A conflict between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel came to a head in September, causing an escalation in murders, disappearances and kidnappings, especially in the area surrounding the state capital of Culiacán. (José Betanzos/Cuartoscuro)
In the 35 days of cartel violence that has befallen Sinaloa, state officials announced that they have detained a total of 46 suspects and retrieved more than 300 firearms.
There has been public uproar over the weeks of sustained violence in the region, sparked by a feud between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, whose stronghold and home base is the northwestern Mexican state.
More than 125 people have been reported dead in Sinaloa since a resurgence of cartel infighting in late August. (José Betanzos/Cuartoscuro)
In the same period, police also confiscated 1,709 gun magazines, 95,859 unused cartridges, 55 grenades and 153 vehicles, 35 of which had improvised bulletproof armor, authorities said.
Officials are calling on locals to anonymously report suspicious and criminal activities to help support their investigations.
According to the newspaper El País, more than 125 people have been reported dead since the cartel infighting started to escalate in late August. On Sept. 29, 300 people joined protests in Sinaloa’s capital of Culiacán to draw attention to the violence, carrying placards and calling out chants for peace.
Cartel members clone police vehicles
Sinaloa’s Public Security Minister Gerardo Mérida Sánchez said that during a recent police operation, authorities seized several “cloned” replicas of police and emergency vehicles, including eight police motorbikes, two police cars and an ambulance.
At a press conference on Monday, Governor Rubén Rocha Moya said that following a spate of robberies, authorities planned an operation to prevent future instances of crime affecting local businesses.
The National Guard has been tasked with patrolling streets and central areas to identify high-risk areas for crime and carry out preventative measures.
“We aim to act not reactively, but rather prevent crime at its source. With the presence of the [National] Guard, the operation we are designing is focused on deterring and preventing crime,” Rocha said.
On Oct. 12, alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader Óscar Melchor, known by the alias “El 18,” was apprehended in Saltillo. (FGEQuintana Roo/X)
Cartel leader ‘El 18’ arrested in Coahuila
On Oct. 12, alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader Óscar Melchor, known by the alias “El 18,” was apprehended in Saltillo, the capital of the northeastern state of Coahuila. El 18 faces multiple criminal charges related to his role within the notorious drug trafficking organization.
Law enforcement agents from Quintana Roo, Sinaloa and Coahuila collaborated in his arrest after which he was transported via plane to Quintana Roo, where he will face trial for crimes committed in that state.
Melchor had previously been detained, alongside four others, in 2021 for possession of cannabis and his role in a homicide that took place in Alfredo V. Bonfil, a suburb of Cancún. According to the news agency Infobae, the reasons for his release following his previous arrest are unknown.
The Trion oil field, located 180 km east of Matamoros, is expected to produce 110,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude and 2.5 million cubic meters of gas a day beginning in 2028.
Australian Ambassador to Mexico, Rachel Moseley, with Woodside Energy CEO Meg O’Neil during a celebratory event in Mexico City. (@AusEmbMex/X)
The ultra-deepwater oil field is a joint venture between Woodside Energy, which holds the 60% operating stake, and the state-owned oil company Pemex, which owns 40%.
Woodside Energy recently acquired the Houston, Texas-based liquefied natural gas developer Tellurian, including its Gulf Coast LNG export project, for US $1.2 billion including debt.
The project is expected to help bolster Mexico’s energy security as well as support economic development in the region. Matamoros, Tamaulipas, is well-known for its oil and manufacturing industries. The city exported $6.74 billion worth of products to the United States in 2023, the Economy Ministry reported, and is steadily increasing its exports to other parts of the world, including Spain and Canada.
During a celebratory event in Mexico City for the project, the Australian Ambassador to Mexico, Rachel Moseley, said that the investment demonstrated Woodside’s commitment to Mexico’s energy development.
Former Pemex director Octavio Romero and Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill announced the joint venture in 2023, estimating Woodside’s investment at $10.43 billion. (Pemex/X)
The CEO of Woodside Energy, Meg O’Neil, expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome to Mexico and emphasized the positive impact she expects the project to have on the country, as well as on local communities.
