This once-powerful city, located in the southeastern state of Quintana Roo, was founded in the Late Preclassic period (300 BC) and was occupied as late as the 16th century.
Three reliefs dating back to the Kaanu’l dynasty are now on view at Dzibanché following their discovery in October 2024. (INAH)
Its status peaked during the Classic period (250-900 A.D.) when it was the capital of the ancient Maya civilization and the seat of the powerful Kaanu’l dynasty whose rule dates to the 5th century A.D., before power was moved to Calakmul.
Dzibanché was given a major facelift as part of the Promeza program, a government initiative specifically designed to improve and preserve archaeological sites located along the route of Mexico’s Maya Train.
The conservation effort and archaeological work revealed new information about the site, and deepened the understanding of Dzibanché’s cultural and historical significance.
Among the more remarkable findings was the discovery of three facades with stucco reliefs in October 2024. The intricate carvings allude to the power of the Kaanu’l dynasty through representations of ancestors, mythical animals and other traits of power — such as stone images of snakes, said to be typical of the Kaanu’l.
Temple of the Owl at Dzibanché archaeological zone in Quintana Roo, Mexico. (INAH)
The most important structures at the site include the Temple of the Captives, where excavations uncovered a hieroglyphic stairway depicting sculpted representations of bound captives, the Temple of the Lintels and the Temple of the Owl.
Two pyramids are also featured, and the largest — the Cormoranes Pyramid — served as the funerary temple of Sky Witness, a king of the Kaanu’l dynasty who ruled from 561-572 A.D.
The expansive site has four distinct monumental architectural complexes in the Petén style: the Main Group (Dzibanché), the Lamay Group (Central), Tutil and Kinichná. These complexes are now easier to explore thanks to improved trails.
Dzibanché is just the latest Maya site in Quintana Roo to reopen following renovations, joining the likes of Kohunlich, Oxtankah, Chacchoben, Ichkabal and El Meco.
According to an administrator at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, “all programs in the School of Engineering and Science, regardless of the subject matter, must include AI at some point in their curriculum." (Shutterstock)
Universities in Mexico are incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their courses of study in response to the growing global demand for professionals trained in the field.
To date, higher education institutions in the country offer some 43 degree programs directly related to AI, data from the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (ANUIES) revealed.
There are about 3,600 students across Mexico who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate-level AI degree program. (Unsplash)
According to the General Coordinator of Strategic Linkage at ANUIES, Gustavo Cruz Chávez, these programs have emerged in the last five years. Of the 43 total AI-focused degree programs, 24 cater to undergraduate or bachelor-level students, while 19 are available at the graduate level.
Cruz told the newspaper El Sol de México that there are about 3,600 students across the country who are currently enrolled in one of these programs. This figure, he said, will multiply in the coming years as this field continues to develop.
AI engineering, innovation and development engineering and computational technologies are some of the new degree titles that have emerged in Mexico in recent years. Cruz added that universities in the northern and central regions of the country have made the most progress in creating AI programs to respond to the needs of the industries based in that region.
Some of these states include San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato and Querétaro, focused on the automobile industry, as well as Baja California, home to several aerospace companies, among others in the northern region.
Querétaro Sustainable Development Secretary Marco Antonio del Prete during a visit to a factory that supplies the aerospace sector, which is a growing part of Mexico’s economy. (Marco del Prete/X)
Public institutions such as the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the University of Guadalajara (UdeG) and the University of the National Polytechnic Institution (IPN) have developed AI degree programs for their students.
Some private institutions have also created AI programs, including Tec de Monterrey, Ibero American University (Ibero), the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM) or the Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL).
Renato Salmerón, director of the AI and Data Science Program at Tec de Monterrey, told El Sol de México that “all programs in the School of Engineering and Science, regardless of the subject matter, must include AI at some point in their curriculum.”
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), more than 40% of Mexican companies are currently using AI-based solutions for their daily operations.
The floating tennis court featured the U.S.' Frances Tiafoe and Denmark's Holger Rune playing an exhibition match in Acapulco's Santa Lucia Bay. (Abierto Mexicano de Tenis/X)
The 32nd edition of the Mexican Open, also dubbed ATP 500 Acapulco, kicked off this weekend with an exhibition match on an eyecatching floating court in Acapulco Bay.
