The peppery, mild sweetness of achiote lends these wings the perfect kick. (Shutterstock)
In the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya, Hun Hunahpú, the maize god, is tricked and killed by the lords of the underworld, the Xibalbá. His head is placed in a calabash tree, and from it, the twins Hunahpú and Xbalanqué, were born. The twins grow up to be cunning and skillful warriors, eventually avenging their father’s death by defeating the lords of Xibalbá in a series of epic trials.
According to a lesser-known version of the tale, after the twins triumphed and returned to the earth’s surface, they planted maize, their father’s sacred crop, in the soil. However, the maize did not sprout immediately — it needed something more, a divine offering. The twins, seeking a way to breathe life back into the earth, turned to the achiote plant, whose seeds symbolized blood and life.
Achiote grows in clusters of capsules, each of which contains dozens of seeds. (Gobierno de México)
In an act of sacrifice, the twins scattered achiote seeds over the freshly tilled earth, allowing the red pigment to slowly soak into the soil. With this act, they called upon the essence of life itself, and soon after, the maize began to grow. The achiote’s powerful color was believed to represent the lifeblood of the earth, linking the gods, humanity and the natural world together.
The Maya believed the vibrant red pigment of achiote seeds symbolized blood and life itself. They used it in food, painted their bodies with it during sacred rituals and even dyed their clothes and murals with its deep red hue. Legend has it that warriors would cover themselves in achiote before heading into battle, calling on its power to invoke the strength of the gods.
But fast forward to today, and we’ve found a use for achiote that’s a little less intense: chicken wings! Instead of warriors, it’s now us weekend grill gladiators slathering that bold achiote goodness on some juicy wings.
Achiote’s flavor profile is earthy, with a slightly peppery kick and a hint of sweetness. Imagine paprika and nutmeg got together and decided to have a tropical vacation — achiote would be the result. It’s the flavor that whispers, “I’m bold, but I don’t need to shout,” while giving your dishes that beautiful, golden-red glow, making your food look as good as it tastes.
In other parts of the world, achiote is best known as the source of annatto. (Shutterstock)
Achiote chipotle honey baked wings
Ingredients
2 lbs chicken wings
1/2 tbsp achiote powder
100g can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (finely chopped)
100g honey
Salt and pepper to taste
Lime wedges (for serving)
Instructions
Prepare the marinade
In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped chipotle peppers and honey.
Whisk together until smooth.
Season the chicken wings
Before marinating, season the chicken wings with salt and achiote powder. Ensure the wings are evenly coated with both the salt and achiote to make these puppies sing.
Marinate the chicken wings
Add the seasoned chicken wings to the bowl with the marinade, ensuring all wings are evenly coated.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Bake the wings
Preheat your oven to 400 F (200 C). Line a baking sheet with foil.
Arrange the marinated wings in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes or until crispy.
For extra crispiness, flip the wings and broil for an additional 3-5 minutes, keeping a close eye to avoid burning.
Garnish and serve
Remove the wings from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes.
Serve with lime wedges on the side for an extra burst of flavor.
Notes
Adjust the heat level by adding more or less chipotle peppers depending on your spice preference.
For an added smoky flavor, consider grilling the wings instead of baking them.
This recipe turned out very simple with not many ingredients, it’s usually hard for me to pare down but the results this time are great! Sometimes, less is more. Enjoy these sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy wings and let me know what you think 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.
Calling all wizards and witches! Dive into a magical interactive experience inspired by the Harry Potter universe. Learn the art of wand-wielding and techniques to cast your own spells. Meet and greet with your favorite characters as you discover the Great Hall, Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest in real life.
The Empire Strips Back
Dates: October 2nd – 27th (Wednesday to Sunday)
Location: Foro 1869 (Avenida de los Insurgentes Sur 1869, Guadalupe Inn)
Get ready for a cheeky twist on Star Wars as your favorite characters, including stormtroopers, Jedi and princesses, are reimagined in this burlesque comedy show. Audience participation is encouraged in this hilariously sexy journey through the galaxy, so leave the kids at home!
Design Week
Dates: October 7th – 13th
Location: Various venues
Cost: Free to enter most events
Step into the future at Design Week Mexico 2024! With the theme “Designing the Future,” this week features a diverse range of exhibitions, activities and discussions showcasing cutting-edge design. From architecture to art, furniture to fashion, this can’t-miss event highlights the work of both established and emerging designers.
Design Week runs from October 7 through October 13. (Design Week)
Now is your chance to show off your Spanish and belt out the best of El Sol de México’s ballads for all the world to see. Join Luis Miguel as he serenades you with his greatest hits at the biggest concert venue in Mexico City. Did you get your tickets yet?
‘Tis the season for pan de muerto, and it’s time to get your taste buds ready for a mouthwatering festival. Savor the delicious delicacy that comes just once a year with tastings and informative workshops celebrating the Day of the Dead and its coveted cuisine. From painting your own catrina to dancing to live music, you’re sure to enjoy this event no matter your age.