Representative for Tamaulipas in Mexico City Alejandro Rábago Hernández said that Woodside’s investment will position the state as a major energy power, support the creation of new high-quality jobs and bolster the local economy. He also expressed hope that the project would support the government’s energy transition efforts.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum recently announced that the government would be introducing a new national energy strategy, which will support an accelerated green transition.
The plan is expected to cap national oil production at 1.8 million bpd, to support the target of producing 45% of the country’s electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. Sheinbaum’s will be the first plan at the federal level to focus on a green transformation of the energy sector.
A new take on a Mexican favorite that's perfect for fall evenings. (Azteca)
Sanborns, the place where you can get a coffee, a pair of socks, and a full meal all under one roof, is a Mexico City institution. Founded in 1903, it’s the go-to for everything, from a casual bite to wondering why you’re browsing electronics in a café. Sanborns reminds me of the Cracker Barrel gift shop randomness up north, but they need credit where credit is due.
Traditionally, enchiladas were filled tortillas covered with spicy sauces, typically made from red or green chilies. However, the mad-scientist chefs at Sanborns invented a richer, creamier version. They drew on the European influence brought by Swiss immigrants to Mexico and introduced suizas, a cream-based sauce made from cream, salsa verde, and Monterey Jack cheese, layered over enchiladas filled with chicken.
The dish quickly became popular, offering a comforting, indulgent alternative to the spicier versions of enchiladas. Today, Enchiladas Suizas remain a staple in Mexican cuisine, representing the fusion of European and Mexican flavors that define much of the country’s culinary history. I’d like to share my vegetarian version, with roasted sweet potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms. Topped with a creamy verde sauce, shredded pepper jack cheese, baked until the cheese starts to brown, and finished with, you guessed it, more of the cream sauce!
Before preparing your enchiladas, don’t forget to heat the tortillas. (Sergio Contreras/Unsplash)
12 corn tortillas
2 cups shredded cheese (pepper jack, cheddar, or a mix)
Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions:
1. Roast the Vegetables:
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
On a baking sheet, toss the mushrooms, sweet potatoes, carrots, and onions with olive oil, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Spread the vegetables in a single layer and roast for 30-40 minutes, or until tender and slightly caramelized. Toss halfway through to ensure even roasting.
2. Make the Suizas Sauce:
In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, salsa verde, and shredded pepper jack cheese.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes creamy and smooth, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the cilantro, lime juice, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm on low heat.
3. Assemble the Enchiladas:
Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C).
Warm the tortillas: To make them more pliable, lightly toast them in a dry skillet or wrap them in a damp towel and microwave for 30 seconds.
Fill the tortillas: Place a generous spoonful of roasted vegetables in each tortilla, roll them up, and place them seam-side down in a large baking dish.
Pour about half of the Suizas sauce over the top of the enchiladas, making sure they’re evenly coated.
Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top.
4. Bake:
Bake for 15-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
5. Serve:
Remove from the oven and drizzle the remaining Suizas sauce over the enchiladas.
Plate the enchiladas and serve to your drooling guests.
StephenRandall 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. His recipes can also be found on YouTube.
Has moving to Mexico rekindled your sexuality? Therapist Jenna Mayhew can help navigate the wild world of sex in your 60s. (Esther Ann/Unsplash)
Do you live in Mexico, and are you wondering about sex in your 60s? Jenna Mayhew has been working as a psychologist in Mexico for eight years. At her practice, Hola Therapy, she has made it her mission to help foreigners living in Mexico, Mexicans with a foreign partner, foreigners with links to Mexico and Mexicans with links to foreigners or foreign countries.
Now, Jenna answers MND readers’ questions on the pressing issues of relationships, mental health and navigating changes that come with relocating to and living in Mexico.
Psychologist Jenna Mayhew is here to answer reader questions. (Hola Therapy)
Dear Jenna,
I’m a 63 year old woman and I’m living in Mexico. I’ve recently started dating again. What are realistic expectations for a sexual relationship at my age?
Shy but open
Dear Shy but open,
What a great question! It sounds like you’re stepping into an exciting new chapter, and it’s completely natural to feel both tentative and hopeful.