Professional men’s tennis players Frances Tiafoe and Holger Rune participated in the match, the first time in a decade that the tournament has featured a floating exhibition match in Acapulco’s Pacific waters.
Tournament play began Monday in the city’s GNP Arena with Round 1 of the Doubles championship. (Mexican Open)
Guerrero Tourism Minister Simón Quiñones Orozco noted that this type of event strengthens the state’s ability to promote Acapulco as a high-level sporting event venue.
“We’re very happy […] and confident that we will exceed all expectations for the Mexican Open,” Quiñones said. “The event is going well, and we will attract the attention of those who still have doubts about coming to Acapulco.”
“We want to show that Acapulco is recovering,” Quiñones said. This year’s edition of the tournament — organized by Mextenis in collaboration with the Guerrero government — promises innovative facilities.
The Mexican Open began Monday and will run through Saturday. It will see five of the Top 15 players in the world among its competitors, among them No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev and No. 4-ranked Taylor Fritz.
Local authorities estimate that the tournament will bring an income of 550 million pesos (US $26.8 million) to the state.
Nemak is currently amid a strategic adjustment to its operations that seeks “to align its resources and investments with changing market demands and customer needs,” according to its most recent earnings report. (Nemak/Facebook)
The threat of 25% tariffs on auto exports to the United States has prompted Nemak, among the world’s largest auto industry suppliers, to consider moving some production operations from Mexico to the U.S.
Nemak, headquartered near the northern industrial city of Monterrey, Nuevo León, is a global automotive parts manufacturer that specializes in aluminum components.
Auto parts manufacturer Nemak, headquartered in Monterrey, has 37 factories in 14 countries. (Nemak)
While delivering the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report last week, Nemak CEO Armando Tamez conceded that shifting some operations to the U.S. is a possibility, but “only if it makes economic sense.”
Tamez dismissed the impact of the tariff threats, the newspaper El Financiero reported, citing ongoing trade negotiations between Mexico and the U.S. Still, he said, the company must analyze all possible scenarios.
Nemak supplies auto parts to every major vehicle manufacturer operating plants in Mexico, including General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Stellantis and Nissan.
Nemak cannot increase production at its two plants in the United States, according to CEO Armando Tamez. (Nemak Alabama)
If Nemak’s clients move operations to the U.S. — Nissan is said to be considering it — Nemak could have its auto parts taxed directly under the new tariffs.
Tamez said the company currently has limited capacity in the U.S. and its plants there — one in Kentucky, the other in Alabama — are unable to increase production.
“So if we were to move operations to the U.S. from Mexico, it would have to make economic sense for Nemak,” he said, adding that prices would undoubtedly rise because “the cost of doing business in the U.S. is higher than that in Mexico.”
Nemak has seven facilities in the state of Nuevo León and two others in the state of Coahuila. It also has aluminum recycling and remanufacturing operations in Nuevo León.
In its 4Q earnings report, Nemak, a subsidiary of the Mexican industrial conglomerate Alfa, disclosed that although revenue grew by 6% year-to-year to US $1.2 billion in the final three months of the year, company revenue was down 1.7% in 2024.
While analyzing a partial move to the U.S., Nemak is amid a strategic adjustment to its operations that seeks “to align its resources and investments with changing market demands and customer needs.”
In early January, the company postponed new facilities in Mexico and Germany. These paused operations were to involve the production of battery housings for fully electric vehicles within the e-mobility, structure and chassis applications, according to Mexico Industry.
Trying to lose the pounds (or should that be kilos) in Mexico? Great news: It's easier than you might think! (I Yunmai/Unsplash)
Are you ready for another weekly tale of woe and minor inconvenience? This time it’s about going on a diet in Mexico.
As some of you know, I got back from a trip to the United States last month. As always, I put on at least eight pounds even though I was only there for a couple of weeks. Most came off within a week or so of being back in Mexico. Still, it left me sluggish, and made it really hard to get back to my normal eating habits.
