After spending four years in prison for fraud, Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland says he has "amazing plans for Fyre 2." Quintana Roo authorities say they didn't get the memo. (Katrina Julia/Unsplash)
The Fyre Festival, a fraudulent luxury music festival held in 2017 that was the subject of documentaries released on Netflix and Hulu, is attempting a second edition on Isla Mujeres in Mexico’s Riviera Maya.
However, local Quintana Roo authorities say they have not authorized the forthcoming festival — which is scheduled to take place in just three months.
“Derived from information circulating in the media about the event ‘Fyre Festival II,’ the General Directorate of Tourism of Isla Mujeres informs that no person or company has requested permits from this office or Municipal Government department for said event,” the city government of Isla Mujeres said in a statement on social media.
News of the event’s return spread fast online after its 33-year-old founder — and convicted fraudster — Billy McFarland posted on X on Monday that the festival would take place on Isla Mujeres from May 30 to June 2.
In his post, McFarland wrote that “Fyre 2 is a three-day escape to the Mexican Caribbean” where attendees will “explore by day” and “come together at night to celebrate with music.”
The press release also promises first-class accommodations thanks to a collaboration with the “Mexican Caribbean’s finest hospitality providers.”
Acknowledging the festival’s spectacular failure in 2017, for which he spent four years in prison, McFarland promises that this time around, he’ll do things right.
“I’m sure many people think I’m crazy for doing this again. But I feel I’d be crazy for not doing it again,” he wrote. “The new team and I have amazing plans for Fyre 2. The adventure seekers who trust the vision and take the leap will help make history.”
Tickets for Fyre 2 range from US $1,400 to $1.1 million.
What happened with Fyre 1?
The original Fyre Festival, which sold day passes for $500 to $1,500, and VIP packages including airfare and accommodation for $12,000, was scheduled to take place in April 2017 in the Bahamas. It gained popularity after it was heavily promoted on social media by influencers and celebrities before unfolding in a monumental disaster.
When attendees arrived at the still-under-construction venue on the island of Exumas, they were met with major disorganization, flimsy camping tents instead of luxury villas and the now legendary cheese sandwich, which was served to underwhelmed attendees on the first day of the event.
As images of the makeshift festival went viral on social media, bands that were booked to perform, such as Blink-182 and Major Lazer, canceled their performances.
One year later, McFarland pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud, bank fraud and making false statements to federal officials.
In an interview with MND's Peter Davies, Carmona expressed optimism about President Sheinbaum's proposed electricity reform and discussed the investment opportunities for the sector. (se.com)
On Feb. 6-7, Mexico News Daily and Querencia hosted the “Future of Mexico Forum” at the Querencia Private Golf & Beach Club in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur. The forum brought together leaders from Mexico and the United States to discuss the future of Mexico across a diverse range of topics. As part of this Forum, the MND team conducted a series of exclusive interviews with each of the speakers and will be sharing the highlights with you in this series.
On the second day of the event, the CEO of Querencia Jorge Carrera moderated a session on “Mexico’s Energy Landscape” with Jesús Carmona Colina, president and managing director of Schneider Electric Mexico & Central America.
In a subsequent interview with Mexico News Daily, Carmona said that Schneider, a France-based multinational, is a “world leader” in “electrical distribution, industrial automation, associated services and sustainability services.”
“So we enable electricity to happen,” he said.
Mexico News Daily Future of Mexico Forum: In conversation with Jesús Carmona Molina
He said that most of the products the company makes in Mexico — such as low-voltage electrical distribution boards — are exported to the United States.
This article largely focuses on the electricity situation in Mexico. It draws on Carmona’s comments in his forum session, and his remarks during his interview with MND.
‘I think we’re moving in the right direction’
Carmona said that President Claudia Sheinbaum has “correctly recognized that more energy is needed in Mexico” to meet demand, including from the country’s growing industrial sector.
He also noted that there is an energy imbalance in Mexico, with ample electricity in some parts of the country and a shortfall in others.
