Mexico City's Zócalo has hosted political rallies, Independence celebrations, protests, fairs and music concerts, but on Sunday it will have a new temporary identity — a soccer pitch for the world's largest soccer class, complete with artifical turf.
(Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro.com)
Mexico City will host a massive soccer practice at the Zócalo on Sunday with the aim of breaking the Guinness World Record for the “world’s largest soccer class” ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The goal is to gather more than 10,000 people to take a soccer class simultaneously, surpassing Seattle’s current record of 1,038 participants.
Two women get a head start on the upcoming soccer mega-practice at the Zócalo that aims to set a new Guinness World Record. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro.com)
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said the event is part of a strategy to bring soccer closer to Mexicans.
“We want the World Cup to be experienced not only in stadiums, but also in the streets, in neighborhoods, and with the people,” she said in a press conference. “We will turn the Zócalo into the largest football pitch.”
The class, scheduled for the morning of March 15, will be conducted as a group training session of 35 minutes, with coordinated exercises and supervisors to ensure that people remain active as required by Guinness standards. The Zócalo itself is already covered with artificial grass in two shades.
To ensure accurate attendance, participants must collect their kits before the event. Each kit will include an identification number and a chip, both of which are mandatory for entry, along with appropriate sportswear. Each participant will also receive a ball to train with during the class.
Organizers have warned that participants who do not complete the exercises may be disqualified. They have also urged attendees to arrive early to locate their access points, to stay active throughout the session, and, at the same time, to have fun.
Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez Zamora said that the event seeks to bolster Mexico City’s position as a global tourist destination ahead of the World Cup, pointing out that the capital received more than 15 million tourists in 2025.
Overall, Mexico expects to receive 5 million visitors during the sporting event.
According to authorities, the “world’s largest soccer class” event will be the first of several massive activities planned in preparation for the FIFA World Cup, including the creation of “the world’s largest wave” on Paseo de la Reforma.
The Mexican think tank Signos Vitales said in a 2023 report that around 7.5% of the more than US $58 billion in remittances sent to Mexico in 2022 could be linked to drug trafficking. (Shutterstock)
The U.S. government has taken another step in its fight against Mexican cartels, six of which it has designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced that it had issued an “expanded Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) to help law enforcement combat the illicit activities and money laundering of Mexico-based cartels and other criminal actors along the southwest border of the United States.”
“The GTO subjects certain money services businesses (MSBs) — which provide financial services outside of a formal bank — to enhanced reporting requirements with FinCEN,” the agency said in a statement.
“This important tool ensures law enforcement has access to critical data and can act quickly as they investigate illicit activity.”
The expanded GTO requires businesses such as money transfer companies (Western Union, MoneyGram, etc) and currency exchange offices to “file Currency Transaction Reports with FinCEN for cash transactions between [US] $1,000 and $10,000 occurring in specific counties and ZIP codes,” FinCEN said.
MSBs in the entirety of 12 counties and in certain ZIP codes in two others are required to comply with the expanded GTO. They are:
Maricopa County, Pima County, Santa Cruz County and Yuma County in the state of Arizona.
Bernalillo County, Doña Ana County and San Juan County in the state of New Mexico.
Cameron County, El Paso County, Hidalgo County, Maverick County and Webb County in the state of Texas.
Certain ZIP codes in Imperial County in the state of California and San Diego County in California.
Five of the counties — all three in New Mexico and Maricopa County and Pima County in Arizona — were not included in previous GTOs issued by FinCEN. MSBs in those counties have until April 6 to commence the reporting of cash transactions to FinCEN.
FinCEN said that the “renewed and expanded GTO underscores the Trump Administration’s deep concern with the significant risk to the U.S. financial system presented by cartels, drug traffickers, and other criminal actors along the southwest border.”
It said that the requirement of MSBs in the 14 counties to file Currency Transaction Reports with FinCEN “will empower investigators to develop additional leads and is expected to advance prosecutions through increased scrutiny on funds going to areas of concern.”
“Further, this GTO will ensure local, state, and federal law enforcement can deny individuals and entities associated with drug trafficking organizations access to the U.S. financial system,” FinCEN said.
