18,000 tortilla shops in Mexico City are piloting a new fintech banking app that allows their customers to pay for their tortillas electronically and even pay a light bill or reload cell phone minutes. (Finsus)
Tortilla shops in Mexico have long been the epitome of a small, cash-only business, with tortillerías that take electronic payments only a recent phenomenon that’s still few and far between.
However, a new collaboration between the National Tortilla Council (CNT), one of Mexico’s major tortilla vendor associations, and the fintech digital banking institution Finsus hopes to change that with a new app being promoted to CNT’s members that will allow tortilla vendors to offer customers payments via debit or credit card and other electronic transfer methods.
Finsus says that tortilla shops that use the app to take electronic payments can expect to see an increase in income ranging from US $302 to US $1,912 per month. (Finsus)
The app, called CNT x Finsus Digital Platform, allows CNT’s members to not only accept electronic payments but also serve as a payment center for utility bills and the recharging of cell phone plans — transactions Mexicans have been used to conducting at major convenience stores and supermarkets for years.
The app, currently being piloted in CNT’s Mexico City tortilla shops, has allowed some 18,000 tortillerías in the capital to accept payments with CoDi, Dimo transfers and contactless debit and credit cards.
CoDi is a payment method accomplished through QR codes, while Dimo — a service offered by banks that is similar to Zelle in the United States — uses cell phone numbers rather than account numbers for money transfers.
The app, say its creators, gives tortilla shops a way to capture more income — by being able to offer customers more ways to pay, as well as a tool for managing their business’ income.
According to Finsus, CNT tortilla shops that join the program can expect to earn an additional monthly income ranging from 6,000 to 38,000 pesos (US $302 to $1,912). Dealing in electronic payments also provides tortilla vendors with a greater sense of security, the institutions said in a joint statement, since, in theory, the vendor would carry less cash in their shop.
The program also offers participants access to Finsus small-business loans, to low-cost health and life insurance coverage and to preferential discounts from suppliers and allied businesses.
National Tortilla Council head Homero López García, left, and Finsus CEO Carlos Marmolejo, center, announce the launching of their app for tortilla shops in Mexico. (Finsus)
Finsus is one of the country’s largest People’s Financial Society (Sofipo) institutions. A Sofipo is a Mexican microfinance entity founded as a public limited company that promotes savings and credit-building.
For Finsus, the collaboration is a win not only because it introduces the still-young digital banking institution (founded in 2022) to CNT’s members but also because Finsua hopes to spread the word among the wide swath of Mexican society that frequents tortillerías. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mexicans annually eat 85 kilograms of tortillas per person.
“Consumers will find a connection point with Finsus in the tortillerías,” the company said in a statement. “There, they’ll be able to learn about and download the application, open their accounts and enjoy the benefits that over 250,000 clients already receive.”
Finsus recently launched a similar program for 11,000 indigenous artisans in Mexico — another economic sector that’s frequently cash only — in collaboration with the online artisan shop Mexiutopic. The program makes it possible for the artisans to accept electronic payments and provides free education on financial management.
According to Finsus’ website, banking customers can open interest-bearing accounts with as little as 100 pesos. It also offers loans to small businesses and individuals.
Homero López García, president of the CNT, has said that previously, the financial inclusion of tortillerías has been basically nonexistent in Mexico. He hopes 40% of tortilla shops will adopt the app within a year, and 90% within three years.
“The banks don’t believe in the industry,” he told the newspaper La Jornada. “Whenever I try to pitch [the application], 90% of the banks tell me to go to hell.” However, López said, the new app is “revolutionizing the industry.”
“We are turning the tables,” he said. “They [the CNT members] are saying ‘I like it, I understand it, and we’re going all in.’”
During his 135 hours on the lam, the tiger reportedly attacked a pig farm, causing injuries to several pigs, and was sighted chasing sheep. (@yennigandiaga/X)
Five days after breaking out of his cage at a zoo in Reynosa, Tamaulipas — and causing high anxiety among the local population — a Bengal tiger has been captured safe and sound, state authorities reported Tuesday.
During his 135 hours on the lam, the tiger reportedly attacked a pig farm, causing injuries to several pigs, and was sighted chasing sheep — but otherwise caused no known damage.
He was captured Monday night around 11 p.m. in a trap cage baited with chicken that was set up by the state’s Wildlife Department.
Drones, helicopters and motion-detection cameras were also used in the search. On Saturday, the tiger’s footprints and excrement were found.
Officials didn’t provide the exact location of the capture, except to say it was in the vicinity of Los Longoria, a communal agricultural area (ejido) that abuts the United States-Mexico border. Quinta La Fauna, the private zoo from which he escaped, is in that area.
“Tony” — the tiger’s name according to newspaper accounts but no official sources — weighs about 100 kg and is approximately three years old, officials said. In the wild, Bengal tigers generally live 13-14 years, while in captivity they can live up to age 20.
His species (Panthera tigris) is classified as endangered, with an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 left in the wild as of last year, mainly in protected areas of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.
In a press release issued Tuesday, Mexico’s federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa) noted, “The Quinta La Fauna Zoo in Reynosa can no longer shelter the specimen that escaped from its facilities, so it will be transferred to the Tamatán Zoo in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas.”