Among the federal government’s energy objectives, as outlined in the Plan México economic initiative, is to increase electricity generation by 22,000 megawatts, or 22 gigawatts by 2030. In Plan México, the government said it would invest US $12.3 billion over the next six years to build new power plants, $7.5 billion to strengthen transmission networks and $3.6 billion to improve distribution networks.
Under the reform, the Mexican state via the Federal Electricity Commission has a constitutional right to generate and supply the majority (54%) of electricity in Mexico. Private companies share the remaining 46% of the market.
Referring to the government’s electricity plans, Carmona said that “even if they don’t work to the full extent,” they will still be “beneficial for Mexico.”
“Maybe if you just get 60% of what’s outlined, or 50% or 40%, it’s better than doing nothing,” he said.
“… So do I see positive indications that we’re on the right path with the new energy reform? With allowing the 46-54 [share of the electricity market] between private and public, with allowing the 700 kilowatts for self-generation without permits, with allowing 700 kilowatts to 20 megawatts [self-generation] with permits and storage? Yes, I think we’re moving in the right direction,” Carmona said.
“Does it mean everything in … [the plans] I like? No there are things I believe probably could be done differently, but I’d rather spend my time on what will work rather than complaining about the nuances of what I’d prefer to be different,” he said.
Carmona stressed that Mexico needs to “unlock the potential for electricity self-sufficiency,” which homes and companies can achieve through measures such as the installation of solar panels. He highlighted that electricity consumers can also be producers.
Although the energy reform guarantees Mexico’s state-owned energy companies preeminence in the Mexican market, it will at least provide clear operating rules for foreign firms wishing to operate in Mexico. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
Carmona also said he is hopeful that private investment in Mexico’s electricity sector will accelerate once the new energy reform is implemented.
Carmona said he believes that Mexico will “move in the right direction” with regard to increasing the use of renewables in the years ahead.
“We might dislike the pace, but I think we’ll move in the right direction in terms of how the Mexican energy matrix — clean vs not clean — will look moving forward, which today is far from what we desire,” he said.
Carmona said that all new self-generation projects will generate clean energy.
“The fastest way to set up a new plant for five megawatts … is solar,” he said.
“… Sun is something we get [in Mexico]. We get good quality sun for solar energy production,” Carmona said.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
Agustín Barrios Gómez is a founding partner of International Capital Partners, a former Mexican Congressman, and a member of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI).
I was recently asked by two large companies with manufacturing operations in Mexico whether I thought that Mexico would be the victim of the United States’ “beggar thy neighbor” protectionism.
Everyone seems to be playing a game of “will he, or won’t he,” which plays perfectly into a strategy that seeks to inject uncertainty into the trade relationship. Keeping everyone guessing increases the cost of doing business with Mexico (and Canada and China, etc.), which is what the current U.S. president wants.
Trump remains committed to imposing 25% tariffs on Mexican exports to the United States — at least for today. (X)
According to the Wall Street Journal, “some companies, including networking-equipment company Cisco Systems, fashion company Tapestry and clog and sandal company Crocs, have included the impact of tariffs in their latest guidance. Others, including Mexican-inspired restaurant company Chipotle Mexican Grill, consumer-products maker Clorox and cereal maker WK Kellogg have excluded it.”
My advice is to ignore the tariffs. If they do come to pass, the market will be shocked out of its complacency and will correct on three fronts.
First, the peso will devalue, thereby negating much of the impact of the increased costs.
Second, the stock market will send a signal that it never expected the government to shoot American competitiveness in the foot.
Third, the move will immediately impact inflationary expectations (which are already at their highest level since the pandemic), thereby making the cost of borrowing more expensive. That means higher costs for mortgages and higher costs for the federal government to service its gargantuan debt. Faced with this reality, it is unlikely that tariffs, if imposed, will last.
In terms of actual economic impact on Mexican-based manufacturers, companies will have part of their cost absorbed by devaluation and the rest will be borne by their clients and, ultimately, the consumer. When there is full employment, companies have pricing power, which the current crop of CEOs remembers well, having raised prices during the supply chain crisis of the pandemic. Even companies that weren’t affected took advantage of the opportunity to both make their wares more expensive and to impose “shrinkflation” on their customers (i.e. you now get 8 units for the price of 10).
