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Taste of Mexico: Tortas

By
María Meléndez
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A torta
It's rare to find a street corner where someone isn't selling a torta in Mexico. What makes the humble sandwich such a staple of daily life? (Luis Covarrubias/Unsplash)

This article is dedicated to all my friends from Central and South America who, thanks to the efforts of the TV network Televisa 40 years ago, had the — I’d say misfortune, though others might call it luck — of watching the show “El Chavo del Ocho.” This 1970s sitcom is set in a vecindad (neighborhood) where the main character, El Chavo, has an obsession with ham tortas.

I’ve met many friends who came to Mexico eager to try the famous ham torta that El Chavo dreamed about. Unfortunately, most of them ended up disappointed by the actual experience.

El Chavo del Ocho eating a ham torta
El Chavo del Ocho dreamed of a ham torta. It might not be Mexico’s best cuisine, but his dream speaks to the ubiquity of the torta in Mexico. (Televisa)

What is a torta?

A torta is a type of sandwich made using a bread roll, typically a bolillo or telera, which is sliced in half and filled with a wide variety of ingredients. Extremely wide, if I may say so.

While you can be creative with the fillings, there are some essential components that every proper torta should have: a spread of refried beans, mayonnaise, tomato, lettuce, avocado, pickled chilies, onions and Oaxaca cheese.

The main filling can vary greatly and may include options such as milanesa (breaded meat cutlet), steak, chicken, ham, sausage, cod, eggs, tuna, turkey or pork leg, among others. The possibilities are endless!

There are also creative variations of the torta, such as the torta de tamal, which features a tamal placed inside the bread. We call this a guajolota. There’s also the torta de chilaquiles, typically consisting of chilaquiles, and sometimes fried beans.

In some places, you can even find tortas that are nearly a meter long! If you manage to finish one, your meal is free.

Where did the torta come from?

There is no consensus on its origins, but most people trace the Mexican torta back to the 19th century, during the presidency of Porfirio Díaz, when European influence was prominent in Mexican culture.

The torta has its roots in the Spanish bocata, and incorporates French baking techniques that gave rise to the bolillo. According to some sources, in 1892, a man named Armando Martínez Centurión had the innovative idea of slicing a bolillo open and filling it with a variety of ingredients.

He later opened the first torta shop in Mexico, known as Tortería Armando, located on what is now Motolinía Street in downtown Mexico City. His menu featured tortas with chicken, milanesa, and ham, which were popular among university students and local workers.

According to the Mexican writer Jorge Ibargüengoitia, Armando received a golden opportunity to showcase his creation — boasting up to 25 ingredients — at a diplomatic event at the French embassy. The rest is history.

The modern torta

Torta sandwiches on display at a fair in July 2024 in Mexico City
The torta, which can be stuffed with a wide variety of ingredients, even has its own fair each year in Mexico City. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

Today, tortas are no longer seen as delicate indulgences with a hint of French sophistication; instead, they have become an everyday meal, often enjoyed as street food — and they are delicious!

There’s a flavor for every taste, and, best of all, they are very affordable. Another fantastic aspect of tortas is that unless you possess extremely poor cooking skills, it is nearly impossible to make one that doesn’t taste good. Whether you prepare them at home or buy them from a street vendor, tortas are a guaranteed culinary delight.

Which torta should I eat?

While every region has its own specialties, you can find the torta de milanesa almost anywhere — and it’s a crowd favorite. The combination of flavors is perfect: the milanesa paired with avocado, beans, bread, and pickled chilies creates a flawless match. Now, I know what you’re thinking: if your goal is to lose weight, maybe tortas aren’t the best choice. But sometimes it’s important to live a little, and I’m convinced that every bite releases endorphins — and that’s important too.

If you’re on a plant-based diet, the avocado torta or a roasted veggie torta is a must-try. Curious about the ham torta? It’s a classic and quite tasty — but in my humble opinion, there are many better options out there. So, El Chavo’s obsession with it is a bit of a mystery to me.

To truly experience the chilango (Mexico City local) vibe, split a torta de tamal or a torta de chilaquiles with someone. Fair warning, as we Mexicans like to say: it’s a lot of masa (dough) — but it tastes sooooo good.

Make your own torta

 

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Une publication partagée par Mexico News Daily (@mexiconewsdaily)

Ingredients:

• Bolillo or telera
• Refried beans
• Mayonnaise
• Tomato
• Romaine lettuce
• Finely chopped onion
• Avocado
• Queso Oaxaca (or any mild white/fresh cheese)
• Pickled chilis (at least include the carrots that come with them)
• Your preferred protein: milanesa, al pastor, ham, chicken, tuna — feel free to be creative!