It’s time to get your taste buds ready for a mouthwatering Day of the Dead festival. (Cafe & Chocolate Fest)
International Book Fair at the Zócalo
Dates: October 11th – 20th
Location: Zócalo de la CDMX
Cost: Free to enter
Explore a treasure trove of literature at the International Book Fair with countless publishers showcasing their best works. In addition to shelves of bestsellers and hidden gems, enjoy author talks, readings and activities for all ages.
Reggae Live Festival
Date: October 12th
Location: Campos Guadalajara, Cuautitlán Izcalli, Estado de México
If “LuisMi” isn’t your thing, maybe Bob Marley is? Don your dreads and make your way to México state, where you can dance to 12 hours of non-stop reggae music. Campos Guadalara’s four stages will feature artists like Macka B and Tiken Jah Fakoly. Let the good vibes roll!
Get ready to be swept away by the enchanting world of “Swan Lake,” a timeless ballet that has captivated audiences for generations! Performed by the talented National Dance Company from Palacio de Bellas Artes, this production promises to deliver breathtaking choreography, fabulous costumes and a mesmerizing score by Tchaikovsky.
Enjoy “Swan Lake” performed by the talented National Dance Company. (La Infinita Compañía/Facebook)
Parade of Alebrijes
Date: October 19th
Location: From Zócalo to Paseo de la Reforma
One of the city’s most anticipated spectacles, watch as Paseo de la Reforma transforms into a magical world of color as towering alebrijes dance their way to the Historic Center.
Expo Cerveza
Dates: October 25th – 27th
Location: Pepsi Center (Dakota S/N Nápoles, Alcaldía Benito Juárez)
Join fellow beer enthusiasts at the Expo Cerveza! Discover an extensive selection of local and international beers, enjoy tastings and food pairings and chat with local brewers. Don’t miss interactive workshops showcasing techniques for brewing commercially or at home! Live entertainment abounds.
Parade of Catrinas
Date: October 27th
Location: Paseo de la Reforma
The fantastical procession of catrinas brings together a colorful array of participants dressed as the iconic skeletal figures that symbolize the Day of the Dead. Want to join? Face painting for any age is available along Paseo de la Reforma and costumes can easily be procured online or in your local mercado.
The fantastical procession of catrinas is Mexico City’s most famous parade. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
La Llorona Dance Show
Dates: October 28th – November 9th
Location: Centro Universitario Cultural (Odontología 35, Copilco, Universidad)
Hearing the haunting story of La Llorona is obligatory for anyone living in or visiting Mexico during Day of the Dead. Now, you can easily experience one of Mexico’s most enduring legends through a neoclassical dance show that features the Filarmónica de las Artes and the Compañía de Danza de las Artes. The bonus? It’s a stone’s throw from the iconic buildings and murals that put UNAM on the prized list of World Heritage Sites.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
The Mexican Banking Association (ABM) this week chose Regina García Cuéllar as director of the association, which has existed in Mexico since 1928. (ABM)
Mexico has its first-ever woman president — and the Mexican Banking Association (ABM), has made history in the same direction, naming a woman as director of the ABM for the first time in history.
With over 25 years of experience in the banking, telecommunications, health and energy sectors, Regina García Cuéllar replaces Juan Carlos Jiménez Rojas, who left the position in May after 19 years as director.
García’s predecessor, former ABM director Juan Carlos Jiménez Rojas. (ABM)
García, who holds a degree in Economics from the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM) and a PhD in Economics from Harvard University, has held key roles in various private and government entities, among them IZZI Telecom, Citibanamex, Pemex, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) and the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP).
She is copresident of 50/50 Women on Boards Mexico, a global nonprofit founded in 2010 to accelerate gender balance and diversity on corporate boards. She’s also been a board member at numerous companies.
“We are confident that, under her leadership, the ABM will continue to successfully face the challenges of the industry and stand out as one of the most relevant umbrella organizations in the country,” the ABM said while wishing the new general director “much success” in her new role.
The ABM was founded in 1928 to represent the collective interests of the sector. It currently has 48 affiliated banks. Since its establishment, the ABM has served as the overarching organization for financial institutions in the country, including Banorte, Bansí, JP Morgan, Monex, Banco Azteca, Citibanamex and Santander.
Mexican women in the workforce
Participation of Mexican women in the workforce is on the rise. Excluding a dip during the COVID-19 pandemic, women’s workforce participation has increased gradually since 2005, when 41% of Mexican women had paid jobs. According to World Bank Data, 46.5% of all working-age Mexican women worked in the formal or informal sectors in Mexico at the end of 2023.
However, that figure still lags behind men’s workforce presence, whose participation was more than 30 points higher, at 77.5%.
A study by the Milken Institute noted that these figures put Mexico at the lowest female workforce participation of Latin America’s five biggest economies: Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Chile.
At her inauguration, President Sheinbaum wore a dress designed by Oaxaca artisan Claudia Vásquez Aquino. (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)
Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, took office on Tuesday wearing a dress designed by embroiderer Claudia Vásquez Aquino.
Originally from Santa María Xadani in the southern state of Oaxaca, Vázquez, 41, told the newspaper El País that about a year ago, she met some people from Sheinbaum’s team, but didn’t know who they were at the time.