It’s the ice cream, honestly. (Volodymyr Hryshchenko/Unsplash)
Part of the issue? I just can’t resist Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream. Even after their listeria scare, I loved them. “Well, we all make mistakes!” I said.
Pathetic, I know.
Then there were the restaurants I hadn’t been to in forever, and donuts! Krispy Kreme has opened a little kiosk at my local Mexican mall, but I need the real stuff when I go home. If they don’t taste the same as when my mom would get us donut holes before taking us to preschool, it’s just not the same.
As you can probably tell, my main issue is sugar. There have been times over the past several years in which I’ve given it up completely, often for months at a time. I’d slim down, and I’d feel good. “How could I have put that stuff in my body for so long?” I think.
Texan food might not be great for you, but sometimes Mexican food can be just as bad. (Abulón Antojería del Mar/Facebook)
Then I go home, and it’s game over.
At least I live in Mexico and not the U.S. I’m sure I’d weigh at least 50 pounds more if it were the other way around.
For some reason, it’s just easier not to go overboard in Mexico.
A disclaimer: being overweight is not the worst thing in the world. I’ve accepted that I’m no longer a teenage princess. It’s fine. But I’m getting older, and my body is handling the changes shakily, at best, and I need all the help I can get. Having seen high cholesterol and triglycerides on my last tests scared me straight for a while, but then I want home to Texas. And now here I am, trying to get back on track, again.
It’s a delicious and convenient invention, but it’s not good for the waistline. (Tim Cooper/Unsplash)
So let’s say you, too, want to lose a bit of weight while you’re in Mexico. Happily, you’re in luck! There are a few forces against you — like there would be anywhere — but for the most part, I find keeping up at least a moderately healthy lifestyle here is much easier.
Let’s start with the forces against:
Limited options: If you’re someone like me that kind of hates to cook, and hates even more to plan meals, this is…kind of a problem. My creativity, alas, does not apply to all areas of my life, and food is for sure bottom of the list. Sometimes I try to solve this by finding a diet that I can just follow. Unfortunately, it always involves preparation, and often of ingredients that I just can’t find down here. If I were doing it in the U.S., I’d find quite a bit of what I needed in both the frozen and canned food aisles. Not so here! Canned food is especially limited, and things like egg and spinach microwavable frittatas, for example, are nowhere to be found.
Cheap and convenient sweets: This is not unique to Mexico, I realize, and the way they’re presented here is actually quite helpful. Still, it can be hard to resist the prominent displays of pillowy pastries, cookies, and sweets sold everywhere.
Mexicans aren’t militant: When I stopped eating sugar, people thought I was extreme. Surely, they asked, I could have a little in moderation? No, I cannot have a little in moderation. It’s like a beer to an alcoholic. One taste sends me down a slippery slope, and sobriety might take months to get back to. A relaxed attitude is good in general, but if you’re trying to be careful about your eating, it can render your intentions pretty much meaningless.
Mexico is a haven for those who are in search of simple, fresh, wholesome food. (Jan Sedivy/Unsplash)
Now, for the good!
Fresh, inexpensive ingredients: While you might not find many diet-friendly convenience foods to serve as a crutch, you will find plenty of fresh food! Fruit and vegetables are quite inexpensive compared to the U.S.And not only can you find them at the grocery store, but even your local tiendita is bound to have some. The market, of course, is the place to be for variety galore. A bodega too is a great place to find things like nuts and seeds by weight. Unsweetened coconut flakes? Not at the store, but for sure at the bodega!
Way smaller portions: If you’ve mostly been living in the U.S., you’re probably used to having your drinks constantly refilled. Plates are gigantic and filled to the brim. In Mexico, portions are much more reasonable. Ordering a Coke will get you a can of Coke and a glass of ice. If you want more, you order another one, and pay for it. And while you can certainly walk away full after a meal at a Mexican restaurant, stuffing yourself to the brim isn’t as easy. Another plus? “Comidas corrida” are cheap lunches where you show up and get what everyone is getting. There’s a soup, a main dish, a simple dessert and usually some agua fresca. Delicious, nutritious, and pretty well balanced!