Instructions:

Here, the order is important:

1. Cut the bolillo or telera in half and scoop out some of the soft inside (the migajón).

2. Spread beans on one half (preferably the bottom) and mayonnaise on the other half.

3. Toast both halves on a skillet or griddle until warm.

4. Place your protein or filling on the side with beans.

5. On the other half, layer avocado, onion, tomato and lettuce.

6. Add pickled chilies in the middle, especially the carrots!

7. Close the torta. If desired, toast it again on the skillet.

Enjoy it a lot! 😊

Extra tip: Tortas are almost always paired with a chesquito — that is, a soda, but said with tenderness.

Amigos, if you’re visiting or living in Mexico, not trying a torta is practically a crime! I make it a point to eat a torta at least once a month. When I was a kid, tortas were essential to my breakfast, and even became part of the lunchtime barter system during school recess. They are truly ingrained in our Mexican culture.

So, I’d love to know: Have you ever tried tortas? What’s your favorite kind?

María Meléndez is a Mexico City food blogger and influencer.

Don’t tread on me, Mexican style: A perspective from our CEO

By
Travis Bembenek
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20
A sculpture depicts an eagle devouring a snake atop a nopal cactus, as seen on Mexico's national coat of arms.
A sculpture by Carlos Marquina in Mexico City depicts an eagle devouring a snake, part of Mexico's national coat of arms. (Shutterstock)

Being born and raised in the United States, I have the strong sense of independence that most Americans have. We don’t like the idea of being told what to do very much, especially if it is the government that is telling us. We love our freedom, our space and our privacy. I don’t have specific data to back me up, but I would guess that more “No Trespassing” signs are sold in the U.S. than in the rest of the world combined. While it’s common to see the “Don’t tread on me” slogan in many places in the U.S., I have never seen a similar sign in Mexico. Many Americans seem to take a special amount of pride in having a “leave me the hell alone” type attitude.

How else can we explain so many strong reactions by Americans to government, top-down ideas? Outlaw a 48-ounce drink? “Don’t you tell me what I can and can’t drink!” Outlaw plastic bags at grocery stores? “Hell no!” Congestion level pricing for cars? “Go to hell, lawmakers!” Common sense legislation for guns? “Don’t even think about it!”

The gadsden flag, a snake on a yellow background with the words "Don't Treat on Me"
While Americans hold tight to their personal independence, attitudes towards government are a little different in Mexico, Travis Bembenek writes. (Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0)

Things seem different here south of the border. I remember in early 2023 when Mexico banned smoking in all public areas, indoor and outdoor. It was one of the strictest bans globally, and it was largely met with a shrug. For the most part, people just complied. No drama, no protests, no lawsuits.

A similar response happened when nearly every city and state in the country banned plastic bags in grocery stores. No plastic bag lobbyists filing lawsuits, no stores refusing to comply, no noticeably angry customers. People for the most part just changed their habits and started bringing their own reusable bags.

Which brings me to a series of recent initiatives by the Claudia Sheinbaum administration that are worth noting and keeping an eye on. The first, which took effect at the end of March, was the decision of Coca-Cola to stop selling its products in Mexican schools, in line with Sheinbaum’s Live Happy, Live Healthy student health initiative. The second, which went into effect in early April, was a ban on the sale of all junk food in Mexican schools. Both of these initiatives were in line with a recently enacted government campaign to attack childhood obesity.

The next set of initiatives has had to do with drug use in the country. Mexico has historically been cautiously proud of the fact that drug use has been relatively low by its own population. However there is, of course, always a risk that could change. President Sheinbaum has recently led a massive anti-drug use billboard campaign in parts of the country that even caught the attention and earned the respect of President Trump.

Trump thanks Sheinbaum for inspiring launch of major US anti-drug campaign

More recently, as some states banned public performances of narcocorrido songs — which often glamorize or pay homage to the drug trade and cartel leaders — Sheinbaum spoke out against music that condones violence.

“It would be absurd to ban a musical genre,” she said. Instead, Sheinbaum said her administration discourages lyrics “condoning drugs, violence, violence against women, or viewing women as sexual objects.”

To provide inspiration and motivation for youngsters to redirect their energies and talents away from drug usage or the drug cartels, the administration has been championing several new initiatives. Just recently they announced a new nationwide “American Idol”-style contest in Mexico to encourage singing and dancing by young people. And a few weeks ago Sheinbaum led a massive crowd in the capital for a National Boxing Class with roughly 500,000 people participating.

The government leading initiatives in singing, dancing, and sports is a positive thing. I would love to see a nationwide initiative and more focus on the importance and fun of reading — let’s hope that comes as well.