Let me start by saying that you can set your expectations high! Many people find that their sex lives improve with age, experiencing higher sexual satisfaction than younger adults. Further to that, the Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2021 found that 10% of adults over the age of 90 remained sexually active. So you potentially have many more decades of great sex ahead of you.
Despite the improved enjoyment and satisfaction, it’s important to acknowledge some physical changes that come with age. Physical health problems such as arthritis, chronic pain or incontinence can complicate sex. The sex organs themselves start to function differently. The vagina can shorten and narrow and there’s less vaginal lubrication. In men, erectile dysfunction (impotence) also becomes more common. Even when erections are achieved, they may not be as long-lasting or rigid.
In your 60s, it’s common that more time is needed for physiological arousal for both women and men. This is a normal and to-be-expected change. It shouldn’t be considered a reflection of the attraction your partner has to you or vice versa. Conversely, pain is not and should not be considered normal. There are often relatively simple solutions that doctors, pharmacists and therapists can offer and physical changes need not be a barrier to a healthy, safe and very satisfying sex life.
Sex in your 60s might be slightly different from when you were younger, but many report it to be much more pleasurable.(Hector Reyes/Unsplash)
I want to add that many adults/older adults haven’t received the type of sexual education that is common in school these days. So it’s worth mentioning that even if pregnancy isn’t a risk, you still need to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you choose to be exclusive, you may want to both be tested. This applies to same-sex sex as well. Given that almost half of older lesbians have had heterosexual intercourse at some point in their life, and that female-to-female transmission of STIs like HIV is possible (albeit rare), protection against STIs is still needed.
At this age and stage, you have a great opportunity to create the kind of sexual relationship/s that you’d like. Don’t hesitate to educate yourself and seek support from professionals. Here’s to a long, joyful, and fulfilling sexual future!
Jenna
Ask your questions
To submit your question to Jenna, leave a comment on this article with the heading “QUESTION”. Please include as much detail as you would like to about yourself (age, location etc) and why you are interested in the question.
Jenna Mayhew is an Australian psychologist based in Mexico, with over 20 years of experience in Australia, England and Mexico. She is the founder of Hola Therapy, a bilingual practice dedicated to supporting the immigrant and cross-cultural communities in Mexico.
Hola Therapy aims to give back to the community and one way they achieve this is by providing by clinical and financial support Misión México Foundation. https://www.misionmexico.org Misión México Foundation is a charity in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. They provide a stable, therapeutic environment for some of the state’s most vulnerable children, with a focus on safety, emotional recovery and education.
If you have enjoyed the “Ask Jenna” column, please consider giving back by making a small donation to the Misión México Foundation
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada spoke at the Bloomberg CityLab Summit on Tuesday in the nation's capital. (Clara Brugada/X)
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada addressed the Bloomberg CityLab Summit in Mexico City on Tuesday, 10 days after she took office as the capital’s second elected female mayor.
Brugada, who was mayor of the Mexico City borough of Iztaplala on two occasions before winning this year’s mayoral election, will govern the capital for the next six years, continuing the Morena party’s rule in the nation’s biggest city.
Newly inaugurated Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada is Mexico City’s second woman mayor, as well as its second consecutive woman mayor. (Clara Brugada/X)
She replaced the interim Mexico City mayor, Marti Batres, who took over for then-mayor Claudia Sheinbaum after she resigned to run for the presidency.
Here are some of the highlights of the speech Brugada made on Tuesday to an audience that included scores of her fellow mayors from countries around the world.
‘It’s time for women’
Echoing the words of former Mexico City mayor and new Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Brugada declared that “it’s time for women in this country and the world.”
Mexico, she said, is currently in “historic times,” given that the country has its first female president.
Brugada stressed that the “it’s time for women” declaration doesn’t just apply to political representation, but is also a commitment to improving the lives of all women.
Brugada said one of the goals of her government is to make care of children, the elderly and the disabled a more public obligation, freeing up their caregivers, who Brugada said are mostly women. (Clara Brugada/X)
She asserted that achieving gender equality is “one of the most important priorities” for her, and for Sheinbaum.
