Tuesday, April 29, 2025

How soccer and AI helped Indigenous artisans create a masterpiece

By
Bethany Platanella
-
0
Mexico soccer jersey
The national team may not have scored big at the Copa America, but an unlikely partnership between Mexican soccer, AI and Indigenous women has created an invaluable lifeline for rural artisans. (Adidas)

The ever-burning question that sits atop the mind of any creative these days is this: Is artificial intelligence a friend or foe?

For Antonio Nuño, CEO and co-founder of Someone Somewhere, AI is more than a friend. It’s a best friend. Without it, he may not have landed the once-in-a-lifetime partnership that most creators only dream of – designing the home and away jerseys for the Mexican National football team. What’s more, the jerseys would be released during Copa America, football’s second most-coveted tournament after the FIFA World Cup. 

A Mexico soccer jersey being stitched
An AI-generated design for the Mexican national soccer team helped Antonion Nuño score big. (Adidas)

Using AI-generated imagery, Nuño and his design team came up with two prototype jerseys for the potential use of Mexico’s National football team. Each jersey showcased over 100 meters of colorful embroidery that would, in theory, be applied by female artisans based in Naupan, Puebla. As soon as the team let the image of these jerseys loose on the internet, it went viral, hitting over 1 million views and reaching the far depths of the sports world. 

The next day, Adidas called. A call that’s surely any fashion designer’s dream come true.

Employees from Adidas Mexico didn’t just see the video, they saw the interest it generated. They wanted to collaborate on a special collection of jerseys to celebrate Mexico’s participation in Copa America

In order to do so, Someone Somewhere invited several of its most talented embroiderers to participate in the project, including Cata and Cristina. Both ladies reside in Sierra Norte de Puebla and learned their craft at a young age through their mothers, grandmothers, and cousins. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by adidas México (@adidasmx)

Decorating the jerseys was no simple task – the artists dedicated 11 hours of their time to hand-embroider each and every jersey, a symbol of the 11 players representing Mexico at the Copa America.

“I’m proud to embroider the jerseys for Mexico’s National football team. When I told my family, they didn’t believe me. It’s an important job,” Cris told Fox Sports Mexico.

“It’s incredible to know that the Mexico National football team’s jerseys have a bit of our tradition, so the world can know what we’re capable of. We realized we have the ability to accomplish what we set out to do,” said Cata. 

According to Periódico Central, the regions of La Sierra Negra and Sierra Norte are the poorest in Puebla State, with half to 92.3% of inhabitants living in extreme poverty. This means lack of critical access to social security, public transportation, viable infrastructure, and basic housing, education, and jobs. Artisanship is often the only way to make money and find purpose. And with many artisans living in such remote villages with unreliable transportation, it can be hard to reach the right customer base.

For those artisans that do leave to earn minimal wages as street vendors, they’re often faced with dirty and sewage-ridden working conditions. They’re not afforded the luxury to skip a day of sales, even during heavy rain or extreme heat. To top it off, local governments in cities such as Mexico City and Guadalajara are known for imposing strict regulations on street vendors that, when broken, often result in hefty fines or confiscation of their products.

Which is why these special edition jerseys are so much more than just football. The project serves as a powerful platform to enable Mexican artisans to display their talent in front of an international audience. 

It’s not bad PR for Someone Somewhere, either, whose mission is “to lift millions of artisans and industrial workers out of poverty, while taking care of our planet”.  The Mexico City-based fashion brand currently works with over 200 artisans in the mountains of Puebla, each of whom is listed on their website, along with a short bio and personal contact information. 

Moreover, the company is committed to engaging in only the most ethical and sustainable practices, utilizing recycled fabrics and incorporating technology where applicable to enhance the production process. According to their 2023 sustainability report, Someone Somewhere generated more than 700,000 hours of work for artisans, upscaled more than 90,000 kgs of textile waste, and mitigated 4,000 tons of CO2 emissions.

A little reminder that perhaps AI isn’t so bad, after all.

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.

