Saturday, August 16, 2025

Sheinbaum files defamation lawsuit after lawyer for ‘Los Chapitos’ calls the president a cartel ‘PR arm’

By
MND Staff
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Sheinbaum and Jeffrey Lichtman
President Sheinbaum claims Jeffrey Lichtman defamed her by saying she acts as a "public relations arm for a drug trafficking organization," likely referring to the Sinaloa Cartel. (Archive)

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has filed a defamation lawsuit against Jeffrey Lichtman after the U.S. attorney made derogatory comments following a court hearing in Chicago.

Sheinbaum is accusing the New York-based criminal lawyer of defamation after Lichtman said last Friday that the Mexican president was acting like a public relations arm for drug traffickers.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Arturo Ángel, winner of Mexico’s National Journalism Award in 2017, reported that Mexico’s Office of Legal Counsel (CJEF) had filed a lawsuit against Lichtman. A day earlier, Ángel had broken the news that Sheinbaum intended to formalize the defamation accusation. 

Lichtman’s controversial comments came after his client, Ovidio Guzmán, son of jailed Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and organized crime charges in U.S. federal court. 

On Friday, Sheinbaum complained of a lack of communication from the United States about Ovidio’s plea deal. “It should be very clear that we do not defend [cartel members]. What we want is clarification,” she said during her July 11 press conference. 

After his client’s hearing, Lichtman responded to Sheinbaum’s criticism, calling the idea that he would seek Mexico’s cooperation in the case “absurd.”

Lichtman questioned the wisdom of involving the Mexican government in drug trafficking cases, citing Mexico’s decision in 2021 to release former Defense Minister Salvador Cienfuegos after he was indicted in the U.S. on drug charges.

He also compared Mexico’s inability to capture highly sought-after drug lord Ismael Zambada to Pakistan’s inability to capture Osama bin Laden while the Saudi terrorist hid out in Abbottabad, implying that Mexican officials are protecting criminals.

From Sinaloa on Friday afternoon, Sheinbaum quickly held a press conference on the quarrel, where she called Lichtman “disrespectful.” Shortly after, the Federal Attorney General’s Office released a statement demanding that the attorney submit documentation to prove his allegations that Mexican officials are colluding with drug traffickers.

In response, Lichtman referred to Sheinbaum as a cartel spokesperson in a social media post:

“Apparently the president of Mexico is displeased with my truthful comments about her corrupt office and government. She can call as many hastily convened press conferences as she likes, but the people of Mexico (and myself), know she acts more as the public relations arm of a drug trafficking organization than as the honest leader the Mexican people deserve.” 

When asked on Monday to respond, Sheinbaum declined, saying she would not engage in a tit-for-tat with an attorney who defends drug traffickers. Instead, she said, the CJEF would file a lawsuit in Mexico, “because we can not allow such slander.” 

Sheinbaum also said her administration was reviewing the Cienfuegos case and Lichtman’s involvement in it, insisting that Cienfuegos is innocent. 

For his part, Lichtman has declined to comment further.

During Friday’s court hearing, it was confirmed that Lichtman, who served on El Chapo’s defense team, would be defending brothers Iván and Alfredo Guzmán in addition to Ovidio. Lichtman was already serving as defense attorney for another Guzmán sibling, Joaquín, who turned himself into U.S. authorities in July 2024.

With reports from Milenio, El Financiero and Border Report

What was a visit to one of Mexico’s banned dolphin shows really like?

By
Elisabeth Ashe
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A man swimming with two dolphins at Delfiniti Ixtapa dolphinarium
With the news that the Mexican goverment recently voted to close dolphin shows across the country, what was it actually like to visit one? Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo resident Elisa Ashe went to find out. (Delfinti Ixtapa)

Recently, I was honoured to attend the birthday party of 5-year-old Michelle, the daughter of my friends Veronika and Manuel. When I found out the party was going to be at the Dolphinarium in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Delfiniti Ixtapa, I was thrilled. The opportunity to swim with dolphins has been on my bucket list for many years, yet I had somehow never taken the chance despite living near the location for so long.

Before I discuss my experience, I should acknowledge that not everyone believes that keeping marine life in captivity is a good thing. Some people think that dolphins belong in the wild and that conservation efforts should take priority over captivity. Indeed, the Mexican Senate recently passed a ban on dolphin shows 99-0, so the future for places like Delfiniti does not look bright.

Two dolphins jumping into the air in front of a family at a Mexican dolphin show
Whether or not you agree with them, dolphinariums do bring joy to all ages. (Delfini Ixtapa)

Reviews I had seen, though, were positive, especially since this particular Dolphinarium had a therapy program for children with disabilities. I knew several parents of these children who had attended the program, and they had provided nothing but positive feedback.