“So, with women, we’re building a great and substantive equality plan for Mexico City,” Brugada said.
“For me, ‘it’s time for women’ means it’s time to deliver justice to women, and this means public policies that place combating gender inequality at their center,” she said.
Caregiving can become a ‘public responsibility’
Further outlining her plan to deliver justice to women, Brugada said that one of the “fundamental” goals of her government will be to create “the Mexico City public care system.”
“This is very important because it’s a new way to rethink cities,” she said.
Brugada said that her proposal entails “ceasing to think that care is solely a private task,” explaining that her government will build new public infrastructure where children, the elderly and the disabled can access care services, thus relieving pressure on their current carers, the majority of whom are women.
“We’re going to create robust [caregiving] infrastructure that includes more than 200 childcare and development centers,” Brugada said, “… but also day centers for senior citizens, rehabilitation centers for people with disabilities.”
By building adequate infrastructure, care can become a “public responsibility” rather than a private one, Brugada said, adding that access to the city’s care services will be a “right” for citizens and that the city government has an “obligation” to provide those services in accordance with the Mexico City constitution.
Brugada, right, and President Claudia Sheinbaum, left, have a shared history. Brugada was borough mayor of Iztapalapa in Mexico City while Sheinbaum was city mayor, and they worked together on projects. (Presidencia)
CDMX’s ‘second story’ of transformation
“Our task is to build the second story of the transformation of this great city,” Brugada said, once again borrowing from the discourse of President Sheinbaum, who says her government will consolidate the so-called “fourth transformation” (4T) of Mexico initiated by former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
“… What does that mean? [It means] building territories of peace and equality, deepening security models that are close … to the people,” she said, referring to policing strategies.
“This means continuing with a [security] model that has yielded results,” Brugada said, citing an almost 60% decline in high-impact crimes such as murder during the term of the previous Mexico City government.
She also highlighted the importance of using technology in the ongoing fight against crime.
The Cablebús cable car transport system has been in operation in Mexico City since July 2021. It’s first line saw 78% more ridership than expected. (Photo: Victoria Valtierra Ruvalcaba/Cuartoscuro)
More sustainable, time-saving transport coming
Before emphasizing the importance of continuing to build new transport infrastructure, Brugada told the Bloomberg CityLab Summit that 78% of Mexico City residents regularly use public transport to get around the capital.
She highlighted her pledge to build an additional five cable car (cablebús) transportation lines that link (mainly disadvantaged) neighborhoods to other transport services, such as the Mexico City Metro.
She also pledged to build additional cycleways and to continue investing in electromobility, or e-mobility, in Mexico City, where many electric buses already operate.
“We want the main force of transport in Mexico City to be sustainable,” Brugada said.
“We will continue with electromobility [initiatives], we will continue building accessible, sustainable infrastructure that reduces transport times. In this city, we want people to be able to enjoy themselves with their families instead of spending hours and hours on transport,” the mayor added.
Among the attendees at the Bloomberg event were mayors from around the world. (Clara Brugada/X)
Problems need ‘metropolitan solutions’
Brugada highlighted that while the population of the 16 alcaldías, or boroughs, of Mexico City is approximately 9 million, some 22 million people call the capital’s greater metropolitan area home.
Issues that affect Mexico City proper affect the entire metropolitan area, she said.
The mayor acknowledged that “one of the fundamental issues for the city is water” and pledged to change the way water is managed to reduce waste of the essential liquid.
Brugada also spoke briefly about waste management, telling the summit attendees that some 13,000 tonnes of trash are produced in Mexico City every day
Many residents of the greater metropolitan area of Mexico City regularly have limited access to running water and depend on water deliveries from trucks sponsored by the city. (CRISANTA ESPINOSA AGUILAR /CUARTOSCURO.COM)
“Within six years, we’re proposing recycling half of all of Mexico City’s waste. This is very important. … We have the method, which is large recycling plants,” she said.
New ‘utopías’ on the horizon
Brugada is perhaps best known for Iztapalapa’s “utopía” community center projects, which provide free athletic, recreation and education opportunities in the disadvantaged borough.