Sheinbaum’s team gave Vázquez guidelines for the design but did not reveal that it would be worn by Sheinbaum during her inaugural ceremony. (Lari guie’ Arte hecho moda/Facebook)
“They asked me for a dress, they gave me guidelines so I could decide on the embroidery and the flower design. But I didn’t know it would be for [Sheinbaum],” she said.
The president’s ivory inauguration-day dress, trimmed with colorful floral details, was made using the hand-knitting technique of crocheting on cotton fabric and elastane. “The embroidery features more than 100 flowers on the skirt and on the cuffs,” Vásquez explained.
“I feel very proud,” Vázques remarked of her design.
Vásquez told El Páis that she learned to embroider at the age of 10. “Just as I was born with Zapotec [her native language], I was born with embroidery,” she said proudly. “My mother taught me, first with needlework and then with weaving. My brothers Carlos and María also learned and together we have undertaken a small textile project.”
Sheinbaum wearing another piece by Lari Guie’, in 2023. (Lari guie’ Arte hecho moda/Facebook)
The project is called Lari Guie’, which means embroidered fabric in Zapotec. The designer’s Facebook page indicates that they sell online and at sales expos, and can be reached in Oaxaca city.
Vásquez is currently president of the Association of Indigenous Artisan Communities of the State of Oaxaca, which represents eight regions in the state.
This is not the first time that Claudia Sheinbaum has worn traditional clothing from the region. “From what I understand, the Doctor [Sheinbaum] obtains her pieces directly from artisans,” Vásquez said, adding that it is a “privilege” that the new president wears “typical clothing” from the different regions of Mexico.
“I am very excited that this piece of textile, woven by my hands, my heart and my mind, will be worn by the president. It is a very strong commitment, so we ask her to also defend our textiles. She is the voice of the people,” Vásquez said in a separate interview to news outlet Aristegui Noticias.
“I hope one day I can meet her personally and shake her hand,” Vásquez said. “I admire her a lot and I wish Mexico well with the first female president.”
The gold-colored national emblem on the presidential sash was also hand-embroidered. This work was carried out by First Auxiliary Soldier Evangelina Rentería de la Cruz, who also embroidered the sash bestowed on Sheinbaum’s predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, on Dec. 1, 2018.
A memorial to the victims of a Pemex pipeline explosion in January 2019 that killed 137. (Cuartoscuro)
Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s term as president has concluded, and Mexico now has its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, who was sworn in on Tuesday.
AMLO, as the ex-president is best known, led the country for five years and 10 months after taking office on Dec. 1, 2018.
President López Obrador was the last Mexican president to be sworn in on Dec. 1. (Cuartoscuro)
His term as president was an eventful one, marked by a range of significant events, including the COVID pandemic, during which the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Mexicans were attributed to the infectious disease.
On Jan. 18, 2019, less than two months after López Obrador was sworn in as president, the explosion of a petroleum pipeline in Tlahuelilpan, Hidalgo, claimed 137 lives.
The explosion killed scores of local residents who were collecting gasoline that was gushing from the pipeline, which had been illegally tapped by fuel thieves.
The tragedy occurred amid a federal government crackdown on fuel theft.
AMLO created the security force as a replacement for the Federal Police, which he argued was riddled with corruption.
The creation of the GN gave the president a security force he could truly call his own.
López Obrador set about molding the force to his liking, backing a bill passed by Congress in 2022 that allowed the civilian-led GN to be put under the control of the military.
As part of an agreement with the United States that ended a threat from then-president Donald Trump to impose tariffs on all Mexican goods, the federal government, in June 2019, deployed a total of more than 20,000 federal security force members to detain undocumented migrants at Mexico’s southern and northern borders.
The deployment marked the commencement of a more vigorous enforcement policy against migrants traveling northward through Mexico toward the United States. The policy was widely seen as an attempt to stay on the right side of the U.S., Mexico’s largest trade partner.
But it didn’t please everyone.
Mexico’s former immigration chief, Tonatiuh Guillén López, resigned a week after the government reached the agreement with the United States.
On Oct. 17, 2019, security forces dealt a significant blow to the Sinaloa Cartel by capturing accused cartel leader Ovidio Guzmán López, one of the sons of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Mexico never enforced a strict lockdown and the restrictions it did impose were much more relaxed than those of many other countries. The nation’s borders never closed to foreign travelers, making Mexico a popular tourism destination during the pandemic years. Among the visitors were people seeking to escape stringent COVID restrictions at home.
All the while, AMLO defended his government’s pandemic response, and early in the crisis he even claimed to have “tamed” the disease, only for it to go on and claim hundreds of thousands of lives.
The life of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, officially came to an end on July 1, 2020, when a new pact, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, went into force.
A week after the USMCA took effect, López Obrador traveled to Washington D.C., where he met with then-president Trump in the White House.
During his visit to the United States capital, AMLO described the USMCA as a “great achievement” and declared that it would help to generate more jobs and thus stem migration from Mexico to its northern neighbor.
Morena thus became the undisputed leading political force in Mexico, no mean feat for a party founded by López Obrador less than a decade before the 2021 elections were held.
