All Mexican citizens over the age of 65 qualify for the government’s universal senior’s pension program . (Margarito Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro
Speaking in Monterrey, Nuevo León, at the 19th World Summit of Nobel Laureates for Peace, Mexico’s richest person spoke about the need to not just “combat” poverty but “eliminate” it.
“There has to be a minimum level of well-being for the entire population. It’s incredible that in … Mexico we haven’t achieved it. … We’re giving too much income to retirees and we have six million people in extreme poverty. It’s totally irrational,” said Slim, the owner of companies such as Telcel, Telmex, Sanborns and Carso Infrastructure and Construction.
All Mexicans over the age of 65 qualify for the government’s universal senior’s pension program regardless of their wealth or how much they receive from other pension schemes.
That means that even 84-year-old Slim, who has a net worth of some US $89 billion, can collect a 6,000-peso (US $311) universal pension payment every two months. While he doesn’t need the money, many older Mexicans — especially those who worked in the vast informal sector and don’t receive any other retirement income from the government or private employers — certainly do.
AMLO has made senior pensions a key part of his administration’s social welfare programs, which President-elect Sheinbaum also supports. (Cuartoscuro)
On Wednesday, Slim argued that Mexico has the potential to lift living standards considerably in coming years. With adequate investment in the country, Mexico’s per capita GDP — just under US $14,000 annually in 2023 — could double in the space of 12 years, he said.
“We have to take advantage of the opportunity with the United States now that it is on bad terms with China,” Slim said, referring to the U.S.-China trade war.
He predicted in 2022 that the Mexican economy would boom in the years ahead as the United States reduces its reliance on Chinese-made products.
“The products they imported from [China] will have to be produced here,” the magnate said.
“… What I see … is a prosperous Mexico with sustained growth, with a lot of opportunities for job creation and economic activities,” he said.
As part of Mexico's national earthquake drill on Thursday, the official seismic alert alarms will be sounded in Mexico City and 10 other states in order to simulate a disaster. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
A national earthquake (and natural disaster) drill will be held in Mexico this Thursday, Sept. 19, the seventh anniversary of a powerful 7.1 magnitude temblor that shook central Mexico and the 39th anniversary of an 8.1 magnitude quake that devastated Mexico City.
Here’s what you need to know about the simulacro nacional, or national drill.
Earthquakes are a fairly regular occurrence in some parts of Mexico. In this photo, students at a Mexico City school had to evacuate buildings on June 23 after a 5.2-magnitude quake interrupted their annual exam. (Moisés Pablo Nava/Cuartoscuro)
What time is the drill?
The drill will commence at 11 a.m. Mexico City time.
The “central” hypothesis for this year’s drill will be a 7.5 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in Acapulco, Guerrero.
However, Civil Protection authorities in each state will use different scenarios for the staging of the drill, depending on the predominant natural disaster risk in each one.
Will an earthquake alarm sound?
An earthquake alarm will be activated in Mexico City and 10 states: Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima, Morelos, México state, Puebla and Tlaxcala.
The government said that the alarm will ring out from 14,490 loudspeakers. Almost 14,000 of those loudspeakers are attached to posts in Mexico City.
In some parts of Mexico, the drills will try to achieve as much realism as possible, even simulating medical emergencies for the benefit of first responders. (Galo Cañas Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)
CDMX residents will also get a cell phone alert
People in the Mexico City metropolitan area will receive a message on their cell phones alerting them to the staging of the national earthquake drill. It will be the first time that messages of this nature are sent, the federal government said.
What will happen during the drill?
Buildings will be evacuated, and other emergency response protocols will be activated.
Authorities advise citizens to remain calm and not run, shout or push anyone during the drill — or if they find themselves experiencing a real earthquake or other natural disaster.
Workplaces and schools, among other places, have safety representatives who will lead Thursday’s drill.
Municipal, state and federal authorities will use the drill to test their emergency response strategies and plans.
What should you do during the drill (and a real earthquake)?
In addition to evacuating buildings and following the instructions of safety representatives, residents — if they can and if it is necessary — should:
Assist and look after children.
Assist elderly people.
Assist people with disabilities.
Take care of pets.
Turn off gas, water and electricity.
How should you prepare for an earthquake?
The National Disaster Prevention Center (Cenapred) advises the public to prepare a “family civil protection plan” for earthquakes, organize and participate in evacuation drills and “identify safe areas” in their homes, schools and workplaces.
Among other advice, it encourages citizens to prepare an “emergency backpack” with items such as a flashlight, first aid kit, two-way radio, water, nonperishable food, warm clothing, medications and photocopies of important documents.
During earthquakes, Cenapred advises citizens to remain calm and move away from objects, buildings, trees and electrical posts that could fall. Those who live near the ocean should move away from the coast due to the risk of tsunamis.
Victim being rescued from debris in Mexico City’s disastrous 1985 earthquake.
Why is the drill held on Sept. 19?
As mentioned in the introduction to this article, a powerful earthquake shook Mexico City on this date in 1985, claiming thousands of lives. Authorities subsequently decided to hold an earthquake drill on the same date to prepare for a similar event.