It’s too early to weigh in on the effectiveness of these new initiatives, but it has been interesting to see what President Sheinbaum is focusing on for social initiatives, and also fascinating to see relatively little push-back from the general population and businesses on the new legislation. I am always wary of government overstepping, but each of these initiatives to me seem like common sense ideas that hopefully will have positive effects on Mexican society — especially young kids. Stay tuned…

Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for nearly 30 years.

Mexican auto parts officially exempt from tariffs: Friday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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0
Sheinbaum smiles from behind a podium during her morning press conference
Tariffs, tourism and books were top themes of Friday's presidential presser. (Presidencia)

At her Friday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about “good news” on the ever-changing tariff front, Mexico’s most important tourism industry event and her two favorite books — both 20th century classics.

Here is a recap of the president’s May 2 mañanera.

US confirms that tariffs won’t apply to Mexican auto parts 

“Yesterday there was some very good news for Mexico,” Sheinbaum said shortly after the commencement of her press conference.

She noted that United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a notice confirming that 25% tariffs on certain auto parts that are set to take effect this Saturday won’t apply to auto parts made in Mexico.

The CBP notice states that import duties won’t apply to parts “that are eligible for special tariff treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), other than automobile knock-down kits or parts compilations.”

Its publication came two days after United States President Donald Trump signed two executive orders to relax his auto tariffs.

Workers at a General Motors assembly plant in Mexico
A U.S. Customs and Border Patrol memo this week made clear that tariffs would not be charged on Mexico-made auto parts. (File photo/General Motors México)

Trump announced in late March that the United States would impose 25% tariffs on imports of vehicles and auto parts. The tariff on foreign vehicles took effect on April 3, but U.S. content in vehicles assembled in Mexico is exempt from the duty, lowering the effective tariff on vehicles made in Mexico.

The White House said in late March that “USMCA-compliant automobile parts” would remain tariff-free until the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with CBP “establishes a process to apply tariffs to their non-U.S. content.”

The plan to impose tariffs on Mexican and Canadian content in auto parts made in Mexico and Canada has now been scrapped, or at least postponed indefinitely. A White House fact sheet published on Tuesday indicated that was the case, and the CBP notice confirmed it.

Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard told Friday’s mañanera that ensuring Mexican auto parts could enter the United States tariff-free “has been one of the main concerns of President Sheinbaum.”

“… It’s a very large industry in our country,” he said, adding that the United States’ decision to not impose tariffs on Mexican auto parts represents “an important advance” in Mexico’s trade negotiations with its northern neighbor.

He said that the CBP notice makes it “explicit” that auto parts made in Mexico fall under the USMCA “and therefore don’t pay tariffs.”

Sheinbaum looks on as Ebrard shares a letter by US CBP
Economy Secretary Ebrard hailed the tariff announcement as a significant advance in trade negotiations. (Presidencia)

“… I think it’s good news, for our country of course, and another step forward,” Ebrard said.

Sheinbaum subsequently highlighted that Mexico’s exportation of auto parts generates revenue of US $70 billion per year.

Sheinbaum hails success of Tianguis Turístico 

Late in the press conference, Sheinbaum turned her attention to the recently-concluded Tianguis Turístico, Latin America’s largest tourism industry event.

The main location for the April 28-May 1 event was the Baja California Center in Rosarito, Baja California, but Tianguis Turístico activities also took place in other parts of the state and across the border in San Diego.

Sheinbaum highlighted that the event achieved a Guinness Record for the highest number of attendees at a national tourism fair on the same day. A total of 7,395 people attended the event on Tuesday of this week.

She said that people from 46 countries, including international buyers, attended the event, and highlighted that it was the first “binational” tianguis.

Rosarito, in the border state of Baja California, is host to the 2025 Tianguis Turístico this week, which showcases the best travel experiences across Mexico's 32 diverse states.
This week Baja California hosted the 2025 Tianguis Turístico, Latin America’s largest tourism industry event. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

Sheinbaum said that 71,882 “business appointments” took place and 50% of that number concluded with a sale.

She also said that the event generated an economic spillover of 1.38 billion pesos (US $70.5 million) and that hotel occupancy was above 90%.

Sheinbaum reveals her 2 favorite books 

Paco Ignacio Taibo II, a Spanish-born writer, novelist and head of the government-affiliated non-profit publishing group Fondo de Cultura Ecónomica (FCE), attended Sheinbaum’s Friday morning press conference to speak about Mexico’s National Reading Promotion Strategy.

“A book allows critical thinking, it creates models for imitation, of how to live and why to live, it destroys damaged neurons, it’s the great builder of living, active thought and the destroyer of racism, machismo. A book is a great vehicle, a conveyor of information,” Taibo said early in his presentation.

He highlighted a range of reading promotion initiatives, including the lowering of the prices of books published and sold by the FCE, the creation of “mini-libraries” in state-owned SuperISSSTE grocery stores, the gifting of “discontinued” books to university students, the expansion of the mobile library “Librobús” network and the establishment of thousands of “reading rooms” and reading clubs.