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said that President Donald Trump “has directed his Administration to pursue the total elimination of terrorist drug cartels to keep Americans safe.”
“For too long, cartels have abused the U.S. financial system to profit from poisoning Americans with deadly fentanyl. At Treasury, we are expanding our efforts to keep drug money out of the United States and to provide law enforcement with additional information to put these traffickers behind bars,” he said.
Mexicans in the United States commonly use MSBs to send remittances to Mexico. While the vast majority of the tens of billions of dollars in remittances sent to Mexico annually is the product of honest work, it is believed that a small fraction of the total is linked to criminal activities such as drug trafficking.
The Mexican think tank Signos Vitales said in a 2023 report that around 7.5% of the more than US $58 billion in remittances sent to Mexico in 2022 could be linked to drug trafficking.
The Trump administration has adopted an aggressive approach to combating drug trafficking organizations in the Western Hemisphere, even attacking alleged drug boats traveling in international waters in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Trump has offered to deploy the U.S. Army to Mexico to combat cartels, but President Claudia Sheinbaum has turned down his offers, saying that her government is willing to collaborate with its U.S. counterpart on security issues, but will never accept any kind of U.S. military action or intervention south of the border.
From fare hike pushback to International Women's Day marches, there are lots of things going on in Puerto Vallarta. (Instagram)
Headlines throughout the Bay of Banderas area span public safety, services and community resilience. More than 1,000 women marched in Puerto Vallarta, calling for justice and stronger protections. Jalisco is backing down on a transit fare hike and promising aid for vehicles damaged in recent unrest, and Bahía de Banderas is celebrating top-notch water-quality results.
Over 1,000 women march in Puerto Vallarta for justice
On March 8, more than 1,000 women took to Puerto Vallarta’s streets for a large, organized march marking International Women’s Day. The demonstration combined grief, outrage and political demand-making, as participants pressed for stronger government action to confront gender-based violence and femicide, called for transparent investigations of past cases, and held public vigils for victims whose families continue to seek answers.
Speakers and marchers also drew attention to economic injustices tied to gender, particularly the difficulties faced by single mothers when court-ordered child support is ignored or delayed. Protesters urged the enforcement of child-support orders and systemic measures to protect families’ financial stability, arguing that economic accountability is central to broader efforts to protect women and children.
The day included community-focused activities meant to broaden participation beyond the protest route. The Municipal Women’s Institute organized the “8M for Equality” 5-kilometer run, drawing over 400 participants of varying ages and backgrounds to promote inclusion and civic engagement.
City officials, including Mayor Luis Ernesto Munguía González, participated in the event’s opening, and Municipal Women’s Institute director Sarahy Hernández used the gathering to highlight local programs, support services and training opportunities aimed at empowering women across the municipality.
Jalisco cancels public transportation fare hike proposal
After weeks of debate and public pushback, Jalisco officials announced they’d no longer consider implementing a proposed fare increase that would have raised public-transport fares from 11 to 14 pesos. Governor Pablo Lemus confirmed that, effective April 1, the standard fare will remain 11 pesos for all riders.
The government also reiterated protections for vulnerable groups. Student fares at five pesos will continue for students who verify enrollment, and programs offering free transport for older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers, single mothers who are heads of household, relatives of missing persons, and other eligible groups will remain intact.
Officials emphasized the continued use of the Tarjeta Única al Estilo Jalisco as the platform for accessing these benefits and related services from Mi Bici bike-sharing to social programs and certain state health services.
Puerto Vallarta residents won’t have to walk anywhere unless they want to, thanks to the squashing of projected bus fare hikes. (Unsplash/Nicole Herrero)
Authorities framed the decision as balancing affordability with the need to invest in the state’s mobility infrastructure. Cancellation of the hike followed consultations with community groups and reflected concerns about the potential financial strain on daily commuters, especially low-income residents who rely on public transit for work and school.