The Sept. 19, 2017 earthquake that claimed close to 400 lives in central Mexico occurred just a couple of hours after that year’s simulacro, while another major earthquake struck on the same date in 2022 less than an hour after the drill was held.
Is it a coincidence that there have been three large earthquakes on the same date in the last 38 years?
On Sept. 19, 2022, a Canada-based environmental seismologist described the occurrence of the latest Sept. 19 quake on the same day as previous temblors as an “astounding coincidence.”
“Today in astounding coincidences: Mexico had a nationwide earthquake safety drill today to mark the anniversary of the Sept 19, 2017 M 7.1 quake and the Sept 19, 1985 M 8.0 quake. An hour after the drill, a M 7.6 quake struck,” Celeste Labedz said on social media.
“Note: ‘astounding’ in a human perspective doesn’t mean anything geophysically strange is up! Mexico is no stranger to large quakes (especially on the subduction zone), and the probability of date coincidences can be surprising, as in the Birthday Problem,” Labedz added, referring to probability theory.
For his part, National Autonomous University physicist José Luis Mateos, said that the probability of having three large-magnitude earthquakes on the same date was one in 133,225, or 0.00075%.
Fireworks, religion and history collide in San Miguel de Allende's "La Alborada," a festival unlike any other in Mexico. (Tres Cervezas)
Every year on the weekend closest to September 29th, San Miguel de Allende celebrates La Alborada, also known as Las Fiestas de San Miguel, honoring the city’s patron saint, Saint Michael the Archangel. This cherished, weekend-long tradition is deeply woven into San Miguel’s identity, with the main events happening at the Parroquia de San Miguel and the Jardín Allende in the city square.
In honor of the highest-ranking archangel, the community gathers in a shared expression of faith and gratitude. The origins of this tradition date back to colonial times, evolving over the centuries as a blend of Indigenous and Catholic beliefs. The modern version of La Alborada, as it is celebrated today, was revived in 1924 by the workers of the La Aurora textile factory.
What appears a traditional Mexican festival by day quickly transforms after the sun goes down. (Discover SMA)
At the core of La Alborada lies the symbolic reenactment of the celestial battle between Saint Michael the Archangel and Lucifer. This epic struggle, deeply rooted in the Catholic tradition, portrays Saint Michael as the divine warrior who leads the heavenly forces against the fallen angel Lucifer in a clash that symbolizes the fight between good and evil.
On Friday night, the neighborhoods of La Aurora, La Estación and Valle del Maíz become gathering spots for eager revelers. These celebrants carry enormous stars made from colorful paper and illuminated from within by candles that are a glowing homage to Our Lady of Light. At 1:00 a.m., all groups begin their spirited walk towards the Jardín, where crowds await with musical ensembles.
Once everyone has arrived, the city square becomes a theater of war, reflecting Saint Michael’s fiery determination to protect the faithful and drive back the forces of darkness. It is a luminous offering to please Saint Michael in hopes that he will grant blessings for the year ahead.
Attendees fortify themselves with a drink or two for courage. The Red Cross and fire trucks are parked all around on standby. In the dead of night, as the clock strikes 4:00 a.m., the church bells toll to mark the beginning of La Alborada.
4 a.m. marks the beginning of the running battle between those inside the church and those trying to enter it. (Casa Tres Cervezas)
Rockets start shooting from the church’s courtyard, tracing bright lines in the dark sky before exploding with a deafening bang. Most of these missiles are launched directly towards the thousands of people gathered in front of the church. There’s something primal about this religious fervor, driven by fire and thunder.
To symbolize the artillery of Satan, fireworks are launched from the opposite side of the Jardin toward the church. This turns the square into a dramatic battlefield where the crowds are caught in the crossfire. The sheer volume of this seemingly endless barrage is intense in this explosive showdown.
At 4:30 a.m., a castle joins Saint Michael’s arsenal. This tall wood or metal frame, built around a central pole, is covered in rockets. Some of these fireworks spin and shoot fire in all directions, while others are set off in stages, creating a display of shapes, patterns and colors. The crowd now jumps and dodges around it, avoiding the sparks flying from the structure. There are as many lights on the ground as there are in the sky. When all sides of the castle have burned out, the circular top ignites and begins to spin rapidly.
The smoke from the fireworks grows so thick that it becomes its own challenge, creating a dark atmosphere where the biggest concern isn’t just the low visibility or the fire raining down, but the lack of oxygen. The thick smoke lingers amidst the massive colonial buildings, adding to this chaotic, heart-pounding experience.
90 minutes of uninterrupted fireworks make the center of the town appear almost mythical. (El Vergel)
By 5:30 a.m., the barrage of fireworks finally stops. Good has triumphed. Saint Michael has defeated the forces of darkness, and the crowd erupts in applause, celebrating the good news: a prosperous year full of blessings is promised for all. This high-energy revelry culminates in the singing of “Las Mañanitas.”
On Sunday, the celebrations continue for those who have the stamina to keep up with the pace. People gather again for a captivating performance by the Voladores de Papantla, whose aerial dance show dazzles the crowd as they spin gracefully from great heights. Traditional dancers in Indigenous attire bring beautiful floral offerings. Adding a whimsical touch, giant puppets called mojigangas dance their way through the streets.