Drive-through culture is absent: I’m speaking for my own community here. Fast food, U.S. style, is not an everyday thing. This is due in great part to the fact that it’s actually quite a bit more expensive than cheaper, homemade food. This is a good thing.
Nutritional warning labels: In 2019, a law was passed in Mexico that required black-and-white octagon-shaped warning labels be put on every package of food that contains excessive sugar, salt, calories, saturated fats and trans fats. I really appreciate these, as they work to counteract deceptive advertising. “Excess sugar in tomato sauce? What? Never mind!”
Lots of opportunities for exercise: In most communities in Mexico, you can walk. And if you do, you’re not going to be the only one walking: because there aren’t the same types of zoning laws as in the U.S., you’ll often find just what you need right in your neighborhood. No need to speed off somewhere in your car.
This is not a complete list, but I’ve tried to give you a good idea of what you might expect. Just know that if you’re hoping to get healthier in Mexico, your prospects are actually great! Good luck out there, and try not to overdo it at the bakery.
The president on Monday reiterated Mexico's commitment to "helping the United States" solve the "humanitarian crisis" caused by illicit fentanyl in the U.S. (Presidencia)
United States President Donald Trump said Monday that his planned 25% tariffs on all Mexican and Canadian exports to the U.S. “are going ahead on time, on schedule,” meaning the duties would take effect on March 4 at the conclusion of a one-month suspension.
“This is an abuse that took place for many, many years,” Trump said in justification of the decision to impose tariffs on the United States’ neighbors and North American trade partners.
“We’re on time with the tariffs,” President Donald Trump says when asked during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron about the tariffs planned to take effect on Canada and Mexico next month https://t.co/bMyOnTKtDnpic.twitter.com/1PqCjNZAH1
“And I’m not even blaming the other countries that did this, I blame our leadership for allowing it to happen. I mean who can blame them if they made these great deals with the United States, took advantage of the United States on manufacturing, on just about everything,” he said at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Earlier on Monday, President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed confidence that Mexico would in fact reach an agreement with the United States to stave off Trump’s proposed tariffs for a second time.
At her morning press conference, Sheinbaum also spoke about the possibility of Mexico imposing additional tariffs on imports from countries with which it doesn’t have free trade agreements, most notably China.
‘If necessary,’ Sheinbaum will seek call with Trump
Trump has said he plans to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for three reasons:
Undocumented migrants have “poured into” the U.S. from Mexico and Canada.
Large quantities of drugs, including fentanyl, have entered the U.S. from its southern and northern neighbors.
The United States has large trade deficits with Mexico and Canada.
On Monday, Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico’s commitment to “helping the United States” solve the “humanitarian crisis” caused by illicit fentanyl in the U.S.
On actions to combat drug trafficking and other problems Mexico will need to reach “important agreements” with the United States this Friday, she said, noting that the tariffs are scheduled to take effect early next week.
“If it is necessary I will be seeking another telephone call with President Trump — whatever is needed to reach an agreement,” Sheinbaum said.
“… I believe we’re in a position to do so,” she said.
Ebrard has said that the United States would be shooting itself in the foot if it imposes a 25% tariff on Mexican exports, asserting that 400,000 jobs would be lost in the U.S. and prices would rise for U.S. consumers.
He said earlier this month that 25% tariffs the United States intends to impose on all steel and aluminum imports are illogical and a “bad idea” with regard to Mexico, given that the U.S. has a trade surplus with Mexico on the trade of those metals. The steel and aluminum tariffs are scheduled to take effect on March 12.
USMCA the priority, says Sheinbaum, and therefore additional tariffs on China are an option
Sheinbaum noted that an Economy Ministry team is still in Washington as Mexico seeks to reach a new deal to stop Trump’s proposed tariffs taking effect next week.
“What we’ve established — I’ve said it from the beginning — is that the relationship and trade agreement with the United States has to be prioritized,” she said.
After observing the national holiday Flag Day, Sheinbaum discussed her efforts to avert tariffs and the importance of the USMCA free trade deal. (Presidencia)
“And we ask the United States to prioritize its trade agreement with Mexico and Canada,” Sheinbaum said.