Taibo said that “significant progress” has been made in getting children and seniors to read more, but conceded that convincing adolescents to spend more time reading books is a more difficult assignment.

Sheinbaum looks on as a man shares a presentation about books
Paco Ignacio Taibo II, expounded on the magic of literature and highlighted national reading initiatives. (Presidencia)

“There is a phenomenon of a loss of reading in the adolescent world due to certain forms of more simple, more immediately gratifying, less deep, more superficial entertainment,” he said.

Later in the press conference, a reporter asked both Taibo and Sheinbaum to nominate their favorite books.

“My favorite book is ‘Spartacus’ by Howard Fast because I read it when I was 15 and I said: ‘No, life has to be like this,’ and it defined my life,” Taibo said.

“I’m going to say two,” Sheinbaum chimed in, noting that one of them influenced her scientific career.

“Obviously, ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude,'” she said, referring to the seminal magical realism novel by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez, a long-term resident of Mexico City before his death in 2014.

Sheinbaum also nominated “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions” by American historian and philosopher of science Thomas Kuhn as a favorite book. The book — in which Kuhn introduced and consequently popularized the concept of “paradigm shift” — was published in 1962, the year of Sheinbaum’s birth.

The president told reporters last week that she was reading the autobiography of former German chancellor Angela Merkel, called “Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021.”

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

Unilever announces US $1.5B investment to complete Nuevo León factory and expand Mexico operations

By
MND Staff
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1
A Unilever logo at the entrance of an office
The investment is expected to generate roughly 1,200 new jobs in coming years. (Shutterstock)

British consumer goods company Unilever will invest $30 billion pesos (US $1.5 billion) in Mexico over the next three years to increase production capacity.

Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard made the announcement during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Friday morning press conference.

“It’s important to recognize that these investment announcements are being made in an uncertain economic environment,” Ebrard said. “So beyond the [monetary] value, the fact that companies are investing in Mexico means they see a positive and promising future for Mexico.”

The Unilever investment includes an additional 8 billion pesos (US $407 million) to complete a new factory in the northern state of Nuevo León. The company set aside US $400 million in 2023 to start building the factory.

The factory will be located in the municipality of Salinas Victoria, Nuevo León, about 38 kilometers north of Monterrey. It will produce beauty products and personal care items by its brand leaders Dove, Rexona and Sedal, according to Willem Uijen, Unilever’s chief supply chain and operations officer.

Uijen said the London-based company maintains a long-term commitment to Mexico’s development and is intent on strengthening its operations in the country.

Sheinbaum, Ebrard and two businesspeople stand on a stage
Unilever COO Willem Uijen (left) and Unilever Mexico Director Mildred Villegas (center right) shared news of the investment at President Sheinbaum’s Friday morning press conference. (Presidencia)

He also said the investment — which is expected to generate 1,200 new jobs — will increase production capacity, help launch product lines, fund logistics projects, finance the digitalization of operations and strengthen existing brands.

Unilever has operated in Mexico for more than 60 years and employs more than 7,000 people. It currently has one factory in Mexico City, two in México state and one more in the state of Morelos.

Friday’s announcement adds to a wave of foreign investment pledges that indicate confidence in Mexico’s economic outlook, as the Sheinbaum administration has been able to attract global companies amid rising trade tensions with the U.S.

In late March, Walmart pledged over US $6 billion in investments this year, while companies such as Amazon, Mercado Libre, Netflix and Spain’s Santander Bank have unveiled major investment plans in Mexico in recent weeks.

Unilever’s announcement further supports Sheinbaum’s “Plan México,” an initiative to increase investment in Mexico by domestic and foreign companies.

The plan, among other goals, aims to increase Mexico’s food and energy sovereignty, promote infrastructure development and home construction, and increase access to loans.

“We fully support the principles of Plan México,” Uijen said, adding that Unilever is eager to support the government’s project “to promote public welfare, encourage sustainable development and actively contribute to a more prosperous future for everyone.”

With reports from El Universal and Reuters

US expands sanctions against Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)

By
MND Staff
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9
Masked member of CJNG with rifle
CJNG’s fuel theft network faces new U.S. financial restrictions. (Especial/Cuartoscuro)

The U.S. government announced new economic sanctions and a financial crimes alert targeting the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and its fuel theft network.

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on “three Mexican nationals and two Mexican-based entities linked to” the CJNG. 

Graphic showing map depicting cartel oil smuggling into US
Oil smuggling, a lesser-known source of income for the cartels, involves complicity on both sides of the border.(@NewsNotBs/X)

Also Thursday, the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an alert urging U.S. financial institutions to be vigilant in detecting, identifying and reporting suspicious activity connected to the smuggling of stolen crude oil from Mexico into the U.S. 