The burning of paper-mâché figures captivates children. When the figures explode, kids dive to the ground like it’s a piñata party, scrambling to grab the hidden goodies. Meanwhile, hundreds of riders fill the street in front of the Parroquia, where a temporary altar is set up for a special mass and the blessing of the horses. A solemn procession carries the image of Saint Michael through the town, pausing at key churches before finally returning to its home parish.
As La Alborada approaches, consider yourself warned: this is not a quiet night in San Miguel de Allende. For daredevils, diving straight into the action at the city square can be the ultimate adrenaline rush. It’s a chance to participate in joyful chaos and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with locals and fellow thrill-seekers.
However, for those who prefer to keep a safe distance, taking a few precautions might be wise. Consider snuggling your pets in a pillow bunker and slipping on an extra pair of earplugs. The sheer volume of pyrotechnics means thick smoke can settle over the city, making breathing a challenge, especially in the Historic Center. On the bright side, if you manage to sleep that night, you’ve earned bragging rights!
Whether you’re in the thick of it or watching from afar, La Alborada is not for the faint of heart — but it’s certainly a night to remember.
Sandra Gancz Kahan is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at: [email protected]
The splendor of Maya civilization and the elegance of the colonial period are on full display on the Convent Route, a perfect escape from busy Mérida. (All photos by Thilini Wijesinhe)
With a wonderful blend of the pre-Columbian and colonial eras, history buffs are bound to love the experiences the state of Yucatán offers. You probably know about popular attractions like Chichén Itzá, which attract large crowds. But if you prefer to see the less-visited areas without missing out on cultural experiences, make a day trip along the Convent Route.
Ancient Mayas settled in the region even before 1500 B.C., and many archaeological sites bear witness to their advanced civilization. The Spanish arrived in Yucatán in the early 16th century, and the colonial architecture and churches from that period are also widely visited today. The Convent Route is one of the best ways to take in both cultures south of Mérida.
The stucco masks of Acancéh represent the Maya sun god Kinich Ahau and are some of the best preserved in Yucatán.
What is the Convent Route?
This circuit takes you through several towns with colonial churches, convents and ancient Maya sites.A popular option is to travel from Mérida to Maní, which is doable in a day. Some definitions of the Convent Route include the yellow city of Izamal and other towns, but you might need more time to cover all that ground.
We’ve put together this guide to help you visit some of the main attractions on or near the Convent Route. It’s best to use your own transport and start your day early.
Acancéh
Acancéh is located around 25 kilometers from Mérida via highways 180 and 184.The ancient Mayas first inhabited the area during 700-50 B.C. The centrally located pyramid, which you won’t miss, houses some magnificent stucco masks. You can buy tickets from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) post across the road. Take the stairs up to the masks to get a closer look. Their features are thought to represent the Maya sun god Kinich Ahau. The INAH official can also let you into the Palace of Stuccos on Calle 18. Once inside the building, look for the famous 13-meter-long stucco frieze with anthropomorphic figures.
Across the road from the main pyramid is the brightly painted 16th-century church dedicated to Our Lady of the Nativity which is worth visiting. Also nearby is the convent and church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The Church of Our Lady of the Nativity in Acancéh is one of the Convent Route’s most impressive stops.
If you have more time or want to divert from the Convent Route for a cenote dip, go to Cuzamá or Homún, a 25 to 30-minute drive from Acancéh. I recommend making a separate cenote-hopping trip so you can relax and bask in their beauty without rushing around.
Tecoh
From Acancéh, continue south for about 10 kilometers to Tecoh.This town has a church dedicated to Our Lady of Assumption. It appears to be built on an ancient pyramidal base, which is not an uncommon sight in the region.The church’s interior, especially the altar, is worth seeing.
Less than 20 minutes from the town is Hacienda Sotuta de Peón.They offer many adventure and wellness experiences, and you can book a tour that will give you a glimpse into the region’s once-lucrative henequen industry. These tours do take a few hours and might warrant a separate visit. The hacienda also has accommodation and a cenote.
Telchaquillo and Mayapán
About 13 kilometers from Tecoh via Highway184 is Telchaquillo, with a church and a nearby cenote. The town is worth a quick stop if you have time. If not, continue for another five minutes to the archaeological site ofMayapán.
The Round Temple of Mayapán served the ancient Maya not only as a ritual site but an observatory.
First occupied around 300 B.C., Mayapán became an important city around the 13th to 15th centuries. With few visitors, the site is peaceful and ideal for a relaxed visit. It’s best to get there as early as possible to avoid the afternoon heat. Climbing the Castle of Kukulcán, the site’s 18-meter-tall main pyramid, might be somewhat tiring, but it offers spectacular views.
This area has several cenotes. I recommend Noh Mozon, which is hidden in the wilderness about 10 kilometers from Telchaquillo. But poor road conditions mean you’ll lose about an hour going back and forth, so it may be better to go another day.
Tekit, Mama, Chumayel and Teabo
Take Highway 184 toward Tekit, which lies about 18 kilometers from Mayapán. Famous for its guayabera shirts, Tekit is a good place to shop for traditional clothes if you aren’t too tired by this point. The town also has a beautiful 16th-century church dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua.
