Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Know your Mexico City neighborhood: Colonia Cuauhtémoc

By
Bethany Platanella
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6
Angel de la Independencia in Colonia Cuauhtemoc guide, Mexico City
It's one of the city's most central neighborhoods. Cuauhtémoc has urban living, Mexican history and intriguing culture in spades. (Shutterstock)

Borough: Cuauhtémoc
Established: 1907
Location: Bordering the Angel de la Independencia
Pre-Columbian inhabitants: Mexicas

Who lives here 

The Colonia Cuauhtémoc retains a strong local character while simultaneously harboring the delights of a typically gentrified neighborhood: there are cafes aplenty, organic markets, yoga studios and wine bars. Alongside them are taco stands, traveling musicians, rug salesmen and produce sold out of the backs of trucks. 

Cyclists on Paseo de La reforma, through Colonia Cuauhtémoc guide
On Sundays, Paseo de la Reforma becomes a cyclist’s paradise. (Residentes Cuauhtémoc)

In addition to a large population of Mexicans, there is a sizable community of Chinese, Japanese, Lebanese and Venezuelans. It’s also common to hear French, German and Russian spoken here on any given day. The neighborhood draws professionals and families with young children.

A brief history of Colonia Cuauhtémoc

The neighborhood is named after the last ruler of Tenochtitlán, the respected warrior and nephew of Moctezuma II. Unfortunately, Cuauhtémoc inherited an empire under siege by Spanish forces that was simultaneously being ravaged by smallpox. Within a year of beginning his rule, he was captured, tortured and eventually executed in Guatemala by Hernán Cortés. Cuauhtémoc’s legacy of strength and courage lives on and his name was immortalized in 1928 as a Mexico City borough. His statue reigns high over the confluence of Avenida Insurgentes and Paseo de la Reforma.

The area that now forms the Colonia Cuauhtémoc was once part of the Hacienda de la Teja, owned by Augustinian friars between 1577 and 1629. Permission to build an official neighborhood wasn’t obtained until 1874 and in 1907, Cuauhtémoc was formally recognized by the city.

Despite its ideal location, affluent city-dwellers overlooked Cuauhtémoc, so the neighborhood lacks the Art Nouveau mansions typical of La Juárez, just across Reforma. Instead, the zone became a nook for experimental architecture, where designers could play with modern Mexican construction. Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, Luis Barragán and Mario Pani all set their sights on Cuauhtémoc, adding to the dynamic range of facades you see today. 

Melchor Ocampo 38, designed by Luis Barragán and Max Cetto in Colonia Cuauhtemoc guide, Mexico City
Cuauhtémoc is characterized by architectural experiments like this Functionalist treasure by Luis Barragán and Max Cetto (Exa Hernández/Instagram)

A guide to Colonia Cuauhtémoc today 

Let’s start with the basics: Cuauhtémoc is both the name of the neighborhood and the borough it’s in, which is why chilangos call it Colonia Cuauhtémoc — to distinguish it from the alcaldía Cuauhtémoc. It’s shaped like a triangle and bordered by Circuito Interior, Paseo de la Reforma and Calle James Sullivan. 

The neighborhood is categorized by an eclectic mix of architecture that ranges from modern skyscrapers to avant-garde row houses. However, it’s dominated by residential apartments, both old and new, amid a heavy dose of Japanese establishments. In fact, within the approximate 35 square kilometers that make up Colonia Cuauhtémoc, there are at least eight Japanese restaurants. Many of these establishments are owned by the Edo Kobayashi group, whose collection of sushi restaurants and music bars have garnered Colonia Cuauhtémoc the name “Little Tokyo.”

Wandering the streets, each of which are named after rivers — think Río Hudson, Río Panuco and Río Nilo — you’re less likely to encounter first-time Mexico City tourists. The few that manage to cross to the east side of Reforma are usually in search of Tokyo Music Bar or they’re lost — or looking for the U.S. embassy, which takes up a good chunk of the neighborhood. 

Cuauhtémoc is great if you love: A down-to-earth community where everyone has a dog and you can buy an overpriced flat white on one end of the block and 20-peso street tacos on the other. 

What to do in Colonia Cuauhtémoc

Museo de la Bolsa de Valores on Paseo de la Reforma in Colonia Cuauhtemoc guide
MUBO is located inside the Mexican Stock Exchange, on Paseo de la Reforma. (Shutterstock)

Museo de la Bolsa Mexicana (MUBO): Stock market nerds! Just when you thought you’d have to live yet another day with no museum to pass the time, the Mexican Stock Exchange Museum pops on your radar! Enlighten yourself with the history and functioning of the Mexican Stock Exchange through interactive exhibits.

Monumento a la Madre: A towering monument dedicated to mothers, where you’re liable to catch a community Zumba class or military march. 

Museo Casa de Carranza: The 19th-century house where Mexican Revolution-era leader and president Venustiano Carranza lived in his final six months of life is now a well-preserved museum, showcasing artifacts related to Carranza and the Revolution.

Mariane Ibrahim Gallery: A bold and colorful contemporary art gallery that showcases emerging and established artists, particularly from Africa and its diaspora. The building itself is gorgeous, as is Panúco 36, a delicious lunch spot on the ground floor.

Librería Góngora: A charming independent bookstore known for its extensive collection of literature and art books, literary events and readings and its resident cat.

Vainilla Lola: Need a plant pot? Need something floral to go with it? Pop into this beautiful plant shop for all your gardening needs.