She said that imposing tariffs on imports from countries with which Mexico doesn’t have free trade agreements, such as China, is an option.
“… With China, for example, we don’t have a trade agreement. … So it’s part of what this [Economy Ministry] group is working on,” she said, alluding to additional tariffs on Chinese exports to Mexico.
Bloomberg, citing “people familiar with the matter,” reported on Saturday that “the Trump administration told Mexican officials” including Minister Ebrard “that they should put their own duties on Chinese imports as part of their efforts to avoid tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump.”
However, Sheinbaum said that the implementation of tariffs on Chinese exports to Mexico wasn’t a “condition” that had been set by the United States.
Implementing tariffs on countries with which Mexico doesn’t have a free trade deal — like China — is an option on the table, Sheinbaum said Monday. (Asipona Manzanillo)
“The issue is to reach an agreement that allows us … to guarantee that there are no tariffs between our countries [and] that the trade agreement continues,” she said.
“… [We have to] give priority to this trade agreement and see how the three [USMCA] countries can strengthen ourselves compared to other regions of the world,” Sheinbaum said.
“… In that sense, we’re not suggesting [tariffs] in particular on China, but rather on those countries with which we don’t have trade agreements,” she said.
“It’s something that I even put forward in the conversation I had with the president of China at the G20 [Summit in Brazil]. Of course with China there is a cultural relationship, … and [a relationship spanning] many other issues. On the issue of trade I told [President Xi Jinping] that we have the trade agreement with the United States and that is one of our priorities,” Sheinbaum said.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
Dozens of restaurants and gastronomy schools joined forces to build the 80-meter masterpiece. (Margarito Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro)
Residents of Mexico City who made the easy drive to Cuernavaca for a short getaway this past weekend were treated to a feat of culinary gallantry: the creation of a taco acorazado measuring 80 meters (262 feet).
According to the Cuernavaca City Council, the “City of Eternal Spring” in Morelos state broke the Guinness World Record by surpassing the previous record of 78 meters set last year. A public notary, Hugo Salgado, certified the mark, but organizers said they won’t purchase space in the record book due to costs.
Destaca Cobaem en talento artístico en Récord Guinness del taco acorazado más grande del mundo
Over 400 people — including veteran chefs, young people studying for careers in the food industry and volunteers — worked together Sunday for two hours to assemble the massive taco acorazado, a regional specialty that translates to “armored taco.”
Originating from Cuernavaca, the generously filled taco features a large, thick corn tortilla base layered with red rice and various guisados — stews that typically include meats, vegetables and sauces. Classic accompaniments include cactus, bell peppers and potatoes.
“I feel very happy,” said Estefanía Guerrero, a gastronomy student at the University of the Valle de México. “I really liked being part of this. We had to have a lot of communication and teamwork so that it wouldn’t break.”
The culinary masterpiece — whose length was equal to about 88 yards on a U.S. football field or about six standard-sized ADO buses placed end to end — was created in front of the historic Palacio de Cortés. The former residence of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés reopened in 2023 as a museum after being damaged in the 2017 Puebla earthquake that claimed 370 lives in central Mexico.
One section of the seemingly endless taco was filled hard-boiled egg, one of the simplest and most traditional taco acorazado fillings. (Margarito Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro)
The construction of the taco was accompanied by live music, cultural performances and enthusiastic crowds. With temperatures reaching 28 degrees Celsius (82 Fahrenheit), students from local high schools played string instruments and performed folkloric dances.
Antonio Vázquez, an organizer affiliated with businesses that produce masa (tortilla dough) and tortillas, said more than 20 restaurants participated in the event.
“It’s important to mention that we achieved the title of the largest taco acorazado, but we are not going to buy the page in the [Guinness] record book because it costs thousands of dollars,” Vázquez said.
The lengthy taco featured a wide variety of traditional and innovative fillings, including hard-boiled egg, mole, Milanese (a thin cut of meat, often pork, that is breaded and pan-fried), chicharrones (fried pork rinds), huauzontle cakes, fish strips and chicken. Huauzontle is a high-protein, edible plant related to quinoa and amaranth.
