Chihuahua's final vote count shows that lawyer Silvia Delgado won a criminal court judgeship in Ahumada, the municipality just south of Ciudad Juárez. (Silvia Delgado/Facebook)
In 2016, Silvia Delgado García was one of the lawyers on the legal team that represented the Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Soon she will be serving as a judge in the border state of Chihuahua.
An online vote count by the Chihuahua state electoral body showed that with 100% of the ballots counted Delgado obtained the second-highest number of votes in the June 1 judicial elections, with just over 23,000. She will be permitted to hold her judgeship in the local criminal court for up to nine years.
Delgado, a lawyer who previously represented cartel leader El Chapo, can remain in her new judge position for up to nine years. (Silvia Delgado/Facebook)
Prior to her election, the civil association Defensorxs (Defenders) said that Delgado is a “high-risk candidate” due to her past ties to El Chapo, a criticism that Delgado has rebuffed.
Defensorxs’ president, Miguel Meza, has called on Delgado’s competitors to file a lawsuit to block her victory, maintaining that she does not meet a constitutional requirement that candidates be of “good reputation.”
Meza said that Defensorxs has filed complaints about 20 winning candidates with the National Electoral Institute (INE) for allegedly not fulfilling the prerequisites for the judicial election.
“The INE is de facto erasing the good reputation requirement established by the Constitution,” Meza said. “It’s not a whim, it’s a legal norm.”
Critics of Delgado becoming a criminal court judge in the border city of Ciudad Juárez say the move could weaken the rule of law and pose a threat to democracy.
Delgado has no prior experience in the judiciary. However, she does not see that — or her previous clients — as a conflict of interest with the position.
“All my clients are equally important; there was no need to single any out,” she wrote on Facebook. “However, this shows that I have the character and the mettle needed to judge.”
When asked about those who question her eligibility for the position, Delgado said, “They speak out of ignorance; of course. It shouldn’t affect me [having been El Chapo’s lawyer]. My fellow lawyers know me, and they know I am a person of impeccable conduct.”
Residents take stock of the damage Thursday morning in Puerto Escondido, as Navy marines clean up debris left by the storm. (Carolina Jiménez Mariscal/Cuartoscuro)
Hurricane Erick made landfall in Oaxaca as a Category 3 storm on Thursday, marking the first time ever that a major hurricane has hit Mexico so early in the year. The storm has been rapidly weakening and is forecast to continue to lose strength as the system moves farther inland.
Before making landfall, Erick had grown to “an extremely dangerous” Category 4 with 140 mph winds after undergoing rapid intensification overnight, according to CBS News.
⚠️ #Erick se ha debilitado a un #Huracán de categoría 1 ⚠️
📍Se localiza a 50 km al nor-noroeste de Punta Maldonado, #Guerrero.
⚠️Se prevé que continúe debilitándose en el transcurso del día
▪️Mantente en un lugar seguro durante el paso del ciclón
▪️Infórmate de su trayectoria… pic.twitter.com/UOdGiLSysr
— Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil (@CNPC_MX) June 19, 2025
Erick — the fifth named storm of the 2025 Eastern Pacific hurricane season and the second hurricane — was the earliest major hurricane landfall in Mexico since records began, and that includes both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to Nov. 30, while the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
According to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC), the storm’s structure degraded as it approached the coast, eventually making landfall at approximately 5:30 a.m. in the municipality of Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, about 250 kilometers southeast of Acapulco.
Erick was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane shortly after 9 a.m. with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph with hurricane-force winds extending up to 15 miles from the system’s center. Tropical storm-force winds extended up to 90 miles as Erick continued inland on a north-northwest path toward the state of Guerrero.
El Universal newspaper reported extensive damage to boats and the principal dock in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, about 140 kilometers southwest of Pinotepa Nacional. The new Oaxaca city-Puerto Escondido highway — opened in February 2024 — was closed due to mudslides.
Wind and heavy ocean swell damaged docks and other coastal infrastructure in Puerto Escondido. (Oaxaca Viral/Facebook)
The NHC warned that life-threatening flooding and mudslides are likely, especially in areas of steep terrain. The U.S. National Weather Service has warned that Category 3 hurricanes with this wind strength can cause “devastating damage,” and can lead to power outages lasting several days to weeks.
Although Erick is expected to dissipate over the coastal mountains of southwestern Mexico by Thursday night, it will continue to produce heavy rainfall. As of 9 a.m., there were reports of about 250 mm (10 inches) of rain in the mountains west of Oaxaca city, and additional heavy rains were forecast through Thursday night.
Erick is forecast to produce between 8 to 12 inches of rain, with maximum totals of 16 inches across the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. Trailing Erick, storm surges accompanied by large and destructive waves were expected to produce coastal flooding in areas of onshore winds.
Mudslides and debris blocked roads in Oaxaca starting late Wednesday night, including the new Oaxaca city-Puerto Escondido highway. (Lupita Juarez/X)
Hurricane-force winds were forecast to decrease further by mid-afternoon in the Hurricane Warning areas. The area from Acapulco east to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, remained under a Hurricane Warning, while the area west of Acapulco to Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero, is under a Tropical Storm Warning.
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
Sure, Walmart is convenient, but there's so much to be said for doing things the traditional way. (Mana5280/Unsplash)
After teaching my 7 a.m. yoga class, an important part of my daily routine is heading straight to the Mercado 24 de Agosto, my local market. I usually take a 15-minute walk from the studio, located in the residential Colonia Del Valle, through tree-lined streets, enjoying the gentle morning breeze. I look forward to this every day, especially on Wednesdays, when I go to buy groceries.