But a strange fetish for tariffs has captured the imagination of the man Americans elected to lead them. Ignoring the lessons of history, especially the Smoot-Hawley tariffs that plunged the U.S. into the Depression in the 1930s, President Trump thinks that Americans can somehow benefit from everything being more expensive and scarcer.
Reality will force the system to self-correct. In the meantime, the best advice is the old British admonition to “keep calm and carry on.”
Agustín Barrios Gómez is a founding partner of International Capital Partners, a former Mexican Congressman, and a member of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI).
Drink, dance, cycle and contemplate art in Los Cabos this March. (El Squid Roe)
The largest monthlong event during March in Los Cabos is Spring Break, the annual migration of college students to bars and beaches mostly around Cabo San Lucas. Mango Deck on Playa El Médano is ground zero for those who want to witness this seasonal bacchanal — or avoid it.
Events celebrating art, culture, and cuisine are also abundant this month in Los Cabos and take place at locations around the municipality.
Sabor a Cabo, Los Cabos’ largest food and wine festival, already took place in February 2025. However, the accompanying rural edition held annually to celebrate the municipality’s acclaimed farm-to-table scene and traditional regional culinary culture, is still yet to come.
Dates: March 2
Location: La Huerta Escondida, San José del Cabo
Cost: 1800 pesos for adults, 200 pesos for kids 6 to 12, and free for those younger
The historic Art District in San José del Cabo takes center stage each Thursday
evening from 5 pm to 9 pm during high tourist season — November through June — when residents and visitors alike are invited to stroll its cobblestone streets and peruse the many eclectic fine arts galleries. For an event within the event, check out acclaimed local artist Ivan Guaderrama’s interactive exhibits, which bring art to life in new and interesting ways (Thursdays, 5:30 – 9:30 p.m.).
Dates: March 6, 13, 20, 27
Location: Álvaro Obregón No. 20, Gallery District, San José del Cabo
The ingredients used by Los Cabos’ best chefs largely come from Miraflores, the municipality’s famed organic farming community. However, few tourists visit Miraflores. This festival is a great opportunity to do so, as it provides a fresh and delicious introduction to regional gastronomy and the flavors that make it so memorable.
What’s a Mexican vacation without mariachis? Local hotel Hacienda del Mar has ensured family-friendly mariachi fun for March with a themed fiesta featuring abundant food and drinks, and two hours of entertainment courtesy of Mexico’s most iconic musical style.
Dates: March 14
Location: Hacienda del Mar, Carretera Transpeninsular Km. 10.5, Tourist Corridor
Cost: 1090 pesos for adults, 590 for kids ages 5 to 12
The annual festival honoring San José del Cabo is always held in and around March 19, the feast day for its patron saint, although the name of the original mission in 1730 (San José del Cabo Añuití) included a nod to another patron, José de la Puente, the man who funded it. The weeklong celebration of the city’s rich history includes events both sacred (the mass in honor of St. Joseph) and secular (the crowing of a festival queen and food, drink, and music).
Dates: March 15 – 22
Location: Centered around Plaza Antonio Mijares, San José del Cabo
The 30th anniversary of this regional arts and culture extravaganza will be held in La Ribera instead of the traditional location at Hotel Palmas de Cortez in Los Barriles. However, as always, the festival will showcase with the work of regional artists, with food and drink courtesy of local restaurants, winemakers, and craft brewers, and folkloric Mexican dancing from dance troupes representing Los Cabos and La Paz.
Dates: March 16
Location: La Ribera Community Plaza, La Ribera, East Cape of Los Cabos
One of the can’t-miss events on the local calendar, this small mountain hamlet about 35 miles south of La Paz was once the richest town on the Baja California peninsula thanks to its rich mines (closed since the 1920s). Its always well-attended annual arts festival features music and folkloric dancing, arts and crafts, food vendors, and a chance to see local attractions like the Museo de la Música and the 35-meter smokestack “La Ramona” said to have been designed by Gustave Eiffel (yep, that Eiffel).