Jalisco plans aid fund for vehicles damaged in violence
In response to recent violence that left numerous vehicles burned or damaged across the state, Governor Pablo Lemus announced a proposed financial-aid program to help affected residents recover. Official reports have recorded roughly 600 incidents involving destroyed or damaged vehicles
The proposed assistance fund would be jointly financed by federal and state resources and make economic support available to claimants who register an official report documenting their loss. The program aims to address both documented insurance claims and the needs of uninsured owners who depend on vehicles for income-generating work, such as small business operators, delivery drivers and independent service workers.
In addition to direct aid, state officials are considering measures such as canceling outstanding state taxes or fees associated with the damaged vehicles as further relief. Authorities said the program seeks to be targeted and verifiable, requiring formal documentation to prevent fraud while prioritizing those whose livelihoods were most affected.
The announcement follows calls from community groups and local leaders for concrete assistance as residents assess the economic fallout from the unrest.
Nayarit raises water bar
OROMAPAS, the municipal water utility for Bahía de Banderas, presented a positive public-health update at a recent accountability meeting, showing strong results from ongoing water-quality monitoring. The Nayarit State Health Department recognized the municipality’s efforts through a formal letter acknowledging the Bacteriological Water Quality Program and the oversight role of state sanitary authorities in ensuring proper chlorination and monitoring.
The technical report for January 2026 indicated an average chlorination achievement of 98% across municipal systems, with 97 out of 99 random samples meeting health standards. Inspections and sampling covered neighborhoods and tourist hubs — including Bucerías, Sayulita, San Vicente, Valle de Banderas and Nuevo Vallarta.
Officials said the high compliance rates reflect consistent operational practices and reinforce public confidence in municipal water safety, a key priority for both residents and the tourism industry.
Municipal leaders framed the recognition as validation of ongoing investments in water treatment, monitoring and transparency. They noted continued vigilance is necessary to sustain standards and guard against waterborne illness, especially in areas with seasonal population surges.
Charlotte Smith is a writer and journalist based in Mexico. Her work focuses on travel, politics and community.
World Cup tickets for qualifying games in Guadalajara are on sale and affordable. (Alejan98/Wikimedia Commons)
Fresh from his recent appearance at Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, Ricky Martin is heading to Mexico for a highly anticipated performance at Guadalajara’s Estadio Panamericano (the home venue for Los Charros baseball) in March.
Ricky Martin to perform at Estadio Panamericano in Zapopan
Often referred to as the “King of Latin Pop,” Martin is credited with bringing Latin pop music to mainstream English-speaking audiences. His crossover hits “Livin’ la Vida Loca” and “La Copa de la Vida” sparked a so-called “Latin Explosion” in the late 1990s, helping pave the way for other talented Latin artists such as Shakira, Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias.
Mexico loves Ricky Martin, and the feeling is mutual, as evidenced by the singer’s new eight-city tour. (FunTicket)
The Puerto Rican musician’s last trip to Guadalajara was in 2022, when he performed at VFG Arena as part of his “El Movimiento” tour. Owing to his immense popularity here, the 2026 “Ricky Martin Live” tour plans to make stops in eight Mexican cities, including Monterrey, Mexico City and Mérida, in addition to Zapopan.
Cost: Tickets start at 938 pesos per seat, excluding fees.
Guadalajara’s World Cup qualifying games approach, with extra security planned for the main event this summer
Amidst rumors that FIFA, the World Cup’s governing body, would move qualifying games scheduled for late March from Guadalajara’s Akron Stadium, Jalisco’s Governor Pablo Lemus was quick to quash them.
In speaking about those concerns, Lemus said, “There’s absolutely no intention on FIFA’s part to take any of Mexico’s host sites away.” And concerning Guadalajara’s match schedule specifically, he added, “Not the two playoff matches, or the four World Cup matches.”
Since cartel-related violence swept across Mexico following the death of CJNG drug lord El Mencho, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reiterated the organization’s commitment to holding matches in Mexico.
This past week, President Sheinbaum herself visited Guadalajara to reassure the doubters. During last Friday’s visit, the government announced a new plan to deploy nearly 100,000 security forces during this summer’s tournament, to ensure order and safety for the nearly five million visitors expected.