Canada returns 257 archaeological artifacts to Mexico

By
MND Staff
-
0
The pieces were voluntarily returned by Susana Zarco Carón, a Mexican citizen who has lived in Canada since 1968.
The pieces were voluntarily returned by Susana Zarco Carón, a Mexican citizen who has lived in Canada since 1968. (INAH)

Mexico has repatriated 257 archaeological artifacts that were turned over by a Mexican citizen residing in Montreal, Canada, according to a statement by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

These pieces were voluntarily returned by Susana Zarco Carón, who has lived in Canada since 1968. A restitution ceremony was held at the Consulate General in Montreal on Monday, where Consul General Montreal Víctor Treviño Escudero thanked Mrs. Zarco for helping reintegrate the heritage pieces with Mexico.

After thoroughly analyzing the pieces, the INAH confirmed the Mexican origin of the artifacts. According to the INAH’s statement, 256 pieces are movable archaeological monuments from various Mesoamerican civilizations belonging to the Classic period (200-900 AD) and the Postclassic period (1200-1521 AD). The one remaining piece is of “historical nature.”

It is unknown how Mrs. Zarco acquired these pieces.

The artifacts will add to the more than 13,500 items recovered by Mexico as part of the #MiPatrimonioNoSeVende initiative (My Heritage is Not for Sale). This new initiative is part of the current administration’s mission to reclaim, safeguard and promote cultural heritage that has been unlawfully taken from Mexico. The majority of these reclaimed artifacts have been discovered in the United States, followed by Spain and Italy. 

“This campaign helps to reduce collecting through looting while encouraging the appreciation of our heritage,” the INAH has said. 

So far this year, Mexico has retrieved 30 artifacts from Los Angeles, 22 from Philadelphia and 35 from Seattle. The latest recovery included artifacts originally from the Cintalapa region in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico.

Besides Canada and the United States, Mexico has recovered cultural heritage from The Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Italy, among other countries. 

Mexico and Canada have maintained diplomatic relations since 1944. This year, the two countries are celebrating the 80th anniversary of such a milestone with a range of events, including a photographic exhibition inaugurated by Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly during her visit to Mexico City in late June.  

Mexico News Daily

San Miguel de Allende is Travel + Leisure’s best city in the world

By
MND Staff
-
10
San Miguel de Allende panorama
A panoramic view of San Miguel de Allende, Travel + Leisure's best city in the world for 2024. (Shutterstock)

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, has been voted this year’s best city in the world by Travel + Leisure’s readers. 

Travel + Leisure asks readers every year to weigh in on their top travel experiences around the globe, including their favorite hotels, resorts, cities, spas, airlines and more. More than 186,000 readers completed the survey this year, casting over 700,000 votes for over 8,700 places and experiences.

San Miguel de Allende is Travel + Leisure's 2024 best city in the world
One Travel + Leisure reader described San Miguel as “unbeatable in every category.” (Shane Lei/Unsplash)

Cities were specifically rated on criteria that included sights and landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and overall value. Respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average or poor for each category.

San Miguel got stellar results, with one reader describing it as “unbeatable in every category.” Another voter noted that “the food was totally amazing, the city was clean [and] the people were very friendly and helpful.” 

Up from the No. 5 spot last year, San Miguel de Allende has consistently ranked as one of the top cities to visit in international travel and tourism industry rankings. Previously, it was named world’s best small city by Condé Nast, a trending destination for 2024 by American Express and best destination in Mexico by TripAdvisor. Last year, Condé Nast also included San Miguel de Allende in its list of the 32 best places to spend Christmas. 

“Known for its stunning architecture — most notably, the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel — food, and art scene, the city is a cultural hub that marries old and new,” Travel + Leisure wrote.  

Upon receiving the recognition, the Guanajuato Tourism Ministry released a statement congratulating all residents of San Miguel and its tourism sector.

After San Miguel de Allende, the top five best cities in the world for 2024 are Udaipur, India (No. 2), Kyoto, Japan (No. 3), Hoi An, Vietnam (No. 4) and Chiang Mai, Thailand (No. 5).

Readers also chose San Miguel de Allende as the best city in Mexico, followed by Oaxaca, last year’s winner for best city in the world. Mexico City came in at No. 3, followed by Mérida at No. 4 and Guadalajara at No. 5.