Don’t forget to pack your “kiss me, I’m Irish” shirt. St. Patrick’s Day, in Cabo San Lucas as in the U.S., is an occasion for festive fun, food and drinks, and a celebration of all things green. The biggest party is thrown by iconic local bar, El Squid Roe, complete with DJs to keep the music pumping. Downtown bar San Patricio Irish Pub is also worth a stop, even though the Guinness isn’t served on tap.
Dates: March 17
Location: El Squid Roe, Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas 1112,Cabo San Lucas
Cost: US $103 for three hour open bar, plus giant cup and official t-shirt
If you’ve ever thought the Tour de France bicycle race would be even more scenic if it were held in La Paz, Baja California Sur’s capital city, now’s your chance to find out. Picturesque coastal routes covering 40, 73.8, and 126.2 kilometers (about 25, 46, and 78 miles, respectively) are open to entrants, with the start and finish line set on the city’s seaside malecón.
Dates: March 30
Location: Kiosko del Malecón, Paseo Álvaro Obregón, Zona Central, La Paz
Whale watching season is rapidly drawing to a close, meaning there’s only a little more than a month left this spring to see some of the more than 5,000 blue, gray, humpback, and other whales that have migrated from their arctic feeding grounds to breed in the shallow water coves and inlets of beautiful Baja California Sur.
Dates: December 15 – April 15
Location: Sea of Cortés and Pacific Ocean
Cost: Free, with tours available at various price points
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.
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum reponds to reporters' questions at her daily press conference on Tuesday. (Gustavo Alberto/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico’s request for the extradition of alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada from the United States and the Mexican government’s quest for a deal that staves off U.S. tariffs on Mexican exports were among the issues discussed at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Tuesday morning press conference.
Security Minister Omar García Harfuch reported Tuesday that more than 13,000 people have been arrested for high-impact crimes since Claudia Sheinbaum took office in October. He also said that Mexico’s new northern border enforcement program has so far resulted in 54.9 kilograms of fentanyl and 1,200 illegal weapons being confiscated. (Gustavo Alberto/Cuartoscuro)
Attorney General: US hasn’t responded to Mexico’s extradition request
Gertz Manero said that his office requested Zambada’s extradition shortly after he was arrested by U.S. authorities upon arriving at a New Mexico airport on a private plane last July.
Given that there are three current warrants for Zambada’s arrest in Mexico, the Mexican government had an “obligation” to seek his extradition, Gertz said.
He said that the federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) “insisted” on Zambada’s extradition on four occasions but received no response from the administration of former U.S. president Joe Biden.
Gertz’s remarks came four days after Sheinbaum confirmed that the Mexican Consulate in New York had received Zambada’s request for repatriation.
Reporters also asked federal Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero if the United States has been shown to have been involved in Zambada’s arrest. (Gustavo Alberto/Cuartoscuro)
El Mayo alleges he was kidnapped in Culiacán last July and forced onto a plane by another alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader, Joaquín Guzmán López, who also traveled to the United States and was arrested in New Mexico at the same time.
On Tuesday, Gertz noted that the FGR had opened an investigation into the crime of kidnapping in connection with Zambada’s departure from Mexico. He said Zambada left the country “against his will.”
No ‘direct proof’ of US involvement in Zambada’s removal from Mexico
“You have to review everything that President Trump says. … I always say you have to keep a cool head and not take isolated phrases [as gospel],” Sheinbaum said.
Sheinbaum noted that Trump also spoke about tariff “reciprocity” on Monday.
President Sheinbaum seems to be pinning her hopes for Mexico avoiding tariffs on having a direct discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump to “close the agreement.” (Gustavo Alberto/Cuartoscuro)
“What he states is that … if United States products upon entering Europe face a tax, a tariff, then, he says, ‘in reciprocity, the United States is going to impose a tariff’ [on goods from Europe],” she said, offering one example of Trump’s “Fair and Reciprocal Plan.”
“We don’t have any tariffs between the United States and Mexico. So if we go on the reciprocity issue, we’ll remain as we are now,” she said.
At a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, Trump said that “all we want is reciprocal.”
“We want reciprocity, we want to have the same. So, if somebody charges us, we charge them. It’s very simple,” he said.