Why would I bother buying from a local market if multinational chains like Walmart or Costco are closer, you might ask? I could even use online supermarket services to have my groceries delivered to my door. My father often questions my shopping habits, curious as to why I choose to shop this way. There’s no straight answer. The main reason is that there is a unique joy to buying your groceries at a traditional Mexican market. It probably comes from embodying a centuries-old, living Mesoamerican tradition.
By buying your groceries at your local mercado, you support local merchants and their family businesses. (NEOSiAM 2024+/Pexels)
Embodying an ancient living tradition
Local markets in Mexico come from the tradition of the pre-Hispanic tianguis, a Mexican Spanish word adapted from the Nahuatl word “tianquiztli,” meaning “market.” Originally, Mesoamerican tianguis followed the barter exchange scheme. In Tenochtitlan — present-day Mexico City — for example, the Mexica and other peoples who came to trade with them used currencies including cacao beans, copper axe heads and cotton capes.
Centuries later, under the influence of European markets brought by the Spanish, tianguis and mercados have become very different establishments. The former are usually set in the street on specific days of the week and have temporary stalls; the latter are open practically every day, and are permanent buildings with commercial premises inside of them. There are also many more tianguis in Mexico City as compared to markets: 1367 tianguis to 353 public markets, according to the capital’s Economic Development Ministry (Sedeco).
In a nutshell, tianguis are more like street markets, whereas mercados are local stores. In many cases, both mercados and tianguis are dedicated to the sale of one specific type of item. TheMercado de la Lagunilla, for example, specializes in selling antiques, whereas the Mercado de Sonora is world-famous for its witchcraft items. You may also have encountered vintage clothing tianguis every now and then in Roma Norte, or tianguis de fruta with the freshest fruit in the neighborhood. Depending on the area and specialty of merchants, you can find everything from textiles to cleaning products and fresh veggies.
This model of the Tlatelolco marketplace can be found at the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City. (Instituto Nacional de Arqueología e Historia)
Shopping at a Mexican mercado is a cultural experience
Merchants screaming every product in stock at the top of their lungs, workers rushing through the aisles with their classic diablito hand trucks and the scent of raw meat and champurrado. Everything seems to crowd your senses at once, while being watched over by the patron saint of the market in question.
Geographer Adrián Hernández Cordero strikes a poignant note when he describes mercados as a new kind of museum “where, unlike traditional venues, tourists can witness and participate in the enactment of everyday city life.” Not only that. Unlike a typical museum, Hernández points out, both mercados and tianguis “also offer a feast of sensory possibilities, as the market offers the opportunity to touch, smell and taste.”
Beyond this museum-like experience, buying groceries at a Mexican mercado allows you to choose the freshest products available. Not only that, you can learn how to touch and feel fruits and veggies in order to buy them depending on when you want them to be ripe. Want an avocado that’s soft today? Tell your vendor you want one “para hoy.” Want a mango that will be ready in a few days? You’re looking for one “para la semana.” Grocers are often amazed by how foreigners cannot tell a mature avocado from an unripe one.
How to become a true marchanta
Now, how to buy your groceries at a local Mexican mercado, you may ask? Becoming a true “marchanta” — a local shopper — is an art to be honed. This is what merchants call you when you go and buy their products. No matter your hair color, you may also find yourself being called “güera” or “güero”: blondie.
If you feel ready to take in the mercado experience, locate your nearest local market by typing ‘Mi Mercado cerca de mí’ in your search engine. Official public markets are always named like that: Mi Mercado 24 de Agosto, Mi Mercado Nativitas, Mi Mercado Lázaro Cárdenas. You get the idea.
Becoming a marchanta means gaining a sense of community and belonging. (Magdalena Montiel Velázquez/Cuartoscuro)
Keep in mind that many Mexican markets are large. Some spread up to an entire block. The market I go to has roughly 200 establishments, and you have to learn your way across the stores to finally get a grasp of your nearest market’s distribution. It will probably take a couple of weeks to locate your ‘señora de la verdura’ of preference, the man selling cooking utensils or the person who has the exact amount of bleach you need.
When you become a frequent customer, merchants even call you by your name and ask how everything’s going at home. You get this sense of community and belonging that we, Mexicans, are very proud of.
Not only that, going to a local mercado becomes a part of your routine, and you start planning your morning around that experience. For example, I start my Mercado 24 de Agosto endeavors by having breakfast at my beloved Antojitos Michoacán, a locale serving everything from quesadillas to carne asada. I go practically every day and order the exact same thing: a mushroom quesadilla with a café de olla. I never spend more than 100 pesos, and finish with a full belly to continue my shopping and daily tasks.
Depending on the area and specialty of merchants, you can find everything from textiles to cleaning products and fresh veggies. (Mauricio Mascaro/Pexels)
It’s not always true that buying your groceries at the mercado is cheaper than going to the supermarket, but to my family, at least, it is a lot more convenient: it’s closer to our apartment and, as a two-person, one-cat household, we don’t need to buy wholesale. My partner cooks every day and prefers fresher ingredients over frozen items from the supermarket. From the moment you taste the food, you can tell it’s fresher.