Tamatán “has the facilities and the appropriate personnel to safeguard this type of specimen,” Profepa added. At least initially, the tiger will be under observation and not displayed to the public.
Profepa and personnel from a variety of local, state and national agencies carried out the search to find the feline, aiming every step of the way to avoid risks to the public.
To that end, several trap cages were set up in and around the Los Longoria area of Reynosa, which is just 500 meters from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Additionally, officials in the United States were told to be on the lookout in case the tiger were to seek out the banks of the Rio Grande, which separates the two countries in that region.
Wild Bengal tigers typically live in tropical forests, swamps, grasslands and rocky areas. In addition to their distinctive orange and black-striped fur, they are known for their tremendous strength and agility as predators.
The Quinta La Fauna Zoo reported that its other tigers remained in their cage. Shortly after last week’s escape, the zoo posted on social media that it was closed “until further notice.” As of early Wednesday afternoon, it had not reopened.
COMCE's president described Mexico as a globally important country and expressed confidence that its trade relationships and dynamic business environment won't be diminished by the enactment of the judicial reform. (@ComceOficial/X)
The federal government’s judicial reform, approved by the Senate on Wednesday morning, will not affect investors’ confidence in Mexico, according to the president of the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (COMCE).
“The certainty of the business sector is real, we’re not shooting ourselves in the foot,” Sergio Cardenas said on Tuesday, referring to the government’s plan to allow citizens to directly elect Supreme Court justices and thousands of other judges.
“We’re still growing and we will continue growing,” he added.
CEO de COMCE, de los exportadores más importantes del país, asegura que México ya es indispensable para EU. Para dimensionar los hechos. Sergio Contreras en entrevista con @RevistaFortuna y Economía Social pic.twitter.com/Jdnymbl9F5
Critics of the reform claim that Mexico will lose its attractiveness as a destination for investment if the judiciary is politicized as a result of the election of judges from candidates nominated by a Congress controlled by the ruling Morena party and a president of the same political persuasion – i.e. Claudia Sheinbaum.
But Contreras believes that foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mexico will continue to grow in the coming years.
Contreras predicted that FDI in Mexico will exceed US $40 billion in 2024, and average $48 billion annually in the next three years.
Numerous foreign companies, including electric vehicle behemoths Tesla and BYD, are yet to act on investment announcements they have made, indicating that Mexico’s nearshoring zenith — provided most firms follow through with their plans — is still to come.
In August, BYD said it was considering locations in three Mexican states for its new plant. Bloomberg reported shortly after that BYD has stopped actively looking. (BYD)
Contreras described Mexico as a globally important country and expressed confidence that its trade relationships and dynamic business environment won’t be diminished by the enactment of the judicial reform.
He called on people to “believe in the country,” highlighting that Mexico is the world’s ninth largest exporter, ninth biggest recipient of FDI and one of the top 15 economies (Mexico ranked 12th in 2023).
Contreras also said that any challenges to the judicial reform or other constitutional reforms under the terms of trade agreements to which Mexico is party, including the USMCA, would not be a big deal.
With “a trade agreement you’re always checking, proposing, reviewing [things],” he said.
“In other words [a trade pact] is a living, breathing, agreement,” Contreras said.
A trilateral review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, is scheduled for 2026.
Mexico’s main investment draw
Contreas asserted that Mexico’s No. 1 draw for foreign investors is not its proximity to the United States — the world’s largest economy — or its various trade agreements, among which are the USMCA and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP.
Rather, its “export quality” is the biggest attraction, he said, offering a glowing endorsement of Mexico’s vast manufacturing sector.
Contreras cited the confidence of Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli in Mexican labor, noting that the company, which opened a plant in Silao, Guanajuato, more than a decade ago, has invested some US $1.2 billion in the country.
Susana Duque, COMCE’s general director, told the same press conference that COMCE will closely monitor the “new investment” component of FDI, which represented just 13% of total FDI last year and even less in the first six months of 2024.
However, Contreras stressed that the reinvestment of profits by companies that already have a presence here, such as Pirelli, also creates jobs and benefits the Mexican economy.
How do Mexican attitudes to sex differ from those abroad? MND interviews psychologist Jenna Mayhew to answer your burning questions. (Charles Deluvio/Unsplash)
Jenna Mayhew has been working as a psychologist in Mexico for eight years. At her practice, Hola Therapy, she has made it her mission to help foreigners living in Mexico, Mexicans with a foreign partner, foreigners with links to Mexico and Mexicans with links to foreigners or foreign countries. Cross-cultural therapy focused on sex, relationships, mental health and navigating change is a major part of her daily practice.
In addition to individual, couples and family therapy, Hola Therapy works with a number of corporate, non-profit and government-funded organizations. For example, they provide in-depth psychological evaluations and therapy to veterans from English-speaking countries who fall under foreign medical programs and provide employee assistance program counseling support to professionals who are based in Mexico with multinational corporations. Hola Therapy also provides clinical and financial support to the Misión México Foundation in Chiapas.
Psychologist Jenna Mayhew is here to answer reader questions. (Hola Therapy)
Sex and shame in Mexico
In Mexico, a unique cultural paradox emerges where conservative views on sexuality coexist with sexual mischievousness, even sexual deviance. This duality reveals itself in everyday life, where public norms enforce modesty and discussions about sex remain largely taboo, not just with family but often even in therapy.