However, Trump also said that the tariffs on Mexico and Canada “will go forward.”
“We are continuing to talk to them about the issue of security and on the issue of trade we have to close the agreement,” she said, adding that she hoped to speak directly with Trump to seal the deal, possibly later in the week.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
The plant will provide badly needed potable water to Durango city, which suffers from water shortages and contaminated water due to overexploitation of aquifers. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum on Saturday visited Durango’s new Guadalupe Victoria water treatment plant construction site. The plant will provide clean water to Durango city in the northern Mexican state of Durango. The facility is set to begin operations on March 25.
Sheinbaum was mainly in Durango to launch the Mujeres Bienestar (Womens’ Well-Being) pension program for women between ages 60 and 64. During her visit, she announced new programs and investments for the state in water and roads and also a program to turn Durango into one of Mexico’s major grower of beans, as part of a food self-sufficiency initiative for the country.
Sheinbaum toured the plant on Saturday, while in Durango to launch the Mujeres Bienestar program in the state and announce other federal programs benefitting residents. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
“We visited the construction site of the Guadalupe Victoria water treatment plant, which will provide quality water to the city of Durango. We announced that this year construction will begin on the El Tunal II dam to guarantee water of quality and quantity for the region,” Sheinbaum wrote on the X social media site.
The “Healthy Water for La Laguna” program was launched by former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in a bid to deliver clean water, free of contaminants such as fluoride and arsenic, to people living in the Durango and Coahuila states. La Laguna is a metropolitan zone including the cities of Francisco I. Madero, Matamoros and Torreón in Coahuila and the cities of Gómez Palacios and Lerdo in Durango.
The program has been rolled out in four municipalities in Durango to date – Mapimí, Tlahualilo, Lerdo and Gómez Palacio, with more to follow in 2025.
The water treatment plant has “a very innovative technology, developed by [The National Water Commission] Conagua itself, which will allow the water that comes from the Guadalupe Victoria dam to pass through this water treatment plant and to reach the city of Durango,” said Sheinbaum in a video explaining the project.
This will also allow “the wells that are currently contaminated, mainly by fluoride, to stop being used and for there to be better quality water and more water” for that city, stated Sheinbaum.
The director of Conagua Efraín Morales and Durango’s governor Esteban Villegas accompanied the president at the Guadalupe Victoria site.
A Durango woman displays her new card for the Mujeres Bienestar program, which gives women just below Mexico’s retiremement age of 64 access to a pension.
During the visit, Morales said he expects the water treatment plant to supply over 200,000 inhabitants in Durango City with clean water. The program supports Sheinbaum’s government’s aim to improve access to water, he said.
The federal government has earmarked over 7.3 billion pesos to improve Durango’s water infrastructure during Sheinbaum’s six-year term. It will collaborate with the state government to carry out works in the 39 municipalities, prioritizing access to drinking water and flood prevention.
Morales stressed that 76% of Mexico’s water is currently destined for the agricultural sector. The government is also investing in an irrigation technology program aimed at producing more food with less water.
The Tunal II Dam
In addition to the Guadalupe Victoria facility, Sheinbaum and Morales discussed the development of the El Tunal II dam, which is part of the 2025 National Water Plan.
The dam will be built over three years and is expected to supply Durango with drinking water for the next 50 years.
The government will invest an estimated 4 billion pesos in the project, which is expected to help bolster Durango’s economy.
Capitalinos can chow down on burgers, cha-cha and come to terms with their own mortality in Mexico City this month. (Plan B)
Purple jacaranda blossoms bloom across Mexico City skies as the metropolis awakens from its winter slumber. March is nothing less than a burst of color and energy, with warm, sun-drenched days beckoning residents and visitors out of hibernation and into the capital’s vibrant atmosphere.
Whether you’re swaying to the rhythms of Mexican history at cultural festivals or savoring innovative takes on meat at local hotspots, March’s packed calendar of events promises a light-hearted and happy introduction to spring.