One reader described Oaxaca as an “incredible place with incredible people,” while another called the city “beautiful and historic.” Mérida, Yucatán’s capital, was praised as an LGBTQ+ friendly destination, also famous for its cenotes and Maya culture. Mexico City was recognized for its mix of history, nightlife, dining and arts, while Guadalajara was hailed for its culture, atmosphere and “exceptional cuisine.” 

According to Travel + Leisure, Mexico is hard to beat for readers when it comes to popular vacation spots. “The country is famous for its warm hospitality, rich and varied culture, and crave-worthy cuisine — backed by a complex history and beautiful natural landscapes, from ancient ruins to pristine beaches.”  

Mexico News Daily

Sheinbaum confirms plans for passenger railway expansion in Mexico

By
MND Staff
-
0
Sheinbaum aims to double the 1,500 kilometers of passenger train infrastructure established under the current government.
Sheinbaum aims to double the 1,500 kilometers of passenger train infrastructure established under the current government. (Martín Zetina/Cuartoscuro)

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum has unveiled her administration’s plan to continue developing passenger train services in Mexico, expanding the country’s railway network by 3,000 to 3,500 kilometers. Much of this expansion will occur in the north.

“We have made the decision to continue building trains,” Sheinbaum said at a press conference on Monday. “Now we are going to head north.”

Claudia Sheinbaum, AMLO and Mara Lezama sit in a car of the Maya Train.
Sheinbaum said the new construction will follow the model used for the Maya Train — a blend of military engineering and private company oversight. (Claudia Sheinbaum/X)

Her announcement followed a weekend in which Sheinbaum, who will assume office Oct. 1, took two rides on the Maya Train with outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Sheinbaum said she is committed to continuing the AMLO-initiated infrastructure advancements and focus on reviving passenger trains, which includes the yet-to-be-completed Maya Train that traverses the Yucatán Peninsula.

The objective of her plan, which aims to double the 1,500 kilometers of passenger train infrastructure established under the current government, “would be to put [the train] out to tender in 2024, in order to be able to build it in 2025, with the available resources,” she said.

One of the routes would connect Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, via the cities of San Luis Potosí and Monterrey, Nuevo León. Nuevo Laredo is just seven kilometers south of Laredo, Texas, across the United States border.

Sheinbaum said the train projects will follow the model used for the Maya Train — a blend of military engineering and private company oversight. More than 18,000 kilometers of railway tracks that were privatized by former President Ernesto Zedillo in the 1990s will be evaluated for some of the new routes, Sheinbaum added.

The former mayor of Mexico City emphasized that her administration’s National Infrastructure Plan will not only extend passenger train routes but also enhance freight transport connectivity as part of Mexico’s strategic push to attract and promote investments.

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum speaks at a conference.
In addition to passenger train travel, Sheinbaum seeks to increase freight connectivity as part of Mexico’s strategic push to attract and promote investments. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

According to Sheinbaum’s plan, which is based on President López Obrador’s decree in November making passenger trains a priority for national development, the routes under consideration for passenger and freight services include:

  • Mexico City to Querétaro to León to Aguascalientes
  • Mexico City to San Luis Potosí to Monterrey to Nuevo Laredo
  • Mexico City to Querétaro to Guadalajara
  • Manzanillo to Colima to Guadalajara to Irapuato
  • Mexico City to Querétaro to Guadalajara to Tepic to Mazatlán to Nogales

Other possible passenger routes include:

  • Mexico City to Puebla to Veracruz
  • Aguascalientes to Chihuahua to Ciudad Juárez

Other possible freight routes include:

  • Mexico City to Veracruz to Coatzacoalcos
  • Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) to Pachuca
  • Guadalajara to Tepic to Mazatlán to Nogales
  • Aguascalientes to Chihuahua to Ciudad Juárez

Sheinbaum’s plan also seeks to consolidate and expand current train projects, including the Maya Train and the Interoceanic Train. The latter, designed to connect the Gulf of Mexico with the Pacific Ocean, still requires two significant interconnections: a link to the Dos Bocas refinery in Tabasco, and the extension of the Maya Train to Puerto Progreso, Yucatán.

In 2018, the initial cost of the Maya Train was estimated at around 150 billion pesos (US $7.4 billion at the time), but the costs have mushroomed to approximately 480 billion pesos (US $26.8 billion based on current exchange rates).