At the same time, many who live here would balk at the idea of Mexico being anything other than full of sex and eroticism. This contrast often perplexes locals and outsiders alike, revealing a society caught between deep-seated traditions and subcultures of hypersexuality.
The conservative fabric of Mexican sexuality
Mexican sexual attitudes are deeply influenced by the country’s strong Catholic heritage and traditional gender roles. The concept of “machismo” demands that men be sexually assertive and pleasure-seeking, while “marianismo” dictates that women be demure, passive, committed, submissive and virginal. This creates a double standard wherein attitudes and societal expectations for men and women are starkly different.
Mexican men, for example, often view casual sex as a source of pleasure, while women are more likely to see it as irresponsible. In Veracruz, a 2016 study found that around 33% of women express anxiety about their sexuality. Similarly, a study produced in Oaxaca in the same year found that women often link sex with feelings of shame and passivity.
However, this is shifting. The Mexican education system is insufficient due to sexual taboos, says Karla Urriola, a member of the Mexican Federation of Education and Sexology (FEMESS). Young people find information elsewhere and absorb it in their own views. Overall, college students tend to have a more permissive and egalitarian view of sex when compared to older generations.
Let’s jump in and take a brief look at what’s happening between the sheets in Mexico as compared to its counterparts in Latin America and Spain.
Lower prevalence of certain sexual practices
When it comes to masturbation, Mexico shows comparatively lower rates. Data indicates that 52% of Mexican men and 45% of women engage in solo or mutual masturbation. This contrasts sharply with higher rates in Puerto Rico – which rise up to 96% — and Spain, ranging from 68% to 90%.
Similarly, Mexican participation in online sex chats is lower than in Spain, with only 28.5% of Mexicans engaging in this activity compared to 84% in Spain. This disparity also extends to online masturbation practices.
Mexico has relatively low rates of masturbation, surveys suggest. (Charles Deluvio/Unsplash)
In a survey of six countries, Mexico reported the lowest incidence of anal sex at 18%, with Puerto Rico reporting the highest at 39%. This variation underscores differing cultural attitudes towards various sexual practices.
Low sexual satisfaction
Mexican levels of sexual satisfaction are relatively low compared to other Latin American countries. Approximately 43% of Mexican men and 40% of women report satisfaction, while Chile shows higher rates of 64% for men and 84% for women.
Overall, Mexico shows more inhibition, higher sexual shame and lower sexual satisfaction when compared to its Spanish-speaking counterparts. Religion has a high impact on sexuality, including sexual shame for anything outside of the heteronormative, production-focused sex. Due to the prevalence of traditional gender roles and machismo, women are more severely impacted by religiosity and sexual shame than men.
Mexican couples tend to demonstrate more shame towards sexual practices compared to other cultures. (Julia Taubitz/Unsplash)
What is the impact of sexual shame?
Shame is a powerful and painful emotion that makes us feel deeply humiliated, distressed and unworthy. It’s different from guilt, which can actually be constructive. Guilt helps us recognize when we’ve acted against our values and often motivates us to make amends or change our behavior.
In contrast, shame has a more damaging effect. It tells us we’re not deserving of good things like love and connection. Instead of helping us grow, shame makes us feel fundamentally flawed. When people act out of shame, their behavior is often disconnected, destructive and harmful to themselves and others around them.
Shame about our sexuality is no different. Sexual shame includes shame for having sexual desires, beliefs of sexual inferiority and shame in our sexual relationships. Sexual shame is not straightforward. It doesn’t just lead to less sex. It’s been found to contribute to issues including hypersexuality, sexual addiction, sexual dysfunctions like erectile issues, hostility and self-disgust, increased aggression, body shame and feelings of inferiority.
People are sexual beings. When someone believes sexuality is inherently wrong, that can manifest in many damaging ways towards themselves and others, fueling the sex-shame cycle. To transform levels of sexual shame and foster healthier relationships, individuals can start by engaging in open, non-judgmental conversations about their sexual feelings, self-educate about sexuality and challenge any internalized stigmas.
Creating a safe environment for self-exploration and acceptance, whether within a partnership or independently, is crucial for overcoming shame and embracing a more positive and fulfilling sexual existence. While deeply rooted norms still shape attitudes, changing perspectives and increased openness about sexuality could pave the way for a more accepting and satisfying sexual culture.
Jenna Mayhew is an Australian psychologist based in Mexico, with over 20 years of experience in Australia, England and Mexico. She is the founder of Hola Therapy, a bilingual practice dedicated to supporting the immigrant and cross-cultural communities in Mexico and provides therapy in-person and online across Mexico and worldwide. Jenna’s work combines her extensive expertise with a deep commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals in diverse cultural settings.
Check your medicine's batch number below. (Pina Messina/Unsplash)
The national health regulator Cofepris issued warnings to the public about counterfeit lots of six painkillers and flu medicines produced by the pharmaceutical company Bayer on Monday.
The Cofepris’ alert concerns batches of the following brand-name drugs: Cafiaspirina, Aspirina, Aspirina Protec, Desenfriol D, Desenfriol-Ito Plus and Tabcin Noche. According to Cofepris, it received notice of the counterfeit medications from Bayer. Cofrepis previously warned about the falsification of Aspirina Protec in 2023.
The counterfeit medications pose risks to public health due to the lack of information about their manufacturing conditions, handling and storage. Thus, their safety, quality and effectiveness are not guaranteed, the health regulator said.
Irregularities in medications affect the following batches:
Cafiaspirina: Batch X24PJT containing 24 and 100 tablets, and with the expiration date DIC/24. The batch does not contain the active ingredient and both the batch number and the expiration date were intended for other products.
Batch X24JF6 containing 100 tablets was originally assigned to another product.
Aspirina: Batch X24PJTcontaining 100 tablets, with the expiration date DIC/24, and batch X23SGA, which shows two expiration dates (FEB/24 and FEB/26). The correct expiration date is FEB/22.
Aspirina Protec: Batch BTAGXAG containing 28 tablets, with the expiration date DIC 2024. It does not contain the active ingredient, and its batch number is not recognized by the company.
Batch BT17US3 containing 28 tablets with expiration date 08/31/2024. This expiration date corresponds to another product.
Desenfriol D: Batch X293F0 containing 30 pills with the expiration date DIC/25 does not contain the active ingredient and does not appear in Bayer’s system.
Desenfriol-Ito Plus: Batch X293F0 with the expiration date DIC/25 does not contain the active ingredient.
Batch X25198, with the expiration date DIC/24 containing 24 capsules, is not recognized by the company.
Batch X255FP with the expiration date DIC/26. The correct expiration date is MAR/24.
Tabcin Noche:Batch X24TLD, with the expiration date 21/ABR/26 containing 12 capsules, was not recognized by Bayer.
Cofepris called on consumers to carefully check lot numbers and expiration dates before purchasing these painkillers and flu medicines. It also urged residents against buying medicines from informal vendors.
Despite attempts by the opposition to dissuade the Senate, the judicial reform passed 86 to 41 on Wednesday, paving the way for its ratification. (Cuartoscuro)
The Mexican Senate approved the federal government’s controversial judicial reform proposal on Wednesday morning, delivering a major victory to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador less than three weeks before he leaves office.
The constitutional bill — whose most controversial aspect is the article allowing citizens to directly elect Supreme Court justices and thousands of other judges — will now be considered by Mexico’s 32 state legislatures. It was approved by the lower house of Congress last week.
In a vote held on Sept. 10, 86 senators voted in favor, 41 opposed the reform and one opposition senator was absent. (Cuartoscuro)
If a majority of state legislatures ratify the bill — essentially a fait accompli given that the ruling Morena party controls more than 20 Congresses — the president can sign the reform into law.
In a marathon “double session” that began on Tuesday in the Senate and continued into the night and the early hours of Wednesday morning in an alternative venue, 86 senators voted in favor of the reform, 41 opposed it and one opposition senator was absent.
Morena and its allies thus achieved the supermajority required to pass the bill, which was approved en lo general, or in a general, broad sense, and en lo particular — i.e. after consideration of individual articles, none of which were modified.
All 85 Morena, Labor Party (PT) and Green Party (PVEM) senators voted in favor of the judicial reform, while the additional vote came from National Action Party (PAN) Senator Miguel Ángel Yunes Márquez, who was accused of being a “traitor.”
Several sources suspect that Yunes Márquez and his father, former Veracruz governor Miguel Ángel Yunes Linares, reached a deal with Morena that would result in the withdrawal of criminal charges against the two men and Yunes Márquez’s brother Fernando. Yunes Linares, a “substitute senator” for the PAN, stood in for his son for a period on Tuesday, but Yunes Márequez, who had requested leave to attend to health issues, returned in time to participate in the historic vote.
The legislative session was relocated to the old Senate building in the historic center of Mexico City after protesters broke into the current Senate building, located on the Paseo de la Reforma boulevard.
Critics of the judicial reform, including United States Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar, contend that the direct election of judges will lead to the politicization of the judiciary and eliminate a vital check on executive power.
They argue that Supreme Court justices and other judges sympathetic to Morena will come to dominate the judiciary as the president and the Congress — which the ruling party controls — will nominate candidates.
Morena party members argue that the reform is needed to stamp out corruption in the judicial branch of government. (Cuartoscuro)
There are also concerns that the enactment of the judicial reform will have a negative impact on foreign investment and Mexico’s trade relations, including those with its key regional partners, the United States and Canada. Thousands of court workers have gone on strike to protest the plan, while the Mexican peso has taken a hit due to concern over the reform’s impact on the rule of law and the Mexican economy.
López Obrador and President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum reject claims that the election of judges will result in a loss of independence for the judiciary and argue that an overhaul is needed to stamp out corruption in the judicial branch of government.
Among the other changes in the judicial reform bill are:
The reduction of the number of Supreme Court justices to 9 from 11.
The reduction of justices’ terms to 12 years from 15.
The reduction of the experience required to serve as a justice and judge.
The adjustment of salaries so that no judge earns more than the president.
The elimination of the Federal Judiciary Council.
The creation of a Tribunal of Judicial Discipline that could sanction and fire judges found to have acted improperly or illegally.
The use of “faceless,” or unidentified judges, to preside over organized crime cases.
An expansion of the crimes for which pre-trial detention can be enforced.
Given the approval of the reform bill in the Senate, it now appears almost certain that Mexico will hold its first judicial elections in 2025. All Supreme Court positions and thousands of other judgeships, including federal ones, will be up for grabs.
Senators express views and trade barbs
Morena Senator Lucía Trasviña accused opposition senators of being a “bunch of traitors” for voting against the judicial reform, seen as the biggest overhaul to Mexico’s judiciary in 30 years.
She asserted that the judiciary “has been at the service of the oligarchy” and foreign interests for decades.
While Morena defends the interests of the Mexican people, the opposition defends “the illegitimate interests of thugs and white-collar criminals,” Trasviña said.
The senator labeled Supreme Court Chief Justice Norma Piña “a traitor to the homeland,” accusing her of failing to hold the perpetrators of various crimes to account.
“Norma Piña protects the interests of foreigners who have come to loot our resources,” Trasviña said.
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) Senator Claudia Anaya called on Morena, PT and PVEM senators to stop their insults, demonstrate “restraint” and engage in “frank” but “respectful” dialogue.
A large group of protesters burst into the Senate on Tuesday evening, causing damage to the legislative chamber. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Senator Alejandro Moreno, national president of the PRI, declared that it was a “sad day for our Mexico.”
He said that the reform “was approved in the Senate via the worst tricks and under unimaginable pressures and coercions.”
Yunes Márquez, who cast the defining vote, signaled his intention to support the reform in a speech to his colleagues.
“I know that the reform to the judicial power … is not the best. I also know that we will have the opportunity to perfect it in the secondary laws,” he said.
“That’s why, in the most difficult decision of my life, I’ve decided to give my vote in favor of the bill in order to create a new model for the delivery of justice,” Yunes Márquez said.
He said that he hadn’t faced pressure from Morena to vote in favor of the reform, but was pressured to vote against it by his own party.
“I had never seen in the PAN such a crude attempt at imposition and subjugation,” Yunes Márquez said.
He said he was subjected to “threats and aggression” from those who “wanted to force me” to vote against the reform “without analyzing it or debating it.”
Senator Marko Cortés, the national president of the PAN, expressed his discontentment with Senator Yunes Márquez, saying he should have let his party know he was going to “betray them.” (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Senator Marko Cortés, the national president of the PAN, accused his colleague of betraying the party.
“You should have been more decent, my dear friend. You should have taken our call and told us: ‘I’m going to betray you,'” he said.
Cortés also accused the government of reaching an “impunity pact” with the Yunes family.
Senate President Gerardo Fernández Noroña, a Morena senator, accused opposition parties of letting protesters into the Senate building.
A large group of protesters burst into the Senate on Tuesday evening, caused damage to the legislative chamber and shouted chants in support of opposition senators.
“The judicial power will not fall,” they said. “You are not alone,” they told opposition senators.
AMLO: ‘Nothing’ was negotiated with the Yunes family
At his morning press conference on Wednesday, López Obrador said that it is public knowledge that he has “differences” with members of the politically powerful Yunes family, but denied that the government reached a deal that resulted in Yunes Márquez’s vote in favor of the judicial reform proposal he sent to Congress in February.
“Absolutely nothing” was negotiated, he said. “… I can tell you I didn’t speak with Mr. Yunes or his son.”
López Obrador said that Morena’s leader in the Senate, Adán Augusto López, “possibly” spoke with them, but asserted “that is his job” as a legislator.
“I sent the initiative and it’s the lawmakers who have to do their work,” he said, before advising “oligarchs” and opposition politicians to “look for another interpretation” of why Yunes Márquez voted in favor of the judicial reform.”
“The oligarchs who felt they were the owners of Mexico and their spokespeople should look for another interpretation that is not as simplistic as give and take, that of the bargaining chip, the mafioso relationship,” López Obrador said.
“… What must be thought is that this reform is needed. … [Yunes] is a politician who considered it a good idea to act in this way and it wasn’t necessarily in exchange for an amount of money or [due] to a threat,” he said.
López Obrador also said that he is “very happy” with the approval of the judicial reform, and declared that Mexico “will provide an example to the world.”
Mexico will become one of a small group of countries where judges are elected by citizens.
The New York Times recently reported that “the closest parallel to what Mexico’s president is proposing is Bolivia’s experience with electing judges after enacting a new constitution in 2009.”
“But even in Bolivia’s case, the changes didn’t apply to the entire judiciary, focused instead on how some of the most powerful judges can be elected by popular vote instead of being selected by Congress.”
Yunes Márquez (at right) said that he hadn’t faced pressure from Morena to vote in favor of the reform, but was pressured to vote against it by his own party (the PAN). (Cuartoscuro)
Sheinbaum: The election of judges will ‘strengthen’ Mexico’s justice system
In a post to social media on Wednesday morning, President-elect Sheinbaum congratulated the senators “of our movement” for approving the judicial reform.
“With the election of judges, justices and magistrates, the delivery of justice in our country will be strengthened,” she wrote.
“The regime of corruption and privileges is increasingly being left in the past and a true democracy and true rule of law is being built,” said Sheinbaum, who will be sworn in as Mexico’s first female president on Oct. 1.
“Demos means people, kratos: power. The power of the people,” she wrote.
In a social media post last week, Sheinbaum asserted that the judicial reform won’t “affect our trade relationships or private national and foreign investment.”
“In contrast, there will be an improved rule of law and more democracy for everyone,” she said.
“… Our interest is nothing more than a more democratic and fairer Mexico. That was the popular mandate.”
Feeling adventurous? Why not try this cheesy, doughy goodness that represents the best of two very distinct cultures. (Famartin/CC-BY-SA 4.0)
Naan is hands down my go-to bread to make at home. Endlessly versatile, it’s a blank, fluffy canvas to experiment with. Today I want to share my version of naan stuffed with queso Oaxaca. This surprisingly easy to make naan would work well for a giant taco — just pick your favorite filling.
One of the first mentions of naan can be found in the “Ain-i-Akbari,” a record of the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar the Great, which refers to naan being eaten with kebabs or kheema — kheema being a mix of minced meat, spices and veg. Think of it as an ancient Indian bolognese.
Originally from India, naan spread first across Asia and then the globe. (Shisma/CC-BY-SA 4.0)
The word “naan” simply means “bread” in Persian. Cooked in a tandoor oven, naan became a staple in Indian cuisine, especially in northern India. Over time — as delicious things do — it spread across the world, evolving with regional variations. Today, naan is typically leavened with yeast or yogurt and served as an accompaniment to curries and kebabs. It has also found its rightful place in fusion recipes — and, in some ways, is the perfect dish to describe Mexico News Daily. The yogurt in the naan dough adds moisture and a slight tang, making the bread soft and flavorful. The yeast creates lightness, ensuring the naan puffs up when cooked, giving it the iconic texture that I crave on a weekly basis. Queso Oaxaca’s mild, buttery flavor and excellent melting qualities make it ideal for the hidden surprise, as it stretches and oozes just like mozzarella, but with a distinct Mexican flair.
Cooking the naan on a cast iron skillet replicates the high heat of a tandoor oven, ensuring a crisp exterior while keeping the inside soft and gooey. Brushing the naan with butter adds richness and brings the entire dish together. The combination of these two distinct culinary traditions results in a comforting, cheesy bread that feels familiar yet excitingly new, making it an ideal fusion dish for any occasion.
Queso Oaxaca-stuffed naan
Ingredients
For the naan
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup warm water
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp active dry yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp olive oil
For the filling
1 cup shredded queso Oaxaca
1 tbsp finely chopped cilantro (optional)
1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional, if you like a bit of heat)
For cooking
2 tbsp melted butter or ghee for brushing
1 tsp garlic powder (optional)
Queso Oaxaca is Mexico’s most famous (and delicious) cheese and it works well as a replacement for Indian paneer. (Flor de Alfalfa/Facebook)
Instructions
1. Make the naan dough
In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until it gets frothy.
In a larger bowl, combine the flour, salt and yogurt. Slowly add the yeast mixture and olive oil. Knead everything together for about 8-10 minutes until you get a soft, smooth dough.
Cover the dough with a damp towel and let it rest for 1-2 hours or until it has doubled in size.
2. Prepare the filling
Shred the queso Oaxaca and mix with cilantro and chili flakes, if using. Set aside.
3. Stuff and shape the naan
Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into 4-6 equal pieces.
Roll each piece into a small ball, then flatten it into a disc. Add a generous amount of queso Oaxaca in the center of each disc.
Pull the edges of the dough together to seal the filling inside, creating a stuffed dough ball. Gently flatten the stuffed ball into a thick oval or round shape, taking care not to break through the dough.
4. Cook the naan
Heat a cast iron skillet on medium heat for at least 10 minutes.
Roll out the stuffed dough balls to about 1/4-inch thickness.
Place the naan on the hot skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes until bubbles form on the surface. Flip and cook the other side for 2-3 more minutes until golden and cooked through.
Brush each naan with melted butter or ghee. Sprinkle with garlic powder for extra flavor if desired.
5. Serve
Serve your queso Oaxaca-stuffed naan warm, perfect for dipping in salsa, guacamole or your favorite curry.
Pro tip: toss these on the grill for a smokier flavor!
What did you think of this cheesy, doughy goodness? Did you do anything different that worked out well? Let us know in the comments.
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.
Mexico's state electric company, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), is considering a partnership with the state-owned Pemex oil company in which they would jointly produce green hydrogen for Pemex's use and to export for sale. (Illustrative/Shutterstock)
Mexico’s state-owned Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) is looking at the possibility of entering into a partnership with state oil company Pemex to develop a green hydrogen project, according to a CFE official.
Iris Cureño, head of the CFE’s priority projects division, told Bloomberg Línea that the state-owned electricity company sees Pemex as a “commercial partner” with which it could create various green hydrogen “synergies,” given that the state oil company is Mexico’s largest user of hydrogen.
The best existing site for locating a green hydrogen production plant in Mexico, says Iris Cureño, head of the CFE’s priority projects division, is Pemex’s Antonio Dovali Jaime Refinery, better known as the Salina Cruz Refinery in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca (Cuartoscuro)
“It could be a synergy where CFE produces hydrogen [for Pemex] or just the renewable energy for its processes,” she said.
“… The most important thing is that [the green hydrogen] is used where it is produced,” Cureño said.
Cureño told Bloomberg Línea that the best place to develop a green hydrogen project would be Pemex’s refinery in Salina Cruz, a port city on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca.
She noted that Pemex, in its 2023 sustainability plan, outlined a long-term business opportunity to produce green hydrogen for both domestic use and export. The plan cited the opportunity to form a green hydrogen joint venture with the CFE.
Oil refineries use hydrogen to produce fuel with lower quantities of sulfur, which helps to reduce contamination. Most refineries use natural gas to produce hydrogen, which is colorless, odorless, nontoxic and highly combustible.
Green hydrogen holds the promise of cleanly produced energy with no emissions, but even Pemex’s Cureño admits that costs associated with green hydrogen production are still “very high.” (RIT)
Whereas the common process to create hydrogen generates carbon dioxide, there are no emissions associated with the production of green hydrogen.
Incoming Pemex CEO Víctor Rodríguez Padilla said late last month that the state oil company would play a “fundamental role” in developing renewable energy sources, declaring that it “won’t limit itself to making oil and gas condensate as it has always done.”
But any effort to produce green hydrogen “faces multiple challenges,” Bloomberg Línea reported. The first is the lack of specific regulations in Mexico, the news site said.
The Energy Ministry issued green hydrogen guidelines earlier this year, but Cureño said that a regulatory framework is still needed to govern the production, domestic commercialization and exportation of the gas.
The CFE official also said that the costs associated with green hydrogen production are currently “very high.”
She said that the state-owned electricity company is collaborating with academics in Mexico to develop Mexican technology for the production of green hydrogen to avoid reliance on expensive imported equipment.
Luca Ferrari, a geoscientist at the National Autonomous University, told Bloomberg Línea that obstacles to the success of green hydrogen lie in the low energy efficiency, high production cost and corrosive properties of the gas.
President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum is committed to developing more renewable energy sources in Mexico, one of the few points of difference between her and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has championed the ongoing use of fossil fuels.
If the idea to produce green hydrogen at Pemex’s Salina Cruz refinery eventuates, it could contribute to the development of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec as a green hydrogen hub.
López Obrador said late last year that a Danish fund would invest US $10 billion in a green hydrogen plant in Ixtepec, located inland from Salina Cruz on the isthmus between the Pacific coast of Oaxaca and the Gulf coast of Veracruz.
The victim, a student from Denmark, was reported missing around 7 a.m. Monday morning shortly after going swimming at Playa Gaviota Azul beach with a friend. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
A 27-year-old student from Denmark drowned off the coast of Cancún on Monday, the fifth loss of life at the iconic beach, Playa Gaviotas Azul, this year.
The victim — identified as Sofie Barup Enggard — was on vacation in Cancún from the state of Nuevo León, where she was attending the Tecnológico de Monterrey university.
Sofie Barup Enggard was on vacation in Cancun, but she was a student at Tecnologico de Monterrey in Nuevo Leon. (University of College/Shutterstock)
Around 7 a.m. Monday, Cancún authorities were alerted to a body floating in the surf in the resort city’s hotel zone. The newspaper Riviera Maya News reported that emergency services arrived shortly thereafter but were unable to immediately locate the victim.
Police and paramedics were eventually able to pull Barup Enggard’s body ashore, where she was pronounced dead, likely by drowning. Riviera Maya News reported that winds have been strong in the area for days due to the clashing of weather systems that has also brought rain to the region.
Reports indicate the victim and at least one other companion went for a swim on the beach early Monday morning. Strong currents soon had Barup Enggard in distress, and her friend lost sight of her, according to reports.
State prosecutors are investigating the incident, and an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death. The newspaper Por Esto! reported that the authorities have not ruled out alcohol as a contributing factor.
This latest incident has revived the complaint that local Civil Protection authorities do not assign adequate personnel to lifeguard duties. Lifeguards are on duty from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and, according to Por Esto!, people will often head to the beach after sundown following a night on the town.
Local resident Belén Salazar said the authorities should do a better job protecting beachgoers, suggesting a more flexible schedule and additional lifeguards.
Barup Enggard’s death has sparked new discussion of an old topic in Cancún: whether authorities provide enough lifeguard coverage. (Illustrative/Civil Protection Cancún)
“The last thing we want is for [Cancún] to be in the headlines like this and scare away the tourists,” she told Por Esto!
“Each individual is responsible for themselves while at the beach,” said Ismael González, “but it is better to have supervision that might prevent the loss of human life, which leaves [Cancún] with a black eye.”
Barup Enggard’s death is the fifth accidental death this year at the popular Cancún beach.
On March 10, two men taking a break from working on the Maya Train drowned after entering the water at Playa Gaviotas Azul. They were reportedly under the influence of alcohol.
On March 31, a 5-year-old child was swept out to sea while playing at the edge of the surf, and on April 20 a 40-year-old tourist drowned after struggling against the strong marine currents off the coast of the iconic beach.