Once you integrate this dynamic into your daily life, you are also in tune with the passing of the seasons in Mexico and the traditions that accompany them. There are few pleasures as great as going to a traditional Mexican market in October and November for Day of the Dead. So yes, buying your groceries at a traditional Mexican market is an anthropological experience. But it’s more than that. It’s also a gateway to your local community, with its traditions, rhythms and flavors.
Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.
The northern Mexico tourism route has an epic origin story and epic views, taking in some of the country's most spectacular sights. (Sergio Quezada/Tren Chepe)
The north of Mexico doesn’t often get the tourist love it deserves. Maybe it’s the lack of flashy landmarks, or the fact that many parts of it are remote and rugged, hard to access without a long drive or an even longer detour. I’m thinking of states like Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora and my native Durango — the quieter, often-overlooked corners of the country that rarely make the travel postcards.
But maybe that’s starting to change. The Copper Canyon, or Barranca del Cobre, was recently named one of Mexico’s top tourism destinations for 2025. As a proud Norteña, I’ll gladly take the win, even if the canyon straddles Sinaloa and Chihuahua more than my home state. It still feels like a shared treasure.
Yes, this is a real train and, yes, it is that luxurious. (Tren Chepe)
The Copper Canyon is one of the most breathtaking regions in northwest Mexico, a dramatic landscape of desert, mountains and deep gorges. And the best way to experience it is by train: the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico, more affectionately known as El Chepe.
A brief history of El Chepe
Tucked deep within the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Copper Canyon is one of Mexico’s greatest natural wonders, a vast system of twenty interconnected canyons carved over millions of years by six rivers. In scale, it surpasses even the Grand Canyon, stretching more than four times its size and plunging deeper in certain spots. Despite the name, the canyon isn’t named for copper mining but for the greenish, copper-like sheen of its steep walls.
Constructing a railway through this remote terrain was no small feat. While many infrastructure projects take longer than expected, El Chepe took it to another level. Construction began in 1898 and faced delay after delay, including during the Mexican Revolution. When the railway was finally completed in 1961, it had taken over six decades and roughly US $90 million to build, a huge effort for the time.
The finished railway is an engineering marvel. The railway stretches over 650 kilometers, winding through terrain that remains inaccessible by road. It spans 39 bridges, passes through 86 tunnels and climbs to elevations of nearly 2,500 meters above sea level, linking Mexico’s northern interior with the Pacific coast.
The Rarámuri people, whose Spanish name — Tarahumara — graces the surrounding mountains, continue to live in the canyons much as they have for generations. Along the train route, some now share their traditions, crafts and food with travelers, offering a glimpse into a way of life shaped by the rhythms of the land.
What to expect
El Chepe connects the Pacific port town of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, to the inland capital of Chihuahua. But the journey isn’t linear. The most popular and scenic portion runs from Los Mochis to the mountain town of Creel, a nine-hour stretch known as the Chepe Express route. This segment offers the most dramatic canyon views: sweeping cliffs, plunging ravines and hairpin turns through jagged mountains.
To continue onward to Chihuahua city, travelers must transfer to the Chepe Regional, which adds about six more hours to the trip. While it’s less picturesque than the earlier stretch, it completes the historic route through northern Mexico.
The train stops in several towns along the way, including El Fuerte, Bahuichivo, Posada Barrancas, Divisadero and Creel before reaching Chihuahua city. Many travelers choose to disembark in Creel and explore the surrounding area for a few days before making the return trip west. El Chepe makes this kind of itinerary possible with a flexible ticketing system that allows up to three stopovers at no extra cost, as long as they’re selected in advance.
This flexibility turns the journey into a slow-travel experience. You can hop off to explore canyon towns, stay overnight and continue on a later train — some travelers spend a full week soaking in the sights.
There’s no shortage of reasons to linger. In Cerocahui, a 17th-century Jesuit town perched near the rim of Barranca de Urique, the canyon’s deepest gorge, you can stroll through vineyards or take in panoramic views. Near the Divisadero station, thrill seekers will find one of the world’s longest zip lines at the Copper Canyon Adventure Park, where the Urique and Tararecua rivers converge. Others prefer to kayak along the forest-lined Fuerte River, surrounded by silence and pine.
El Chepe takes you past some of Mexico’s most unforgettable landscapes. (Eugenio Barrios)
For the most comfortable ride, many travelers recommend booking first-class tickets. While more expensive, these include access to panoramic observation cars and better dining options. As for timing, the best months to go are July through September, when the rainy season has painted the canyons in lush greens. In the dry season, the landscape can appear dusty and sparse, and some of its visual magic fades.
Beyond the stunning views, El Chepe feels like an essential step in getting to know the north — this vast, rugged region that’s so often overlooked.
Ready for the ride?
Whether you’re drawn by the canyon’s vast beauty, Indigenous history or the simple romance of train travel, El Chepe is one of Mexico’s most unforgettable journeys, a window into a lesser-known side of the country. So if you’ve never explored the north, consider this your invitation.
The Copper Canyon is waiting.
Rocio is based in Mexico City and is the creator of CDMX iykyk, a newsletter designed to keep expats, digital nomads and the Mexican diaspora in the loop. The monthly dispatches feature top news, cultural highlights, upcoming CDMX events & local recommendations. For your dose of must-know news about Mexico,subscribe here.
Sheinbaum appeared before reporters at the National Palace in Mexico City not long after she touched down on a flight from Canada, where she attended the G7 Summit on Tuesday. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
In a recent interview, President Claudia Sheinbaum’s mother, Annie Pardo, expressed concern that her daughter “doesn’t sleep much because she’s very hard-working.”