Morena’s victories in state elections during AMLO’s presidency not only cemented Morena as the nation’s foremost political power, but also ensured that constitutional reforms recently approved by federal Congress, including the controversial judicial reform, would be ratified by a majority of state legislatures — a prerequisite for the promulgation of constitutional bills.
2022-2024: The electoral reform fight
One of López Obrador’s major legislative initiatives was his attempt to redesign Mexico’s electoral system, including by replacing the National Electoral Institute (INE) and state-based electoral authorities with one centralized body.
The constitutional reform proposal failed to pass Congress, prompting AMLO to put forward a “Plan B” proposal that did win approval in early 2023. Critics of the legislation said that it would significantly weaken the INE, and more protests against electoral reform and in defense of the electoral authority were held.
There is a good chance that the electoral reform proposal sent to Congress in February will be approved early in the Sheinbaum era, given that the ruling Morena party and its allies are a dominant force in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
March 2023: Detention center fire kills 40 migrants
López Obrador said in March 2023 that the death of the migrants in the Ciudad Juárez fire took a heavy emotional toll on him.
“This case has been very painful for a lot of people. And I confess it has pained me a lot, it has hurt me. I’ve had difficult moments [as president], the most difficult was the explosion in Tlahuelilpan,” he said.
“That was the hardest event, the one that affected me the most emotionally. And then this, this moved me, it broke my soul,” López Obrador said.
October 2023: Hurricane Otis devastates Acapulco
Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm that made landfall near Acapulco on Oct. 25, 2023, was the most destructive natural disaster during López Obrador’s presidency.
The hurricane — the strongest ever to hit Mexico’s Pacific coast — devastated Acapulco and claimed more than 50 lives, according to the disputed official count, with dozens more missing.
Sheinbaum — who was widely considered AMLO’s preferred successor — received almost 60% of the vote, demonstrating that a large majority of Mexico’s citizens want the so-called “fourth transformation” of Mexico to continue.
The new president has pledged to continue and strengthen all of the López Obrador era programs and policies, and has given her full backing to the constitutional reform proposals AMLO sent to Congress earlier this year.
López Obrador has asserted that Sheinbaum is well prepared to take on the nation’s top job and reiterated that he will have no involvement in politics during his retirement at his ranch in Chiapas.
However, some observers believe that the ex-president will continue to exert influence on the government from behind the scenes, and attempt to ensure that his successor doesn’t deviate too far from the course he set the country on during his six years in power.
But the arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García in the United States on July 25 was arguably the highest-profile detention of a Mexican citizen during López Obrador’s presidency.
Zambada’s arrest at an airport near El Paso, and the alleged kidnapping that preceded it, has added tension to the relationship between Mexico and the United States, with López Obrador accusing the U.S. of involvement in — or at least knowledge of — a “completely illegal” operation to kidnap El Mayo and deliver him to U.S. law enforcement authorities.
In that context, AMLO asserted last month that the United States government is partly to blame for the wave of violence that has claimed scores of lives in Sinaloa in recent weeks as competing factions of the Sinaloa Cartel battle each other in a war that was sparked by the alleged kidnapping and arrest of Zambada.
President Sheinbaum, who has heaped praise on AMLO’s legacy and called him “Mexico’s best president,” will be left to deal with the precarious situation in Sinaloa and various other parts of Mexico that are plagued by violent crime.
Compared to its closing position on Monday, the peso depreciated on Tuesday morning to trade at 19.81 to the US dollar, according to currency website xe.com. However, the currency strengthened after Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico’s first woman president at around 11:30 a.m. Mexico City time.
Despite attempts by the opposition to dissuade the Senate, the judicial reform passed 86 to 41 on September 11 and was ratified by the required amount of state legislatures within hours. The reform has reportedly spooked several potential foreign companies about investing in a Mexico whose judicial system will soon be overhauled. (Cuartoscuro)
Shortly after 6 p.m., the peso was trading at 19.63 to the greenback, an appreciation of almost 1% compared to its weakest position on Tuesday.
Investors are also concerned about other constitutional reform proposals that López Obrador sent to Congress in February and which are likely to be approved in the near future given that Lopez Obrador’s Morena party is still the ruling party under Sheinbaum and, with its allies, has a supermajority in the Chamber of Deputies and a virtual supermajority in the Senate.
In her first speech as president, Sheinbaum once again sought to reassure investors that they have nothing to worry about.
“I say with complete clarity: be assured that investments of national and foreign shareholders are safe in our country,” she said.
The president also pledged to “take advantage of the [USMCA] trade agreement with the United States and Canada to continue promoting the relocation of companies” to Mexico.
Former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the last press conference of his presidency Monday. Major governmental reforms he sent to the legislature in February could become law after he’s gone. (Government of Mexico)
Among other remarks, Sheinbaum said that her government will respect the autonomy of the Bank of Mexico and implement a “responsible” fiscal policy.
Sheinbaum has expressed support for all the proposals put forth by her predecessor and has rejected claims by opponents that their implementation poses a risk to Mexican democracy and the country’s capacity to prosper in the coming years.
Shortly after she was proclaimed presidenta, the 62-year-old former Mexico City mayor delivered her first speech as Mexico’s head of state.
President Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico’s first female head of state on Tuesday morning and then gave a speech to the nation. (PRESIDENCIA/CUARTOSCURO.COM)
Below is a selection of remarks Sheinbaum made in her speech on Tuesday at the Legislative Palace of San Lazáro in Mexico City.
On her election victory
“On June 2 of this year, the people of Mexico, in a democratic and peaceful way, said loud and clear: it’s time for transformation and it’s time for women.”
On taking power as a Mexican woman
“After 200 years of the republic and 300 years as a [Spanish] colony … for the first time, women are arriving to direct the destiny of our beautiful nation. And I say we’re arriving, because I’m not arriving [to power] on my own, all women are arriving.”
On the continuation of the ‘transformation’ of Mexico
“Today, Oct. 1, 2024, the second stage, the second story of the fourth transformation of public life in Mexico begins.”
On the country she will lead
“Mexico is a marvelous country with extraordinary people. We are a great nation. Original cultures that gave corn, cacao and tomatoes to the world, that built monumental pyramids, thrived here.”
“… Mexico is a marvelous country because of our cultural mosaic, because of our biodiversity. Mexico is marvelous thanks to our countrymen and countrywomen, [thanks to] heroes and heroines who live in the United States and who, because of their love or their family and homeland, send [monetary] support [home] every month.”
Sheinbaum described her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, as one of the country’s great leaders and one of the most “important” in Mexico’s modern history. (Cuartoscuro)
On AMLO, her political mentor
“Today, we say with certainty and without fear of being wrong – history and the people have judged him – Andrés Manuel López Obrador [is] one of the greats. The most important political leader and social fighter in modern history. The most beloved president, only comparable to Lázaro Cárdenas. … [López Obrador is] he who began the peaceful revolution of the fourth transformation.”
On the reason for AMLO’s success as president
“How is is that 9.5 million Mexicans, according to the World Bank, were lifted out of poverty in just six years?
How is it that without raising taxes, inequality was reduced?
How is it that we’re among the least indebted OECD countries and we have a strong currency?
How is it that we’re among the countries with the least unemployment?
How is it that there is more well-being and at the same time business people and banks earned more?
How is it that we have record foreign direct investment and salaries increased at the same time?
How is it that the minimum wage increased and inflation didn’t?
The answer is the model for development of the country changed for the better.”
On the tenets of AMLO’s political doctrine
“We’re going to continue with Mexican Humanism, with the fourth transformation.
I’ll summarize some of what I believe to be its main principals:
… For the good of all the poor come first.
There can’t be a rich government with poor people.
… Leaders must be honorable and honest.
The use of government structures for personal benefit … sullies the public service.
Corruption must be combated with ethics and by principals.
… Moral authority is the most important thing and that can’t be bought on the corner.
… Democracy is government of the people, for the people and by the people.
… With the people everything [can be done], without the people nothing.”
On the principles of the new federal government
“We will guarantee all freedoms, those of speech, of the press, of assembly, of protest.”
“Human rights will be respected and we will never use the force of the state to repress the people.”
“We will respect and guarantee the religious, political, social, cultural and sexual diversity of our society.”
“Health care and education are rights of the people of Mexico, not privileges or goods [to be sold].”
On claims that Mexico is heading toward authoritarianism
“Anyone who says there will be authoritarianism is lying.”
On her economic plans
“The autonomy of the Bank of Mexico will be maintained.”
“[We will implement] a responsible fiscal policy.
“We will promote public and private investment”
A message to investors
“I say with complete clarity. Be assured that investments of national and foreign shareholders are safe in our country.”
On the USMCA and the nearshoring opportunity
“We will take advantage of the trade agreement with the United States and Canada to continue promoting the relocation of companies [to Mexico].”
On Mexico’s relationships with the US and Canada
“The United States, Canada and Mexico know that economic cooperation strengthens the three nations. It is clear that we don’t compete with each other, we complement each other and [together] we create the conditions to further consolidate the economy of the entire continent.”
On Mexico’s relations with other countries
“We will continue strengthening our economic and cultural relationships with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. History and engagement bind us.”
Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of Mexico’s relationships with other countries, most importantly, the United States, represented at the inauguration by first lady Jill Biden. (Claudia Sheinbaum/X)
“[We will continue strengthening our relationships] with the different countries and regions of the world as well.”
On the judicial reform
“There will be rule of law. The recent constitutional reform to the judicial power, characterized by the election of judges, magistrates and Supreme Court justices by popular vote, means more autonomy and independence for the judicial power.”
On taking the government into the future
“We will carry out the most ambitious digitalization program in history to facilitate the payment of taxes and other [bureaucratic] procedures, and to incentivize investment.”
On government welfare programs
“All the [current] welfare programs will be maintained and we will ensure that their annual increases are never below [the level of] inflation.”
“… We will make three new welfare programs a reality: All women aged 60-64 will have bimonthly support in recognition of the [unpaid] work of Mexican women. All boys and girls who go to public schools … will have a scholarship. … We will take health care to the homes of senior citizens.”
On the electricity market
“As we said in the campaign, we will maintain the current proportion of public and private electricity generation, 54% and 46%, respectively.”
“… We’re going to promote energy efficiency and the transition to renewable sources of energy.”