Malinche, the musical
MALINCHE MÉXICO, un espectáculo musical de Nacho Cano
Few women have made an impact on Mexican and world history like La Malinche, the Nahua woman who served as interpreter to Hernán Cortés. Now is the time to experience the magic of Nacho Cano’s captivating musical celebrating Malinche’s mark on Mexico’s development and its rich heritage. This family-friendly spectacle blends flamenco, pop and rock to tell the story of a woman, courageous and dividing, who united two worlds. With fantastic choreography and unforgettable melodies, it’s a must-see celebration of love and cultural fusion.
Do you tremble with joy at the mere sight of a Shake Shack? Then it’s high time you join Burgerman, the burger-loving alter ego of Moderatto’s guitarist Marcello Lara, at Burger Fest 2025. Indulge in the creations of more than 25 top burger joints, from classics to innovative fusions coming from Mexico City’s top burger slingers. Your ticket includes three food items, two drinks and a dessert. Experience live music, lucha libre and culinary challenges in this mouthwatering celebration.
Feria Internacional del Libro en Coyoacán III edición (Resultados obtenidos)
Book lovers and Japan enthusiasts will delight in the 2025 Feria Internacional del Libro en Coyoacán, which features Japan as its guest country. This vibrant event offers a deep dive into Japanese literature, culture and traditions. Enjoy author talks, calligraphy workshops and traditional tea ceremonies, as well as an unforgettable J-rock concert by Bakemono. With over 500 authors and 200 activities, it’s perfect for all ages.
Dates: March 7-16 Location: Jardín Hidalgo, Villa Coyoacán, Coyoacán Cost: Free to enter
XOCLO Pop Up
(Eventbrite)
XOCLO Pop Up returns for its second culinary adventure in CDMX, transforming tostadas into a canvas of Peruvian-Mexican fusion. Food enthusiasts and culture lovers will relish this unique gastronomic experience, featuring bold flavors, live music and vibrant atmosphere. Enjoy artisanal mezcal from Bruxo and craft beers by Cyprez while savoring innovative dishes under the sun. Perfect for those seeking something unique and lively for a Saturday outing with friends.
Dates: March 1 Location: Agustín Melgar 39, Condesa, Cuauhtémoc Cost: Free to enter
Sting Mexico City Concert
(Sting)
Every little thing he does is magic, and now Sting brings his 3.0 tour to Mexico City’s Auditorio Nacional! Watch the former Police frontman send an SOS to your soul with classics like “Roxanne” and “Fields of Gold”. With 10,000 seats, it’s hardly a one-on-one concert, but Sting’s performance will still feel wonderfully intimate.
Vive Latino, Mexico’s premier music festival, celebrates its 25th anniversary with a bang! Rock enthusiasts and music lovers will revel in banger performances by Scorpions, Zoé, Keane and Rüfüs Du Sol across multiple stages. Experience diverse genres, from rock to Latin beats, plus comedy shows and lucha libre. Don’t miss this cultural extravaganza featuring over 60 bands, food trucks and unforgettable memories.
D Todo - "Our Body: El Universo Dentro" (30/07/2024)
Embark on a captivating journey inside the human body with “Our Body: The Universe Within,” a FeverUp production. This immersive exhibition is perfect for curious minds of all ages, blending the fascinating worlds of science and art to reveal the wonders within us. Where else will you get the chance to observe 10 complete bodies, three torsos and more than 150 real human organs? If the thought makes you gag, don’t worry: each body part is plastinated and presented in an artistic manner. FeverUp, a leading global live-entertainment discovery platform, brings this unique experience to life through educational activities and displays that appeal to families, students and biology enthusiasts alike.
Get your meat fix while giving back to the planet with “Sabores Sostenibles”! Twelve of Mexico City’s hottest restaurants, including Fónico in Roma Norte and XUVA in Santa Maria la Ribera, are cooking up something special. Ten talented local chefs will be crafting 14 mouthwatering dishes with U.S. red meat as the focal point. For every dish sold, U.S. Meat Export Federation will plant a tree with Naturalia A.C., so you can savor sustainable flavors and help re-leaf the planet.