General Roman Villalvazo Barrios, head of Mexico’s World Cup coordination center, said that the country’s security plan includes 20,000 National Guard troops and 55,000 police officers, on top of existing staff employed by private security companies.
Security was the central theme of a recent presidential presser, which took place in the metro area of Guadalajara, Jalisco. (Gabriel Monroy / Presidencia)
In the meantime, two World Cup qualifying matches will be played at Guadalajara’s Akron Stadium later this month.
In the first match on March 26, New Caledonia will face off against Jamaica, with the winner advancing to take on the Democratic Republic of the Congo on March 31. The winning team from this series will punch its ticket into the main World Cup draw, joining Group K alongside Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan.
In more good news, FIFA released a new batch of tickets this past week for Mexico’s qualifying matches at prices accessible to local fans.
Dates: Thursday, March 26, for the New Caledonia vs. Jamaica semi-final. Tuesday, March 31, for DRC against the winner from the semi-finals.
Location: Estadio Akron, Cto. J.V.C. 2800, El Bajío, Zapopan, Jalisco
Cost: Available at FIFA.com starting at 300 pesos per seat (about US $17).
With reporting from ESPN and Front Office Sports.
Artisanal Mexican chocolate made with love by a native Tapatía
The creative spark for Guadalajara native Fabiola Zorrero’sjourney into the world of cacao began on a trip to Europe before the pandemic. Standing in front of a shelf overflowing with chocolates from Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and elsewhere, she was struck by the absence of any Mexican varieties, despite the country’s abundant cacao production.
Back home in Guadalajara, she decided she needed to change that. Zorrero began her quest at home during the pandemic, with no prior cooking or chocolate-making experience.
She bought a small volcanic stone grinder from Colima, along with some cacao beans from Chiapas, and started tinkering in the basement of her father’s house.
Fabiola Zorrero founded Chocolate Metiche, the Guadalajara-based brand. (Chocolate Metiche)
Relying on tutorials, research, and plenty of trial and error, Zorrero mastered everything from harvesting to chocolate bar production. During her early experiments, Zorrero learned to appreciate that cacao is a living thing, with a tremendous array of flavors and varieties influenced by the soil and climate in which it grows, as well as how it’s cultivated.
An urban project with rural roots
When Zorrero launched Chocolate Metiche (Chocolate Busybody in English) in 2021, her goal was to produce the most sophisticated chocolate in Mexico. And while her products are made in a bustling urban metropolis, their roots are in the Mexican countryside.
Zorrero works primarily with cacao from Tabasco and Chiapas, two regions where farms are typically small in scale and use natural methods. To ensure exceptional quality, she visits the farms herself to observe their processes and taste each batch of cacao selected for Chocolate Metiche’s products.
Every chocolate bar and drink sold at her small shop in the Arcos Vallarta neighborhood of Guadalajara is made from scratch in a nearby workshop, using only fermented Mexican cacao.
Zorrero’s attention to detail has paid off.
In 2023, Metiche won two silver medals at the Chocolate Awards Mexico. One was for a 75% cacao bar developed in collaboration with the women-led Finca Las Delias in Tabasco. The other was for a 74% cacao bar containing marigold and almonds.
A gastronomic project with a social mission
Chocolate Metiche makes great chocolate, but has a social component, too. (Chocolate Metiche)
Beyond her culinary success, Zorrero also sees Chocolate Metiche as a business on a social and ecological mission.
On her Instagram page, Zorrero observed, “Being a cocoa farmer is synonymous with being a guardian of the biosphere. The green areas where cocoa grows are home to endemic species, and the protection of these reserves is vital for the development and well-functioning of the ecosystem.”
On a more basic level, she derives deep satisfaction from the joy and connection her chocolates bring to customers. As she noted recently in an interview with El Mural, “I like this idea that the chocolates I make are shared as a ritual; you open a bottle of wine, prepare some tea and share it with people.”
Dates: Sundays and Mondays, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m; Wednesdays through Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Av. José María Morelos 2256, Colonia Arcos Vallarta, Guadalajara
Cost: Chocolate bars start at 140 pesos.