Jardín del Sullivan: The park that borders Cuauhtémoc and San Rafael goes from playground to art fair every Sunday. Adjacent is a huge tianguis with all the fruit, tubers and paint supplies you require for the upcoming week. 

Jardín del Arte Sullivan in Colonia Cuauhtemoc guide
The Jardín del Arte Sullivan is home to a vibrant art market on Sundays. (Mexico City Government)

Le Cinéma IFAL: Catch a foreign indie flick most days of the week at the French-Latin American Institute’s boutique movie theater. 

Casa Pani: The private guesthouse completed by renowned Mexican architect Mario Pani isn’t open to the public, but it’s worth it to stroll past the understated, yet sophisticated, facade.

Somma Wine Bar: The hip vinoteca Cuauhtémoc needed. Stylish wine-lovers regularly flock here for its curated list of Mexican wines and glorified snack menu.

Carlotta Reforma: For the ultimate Mexico City-chic, the Sky Bar on the 38th floor of the Ritz Carlton will have you swooning, both by the breathtaking views of Chapultepec Park and the appropriately sky-high prices.

Tokyo Music Bar: Because it’s on every cliche “48 hours in Mexico City” itinerary for foreigners, I was reluctant to enter the Ginza-inspired speakeasy for a long time. When I caved and went for a delicious Olive Oil Old-Fashioned, the DJ put a Sade record on, and suddenly, I understood in my soul what the fuss was all about.

Where to eat in Colonia Cuauhtémoc

Nice Day Café: Your neighborhood coffee shop, known for its sharp espresso and homemade conchas.

Nice Day cafe in Colonia Cuauhtémoc guide
There are almost too many incredible bakeries here to count. (Nice Day MX/Instagram)

Pâtisserie Mignon: This dreamy, Parisian-style café boasts award-winning pan de muerto and excellent chocolate croissants.

Boudega: For a quick, post-bike ride on Sunday bite, the list of sandwiches and mouth watering cookies at this friendly café just a block from Paseo de la Reforma cannot be beat. 

Santo Pozole: It’s made multiple top 10 lists, including CDMX Secreta and Mejores Mexico. Mexico News Daily’s Monica Belot wrote about it on her list of 20 unexpected cravings. The pozole here is some of the city’s best, and hearty enough to fill you up for the foreseeable future. 

Yerba Santa: Serving up contemporary Mexican food, this restaurant’s atmosphere is just as lovely as its artful dishes. Grab a spot on the patio and come ready to tackle an extensive breakfast menu. 

Cutre Bar: Cutre’s burst into the food scene was fast and furious, grabbing the attention of oyster aficionados and cocktail lovers. Happy hour is always buzzing and fresh seafood is always flowing.

Mamma Ricotta: Time Out México says it’s the best pizza in Mexico City. That’s for you to decide, a discussion best suited for a post-pizza negroni at the seductively-lit bar.

MO+F: Basically a compound of multiple restaurants that include sushi, yakitori, barbeque, Korean, Chinese… that’s not actually all, but you get the picture. Whatever you choose, rest assured your plates will be as authentic as they come.

Rokai: Ramen or sushi, take your pick. Edo Kobayashi’s first Cuauhtémoc establishment showcases a minimalist style – light wood, defined angles, excellent lighting – and quality dishes.

Get some of Mexico City’s best sushi at Rokai. (Edokobayashi/Instagram)

Tacos El Triciclo: I don’t even eat meat and I salivate every time I walk past this place. There is never not a line of hungry patrons pining to devour a lunch of generously-filled tacos topped with an abundance of salsas.

Casa del Fuego: This is the Cuauhtémoc brunch spot par excellence, so there’s always a wait on the weekends. Not to worry, Cucurucho Café is right next door and has the best almond-milk cappuccino in town.

Cafe Acloma: A cute, solid Korean spot that specializes in bulgogi, frita, kimchi and matcha. There’s lots of outdoor seating, mismatched tables and chairs and a friendly owner with a permanent smile on his face.

Pata Negra: Pata Negra is the corner bar that dreams are made of. The music, the people and the vibe is always just right. The kitchen serves up Spanish food, so you can chow down on pan con tomate, tortilla española, pimientos padrones and paella.

El Rey de Comida Libanesa: It’s nothing fancy. In fact, it’s the polar opposite. But I’m convinced the hummus at this Lebanese restaurant is the best in Mexico City, and I challenge you to find one better.

One hidden gem

One of Cuahtémoc’s most memorable experiences is perhaps the most undiscovered. On the serene rooftop of Ryo Kan, a traditional Japanese-style hotel owned by Edo Kobayashi, you can relax for an hour in a bubbly hot tub with a glass of equally-bubbly champagne. And it’s glorious.

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.

What I miss about Mexico when I’m not there

By
Ian Ostroff
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15
The worst part of Mexico is having to leave it. Here's a few Mexican things that one expat wishes he could find abroad (JE Shoots/Unsplash)

I’ve visited Mexico so often in my life that it’s become a normal routine. Every time a holiday period comes up, I dream of all the places in the country I can explore this time around. But the flipside of coming to the country is that I also have years of experience flying home after my Mexican adventure. It’s the saddest part of the routine I’ve established. So, what do I miss about Mexico when I leave? Well, quite a few things, as it turns out.