A State Department press statement said “a key Mexico-based network involved in fentanyl trafficking, fuel theft, and crude oil smuggling.”

The sanctions freeze all assets the individuals or companies have in the U.S. and prohibit U.S. citizens from doing business with them.

The U.S. Treasury identified the three men as César Morfin, allegedly a top CJNG lieutenant, and his brothers Álvaro Noé Morfin and Remigio Morfin. The U.S. also sanctioned two companies, Servicios Logísticos Ambientales and Grupo Jala Logística, that they said worked directly or indirectly for César Morfin, transporting stolen fuel between the U.S. and Mexico

“This network generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually, benefitting CJNG’s narco-terrorist enterprise through a slew of criminal activities, including fentanyl trafficking, fuel theft and smuggling crude oil from Mexico,” the Treasury statement said.

The fuel-smuggling network has resulted in tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue to the Mexican government, the Treasury said.

The FinCEN alert said the CJNG, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Gulf Cartel and “other Mexico-based transnational criminal organizations” were actively involved in fuel smuggling.

“[F]uel theft in Mexico, including crude oil smuggling, has become the most significant non-drug illicit revenue source for the Cartels and enables them to sustain their global criminal enterprises and drug trafficking operations into the United States,” the alert said.

FinCEN alleged that the cartels use “complicit Mexican brokers in the oil and natural gas industry” to smuggle and sell crude oil stolen from Mexico’s state oil company Pemex to “complicit, small U.S.-based oil and natural gas companies” operating near the U.S. southwest border. 

The alert said the cartels obtain crude oil by bribing corrupt Pemex employees and local government officials, but also illegally tap oil pipelines and steal from refineries. 

Fuel theft, known as “huachicol” in Mexico, has become “the most significant non-drug illicit revenue source for the Cartels.” (Beto Arias /Cuartoscuro)

The crude oil is then transported on tanker trucks across the U.S. southwest border, FinCEN said, mislabeled as “waste oil” or other hazardous materials related to the oil and natural gas refining process to avoid scrutiny and evade taxes.

The U.S. Treasury Department previously sanctioned the CJNG in April 2015 and December 2021, and in February, the U.S. State Department designated the CJNG a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. 

In September, the Treasury sanctioned nine Mexican nationals and 26 Mexico-based businesses allegedly involved in the CJNG fuel theft network.

In trade talks with Mexico, the White House has said Mexico must be held accountable for its promises to halt illegal immigration and stop fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into the U.S.

This week, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her party in Congress is working to address fuel theft and smuggling by strengthening the government’s tools to provide traceability for fuel shipments.

“With regard to any tanker truck carrying fuel … we will know: where it came from; where it’s going; if it’s imported, with what import permit it entered, where it was store, and from there to which service station it is being taken,” Sheinbaum said, according to The Associated Press.

With reports from Infobae, The Associated Press, El Financiero

Two new crocodile species discovered on islands off the coast of Quintana Roo

By
MND Staff
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1
A small crocodile swims through dark water
Each species has a breeding populations of only 1,000 animals, making them highly vulnerable to extinction. (Bro takes photos/Unsplash)

Researchers from McGill University in Montreal, in collaboration with Mexican scientists, have identified two previously unknown crocodile species inhabiting two islands off the Yucatán Peninsula.

Found on the renowned tourist island of Cozumel and within the Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve 210 kilometers to the south, both new species remain unnamed, pending formal taxonomic description.

A crocodile is visible underwater below a water bungalow on stilts
Crocodiles are more common than humans in Banco Chinchorro, a remote atoll near Mexico’s border with Belize. (Rodrigo Friscione/Conanp)

Banco Chinchorro is an atoll reef — a ring-shaped coral formation with a central lagoon — off the southeast coast of Quintana Roo that’s popular with divers and snorkelers.

The findings serve to fuel Mexicans’ longstanding cultural fascination with crocodiles, from pre-Hispanic times, when crocodiles were powerful symbols of fertility, rain and creation, to modern times, when out-and-about crocodiles always seem to make the news, whether they’re on the beach or crossing downtown streets or on the lam.

The recent findings were published in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. Funding was provided by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), along with Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) and the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN).

The discovery, announced last week in a news release from McGill’s Faculty of Science, stemmed from genetic and anatomical analyses of isolated populations, revealing stark differences from mainland American crocodiles, the type usually found in Mexico. Crocodylus acutus is its binomial name.

A man holds a crocodile at night
Mexican rsearch José Avila Cervantes holds a crocodile during a nighttime sampling expedition. (McGill)

The findings have upended long-held assumptions about the American crocodile and underscore urgent conservation needs.