Attending the party was an excellent opportunity to form my own opinion about it, so I accepted the invitation with an open mind.

I arrived at the party to find many children and their parents easily as excited as I was. Veronik, who, it turns out, is now an employee at the Dolphinarium as a greeter and salesperson, was on hand to explain how it all worked and what we could expect over the next couple of hours.

One of the many employees led us to an area down some stairs while another group finished up. A loud squawking from above echoed in the holding area, and we all noticed the beautiful guacamayas and a majestic owl high on the branches above us. One of the workers brought them down from their perches, and those of us who wanted could take a photo holding them alongside the birthday girl. (Of course, I did).

A half-hour later, another employee led us up a walkway to the pools, where three beautiful dolphins jumped and frolicked right before us as everyone there oohed and ahhed at the sight. The pool, I noticed, was sparkling clean.

The trainers introduced us to the dolphins, Chame, Chocho and Nena. They jumped, twirled and leapt out of the water, each time rewarded by a seemingly endless supply of fish from a cooler.

Official banner announcing the suspension of the dolphin show.
With a ban on dolphin shows now in force, what will become of Mexico’s dolphinariums? (Digital News QR/X)

Since there were so many guests, we were divided into two groups and led single file to opposite ends of the pools. We slipped into the water and stood on a wide platform, and then all took turns hugging our dolphin and touching its fins. It felt magical to be so close to such a beloved creature.

Our assigned dolphin, Chame, swam in front of our outstretched hands, and we touched its smooth, soft skin as it went by.  Through it all, a photographer was on hand to capture the experience. Later, after an incredible show of more tricks, we filed back into the waiting room below, where screens showed photos the photographer had captured, and we could purchase pictures of ourselves.

Over the years, I have heard both the pros and cons of marine facilities like this one. Were the dolphins exploited or mistreated at the facility in Ixtapa? It didn’t feel that way to me. Judging by the number of fish they ate throughout their performance, I believed them to be well-fed and cared for. Perhaps it was my imagination or wishful thinking, but I felt the dolphins enjoyed performing as much as the appreciative crowd enjoyed watching them.

There was also a great deal of value educational-wise, judging by the wonder I saw in the eyes of everyone present, especially the children.

Unfortunately — or fortunately, depending on your perspective —  the vote to shut down all marine parks and dolphinariums in Mexico includes those that offer therapeutic classes, leaving a doubtful future for places like this. There will be some exceptions, such as certified scientific research, but my question is, what will they do with all the dolphins?

The writer divides her time between Canada and Zihuatanejo.



From prison dramas to black comedies, a look at 2025’s best Mexican TV series — so far 

By
Carolina Alvarado
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A collage-style promotional image for the series "Serpientes y Escaleras" (Snakes and Ladders), one of the best Mexican TV series in 2025. In the center, actress Cecilia Suarez, who has dark hair and orange-framed glasses, smiles faintly as she looks into the camera. Around her are smaller panels featuring a man in a suit, a woman looking down and a young man with dyed hair. Green and pink snakes are visible in the corners of the central image.
Mexican actress Cecilia Suárez ("House of Flowers") teams up again with director Manolo Caro with a star turn in "Serpientes y Escaleras," a satire on greed, ambition, and the Mexican education system that'll keep you guessing. (Netflix)

Now that we are halfway through 2025, it’s a good time to do an overview of the best new Mexican TV series out there that have achieved both notable popularity from the public and praise from the critics. I don’t intend to overshadow last year’s stellar offerings, such as “Las Azules” or “Como Agua para Chocolate,” but 2025 has been a great year for Mexican television, and still promises much more. 

From poignant biopics and play adaptations to prison dramas and black comedies, TV networks and streaming services in the last six months have released Mexican series that include something for everyone. Creative and audacious, these series defy clichés and stereotypes. Enthralling, insightful and proudly Mexican, all these series have set the bar high and are worth your viewing time.

In no particular order, let’s dive in.

‘Mentiras, la serie’ 

Mentiras, La Serie | Amazon Prime | Trailer Oficial

If there is one series from 2025 that I wish everyone reading this would watch, it would be “Mentiras, la Serie,” (Lies, the Series), inspired by the acclaimed 2009 Mexican musical created by José Manuel López Velarde. 

Set in the vibrant Mexico of the 1980s, this musical series tells the story of Daniela (played by the Mexican singer and actress Belinda), Yuri (Regina Blandón), Dulce (Diana Bovio) and Lupita (Mariana Treviño), whose lives intersect at the funeral of Emmanuel Mijares (Luis Gerardo Méndez) just as they discover that they all had been romantically involved with him — and are possible suspects in his death. 