The quality of the food and restaurants 

Mexico’s extraordinary food culture is part of what pulls people here and brings them back time and time again. (Maarten Van Den / Unsplash)

If you like having options, my hometown of Montreal is a great foodie hub. I’ve found culinary delights from several parts of the globe there. But you’ll more often see franchises like Tim Hortons, McDonald’s, Wendy’s and other fast food joints with low-quality meals. They’re businesses designed to make what you order quickly, and it’s what most customers expect. 

Canada does have a few homegrown dishes, but you won’t find many locations that serve Canadian food exclusively. 

On the other hand, Mexico has a strong food culture that has developed over centuries. It’s something residents take seriously, even in a fast food establishment. I’ve never had trouble finding a great taquería, a high-quality restaurant or fresh produce at a market. 

Mexican chefs at all levels and households also take pride in their culinary traditions. You realize that it comes through with every bite. Whether you’re at a street food stall or in a fine dining environment, chefs all over Mexico put in the time and effort to make the best dishes possible.

The diversity between Mexican states

Elaborate ofrendas (alters or offerings) for deceased loved ones are just one part of Michoacán's traditional Day of the Dead festivities.
Across Mexico, the country is alive with tradition and diversity. (Michoacan/X)

Domestic travel within Canada is expensive. It’s the second-biggest country in the world, with 10 provinces and three territories. That makes it difficult to see multiple cities like you can in Europe. 

The winter months also make it hard to explore the country since temperatures can get uncomfortably cold. Unless you like to ski or winter sports, it’s not an ideal place to visit eight months out of the year. 

Now that I’ve been to several parts of Mexico, I know there’s so much variety for any traveler to discover no matter when you arrive.

From beach towns to major cities, culinary gems, national parks and historical sites, there’s something for everyone.  In Mexico City, you have a modern cultural hub that has a good blend of historical sites, trendy neighborhoods, restaurants and museums. 

Oaxaca preserves traditions like Day of the Dead and has its own unique take on Mexican cuisine and culture. But it’s also where you’ll find surf towns like Puerto Escondido and relaxing vacation spots like Huatulco. Quintana Roo is full of amazing beach towns like Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel, as well as beautiful lagoons like Bacalar. 

Whenever I leave Mexico, I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of what there is to discover. Mexico has 32 states, so that feeling is probably accurate. 

Everything is within reach

I have fond memories of buying lots of little things on the streets of Mexico City. From cold beverages to snacks and a pack of gum, there’s always a vendor around selling whatever you need at a moment’s notice. 

Street vendors in San Cristobal de las Casas
The street sellers of Mexico add a charm and vibrance to life that sometimes feels lost when you’re away. (Katja Tsevtkova/Shutterstock)

Entrepreneurs are everywhere in Mexico, and you see it in the way people hustle from car to car with their inventory in a traffic jam. You also see it when they try to get your attention in any Mexican downtown with tourists. 

Another great example is the last time I was in Oaxaca, I bought two volcanic stone bracelets from a friendly vendor who came into the café where I was having breakfast. I wanted to buy one that morning anyway, so the convenience factor was much appreciated. 

In Canada, you sometimes have to drive ten minutes out of your way to get something you need. If you’re staying in the city center of Montreal or Toronto, you won’t exactly find multiple vendors selling water bottles on the street during a heat wave. Or mittens when it’s so cold you can barely feel your hands. 

I miss that aspect of Mexican daily life when I’m home and have to run errands. 

The warmth of community

I can’t count how many times I’ve spoken to people in Mexico like I’ve known them for 20 years. Whenever I go to a restaurant or retail store, I get used to making small talk with the staff. That general rule of politeness also applies to your neighbors and even strangers you pass on the street. 

Canadians are also known to be super friendly. But in our home cities, we tend to be more individualistic as a culture. Unless we’re at a bar or around friends, I’ve noticed that many of us are more focused on ourselves or too indulged in our phones. 

People on their cellphones
Phone zombies are a much rarer sight in Mexico than in other countries, perhaps thanks to their strong sense of community. (Jezael Melgoza/Unsplash)

But Mexico has a much warmer sense of community. I always leave the country with more friends than when I arrived. It gives me more reasons to come back. 

Do you also miss Mexico? 

Even though I was born and raised in Canada, visiting Mexico is a big part of me. After all, I’m always planning my next Mexican adventure once my latest one ends. 

Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever stop returning. The more time I spend in Montreal, the more I think about the remaining 27 Mexican states I have left to discover.

What do you miss about Mexico when you leave? Let us know in the comments!

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.

Oracle to bring hyperscale cloud region to Nuevo León

By
MND Staff
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0
Image of the top of an Oracle building
The US software company plans to invest in Nuevo Leon, according to an announcement by the state's governor, Samuel Garcia, made on his account on the social media platform X. (JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock)

U.S. information technology giant Oracle plans to invest in northern Mexico, bringing a hyperscale cloud region to Nuevo León, the state’s governor Samuel García announced Tuesday in a video posted to his account on the social media platform X. 

The video was recorded at Oracle’s offices in Austin, Texas, where the Nuevo León governor is attending an electromobility event. In the video, he’s flanked by two Oracle executives. 

Three men standing in front of a wall with the logo for Oracle.
García made the announcement in Austin, Texas. (Samuel García/X)

García said further details about the investment will be announced in the coming weeks. The move, he said, seeks to enhance Nuevo León’s national leadership in technology, data and artificial intelligence (AI).  

Oracle’s Public Sector Sales Director Fernando Irure said that Oracle is “very pleased” to strengthen its ties with Nuevo León. 