Sheinbaum demonstrated that work ethic on Wednesday morning by appearing before reporters at the National Palace in Mexico City not long after she touched down on a flight from Canada, where she attended the G7 Summit on Tuesday.
“We arrived about two hours ago,” she told the press corps.
Sheinbaum said she slept “a little bit” on her overnight flight from Vancouver, before getting on with proceedings at her Wednesday mañanera.
Sheinbaum elaborates on her call with Trump
Sheinbaum once again acknowledged that United States President Donald Trump left the G7 Summit early “due to the situation in the Middle East.”
“You already know the opposition here … [claimed] it had something to do with us,” she said.
To “make up for” the cancelation of the proposed bilateral meeting in Canada, Sheinbaum said that arrangements were made for a telephone call with Trump on Tuesday afternoon.
She said on social media on Tuesday that she had a “very good telephone conversation” with the U.S. president, and that they “agreed to work together to soon reach an agreement on various issues that concern us today.”
Tuve una muy buena conversación telefónica con el presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, quien me comunicó que ayer salió de emergencia por la situación en Medio Oriente. Coincidimos en trabajar juntos para llegar pronto a un acuerdo en diversos temas que hoy nos preocupan.
— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) June 17, 2025
On Wednesday, Sheinbaum said that Trump apologized for not being able to attend the scheduled bilateral meeting in Canada. She said that Trump even asked her whether she could drop by Washington, D.C., on her way back to Mexico.
Sheinbaum said she told him that she hadn’t planned to do so and that, in addition, she has “a lot of things” to attend to in Mexico. She also said she told Trump that there would be another opportunity for them to meet.
“I made a proposition to him in the sense that we’ve reached many agreements,” Sheinbaum added.
“Today we have a [shared] border that is much more secure, there is an agreement in terms of security, … in migration [to the United States] there is a very large reduction. … So I asked him why we don’t have a general agreement, an agreement that has to do with security, with migration, and also with trade,” she said.
“This has nothing to do with maintaining the free trade agreement … which will be reviewed in any case,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the USMCA.
“But rather that, at this time, we could reach a general agreement” between Mexico and the United States, she said.
“I also mentioned to him the importance of recognizing Mexicans in the United States; Mexicans, Mexican families that have been living in the United States for years, that work for the United States,” Sheinbaum said.
“… He knows about these families. I raised it with him and he said, ‘It’s true, there are a lot of Mexican families that work for the good of our country,'” she said.
“So I suggested this general agreement and he agreed,” Sheinbaum said.
She didn’t say whether her government would insist on the removal of tariffs on Mexican steel, aluminum and cars as part of a “general agreement” between Mexico and the U.S., but it would be logical for it to do so.
The team that accompanied Sheinbaum at the G7 included Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch and Finance Minister Edgar Amador. (@m_ebrard/X)
Sheinbaum did note that Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard will travel to Washington to meet on Friday with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to discuss “outstanding trade issues,” i.e. the aforementioned tariffs.
“It was a good conversation,” she said, referring to what she noted was a discussion of around 20 minutes with Trump.
“The cabinet, the ministers who went with me [to Canada] were present,” Sheinbaum added.
Sheinbaum reveals she had a brief conversation with UN secretary-general
Sheinbaum told reporters that she spoke to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for a “moment” when she and other leaders and officials were waiting to pose for their official group photo.
“He’s concerned about the global situation and the importance of building peace,” she said.
‘Everyone spoke very well of Mexico’
A reporter asked the president what other world leaders at the G7 Summit told her about “how they see” Mexico in an economic sense.
“They all see Mexico in a very good light,” Sheinbaum said.
“There were a lot of acknowledgements, even praise in some cases about what is happening in Mexico, the importance of what’s occurring, the economic importance our country has,” she said.
“… Everyone spoke very well of Mexico,” Sheinbaum said.
“… Some people don’t want to believe it, it annoys them, but Mexico is very well regarded all over the world. We are a great country,” she said.
On her return from the G7, the president emphasized on Wednesday how well everyone speaks of Mexico. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
“There should not be these complexes of [Mexican] presidents in days gone by who didn’t love Mexico, who didn’t feel proud. When one is proud of his or her homeland, of his or her people, it is transmitted to the whole world,” Sheinbaum said.
Why does Sheinbaum fly commercial?
Sheinbaum flew to Canada with Air Canada, reaching Calgary — located east of Kananaskis, where the G7 Summit was held — after a layover in Vancouver.
Asked on Wednesday morning about criticism of her taking commercial flights, the president responded:
“Look, if I went in an army plane, I would be criticized. If I went in a navy plane, I would be criticized. If I go in a commercial plane, I’m criticized. If I travel in a car in Mexico City, I’m criticized. If I travel in an SUV [during tours] in the country, I’m criticized. So what I’m saying is that those who don’t agree [with me] will use any argument to criticize.”
Sheinbaum offered an explanation of one “important” reason why she chooses to travel on commercial airlines.
“You isolate yourself when you fly on army flights,” she said.
“… But traveling on a commercial flight gives you an idea of the reception of the citizenry toward you, even though it’s [only] one sector [of the population] that flies in the country,” Sheinbaum said.
“The vast majority of people in Mexico don’t have access to flying in a plane,” she said.