With reports from Proceso, El Financiero and Forbes

More than maple syrup: Canadian food companies are expanding in Mexico

By
Felipe Sanmiguel
-
4
Mexico flag and Canada flag
Canadian foods have made inroads in Mexico via the Canadian government's Export Development Council. (Shutterstock)

It is easier for Canadians in Mexico to find their main staples and favorite products on shelves in Mexico than ever — from classics like maple syrup to ice cream, cookies, chips and a lot more.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into force 30 years ago, updated recently to the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement (CUSMA), and has helped develop strong trade ties in agribusiness among other sectors, including the automotive and aerospace industries.

Signage advertising Canadian products in Soriana
Canadian foods and flavors can be found in Soriana supermarkets across Mexico. (Courtesy)

One of the places where Canada and Mexico showcase their deep connections in the agribusiness segment is in the Mexican supermarket chain Soriana.

Soriana started as a small Mexican family-owned business in 1905 and is the perfect example of growth and transformation in Mexico. With over 800 stores, Soriana is the second-largest retail company in the country. Soriana’s stores currently offer top quality Canadian products, each with their own great story.

For example Top Glaciers, a Quebec company founded in 2016 by four of the top master glaciers in the city.

With 50 employees in their newly renovated factory, they have invested in developing innovative machinery while maintaining their primary focus: a pure artisanal recipe and traditional know-how.

Top Glaciers ice cream
Top Glaciers is one of the Canadian treats now available in Mexico. (Courtesy)

Top Glaciers currently produces more than a hundred frozen desserts, all sweetened with pure maple syrup. Top Glaciers is now one of the most recognized frozen desserts in Canada.

This year, Top Glaciers will be exporting to Mexico for the first time and their products will be in Soriana’s freezers.

Another example is Three Farmers — a small company from Saskatoon with a passion for farming and a strong belief that high quality, fresh and healthy foods should be available for everyone.

Three Farmers is a women-led business that has been closing the gap between rural and urban living.

Three Farmers chickpeas
Three Farmers is another Canadian brand coming to Soriana’s shelves. (Courtesy)

Through sustainable methods, they grow and roast chickpeas, one of the most used plant-based proteins in the world. In 2018, Three Farmers began collaborating with Soriana to offer healthy snacks to consumers in Mexico.

A third example is Daiya Foods, a pioneer company of plant-based, dairy-free products from British Columbia. Daiya’s name means mercy, kindness, and compassion in Sanskrit. For over 17 years, Daiya Foods has been a leading company in vegan cheeses, and their promise goes beyond the super-melty cheeses, offering pizza margherita, cream cheese, mozzarella, and cheddar cheese in Soriana’s freezers as well as meatless pepperoni pizzas and other vegan products.

Soriana currently collaborates with over 60 Canadian agrifood companies that never imagined they would end up exporting their products internationally, thanks to its mature relationship with Export Development Canada (EDC), Canada’s export credit agency, and the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service.

Sabores de Canadá display at a Soriana supermarket
A “Sabores de Canadá” display at a Soriana supermarket. (Courtesy)

Through the EDC’s Business Connection Program, we have been working with Soriana to help those Canadian exporters bring Canadian goods to Mexican grocery stores. Since 2017, the two Canadian agencies have introduced almost 400 companies to Soriana through EDC’s exclusive Business Connection program for helping meet the demand from international companies looking for Canadian innovation and expertise. The goal in this program is to enable more trade for Canada as a whole and seize the opportunities for Canadian businesses to export, trade and immerse in the Mexican market.

This year the EDC is celebrating its 80th anniversary, and as a Crown corporation fully owned by the Government of Canada, we truly believe in our mission in Mexico. We have been present for over 20 years, with offices in Mexico City and Monterrey. In a search for long-term partnerships, along with EDC, Soriana is committed to offer the consumers in Mexico the best Canadian products on their shelves.

Whether you are a Canadian in Mexico looking for comforts from home, or just want to try a bit of what makes Canada special, we encourage you to be part of these Canada-Mexico trade connections.

This article is part of Mexico News Daily’s “Canada in Focus” series. Read the other articles from the series here. 

Felipe Sanmiguel is the Business Development Director and Country-head for Mexico for Export Development Canada.