“Having a cloud region in a city is very relevant at a technological and global level. We are sure that it will greatly help the technological development of the state,” Irure said.

The newspaper El Universal reported that García and Oracle’s executives discussed collaborating on teacher training, small- and medium-sized businesses and startups.

On that same trip, García met with executives from Silicon Labs, a publicly traded semiconductor and technology company based in Austin specializing in integrated circuits, microcontrollers and wireless communication technologies. Founded in 1966, Silicon Labs has been a pioneer in wireless connectivity for the Internet of Things.

In a video shared on X, García showed samples of Silicon Labs’ semiconductors while touring the company’s facilities.

“These semiconductor chips are used in cars, refrigerators, cellphones and more,” Garcia said. “We are here today to explore ways to bring this industry to Nuevo León.” 

Among Mexico’s 32 federal entities, Nuevo León is set to be the third biggest recipient of planned FDI announced by companies in the first six months of 2024, accounting for an estimated US $4.12 billion, or 9% of the total announced investment in Mexico this year.  

Nuevo León’s ability to attract FDI is due in part to the efforts of Governor García, who has made attracting nearshoring companies a major priority. 

A study by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), showed that Nuevo León is among the best-prepared states in Mexico to accommodate nearshoring, along with Aguascalientes and Coahuila. 

Mexico News Daily

17-year-old student from Veracruz wins Global Student Prize 2024

By
MND Staff
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1
Mexican student Ángela Elena Olazarán poses for a photo with graphics of robots in the background
Ángela Elena Olazarán won the award for an AI medical program she created for use in remote Indigenous communities. (Gobierno de México)

A 17-year-old Mexican student from Veracruz who created a program that diagnoses diseases using artificial intelligence is the winner of this year’s Global Student Prize from Chegg.org.

Ángela Elena Olazarán Laureano, who hails from Papantla de Olarte, Veracruz, was presented the award in New York this week during the United Nations’ General Assembly. The US $100,000 prize recognizes exceptional students who have made significant contributions to their communities, education and society.

Among the more than 11,000 applications and nominations received from 176 countries around the world, the list was narrowed down to a top 50. After that was further pared down to the top 10 finalists, Olazarán was selected by the judges as the winner.

Her project is called Ixtlilton, a virtual medical assistant that can currently diagnose 21 diseases through a series of questions.

Named after a healing deity from Aztec mythology, Ixtlilton is designed for use in Indigenous communities, as it supports both Spanish and the native Tutunakú language.

This makes it accessible to people in remote regions of Veracruz, where marginalized communities have struggled with a shortage of doctors and accessible medical facilities — a common problem throughout rural Mexico.

Mexican student Ángela Olazarán receives a trophy for winning the Global Student Prize on top of a New York skyscraper
Olazarán receives her prize from Chegg CEO Nathan Schultz in New York. (Chegg/X)

From Olazarán’s home municipality of Papantla, for example, “certain communities must travel over an hour to reach the closest medical facility,” she said.

But Ixtlilton can help people determine whether they need medical attention without being forced to travel a long distance.

In addition, Ixtlilton can function without an internet connection once downloaded. That’s a crucial feature in a country where only 56% of the rural population has access to the internet, according to the newspaper El Universal.

A student of Information Technology Engineering and Digital Business at Anáhuac University in Veracruz, Olazarán developed the program with doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Olazarán reportedly plans to use her US $100,000 award to create and install a STEM classroom in Veracruz.

This initiative aligns with her ongoing efforts to advocate for the inclusion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in her home state and beyond — including a “compelling speech” she delivered at the United Nations this week “addressing the lack of equal opportunities for women in #STEM,” Chegg.org wrote. “She emphasized that women’s voices and contributions must be heard if we’re going to tackle today’s challenges.”

In the past, she has spoken before the Mexican Senate and participated in a NASA conference on AI and space education.

“Across Latin America, she’s inspiring young changemakers — especially women — to break barriers and lead in science and tech,” Chegg.org wrote on the social media site X.

Even before winning this award, Olazarán was making marks as an outstanding student.

In 2022, she won the STEM Talent Award at the National Student Awards, beating out more than 1,400 high school and college students from all over Mexico. A year later, she earned two silver medals at the RoboRAVE World Championships, which included students from around the globe.

“Students like Ángela are leading the way in solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said Nathan Schultz, CEO of Chegg. “Her commitment to innovation and her efforts to make a difference are truly remarkable.”

The Global Student Prize was launched in 2021 by Chegg.org, in partnership with the Varkey Foundation, as a sister award to the Global Teacher Prize. Chegg.org is a branch of Chegg, a for-profit educational technology company.

A month ago, Shanni Valeria Mora, 16, and Rosa Mendoza Sosa, 17, of Oaxaca also won a prominent international award, the Stockholm Junior Water Prize’s diploma of excellence.

During a huge water conference in Sweden, they were acknowledged for creating a filtration system that turned wastewater from textile dyeing into water for irrigation in their community of Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca.

With reports from El Universal, Imagen de Veracruz and Latinus

Bank of Mexico cuts key interest rate to 10.50% in nearly unanimous vote

By
MND Staff
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0
Mexican peso bills, coins and a calculator
It's the national bank's second consecutive rate cut. (Shutterstock)

The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) announced a cut to its key interest rate after a monetary policy meeting of the board of governors on Thursday. The key rate was lowered by 25 basis points, from 10.75% to 10.50%.