Next, you can continue to Mama, whose name is thought to be “No No” in English, since “ma” is equivalent to “no” in Yucatec Mayan. Here, you can see the Church of Ascension, a unique church with a bell-shaped dome. Mama also has a former Franciscan convent and a chapel that areworth seeing.
If you want to see more towns and churches before visiting the Pueblo Mágico of Maní, go to Chumayel, about nine kilometers from Mama. It is famous as the origin of the Chilam Balam of Chumayel. Named for the towns they were kept in, the Books of Chilam Balam are manuscripts containing information relating to the ancient Maya, including rituals, medicines and astronomy.Chuyamel is also home to a 16th-century church, the Temple of the Immaculate Conception. Less than 10 minutes from Chumayel is the town of Teabo, which has its own beautiful former convent and parish.
Double arches greet visitors entering Chuyamel.
Maní
With colorful decorations and buildings, Maní really gives you the vibe of a magical town. But unfortunately, the town also has a dark history. It was the scene of a 16th-century tragedy: the auto-da-fé of Maní. A tribunal of the Spanish Inquisition led by Franciscan friar Diego de Landa burned dozens of Maya codices, destroying the knowledge contained in them forever.
In the town’s main square is the former convent of San Miguel Arcángel, with a large atrium and an open chapel. The altarpieces and remains of old murals in its church’s interior are also worth seeing. After visiting the convent, walk around the town’s main plaza and the market to pick up traditional items like honey-based products, clothes, and souvenirs. The town is also famous forMelipona beekeeping, so you can visit a meliponario, or Melipona apiary, likeU Naajil Yuum K’iin orMeliponario Lool-Há.
Depending on your arrival time, have a late lunch or an early dinner in Maní. If you prefer meat, try the town’s famous Poc Chuc, a citrus-marinated and grilled meat dish, typically made using pork. El Príncipe Tutul Xiu is a popular restaurant for Poc Chuc.
From Maní, you can also connect to theRuta Puuc and visit several lesser-known archaeological sites in the Puuc region.
Thilini Wijesinhe, a financial professional turned writer and entrepreneur, moved to Mexico in 2019 from Australia. She writes from Mérida, Yucatán. Her website can be found at https://thilini.me/
Learn how to vote in the U.S. elections from Mexico with this overview. (Shutterstock)
We are fast approaching important elections in the United States in November. Are you a U.S. expat and wondering how to vote in the U.S. elections from Mexico? You will find resources below, but first, a few reasons your vote matters.
Why should I vote in the U.S. election, when I live in Mexico?
There are nearly 3 million Americans living outside of the United States who are eligible to vote. Voting in federal elections is a privilege afforded to all U.S. citizens, regardless of where they reside, and many states allow U.S. citizens abroad to also vote in local and state elections. Voters use their last place of residence in the United States to determine their voting jurisdiction, even if the property is no longer owned by the voter.
Americans living abroad have as much of a stake in U.S. election results as voters in the United States. They often serve as ad hoc representatives of the United States in the communities where they work and live, and have meaningful tax obligations in the U.S..
While people pay more attention during presidential election years, House and Senate races are equally important in the U.S. electoral system.
What are the key ways that the U.S. election outcome can impact Mexico?
There are few nations as intertwined economically, socially and culturally as Mexico and the United States. I believe there is no country more impacted by the results of the U.S. presidential election than Mexico.
For example, as each other’s top trading partner and leading investment destination, both Mexico and the United States have a great deal on the line in the 2026 obligatory review of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Importantly, consensus is lacking regarding whether this exercise should be treated as a check-in or as an overhaul of elements of the deal. Depending on the approach taken, certainty around the trade and investment rules delineated in the USMCA could be at risk.
A potential Trump or Harris Administration will be under pressure to take aggressive steps on U.S. immigration policy, which should lead to a further tightening of the border going forward and a distinct difference in the rhetoric around immigrant arrivals, depending on who is the victor in November.
While there are many other ways the U.S. election will be relevant in Mexico, I would lastly highlight the next administration’s management of the U.S. economy. The candidates have different positions regarding tariff levels and independence of regulatory agencies and monetary policy, all of which could reverberate deeply in Mexico.
Will my vote actually be counted?
Not only are overseas votes counted, in some cases they have been definitive in U.S. presidential election outcomes. Given the electoral college system, votes are particularly critical in swing states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, but in a representative democracy, all votes matter. U.S. citizens are foregoing the opportunity to shape the policy orientation in Washington if they decline to vote.
To illustrate the importance of the overseas vote, in 2020, Georgia’s electoral college votes were allocated only after over 1 million mail-in votes, including from overseas, were counted. 19,000 Georgians living abroad voted, and Biden won the state by just 11,779 votes.
How do I vote from Mexico?
U.S. elections are managed at the state level, meaning rules vary from state to state. This can make it confusing, even if you live in the United States.
If you are already registered to vote, it is a matter of requesting your overseas ballot. The deadline for making this request varies according to the state where you are registered.