On her water plans
“We will develop strategic projects for the storage and recycling of water. We’re also going to clean up the country’s most contaminated rivers.”
On her security objectives and strategy
“We will guarantee the reduction of high impact crimes [such as murder]. The irresponsible war against narcos of [former president Felipe Calderón] that continues to cause a lot of harm to Mexico won’t return.”
Sheinbaum gave her first speech to Mexico’s armed forces a few weeks ago. (Cuartoscuro)
“Our conviction is that security and peace are the fruit of justice and our [security] strategy has four core tenets: attention to the causes [of crime]; … intelligence and investigation; the strengthening of the National Guard; … zero impunity.”
Sheinbaum concludes her first speech as president
“I’m a mother, grandmother, scientist and woman of faith. And as of today, because of the will of the people, I’m the constitutional president of the United Mexican States. I will govern for everyone and be assured that I will put my knowledge, my strength, my history and my life itself at the service of the people and the homeland.
Be assured that we will together consolidate a more prosperous, free, democratic, sovereign and just Mexico. I will not disappoint you. … Long live the fourth transformation! ¡Que viva México, viva México, viva México!”
The newly sworn-in president, who turned 62 on June 24, has one adult daughter from a nearly 30-year marriage that lasted from 1987 to 2016.
In the early 2000s, Carlos Ímaz Gispert was president of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) for Mexico City and also served as Delegation Head of the capital’s Tlalpan borough. (Susanna Navarrete/Cuartoscuro)
After meeting Mexican academic-turned-politician Carlos Ímaz Gispert in 1986, Sheinbaum married him in 1987 when she was 25. Two years later, Ímaz helped found the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) and in the 2000s served as the party’s Mexico City head and also the Delegation Chief for the capital’s Tlalpan borough. During the same period in the 2000s, Sheinbaum was serving as Mexico City’s environmental minister under then Mexico City mayor Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
In 1988, Sheinbaum and Ímaz had a daughter, Mariana. Mariana and Rodrigo — Ímaz’s young son from a previous marriage — were raised as brother and sister, and Sheinbaum continues to have a very close relationship with both; most of her biographies list her as having two children.
Sheinbaum has also been a grandmother for the past 16 months — as Rodrigo Ímaz Alarcón and his partner had a son, Pablo, in May 2023.
Mariana Ímaz Sheinbaum, 36, followed her parents on an academic path that included a master’s degree in literary theory and comparative literature from the University of Barcelona. She then taught history and sociology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and went on to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of California-Santa Cruz.
Mariana was already familiar with Northern California, having lived with her parents in the San Francisco Bay Area while her mother earned a doctorate in energy engineering at University of California-Berkeley. Sheinbaum’s doctorate analyzed the use of energy engineering in the Mexican transportation sector.
Mariana is now the academic coordinator of humanities at UNAM-Boston, which organizes lectures and other programs to foster ties between UNAM and Boston-area academic institutions. She has kept a low profile regarding her mother’s political work, apart from a few brief appearances in “Claudia: The Documentary,” a 2023 film directed by her stepbrother, Rodrigo.
Sheinbaum’s daughter, Mariana Ímaz Sheinbaum and stepson, Rodrigo Ímaz Alarcón appeared together in a documentary about Sheinbaum directed by Rodrigo. (Screen capture)
Rodrigo Ímaz Alarcón, 42, was very young when his father divorced his mother, Sandra Alarcón. He has studied at UNAM in Mexico City and earned a master’s degree in the arts in Valencia, Spain. He is now a visual artist who “uses drawing, printmaking, painting, photography, sculpture, film and installation as a means to critically question and represent contemporary events,” according to his personal biography.
His debut film, “Juan Perros,” is a 34-minute documentary about a forgotten man who lives with his pigs and a pack of dogs next to a garbage dump in the Mexican desert. It was shown in the 2016 Morelia International Film Festival. A reel of his film highlights can be seen on his website.
Claudia Sheinbaum was born in 1962 to a Mexican Jewish family in Mexico City, the second of three children. Her older brother, Julio, is a physicist and oceanography researcher, and her younger sister, Adriana, is a teacher living in the United States.
Adriana is married to Rodrigo García Barcha, son of the late legendary Latin American writer Gabriel García Márquez.
Their father, Carlos Sheinbaum Yoselevitz, was a chemical engineer and businessman involved in producing chemicals for curing leather. He died in 2013 at age 80.
Sheinbaum’s mother, Annie Pardo Cemo, 84, is a molecular biologist who received Mexico’s National Prize for Arts and Sciences in 2023. Earlier this year, she was part of the 2nd International Symposium on Experimental and Translational Medicine.
Sheinbaum’s paternal Ashkenazi Jewish grandparents immigrated to Mexico in the 1920s from Lithuania, and her maternal Sephardic Jewish grandparents came from Sofia, Bulgaria, in the early 1940s to escape the Holocaust.
In a 2018 NPR profile, Claudia says she celebrated major Jewish holidays at her grandparents’ homes, but that “her home life was secular.”