Sinaloa Cartel security chief arrested in northern Mexico

By
MND Staff
-
4
Men in handcuffs in a horizontal line in front of a military passenger jet standing among Mexican soldiers
In Tamazula, Durango, Monday, Mexico's military arrested a man identified only as Luis "N," who authorities said is the security chief for the Gente del Guano (GDG) faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. He was arrested with three other men believed to be GDG operatives.

An alleged drug cartel member identified as the security chief for the brother of convicted Sinaloa Cartel drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera was arrested in northern Mexico on Monday after a shootout that reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least four people.

Luis “N” — the alleged head of security for Aureliano “El Guano” Guzmán Loera — was detained during an operation carried out by the army and the National Guard in the region where the states of Sinaloa, Durango and Chihuahua meet.

AI image extrapolation of what Aureliano Guzman Loera would look like today
The original target of the military operation that captured the alleged Sinaloa Cartel security chief known as “R8” was R8’s boss, Aureliano “El Guano” Guzmán, seen here in this AI-assisted extrapolation of how he would look today. US authorities say El Guano, allegedly the head of the Gente del Guano Sinaloa Cartel faction, operates drug operations throughout Mexico’s “Golden Triangle.”

The operation was reportedly aimed at capturing Guzmán, who authorities say leads a Sinaloa Cartel faction called Gente del Guano (GDG), or Guano’s People. The older brother of “El Chapo,” Aurealiano is wanted on drug trafficking charges in the United States, where authorities are offering a reward of up to US $5 million for information leading to his arrest.

Federal sources told the Milenio newspaper that Luis “N,” allegedly known as “El R8,” was arrested in the municipality of Tamazula, Durango. Three other alleged criminals were also detained, according to reports. Their identities are unknown, but it is believed they are affiliated with GDG.

The arrests reportedly occurred after a confrontation between security forces and armed civilians near the border between Tamazula and the Sinaloa municipality of Badiraguato, Guzmán Loera family’s hometown. At least four alleged criminals were killed in the clash, and five others were wounded, according to reports.

Authorities haven’t confirmed those deaths or commented publicly on the four arrests in northern Mexico.

Luis “N,” whom the news media outlet Mileno identified as Luis Enrique Rivera Rocha, and the other detained suspects were transferred by helicopter to an Air Force base in Culiacán, Sinaloa, and subsequently flown by Air Force plane to Mexico City, where they were placed in the custody of the Federal Attorney General’s Office.

According to Milenio, authorities accuse Rivera — as Aureliano Guzman’s alleged security chief — of being the main instigator of violence in the drug-producing region of Sinaloa, Durango and Chihuahua known as the Golden Triangle. He is linked to various homicides, and the attempted murder of members of the Los Chapitos, a Sinaloa Cartel faction led by sons of “El Chapo” Guzmán.

Wanted poster of US Justice Department showing an old black and white photo of Aureliano Guzman and vital details and information about him
Aureliano Guzmán, the older brother of jailed Sinaloa Cartel head Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, is also wanted by U.S. authorities. (US Department of Justice)

Aureliano Guzmán’s GDG is reportedly involved in a dispute with Los Chapitos and another Sinaloa Cartel faction led by Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.

According to the U.S. Department of State, Aureliano Guzmán’s criminal group “can be classified as a poly-drug organization responsible for growing, cultivating, producing, manufacturing, and transporting poppy, marijuana, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel.”

In a 2021 statement announcing the reward of up to $5 million for information leading to El Guano’s arrest, the State Department said that Aureliano Guzmán’s drug trafficking organization is based out of the town of La Tuna, in Badiraguato municipality, but “operates drug grow operations and drug production facilities throughout various locations within what is referred to as Mexico’s ‘Golden Triangle’.”

It noted that a federal grand jury in the District of Arizona returned a superseding indictment against Aureliano Guzmán in November 2019, “charging him with four counts related to an international conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl, in violation of federal law.”

The State Department also said that a federal grand jury in the District of Arizona returned a separate superseding indictment against Guzmán in February 2020, “charging him with an additional two counts related to the international distribution of marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine.”   