Gabriel Ripstein’s adaptation follows the female quartet as they unravel Emmanuel’s hidden history and confront the contradictions of their own lives. And “Mentiras, la Serie” is filled with thrilling musical sequences that engage the viewer to the very last episode.

With a dedicated cast, a handful of vein-cutting ballads and meticulous execution, this TV version honors one of Latin America’s most iconic and beloved musicals. If you’re nostalgic for ’80s culture, you’ll love this eight-episode re-imagining, which is now officially the most-watched title in the history of Amazon Prime Video México.

Stream ‘Mentiras, la serie’ on Prime Video.

‘Chespirito: Sin Querer Queriendo’

Chespirito: Sin Querer Queriendo | Tráiler Oficial | Max

One of the most anticipated Mexican biographical series of the first half of 2025 has been “Chespirito, Sin Querer Queriendo” (Chespirito: Not Really on Purpose), which chronicles the life of legendary Mexican comedian, writer and director Roberto Gómez Bolaños, whose television creations, imbued with an enduring charisma, crossed borders and exerted an enormous influence on the lives of millions.

Max’s latest Mexican TV offering pays tribute to Gómez Bolaños, both as a family man and for his legacy in transforming Latin American television. Starring Pablo Cruz Guerrero, the eight-episode series takes its inspiration from the 2006 autobiography, “Sin Querer, Queriendo: Memorias,” and has been written by the versatile comedian’s children, Paulina and Roberto Gómez Fernández.

Only every once in a while does a biographical series come along that’s truly a human and empathetic study of its subject, and “Chespirito, Sin Querer Queriendo” is one of those rare exceptions. It will undoubtedly deeply touch the generations that grew up watching Bolaños’ iconic characters, such as El Chavo del Ocho (The Boy from Apartment 8) and El Chapulín Colorado (The Crimson Grasshopper), and for those who didn’t, it’s an well-done introduction to a Mexican pop culture icon. 

Stream “Chespirito, Sin Querer Queriendo” on Max. 

‘Serpientes y Escaleras’

Snakes and Ladders | Official Trailer | Netflix

Following their formidable collaborations in “La Casa de las Flores” and “Alguien Tiene que Morir,” Guadalajara-born director Manolo Caro and the extremely talented actress Cecilia Suárez reunite again in “Serpientes y Escaleras” (Snakes And Ladders), a hilarious, biting and unexpectedly venomous series.

This Netflix gem revolves around the figure of Dora López (Suárez), a teacher of unwavering ambition who aspires to become the principal of her prestigious school. Dora’s well-thought-out plan has been laid out over time, but her life takes a drastic turn when a conflict between students pits the city’s two most influential and wealthy families against each other, a feud at whose center Dora finds herself. 

Over eight episodes, the series shows how Dora’s ambition leads her to sacrifice her principles and ethical values, causing a strong transformation in her nature.

This intelligent satire on the educational system and human values — although at times it has some soap-opera elements — reflects on provocative themes like greed, corruption, ethical dilemmas and the weight of power. In the realm of recent school comedies, “Serpientes y Escaleras” ranks alongside the U.S. series “Abbott Elementary” and “English Teacher.”

Stream “Serpientes y Escaleras” on Netflix.

‘Celda 211’  

Prison Cell 211 | Official Trailer | Netflix

Directed by Jaime Reynoso and Gerardo Naranjo, “Celda 211” (Prison Cell 211) tells the story of Juan Olvera (Diego Calva, who starred in the 2022 Brad Pitt/Margot Robie film, “Babylon”), a lawyer about to become a father, who goes to prison for a routine visit and gets trapped there in the middle of a riot. To stay alive, he poses as a new inmate and experiences firsthand the Mexican prison system’s dangers.

This Mexican production, a combination of intense action with psychological drama, adapts the Spanish film of the same name, itself based on Francisco Pérez Gandul’s 2004 novel. 

The six-episode miniseries moves the setting from Spain to Mexico and incorporates the real events of a 2023 prison riot that took place in Ciudad Juárez. This harsh and skillful adaptation sketches a crude look at the shortcomings of the Mexican prison system and the violation of human rights in that context. 

Fair warning: In “Cell 211,” things are said with knives and bullets.

Stream “Celda 211” on Netflix.

Carolina Alvarado is a Venezuelan journalist and has devoted much of her career to creative writing, university teaching and social work. She has been published in Lady Science, Latina Media, Global Comment, Psiquide, Cinetopic, Get me Giddy and Reader’s Digest, among others.

Mexican cycling star Isaac del Toro conquers Tour of Austria

By
MND Staff
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0
Isaac del Toro, Tour of Austria
Thanks to Del Toro’s hat trick at the Tour of Austria, UAE leads all racing teams with 61 stage wins this season. (Isaac del Toro/Instagram)

Mexico’s newest sports hero — 21-year-old cyclist Isaac del Toro — rode to victory in Austria on Sunday, adding gold to the silver he collected in his impressive Giro d’Italia debut.