Dates: March 21 – April 21 Location: Various, including Fónico, Kroket, La Barraca Valenciana, La Llorona, ONA, Palmares Restaurantes, Parilla Paraíso, Sesame, Temporal, Terraza Chachacha, Treze con Z, Xuva Cost: Various
Relive the magic of Mexican pop icon Selena in this symphonic tribute to the Queen of Tejano Music! You’re sure to be enchanted as the National Autonomous University’s (UNAM) Filarmónica de las Artes and its full orchestra reimagines her greatest hits, including “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “Como la Flor” and “Dreaming of You.” This unforgettable experience blends Selena’s pop-cumbia style with the rich, emotional tones of a symphony, creating a unique celebration of her enduring legacy and timeless appeal, 30 years later.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog or follow her on Instagram.
The surge in egg smuggling attempts comes as large Grade A egg prices in the U.S. have reached all-time highs. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is reporting a significant increase in egg smuggling attempts from Mexico as U.S. egg prices continue to rise due to a bird flu outbreak, among other factors.
Since January, CBP officers in the El Paso region have intercepted over 90 individuals attempting to bring raw eggs into the U.S. illegally, according to a Feb. 21 CBP press release.
Over the past two weeks, in addition to arresting 30 fugitives, CBP officers in El Paso, TX seized:
• 64lbs of meth
• 180 rooster gaffs
• 7,500 animal steroid tablets
• raw eggs
From drug smuggling to ag violations, our officers stay busy.
The surge comes as large Grade A egg prices in the U.S. have reached an all-time high average of US $4.95 per dozen in January. In some areas, prices soared to as high as $12 per dozen.
CBP data showed a 29% increase in egg detentions at U.S. ports of entry from October 2024 to February 2025 compared to the same period last year. In the El Paso area alone, CBP agriculture specialists have issued 16 civil penalties totaling nearly $4,000 for attempts to smuggle eggs and other prohibited items.
Importation of raw eggs from Mexico is prohibited due to concerns about diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) — which is one form of bird flu — and Virulent Newcastle Disease (ND).
While the price surge in the United States “is primarily due to supply chain disruptions,” according to Newsweek, other factors are the ongoing bird flu outbreak that has led to the culling of millions of chickens and new regulations in some states mandating cage-free eggs.
Newsweek quoted a U.S. Department of Agriculture projection saying that egg prices will rise another 20.3% in 2025. Already, a dozen eggs in January cost an average of $4.95 — nearly double the $2.52 they cost in the same month last year — according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
US egg prices continue to rise as inflation increases | BBC News
An NBC San Diego report noted that bringing eggs across the border, which could result in fines up to US $10,000, is usually not a matter of “smuggling.” Mostly, it’s people simply not knowing that eggs are on the same list as poultry, meat, vegetables and fruit.
Still, Mexico’s national statistics institute INEGI indicated Monday that egg prices in Mexico had climbed 5.28% this month, “driven mainly by the strong demand in the neighboring country,” Juan Carlos Anaya, general director of Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas (GCMA), told the newspaper El Financiero.
Eduardo Verástegui, born in Tamaulipas in 1974, was a singer and soap opera actor before getting involved in politics. (Pedro Anza/Cuartoscuro)
The National Electoral Institute (INE) on Monday approved the application of a new political party promoted by Eduardo Verástegui, a right-wing actor and producer with ties to U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Today, Feb. 24, on National Flag Day, a symbol of our identity, history and sovereignty, we are beginning a grand mission — the construction of the Movimiento Viva México (Long Live Mexico Movement) party,” Verástegui said in a statement.
In March, INE will formally recognize the approved applications after which all aspiring parties will have one year to accumulate membership equal to 0.26% of current federal voter rolls, which amounts to 256,000 people.
Each aspiring party must also carry out formal party assemblies in at least 20 states or 200 election districts.
Upon meeting these requirements, Movimiento Viva México will be eligible to register as an official party in 2026.
The 50-year-old native of Tamaulipas first gained notoriety in the 1990s as a member of the pop music group Kairo before trying his hand at acting. He had some success in Mexican soap operas and landed several acting roles in Hollywood in the early 2000s.
While in the U.S., Verástegui says he rediscovered his Catholic faith, eventually becoming deeply involved in the anti-abortion movement, according to a report published by the Catholic News Agency.