If you are not registered to vote, then it is not too late to register. For example, in Michigan, voters can register by mail or online 15 days before Election Day. In other states, there is a 30-day deadline. You can easily register through the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
Depending on your state’s rules, completed ballots can be returned via electronic means, fax, courier, or postal mail. The U.S. Embassy or Consulates can mail ballots for voters, and they recommend ballots be mailed by October 4 to ensure timely delivery. Consulates have voting assistance officers who can help with any questions. Further information is available here.
What resources are available if I need help figuring out how to vote?
The consular voting assistance officers are one resource, but the easiest one-stop-shopping way to initiate your vote is to visit Vote from Abroad, an educational site that does not take a partisan position on candidates. While the site is funded by Democrats Abroad, there is no partisan content on the site, only information for Americans overseas on how to register, receive ballots etc. The site also offers a chat feature to request assistance.
Kellie Meiman Hock is a former U.S. diplomat and trade negotiator, serving in Colombia, throughout Brazil, and at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative at the Executive Office of the President. She currently is Senior Counselor at McLarty Associates, where she has worked for over two decades with investors and stakeholders operating throughout Latin America, including Mexico.
Mexico's President López Obrador listened to Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez tell reporters Tuesday that his six-year-term has coincided with overall less crime and poverty and higher citizen trust in the federal government. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s government has set “a solid base” for the government of incoming president Claudia Sheinbaum, Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez said Tuesday.
Rodríguez made the assertion while delivering her final fortnightly security report at López Obrador’s daily morning press conference. Before making the claim, the security minister presented what she described as “10 important changes” that have occurred during the current government’s six-year term, or sexenio.
Outgoing security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez told reporters that her assessment was based mostly on data from Mexico’s national statistics agency INEGI. (lopez.obrador.org.mx)
The changes, she said, “reveal that the way of governing in Mexico” during the past six years has had a “positive impact” on the country and its people.
Based mainly on data from the national statistics agency INEGI, these are the “10 important changes” Rodríguez outlined on Tuesday.
1. Poverty and crime declined in most states
Rodríguez said that government data shows that both crime rates and poverty rates decreased in 27 of Mexico’s 32 states between 2018 and 2022.
Rodríguez said that both crime rates and poverty rates decreased in 27 of Mexico’s 32 states between 2018 and 2022. (Cuartoscuro)
She said that poverty increased in Tlaxcala and México state but that crime declined in both states.
In Coahuila, Yucatán and Nuevo León, poverty declined but crime increased, Rodríguez said.
The security minister highlighted that none of Mexico’s federal entities recorded increases in both poverty and crime during the 2018–2022 period.
2. Robbery and extortion declined
Again citing INEGI data, Rodríguez noted that the national robbery and extortion rate declined 12.7 points in the first half of 2024 compared to the first six months of 2018, when former president Enrique Peña Nieto was approaching the end of his sexenio.
Data she presented showed that at least one member of 25.9% of households was a victim of robbery and/or extortion during the first half of the year, down from 38.6% in the first six months of 2018.
3. Perceptions of insecurity fell
Rodríguez highlighted that the percentage of people who believe the city in which they live is unsafe declined 14.3 points in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the final quarter of 2018.
Rodríguez said that the downward trend in perceptions of insecurity over the past 22 quarters is “something that practically isn’t seen in any country in the world.”
4. Security expectations improved
Citing more ENSU findings, Rodríguez noted that in the second quarter of 2018, 68.3% of those polled believed that Mexico’s security situation would remain “just as bad” or deteriorate in the next 12 months.
In the second quarter of this year, the figure was 50.5%, a decline of 17.8 points in the space of six years.
“This is the [equal] lowest level in 43 quarters, along with that of December 2018,” Rodríguez said.
5. The National Guard was created
“Despite its recent creation,” the National Guard is “identified” by nine in 10 Mexicans, Rodríguez said.
The National Guard (GN), created by President Lopez Obrador, replaced Mexico’s Federal Police, known for its corruption. The GN has become an integral part of law enforcement in citizens’ daily lives. It tackles everything from airport security to combating drug traffickers. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
“In the beginning, it was only three in 10,” she said.
Citing INEGI data, Rodríguez said that 74% of Mexicans consider the National Guard an “effective” security force.
Rodríguez presented data that showed that 25,394 of every 100,000 people who completed a government trámite, or procedure, in 2023 experienced an “act of corruption.”
That figure represented a decline of 16.6% compared to 2019.
“This means 5,062 fewer acts [of corruption],” Rodríguez said.
One of President López Obrador’s campaign promises in 2018 was to rid Mexico of corruption. His most recent target has been the nation’s judicial system. His government just passed a judicial reform bill that purports to reduce corruption in the judiciary. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
7. Citizens’ perception of the frequency of corruption fell
Rodríguez also highlighted that the proportion of Mexicans who believe that acts of corruption occur frequently in their state declined 8.8% between 2017 and 2023.
However, the percentage of people who believe that corruption occurs frequently remained high in the latter year at 83.1%.
8. Citizens trust AMLO more than governors, mayors
Citing data from an INEGI survey conducted in March, Rodríguez noted that 53.5% of adults had high levels of confidence in López Obrador.