“Biodiversity is disappearing faster than we can discover what we’re losing,” said lead researcher Hans Larsson, a biology professor at McGill. “Most crocodile species are already endangered, and rapid shoreline development threatens nearly every population.”

When researchers compared DNA sequences and skull morphology across Caribbean, Central American and Mexican Pacific crocodiles, they found the island populations were genetically distinct.

“These results were totally unexpected,” said José Avila-Cervantes, the study’s lead author and a former McGill graduate student. “We assumed Crocodylus acutus was a single species ranging from Baja California to Venezuela. Our study is the first to extensively explore genomic and anatomical variation in these animals.”

Each newly identified species has fewer than 1,000 breeding individuals, researchers added.

While current populations appear stable, their restricted habitats — Cozumel’s mangroves and Banco Chinchorro’s coral atoll — leave them vulnerable to coastal development and tourism.

Banco Chinchorro, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, offers stronger protections, but Cozumel’s fragmented ecosystems require immediate safeguards, researchers noted.

Two cruise ships dock in Cozumel, in 2019.
Cozumel Island is significantly more developed than Banco Chinchorro and hosts millions of tourists every year. (File photo)

“The rapid loss of biodiversity can only be slowed if we know what species are most at risk,” Larsson said. “Limiting land development and implementing careful conservation strategies on Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro will be key to ensuring their survival.”

The research team included scientists from El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, a public scientific research center that addresses sustainable development and environmental and social challenges in Mexico’s southern border states.

The team captured and released crocodiles to collect blood, scale and tissue samples.

The study highlights how island isolation drives evolution, with ocean currents and habitat barriers fostering unique species.

With reports from Aristegui Noticias, ADN40 and Tribuna de la Bahia

Sheinbaum administration promises a 40-hour workweek by 2030

By
MND Staff
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7
A woman at a protest shouts, standing in front of a sign reading "40 hours now" in Spanish
Thousands marched May 1 to demand a 40-hour workweek, a longtime goal of Mexico's labor movement. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

Workers across Mexico commemorated Labor Day by voicing their demands for a 40-hour workweek. It appears that the National Palace was listening.

Labor Minister Marath Bolaños on Thursday said that before the end of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s term in September 2030 the government would gradually install a mandatory 40-hour workweek.

Speaking to union leaders and labor representatives during a lunch at the National Palace, Bolaños reminded those in attendance that the 40-hour workweek is No. 60 on Sheinbaum’s list of 100 promises.

“We are convinced that giving workers eight extra hours of free time each week will contribute to national development,” she said.

For her part, Sheinbaum said she would summon workers, union leaders, businessmen and academics to take part in a dialogue from June 2 through July 7 aimed at producing a consensus as to how to implement the reduced workweek.

“We realize we can’t execute this reform from one day to the next, so it is important to agree how it can best be achieved,” Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum and officials sit at tables on a dias in a room filled with guests seated at tables
Officials announced the 40-hour workweek goal at a lunch with labor representatives at the National Palace. (Presidencia)

Bolaños said the Labor Ministry would organize the talks as public forums in cities across the country so as to allow for the input of people of all perspectives.

“The goal is to dignify the labor of all workers,” Bolaños said, adding that the reduction of the workweek does not imply lost productivity. “This will add hours to [workers’] lives, boost family welfare and increase employee happiness.”

The issue has been a topic of public debate since Deputy Susana Prieto, a member of the ruling Morena party, submitted a bill to reform Article 123 of the Constitution in 2023.

The business sector vociferously opposed the proposal, but Congress created a commission to study the matter. However, the bill was never moved to committee for consideration.

Management has expressed concern about productivity, while workers are determined to prevent a reduction in wages in conjunction with the proposed reduction in work-hours.

Since the new Congress was seated in September 2024, 10 bills featuring a proposal for a 40-hour workweek have been submitted.

Marath Bolaños, Mexican Labor Minister
Labor Minister Marath Bolaños said reducing the workweek will boost the well-being of employees and families without necessarily causing a drop in productivity. (Presidencia)

A bill submitted by Deputy Juan Ignacio Zavala (Movimiento Ciudadano party) in October 2024 proposed that the Labor and Economy ministries install a one-year pilot program to study how reduced hours impact productivity. The same bill suggests that certain industries be granted exemptions or receive government subsidies.

In November, Deputy Manuel Vázquez (Movimiento Ciudadano) sponsored legislation that would stagger the implementation of the 40-hour workweek according to the size of the enterprise.

In Vázquez’s bill, micro-businesses would have three-and-a-half years to come into compliance, small businesses would have two years, medium-sized companies would have a year-and-a-half, while large companies would have six months.