With its history rooted in providing sustenance for workers at the beginning of the 20th century, the taco acorazado has become a symbol of Cuernavaca’s identity — along with the city’s lush gardens, historic haciendas and year-round pleasant climate.
Official data released on Monday by the national statistics institute INEGI indicated prices rose by 0.15% in the first two weeks of February, as compared to the second half of January. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
Inflation rose slightly in Mexico during the first half of February, lifting annual headline inflation to 3.74% from 3.59%, with core inflation coming in at 3.63%.
En la primera quincena de febrero de 2025, el Índice Nacional de Precios al Consumidor #INPC presentó un nivel de 138.631 y representó un aumento de 0.15% respecto a la quincena previa. Con este resultado, la inflación general anual fue de 3.74%.
Services were among the leading drivers of inflation during the first two weeks of February, but prices of fruits and vegetables shrank by 6.25% compared to one year ago.
According to INEGI, tomato prices dropped 18.53%, while nopales were down 10.66%, squash prices fell 10.27% and onions were down 7.81%.
Bananas and eggs were an exception, however, with banana prices climbing 5.74%.
Bird flu in US is increasing egg prices in Mexico
INEGI reported the price of eggs climbed 5.28% in early February due to an increase in demand for eggs in the United States as a result of the ongoing bird flu outbreak.
“We’ve observed an increase in domestic prices driven mainly by the strong demand in the neighboring country, where avian influenza has caused the slaughter of more than 30 million laying hens, which represents approximately 10% of the national inventory,” explained Juan Carlos Anaya, general director of Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas (GCMA), in an interview with the newspaper El Financiero.
Among services, small restaurants — eateries locally known as loncherías, fondas and taquerías — also boosted prices by 0.50%, while housing prices rose 0.18%.
The slight increase in the headline rate was roughly in line with expectations, according to Bloomberg News.
The average price for a kilogram of eggs — typically 16 — in Mexico is currently around 50 pesos, or US $2.50. (Cuartoscuro)
The 3.63% figure for core inflation suggests the central bank’s plans to deliver a sixth straight interest rate cut could remain in play.
Banxico lowered its benchmark interest rate to 9.5% on Feb. 6, saying that inflation had reached the bank’s target range — 3% plus or minus one percentage point — while also citing economic contraction in the fourth quarter of 2024. The bank said then that “it could consider adjusting [the interest rate] in similar magnitudes.”
Many economists believe that another half-point cut is on the table at next month’s rate decision meeting, in line with Citi México’s Expectations Survey, which projects a 50 basis-point rate cut at the central bank’s next meeting on March 27.
Kimberley Sperrfechter, an emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, concurred, writing in a research note cited by Bloomberg News that Banxico was “dovish” at its last meeting.
“There’s nothing in the mid-month inflation data to change this stance,” Sperrfechter wrote.
Analysts surveyed by Citi Bank estimate annual headline inflation at the end of February to reach 3.8%.
When asked about the worst thing the president has done, 75% of respondents had nothing to say. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum’s defense of Mexico amid threats from Donald Trump helped propel her approval rating to 80% among respondents to the latest El Universal poll.
Sheinbaum won significant praise for averting a crisis for the Mexican economy by reaching an agreement with Trump to stave off 25% tariffs, with The Wall Street Journal reporting that “she negotiated a deal that world leaders are studying for their own trade talks with the U.S.”
Sheinbaum’s best action as president? ‘Defending the country from Trump’ the top response
Sheinbaum’s approval rating rose to 80% from 77% in January and 74% in November, according to polling conducted for El Universal in recent months. Only 11% of those polled in February said they disapproved of the president’s performance, down from 13% in January.
Among students, residents of southern Mexico, Mexicans aged 18-45, housewives, people who live in rural areas of the country, women and citizens with education up to a high-school level, support for the president was even higher than the overall 80% approval rating detected this month.
The lowest level of support among all sectors of the population was a still-high 75% among those aged 46-59.