This is the second consecutive rate cut by the central bank, which also lowered its key rate by 25 basis points in August in a divided decision that surprised analysts.

Deputy Governor Jonathan Heath cast the only dissenting vote on Thursday — to maintain the rate at 10.75% — in the decision by the five-member governing board.

In a statement announcing the decision, Banxico noted that the “inflationary panorama has been improving” and that the Board expects this will allow “further reference rate adjustments” in the future.

Mexico’s annual headline inflation rate dropped more than expected in the first half of September to reach 4.66%, its lowest level since May.

Banxico slightly moderated its inflation outlook for the rest of the year in Thursday’s statement, compared to its previous forecast. The bank predicts the headline rate will be 4.3% rather than 4.4% by the end of Q4, and that core inflation will come down to 3.8% instead of 3.9%.

Bank of Mexico facade
The Bank of Mexico slightly lowered its inflation outlook shortly before the interest rate announcement. (Archive)

Immediately after the central bank’s announcement, the Mexican peso strengthened to trade at 19.57 to the US dollar, but had depreciated to 19.64 by 4 p.m. Mexico City time. The peso had already made gains on a weakening US dollar early Thursday morning, appreciating 0.54% versus its closing position on Wednesday.

Banco Base analyst Gabriela Siller attributed the peso’s appreciation to market expectations of a more aggressive rate cut by Banxico in a post to X. However, the majority of analysts surveyed in a Citibanamex poll on Friday had predicted the more moderate 25-basis-point rate cut.

At 10.50%, Banxico’s key rate maintains a wide margin compared to the U.S. Federal Reserve benchmark rate, which was reduced for the first time in four years on Sept. 18, to between 4.75% and 5%.

The gap between the rates in Mexico and the U.S. has been one factor driving appreciation of the peso — which reached its strongest position in nearly nine years in April when it traded at 16.30 to the US dollar — but the currency weakened in the aftermath of the June 2 elections, which brought a landslide win for President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum and for the ruling Morena party coalition.

With reports from Investing.com and Expansión

Clash with authorities leaves 11 armed civilians dead in Nuevo León

By
MND Staff
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2
A convoy of several Nuevo León state police patrol vehicles drives down a highway
An attack on a municipal police station turned into soldiers, National Guard members and state police chasing down and killing 11 alleged criminals. (Fuerza Civil Nuevo León)

A shootout on Wednesday in the northern state of Nuevo León left at least 11 suspected gang members dead, according to state authorities.

Army, National Guard and state police agents were summoned before dawn to the municipality of General Terán after suspects fired upon municipal police headquarters.

According to the newspaper Infobae, the local police chief, Felipe Barush, said his men were able to repel the attack which occurred around 4:30 a.m., with no casualties reported.

The gunmen fled northeast in a white pick-up truck on federal highway 35 in the direction of the municipality of China, perhaps trying to draw the police into an ambush. The attackers apparently tossed spike strips along the highway behind them with at least one tractor-trailer seen along the side of the road with punctured tires.

Soldiers and National Guard members, joined by state police officials, soon gave chase. The authorities expanded their search to the neighboring municipalities of Los Herreras and Cerralvo, eventually coming upon a suspect in the municipality of Los Ramones, about 40 kilometers north of General Terán.

The man — dressed in fatigues and tactical gear, and carrying an automatic weapon — was arrested. Assuming the suspect was a lookout, the authorities remained on the alert and soon thereafter detected a convoy of eight vehicles approaching from Cerralvo further north.

Helicopters fly over white pickup trucks on a dirt road in Nuevo León.
Multiple helicopters provided authorities with air support the incident, which occurred roughly 50 km southeast of Monterrey. (Portal Tamaulipas/X)

The authorities — supported by four military helicopters — quickly took up pursuit and the shootout ensued.

According to the online news site Aristegui Noticias, the after-action report indicated that 11 gunmen had been killed while no soldiers or policemen were wounded.

The authorities also confiscated 11 automatic weapons, several ammunition clips, tactical gear and communication devices. Six vehicles — one of which was burned out — were also impounded.

Soldiers and police continued to patrol the area, declaring the situation under control at around 8 p.m. Wednesday night.

A scene from the Wednesday shootout in Nuevo León.

Security experts cited by Infobae said the suspects likely were part of a drug cartel whose primary operations are in a different state. The after-action report also hinted that the suspects were “linked to a criminal cell,” but no crime gang was identified by name.

A document outlining the security strategy that Claudia Sheinbaum will carry out during the first 100 days after taking office on Oct. 1 identifies the Sinaloa Cartel and the Cartel of the Northeast as criminal organizations that operate in and around Nuevo León.

Factions of the Sinaloa Cartel have been at war with each other since Sept. 9, but that violence has primarily been limited to the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa.

With reports from El Economista, Infobae, Milenio and Aristegui Noticias

Series of micro-quakes rattles Mexico City; minimal damage reported

By
MND Staff
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0
Mexico City residents stand in the street in an earthquake evacuation area, after a series of micro-quakes
The morning micro-quakes were intense enough that some residents evacuated to the street. (via Excelsior)

A series of nine small tremors rattled Mexico City starting early Thursday morning, worrying residents and rupturing a pipe in the Benito Juárez borough.

Five small earthquakes shook the northwestern portion of the city before dawn Thursday. Officials reported that the “microseisms” — faint earth tremors — caused no damage.