His brother, El Chapo, was found guilty in a U.S. court on drug trafficking charges in early 2019. In July 2019, El Chapo was sentenced to life in prison and subsequently transferred to the Florence Supermax penitentiary in the state of Colorado.

With reports from Milenio, Proceso, Radio Fórmula and Infobae

3 migrants reported killed and 14 injured in trailer accident on Sonora highway

By
MND Staff
-
0
A trailer accident in Sonora involving migrants left 14 injured.
A trailer accident in Sonora involving migrants left 14 injured. (Screenshot)

Three migrants were reportedly killed and another 14 confirmed to be injured when a tractor-trailer overturned in an accident along Federal Highway 15 in Sonora on Monday.

The accident occurred at kilometer 82 of the highway, just south of the municipality of Navojoa, after the trailer crossed the southern border with the state of Sinaloa. Multiple publications reported the deaths of the three migrants, but Sonora authorities had not issued a statement confirming any casualties as of 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

The news site López-Dóriga.com reported that the truck hit “a structure” on the side of the highway, causing the driver to lose control. The tractor-trailer spun off the highway and overturned near the village of Estación Luis, Sonora.

A report by the news site Infobae said that there were at least 130 migrants in the truck’s semi-trailer, which reportedly was carrying the migrants to the United States border. The accident occurred about 670 kilometers south of the U.S. city of Nogales, Arizona.

Videos posted to social media showed that the first people on the scene — travelers on the highway — struggled to open the back of the trailer that had come to rest on its right side alongside the road. One video published by Infobae showed victims being helped through holes in the top of the overturned trailer before authorities arrived.

Initial reports said that the migrants were from Guatemala, though authorities have not confirmed that information. The news website López-Dóriga.com reported that many of the alleged undocumented migrants fled the scene immediately following the accident to avoid being detained by authorities.

Neither the whereabouts of the trailer’s driver nor his condition were known as of Tuesday. Enfoque Noticias reported that the driver had fled the accident scene.

Agents from Sonora’s Civil Protection unit in Navojoa responded to the accident and were joined by officials from Sinaloa as passers-by had quickly notified authorities from both states after encountering the accident.

Paramedics from Navojoa and emergency personnel from Ahome, Sinaloa, attended to the injured. Several of the injured had been trapped inside the damaged trailer. Sonora Civil Protection confirmed that two of the 14 injured migrants were transported to Ahome for treatment while the other 12 were taken to hospitals in Navojoa.

Federal Highway 15 in Sonora is a route favored by those transporting undocumented immigrants to the United States, according to the National Migration Institute (INM). Recent INM operations near the Sonora border towns of Nogales and San Luis Río Colorado have resulted in the detention of hundreds of migrants trying to cross illegally into the United States. 

With reports from El Heraldo de México, El Universal, Infobae and Lopez-Doriga.com

Ancient skeletons found at AIFA tell story of pre-Columbian women warriors

By
MND Staff
-
1
Three skulls from ancient skeletons found near Mexico City's Felipe Angeles International Aiport on display on a piece of cloth
An intriguing aspect of the ancient skeletons found near the new Mexico City airport was that all the female skeletons at one burial site had injuries to the cranium or the face, which might suggest they'd been in combat. (Mauricio Marat/INAH)

After studying the skeletons of 112 prehistoric humans found near Mexico City between 2019 and 2021, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has pieced together insights into the lives of pre-Columbian peoples in the area, including the hypothesis that some of the skeletons belonged to ancient female warriors.

The skeletons were all found during construction of Mexico City’s newest airport, Felipe Ángeles International (AIFA) in Zumpango, México state. The airport, which opened in 2022, sits in the Altiplano Central region once occupied by Otomies, Teotihuacanos and Toltecs.  

A sunset view of AIFA airport
The Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), where the 112 skeletal remains were found, is located in Zumpango, México state. Near Mexico City, it opened in 2022 to relieve congestion at the capital’s Mexico City International Airport (AICM). (Gobierno de CDMX)

This week, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) shared details of the examination carried out by its scientists. 

AIFA’s construction, which began in October 2019, uncovered significant material remains, including over 600 mammoth remains and an ancient flamingo egg, the latter of which is believed to be from the Pleistocene Epoch, which ended 11,700 years ago. 