On Tuesday, the former Iztapalapa mayor spoke about her government’s plan to build an additional 100 “beautiful” utopías across the capital.
“This city is planning a great project for the transformation of public spaces,” Brugada said.
“… What are the utopías? … [They are] great, transformative projects that have infrastructure for sport, recreation, culture, well-being and caregiving,” she said.
Brugada is known for building community centers called “utopias” which offer family recreational and educational activities. This one that opened in 2023 has a digital aquarium. (@Claudiashein/Twitter)
Brugada said that the 100 new utopías will be built in parts of the capital where they are most needed
In keeping with the 15-minute urban planning concept, the utopías will be situated so that a large number of Mexico City residents can get to them in less than 15 minutes from their homes, she added.
“The utopías are our big bet for [achieving] equality, for delivering social and territorial justice in this city,” Brugada said.
“I come from an outlying area [of the city], so one of the big objectives we have is for the outlying areas of Mexico City to not be synonyms of inequality and abandonment,” she said.
A city with ‘shared prosperity’
Brugada noted that Mexico City has the largest economy of any city in Mexico, and set out a broad economic vision for the capital.
“We want this city to continue being a prosperous city, a city with shared prosperity, a city in which generating income comes with an environmental responsibility, a city in which we see that the best social program is employment,” she said.
The mayor also said she wants her administration to be “a great digital government, an open government and a government that promotes [internet] connectivity and modernity.”
Making another reference to López Obrador’s 4T, Brugada added that Mexico City is the “capital of the transformation” of Mexico.
“It’s a global, cosmopolitan and diverse city,” she told summit attendees from around the world.
The IMF explained its gloomy outlook by citing, among other factors, investor concerns about a recently passed judicial reform package. (Shutterstock)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday lowered its 2024 economic growth forecast for Mexico to 1.5% while projecting even slower growth in 2025.
Citing capacity limitations and a restrictive monetary policy, the IMF foresees Latin America’s second-biggest economy dipping to 1.3% in 2025, but it does expect Mexico to guide inflation toward the Bank of Mexico’s 3% target.
President Sheinbaum inherited the controversial set of judicial reforms that passed just before she took office. She has tried to reassure global investors that it will not destabilize the rule of law in Mexico’s courts. (Andrea Murcia Monsivais/Cuartoscuro)
The IMF — a financial agency of the United Nations headquartered in Washington, D.C., and funded by 190 member countries — also explained its gloomy outlook by citing investor concerns about a recently passed judicial reform package that raises questions about the effectiveness of contract enforcement and the predictability of the rule of law in Mexico.
The IMF’s prediction is just the latest in a recent trend of pessimistic growth forecasts for Mexico.
The World Bank now sees the Mexican economy growing by 1.7% this year, 0.6 percentage points lower than its 2.3% forecast in June. At the same time, the World Bank also lowered its 2025 forecast by 0.6 points to 1.5%, while its 2026 forecast shrank from 2% to 1.6%
And last week, BBVA México — Mexico’s largest financial institution — released a report showing a decline in consumer confidence this year, its biggest downturn since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the same report, BBVA projected 2024 economic growth to top out at 1.2% (down from a previous forecast of 2.5%), while forecasting just 1.0% growth for 2025, citing weak internal demand and uncertainty resulting from the judicial reform.
A recent report by the financial institution BBVA México also forecast lower growth for Mexico in 2024, citing the decline in consumer confidence and weak internal demand. (Mireya Novo/Cuartoscuro)
Although consumer spending kept increasing during the first nine months of 2024, for a total growth of 9.8%, BBVA reported, this figure was actually down 1.8% from the same period last year.
In addition, consumer spending in September showed signs of deceleration. A 1.5% increase in September lagged behind the 2.2% increase posted in August.
The newspaper El Economista reported that the BBVA Research team predicts that consumer confidence will continue to decline in the next few months as GDP growth remains low and real wages dip because of modest job growth in the industrial sector.
Mexico's National Meteorological Service (SMN) says a cold front is bringing cooler temperatures this week to higher elevations in México state, Chihuahua and Durango. (Cuartoscuro)
Mexico may expect rainfall and cooler temperatures in some areas this week, according to the National Meteorological Service (SMN).