A sixth micro-quake was felt at 10:26 a.m., unnerving residents of the capital who are all too familiar with traumatic September earthquakes. It was followed by smaller tremors at 11:41 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. The newspaper Excelsior reported that the quakes broke a pipe in a building in the Nápoles neighborhood of Benito Juárez borough, flooding the building.

Then at 1:03 p.m., a 5.2-magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in Guerrero set off a national seismic alert. The Mexican Seismic Alert System reported alerts in Chilpancingo and Acapulco, Guerrero, as well as in Cuernavaca, Morelos, and Morelia, Michoacán. No alert was reported for Mexico City, though some CDMX residents reported hearing sirens and receiving phone alerts.

Half an hour later, a 4.4-magnitude quake was reported with an epicenter in southern Veracruz. It did not set off a seismic alert because “the estimated energy in the first seconds did not exceed preestablished levels,” the Mexican Seismic Alert System said in a post on the social media platform X.

Mexico’s National Seismological Service (SSN) reported that the epicenter of Mexico City’s five early morning micro-quakes — ranging from magnitude 1.0 to 2.9 on the Richter scale — was in the borough of Miguel Hidalgo.

After a morning of micro-quakes, a 5.3-magnitude quake in Guerrero set off alarms in some areas of Mexico City.

The shaking of the fourth and strongest of these tremors at 12:39 a.m. was felt in the neighboring boroughs of Álvaro Obregón, Benito Juárez and Cuauhtémoc, according to Animal Político, an online news site.

The sixth and seventh micro-quakes — measuring magnitude 2.4 and 2.2 — were centered in the Benito Juárez borough, causing some concern about the increasing frequency of these tremors. The eighth micro-quake, magnitude 1.5, was centered in the Álvaro Obregón borough. The Miguel Hidalgo borough was the center of a ninth micro-quake of  magnitude 1.4 just after 2:30 p.m.

According to the SSN website, the six tremors in Mexico City were very shallow — roughly 1 kilometer beneath the surface of the earth — a factor explaining the low magnitude of the quakes.

A government bulletin issued in January explained that earthquakes originating less than 10 kilometers below the earth’s surface are typically of short duration, and usually of very low magnitude, rarely exceeding 4.0 and generally not even reaching 3.0. According to the SSN, these tremors are perceived only by the population within a radius of 2 or 3 kilometers.

A stock photo sismograph showing the magnitude of an earthquake
Experts say that shallow earthquakes like those in Mexico City today typically have a low magnitude and are only felt near the epicenter. (Shutterstock)

The Mexico City microseisms are primarily due to friction produced by geological fault lines and the resulting dissipation of energy occurs over a very short and localized period of time, producing a sensation like a jump.

According to Pedro Vera Sánchez, a geologist at the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), the result is “a very short and intense shake, due to the shallow depth, but also due to the short duration of the event, since in the end, the seismic waves released dissipate in this small space.”

The bulletin was produced after nearly 60 micro-quakes occurred in Mexico City last year, including a Dec. 12, 2023, tremor in Benito Juárez that caused structural damage to several buildings.

According to a December 2023 report published by Monterrey Tech, the size of faults generally governs the length of earthquakes and since the faults in Mexico City are relatively minor, the tremors will be minimal.

This notwithstanding, Thursday’s seismic activity still spooked many residents familiar with Mexico City’s history of destructive earthquakes in September. The magnitude 8.0 earthquake on Sept. 19, 1985 (and a large magnitude 7.5 aftershock the following day) killed an estimated 10,000 people and a 7.1 magnitude quake on Sept. 19, 2017, claimed 370 victims.

Thursday’s phenomena came just one week after those tragic anniversaries, anniversaries that are commemorated annually on Sept. 19 by a national earthquake drill.

With reports from Animal Político, Excelsior and El Universal

Hurricane Helene drenches Yucatán Peninsula, leaves floods in Cancún

By
MND Staff
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1
Empty street in Cancun with wind-blown palm trees and minor flooding
Hurricane Helene left flooded streets and downed trees in Cancún, causing havoc but no tragedies. The Category 1 hurricane has now left the Yucatán but is leaving a parting gift of heavy rains throughout the Peninsula Thursday. (Chrono Breaker/X)

Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula as a Category 1 hurricane, has moved away from the region and is now heading to Florida’s Gulf Coast. However, weather authorities predict that heavy rain may continue to fall in the Yucatán for the next two days. 

In the past week, Mexico has seen two hurricanes on two of its coasts — John on the Pacific coast and Helene on the Atlantic coast. 

A user on the social media platform X recorded Helene in Cancún as it bore down on the Yucatán Peninsula as a Category 1 hurricane Tuesday night.

Although the overall impact of Helene on the Yucatán Peninsula was mild, its passage left fallen trees, flooded streets, power outages and canceled flights in its wake.

Helene, the fifth cyclone of 2024’s Atlantic hurricane season, brought heavy rains to the state of Yucatán from Tuesday night through Wednesday morning. In the state capital of Mérida, authorities reported an accumulated rainfall of 42.93 millimeters. The state’s Civil Protection reported high waves, strong winds and heavy-to-torrential rain in several parts of the state. 

Nowhere in Yucatán were there any reports of citizens being transferred to temporary shelters, but schools in eight municipalities were closed on Wednesday as a precaution.