The Baja California native won three of the five stages at the 74th Tour of Austria, finishing first with a time of 17 hours, 51 minutes and 18 seconds. Del Toro took home 7,650 euros (US $8,930) in prize money.

“I’m very happy,” Del Toro said, “[and grateful] for all the support the team provided to help me win this Tour.” 

Del Toro, a member of the celebrated UAE Emirates road bicycle racing team, completed the 714.2-kilometer race with a 29-second lead over Ireland’s Archie Ryan. UAE teammate Rafael Majka finished third, another 18 seconds back.

Thanks to Del Toro’s hat trick, UAE leads all racing teams with 61 stage wins this season. That’s almost double the 33 wins of the second-placed team, Lidl-Trek, while Soudal-QuickStep is third with 26 victories.

Cycling News called Del Toro a “rising star” after he powered to victory in Stage 4, a 117.3-km ride through the Alps from Innsbruck to Kühtai that featured climbs equivalent to 3,500 meters (11,483 feet).

“The Mexican is already a stage racing force to be reckoned with, and he’s proving that at the lower-ranked Tour of Austria, where he and UAE have totally dominated the race so far,” wrote Cycling News’ Dani Ostanek.

Isaac del Toro: Second at the Giro d’Italia, first in the hearts of Mexicans

Sunday’s victory was his third stage win in a row after Del Toro broke the tape five seconds ahead of Andrew August of Ineos Grenadiers on Friday. He won Stage 2 when he pipped August to the line after a 142.1-km climb from Bischofshofen to St. Johann Alpendorf.

Del Toro, who made his professional debut in January 2024, made headlines in mid-May when he took the lead of the Giro d’Italia, wearing the pink jersey from Stage 9 through Stage 19.

The youngster faltered on Stage 20, outgunned by Simon Yates of Visma Lease-a-bike, finishing 3 minutes, 56 seconds back. Still, Del Toro, the youngest rider to finish on the podium since 1940, completed the race wearing the white jersey awarded to the top young rider (25 or younger).

Though the Tour of Austria lacks the global spotlight of the Tour de France, Del Toro’s triumph there, combined with his victory at Milano-Torino in March, has set the bar high 

“He is a phenomenon and that’s for sure,” said UAE team manager Mauro Gianetti in May. UAE has Del Toro under contract through 2029.

With reports from Infobae, El Imparcial, El Universal and IDL Pro Cycling

US announces 30% tariff on Mexican goods as bilateral talks continue

By
MND Staff
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U.S. President Trump
In a letter to Sheinbaum, U.S. President Trump said the tariff was necessary because “Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground.” (Donald J. Trump/Facebook)

On Friday, President of the United States Donald Trump informed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in a letter that he would impose a 30% tariff on Mexican imports beginning Aug. 1.

“Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough,” the letter states. “Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground.” Trump also announced a 30% tariff on imports from the European Union, due to “persistent, trade deficits, engendered by your tariff, and non-tariff, policies and trade barriers,” the president said in a separate letter. 

On Monday, Sheinbaum announced that the concerns cited in the letter would be addressed in ongoing bilateral talks, particularly the significant U.S. trade deficit with Mexico. She expressed confidence that Mexico would be able to negotiate a deal to reduce, if not eliminate, the tariff.

The new tariffs were a blow to Sheinbaum’s cabinet, which has made numerous trips to Washington to ensure Trump’s advisors that Mexico is making progress on the issues identified as priorities by the U.S. president.

In recent weeks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Mexico for being “very responsive” to Washington’s demands and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called Mexico’s proposals “positive.”

Mexico was informed that the letter was coming during high-level talks with U.S. State Department officials on Friday. The Mexican delegation expressed disagreement with the decision and considered it “unfair treatment,” according to a joint statement of the Economy Ministry and the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Sheinbaum, who has avoided directly criticizing  Trump, voiced confidence that the U.S. and Mexico will be able to discuss the matter diplomatically.

“I’ve always said that in these cases, you need a cool head to face any problem,” Sheinbaum said on Saturday.

The tariff, if it goes into effect, could cause massive upheaval between the United States and its biggest trade partner.

The 30% rate would effectively replace the 25% tariffs currently levied on Mexican goods that do not comply with the existing U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement (USMCA).

The letter did not address whether USMCA-compliant goods would still be exempt from the new tariffs after Aug. 1.

Columnist for the newspaper El Financiero Enrique Quintana estimated that approximately US $150 billion worth of Mexican goods would be subject to the new 30% import tax.