The figures for governors and mayors was 33.2% and 28.1%, respectively.
9. The federal government became the most trusted authority
“A ninth change has also been achieved,” Rodríguez said before noting that a 2023 survey found that 59.1% of people trust the federal government. She highlighted that the figure more than doubled compared to 2017.
Data presented by Rodríguez showed that 48.2% of people expressed trust in state governments in 2023, while the figure for municipal governments was slightly higher at 49.9%.
A 2024 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development report showed that Mexico now has one of the highest levels of citizen trust in its federal government of 30 countries worldwide. (OECD)
“The government institution in which people now have the most trust is the government of Mexico,” the security minister said.
“… We’re talking about figures from INEGI, they’re not our figures, they are INEGI’s,” she said.
10. Mexicans demonstrated more trust in government than Canadians, Brits and Germans
Presenting the 10th and final “important change” that has occurred during President López Obrador’s presidency, Rodríguez presented the results of an OECD survey on trust in national governments.
“This graph shows that in 2023, 54% of Mexicans had high or moderately high trust in their government,” she said.
Rodríguez noted that the percentage of Mexicans with high levels of trust in their national government was well above the 39% OECD average. She also highlighted that Mexico’s percentage was below that of just two countries – Switzerland and Luxembourg.
Citizens of 30 countries participated in the survey. The percentage of Mexicans with high levels of trust in their government was higher than the percentages detected in 27 countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, France, South Korea, Norway, Chile, Italy and Spain.
Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president-elect, takes office on Oct. 1. (Cuartoscuro)
Rodríguez asserted that the 10 changes she outlined are indicative of the “great progress” made by “the movement of transformation led by President López Obrador” and provide a “solid base for the new government of President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum.”
“Mr. President, thank you. You have taught us the culture of peace over the culture of war,” she added.
Sheinbaum, a political protégé of López Obrador, has pledged to build the “second story” of the so-called fourth transformation initiated by the president.
Among the areas in which Sheinbaum will face key challenges as president are security, energy and the economy. She will also have to convince foreign companies that Mexico remains a good place to invest, despite concerns over the recently enacted judicial reform and other constitutional bills and issues.
Shrouded in secrecy, Sonora locals are denouncing a new rail line from the port of Guaymas to Nogales as an impending ecological disaster. (Ernesto Méndez/X)
As Mexico News Daily readers, you know all about the Maya Train. Maybe you’ve read about the Interoceanic Train. But when was the last time you heard about the Sonora “ghost train?”
The name doesn’t refer to a haunted locomotive: the “tren fantasma” earned its moniker when Sonora residents saw the tracks being built but couldn’t figure out why they were being built — or who was building them.
Ferromex is a private rail consortium that operates the largest railway in Mexico. (Ayuntamiento de Nogales)
Their only clue was a leaked map of the local rail network. It showed the existing tracks, which run from the port of Guaymas north through Hermosillo, Ímuris and the border town of Nogales before finally crossing into the United States. It also showed a new, yet-to-be-built section of track. Instead of following International Highway 15 north like the current route, the depicted tracks branched off east in Ímuris, taking a longer route north to Nogales.
Some local residents worried about the railroad dividing their community, building across their irrigation canals and damaging natural protected areas. Others were alarmed when state officials offered to buy their land for as little as 1.8 pesos (less than US 10 cents) per meter, far under market value.
Biologist Mirna Manteca of the Wildlands Network, an NGO which works to conserve and rewild natural areas in North America, tried to learn about the project after locals from the town of Ímuris approached her with their concerns.
Ímuris officials told her it was a state project. The state said it was federal. Manteca contacted one federal office after another, but none had information about a train being built in Ímuris.
Governor of Sonora Alfonso Durazo stated in November that no environmental impact studies had been finished on the railway’s construction. (Ayuntamiento de Nogales)
“There’s no real information. There’s no official project,” Manteca told The Associated Press in November 2023. “They’ve kind of been ping ponging responsibilities back and forth … It’s like fighting a ghost.”
Three days after the AP story came out, Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo said at a press conference that the new construction was part of a project to change the route of the existing Guaymas-Nogales railroad. The state planned to modernize the port of Guaymas, with federal support, and expected an increase in rail traffic. That meant the tracks needed to be moved out of Nogales to a less populated area.
And just like for the Maya Train, the Army was in charge of building the new tracks.
A protest against the train in Hermosillo in November 2023. (Wildlands Network)
The Ghost Train keeps chugging along
Now, construction continues and the Ghost Train is more real every day. However, information about the project remains mostly classified.
What we do know is that the port of Guaymas, in southern Sonora, is getting some upgrades.
“With the modernization of the port of Guaymas… it will be possible to receive deep-draft tourism and commercial ships,” Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo said at his third annual report on Sept. 13, adding that the port will serve both Chihuahua and the southwest United States.
The port of Guaymas is being modernized in an effort to take advantage of nearshoring opportunities. (Gobierno de México)
Moving the new cargo will depend on the Ferromex train that runs from Guaymas to Nogales, Sonora. The train crosses into the U.S. in the middle of downtown Nogales, Arizona, just meters from where cars and pedestrians cross the international border. Three to four trains move through the city every day, worsening the city’s snarled international border traffic and passing dangerously close to homes and public infrastructure.