In the adjoining state of Quintana Roo, Cancún bore the brunt of Helene, with authorities reporting stranded vehicles due to flooding in and around the downtown, including in Punta Cancún. Several thoroughfares, including Avenida Chichén Itzá, Avenida Bonampak and Avenida Donceles also saw flooding, and fallen trees were reported on Palenque, Chichén Itzá, Leona Vicario and Las Torres avenues.

Benito Juárez, the municipality where Cancún is located, was on red alert throughout Wednesday, as were the municipalities of Lazaro Cardenas, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, and Puerto Morelos. Helen forced the shutdown of public transportation and taxi service, and most restaurants were closed. In Cancún’s hotel zone, guests were advised to shelter in place. 

Helene also affected flights on the Yucatán Peninsula. According to the newspaper La Jornada Maya, Mexican airport operator Grupo Aeropuertos del Sureste (ASUR), owners of Cancún International Airport and Mérida International Airport, reported 97 canceled flights and 75 delayed ones. 

Men in yellow worksuits and white hard hats and vests saying Marina on the back working to remove a large downed tree in a wet street.
Navy emergency crews help remove downed trees, which caused residents in affected parts of Quintana Roo to be without power Wednesday. (Defense Ministry)

On Wednesday, the Maya Train suspended its operations on its Quintana Roo routes, but by Thursday morning, authorities reported finding no damage on the train’s railway system and resumed operations with all routes functioning on their regular schedules.

Local media in Quintana Roo were reporting by Thursday morning that most regular activities had resumed, except for some schools that remained closed for repairs caused by Helene. However, the remnants of the storm remain: the National Meteorological Service has predicted heavy rains Thursday for all three states on the Yucatán Peninsula. 

Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Helene is heading towards the Florida Gulf Coast and is expected to bring potentially devastating storm surges, strong winds and heavy rains as it intensifies to at least a Category 3 hurricane.

With reports from La Jornada Maya, Imagen, Meteored and Por Esto.

Can President-elect Sheinbaum deliver on her green promises?

By
Nancy Moya
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4
Sheinbaum green policies
What can Mexicans expect from the new President when it comes to sustainability and environmental policies? (Gobierno de CDMX/Cuartoscuro)

More than three months have passed since Mexicans elected not only their first female president but also the head of state with the most formal background in climate change and environmental sciences out of all current world leaders. Claudia Sheinbaum, who is an energy engineer by training and served as the Environmental Secretary of Mexico City from 2000 until 2006, will be sworn in as president on Oct. 1. But what can the world expect when it comes to Sheinbaum’s green policies, and will she live up to her billing as an environmentalist?

After pursuing her career in Physics and a master’s degree in Energy Engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), she moved to California to work on her Ph.D. at UC Berkeley, where she focused on analyzing energy consumption in Mexico’s construction and transportation sector. 

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum speaks at a conference.
Sheinbaum’s green credentials have been oft-touted by supporters, but what has she actually promised to do about Mexico’s desperate water situation? (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

As mayor of Mexico City, her signature projects included a transportation reform and the installation of 32,000 solar panels atop the Mercado de Abasto, the largest solar project of its kind in the world.

The 61-year-old Mexico City native has published on the energy transition and greenhouse gas emissions and has co-authored a Nobel Peace Prize-winning report on the mitigation of climate change.

Sheinbaum’s environmental goals 

Pedro Álvarez-Icaza is an environmental policy expert and has served in several related positions in the federal government and government of Mexico City, including as director of the capital’s Natural Resources Commission during Sheinbaum’s tenure as environment minister. Speaking with Mexico News Daily, Álvarez-Icaza, who also served as the Sheinbaum campaign’s environmental liaison, said that during the campaign, he delivered a 200-page report compiled by interviewing civil society organizations about what topics must be prioritized in her presidential agenda.

Mexico City’s air quality is infamously poor, but many other areas of the country struggle equally with smog. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

“We found out that mobility, air quality, waste management, energy sovereignty and water conservation are the most important issues,” he added. 

According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), Sheinbaum’s energy agenda closely aligns with the policies of AMLO. She aims to maintain the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and Pemex as the primary source of Mexico’s energy and enhance its capacity to generate electricity, particularly from renewable resources. 

In addition, she promised to decarbonize the energy grid and take advantage of coking plants to leave fuel oil behind and for CFE to generate 54% of the country’s electricity. If she follows through on advancing a low and just carbon transition, an analysis by the WRI that Mexico could see the creation of around 763,000 jobs and a 1.6% rise in GDP.

Álvarez-Icaza pointed out that as part of Sheinbaum’s energy transition strategy, the president-elect has invited the private sector to participate actively in renewable energy projects.

Pipa distributing drinking water in Toluca
Mexico City has long struggled to ensure a consistent water supply. President-elect Sheinbaum is advocating a collaborative approach from not only the city but also surrounding regions in order to ensure that these problems are dealt with. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)

“Her administration aims to build infrastructure for electric vehicles, including charging stations and advance the use of critical minerals like lithium under state control,” he said.

During her presidential campaign, Sheinbaum proposed building photovoltaic, wind, hydraulic, geothermal, and green hydrogen plants as well as promoting solar panels in homes and businesses. 

She is also committed to the installation of renewable energy infrastructure to reach a clean energy goal of 80 GW. As a candidate, Sheinbaum pledged to invest US $13.57 billion in a renewables-focused energy plan which includes the rehabilitation of hydroelectric plants.

In terms of water-related issues, the president-elect’s plans contemplate changes in the National Water Law, reviewing the real use of water concessions and promoting the modernization of agricultural irrigation, as well as increasing the infrastructure of water supply and wastewater treatment. 