MND Writer Dawn Stoner is reporting from Guadalajara.
The partnership, announced today, allows Mexico's Ministry of Women to be in permanent contact with Google, TikTok and Meta (owner of WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram). (Camila Ayala Benabib/Cuartoscuro)
Today’s mañanera in 60 seconds
🤝 Mexico reached an agreement with Google, Meta and TikTok to combat digital violence against women — with X declining to join, citing no Mexican offices. Nearly 11 million women experienced online harassment in 2024, per INEGI.
⚖️ Sheinbaum opted not to sue Elon Musk over his cartel accusation, but said her team will reconsider if he attacks her again.
🎖️ The president will travel to Jalisco for a private tribute to 28 security personnel killed during and after the Feb. 22 operation against CJNG leader “El Mencho.”
Why today’s mañanera matters
With the announcement of an initiative aimed at combating digital violence against women, the federal government once again sought to demonstrate its commitment to improving the lives of Mexican women.
Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, has made the enactment of policies and laws that benefit women a priority for her administration.
The president’s decision not to initiate legal action against Elon Musk suggests that she doesn’t want to be distracted by a dispute with the world’s richest person as she continues to deal with a range of challenges, including in the areas of security, trade, the economy and her legislative agenda.
Government announces agreement with tech companies aimed at combating digital violence against women
Sheinbaum announced early in the press conference that the government had reached an agreement with Google, Meta and TikTok “to prevent and address violence against women in the digital realm.”
“It’s a first agreement, it’s voluntary, but it allows the Ministry of Women to be in permanent contact with the [digital] platforms,” she said.
According to data collected by Mexico’s national statistics agency INEGI, nearly one-third of cases of cyberbullying toward women were related to sexual requests (29%) or unsolicited sexual content (27.5%). (Camila Ayala Benabib/Cuartoscuro)
“… There are different forms of violence against women on digital platforms and the objective is to address this and for the platforms … to take down images or posts that are related to violence against women,” Sheinbaum said.
The agreement with tech companies is “very good for the country and very good for Mexican women,” she said.
Women’s Minister Citlalli Hernández presented data from the national statistics agency INEGI that showed that 18.9 million Mexicans were victims of online harassment (cyberbullying) in 2024, among whom were 10.6 million women.
She outlined specific actions that Google, Meta and TikTok are already taking to protect women from online harassment, including enforcing community standards and offering support to victims.
Hernández also outlined actions the companies will take to prevent and address online harassment against women. They include strengthening community standards, carrying out campaigns to encourage the reporting of online abuse and increasing collaboration with authorities on the investigation of cases of digital violence.
Hernández said that X — the social media site formerly known as Twitter — was invited to collaborate with the government and join the agreement aimed at combating online gender-based violence. However, the company, which is owned by Elon Musk, declined the invitation on the grounds that it doesn’t have offices in Mexico, she said.
Sheinbaum won’t pursue legal action against Elon Musk
Sheinbaum told reporters that she had decided not to file a lawsuit against Elon Musk, who last month accused the president of “saying what her cartel bosses tell her to say” when she declared that “returning to the war against the narco is not an option.”
On Feb. 24, the president said that her legal team was studying the possibility of taking legal action against Musk, the owner of companies such as Tesla and SpaceX.
On Wednesday morning, Sheinbaum said that while she decided against filing a lawsuit against Musk now, she and her team will “re-evaluate” if the South African-born, U.S.-based tycoon levels further accusations against her.
Sheinbaum to attend tribute to security personnel who lost their lives during operation against ‘El Mencho’
Sheinbaum said that she would travel to Jalisco on Wednesday to attend a tribute to security personnel who were killed during and after the Feb. 22 operation against Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio Rubén “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes.
Out of the 760 people who disappeared in Oaxaca in 2025, 34.93% were women, according to a report by the Mexican Institute for Human Rights and Democracy. (Carolina Jiménez/Cuartoscuro)
The southern state of Oaxaca will spend an unprecedented 712 million pesos (US $40 million) to overhaul its public safety and victim support operations during 2026.