The SMN has warned that rainfall may lead to reduced visibility, landslides and flooding of rivers and streams. It urged residents to follow the recommendations of Civil Protection authorities as strong winds may knock down trees and advertisements.
Intense rainfall is currently headed toward the states of Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo, thanks to a low-pressure system moving from the Caribbean toward Central America that will pass over the Yucatán Peninsula. (Conagua/X)
Rain forecast by state
Weather forecasts predict that a low-pressure system is moving from the Caribbean toward Central America, passing through the southern part of the Yucatán Peninsula, the Gulf of Mexico and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This system, in interaction with a cold front, will cause rainfall this week in several states:
Intense rainfall (75 to 150 mm): Chiapas.
Very heavy rainfall (50 to 75 mm): Campeche, Tabasco and Yucatán.
Heavy rainfall (25 to 50 mm): Oaxaca, Quintana Roo and Veracruz.
Meanwhile, another low-pressure channel extending over the north, west and center of the country, coupled with the entry of humidity from the Pacific Ocean, will cause rains in the following states:
Heavy rainfall (25 to 50 mm): Guerrero and Michoacán.
Light showers (5 to 25 mm): Chihuahua, Colima, Durango, México state, Jalisco, Morelos, Nayarit, Puebla and Sinaloa.
Isolated rains (0.1 to 5 mm): Baja California, Baja California Sur, Mexico City, Guanajuato, Tlaxcala and Zacatecas.
The SMN also is forecasting northerly winds with gusts of 50 to 70 kilometers per hour in the Isthmus and Gulf of Tehuantepec. Potential dust devils and gusts of 40 to 60 kilometers per hour are expected for Baja California Sur, Chihuahua and Sonora.
Weather forecast by region
Minimum temperatures of minus 5 to zero degrees Celsius and frost are expected in the mountainous regions of Chihuahua, Durango and México state.
In Tijuana and other parts of Baja California, residents can expect temperatures between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius and isolated rainfall. (Omar Martínez/Cuartoscuro)
Temperatures ranging between zero to 5 degrees Celsius are forecast in higher parts of Aguascalientes, Coahuila, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz and Zacatecas.
In contrast, high temperatures are expected for other regions in the country.
Baja California Sur, Sinaloa and Sonora will see temperatures range between 35 to 40 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, temperatures ranging between 30 and 35 degrees are expected in Baja California, Campeche, Chiapas, western Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, western Durango, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosi, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Quintana Roo, Veracruz and Yucatán.
The awarded taquería will open a pop-up on Oct. 16 at Tacombi’s Flatiron location on West 24th Street in New York City. (Tacombi/Instagram)
The famed tacos of Taquería El Califa de León, Mexico’s only taquería with a Michelin star, will be available in Manhattan this month in partnership with Tacombi, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain.
The awarded taquería will open a pop-up on Oct. 16 at Tacombi’s Flatiron location on West 24th Street in New York City. The tacos will be served from 6 to 10 p.m. Subsequently, from Oct. 17 through Oct. 31, two of El Califa’s tacos will be available at other Tacombi locations throughout New York City.
The culinary event on Oct. 16 will feature the four award-winning tacos from El Califa de León — Bisteck, Costilla, Gaonera and Chuleta tacos — as well as its two popular sauces, created and served by the owner of El Califa, Mario Hernández Alonso.
“We are honored to partner with El Califa de León and share their tradition with our Tacombi diners,” Tacombi founder Dario Wolos told the magazine El Restaurante. Wolos told the magazine that he came up with the idea of taking the tacos to New York after meeting Hernández during a recent trip to Mexico City.
Tacombi, which started out of a Volkswagen van — sometimes called a combi — in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula over a decade ago, now has Tacombis in Miami Beach, New York, Chicago and the suburbs of Washington D.C. It has 16 locations in total and has plans to open 60 more in the next five years.
For its part, Taquería El Califa is a tiny, no-frills taquería in the modest San Rafael neighborhood of Mexico City. Founded in 1968 by Hernández’s parents Juan Hernández González and Josefina Alonso Ruiz, it is the only taco purveyor among the 18 restaurants that received one or two stars in the first-ever Michelin Guide to Mexico 2024.