Verástegui unsuccessfully tried to run for president in Mexico in 2024, but the INE rejected his candidacy after he failed to accumulate the total number of signatures to meet the eligibility requirements.
And while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was not invited to Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 21, Verástegui was among four Mexicans — including Carlos Slim — who attended the festivities in Washington, D.C.
The Movimiento Viva México’s party website says it is “building a citizens’ front determined to defend life, family and the fundamental freedoms that define us as Mexicans” and invites supporters to “give it all for the love of God and for the love of Mexico.”
The daily average 65.29 homicides in Mexico in February has been 24.9% lower than the 86.93 murders per day in September, the last month of Andrés Manuel López Obrador's presidency. Overall, daily average homicides are down nearly 30% compared to 2018, when AMLO took office. (Presidencia)
Homicides in Mexico are down almost 25% so far in February compared to the month before President Claudia Sheinbaum took office, preliminary data shows.
At Sheinbaum’s Tuesday morning press conference, the head of the National Public Security System, Marcela Figueroa Franco, presented data that showed there was an average of 65.29 homicides per day between Feb. 1 and Feb. 24.
Family and friends hold a funeral procession for Martín Ramírez, a local official who was killed in downtown Chilpancingo, Guerrero, in December.
She highlighted that the daily average so far this month is 24.9% lower than the 86.93 murders per day in September, the last month of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presidency.
Figueroa also noted that the average daily murder rate so far this year — 71.6 — is 28.7% lower than the 2018 rate of 100.5.
She explained that the preliminary data she presented is derived from information provided to the federal government by Mexico’s 32 state Attorney General’s Offices. Final data invariably shows that the number of homicides committed in any given period of time was in fact higher than the number shown by preliminary statistics.
Over 50% of homicides this month occurred in just 7 states
Figueroa presented data that showed there were 1,567 homicides in Mexico between Feb. 1 and 24.
Just over 54% of those murders occurred in seven states: Guanajuato, México state, Baja California, Sinaloa, Michoacán, Tabasco and Sonora.
Police guard a crime scene after an armed attack by organized crime in Celaya, Guanajuato. Organized crime is responsible for the majority of crime in Mexico, and in terms of homicides, Guanajuato state, which is a stronghold for multiple cartels, consistently records the most. (Diego Costa/Cuartoscuro)
The majority of murders in Mexico are linked to organized crime. In Guanajuato, for example, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel have been fighting a turf war for years. In Sinaloa, fighting between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel has claimed hundreds of lives in recent months.
The preliminary data presented by Figueroa shows that Guanajuato — Mexico’s most violent state in recent years in terms of total murders — recorded 241 homicides between Feb. 1 and Feb 24, accounting for 15.4% of all homicides in Mexico in the period.
On average, each of Mexico’s 32 states recorded 49 homicides in the first 24 days of this month. The murder count in Guanajuato so far in February is almost five times the national average.
At the other end of the spectrum are eight states that have recorded fewer than 10 homicides so far this month.
Querétaro, which borders Guanajuato among other states, hasn’t recorded a single homicide in February, according to preliminary data. The other states with fewer than 10 murders so far this month are:
Yucatán (1 murder)
Durango (3)
Coahuila (5)
Baja California Sur (5)
Nayarit (6)
Aguascalientes (7)
Campeche (8)
Mexico City ranks as the 11th most violent federal entity this month, with 64 homicides between Feb. 1 and 24.
More than 13,000 arrests for high-impact crimes since Oct. 1
Continuing the federal government’s fortnightly security update, Security Minister Omar García reported that 13,139 people have been arrested for high-impact crimes such as murder, kidnapping and extortion since Sheinbaum took office on Oct. 1.
He said that authorities have confiscated 6,582 firearms and seized 112.8 tonnes of drugs in the same period.
Mexico’s military prepare in January to incinerate 790 kilos of different illicit drugs confiscated from cartels.
In addition, 329 clandestine methamphetamine labs located across 13 states have been dismantled, García said.
The losses for criminal groups related to drug seizures and illegal lab shutdowns over the past five months exceed 300 billion pesos (US $14.7 billion), the security minister said.