In a press conference announcing the initiative, Governor Salomon Jara Cruz said the new allocation of resources, which will focus on equipment, technology and police salaries, will make Oaxaca’s citizen protection budget one of the nation’s largest for the third consecutive year.
Karina Barón Ortiz, who heads the Executive Secretariat of the State Public Security System of Oaxaca, explained that this historic investment is made up of a federal contribution of 312.2 million pesos (US $18.36 million) and a state investment of 399.9 million pesos (US $23.52 million).
Barón added that these resources are part of the investment plan for 2026 to strengthen the infrastructure, equipment and operation of security corporations.
With the investment, the state government will seek to keep its security equipment up to date by purchasing 65 rapid response patrol vehicles, 81 motorcycle patrols, 8,025 uniforms and 2,020 video surveillance cameras, in addition to renewing 430 firearms.
It will also renovate tactical gear, ballistic shields, and high-end radios, in addition to acquiring drones and medical laboratory products for research.
Crucially, police officers will receive a 17.24% pay increase.
“Beyond the numbers and percentages, this is an act of justice and dignity,” Barón said. We know that behind every uniform there is a home, daughters and sons who go to school, as well as hopes and dreams.”
She added, “A well-paid police officer, valued and respected by his government, is an incorruptible police officer, dedicated and committed to the defense of his people.”
A ‘make your own forensic kit’ workshop sparks controversy
The Oaxaca municipality of Santo Domingo Tehuantepec was the subject of a national controversy after women activists criticized a free workshop scheduled on behalf of Women’s Day, which called on women to prepare their own forensic kits in case of a disappearance.
The activity, which was canceled, invited participants to bring a blouse they had worn throughout the day, as well as a recent, unfiltered, printed photograph.
“The State’s obligation is to prevent disappearances, and on top of not being able to do that, now they are also placing the burden on women to create their own files to determine if they are victims of disappearance,” the Brujas de Mar feminist collective told the newspaper El Universal.
According to the municipality, the event’s administrator has been removed from her position.
A recent report by the Red Lupa of the Mexican Institute for Human Rights and Democracy found that disappearances in Oaxaca are on the rise, having increased by 81.8% in the last three years.
The report also revealed that out of the 760 people who disappeared in Oaxaca in 2025, 34.93% were women.
The protest, organized by the taxi organization New Image Land Transportation, A.C., is scheduled to start this morning between 9 and 10 a.m. at the entrance of gate 9 of AICM. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Access roads to Terminal 1 and 2 of Mexico City International Airport (AICM) will be blocked Wednesday as taxi drivers protest the government’s ongoing support for ride-hailing apps operating at the capital’s airport.
Taxi drivers have also warned users that taxi companies at the airport won’t provide transportation services during the entire protest.
¡Atención! 🚖✈️ Reportan que taxistas cierran todos los accesos de la Terminal 2 en el Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México
The protest, organized by the taxi organization New Image Land Transportation, A.C., is scheduled to start Wednesday between 9 and 10 a.m. at the entrance of gate 9 of AICM, before moving on to block access roads to both terminals.
Taxi drivers have said they will block roads for an indefinite amount of time.
“The entire sector will be present on the airport roads indefinitely, until the authorities give us a written commitment that the current law will not be modified and that the current legal framework will be respected,” the taxi drivers stated.
Why are taxi drivers protesting?
The protests follow the introduction of a bill to modify the law and allow the operation of digital transportation platforms (Uber, DiDi) in federal areas, which includes the AICM. Taxi drivers consider the move a direct threat to their source of work and assets.
“Given the lack of enforcement of the law by the Infrastructure, Communications and Transport Ministry (SICT) and AICM authorities, who continue to allow ride-hailing apps to operate within federal areas where the law prohibits it, and given the initiatives being promoted in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies to modify the law and tailor it to suit these platforms, the airport transportation sector has decided to raise its voice,” a statement from the concessionaries’ organization said.
The statement added that the protest seeks to highlight the need to protect the dignity and livelihoods of thousands of Mexican families, who claim they have consistently adhered to current regulations.