The human skeletons were recovered from 104 burial sites at two locations that INAH has dubbed “Tlatel 7” and “Sin Cuadrícula 5,” both dating from A.D. 600–900, and another location named “Xaltocan polígono 6” (1200-1500 AD). All were located at or near the airport construction site.

The 19 adult skeletons found at Tlatel 7 are of 12 males and seven females, all between 25 and 35 years of age at the time of death. The most significant discovery was that of a female skeleton whose lower left arm appeared to have been amputated violently.

According to Jorge Arturo Talavera González, director of INAH’s bioarchaeology team within the Archaeological Rescue Division (DSA), the skeleton’s fractured area showed bone tissue growth, indicating that the woman had survived the injury for five to seven months afterward. A prosthesis had likely been attached, he said.

“It is likely that the prosthesis had been attached to stabilize and heal the arm, which would have been impossible without surgery,” Talavera said. “She possibly died as a result of an infection.”

Assembled skeleton found near Mexico City laid out on a researcher's table
At one burial site dating back to the Late Classic Period (A.D. 600–900), a woman’s skeleton was found with an arm  that had been amputated violently, according to INAH. (INAH)

Talavera said his team came up with two hypotheses for the injury: either she instinctively raised her arm to protect her face while being attacked, or the woman was a warrior struck in the arm while holding a shield.

The theory that this was a community of warriors is reinforced by the fact that the other female skeletons at this site all presented significant trauma to their skulls and faces.

The 66 skeletons found at the Xaltocan site were also a revelation as half of them were infants or fetuses.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen so many well-preserved skeletons of infants in one site,” Talavera said.

“Our theory is that since Xaltocán was in conflict with Cuautitlán [an ancient site also located in the Valley of Mexico], the boys and girls here were subjected to constant stress and, in addition to poor nutrition, they were in a weakened state,” he said.

This week’s report on the 112 skeletons was the second issued by INAH detailing the findings of the AIFA excavation project, which lasted from May 2019 through May 2022. INAH’s analysis of the archaeological findings began in November of 2021 and was concluded in March 2024. 

With reports from Infobae and La Jornada 

Headline inflation in Mexico increases for fourth consecutive month in June

By
MND Staff
-
2
Mangos for sale at a market
High prices for fruits and vegetables continued to drive inflation in Mexico in June. (Cuartoscuro)

Giving up fruit and vegetables might not be good for your health, but it could be good for your finances.

Stubbornly high inflation for fruit and vegetables was a major factor in the increase in Mexico’s annual headline inflation rate for a fourth consecutive month in June.

Vegetables at a market stall
Prices for fruits and vegetables are up almost 20% compared to June 2023. (Unsplash)

The national statistics agency INEGI reported Tuesday that the headline rate was 4.98% in June, up from 4.69% in May.

The rate was slightly higher than expected, exceeding the 4.87% median estimate of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg by 0.12 percentage points.

Headline inflation in Mexico in June hit its highest level since the same month last year, when the rate was 5.06%.

In better news, the closely-watched annual core inflation rate, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, declined for a 17th consecutive month to reach 4.13% in June, down from 4.21% in May.

The core rate was just below the 4.14% consensus forecast of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

Fruit and vegetables prices increased almost 20% annually

Compared to June 2023, fruit and vegetable prices increased 19.73% last month, up from 18.55% in May.

The year-over-year increase for those products was easily the highest among the different categories monitored by INEGI. Widespread drought in Mexico – alleviated somewhat by a rainy June – has contributed to the increase in fruit and vegetable prices.

Andrés Abadía, chief Latin America economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said that the latest inflation data “confirms that adverse climatic conditions continue to drive general inflationary pressures.”

Pemex gas station
Energy prices were 5.28% higher in June than the year before. (Cuartoscuro)

The rise in the cost of fruit and vegetables was the driving factor in the 10.36% annual increase in prices for agricultural products. Prices for meat — the other component in the category — were 2.89% higher in June than the same month last year.

INEGI also reported that energy prices, including those for electricity and gasoline, increased 5.28% annually in June. Services were 5.15% more expensive than a year earlier, prices for processed food, beverages and tobacco rose 4.22% and the cost of non-food goods increased 2.16%.

What does the latest inflation data mean for the Bank of Mexico’s next interest rate decision?