With train traffic expected to increase to 15-20 trains a day, there is widespread agreement on the need to move the tracks.
“It is necessary to get the tracks out of Nogales,” agrees Sergio Müller, strategy coordinator of the Sonora environmental collective Caminantes del Desierto. “However the issue is how it’s done and where it’s done.”
The project “doesn’t make sense,” Müller said. “The construction ends up in the same point where it currently ends on the U.S. border.”
On the U.S. side, Union Pacific Railroad has not expressed any intention to move their part of the tracks. So instead of going around the city, Mexico is going under it. Under the track relocation plan, the railroad will approach the city of Nogales from the east, then dive more than 30 meters under the city into a 2.5-kilometer tunnel to the border.
Tracks and setbacks
But the tunnel’s construction has faced problems, according to Jesús Ibarra Félix, an Hermosillo investigative reporter who covers corruption and accountability.
NGOs like Caminantes del Desierto and Wildlands Network have been sharp in their criticism of the railway project. (Ernesto Méndez/X)
“Neighbors tell us almost every day via phone calls or WhatsApp messages that they feel tremors below their houses. They even send photos with cracks on their walls,” Ibarra said, explaining that the company is using explosives to carve out the tunnel.
Outside of the city, much of the route has been cleared for construction. About a third of the actual track has been built and none of the route’s six new bridges were complete as of early September, Ibarra said.
Ibarra also said that tunnel workers told him they are a year behind schedule, having only advanced 500 meters since they began blasting.
“It is impossible for the construction company to finish the tunnel on time according to contract,” which ends Sept. 30, Ibarra said.
Who’s really building the train?
Who holds that contract? Ibarra’s long-running investigation of the track relocation project for newspaper El Universal focuses on that question. The investigation, which recently won second place in the National Investigative Journalism Competition, sponsored by the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and the Protection of Personal Data (INAI), found that the Army gave contracts worth nearly 650 million pesos (US $33.9 million) to companies whose lead stakeholders had participated in “facturera,” or invoice fraud, and embezzlement of public funds during previous projects.
Train tracks under construction in the vicinity of the Cocóspera River. (Caminantes del Desierto)
Activism dies down
In Ímuris, most residents have now stopped speaking out publicly against the project, according to Sergio Müller, the environmental activist.
“There are still communities today in resistance in Ímuris, but they are continuing via the legal path, rather than civil resistance.”
The owners of Rancho Aribabi, a government-certified voluntary conservation area in the train’s path, “were heavily pressured by the Army to sell, and well, they ended up selling,” Müller said. After that, the former owners stopped making public statements on the issue.
Rancho El Aribabi is home to a section of the Cocóspera River, an important riparian ecosystem threatened by the planned train. (Myles Traphagen/Wildlands Network)
In May, the new owners submitted a request to cancel Aribabi’s designation as a voluntary conservation area, paving the way for the project’s environmental approval in August.
It appears extremely unlikely the infrastructure project will be finished by the end of September, as originally planned. Instead, it will likely continue into the administration of President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, who will take office on Oct. 1.
Rose Egelhoff is a freelance writer based in Mazatlán, Sinaloa. Follow her work at RoseEgelhoff.com
This cocktail is a sweet, horchata that’s grown up and gone rogue with the help of bourbon. (Weeknd Whisk)
We’re coming to the end of summer, but for a lot of Mexico, the heat is still on. For my money, horchata has to be the most refreshing drink ever conceived in this hemisphere. At the same time, the cinnamon, spice and everything nice in this drink is the perfect segue into the fall season. Thinking in this vein, I’d like to share a classic horchata recipe, along with a bourbon horchata cocktail. The cocktail works because it’s the best of both worlds: a sweet, innocent horchata that’s grown up and gone a little rogue with the help of bourbon— like if your abuela’s beloved horchata recipe had a rebellious cousin who swears, drinks and rides a Harley.
The creamy, cinnamon-spiced sweetness of horchata mellows out the bourbon’s kick, making this cocktail deceptively smooth. The bourbon’s caramel, oak and vanilla notes sync perfectly with the vanilla and cinnamon from the horchata, creating a drink that tastes cozy but carries a punch. It’s comfort with consequences.
Horchata is an age-old tradition, with the first recorded recipe dating to 1748. (Mixed & Measured)
This drink is what happens when horchata grows tired of being the wholesome after-school snack and decides it’s time to stay out past midnight. It’s balanced enough to fool you into sipping it like a milkshake, but before you know it, you’ll be feeling the bourbon burn, a reminder that some comfort comes at a price. Cheers to sweet deceit in a glass! A quick note if you’re on the wagon: instead of adding bourbon, dump a shot of espresso into your iced horchata and thank me later!
Classic Horchata Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup long-grain white rice
4 cups water
1 cinnamon stick or 1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 cups milk (regular, almond or oat milk)
½ cup sugar (adjust to taste)
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt
Ice cubes
Ground cinnamon (optional garnish)
Instructions
Soak the rice
Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
In a large bowl, combine the rinsed rice, cinnamon stick and 4 cups of water. Let the mixture soak for at least 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator to soften the rice and infuse the cinnamon flavor.
Blend the mixture
After soaking, remove the cinnamon stick (if using). Pour the rice and water mixture into a blender.
Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until the rice is fully broken down and the mixture looks milky.
Strain the liquid
Strain the blended mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a large pitcher to remove the rice solids, pressing to extract as much liquid as possible.
Add milk and flavorings
Stir in the milk, sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Mix well until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Taste and adjust sweetness if necessary.
Chill and serve
Chill the horchata in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
Serve over ice and sprinkle ground cinnamon on top and try not to drink this deliciousness in one gulp.
Soaked rice: The secret ingredient to a perfect horchata. (The Chopping Block)
Horchata bourbon cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
4 oz horchata, store-bought or homemade
2 oz bourbon
½ oz simple syrup
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
Ice cubes
Cinnamon stick (optional garnish)
Instructions
Prepare the cocktail
In a cocktail shaker, combine the horchata, bourbon, simple syrup (if using), ground cinnamon and vanilla extract.
Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 15–30 seconds, until the ingredients are well mixed and chilled.
Serve
Strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice.
Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top for garnish.
Optional: Add a cinnamon stick for a decorative and aromatic touch.
Enjoy
Sip slowly and savor the balance of the warm, spiced flavors of the horchata and the smooth, smoky bite of the bourbon. Try this out and let me know in the comments what you think!
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.
Intretech serves the automotive, medical, energy and consumer technology sectors.
(@Intretech/X)
Chinese technology company Intretech has broken ground on a smart manufacturing plant in Apodaca, Nuevo León, with a planned investment of US $60 million.
The company serves the automotive, medical, energy and consumer products technology sectors. It manufactures rearview mirrors, headphones and devices for gaming and other Internet of Things (IoT) products.
Intretech’s new plant in Nuevo León is expected to employ 1,500 people. (@ClusterIndustri/X)
The plant, Intretech’s first in Mexico, will feature 2,000 square meters of floor space and over 50,000 square meters of planned surface. It is expected to employ 1,500 people.
Nuevo León’s Economy Minister Iván Rivas Rodríguez said that in October 2023, officials from the local government, including Nuevo León Governor Samuel García, went to China as part of a strategic tour to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to the state. While there, they toured Intertech’s facilities in Shanghai.
With plants in Hungary, Malaysia and China, Intretech’s move to Mexico is a strategic investment to strengthen its presence in the Americas.
“This location provides a geographically convenient hub that enhances service delivery and logistical efficiencies across the continent,” the company said in a statement. “The Mexico facility represents Intretech’s dedication to meeting the demands of its clients by leveraging localized production capabilities and fostering closer ties within the American markets.”
Worldwide, the Chinese firm employs 9,000 people, including 1,600 engineers.
Among Mexico’s 32 federal entities, Nuevo León is set to be the third biggest recipient of FDI announced by companies in the first six months of 2024, with an estimated US $4.12 billion, or 9% of the total announced investment in the country.
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. According to a recent study by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), Nuevo León is among the best-prepared states in Mexico to accommodate nearshoring, in addition to Aguascalientes and Coahuila.
A 26-kilometer bypass road is in the works to improve traffic flow in and around Tulum. (Gobierno de Quintana Roo/Cuartoscuro)
Tulum, Quintana Roo, has unveiled plans to build a 26-kilometer bypass road to improve traffic flow to and from nearby attractions including the airport and the new Jaguar National Park, according to Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo.
The mayor took to social media to announce a recent meeting with Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama and Dr. Guadalupe Phillips, CEO of construction company ICA (Ingenieros Civiles Asociados), where they discussed the construction of “a new bypass in Tulum that will transform the municipality’s mobility and quality of life,” Castañón wrote on X along with a picture of the meeting.
Gracias al compromiso de nuestra Gobernadora @MaraLezama, me reuní con la Dra. Guadalupe Phillips, CEO de ICA México, y Miguel Angoitia. Abordamos la construcción de un nuevo libramiento en #Tulum que transformará la movilidad y calidad de vida del municipio. pic.twitter.com/9pEL4FsRLH
The highway will have one traffic lane in each direction, each 3.5 meters wide, with 2.5-meter-wide shoulders.
Castañón initially announced the highway plans during his campaign for mayor of Tulum in May. Then, he outlined three infrastructure projects that seek to improve connectivity for Tulum’s residents.
As Castañón explained, the projects prioritize pedestrians, cyclists, public transportation, emergency vehicles, municipal public services and private vehicles, in that order.
The Tulum bypass project aims to relieve congestion around the airport, freeing up circulation towards Playa del Carmen, Cancún and other Quintana Roo tourism destinations. The investment also involves paving and lighting across Tulum to improve mobility, security and public services.
According to the specifications of the public tender, the project will be financed with a mix of private and public funding. It is currently in the pre-investment stage and studies concerning its viability are underway.
Since the inauguration of the new Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport in Tulum, tourism in the resort city has increased considerably. According to Quintana Roo Governor Lezama, Tulum has seen over half a million passengers since its opening on Dec. 1, 2023.