In the joint statement, Mexico said “the first major task of the permanent binational committee will be to conduct the work so that, before [the tariffs take effect], we have an alternative that will protect businesses and jobs on both sides of the border.”

The bilateral talks involve Ebrard’s Economy Ministry along with the foreign relations, finance, security and energy ministries.

On its side of the table, the U.S. State Department is joined by the Commerce and Energy departments, Homeland Security and the U.S. Trade Representative.

Sheinbaum said Mexico’s negotiators will emphasize the progress her administration has made in the fight against organized crime, while also seeking to gain greater cooperation from U.S. counterparts.

“We have insisted that controlling the flow of weapons from the United States to Mexico, and arresting individuals involved in drug trafficking in the United States [requires] collaboration,” she said on Monday. “Yes, there is coordination, but part of [the responsibility] falls on us to prevent drugs from passing from here to there, but part of it also falls on them.”

Sheinbaum said her administration will continue working to reach a satisfactory agreement. “The most important thing for us is to ensure that employment is not affected and that cooperation between our countries is maintained,” she said.

As has been the case since Trump imposed the first of a string of tariffs on Mexico, Sheinbaum has declined to discuss retaliatory tariffs. In his letter, Trump included a threat to raise the tariffs should Mexico opt to retaliate.

With reports from The Associated Press, El Economista, El Financiero, Reuters and The Guardian

Tomato tariff takes effect, threatening Mexican exports and jobs

By
MND Staff
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0
tomato tariff mexico
The revived tomato tariff could increase prices of Mexican tomatoes by around 10% for U.S. consumers, resulting in a 5% decrease in demand. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

A 17% tariff on most fresh tomato imports from Mexico to the United States was expected to go into effect on Monday as the decades-old Tomato Suspension Agreement (TSA) comes to an end. 

The TSA had allowed Mexican producers to export tomatoes to the U.S. without paying antidumping duties. Dumping is the practice of selling cheap exports into a foreign market to undercut homegrown products. 

tomatoes and a sign
Mexican imports were exempt from a 20.91% tariff (“arancel” in Spanish) until the U.S. decided to reimpose it as of July 14.(Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)

Mexican tomato exporters had previously agreed to set minimum prices to maintain the deal. However, the U.S. Department of Commerce decided not to revive the agreement during an April meeting with the Department of Agriculture. 

“With the termination of this agreement, Commerce will institute an antidumping duty order on July 14, 2025, resulting in duties of 20.91% on most imports of tomatoes from Mexico,” Commerce said in an April 14 press release. 

“The current agreement has failed to protect U.S. tomato growers from unfairly priced Mexican imports,” the press release reads.

Though slightly below the originally proposed tariff of 21%, the 17% tax is expected to have an immediate effect on consumer prices and consumption in the U.S., as well as on Mexican exports and jobs in the sector. 

As of May 2025, field-grown tomatoes cost U.S. consumers around US $3.75 per kilogram, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Consumer prices are expected to increase by around 10% and demand could fall by 5% owing to the new tariff, Arizona State University professor Timothy Richards told CNN.

In the Mexican border state of Sinaloa, between 200,000 and 400,000 laborers work on tomato fields, according to the state government.

While Mexico enjoys year-round crops, tomato-producing regions in the U.S. are seasonal, with Florida growing tomatoes between October and June, and California from May to November. 

The revived tariff’s impact on Mexico

“Mexico represents 61% of the total U.S. fresh tomato supply, almost double the domestic production capacity (…) it would require between 16,996 and 101,171 additional hectares of production to compensate for the lack of Mexican tomatoes,” American Action Forum trade policy analyst Jacob Jensen was reported saying by the newspaper Milenio. 

The U.S. is Mexico’s top tomato export market, with a 93% share, representing an annual value of over US $2 billion. 

“They can’t replace us because there aren’t many other countries that produce this quantity of excellent tomatoes at a very reasonable price,” Agriculture Minister Julio Berdegué said in April.

Some companies, such as Heinz, which uses only domestically produced tomatoes for its ketchup products sold in the U.S., will avoid the tariff. 

Nevertheless, several sectoral experts, such as María Antonieta Barrón, an agribusiness specialist, believe the tariff will increase the price of Mexican products and reduce their competitiveness in the U.S. market. 

With reports from Animal Politico, Milenio and CNN

Editor’s note: The article previously listed the new tariff on tomatoes to be 20.91%, based on information available at the time of publishing. The article has been updated to indicate that the new tariff rate is 17%, as confirmed by U.S. officials on July 14.

Mexicans’ opinion of the United States has soured drastically since Trump took office

By
MND Staff
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22
Street protest with US flags
Trump's policies and actions have not been popular with Mexicans on either side of the border. (Shutterstock)

Mexicans’ opinion of the United States has plummeted since Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. president began in January, according to a Pew Research Center survey published on Friday.