At the same time that she legally separated from Carlos Ímaz in 2016, she began dating and eventually married Jesús María Tarriba Unger, a mathematician and financial risk specialist at the Bank of Mexico since 2017. The Sinaloa native turned 62 on Sept. 1.
Sheinbaum and Tarriba had reconnected in 2016 — rekindling a romantic relationship they had cut short during their student years — and were married in a small civil ceremony in November 2023 in Mexico City.
Sheinbaum’s second and current husband, whom she married in 2023, is Jesús María Tarriba, a mathematician and financial risk analyst. (Sheinbaum/X)
Tarriba holds a Ph.D. from UNAM and completed a doctoral stay at the University of California-Irvine. In 1994, he received the Weizmann Prize in Exact Sciences for the best doctoral thesis, awarded by the Mexican Academy of Sciences.
He worked as a quantitative analyst at Banamex from 1994 to 1997, then moved to Madrid, Spain, where he lived and worked in the banking industry for 18 years.
The writer Dahlia de la Cerda has drawn attention for writing about what others are afraid to write about, and what people feel uncomfortable looking at: the reality of millions of women in Mexico. (Dahlia de la Cerda/Facebook)
In Mexico, as in much of the world, feminism has taken center stage in the political agenda at the same time as femicide and gender violence have escalated to unprecedented levels.
Feminist struggles have permeated all areas of daily life and literature is no exception. For years, Mexico has been home to a long list of women writers who discuss feminism and gender violence. Many of them have had international success in translations, including the great baroque-era poet Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and the more contemporary Fernanda Melchor, Gabriela Jáuregui and Dahlia de la Cerda, among many others.
Dahlia de la Cerda at the Feria del Libro de Aguascalientes in 2022. (Luis Alvaz/CC-BY-SA 4.0)
Let’s talk about the latter. In the last year, de la Cerda has been a topic of conversation for the rawness of her texts and the forcefulness of her political position. Above all, she draws attention for writing about what others are afraid to write about, what people feel uncomfortable looking at: the reality of millions of women in this country.
Dahlia de la Cerda was born in the city of Aguascalientes. She studied philosophy and worked for years selling second-hand clothes in a flea market and roses on the street, answering calls in a call center, selling Avon products, and working in bars and in a candy factory. While doing all of these jobs and without a room of her own, de la Cerda wrote and participated in literary contests and cultural scholarships in the hope of earning extra money that would allow her to continue writing, studying and defending causes such as free, legal and safe abortion for all people able to gestate.
In 2009 she won the Los Arquitos Cultural Center’s Letras de la Memoria contest and in 2015 received a PECDA artist grant from the State of Aguascalientes. De la Cerda won the National Endowment for Culture and Arts’ (Fonca) coveted Jóvenes Creadores (Young Creators) grant in 2016 and 2018.
De la Cerda burst into prominence with her 2022 short story collection “Perras de Reserva,” a book of short stories that tear at the crudeness of gender violence, marginalization, racialization, clandestine abortion and femicide.
Co-translated into English by Julia Sanches and Heather Cleary, “Reservoir Bitches” won a PEN Translates award this July. (Scribe UK)
In her “Perras de Reserva” — which has since been translated into five languages and recently won a PEN Translates award as “Reservoir Bitches,” in Julia Sanches and Heather Cleary’s English translation — de la Cerda makes no concessions. She knows the violent reality of the country she lives in because she has experienced it firsthand and is confident that only by narrating the reality with which it exists can she really make those who are more privileged understand that this violence is systemic in our country, and that it puts thousands of lives at risk every day.
Discussing the stories and the women she gives voice to, the writer from Aguascalientes said in an interview with Excelsior that her goal “was to show a variety of diverse women, in very adverse, complex contexts, and to have them different voices from those that had been heard in literature.”In an interview with the newspaper El Universal, de la Cerda remarked, “In the case of women who come from precarious backgrounds, we needed to mirror ourselves in literature.”
In her 2023 book “Desde los Zulos,” de la Cerda is even more irreverent and contentious, exposing disputes for power and economic resources between different social movements, the erasure of women and above all, the imperative need to articulate a feminist movement that transcends the traditional concepts of white feminism. She is in favor of a movement that centers women who fight from the margins: racialized women who fight against classism and racism.
In addition to her literary work, de la Cerda is co-founder and co-director of Morras help Morras, an organization that advocates for legal abortion and the dissemination of information on this issue so that it can be available to everyone.
Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer, and cultural promoter and is Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.
With cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art accomodations, Mexico City's hospitals are some of the best in the country. (Hospitales Ángeles - Lomas)
What makes a good hospital? In dealing with human vulnerability, healthcare services are one of the most delicate and important parts of our lives. In this sense, a hospital’s philosophy, care style, technology, accessibility and cleanliness, to name a few factors, are crucial in their capacity to provide good service.
In Mexico, there are at least two significant rankings that focus on the quality of hospitals. One is compiled by Newsweek in collaboration with market and opinion research company Statista, based on parameters such as hygiene, doctor-patient ratios and user opinions. The other is a collaboration between the Mexican Health Foundation (Funsalud), which represents health industry interests, and consulting firm Blutitude, along with news outlet Expansion.