The 1,000 respondents to the most recent El Universal poll were also asked to respond to the question: “In your opinion, what is the best thing Claudia Sheinbaum has done so far as president of the republic?”
Sheinbaum’s top achievement so far has been her defense of Mexico in the face of Trump threats, according to poll respondents. (Shutterstock)
The top response was “defending the country from Donald Trump,” with 14% of those polled saying that was the president’s greatest achievement since she took office on Oct. 1.
The next most popular responses were:
The monetary support for senior citizens (9%)
The support/scholarships for students (9%)
The government’s “social programs in general” (8%)
Providing continuity to the work of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (7%)
Public security, the biggest concern
Asked what the “worst thing” Sheinbaum has done as president, the top response was “public security” — i.e. the government hasn’t done enough to reduce violence and other crime in Mexico.
However, only 7% of respondents gave that response, whereas more than six times that percentage — 43% — said they didn’t know what was the worst thing Sheinbaum has done or didn’t respond to the question. An additional 32% of those polled said “nothing” when asked what the worst thing the president has done.
Other poll results
Among the other results from the latest El Universal poll are the following:
56% of respondents believe that Mexico is on a “very good” or “good” path, double the 28% who think Mexico is on a “very bad” or “bad” path.
72% of respondents believe that Sheinbaum “has the reins of the country,” while 19% think that “things are getting out of control.”
With the program Jalisco con Estrella (Star Jalisco), the state government wants to make music and technology priority areas of public education. (@PabloLemusN/X)
Public schools in the state of Jalisco will become the first in Mexico to require technology and music education, according to an announcement on Friday by Governor Pab lo Lemus.
As part of a new multi-year program called “Jalisco con Estrella” (Star Jalisco), the state government seeks to achieve two priorities: the comprehensive rehabilitation and modernization of more than 7,000 public schools, as well as making it mandatory for all levels to be equipped with technology and music classrooms.
Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus announced the Jalisco con Estrella program at a Guadalajara secondary school on Friday. (@PabloLemusN/X)
“All … 7,200 preschools, primary and secondary schools, will have a music classroom. Not only will they have computers, but they will also have musical instruments,” Governor Lemus said during a ceremony in which he distributed guitars, cellos and other instruments to students of secondary public school 56 Juana de Asbaje in the capital of Guadalajara.
During the event, the secondary school’s String Orchestra and School Mariachi performed classic songs including “Cielito Lindo” and “Guadalajara, Guadalajara.”
According to Jalisco Education Minister Juan Carlos Flores Miramontes, the Jalisco government has provided 266 schools in 71 municipalities with musical instruments.
During his presentation at the event, Miramontes shared that this year, he hopes for “10 new orchestras” in “every corner of Jalisco.” The “Jalisco con Estrella” program will have an initial budget of 5 billion pesos (US $245 million) and school renovations are expected to be completed before the end of 2027.
Las nuevas generaciones 👧 🧒están familiarizadas con la tecnología, y en Jalisco queremos unirla con la educación 📚, en beneficio del aprendizaje; bajo esta lógica entregamos 42 kits Lego Robotix 🤖, para impulsar el desarrollo en habilidades STEAM (Ciencia, Tecnología,… pic.twitter.com/djii0HhgAs
In January, Lemus led the symbolic delivery of LEGO RobotiX kits to enhance students’ STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) abilities. This year, the local government handed out 42 LEGO RobotiX Kits to Jalisco schools, designed according to each educational level.
Fundación RobotiX, which organizes the global competition FIRST LEGO League in Mexico, provides robotics materials, training and strategic guidance to teachers and school administrators nationwide.
“If we compare ourselves with other states in Mexico, we are many steps ahead to be able to guarantee a much more promising future for our girls and boys,” Lemus said. “The educational system of Jalisco will be an example at the national level.”
Lemus added that these actions and other educational programs developed by Jalisco’s education minister are evolving to adapt to current times and meet contemporary teaching methods for children.
According to a press release, the general director of Grupo RobotiX, Roberto Saint Martin, said that 1,600 schools throughout Mexico receive education and materials from RobotiX and that the goal is to add 85 more participating schools in Jalisco in the next few years.