Pew found that 69% of Mexicans surveyed in February and March held an unfavorable view of the U.S., while just 29% had a favorable opinion. That varies significantly from Joe Biden’s last year as U.S. president, when 61% of Mexicans saw the U.S. favorably and 33% saw it unfavorably.

Mexico’s 32 percentage-point drop in favorable views of the U.S. is the steepest decline observed in any of the 24 countries Pew surveyed this year. 

Most Mexican adults (91%) said they had little to no confidence in Trump to do the right thing regarding world affairs, compared to 60% of Mexican respondents [regarding Biden] in 2024. 

The survey showed that Mexicans lacked confidence in Trump’s immigration policy, with 87% stating they had little or no confidence in his handling of the issue, a higher proportion than any other country surveyed this year. 

As part of the survey, Pew asked whether the governments of the U.S. and Mexico were doing a good or bad job “dealing with the large number of people seeking asylum at the U.S. border with Mexico.” 

In response, 68% of Mexican respondents said the U.S. government was doing a bad job or a very bad job, a big leap over the 52% of Mexicans who thought the U.S. was doing a bad or very bad job in 2024. 

By contrast, 68% of Mexican respondents said the Mexican government was doing a good job, compared to 60% last year. 

Globally, the US breaks even 

Across the 24 countries surveyed by Pew, 49% of respondents held a favorable overall view of the U.S., while 49% held an unfavorable view. 

The U.S. was viewed most positively by Israel, with 83% of respondents seeing it favorably. The least positive assessment was given by Sweden, with 79% of respondents holding a negative view of the country.

In most countries surveyed, adults under 35 held a more positive opinion of the U.S. than those aged 50 and above. Meanwhile, respondents who placed themselves on the ideological right tended to rate the U.S. more favorably than those on the left.

Around half or more of those surveyed in most European countries, plus Australia, Mexico and Canada, viewed democracy in the U.S. as functioning poorly. A third of respondents from Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Sweden went further, saying U.S. democracy was working very poorly.

The majority of respondents across all countries agreed that there are strong partisan conflicts in the United States. 

Mexico News Daily

Baja heats up as the Los Cabos Tennis Open begins

By
Chris Sands
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A male tennis player, Andrey Rublev, with a blue headband and wristbands clenches his fist and shouts in triumph on the court, holding his tennis racket in his other hand.
Russian player Andrey Rublev will be the top-seeded competitor at this year's Los Cabos Tennis Open, which starts Monday. (ABN AMRO Open)

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) sponsors over 60 tournaments around the globe each year. However, only two take place in Mexico: the Abierto Mexicano (The Mexican Open) — an ATP 500 series event held in Acapulco — and the Abierto Los Cabos.

The latter — better known as the Los Cabos Tennis Open — is an ATP 250 competition staged annually at the Cabo Sports Complex. The tournament opens Monday and runs until July 19.

An expansive view of an outdoor tennis stadium at dusk. The hard court is illuminated by bright overhead lights, appearing beige with a dark blue playing area. The stands, filled with rows of empty seats, rise up on either side. A vibrant sunset with hues of pink, purple, and blue fills the sky above distant hills.
The tournament, as always, will be held at the Cabo Sports Complex in Baja California Sur. (Los Cabos Open)

In 2024, these two tournaments — whose series numbers reflect their respective prestige, prizes and available ranking points — took place back-to-back on the ATP schedule in February and March. This was so that the Los Cabos Tennis Open could serve as a lead-in for the Mexican Open, a symbolic gesture that reflected the importance of the latter to Acapulco as the city recovered from the devastation wrought by Category 5 Hurricane Otis in October 2023. 

But this year, the ATP dictated that the Los Cabos Tennis Open would return to its traditional summertime calendar slot on the tour.

This means that not only will 32 of the world’s best men’s singles players and 16 of the best doubles players be battling each other for a share of the US $873,000 in prize money, they’ll be battling the intense seasonal heat, with temperatures this week predicted to stay at around 90 degrees Fahrenheit with up to 50% humidity.

What the Open means to Los Cabos

The Los Cabos Tennis Open is one of two premier spectator sporting events in the area. The PGA World Wide Technology Championship, held in November, is the other. 

Yes, Los Cabos is famed for sport fishing too. But it’s not as though one can watch fishing tournaments live, since boats range as far as 50 miles from the coast and spectators are not welcome aboard. You can watch the fish being weighed, but that’s not exactly an activity brimming with athleticism or sustained action. The same could be said of golf, although it’s certainly interesting to see how top players perform from an up-close perspective.

No, in Los Cabos, the ATP event is the only one that offers real action, which is why it’s a highlight of the summer sporting season, even for those like myself who typically choose to watch it on television in air-conditioned comfort.