“So, this communication with people is important. And the truth is that until now, the reception of all Mexicans, even foreigners who recognize us, has been very good,” Sheinbaum said.
A Brazilian way of greeting or misogyny?
A reporter noted that some journalists and opposition party lawmakers described Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as a “misogynist” because of the way he greeted Sheinbaum at the G7 Summit. The 79-year-old Brazilian president placed his hands on the Mexican president’s cheeks when greeting her.
Sheinbaum disagreed with the “misogynist” interpretation of Lula’s tactile salutation.
“Brazilians and particularly President Lula embrace everyone that way,” she said.
Sheinbaum told reporters that if they saw the way in which the Brazilian president greets people, they would realize his placing of his hands on a person’s cheeks is “an expression of friendship.”
“I don’t take it as something offensive,” Sheinbaum said.
“… It’s a way of him expressing himself. … He didn’t just do it with me because I’m a woman, but with other people as well. He embraced them in the same way,” she said.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
Federal and local authorities, along with citizen volunteers, are battling against increasingly severe sargassum invasions on Riviera Maya beaches such as Playa del Carmen. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
Drone footage shows tonnes of sargassum have accumulated on the beaches of Playa del Carmen, in the southeastern state of Quintana Roo.
However, as of June 18, there are beaches in Cancún — about an hour’s drive north along the Caribbean coast from Playa del Carmen — that are free of sargassum, according to local media.
Les comparto como luce Playa las Perlas en #Cancún🌊🏖️.
Though possibly temporary, that absence is welcome news; in recent weeks, a significant increase in the noxious seaweed had been reported on the Riviera Maya’s shoreline, due to changing weather conditions, marine debris and various other factors.
Overall, on June 5, the Navy Ministry reported that 4,236 tons of sargassum had been collected from the beaches of Quintana Roo.
The Cancún City Council posted on its social media this week that it has launched a program called “Clean Cancún.” Working with volunteers, public services and the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone (Zofema), it seeks to clean any sargassum that accumulates on the beaches of Benito Juárez (the municipality to which Cancún belongs).
Per Benito Juárez officials, Cancun’s currently pristine beaches notably include Marlín Beach and Las Perlas Beach. Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama proudly posted on X photos of the noticeably sargassum-free Las Perlas in her jurisdiction.
The Mexican Navy (Semar) is also conducting the 2025 Sargassum Response Strategy along the entire coast of Quintana Roo. One of the key elements of this program is coastal containment, which consists of installing barriers on beaches with a high incidence of grounding.
These structures use currents, waves and wind direction to redirect sargassum to specific points for extraction by manual or mechanical equipment. So far, 7,545 meters of containment barriers have been installed in the following municipalities:
Puerto Morelos: 2,310 meters
Playa del Carmen: 2,580 meters
Mahahual: 2,265 meters
Tulum: 390 meters
¡Playa del Carmen lucha contra el sargazo con todo! 💪🌊🧹 Brigadas, Marina y ciudadanos se unen para salvar las playas del Caribe mexicano 🏖️🇲🇽 ¡Más de 11 mil toneladas recolectadas! ♻️🟢https://t.co/hUrvN6NjmBpic.twitter.com/DLgigM1cRv
Sargassum is a brown seaweed notorious for its negative effects on ecosystems, tourism and public health. It has indirect consequences for human health when it decomposes, releasing ammonia, methane and sulfuric acid. When it rots, it creates a sludge called “brown tide,” which reduces sunlight penetration and lowers oxygen levels in the water.
Such efforts to defend Mexico’s beloved Caribbean coast may soon be tested. Researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) have warned that some 100,000 tonnes could reach the Mexican Caribbean this year. Meanwhile, the Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network anticipates an increase of 40% (35,000 tonnes) compared to 2024, when some 25,000 tonnes were collected.
As it gains strength over the Pacific, Hurricane Erick is posing a threat to the coastal populations of the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca.(Carolina Jiménez Marcial/Cuartoscuro)
Residents along the coasts of Oaxaca and Guerrero should remain alert as Erick — the fifth named storm of the season — is expected to make landfall as a Category 2 hurricane Wednesday night or Thursday morning, President Claudia Sheinbaum said in her Wednesday morning press conference.
Hurricane Erick has been rapidly intensifying, with maximum sustained winds increasing to near 140 km/h by 9 a.m. on Wednesday, when it was located about 205 kilometers south-southeast of Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca.
Playa Zicatela, near San Pedro Mixtepec, may be hit by Hurricane Erick, which is expected to make landfall somewhere between that Oaxaca city and Acapulco. (Carolina Jiménez Mariscal/Cuartoscuro)
Erick is forecast to reach major hurricane strength as it approaches the coast of southern Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
“We ask the coastal population of both states to remain alert and seek information through official channels,” President Sheinbaum wrote on the X social media site on Tuesday.
The precise trajectory of the hurricane is still unclear, but it is expected to make landfall somewhere along a 400-km stretch of coastline between San Pedro Mixtepec in Oaxaca and Acapulco in Guerrero. The hurricane prevention zone extends from Puerto Ángel in Oaxaca to Acapulco, and the tropical cyclone alert system is yellow, representing moderate danger.
Erick is expected to produce between 20 and 40 cm of rain, with maximum totals of 130 cm in pockets of Oaxaca and Guerrero. This could lead to life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain, according to the NHC.
There are 22 municipalities on alert in Oaxaca and a further 10 in Guerrero.
Meanwhile, the states of Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima, Jalisco and Mexico City can expect between 8 and 13 cm of rain.
The Mexican Navy (Semar) announced on Tuesday morning that it had launched the prevention phase of the Marine Plan in Guerrero and Oaxaca, aimed at preventing damage from the hurricane.
Semar has 6,418 personnel to carry out evacuation and life-saving tasks in Oaxaca, along with an Emergency Response Brigade of 100 personnel, 43 vehicles, 17 surface units and one aircraft. Also available are two mobile kitchens and a water treatment plant.
In Acapulco, the Navy has a force of 2,653 personnel, 109 vehicles and 29 surface units, as well as three aircraft, two mobile kitchens, six water treatment plants, three bilge pumps and three power-generating plants.
The news of Hurricane Erick comes as Guerrero is still recovering from Tropical Storm Dalila, which knocked out a bridge and caused power outages as it swept past the coast over the weekend.
At the G7, Sheinbaum appeared between French President Macron and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in an official leaders' photo. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum proposed the staging of a “Summit for Economic Well-Being” and delivered a staunch defense of Mexicans in the United States during an address to the G7 Summit in Canada on Tuesday.
During a busy day in Kananaskis, Alberta, Sheinbaum also held bilateral talks with several leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In her address to the G7 on Tuesday, Sheinbaum said it is the “shared responsibility of all nations” to guarantee economic well-being and cooperate for development. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
“They were very good meetings,” she told reporters at her Wednesday morning press conference in Mexico City.
“Mexico is very well received, very well received. It’s not the president of Mexico, it’s Mexico and what our country represents. We were very well received,” said Sheinbaum, who was accompanied at the G7 Summit by Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch and other officials.
All people ‘must have the possibility of a life with well-being’
During an address to the plenary session of the G7 Summit on Tuesday, Sheinbaum proposed the staging of a “Summit for Economic Well-Being,” according to a statement from the president’s office.
She proposed that the summit bring together the G7 countries, the nations that attended this year’s event in Kananaskis as guests, members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and other “interested countries.”
The aim of the summit, according to the government readout of Sheinbaum’s remarks, would be to “strengthen effective cooperation for development [and] for fair and reciprocal trade, as the basis for lasting peace that the whole world longs for.”
“All citizens from all countries must have the possibility of a life with well-being,” the president told fellow world leaders.
“And even though it seems a dream, it’s possible. This would mean progressing toward a more equitable, peaceful and sustainable international community,” Sheinbaum said.
“Economic well-being and cooperation for development are acts of shared responsibility of all nations. In a world marked by interdependencies, no country can isolate itself and prosper at the expense of … others,” she said.
— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) June 17, 2025
“… This G7 shouldn’t just be a meeting of powers, but rather a space of shared responsibility because power isn’t only measured by what one has, but also by what one does with it,” Sheinbaum said.
She said on Wednesday morning that specific details about the summit she proposed — such as when and where it would be held — have not been determined. Earlier this year, during her attendance at the CELAC Summit in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Sheinbaum proposed the staging of a “Summit for the Economic Wellbeing of Latin America and the Caribbean.”
On Wednesday, she said that the proposed CELAC summit could be broadened in scope by inviting G7 members and other countries.
During her G7 address, Sheinbaum also spoke about Mexico’s commitment to peace, according to the statement issued by the president’s office.
“Peace doesn’t just consist of the absence of war. It also means the presence of justice, fair trade, opportunities, cooperation for development and respect of human rights,” she said.
“In this context,” Sheinbaum asserted that “it’s fundamental to recognize the people and families who have migrated out of necessity and who contribute significantly to the economies of the countries that receive them,” according to the readout of her remarks.
Among those people are the “hardworking and honest” Mexicans in the United States, she said.
Speaking as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement works to fulfill President Donald Trump’s pledge to carry out the “largest deportation operation in American history,” and after days of intense protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles, Sheinbaum gave an impassioned defense of Mexican immigrants in the United States.
“They’ve built their lives with dignity, they comply with laws, they are [people] of effort and dedication, they pay taxes, they assume responsibilities and they don’t deserve discrimination, but rather respect and recognition,” she said.
However, Sheinbaum added, “the ultimate goal is that people have well-paid employment and access to an honorable life in their places of origin.”
Not long after flying into Mexico City from Canada, Sheinbaum told reporters on Wednesday morning that she had a “very important meeting” with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday.
I had an excellent meeting with @ClaudiaShein at the G7. Canada and Mexico share deep economic ties that support jobs and business in both of our nations. We’re strengthening that partnership on trade, energy, and agriculture to keep North America competitive in the years ahead. pic.twitter.com/9jZjLJN8kp
“Of course, we agreed to continue working together for the [USMCA] trade agreement, but also to further strengthen the trade, cultural and educational relations between Mexico and Canada [and] the investment of Canadian companies in Mexico, ” she said.
“… Since the call I had with him [in May], we’ve spoken about the agreement so that Mexican workers can go to work in Canada, mainly agricultural workers,” Sheinbaum added.
During her meeting with Carney, the president told the prime minister that Mexico “very much values” its relationship with Canada, according to a statement from the president’s office.
Sheinbaum noted that “a lot of Mexicans also live in Canada” and thanked Carney for the invitation to the G7 Summit.
Sheinbaum gifted the Canadian prime minister a soccer ball made by members of the Wixárika community in Mexico as a symbol of friendship and unity ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
Standing beside Sheinbaum, Carney told reporters that it was a “great honor to welcome President Sheinbaum to the G7.”
