
Taste and Adjust:
Taste the champurrado and adjust sweetness as needed by adding more piloncillo or sugar.
Serve Hot:
Pour the champurrado into mugs and serve immediately. Enjoy with pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread) or tamales.
Pair your champurrado with a fresh tamale for the ultimate winter warmer! (LRD615/Wikimedia Commons)
Final Thoughts
Champurrado is what happens when chocolate and corn get together and decide to make a warm hug in a mug. Drink it warm, drink it thick, and don’t think too hard about why it makes you so happy. You’ve earned it. Or maybe you haven’t. Either way, it’s delicious.
Stephen Randall has lived in Mexico since 2018 by way of Kentucky, and before that, Germany. He’s an enthusiastic amateur chef who takes inspiration from many different cuisines, with favorites including Mexican and Mediterranean. He also runs the Recipe Rankers YouTube channel.
Sheinbaum's security cabinet reported on Tuesday that they've arrested 5,333 people for "high-impact crimes" such as murder and kidnapping in the past two months. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
Following the portion of the Tuesday presser that is dedicated to national security, the president addressed a potential United States invasion of Mexico and the progress that has been made toward mining lithium in Sonora. (X)
During the second part of the federal government’s fortnightly security update, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch presented data on arrests and drug seizures since Sheinbaum took office on Oct. 1.
Later in her Tuesday morning presser, the president herself responded to reporters’ questions on topics including a potential U.S. invasion of Mexico and the progress that has been made toward mining lithium in Sonora and other parts of the country.
Homicides down almost 7% this year
Figueroa Franco, head of the National Public Security System, presented preliminary data that showed there was a total of 2,234 homicides in November.
She noted that there was an average of 74.5 murder victims every day last month. That was the lowest daily average for any month this year, although it’s likely that the figure will be revised upward.
Figueroa also presented data that showed there was an average of 82.3 homicides per day in the first 11 months of 2024. She highlighted that the daily average was 6.9% lower than that recorded in 2023.
Compared to 2018, when former president Enrique Peña Nieto was in office for the first 11 months of the year, the decline in homicides between January and November was 18.2%.
#VideosLaJornada En el mes de noviembre se registraron en México 2 mil 234 homicidios dolosos, lo que representa un promedio mensual de 74.5, informó la titular del Secretariado Ejecutivo del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública, Marcela Figueroa.https://t.co/nuoY2QsNovpic.twitter.com/7F7ZDSTzIv
Figueroa told reporters that 49.5% of the homicides recorded in the first 11 months of the year — 13,463 of 27,558 — occurred in just seven states.
Guanajuato was the most violent, accounting for 10.3% of all murders in Mexico this year, followed by Baja California, México state, Chihuahua, Jalisco, Guerrero and Nuevo León.
Since Sheinbaum was sworn in on Oct. 1, Guanajuato has recorded the highest number of murders among Mexico’s 32 federal entities followed by Sinaloa, where a war between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel has claimed hundreds of lives in recent months.
More than 5,000 arrests for ‘high-impact crimes’ since Oct. 1
García Harfuch reported that 5,333 people were detained for ‘high-impact crimes’ such as murder and kidnapping between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1.
He also said that 57.9 tonnes of drugs were seized in the period, not including more than 415,000 fentanyl pills.
In addition, Mexican authorities confiscated 2,471 firearms in the two months after Sheinbaum took office, Harfuch said.
Security Minister Omar Harfuch García said that the seizure of narcotics in Mexico over the past two months will ensure that “more than 50 million doses” of drugs don’t reach the streets. (X)
García said that the seizure of narcotics in Mexico over the past two months will ensure that “more than 50 million doses” of drugs don’t reach the streets, “preventing these substances from destroying families and communities.”
“… Taking these weapons off the streets means less violence, less firepower for criminal organizations and more tranquility for Mexican families,” he added.
“… These actions are designed to protect families and build peace in our country,” García said.
“It won’t happen, there will be a good relationship with President Trump,” she said.
“… There won’t be an invasion, that’s not a scenario we have in mind,” Sheinbaum reiterated.
“And in any case, we have our national anthem,” she added tongue-in-cheek.
The lyrics of the anthem are bellicose in nature, urging Mexicans to defend their homeland amid any foreign invasion.
Preparations to mine lithium in Mexico are ongoing, Sheinbaum says
More than two years after lithium was nationalized in Mexico and the state-owned company Litio para México (LitioMx) was created, no lithium has actually been mined in Mexico.
But Sheinbaum assured reporters that LitioMx is working toward that goal.
She noted that extracting lithium in Sonora and other parts of the country is complicated because “in contrast to South America, it’s mixed with clay here.”
The Mexican Petroleum Institute and the National Council for Humanities, Science and Technology have developed methods to extract lithium from clay and LitioMx is looking at how those methods can be applied on a large scale, Sheinbaum said.
She also said that LitioMx is looking at how much lithium will cost to mine in Mexico.
“So we’re still working. … We’re going to continue supporting LitioMx,” Sheinbaum said without specifying any date when lithium mining in Mexico might commence.
Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser said Monday that the separation of Banamex from Citi México "represents an important milestone in our simplification." (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Citigroup announced on Monday that it has completed the separation of retail bank Banamex from its institutional banking business in Mexico as it prepares to list Banamex on the stock exchange.
“With this separation complete, effective December 1, Citi will now operate two separate financial groups in Mexico: Grupo Financiero Citi México and Grupo Financiero Banamex,” the New York-based bank and financial services company said in a statement.
Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser is overseeing Mexican retail bank Banamex’s separation from Citi México, part of her strategy to simplify Citigroup’s structure. (Wikimedia Commons)
“The separation into these financial groups marks a significant step in the execution of its strategic plan to simplify the firm,” the company added.
Citigroup purchased Banamex – one of Mexico’s largest banks – in 2001.
On Monday, Citigroup said that it “continues to actively work on the proposed IPO of Grupo Financiero Banamex.”
The timing of the listing, it added, “will be driven by regulatory approvals and market conditions to maximize shareholder value, which remains a priority for Citi.”
Reuters has reported that Citigroup has considered a dual stock listing for Banamex, possibly in Mexico City and New York.
Banamex may end up with a dual stock listing in both Mexico City and New York, according to Citigroup. (Shutterstock)
Commitment to Mexico ‘as strong as ever,’ says CEO
Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser said Monday that the separation of Banamex from Citi México “represents an important milestone in our simplification and brings us closer to our long-term vision of a more connected bank that is focused around our core strengths.”
“We are proud to have executed this process thoughtfully and with full transparency. Our commitment to our clients in Mexico is as strong as ever, and we will continue to connect Mexico and the world through our market-leading investor and corporate client platforms,” she said.
“We will now prepare for the Banamex IPO, focused on optimizing value for our shareholders.”
According to the Citigroup statement, Citi México will maintain “a significant presence” in Mexico and continue to serve Citi’s institutional clients here through “a full-service bank,” Citi Banco México, and through the brokerage Citi México Casa de Bolsa.
Approximately 3,000 Citi México employees will serve around 2,000 institutional clients, including “financial institutions, governments, investors, multinationals, and national companies seeking to internationalize,” according to Citigroup.
For its part, Banamex will continue to operate as a full-service bank, “offering retail banking, including wealth management services, consumer loans, residential mortgage lending, deposits, payroll services, payments and a full suite of commercial banking products,” Citigroup said.
“… With its digital-first mentality, innovative online banking and mobile apps and an extensive network of approximately 1,300 branches and more than 9,100 ATMs across the country, Banamex will continue to offer a full range of financial services to nearly 20 million clients, furthering its 140-year legacy in Mexico,” the company said.
“Over 39,000 employees currently supporting these businesses, as well as Banamex’s art collection and historical buildings, and the social and cultural associations (Fomentos), will continue to be part of the Banamex financial group,” Citigroup added.
At the ribbon-cutting event, Querétaro Minister of Sustainable Development Marco del Prete, third from left, told attendees, "Be proud of what you do, because a piece of Querétaro is flying around the world.” (Feria Aeroespacial México)
French aerospace equipment manufacturer Safran Group has inaugurated a new assembly line as part of a 720-million-peso (US $35.4 million) plant extension project in the state of Querétaro on Wednesday.
This followed an October announcement of a new facility in the northern state of Chihuahua, expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard checks out an engine part on display at Safran’s Querétaro plant. (Marcelo Ebrard/X)
“This plant symbolizes our commitment to excellence and our mission to push the boundaries of talent and aerospace technology in Mexico,” said Philippe Errera, Safran Group’s Director of International and Institutional Relations. “Querétaro, with its talent and vision, has become a key partner, and Safran is proud to contribute to the development of this region, where ideas become reality.”
Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who attended the event, emphasized government support for Safran’s projects to ensure Mexico maintains a significant role in its operations.
The assembly line will support Safran’s increase in CFM LEAP production. The CFM LEAP is an engine used widely in Airbus aircraft. There are 8,500 LEAP units in operation worldwide and an order backlog exceeding 11,600 units, according to Safran.
Safran assembly director Jean-Francois Locufier said that the company has a goal of assembling 100 LEAP 1A engines at the facility by 2027.
The extension makes Querétaro the only final assembly site in Mexico for single-aisle commercial aircraft engines, alongside existing Safran facilities in France and the United States.
Safran Aircraft Engines Mexico (SAEM) spans a total 279,861 square feet of operational space and employs 650 people. The expansion adds 46,284 square feet of operational buildings and 91,493 square feet of logistics warehouses, supporting the creation of 150 jobs, according to Safran officials.
Safran’s new Queretaro plant will be the only final assembly site in Mexico for single-aisle commercial aircraft engines. The others are in the U.S. and France. (Safran/Facebook)
Querétaro is a hub for aerospace manufacturing in Mexico. As of 2022, it had received 50% of all foreign direct investment in the industry over the last decade and ranked as the world’s eighth most competitive region in the aeronautical sector.
“With this plant, Mexico will position itself among the few countries capable of covering the entire engine life cycle — from manufacturing parts and modules to final assembly, repair, maintenance, and engine testing,” said CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines Jean-Paul Alary at the Farnborough Airshow this past July.
The November inauguration followed an announcement in Oct. of a new facility to be built in Chihuahua this year. Safran System’s Plant 6 will manufacture evacuation products, slides and rescue equipment and is expected to open by the end of 2024.
“Safran is betting a lot on Mexico, for the simple fact that it is a completely strategic country, toward one of the largest consumers of aerospace products which is the United States and also a visibility to the Brazilian market,” said President of Safran Mexico Alejandro Cardona Seeman during the BJX Summit Aerospace 4.0 2024.
Safran, Mexico’s largest aerospace employer — known for providing the engines for the supersonic passenger aircraft the Concorde — has operated in Mexico for more than 34 years. It currently has 18 facilities in Chihuahua, Querétaro, Baja California and Mexico City, as well as over 14,000 employees in Mexico.