A wide shot of a blue outdoor tennis court during a match, with a player in white serving on the left. The stadium seating, predominantly white with some pink accents, is visible behind the court, largely empty but with a few spectators. Advertising banners in pink line the court, and a chair umpire sits at the net. The sky is bright and clear.
The open has grown exponentially since its beginnings in 2016, when it was held at specially built courts at the K-12 Delmar International School in Cabo San Lucas. (Los Cabos Guide)

The Los Cabos Tennis Open’s history

When the tournament first premiered in 2016 at the Delmar International School, it seemed something of an oddity: Los Cabos is a resort destination, and although some of its luxury properties do feature tennis courts, it didn’t seem as if vacationers could support a big-time tennis tournament. Nor did natives seem likely to, given the relatively high prices for tickets and the fact that few local youngsters then played the sport.

Over time, though, an appreciation for tennis has bloomed in Los Cabos, due in part to family-friendly initiatives like this year’s Kids Nite by Disney, an event in which children can interact with tournament players. 

Attendance, too, has grown steadily, despite the 2020 open being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 iteration having no spectators. In 2022, 25,000 people attended the weeklong Los Cabos Open. In 2023, that figure increased to 30,000. By 2024, attendance had grown to 34,000, and the tournament generated an economic impact of over $6 million. This year, the numbers should be even higher.

The level of tennis, meanwhile, has been high from the start. Past champions of the event have included Ivo Karlović, Sam Querrey, Fabio Fognini, Diego Schwartzman and Daniil Medvédev, the 2021 US Open winner and the world’s number-one-ranked player when he captured the Los Cabos Tennis Open trophy in 2022.

Which players are participating in the Los Cabos Tennis Open this year?

Unlike the Mexican Open, which features both top men and women, the Los Cabos Tennis Open is solely a men’s event, as the list of former winners indicates. No, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the winners of the last six Grand Slam singles titles, will not be participating this year. Nor will Novak Djokovic, the winner of a men’s record 24 Grand Slam singles trophies. 

However, the open will, as always, welcome many highly ranked men’s players. This year, the roster of 32 singles competitors includes some ranked among the world’s top 50 players: Russian Andrey Rublev (No. 14) — the tournament’s top seed and a 17-time ATP tour-level winner — Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina of Spain (No. 28) and Denis Shapovalov of Canada (No. 31).

Also competing is 20-year-old Mérida native Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez (No. 219), who garnered excitement at February’s Mexican Open in Acapulco when he made history by being the first Mexican player in decades to win a main draw match. He was ultimately knocked out in the quarterfinals by Davidovich-Fokina. 

Top-50 players Lorenzo Musetti of Italy (No. 7) and Australian Jordan Thompson (No. 37), the latter who was last year’s champion, were scheduled to compete at this week’s tournament but withdrew, Musetti due to a leg injury.

A male tennis player lies on his back on the court, covering his face with his hands in apparent emotion, after a match. Spectators are visible in the stands behind him standing up to applaud or take photos.
Rodrigo Pacheco Méndez garnered excitement after winning a grueling three-hour victory against Aleksandar Vukic at the Mexican Open in February, making him the first Mexican to win an ATP main draw match since 1996. (Mextenis)

How to enjoy the action live or on television

Prices for 2025’s Los Cabos Tennis Open start at 1,075 to 1,280 pesos (US $57–$68) for individual tickets and climb to 11,715 to 12,890 pesos (US $625–$688) for the three-day weekend series covering the quarterfinals, semis and finals. Full-week passes for all six days of live festivities are even more.

As it has since 2021, the tournament will take place at the Cabo Sports Complex, home to five hard courts, including a stadium court that can accommodate up to 3,500 spectators. The complex is located across from Solaz Resort Los Cabos at kilometer 18.5 of the Carretera Transpeninsular.

For those unable to attend, television coverage of the tournament will be available courtesy of ESPN and Disney+.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

Copa Airlines to connect Los Cabos with 20+ Latin American cities via Panama hub

By
MND Staff
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0
airplane in the air
Copa's new route from Los Cabos to its hub in Panama City will be the first-ever nonstop flight between those two destinations. (Adrián Ávila/Unsplash)

Copa Airlines, Panama’s flagship carrier, announced it will launch the first-ever direct flight between Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, and Central America via its hub in Panama City, a move expected to vastly increase visitor access to the peninsula resort mecca by non-U.S. and non-Mexican tourists.

The flights will begin Dec. 4, 2025 with three frequencies, on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. They will depart from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama at 9:09 a.m. local time and arrive at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), operated with a Boeing 737-800. The return flights leave SJD at 1:33 p.m., and arrive at PTY at 8:30 p.m. local time.

Though the new route is to Panama City only, PTY is a global hub — what Copa Airlines calls the “Hub of the Americas” — and therefore facilitates connections to more than 20 destinations in Central and South America, boosting tourism. That’s because the new connection with Los Cabos eliminates the need for stopovers in Mexico City or the United States, allowing for a more efficient and direct experience for Latin American travelers.

Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines, noted that the news operation is part of the airline’s network expansion, strengthening continental connectivity. “We continue to consolidate the Hub of the Americas as Latin America’s main connection center, driving new opportunities for economic development in the markets where we operate,” Heilbron said. 

Copa Airlines also announced it will revive routes to Brazil and the Dominican Republic next year.

The northwestern resort city will be the carrier’s fifth destination in Mexico (the others are Monterrey, Mexico City, Guadalajara and Cancún). The new route is estimated to bring an annual flow to Los Cabos of more than 25,000 tourists from Central and South America. 

Rodrigo Esponda, General Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Trust, noted that this air route is the result of efforts between Los Cabos and Copa Airlines officials

“This achievement is the result of more than nine years of constant work and collaboration with Copa Airlines,” he said. “For the first time, we are directly opening our doors to the Latin American market, which will be key to continuing to increase tourist arrivals from the region.” 

Meanwhile, the Baja California Sur Ministry of Tourism (Setue) said the route seeks to diversify tourism markets and strengthen local economic development. Setue added that the sustained growth in visitors from Central and South America since 2020 positions Los Cabos as an emerging destination in the region.

With reports from Reporte Lobby and Pasillo Turístico

Sacred Wixárika route added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List

By
MND Staff
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6
Wixárika Route
“Our people hope that this registry will be one more tool for the protection of our sacred territories that will allow us to eradicate the extractive and agro-industrial threats that harm our territories and culture,” the Wixárika Regional Council said in a statement. (Cultura/Cuartoscuro)

A route through 20 sites sacred to Mexico’s Wixárika people was recently added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, becoming the first such recognition for a living Indigenous tradition in Latin America.

Known as the Wixárika Route through Sacred Sites to Wirikuta or Tatehuarí Huajuyé (The Path of Our Grandfather Fire), the route is a network of paths that stretches over 500 kilometers across five states in north-central Mexico: Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas, Durango and San Luis Potosí. Beginning in the Sierra los Huicholes, the route leads to Wirikuta in the Chihuahuan Desert, with additional sacred sites in Nayarit and Durango. 

Crossing 500 kilometers of ancestral territory, the Ruta Wixárika (Wixárika Route) is one of the few pre-Columbian routes still in use in the Americas.
Crossing 500 kilometers of ancestral territory, the Ruta Wixárika (Wixárika Route) is one of the few pre-Columbian routes still in use in the Americas. (INAH)

“This recognition is of the utmost importance for Mexico because it is the first time in all of Latin America that a cultural expression linked to a living and active Indigenous tradition has received this international recognition,” Mexico’s Minister of Culture, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, said.

UNESCO highlighted the route as one of the most representative pre-Columbian routes still in use in the Americas.

In a statement, the culture agency recognized it as “an exceptional testimony to the persistence of the cultural traditions of the Wixárika people and an outstanding example of the interrelationship between culture and the natural environment.”

Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said the universal value of the route lies in its connection to sacred sites and key elements of the Wixárika tradition, including fire, rain, the cultivation of corn and peyote, the golden eagle, the wolf and the deer.

The Wixárika Route extends from the western edge of the Sierra Madre Occidental to the Chihuahuan Desert in San Luis Potosí.
The Wixárika Route extends from the western edge of the Sierra Madre Occidental to the Chihuahuan Desert in San Luis Potosí. (INAH)

The route’s inscription on UNESCO’s list requires the creation of a management unit and the implementation of a Comprehensive Plan for Management, Conservation and Safeguarding, with direct participation from the Wixárika Regional Council and Indigenous communities.

Preserving the natural conditions of the route allows the Wixárika people to continue their rituals, which include leaving offerings for health, the fruits of nature and the well-being of their people, at various sites along the path.

Francisco Vidargas, head of the World Heritage Directorate of INAH, noted that some stretches are situated on private properties where the owners permit the Wixárika to pass through and perform their ceremonies, such as at Cerro Gordo in Durango.

However, in an interview with the newspaper El Economista, Totupica Candelario Robles mentioned that the presence of mining companies and peyote tourism along the route has created problems for the Wixárika.

“Our people hope that this registry will be one more tool for the protection of our sacred territories that will allow us to eradicate the extractive and agro-industrial threats that harm our territories and culture,” the Wixárika Regional Council said in a statement.

With reports from La Jornada and El Economista

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