Taxi drivers have warned that if the law is not honored, the organized sector is ready to apply pressure through more protests and blockades.
What should I do if I have a flight?
Severe traffic disruptions are expected on Circuito Interior, Capitán Carlos León, Boulevard Puerto Aéreo and other access roads to the airport.
⚠️Taxistas con permiso para operar en el AICM advierten bloqueos y manifestaciones hoy a las 10:00 a.m.
Elementos de la @SSC_CDMX ya establecieron un amplio operativo.
AICM has advised passengers to arrive at the airport earlier than usual and to check their flight status directly with the airline. Additionally, it advises using alternative parking options, such as the Ciudad Deportiva parking lot in Magdalena Mixhuca, and then taking the free shuttle to Terminal 2.
The discoverers believe that the body had been intentionally placed in the underground cave before it was flooded with water some 8,000 years ago. (INAH)
A prehistoric skeleton has been found in the underground river and cave system along Mexico’s Caribbean coast.
Octavio del Río, the cave-diving archaeologist who was among those who made the find, said it is the 11th such skeleton found in the region over the past three decades. Some of the earlier discoveries date back as far as 13,000 years, older than what was originally thought to be the earliest arrival of humans to the Americas (as detailed with a similar but earlier nearby finding that accompanies this article).
The discovery was made between Tulum and Playa del Carmen in the state of Quintana Roo, an area that archaeologists consider strategic for research into the earliest inhabitants of North America.
Del Rio, who works with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), told The Associated Press in late February that the skeleton was “found in a flooded cave about 26 feet (8 meters) below the surface after swimming about 656 feet (200 meters) through the cave.”
The intricate underground system that runs beneath the coast of the Mexican Caribbean was flooded toward the end of the last ice age, roughly 8,000 years ago.
It is most probable that the remains arrived at the site when the cave was still dry, Del Rio said.
The skeleton — which was discovered late last year — was positioned on a dune of sediment in a narrower part of an inner chamber. Del Río said it is virtually certain that the bones were placed there intentionally.
Ongoing analyses and studies will provide more details about the context, antiquity and practices of the region’s ancient inhabitants.
Previous research suggests the area of the finds functioned as a burial site where ritual practices were performed by the first peoples who inhabited the region. The position of the remains reinforces this interpretation.
Luis Alberto Martos, director of archaeological studies at INAH, said this discovery will help clarify how the first settlers arrived on the Yucatan Peninsula and how they used the caves in prehistoric times.
Recent genetic data support the hypothesis of a migration from Asia across the Bering Strait, although there are still indications of possible routes from South America.
In addition to human remains, the underground rivers and cenotes hold the remains of extinct animals, such as giant sloths, saber-toothed tigers and ancestral bears.
Archaeologists hope these discoveries will contribute to understanding how ancient populations adapted to the Yucatán Peninsula while aiding in the reconstruction of Ice Age ecosystems in future research.
Given the ecological vulnerability and archaeological significance of the region, scientists have urged officials to designate the underground area as a protected natural and cultural heritage site, in recognition of its historical and environmental importance.
At her morning press conference, Sheinbaum said that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has invited her some four times to visit Brazil, Latin America's most populous country and largest economy. (@Claudiashein/X)
A day after speaking to the president of Brazil by phone, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that it was “very probable” that she would visit the South American country later this year.
At her morning press conference, Sheinbaum said that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has invited her some four times to visit Brazil, Latin America’s most populous country and largest economy.
“Until now, I’ve told him no, but he’s been so persistent that it’s probable I’ll go to Brazil,” she told reporters.
Lula, as the Brazilian president is widely known, wrote on social media on Monday that he had spoken to Sheinbaum by phone. He said that his Mexican counterpart had accepted his invitation to visit Brazil, adding that her trip was expected to take place between June and July.
“They have an election this year and I understand [the electoral process] starts in June, something like that. So I would have to go before June because I can’t go … [during] the election,” she said.
Sheinbaum noted that Mexico has a longstanding relationship with Brazil, and highlighted that a Brazilian delegation that included the vice president and businesspeople came to Mexico last year. During their visit, Mexico and Brazil signed various agreements on agriculture, health and biofuels.
Sheinbaum said that the aim of the relationship with Brazil is not to sign a comprehensive free-trade agreement, as such a pact could “harm both countries.”
Instead, the two countries are focused on “complementary actions for our economies,” she said.
“… For example, we’re very interested in ethanol, and we’re working on that [with Brazil] and some other issues of interest for Mexico and … for [Brazil],” Sheinbaum said.
Brazil is the world’s second-largest producer of ethanol, which can be used for a range of purposes, including as a fuel and solvent. Most of the ethanol Brazil produces is made with sugarcane, of which the South American country is the world’s largest grower.
According to a U.K. government document, Brazil’s ethanol program has “not only reduced national dependence on imported energy,” but “also bolstered the economy, created jobs and diversified the country’s renewable energy portfolio.”
Mexico is aiming to reduce its reliance on imported energy, especially gasoline and natural gas.
In his social media post, Lula wrote that he and Sheinbaum on Monday discussed strengthening the economic relationship between Brazil and Mexico, particularly in the energy sector.
He also said he suggested to Sheinbaum that a business event be organized to bring together private sector representatives from both countries “to explore new business opportunities.”
Two-way trade between Mexico and Brazil was worth more than US $16 billion in 2024, according to the Mexican government. Mexico imported goods from Brazil worth $11.7 billion, while Brazil’s outlay on Mexican products was $4.88 billion.
Mexico’s top export to Brazil in 2024 was auto parts, while its No. 1 import from Brazil was intermediate iron and steel products.
The new light rail connecting Mexico City with the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) is expected to open to passengers in the coming weeks. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Train ridership in Mexico is up, following the completion of two major new train routes and thanks to the ongoing success of Mexico City’s Suburban Train, according to government data.
In 2025, 55.1 million passengers traveled on Mexico’s six active rail systems, representing a 6.9% increase compared to the previous year. Mexico City’s Suburban Train, which links the northern limit of the city with Cuautitlán in México state, contributed 82% of this increase.
Mexico City’s Suburban Train, which is operated by Ferrocarriles Suburbanos, recorded passenger numbers of 45.1 million in 2025, down 2.2% from the previous year.
The founder of the consulting firm Spyral, Alfredo Nolasco, blames the decrease on a range of factors, including the development of alternative transport options, the rise in the number of office workers working from home after the COVID-19 pandemic, the growing use of motorcycles and the increase in purchasing power among the lower income brackets.
However, passenger numbers are expected to increase with the upcoming inauguration of the light rail connection from México state’s Lechería station to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) and the gradual adoption of the recently inaugurated Interurban “Insurgente” Train linking eastern México state with the Observatorio station of the Mexico City Metro.
After years of delays, the long-awaited train became fully operational in February. In 2025, the then-operational section of the train, which connected Zinacantepec, Toluca, Metepec, Lerma and Santa Fe, saw an 88.8% increase in passenger numbers, which totaled 8.4 million at year’s end.
The Maya Train, in the Yucatán Peninsula, which became fully operational in December 2024, experienced similar success last year, with passenger numbers increasing by 91.9%, to 1.3 million year on year.
The ridership of the Suburban, Interurban and Maya Train lines contributed 99.5% of Mexico’s total rail passenger numbers in 2025.
This was followed by the Chepe Express tourist train (connecting Sinaloa with Chihuahua via the famous Copper Canyon) with 179,000 passengers, the Interoceanic Corridor (traversing Veracruz and Oaxaca) with 69,800 passengers, and the Tijuana-Tecate tourist train with 1,700.
Sheinbaum’s big rail plans
President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced major plans for the expansion of Mexico’s railways, having previously stated the ambitious goal of building more than 3,000 kilometers of railway track for passenger trains before her term ends in 2030.
Works commenced on the Mexico City-Querétaro and Querétaro-Irapuato train lines last year, which form part of the new Mexico City-Guadalajara-Nogales line. The government aims for the railway line to serve 6 million passengers each year once completed.