The menu at El Califa de León has only four items to choose from — simple but sublime, say the folks at Michelin. (Rodrigo M./Internet)
After earning the accolade, Hernández told the newspaper El Universal that this recognition was “a reward for perseverance, hard work and the quality of the products.”
“It is a responsibility that makes us better every day,” he said. “And it encourages us to continue meeting the standards to which our clientele is accustomed. Few taquerías in Mexico actually offer their diners authentic 50-gram beef filet tacos.”
In Mexico City, El Califa operates 365 days a year, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., except on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
The Environment Ministry (Semarnat) says the now-shuttered quarry operations “completely destroyed” three nearby cenotes. (Archivo/Cuartoscuro)
A limestone quarry owned by the Alabama-based company Vulcan Materials caused an “ecological disaster” in Quintana Roo, Mexico, and the company must restore the site, Environment Minister Alicia Bárcena said on Friday.
Mexico’s Environment Ministry (Semarnat) claims that operations at a limestone quarry managed by a subsidiary of Vulcan Materials destroyed three cenotes before the property was seized by Mexican authorities.
On Friday, Environment Minister Alicia Bárcena said the government did not “expropriate” Vulcan’s land in Quintana Roo. “The only thing we are saying is they can not extract one more gram of limestone,” she explained. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
Last week, Bárcena — previously Mexico’s Foreign Affairs minister — defended a Sept. 23 presidential decree declaring a 50,000-hectare stretch of land in the state of Quintana Roo part of a protected natural reserve. This vast tract, which stretches from Playa del Carmen to Tulum, includes a mine and a marine port operated by Vulcan subsidiary Sac-Tun, formerly known as Calizas Industriales del Carmen (Calica).
Speaking during President Sheinbaum’s Friday morning press conference, Bárcena said the now-shuttered quarry operations “completely destroyed” three cenotes — natural sinkholes that are the primary source of water in the region.
The company also violated their mining permits, extracting more limestone than allowed and discharging water with higher-than-permitted levels of pollutants, Bárcena said, citing an investigation by the Federal Attorney’s Office of Environmental Protection (Profepa).
According to the newspaper El Economista, Bárcena claimed that the company’s quarrying permits had expired in 2020 and it did not have all the necessary water-use permits. She also accused Calica of falsely claiming to have concessions to operate in designated archaeological zones.
Vulcan — which has been operating in Mexico since 1986 — announced it would fight the expropriation, but Bárcena said the decree was not an expropriation. “The land still belongs to [Calica],” she said on Friday. “The only thing we are saying is they can not extract one more gram of limestone.”
Bárcena also said the decree requires Calica to repair the damage done to the landscape and possibly reforest the property.
The conversion of the region into a protected natural reserve was the latest salvo in a long-running battle dating back three years.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador issued the decree during the final week of his six-year term.
For years, López Obrador criticized Vulcan’s activities as “ecocidal.” He finally ordered Vulcan’s Calica unit to halt the quarrying of the limestone — which was primarily exported to the United States for road-building purposes — two years ago.
The new president posted the portrait to social media on Sunday. “Official photograph in the presidential office of the National Palace,” Sheinbaum captioned the photo.
El equipo me convenció de tomar la foto oficial. Así fue el detrás de cámaras. pic.twitter.com/HT9Ou0dIy4
On Friday, the 62-year-old former Mexico City mayor said on X that her team had “convinced” her to pose for “the official photo.”
She also posted a 35-second “behind the cameras” video to the social media platform.
The official photo released on Sunday shows the president standing in her office wearing a white dress and the presidential sash, an adornment that is particularly common among Latin American leaders.
Sheinbaum’s decision to stand for the portrait sets her apart from previous Mexican presidents who posed while seated in the presidential chair. In the first presidenta‘s photo, that chair appears behind her.
Sheinbaum’s decision to pose for and release an official photo shortly after taking office also sets her apart from her political mentor, former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who didn’t initially sit — or stand — for an official snap.