He said that the “enduring value of the president’s leadership” was “immediately clear.”
Carney also highlighted the “importance of Mexico being at the center of international cooperation.”
“If I may, Madam President, I’m going to quote you [in saying] that ‘there is no progress unless it’s shared.’ And this is the spirit that the president brings, that Mexico brings, and that Canada shares with you,” he said.
Both Sheinbaum and Carney said they supported the idea of holding a trilateral meeting that included Trump. The most recent “Three Amigos” summit, in which former presidents Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Joe Biden and ex-prime minister Justin Trudeau participated, took place in Mexico City in January 2023.
Sheinbaum meets with Modi and EU leaders
Sheinbaum also held bilateral meetings on Tuesday with Prime Minister Modi of India, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.
She said on Wednesday that she had a “very good meeting” with Modi, a powerful leader in the world’s most populous country.
“We also spoke about the importance of strengthening economic ties between India and Mexico, particularly in some sectors like the pharmaceutical industry … [in which India is] very important today, the technological industry in which India is also very important,” Sheinbaum said.
She said that she proposed to Modi the establishment of “investment agreements” between Mexico and India.
In a post to social media, Sheinbaum said that Mexico’s relationship with India would strengthen “through investment in scientific and technological development.”
For his part, Modi said on social media that he congratulated Sheinbaum on her “historic electoral victory” in 2024 that allowed her to become “the first woman president of Mexico in two centuries.”
“We both see an immense potential for the ties between India and Mexico to strengthen even more in the future, especially in sectors like agriculture, semiconductors, critical minerals, health care, among others,” he wrote.
“We also spoke about ways to strengthen ties between our peoples,” Modi said.
The European Commission president said in a social media post directed to Sheinbaum that “Mexico is a key partner for Europe.”
“From tackling climate change to boosting trade and investment, we’re committed to deepening our cooperation. We look forward to signing our modernized [trade] agreement — and visiting you in Mexico!” von der Leyen wrote.
Durante nuestra participación en la Cumbre del G7, llamamos a trabajar con firmeza por la paz; México ha sido históricamente un país promotor del diálogo, del desarme y del respeto a la soberanía de los pueblos. La política se inventó para construir puentes y soluciones. pic.twitter.com/MXQIMRitfZ
— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) June 18, 2025
Sheinbaum said she spoke to Merz about the “strategic relationship” between Mexico and Germany as well as “opportunities for economic cooperation.”
She said that her discussion with the recently elected president of South Korea focused on “bringing our countries closer and enriching ties between our peoples.”
There is a significant Korean population in Mexico, based primarily in large cities such as Mexico City and Monterrey.
Sheinbaum mixes with powerful world leaders at G7 meeting
While she missed out on the opportunity to meet Trump face-to-face for the first time, Sheinbaum did speak to the U.S. president by telephone on Tuesday. She said on social media that they “agreed to work together to soon reach an agreement on various issues that concern us today,” among which are U.S. tariffs on imports from Mexico and Mexico’s opposition to the proposed remittances tax in the United States.
At the G7, Sheinbaum appeared between French President Macron and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in an official leaders’ photo. The leaders of Italy, Japan, Ukraine, Brazil and South Africa were also at the event, as was United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, among other dignitaries.
In a social media post that included the leaders’ photo, Sheinbaum wrote:
“I participate in the G7 Summit in Canada as a representative of an honorable and proud people who love their history, their culture and who have been characterized by being promoters of peace.”
In another post, she appeared with members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, whom she thanked for accompanying her on “this brief, but productive trip.”
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
Trial marriage? Jalisco lawmakers say short-term marriage contracts are a practical solution to today's high divorce rates. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Lawmakers in the state of Jalisco are considering a proposal to introduce temporary marriages, aiming to modernize civil law and reduce the strain of divorce on courts and couples.
The initiative, presented by Enrique Velázquez González of the Jalisco State Congress, would allow couples to enter marriage contracts lasting two to five years. At the end of the term, couples could renew the contract or let it dissolve automatically — no divorce proceedings required.
The initiative, currently being analyzed by the state’s Legislative Studies Commission, would require a simple majority of the 38-member, unicameral Jalisco Congress for approval.
“The traditional marriage model is no longer the only valid path for many people,” Velázquez said. “We seek for couples to enter into marriage with responsibility, but also with the freedom to evaluate its continuation without unnecessary legal conflicts.”
Velázquez is affiliated with Hagamos, a progressive, center-left local political party that operated only in Jalisco before its dissolution after the 2024 election due to not meeting a minimum vote threshold. In 2023, it joined a state coalition that included the national Morena party.
(One of its final candidates was Yuniur Vázquez Rosalío, whose death in a vehicle crash last August, shortly after he was elected mayor of a small Jalisco municipality, was suspected by many as foul play.)
Sign here for a two-year marriage plan. Cancel whenever. (Michael Balam/Cuartoscuro)
The “temporary marriage” proposal is inspired by European models such as France’s Civil Solidarity Pacts and German cohabitation contracts. Couples would define property management, child custody and alimony from the outset.
The contract would be formalized before the Civil Registry or a notary public.
Supporters say this offers legal certainty to those who might otherwise opt for informal unions.
They also argue the measure could reduce the workload in family courts by up to 90%. Thousands of divorce cases are processed each year in Jalisco.