Asked about Sheinbaum’s plans to combat Mexico City’s ongoing water issues, Álvarez-Icaza stressed that the president-elect emphasizes regional coordination between all the states that make up the capital’s megalopolis, supported by public policy to pursue objectives like protecting the forests around Mexico City and the Valley of Mexico’s aquifer. 

“With the collaboration of the region’s governments, she’ll be able to make a singular effort to address the water issue in Mexico City and the country,” the environmental expert said. 

Disputes, challenges and opportunities

Given her close alignment with López Obrador, some experts believe Sheinbaum will continue the outgoing president’s environmental policies. 

Olmeca refinery Tabasco
The López Obrador presidency has been characterized by heavy investment in oil and gas production. (Pemex/X)

Pacific Council on International Policy president and CEO Duncan Wood thinks this course would harm Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena, who was recently named the new environmental and natural resources minister and may struggle to fulfill the president-elect’s environmental pledges. 

“Sheinbaum will also face many hot-button issues left over from the previous administration that she won’t give the attention to environmental concerns,” Wood told Mexico News Daily. 

The expert on supply chain policy, energy transition, Mexican politics and North American relations believes that Sheinbaum will continue her predecessor’s policies and stay true to AMLO’s commitment to oil and gas production rather than prioritizing the clean energy transition.

“Pemex is in big trouble…it needs to address its debt situation and its overall liabilities that were from 100 billion to 240 billion; the company has been effectively bankrupted and the only reason it is continuing to borrow money is due to the fact it’s a state entity,” he noted. 

As a result, he believes despite Sheinbaum’s experience, Mexico must adopt U.S. ESG and CSR standards for the president-elect’s cabinet to succeed, especially in energy efficiency.  

Wood also stated that during the first years of Sheinbaum’s presidency, she may allow Pemex to enter joint ventures to the private sector including companies from Mexico, China and Russia that “would raise eyebrows in Washington.” 

Originally from Texas, Nancy Moya has two degrees from New Mexico State University and the University of Texas at El Paso. With 15 years of experience in print and broadcast journalism, she’s worked with well-known outlets like Univision, The Associated Press, El Diario de El Paso, Mexico’s Norteamérica and Mundo Ejecutivo, Germany’s Deutsche Welle and the Spanish-language El Ibérico of London, among others.

Hurricane John returns, projected to make landfall south of Manzanillo

By
MND Staff
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0
Satellite image showing Hurricane John and Hurricane Helene in Mexico
Hurricane John made landfall as a Category 3 storm on Monday in Guerrero, but after moving back out to the Pacific, is now approaching Mexico's coast again on Thursday. (Germán Martínez Santoyo, Conagua/X)

After battering the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca earlier this week, Tropical Storm John strengthened back into a hurricane early Thursday after drifting out over the Pacific a day earlier. 

John is now poised to slam into the Mexican mainland again, threatening communities along the Pacific coast after causing floods and landslides that killed at least five people.

Trajectory of Hurricane John on Mexico's Pacific coast
As of Thursday morning, the national weather agency expects Hurricane John to make landfall later in the day near Manzanillo, Colima. (SMN)

A U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) advisory published at 9 a.m. CST (and updated at 12 p.m.) cautioned that “Hurricane John is producing catastrophic life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides over portions of southern Mexico.”

The NHC forecast John’s center will approach and move along the coast of southwestern Mexico and head inland later Thursday.

As of Thursday morning at 10 a.m., Mexico’s national weather agency (SMN) forecast Hurricane John will make landfall between Aquila, Michoacán and Tecomán, Colima (60 km south of Manzanillo, Colima) by Thursday night or early Friday morning.

There is a hurricane warning in effect from Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero to Punta San Telmo, Michoacán, and a hurricane watch in effect from west of Punta San Telmo to Manzanillo. 


Maximum sustained winds were reported to be hovering near 120 km/h with higher gusts. The NHC bulletin said “hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 10 miles (20 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km).”

The NHC said John is expected to strengthen until the center moves along the coast or inland, a situation that should cause the storm to weaken to a tropical depression some time Friday, though it will continue drenching the Pacific coast through Saturday.

The strength and breadth of John has been producing heavy rains all along the Pacific Coast. An early morning bulletin issued by the SMN forecast extraordinarily heavy rains for Guerrero and Oaxaca (more than 250 mm), torrential rains in western Chiapas (150-250 mm) and intense rains in Michoacán (75-150 mm). 

The SMN said the storm’s impact would also be felt in Puebla and Veracruz (75-150 mm) as well as in Mexico City, México state and Morelos (50-75 mm).

Flooding in Acapulco after Tropical Storm John
Acapulco has experienced flooding this week caused by Hurricane John. (Cuartoscuro)

After coming ashore in Guerrero as a Category 3 hurricane on Monday night, John weakened to a tropical storm and lingered in the coastal mountains, impacting major cargo ports and shutting local airports. Reuters reported that John also cut power to tens of thousands and littered roadways with uprooted trees and fallen electricity posts.

Meanwhile, the Yucatán Peninsula in southeastern Mexico, saw Helene — a Category 2 hurricane — dump rain on the states of Quintana Roo, Campeche and Yucatán.

Helene is now moving away from the Mexican coast as it heads north towards the U.S. Gulf Coast, where it is anticipated to make landfall in Florida on Thursday night.

With reports from The New York Times and Reuters

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