The few Mexican doctors who get past the opaque bureaucratic hurdles to work in the public health system often face low pay, uncertain employment and a lack of medical equipment and medicines. (Cuartoscuro)
Based on these studies as well as Google user ratings, we present the best hospitals in Mexico City, taking into account aspects such as specialties, technology and upgrades.
Hospital Médica Sur
Located in one of Mexico City’s most renowned medical districts, this hospital is a classic in the city. Founded 43 years ago, Médica Sur was the Mayo Clinic’s first partner outside of the United States and is the only one of its kind in Mexico. The hospital’s facilities are spread out across three towers with beautiful lighting.
One of Médica Sur’s advantages is that it accepts most major medical insurance plans and offers discounts on parking and meals for those who enter through an insurance company. The hospital rooms are similar to private suites, and if you don’t want to pay for an additional room, a companion can access a free sofa bed.
Hospital Médica Sur has won, for consecutive years, first place as the best hospital in CDMX. (Hospital Medica Sur)
For foreigners or those visiting Mexico for medical reasons, the hospital has a Department of International Medicine that provides support, transportation services and even accommodations in a hotel. Additionally, the hospital houses highly specialized clinics and offers a robotic surgery program.
IMSS – Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI
Siglo XXI is one of the most historic and influential institutions in Mexican medicine. Located next to the Centro Médico Metro station in Roma Sur, its facilities are adorned with beautiful murals and artwork by the renowned David Alfaro Siqueiros.
This medical center receives patients from all over Mexico who require specialized care for complex diseases, such as cancer, and has served 12 million people. The complex’s Specialties Hospital is 60 years old and holds the rank of High Specialty Medical Unit (UMAE).
Siglo XXI is known for the quality of its staff and its specialization in areas such as oncology, cardiology and pediatrics. Known for its excellence and vast facilities, it also offers libraries, computer areas, cafeterias, restaurants, banks and an Oxxo.
IMSS – Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI is also known for being an important medical research center (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Centro Médico ABC Campus Santa Fe
Also known as theAmerican British Cowdray Medical Center, it was the first hospital in Mexico to achieve Magnet status, a prestigious recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. ABC, whose main campus is located in Santa Fe, is known for its highly specialized centers and its emphasis on preventive medicine programs.
ABC’s facilities include insurance modules, bank branches and restaurants. Its technology is first class, and one of its unique features is a robot that will guide you to the office or area of the hospital that you need.
Centro Médico ABC Campus Santa Fe is known for its emphasis on preventive medicine programs. (Centro Médico ABC)
IMSS – Centro Médico Nacional La Raza
Located in the neighborhood of the same name in Azcapotzalco, this medical complexis characterized by its highly specialized units that offer medical procedures exclusive to this center: its heart transplantation program, for example, has become the most successful and productive in the country and Latin America. The research and pioneering work in Mexican medicine conducted here make La Raza an extremely important institution.
Among its advantages, La Raza is the only hospital in the country with a Clinical Toxicology Department and the only one with a Corneal Tissue Bank. Additionally, it offers 47 specialties and is a pioneer and leader in the treatment of rare diseases, such as spinal dystrophy, with multidisciplinary care from various specialties. The facilities offer state-of-the-art technology and house murals of historic value by renowned Mexican artists David Alfaro Siqueiros and Diego Rivera.
IMSS—Centro Médico Nacional La Raza has performed historical medical procedures that are exclusive to this center. (IMSS)
Hospital San Ángel Inn
This five-campus hospital network is known for offering “surgical packages” for procedures such as general surgery, laparoscopy, obstetrics and gynecology and oncology, among many others. In addition, they run promotions each year for services such as ultrasounds, cardiac physiology assessments, endoscopies and CT and MRI scans.
This hospital network offers 50 specialties and is also known for its advanced technology used in its surgical, imaging, intensive care, emergency and inpatient departments and the modernness of its facilities. It offers first-class facilities, highly sanitized, modern and first-class technological equipment, in addition to comfortable bedrooms.
Hospital San Angel Inn Universidad and Chapultepec are known for their advanced technology. (Hospital San Angel Inn)
Hospitales Ángeles
The network is known for its surgical specialties, which include cardiovascular, plastic and reconstructive surgery, as well as pediatric specialties such as neonatology, pediatric oncology and pediatric surgery. Of the 27 Ángeles hospitals nationwide, 10 are located in Mexico City.
The network stands out as one of the few facilities with robotic surgery centers and is famous for its Mexican Institute of Neurosciences, located at the Hospital Ángeles de las Lomas. This hospital is a place of excellence worldwide with great neurologists and psychiatrists. With state-of-the-art technology and modern installations, its rooms are very pleasant and full of light.
Hospital Español de México
The Hospital Español de México has a school of nursing and offers online professionalization programs for bachelor’s degrees. (Hospital Español de México)
With historical roots dating back to 1842, this hospital in Polanco was originally established to help “truly needy” Spaniards. It has high-quality certifications and employs doctors with distinguished careers. The Hospital Español offers services ranging from a maternity ward to a nursing home for the elderly. With nearly 500 beds, it is one of the largest hospitals in Mexico. There is also ample space for visitors, who can request a room or stay in the patient’s room.
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