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), Mexico recorded 163,587 divorces in 2023, with 20% percent occurring within the first five years of marriage. Jalisco’s divorce rate stands at 1.32 per 1,000 adults, among the lowest in the country.
The proposal has sparked debate among legislators, legal experts and citizens. Supporters call it a flexible, modern solution. Conservative and religious groups warn it could undermine the institution of marriage.
A charro wedding is an elegant, stylized and somewhat rarefied Mexican tradition born out of western Mexico's colonial ranching culture. (Photos provided to reporter Gabriela Solis)
A few months ago, Paloma and Alejandro married in Guadalajara, the capital of the western state of Jalisco. Their wedding featured all the typical aspects of a Mexican upper-class matrimonial event: hundreds of guests, lavish decorations and hours of entertainment.
Yet, it wasn’t your typical Mexican wedding because Alejandro, the groom, is a charro.
Jorge Monroy’s painting of El Coleadero, a charrería event in which a bull is brought down by a charro pulling its tail. (File photo)
A charro is a man who practices charrería, Mexico’s national equestrian sport that involves horseback riding and other related activities, including various forms of rodeo using livestock. But beyond a sport, charros consider charrería a lifestyle, originally born out of the rural ranching culture in colonial western Mexico.
When a charro gets married, tradition dictates that the ceremony should incorporate several elements of charrería, hence the charro wedding.
Yet, despite charrería being a fundamental part of Mexico’s culture — in 2016 it was recognized as part of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO — unless someone is born into a charro family or has direct ties with charrería, the tradition can seem foreign even to a Mexican. For that reason, Paloma wasn’t initially convinced of having a charro wedding.
“To be honest, I initially didn’t want my wedding to be a charro wedding because I wasn’t familiar with it,” she confessed when I spoke to her after her wedding. However, it wasn’t long before Paloma changed her thinking towards the themed celebration.
“When I noticed how much it meant to my now husband, I started to see things from a different perspective. And honestly, I enjoyed our wedding a lot,” she said.
Elements of a charro wedding
“A charro wedding is a traditional celebration in Mexico combining the Catholic marriage rites with elements of culture and charrería,” Paloma’s husband Alejandro explained to me.
The couple at their wedding, with Alejandro in his gala charro suit.
These elements are incorporated even into the marriage ceremony, which typically happens at a church. Paloma and Alejandro’s ceremony featured the typical charrería elements, starting with Alejandro’s attire.
The charro suit
Charros have three different types of suits, depending on the occasion: the work suit, the half-gala suit and the gala suit. As you might guess, a wedding requires the gala version.
“The suit has silver buttons, elegant embroidery in either gold or silver beads, fitted trousers, a short jacket, and a silk bow tie,” Alejandro explained, adding that the color of the suit is a personal preference – within a narrow realm of choices: It can either be black, Oxford gray, or navy blue.
For a wedding, charros also wear a sombrero de gala — made with rabbit, nutria or chinchilla fur. Unlike the work or the half-gala hat, the gala hat is embroidered with the same gold or silver beads as the rest of the outfit.
“We also wear ankle boots, which are made of leather and often handmade,” Alejandro added.
The guidelines for the different types of charro clothing are outlined by the Mexican Charrería Federation (FMC).
The cabalgata
The arrival of the groom to the church is a tradition, a spectacle in and of itself, and one of the most exciting features of a charro wedding. Accompanied by his fellow charros, including friends and family members, Alejandro made a grand entrance to the church esplanade on horseback.
“This was one of my favorite parts of the ceremony – seeing him arrive on horseback with his friends and family, all dressed in the gala charro suit,” Paloma told me.
“Arriving at church on horseback with my friends and family was a very special moment,” Alejandro said, seen here during his cabalgata.
Even though the wedding took place in a residential area of Guadalajara, Alejandro and his fellow charros were able to ride on part of the street to get to church. This tradition is known as the cabalgata.
“Arriving at church on horseback with my friends and family was a very special moment,” Alejandro said.
At a typical Catholic wedding mass, a classical music ensemble might accompany the ceremony with solemn harmonies. But at a charro wedding, like Paloma and Alejandro’s, the rich and soulful sound of a mariachi band filled the church.
The sombrero arch
The final distinctive feature of a charro wedding is the sombrero arch, known as the “valla charra”.
As the wedding mass comes to an end and the newlyweds prepare to exit, the charro guests gather to line both sides of the main aisle, all the way to the church doors. In a gesture of celebration and respect, they raise their wide-brimmed sombreros, forming an archway beneath which the couple walks.
The valla charra, or sombrero arch, is a much-anticipated tradition at a charro wedding.
“Walking down the aisle under the sombrero arch is a very special moment. Very emotional and very anticipated by any charro,” Alejandro told me.
The reception
The reception doesn’t have to incorporate any elements of charrería. However, Paloma and Alejandro’s reception party gave an elegant and contemporary nod to their Mexican heritage.
The party hall featured elements of rural Mexican tradition, softened by neutral tones and warm wooden textures. Long banquet tables were draped in white linens and adorned with clay pots and rustic vases that displayed floral centerpieces of dahlias, roses and nopales —a Mexican type of cactus.
Big, white pots with agave plants were scattered around the space, and in place of standard seating, traditional Mexican leather chairs known as equipales invited guests to relax and enjoy the banquet.
The celebration started in the afternoon and went on for hours.
“Honestly, it was a beautiful wedding,” Paloma told me with enthusiasm.
Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras.