Other bills offered similar solutions, one being a two-year implementation process whereby companies have one-year to reorganize their labor needs, then employees work five-and-half days during the second year, with full compliance achieved thereafter.

Last month, Labor Party Deputy José Alberto Benavides proposed a reform mandating a 7-hour workday. This bill would reduce the workweek to 42 hours while still allowing companies to maintain six-day workweeks.

The ongoing debate has prompted the business sector to offer counterproposals including flexible work hours, a change from a daily minimum wage to an hourly minimum wage and a package of incentives for small businesses which might be most impacted by the legislation.

With reports from La Jornada, El Economista, El Financiero, Milenio and Proceso

Operations resume at Olmeca refinery after error causes work outage

By
MND Staff
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1
The Olmeca refinery seen at a distance
Pemex’s Olmeca refinery in Dos Bocas prepares for a restart after a recent shutdown. (Luis López/Cuartoscuro)

Pemex’s Olmeca refinery in Tabasco is set to progressively restart operations after the state-owned company confirmed that a satellite communication failure was responsible for a work outage last week.

Located in Dos Bocas, in the municipality of Paraíso, construction on the Olmeca refinery began in August 2019 during the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. While it began operations in 2022, the refinery has been testing and commissioning ahead of full commercial operation.

The Olmeca refinery seen from a distance
The Olmeca refinery stands as a centerpiece of Mexico’s energy strategy in Tabasco. (Luis López/Cuartoscuro)

According to Pemex, the incident occurred during electrical load balancing procedures, as operators adjusted a turbo generator. Satellite communication with an airflow control device failed, triggering the automatic activation of a cogeneration plant’s heat recovery units. That led to a general steam failure, resulting immediate shutdown of the processing plants.

As a result of the incident, “the complex’s electrical load was reduced from 130 to 65 megawatts per hour, resulting in the gas turbo generators shutting down at 00:59 hours on April 26, 2025.” 

Pemex was quick to point out that the shutdown did not put staff, nearby communities, the refinery or the environment at risk.

When asked during a press conference if she thought the shutdown was due to an act of sabotage, President Claudia Sheinbaum dismissed the possibility but added that an investigation would still be necessary. 

“[This] needs to be investigated, but it’s not like the refinery is out of service now. It’s nothing serious,” she said, adding that the refinery was producing 100,000 barrels per day.

Olmeca processed 6,797 barrels per day in February and none in January, after the company reported problems with higher-than-usual salt and water content in the crude oil Pemex pumps. 

According to the Dos Bocas National Port System administration, between 2024 and 2025, the refinery’s pipes transported 4 million barrels of oil products, with diesel as the main product.. During the same period, 7.6 million processed barrels of hydrocarbons, mostly diesel, were imported from the United States and other Mexican ports.

The refinery has a capacity to process 340,000 barrels per day. Pemex CEO Victor Rodriguez Padilla said last month that Olmeca would reach full capacity this year. 

With reports from El Heraldo de Tabasco, Reuters, and El Economista

The surprising way classic literature is tackling Mexico City’s biggest social challenges

By
Bethany Platanella
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A mother standing next to a seated toddler boy in some kind of theater or auditorium. The mother is feeding the boy Coca-Cola from a bottle and holding his pacifier in her other hand.
An innovative program at UNAM is bringing together average people to discuss classic works of literature as a way to start discussions about some of Mexico's biggest societal issues, such as corruption and the obesity epidemic. (File photo)

In a busy clinic in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa neighborhood, patients struggling with obesity aren’t just receiving nutritional advice and medical treatment. They’re reading poetry, sharing personal stories and engaging with literary texts. Over at the National Autonomous University (UNAM), meanwhile, a mix of students and professionals analyze and discuss Carlos Fuentes’ masterpiece “La Muerte de Artemio Cruz” (The Death of Artemio Cruz). Together, they uncover themes within the book similar to the corporate ethical dilemmas and interpersonal conflicts of today.

This innovative approach, originally founded in the United Kingdom by scholar Maurice Biriotti, is known as applied literature, and it’s taking the art of the written word to a whole new level.

Many of the cutting-edge programs in the Applied Literature Seminar are developed at Mexico’s National Autonomous University. (CDMX Secreta)

From British innovation to Mexican institution

Biriotti, cofounder of the SHM consultancy firm and the SHM Foundation, began integrating humanities-based thinking into business, healthcare and social problem-solving in the UK over 25 years ago. In 2008, SHM began working in Mexico, creating a mobile phone support network for pregnant women diagnosed with HIV in an approach they called the Zumbido Health Model. In 2016, Biriotti started collaborating with UNAM’s Faculty of Philosophy and Letters on a different project.