This sort of gesture might be obviously rude, but there are many other behaviors we take for granted can be seen as offensive in Mexican culture. (Adi Goldstein/Unsplash)
I recently witnessed an uncomfortable situation at dinner with another expat. When the plate arrived, she became irate at the waiter, who brought her something she hadn’t ordered. I have never heard someone from Mexico get angry at a waiter, so her behavior struck me as not only being rude, but culturally tone-deaf, as she had ordered in poor Spanish. I was so embarrassed that I went back to the restaurant the next day and apologized on her behalf. The waiter could not have been more gracious.
She is not alone, of course — we all violate cultural etiquette at times. We may even be wired to assume our own culture is better than others: evolutionary psychologists suggest that since our ancestral roots are tribal, our actions reflect a powerful loyalty to our tribe or social group.
Raising your voice at service workers is unheard of in Mexico and considered highly offensive. (Freepik)
This, however, doesn’t excuse us from committing repeated cultural offenses.To avoid inappropriate behavior, practice what cross-cultural experts call “cultural competence”: the ability to interact respectfully and sensitively with people of different cultures. Here are eight ways to do that in Mexico.
Study your own culture
This is often easier said than doneThere’s a famous line attributed to the 1920s American anthropologist Ruth Benedict: “The fish are the last to see the water.” In other words, our own culture can often be invisible to us. U.S. culture, for example, has a fairly direct communication style, which I only figured out after marrying Barry, a Brit, and discovering that my in-laws sometimes interpreted my direct style as rude.
I, meanwhile, thought they were evasive and even occasionally dishonest. Fortunately, I not only grew to love and understand his family but learned about different communication styles. That came in handy for living in Mexico, another culture that values indirect communication.
Observe the locals
Studytheir interactions with each other, their dress, eating styles and table manners, how they greet and say goodbye to each other, their formalities and so on. When Barry and I were remodeling our Mexican house, for example, we noticed the importance of hierarchy and titles when our contractor would address the architect not by his first name, but as “Arquitecto.”
Hierarchy in the workplace, especially towards more learned colleagues, is an important part of Mexican culture. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Find a trusted guide who can answer your questions
Spanish teachers can serve as cultural interpreters, as canpeople with dual Mexican and U.S. citizenship. My first Spanish teacher, for example, explained to me that Mexicans like to tease each other, give friends cheesy nicknames and make jokes about things that in the U.S. would be considered inappropriate, like the time at a concert when one of the musicians referred to another as “gordito” — plump. It’s hard for me to picture an American performer referring to their fellow musician as “Fatty.”
Adopt a curious, listening mindset
My model is the lateFran Peavey, an American political activist and author of the book “Heart Politics.”During the 1980s, she traveled to different cities around the world, sitting in public squares with a placard reading “American willing to listen.” Scores of people would stand in line for hours waiting to talk to her.
Weigh carefully whether to raise sensitive subjects with people you don’t know well
In the 1990s, Barry and I spent three weeks in Oaxaca studying Spanish and staying with a host family who had two adult children in their twenties. One of the other Spanish students staying at the house had told me that the 22-year-old son had fathered a child who didn’t live with him and that this was not unusual in Mexico.
On the last evening, we took our hosts out to a restaurant. During dinner, I blithely asked to the mother “You have a grandchild, don’t you?” No, she said, icily, frowning. “I don’t have any grandchildren.” I realized with a pang that I had crossed a cultural line.
Avoid stereotypes, which are usually negative
Americansare loud, Mexicans are lazy, Brits are reserved, Japanese are timid and so on.
I still cringe remembering a stereotype I repeated the first year I lived in Guanajuato. “Mexicans love to gossip,” I announced at a small gathering, as though I were a modern-day Margaret Mead who had done anthropological research on the culture for decades. Fortunately, a Mexican-American friend took me aside and tactfully suggested I refrain from such comments again.
Gossip might seem it’s like part of the culture, but does that actually make it part of the culture? Be carefully when generalizing. (Marilia Castelli/Unsplash)
Afterwards, deciding I should educate myself about gossip, I looked it up and discovered it’s a universal aspect of all cultural groups. No one has a monopoly on it.
Use self-effacing humor
When Mexicans ask me where I’m from, I say, “Soy estadounidense,” and then often add, “No es mi culpa” — “It’s not my fault.” I don’t feel I’m to blame for being American, and I’m not ashamed of my nationality. But given Mexico’s ambivalent relationship with the U.S., this immediately lightens any possible tension. The person I’m chatting with almost always cracks up, and it breaks the ice.
Expats are not experts!
Even if I’ve lived in Mexico for many years, I keep reminding myself I’m not an authority on the culture. It’s easy to assume I know more than I do.
Wherever we’re from, we tend to think our birth culture’s practices and customs are the norm, and to react with surprise — and even occasional anger — when other cultures don’t follow our lead. None of us is immune from making cultural gaffes. The trick is to notice, acknowledge the error, apologize and start over.
Louisa Rogers and her husband Barry Evans divide their lives between Guanajuato and Eureka, on California’s North Coast. Louisa writes articles and essays about expat life, Mexico, travel, physical and psychological health, retirement and spirituality. Her recent articles are on her website, https://authory.com/LouisaRogers