Mexico’s annual headline inflation rate has now been above the central bank’s 3% target for 40 months.

The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) cut its key interest rate to 11% from a record high 11.25% in March after headline inflation declined to 4.40% in February.

The bank’s board will hold its next monetary policy meeting on August 8. At its June 27 meeting, four of five Banxico board members including Governor Victoria Rodríguez voted in favor of leaving the benchmark interest rate unchanged.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday that the increase in headline inflation in June complicates Banxico’s efforts to cut interest rates.

Jonathan Heath, one of the central bank’s board members, noted on X that headline inflation had reached its highest level in 12 months in June. He also highlighted that the annual headline rate in the second half of last month was 5.17%. “Very concerning,” Heath wrote.

However, Oxford Economics’ Latin America economist suggested that a a 25-basis-point cut on Aug. 8 is not out of the question.

“The worry now shouldn’t be general inflation. The fact that core inflation has been slowing, even if at a lower rate, should be enough of a positive sign for the Bank of Mexico,” said Joan Enric Domene Camacho.

For his part, Abadía wrote in a research note that “we recognize that adverse external factors and the effects of poor weather on crucial crops may potentially delay action” by the central bank.

Bloomberg reported that the downward trend in core inflation led some analysts to predict that the Bank of Mexico board would vote in favor of a 25-basis-point interest rate cut on Aug. 8.

However, “others are more skeptical now that Banixco is dealing with a sudden plunge in the value of the peso following last month’s election,” the news agency said.

The peso depreciated sharply against the US dollar after the coalition led by the ruling Morena party won large majorities in both houses of Congress that put it in a strong position to approve a range of controversial constitutional reform proposals.

The peso fell to almost 19 to the dollar 10 days after the election, but has since recovered somewhat. At 1 p.m. Mexico City time on Tuesday it was trading at 17.90 to the greenback, about 5% weaker than its pre-election level.

With reports from El Economista, El Financiero and Bloomberg

Eni announces new oil and gas discovery in the Gulf of Mexico

By
MND Staff
-
0
The company said that preliminary estimates indicate the oil field could contain 300 to 400 million barrels of petroleum and associated gas.
The company said that preliminary estimates indicate the oil field could contain 300 to 400 million barrels of petroleum and associated gas. (Eni)

Italian energy company Eni announced the discovery of an oil field some 63 kilometers off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in the Sureste Basin. 

In a press release published on Monday, the company said that preliminary estimates indicate the oil field could contain 300 to 400 million barrels equivalent (Mboe) of petroleum and associated gas.

Eni oil company office in Milan
Eni currently holds rights in eight exploration and production blocks in the Sureste Basin in the Gulf of Mexico. (Eni.com)

The discovery occurred in an exploration block called Block 9, a joint venture between Eni as operator with a 50% stake, and Repsol, a Spanish firm, with the remaining 50%.

Eni has operated in Mexico since 2006. In 2015, it established its wholly-owned subsidiary Eni Mexico. It currently holds rights in eight exploration and production blocks in the Sureste Basin in the Gulf of Mexico and acts as operator in seven.

The discovery is the latest of several oil fields discovered in Eni-operated Blocks 7 and 10 in the same area of the Gulf of Mexico. Just last year, Eni announced the discovery of an oil field that could contain 200 million barrels of crude oil. 

“This successful result … confirms the value of Eni’s asset portfolio in the Sureste Basin,” Eni announced in the press release. “The overall estimate of resources in place currently exceeds 1.3 billion barrels of oil equivalent (Bboe) which allows Eni to advance with the studies towards a potential future ‘Hub’ development,” the release continued..

In 2019, Eni became the first foreign energy company to extract oil in Mexico in 80 years, four years after the previous administration of President Enrique Peña Nieto approved an energy reform allowing private companies to extract crude oil in Mexico. 

Eni is currently the largest private operator in the country, having extracted 748,000 barrels of crude oil in the past 57 months.   

With reports from El Economista

1...224225226...1,855Page 225 of 1,855

Mexico's English-language newspaper

About Us

ADVERTISE WITH MND

SUBMISSIONS

COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

Subscription FAQ's

Jobs

Contact

Privacy Policy

Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC