Prisca Awiti, who began competing with Mexico in 2017, was awarded the silver medal in Women's Judo at the 2024 Paris Olympics Tuesday. It was Mexico's first-ever Olympic medal in the sport. (Mexican Olympic Committee)
Mexican Prisca Awiti thrilled her nation’s judo community and made Olympics history on Tuesday by winning a silver medal in the 2024 Olympic Games Women’s Judo competition.
Members of Mexican dojos around the capital flocked to the iconic Angel of Independence Monument in Mexico City to celebrate Awiti, who took her silver medal at the Paris Games in the 63 kg category.
La emoción de Vanessa Zambotti representa la de millones de mexicanos. Prisca Awiti acaba de hacer historia en el Judo, le acaba de otorgar la primera medalla a México en esta disciplina y va por el oro.
Awiti’s initial point awarded in the semifinals against Croatia’s Katarina Kristo. Awiti’s performance in the match awarded her a silver medal, Mexico’s first ever in judo.
Awiti’s stunning performance earned Mexico its 75th Olympic medal in history and its first ever in judo. The 28-year-old, born in London to a Kenyan father and a Mexican mother, was ranked No. 18 in the world.
The silver medalist came up short in the finals against world-ranked No. 7 Andreja Leski of Slovenia, getting pinned just outside the mat while in the lead.
The Mexican judoka — the term for a person who practices judo — breezed through the Olympics’ early stages, defeating by ippon Afghani Nigara Shaheen — a member of the Refugee Olympic team — in their match’s first 30 seconds.
Ippon is the highest score a fighter can achieve in judo, awarded for a throw, a pin, a choke or a joint-lock.
In the round of 16, Awiti defeated Poland’s Angelika Szymanska — ranked No. 4 in the world — winning with a waza-ari, the second highest possible score. It’s awarded after an action in which either the opponent is thrown with control and accuracy, is held on his/her back for 10–15 seconds or taps out to avoid injury.
Awiti earned the waza-ari with an arm lock.
Awiti almost took the gold medal at this year’s Olympics. She started the finals with an early lead against Andreja Leski of Slovenia, but ultimately was taken off guard and pinned just outside the mat for 10 seconds, which won Leski the gold. (Mexican Olympic Committee)
The Mexican soon-to-be silver medalist then went on to defeat Austria’s Lubjlana Piovesan in the quarterfinals, scoring a “golden point” in overtime after the contest ended 0-0 in regulation time.
In the semifinals, Awiti earned silver by defeating Croatian judoka Katarina Kristo, suffocating her from the outset. Awiti gave no respite to her young opponent, defeating her with an ippon and a waza-ari by the first three minutes and 11 seconds of the match.
In the Olympic final, hoping for a gold medal, Awiti took an early lead against Levski — the reigning World Judo Championships silver medalist — with a move known as a tomoe-nage (in which the attacker falls backward and tries to flip the opponent over by using a foot to the midsection). However, Levski managed to avoid being flipped onto her back, and Awiti only earned a waza-ari.
Minutes later, Levski caught Awiti off guard, spun her to the floor and pinned her to the mat for 10 seconds, earning gold with an ippon.
Awiti’s performance at this year’s Olympics is a huge leap for the Mexican judoka — who began competing for Mexico in 2017. When she competed with the nation’s 2020 Olympic team in Tokyo, she lost in the first round.
The crimes that most commonly affected companies over the past 12 months were physical attacks and muggings of employees; attacks on vehicles transporting goods; and cyber extortion. (Armando Monroy/Cuartoscuro)
The American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico’s latest Business Security Survey (SSE) yielded mixed results.
Six in 10 companies in Mexico said they are affected by crime, but the percentage of those that consider themselves safer than in the previous year more than doubled compared to the previous survey.
The organization surveyed 218 executives and security-focused employees of companies operating in Mexico. (Isabel Mateos/Cuartoscuro)
For its 2024 SSE, AmCham, as the Mexico City-based business organization is known, canvassed opinions on security issues among 218 executives and security-focused employees of Mexican and foreign companies that operate in Mexico.
Pedro Casas, executive vice president and CEO of AmCham, said that the objective of the survey is to “generate information” that is useful for the private sector and allows companies to “continue operating, investing and competing in Mexico.”
He also said that the survey allows AmCham to provide “valuable information” to the government. Consequently, authorities and the private sector can “work together to find solutions to our shared problems,” Casas said.
Key findings of the SSE
AmCham outlined the “main results” of the SSE near the beginning of a 63-page survey report. A selection of the results appears below.
Six in 10 companies consider themselves “somewhat or very affected by crime,” including organized crime.
Almost four in 10 companies — 39% — consider themselves to be safer than the year before. The figure is more than double the 17% of companies that said the same when the previous SSE was conducted in 2021.
More than four in 10 companies — 43% — believe they will feel safer next year than this year. That figure increased from 29% in the previous survey.
More than one in 10 companies — 12% — believe that organized crime groups have taken partial control of the sale and/or distribution of the products they sell. An additional 1% said that organized crime has taken complete control of the sale and/or distribution of the goods they sell.
Almost six in 10 companies — 58% — spend between 2% and 10% of their total annual budget on security measures. Almost four in 10 — 38% — spend less than 2% of their budgets on security, while 4% dedicate more than 10% of their annual outlay on security.
Eight in 10 companies provide security and safety training to their employees at least once a year.
More than eight in 10 respondents — 81% — consider cybersecurity a top priority for their company.
Eight in 10 respondents believe that the rule of law is only lightly enforced or not enforced at all in Mexico.
Which crimes most commonly affect companies in Mexico?
Based on the SSE results, AmCham said that the crimes that most commonly affected companies over the past 12 months were physical attacks and muggings of employees; attacks on vehicles transporting goods; and cyber extortion.
More than half of the companies that participated in the survey — 52% — reported that at least one of its employees was attacked or mugged in the previous 12 months.
Nearly half of the companies surveyed were victims of attacks on vehicles transporting their goods. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Just under half of the companies — 49% — were victims of attacks on vehicles transporting their goods, while 45% were targeted by online extortionists.
Protests and/or blockades affected 29% of surveyed companies over the past year, while 28% were targeted in cyberattacks. Almost one quarter — 23% — were victims of illegal acts, such as robbery or fraud, committed by their own employees.
What are companies’ greatest security concerns?
The safety of employees and their families was a major concern of 63% of respondents to the SSE.
Virtually the same percentage of those polled — 62% — cited cybersecurity as a major concern. The state oil company Pemex and CI Banco are among the companies in Mexico that have been targeted in cyberattacks.
More than half of those polled — 56% — identified the security of company facilities as a major concern, while exactly 50% said that transporting goods in Mexico was a big worry.
About one-third of respondents said that public security “indifference” on the part of authorities was a major concern, while 30% said that the risk of “internal robbery or fraud” worried them.
How are companies addressing their security concerns?
Almost eight in 10 respondents — 77% — said their companies’ investment in “innovation and technology” had helped to “optimize security conditions.”
Almost seven in 10 respondents — 69% — said that the creation of crisis management plans had benefited their companies, while 62% said that increasing cybersecurity measures had a positive effect.
Security training of employees was seen as an enhancement to security by 60% of respondents, while 59% said that the undertaking of risk analyses was a beneficial exercise.
Sixteen percent of respondents said their companies are using artificial intelligence for security-related purposes, while an additional 28% said their companies planned to make use of AI for security-related reasons in the future.
The survey found that AI is most commonly used by companies to enhance cybersecurity, improve the performance of “access controls” and improve the functionality of closed-circuit television (CCTV).
Just over one in five companies — 21% — said they have suspended their operations in certain states due to security concerns. AmCham also reported that in seven cases, companies transferred some or all of their operations to foreign countries due to security concerns.
47% said that the federal government should favor a security strategy aimed at the prevention of crime affecting companies in Mexico. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
What does business want the government to do?
Almost half of all SSE respondents — 47% — said that the federal government should favor a security strategy aimed at the prevention of crime.
Just over one in five respondents — 22% — advocated greater use of technology in the fight against crime, while 17% said that investigative capacities need to be improved.
Which states present the greatest security challenges for companies?
Based on responses to the latest SSE, AmCham determined which states present the greatest security challenges for companies, and/or which states generate the most security concerns among employees.
México state, Guanajuato and Michoacán are among the states where companies are most affected by crime in Mexico. (Cuartoscuro)
Which states present the least security challenges for companies?
Baja California was found to have the least security challenges for companies, even though it was Mexico’s third most violent state last year in terms of total homicides. Manufacturing companies that operate in the northern border state can send goods to the United States without needing to transport them long distances along potentially dangerous highways.
Yucatán, Mexico’s second safest state in 2023 in terms of total homicides.
Campeche, Mexico’s fifth safest state last year in terms of total homicides.
Quintana Roo, a tourism-oriented Caribbean coast state where turf wars between drug gangs are among the security concerns.
Oaxaca, a southern state that ranked 12th among Mexico’s 32 states for total homicides in 2023.
What are AmCham’s security proposals?
The security committee of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico outlined a range of security proposals in the SSE report.
Increased collaboration between the private sector and government on security issues.
Additional training of police forces.
Increased security for freight transport.
The development of a national cybersecurity strategy.
Increased collaboration between Mexico and the United States in order to bolster border security.
Elaborating on its first recommendation, AmCham said that “the participation and involvement of the private sector in the design, implementation and evaluation of the security strategies of federal, state and municipal authorities is vital to combat crime in Mexico.”
East meets West in this spicy, delicious fusion of cuisines. (Allrecipes)
I was hungry and scrolling through social media, it’s like the algorithm knows when to start showing you more food videos — like when you’re talking about going camping and the next day you have ads for fancy pop-up tents. One food trend in particular caught my eye, the viral crispy rice spicy tuna recipe. My first thought? I guess regular sushi just wasn’t Instagrammable enough. Second thought? I want to try this with Mexican rice, toast it up like it’s auditioning for a tortilla chip commercial, and slap on some spicy tuna because, why not?
The Mexican style rice, rich with cumin and tomatoes, transforms into crispy, golden patties that provide a lovely crunch. Topped with spicy tuna, mixed with sriracha, mayonnaise, and lime, the dish achieves a perfect balance of heat and creaminess. The fresh avocado and cilantro add a refreshing element, while the lime juice works overtime tying all the flavors together. This fusion dish leverages the best of both cuisines, rice being the blank canvas that allows cooks from all over the world to dish out creative ideas. I hope you enjoy my take on Mexican crispy rice with spicy tuna.
Your Mexican food has been missing this one simple ingredient: Sriracha sauce. (Wikimedia)
Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Drain well.
Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Add the rice and cook, stirring frequently, until the rice is lightly toasted, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the onion and garlic, and sauté until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another minute.
Stir in the cumin, chili powder, and broth. Season with salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
Fluff the rice with a fork and let it cool completely.
Prepare the Spicy Tuna:
In a bowl, combine the diced tuna, sriracha sauce, mayonnaise, soy sauce, sesame oil, green onion, sesame seeds, and lime juice. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to use.
Make the Crispy Rice:
Once the rice is completely cooled, take small portions and shape them into rectangular or round patties.
Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the rice patties and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy. Work in batches if necessary.
Assemble:
Place the crispy rice patties on a serving platter.
Top each patty with a generous spoonful of the spicy tuna mixture.
Throw on some avocado slices and cilantro for that obligatory touch of freshness (because, of course, you need something green to pretend you’re being healthy).
Serve immediately and enjoy!
This dish combines the best of Mexican and Japanese cuisines, delivering a crunchy, spicy, umami fiesta in your mouth! Give it a try and let me know what you think!
Stephen Randall has lived in Mexico since 2018 by way of Kentucky, and before that, Germany. He’s an enthusiastic amateur chef who takes inspiration from many different cuisines, with favorites including Mexican and Mediterranean.
Foton's new plant will employ a workforce of 115 people and will produce 1,000 pick-up models per month. (Foton México)
Chinese truck manufacturer Foton has announced it will invest US $100 million to build a new assembly plant in the municipality of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, part of the greater metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Foton Motor, headquartered in Beijing with assets exceeding 50 billion Yuan (US $6.9 billion) and 300,000 employees, designs and manufactures trucks, buses and sport utility vehicles.
The new Jalisco plant will produce Foton’s pick-up truck model. (Foton México)
LDR Solutions, the company that manages Foton distribution in Mexico, says the first vehicles will roll off the assembly line in January 2025. Foton has 24 distributors across Mexico and anticipates adding 15 more by the end of the year.
Once completed, the plant will employ a workforce of 115 people and will produce 1,000 pick-up models per month, according to LDR Solutions. Some of the pick-ups will feature gasoline motors, some will be built with diesel engines and others will be hybrid vehicles.
Initially, the production will target the Mexican and South American markets, but long-term plans include producing electric vehicles for the North American market.
Javier Rodríguez Murrieta, director of operations at LDR Solutions, told reporters that Foton selected Jalisco due to the state’s sturdy automotive ecosystem, its highly capable labor force and its geographical location with respect to the bigger domestic markets.
“Jalisco has ideal labor force conditions and reliable security in comparison to other states,” Rodríguez said. “We also appreciate its location, the proximity to the ports of Manzanillo (Colima) and Lázaro Cárdenas (Michoacán) will facilitate the importation of parts from China.”
Roberto Arechederra, Jalisco’s economic development minister, said the new investment results from the ministry’s outreach and promotional efforts. “I believe the new plant will produce a new wave of investment in our state, especially as suppliers will want to be closer to the production facilities here.”
“We continue to receive investment proposals and several companies have assured us their suppliers are making plans to move to the state,” he said. “Some companies already established here have even told us they plan to increase their investments in the coming years.”
Dad jokes north of the border are weak. Dad joke south of the border are brutal. (Saúl López/Cuartoscuro)
Here’s a dad joke I haven’t yet heard from a Mexican dad:
Hey, can you tell me what time it is?
Time for you to get a watch!
Ha. Ha!
That, my friends, is what I call a classic dad joke. “Dad jokes,” of course, are the kinds of jokes that are so bad, they make you roll your eyes. But they also — don’t lie — make you smile. They’re not necessarily hilarious; they simply exist to help you loosen up. (And if you ask me, we could all use some loosening up.)
This Mexican dad has probably savaged at least three generations of children with his brutal jokes. (Parij Borgohain/Unsplash)
And guess what? Mexico’s got its fair share of dad jokes, too. And legitimately hilarious jokes. Funny is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose, but if you don’t find Mexican humor objectively hysterical, then you, my friend, are missing out.
The Land of Laughs
Mexico, as you surely know, is well known for its humor. Actually, it’s one of the things I best love about living here.
It’s true, there are situations in which people take themselves Much Too Seriously. But overall, your average Mexican’s ability to crack a joke about pretty much anything is paralleled by few others in the world.
Many jokes are often a fascinating cross between hopelessly juvenile yet unexpectedly complex. They crack up the 12-year-old in you while making your adult brain work hard to connect the dots. All humor is “complex,” I suppose, but certain aspects of Mexican humor, like the albur, have beenelevated to art form. They even have competitions that make Eminem’s rap battle scene in 8 Mile looks like child’s play by comparison.
I could probably (maybe) beat these kids in a rap battle. That’s where my skills end. (Artemio Guerra Baz/Cuartoscuro)
Participatory, competitive, hilarious, battles of wit: sign me up! (Just to watch, though, not compete. I’m not quick on my feet and need 2-3 business days to come up with a single clever comeback.)
The art of humor in Mexico: los albures
Ask any Mexican about homegrown humor, and they’ll say the same thing. Nothing beats albures.
What are albures, you may ask? They all share these features: 1) they’re plays on words, i.e., have double meanings, 2) the funny meaning is always sexual, and almost always references a sexual organ (usually the penis, because machismo), and 3) you got to be real smart to catch them, and smarter still to answer them with an albur of your own.
Also important: you must remember this common wisdom: “El que se enoja, pierde.” (He who angers, loses.) You can’t be all intense and worked up about it. It’s for laughing. Laugh. Loosen up, relax those shoulders.
Just ease right on in. (See? I just did it in English! Kind of.)
Disculpe, ¿tiene huevos?
The most important thing to remember? It’s all about sex.
Let’s talk about all the good things, and the bad things that could be — let’s talk about albures. (Enrique Ordoñez/Cuartoscuro)
I mean, what isn’t, amiright? But to successfully tell or understand an albur, you must have a dirty mind. Imagining everything as phallic or…vagina-like? Do we have an equivalent to phallic? — is the first step [Editor’s note: The word you want is yonic].
For some reason, this is especially true with food. That’s why, too, you’ve got to be careful with what you say, lest you accidentally alburear.
Asking someone at the store or a market if they “have” eggs… or milk, or bananas or papaya… is going to get you a reaction. It might be a stifled laugh, it might be an incredulous “¿Ora?” (“What did you just say?!”). The sky’s the limit!
If you don’t want to do that, might I suggest the verb “haber” (there is/there are). “¿Hay huevos?” is how you can ask without inadvertently referencing the attendant’s genitals. You’re welcome!
Not all jokes
Believe it or not, there are few jokes people tell that aren’t about sex. There are lots about alcohol, too!
“For everything good, drink some tequila. And for all the bad times too.”(@elmadero_)
Here’s an example of one that people love tell over and over again. If you have a sore throat, tequila (sometimes with lime and honey) is a suggested remedy. And they always add, “Y si no se te cura, se te olvida!” which cracks them up. (English translation: “And if it doesn’t cure you, you’ll forget about it!”).
Another: “Para todo bien, mezcal, y para todo mal, también.” (For good times, mezcal, and for bad times, too.)
To wrap things up, here’s a more classic “dad” joke I recently saw. “Dicen que para ser feliz hay que tener fé, pero entonces solo sería Liz.” (“They say to be happy you have to have faith, but then I’d only be Liz.” The joke: fe-liz. Get it? Don’t let your eyes get stuck in your head when you roll them.)
And don’t forget people: if you’re not taking some time to laugh at mymemes every two weeks, you’re missing out on some good laughs! Así que ponganse truchos. They’re all for you, amigos míos.
The Mexican government is poised to accept the results of Venezuela's presidential election, despite widespread concerns about a flawed election process. (Nicolás Maduro/Instagram/lopezobrador.com)
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Monday that Mexico would respect the result of the presidential election in Venezuela, as announced by the country’s National Electoral Council (CNE).
A few hours later, the CNE announced that incumbent President Nicolás Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela had won a third six-year term in office, triggering protests in the poverty-stricken nation.
Incomplete and hotly disputed results released Sunday showed that Maduro attracted 51.2% of the vote, seven points ahead of main opposition candidate Edmundo González.
López Obrador told his morning press conference that the Mexican government was awaiting the conclusion of Venezuela’s vote-counting process and the official announcement of the election results.
“If the electoral authority confirms this trend, we will recognize the government elected by the people of Venezuela because that’s democracy,” he said.
The head of the CNE, Elvis Amoroso, is a close ally of Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chávez as president of Venezuela when Chávez died in March 2013. The entire electoral process in the once prosperous South American country was widely described as “flawed.”
Electoral director and former Venezuelan president Elvis Amoroso hands Maduro the official certification of his status as Venezuelan president-elect for 2025-2031. (Nicolás Maduro/Instagram)
Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) said in a statement that the federal government “has closely followed Venezuela’s July 28 presidential elections and commends the civic and peaceful conduct of the voting process,” although one man was killed outside a voting center.
“Mexico awaits the final vote count and detailed reports from the National Electoral Council of Venezuela to ascertain the definitive results,” the SRE said Monday morning.
“In line with its constitutional foreign policy principles and fully respecting Venezuela’s sovereignty and the right to self-determination of peoples, Mexico trusts that the will of the Venezuelan people, as expressed at the ballot box, will be honored through a transparent verification process,” the ministry added.
Numerous Latin American leaders also made public remarks about the election results.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric said that “Maduro’s regime must understand that the results are hard to believe” and declared that Chile “will not recognize any result that is not verifiable.”
Argentine President Javier Milei said that “not even [Maduro] believes the electoral scam he is celebrating,” while President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said that “what we saw yesterday in Venezuela has no other name than fraud.”
The presidents of Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua were among regional leaders who celebrated the victory of Maduro.
“Nicolás Maduro, my brother, your victory, which is that of the Bolivarian and Chavista people, has cleanly and unequivocally defeated the pro-imperialist opposition,” said Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
Venezuela is in the midst of “the largest external displacement crisis in Latin America’s recent history,” according to the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration. More than 7 million Venezuelans have fled their home country since the Venezuela’s current economic crisis began in 2014.
El Mayo's account of events on July 25 — released by his lawyer — suggests he and others were tricked into attending a meeting in Culiacán. (Cuartoscuro)
The lawyer representing captured Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García has alleged that a son of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera “forcibly kidnapped” his client before he was put on a plane bound for the United States, where he was arrested last Thursday.
The version of events put forward by Frank Perez, a Texas-based lawyer, contradicts accounts that El Mayo Zambada was tricked into flying to the United States by Joaquín Guzmán López — one of El Chapo’s four living sons — or that the 76-year-old cartel leader decided to turn himself in to U.S. authorities.
Perez said in a statement that Zambada “neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the U.S. government” before he flew into the Doña Ana County airport, located about 25 kilometers northwest of El Paso near Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
“Joaquín Guzmán López forcibly kidnapped my client. He was ambushed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed by six men in military uniforms and Joaquin,” Zambada’s lawyer said.
El Mayo’s lawyer alleged that his client was kidnapped Joaquín Guzmán López, a fellow Sinaloa Cartel leader and son of “El Chapo” Guzmán. (X)
Perez said that Zambada’s “legs were tied, and a black bag was placed over his head.”
“He was then thrown into the back of a pickup truck and taken to a landing strip. There, he was forced onto a plane, his legs tied to the seat by Joaquín, and brought to the U.S. against his will,” the lawyer said.
“The only people on the plane were the pilot, Joaquín and my client,” Perez added.
Citing an unnamed former member of Zambada’s security team who is currently incarcerated, journalists Juan Alberto Cedillo and Ioan Grillo reported Monday that gunmen for Guzmán López “ambushed” Zambada and “overpowered” four of his bodyguards after the Sinaloa Cartel leader was lured to a supposed meeting in Culiacán.
Journalists Juan Alberto Cedillo and Ioan Grillo reported that gunmen working for Guzmán López kidnapped Zambada in Culiacán, based on information from an anonymous former member of Zambada’s security team. (Ioan Grillo/Juan Alberto Cedillo)
“… As with any cartel source, we are taking the account with caution. But the description of the capture sounds more realistic than a version that U.S. federal agents, also anonymously, had told reporters on Thursday,” Cedillo and Grillo wrote. The agents had claimed that Zambada was tricked into boarding the plane, believing he was going to inspect a clandestine airfield in Mexico.
“It seems highly unlikely that Mayo would need to inspect such a site and would do it without his own security,” the journalists wrote, adding that the testimony of the imprisoned ex-security operative “fits in with” Perez’s allegation.
“Journalists have alternatively speculated that Mayo made a deal and handed himself into U.S. authorities. … In the smoke and mirrors of the Mexican cartel war, we have to be open to all possibilities. But the evidence now points more strongly to a kidnapping,” Cedillo and Grillo wrote.
The ‘El Mayo was deceived’ narrative
Citing two current and two former U.S. officials “familiar with the situation,” Reuters reported that Guzmán López “duped” Zambada into getting on to the plane.
After El Mayo’s unexpected arrest, there have been contradictory reports on whether he was kidnapped by Guzmán López (right), tricked, or turned himself in. (Archive)
“Guzman Lopez had convinced Zambada to board the plane by telling him that they were flying to see real estate in northern Mexico,” the news agency said.
Again citing its sources, Reuters said that “Zambada’s arrest followed lengthy surrender talks between U.S. authorities and El Chapo’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez.”
Citing U.S. and Mexican officials, The Wall Street Journal reported that Guzmán López “tricked” Zambada into flying to the United States.
“Zambada thought he was going to inspect clandestine airfields in Mexico, but was instead flown to El Paso, Texas,” WSJ said, citing an unnamed Homeland Security Investigations official.
“El Chapo’s son, Joaquín Guzmán López, tricked Mr. Zambada García into boarding the plane, the U.S. officials said, telling him they were going to look at real estate in northern Mexico. The older man had no idea that he was actually en route to Texas, where he would be delivered into the hands of American agents who had long been on his tail,” the Times reported.
Guzmán López and his brothers lead the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, which has clashed with a faction led by Zambada.
The surrender scenario
As journalists Cedillo and Grillo noted, there has also been reporting that Zambada — who is reportedly ill — may have reached an agreement with U.S. authorities and decided to hand himself in.
Some reports indicated that El Mayo might have made a deal with the U.S. government and/or turned himself in. (X)
Luis Chaparro, a journalist with extensive experience reporting on Mexican cartels, said that El Mayo reached a deal with U.S. authorities and consequently surrendered.
“Before one DEA and one FBI agent opened the stairwell of the plane, El Mayo had one last request: he didn’t want to go looking weak,” Chaparro wrote on his Substack site Saga.
“He asked everyone there not to say he turned himself in, but rather that he was either captured, kidnapped or tricked. The agents agreed and helped him and Joaquín down,” wrote Chaparro, who said his reporting was based on information provided by U.S. sources including government officials.
United States tells Mexico it didn’t organize the flight to the US
Last Friday, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called for transparency from the U.S. government, saying that it “has to provide a complete report” on the arrests of Zambada and Guzmán López.
Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez said Monday that the Mexican government asked the U.S. Department of Justice to provide an official report on “conduct in Mexican territory as well as [the] flight plan and the circumstances” surrounding the events of last Thursday.
Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez asked the U.S. government to provide an official report on what it knew about the arrest. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
She told López Obrador’s morning press conference that the U.S. government responded to the request on Saturday via its embassy in Mexico City.
Rodríguez said that the U.S. government report had various points. Elaborating on those points, she said that the U.S. government told Mexico that:
It was informed on several occasions that Joaquín Guzmán López was considering handing himself in to U.S. authorities, but no deal had been reached.
It was informed last Thursday morning that Guzmán López was considering taking a flight to the U.S. later the same day to hand himself in.
It was informed last Thursday afternoon that Guzmán López was flying to the United States to surrender.
It was informed while the plane was in the air that Zambada might also be on the flight, but “had no independent confirmation” that was the case.
No U.S. government agency “planned” the flight.
It arrested two passengers when they disembarked the plane.
Rodríguez said that the U.S. notified the Mexican government of the arrests after confirming that the two passengers were Zambada and Guzmán López.
“Personnel from the United States Embassy in Mexico City immediately communicated with authorities of the government of Mexico and sent photos of the suspects to the members of the Security Cabinet,” she said.
Citing a U.S. official, Reuters reported that “the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the two agencies who carried out the operation, scrambled agents from their local El Paso offices and barely reached the airport by the time the private plane was landing.”
Reuters reported that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) barely reached the airport in time to receive the unexpected arrivals. (U.S. HSI)
Rodríguez said that the Federal Attorney General’s Office is conducting its own investigation into the events that preceded the arrests of Zambada and Guzmán López in the United States.
The security minister said she wasn’t aware why Guzmán López decided to hand himself in.
The Milenio newspaper, which said it spoke with U.S. security sources, reported that the extradition of Ovidio to the United States led to Guzmán López to negotiate a surrender deal with the FBI.
Milenio said that the U.S. also offered agreements to two other sons of El Chapo, Iván and Jesús, but Joaquín was the only one who showed interest.
Citing its U.S. sources, the newspaper said that Joaquín Guzmán López became an FBI source.
Joaquín Guzmán López arrives in Chicago in U.S. custody after turning himself in near El Paso. (Obtained by NBC)
“The delivery of Ismael Zambada García as a bargaining chip [to obtain] penitentiary benefits wasn’t on the table until the final moments prior to the surrender of Joaquín,” Milenio said.
AMLO refuses to rule out possibility that the US facilitated the arrests from Mexico
Asked whether U.S. agencies worked in Mexico on the arrests of Zambada and Guzmán López, López Obrador responded:
“I can’t rule that out. We have to wait, we have to wait and see what they tell us. … And [official] information is the best thing so as not to fall into conjecture and speculation.”
López Obrador said he was confident that the U.S. government would provide “all the information” it has to Mexico.
He reiterated that possible U.S. involvement in the arrests from Mexico could not be ruled out, but stressed that “there is no proof” of that.
President López Obrador did not discard the idea of U.S. involvement in the planning of Zambada’s arrest. (lopezobrador.org.mx)
“What we can say is that the government of Mexico didn’t participate,” López Obrador said.
He referred to Perez’s claim that his client was kidnapped by Guzmán López, saying that clarification is required about the supposed military uniforms worn by the men who allegedly “ambushed” Zambada.
“A military uniform from Mexico, from the United States?” asked López Obrador, who said it was “confirmed” that Mexican security forces were not in any way involved in the arrests of Zambada and Guzmán López.
The president also said “that there is nothing that indicates that there could be [cartel] confrontations” related to the arrests of the two men.
Security experts have warned that violence between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel could increase as a result of the events last Thursday.
In recent days, the federal government has deployed 400 additional troops to Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa and a stronghold and operational base of the Sinaloa Cartel.
So far, July has registered 26.6 mm more rainfall than the average. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
More rain is on its way through Mexico this week.
According to the National Meteorological Service (SMN), the seasonal Mexican monsoon in combination with tropical wave 14, a low-pressure trough in northern Mexico and cyclonic activity on the Pacific Coast and in the Atlantic basin, will increase rainfall in many parts of the country.
July has been rainier than usual. From July 1 through July 25, Mexico registered 130 mm of total rainfall across the country, 26.6 mm more rainfall than the average for July.
Find the rain forecast for Monday below:
Rain forecasts by state
Intense rainfall (75 to 150 mm) is expected inChiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tabasco and Veracruz.
Very heavy rainfall (50 to 75 mm) is forecast in Chihuahua, Colima, México state, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit and Sonora.
Heavy rainfall (25 to 50 mm) may hit Mexico City, Durango, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa and Tlaxcala.
Showers (5 to 25 mm) are expected in Aguascalientes, Campeche, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Quintana Roo, Tamaulipas, Yucatán and Zacatecas.
Isolated rains (0.1 to 5 mm) are forecast in Baja California and Baja California Sur.
Strong winds and potential whirlwinds are also expected across most of Mexico.
The SMN has warned residents in these states that winds could cause trees and billboards to fall.
Rainfall will continue throughout the week, with more rain expected over the weekend due to a new tropical wave.
This week, the seasonal Mexican monsoon will combine with tropical wave 14, a low-pressure trough and cyclonic activity on the coasts. (Conagua)
Hot weather to continue
Here are the maximum temperatures forecast for Monday:
40 to 45 degrees Celsius: Baja California and Sonora.
35 to 40 degrees Celsius: Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Leon, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, Tabasco, Tamaulipas and Yucatán.
30 to 35 degrees Celsius: Chiapas, Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacan, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosi and Veracruz.
In contrast, the highlands of Durango, México state, Hidalgo, Puebla and Tlaxcala will see minimum temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees Celsius.
Is it rainier than usual in Mexico this year?
Overall, Mexico is having a very rainy summer. Between Jan. 1 and July 25, Mexico recorded rainfall of 338.3 mm — that is, 18.7 mm more than usual.
Since the rainy season officially began on June 19, Mexico has seen Hurricane Alberto in northern Mexico, Hurricane Chris in the south and Hurricane Beryl in the Yucatán Peninsula.
These storms in combination with tropical waves and low-pressure systems have reduced drought conditions across the country. As of July 15, the area of the country affected by drought was down to 51.2% from 73.9% — since before the rainy season began.
As per the weather agency Meteored, the states that have benefited the most from the rainfall include Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Veracruz, Hidalgo, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo.
Meanwhile, Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sinaloa, Durango, Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, southern Veracruz, Tabasco and northern Chiapas have seen less rain this year.
The rest of the country has seen moderate rainfall.
The people aboard the fishing charter made it back to dry land by Saturday evening, after spending more than a day adrift at sea. (Mara Lezama/X)
Six people adrift in a fishing boat off the coast of Quintana Roo were located and rescued Saturday afternoon after a 24-hour search involving the Navy, state officials and private citizens.
On Sunday morning, Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama thanked the Naval Ministry, the Quintana Roo Civil Protection agency (Coeproc) and state security officials for their tireless efforts to rescue the lost fishing charter.
— Panorama Sin Reservas 620 AM (@sinreservas620) July 28, 2024
A small private plane was the first to spot the fishing boat.
Five residents of the state of Tabasco hired a boat out of Isla Mujeres on Friday to go to Arrowsmith Bank, a popular sport fishing spot about 41 km due east of Cancún.
The group of friends boarded the 28-foot “Jigging” at 5 a.m. They lost communication a few hours later and family members notified the captain of the port. After efforts to contact the ship failed, the families reported the missing boat to federal and state authorities.
The concerned relatives also utilized social media to alert the public about the missing adventurers and the response was immediate. Fishermen scouted the area around Arrowsmith Bank to no avail on Friday.
By Saturday morning, a full-scale search-and-rescue operation was underway with the Navy taking point, assisted by the Coeproc. Private individuals continued to participate and, in fact, it was a private plane that located the stray ship. A video of the ship’s sighting was available on social media within minutes.
The friends pose with family and Navy officials after their rescue. (Mara Lezama/X)
First on the scene was a fishing boat, which transmitted the coordinates to the Navy. Marines hauled the six castaways aboard a Navy ship, where they received medical treatment. All were determined to be in good health except for mild dehydration, and were transported back to dry land where they were reunited with their families.
The captain explained that the boat had suffered engine trouble a few hours after setting off, leaving them dead in the water.
In the shadow of the historical 17th-century Hôtel des Invalides, the archers each hit the bull’s eye with their final arrows to defeat the Netherlands in the Women’s Archery Team event.
Mexican Olympic archer Ángela Ruiz turned 18 years old on Sunday. (Conade/X)
The triumph was extra special for Ruiz — Sunday was her 18th birthday.
The Olympic medal was the first-ever for the women’s team and the fourth for Mexican archers. Valencia and Luis Álvarez won a bronze in Mixed Team Archery at the 2020 Tokyo Games, while Aída Román won silver and Mariana Avitia won bronze in the Women’s Individual Archery event at the 2012 London Games.
The Mexican archers earned their spot in Sunday morning’s quarterfinals by finishing third in the qualifying round. After a slow start, the trio dispatched reigning world champion Germany 5-1 to advance to the semifinals, with Vázquez hitting the bullseye with both arrows in the third and decisive set.
Competing against a strong team from China in the afternoon, Mexico struggled with the wind but took the Chinese to a fourth set before succumbing 5-3. Ruiz, a promising youngster who rose to No. 22 in the World Rankings heading into the Paris Games, was inconsistent early, but two of her last three arrows hit the bull’s eye.
The team beat the Netherlands 6-2 to win bronze on Sunday. (Conade/X)
In the bronze-medal match, the trio was on target, scoring 57 (out of 60) in the first and fourth sets — including four straight bull’s eyes to close out the contest — defeating the Netherlands 6-2.
Valencia — a four-time Olympian — spoke to PanAm Sports Channel afterward: “We are happy. We fought well and we dedicate this victory to our families, to the people who came here to support us, and to all of Mexico… but particularly to Ángela [Ruiz], since today is her birthday.”
The bronze medal is the 74th Olympic medal for Mexico, which is participating in its 23rd Olympic Games. Mexico has won 13 gold medals, 24 silver medals and 37 bronze medals in its history of participation in the global event.
Mexico hopes to extend its medal count in Paris, with strong possibilities in the diving and taekwondo events. Mexico has 15 Olympic diving medals, the most in any single event.