Together with Dr. Aurora González, a Mexico City-based psychologist and UNAM instructor, Birriotti kick-started the Applied Literature Seminar. Soon enough, scholars from diverse fields began to use literature as a tool for understanding and addressing complex human and social issues, going as far as applying the method in hospitals, community centers and professional workshops.

The Seminario approaches literature as more than just material for classrooms and literary critics. These classic texts communicate profound insights into human conflicts, ambiguity and the complexities of experience. And when addressing problems like obesity that have psychological, cultural and social dimensions, that’s precisely what is needed.

Literature meets Mexico City’s health crisis

Mexico City faces some of the highest rates of childhood and adolescent obesity worldwide, and traditional public health approaches have struggled to address the complex factors behind this public health issue. Beyond the array of unhealthy food supplied in schools and unethically marketed to children, some experts identify Mexican cultural attitudes toward food as an obstacle to implementing real change.

A bald man wearing glasses, a light green oxford and a navy blue sweater vest, smiles for the camera in a publicity photo with a bokeh background.
Maurice Biriotti, the founder of the Applied Literature method and involved in developing the Applied Literature Seminar, holds a Chair of Medical Humanities at University College London and is a visiting professor in the department of psychiatry at Yale University.

To combat childhood obesity, the Applied Literature Seminar hosts community-wide workshops and chats to get people talking about their experiences. In their narrative workshops, participants read and discuss texts, such as novels by Rosario Castellanos and poems by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, which center around food, body image and health. Empathetic storytelling sessions provide a safe place for patients suffering from the health effects of obesity to reveal the stigma around the condition. 

In a more academic setting, medical professionals and humanities scholars often meet for interdisciplinary dialogues, dissecting texts such as Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” and Fuentes’ ​​”La muerte de Artemio Cruz” for their themes of mortality, human dignity, class disparity and the social determinants of health.

Mexican literature transforms business ethics

The role that ethics play in business is another important focus for the seminar. In its first major colloquium, “El canon literario mexicano en el campo empresarial” (The Mexican literary canon in the field of business), the group explored how Mexican literary works can illuminate ethical dilemmas in workplace settings.

Carlos Fuentes’ “La muerte de Artemio Cruz,” which examines a businessman and former revolutionary’s rise to power through ethical compromises and corruption, provided powerful material for discussions about power dynamics and moral responsibility in Mexican organizations.

The seminar also referenced foundational texts that address leadership, negotiation of values and the formation of Mexican identity, such as canonical works by 19th-century liberal writer Ignacio Manuel Altamirano and periodicals of the same period, like El Recreo de las Familias and El Renacimiento.

The discussions aim to help professionals view workplace conflicts from new perspectives. By examining literature that deals with abstract concepts like corruption and discrimination, participants can connect these ideas to real-life experiences, making them more tangible and emotionally resonant for ethical decision-making.

How literature is leaving classrooms and entering communities

The Seminario de Literatura Aplicada at UNAM is transforming the traditional boundaries between literary study and everyday experience, one public program at a time. Through community events, academic seminars and hands-on creative sessions, the program is actively dissolving the separation between the arts and real life in Mexico City.

That breakthrough is taking place via academic seminars, creative writing sessions and theater. Regularly scheduled events, like the Seminario de Literatura y Géneros Vórtices explore literature’s intersections with gender, identity and social issues. Local health centers and hospitals host workshops for patients to read, write and share stories about their personal challenges with obesity, mental health and community memory.

A middle aged woman in an orange full-length shift and a matching cape covered with black lace kneels on a bare stage. She looks outward at the audience with a chagrined expression
UNAM researchers have also ventured into theater productions, in collaboration with Teatro UNAM, as a different way to provoke discussion. (Teatro UNAM/Facebook)

Applied literature has even made its way on stage, with projects like “Teatro para los que nos curan” and “Yo soy Amalia” blending art with real life. These performances are designed to both analyze and process current social realities, including the aftermath of the pandemic or current healthcare challenges.

A novel approach to urban challenges

The seminar continues to expand its work, exploring applications in other areas of social concern such as violence prevention, environmental awareness and improving education.

Applied literature offers ways to address problems that resist purely technical solutions. It’s easy to oversimplify social issues, especially in a complex urban environment like Mexico City. However, by capitalizing on the city’s layered history and diverse population, literary approaches give researchers and participants the opportunity to recognize patterns and embrace challenges for a better future.

For more information on how the Seminario de Literatura Aplicada uses humanities-based approaches to complement and enhance traditional intervention strategies, check out the program’s main page and literary events calendar.

This article draws on research conducted at UNAM’s Faculty of Philosophy and Letters and various community applications of the applied literature approach across Mexico City since 2016.

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.

What’s on in Oaxaca in May

By
Anna Bruce
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A street parade with colored banners
Oaxaca often feels like a different country, so it's no surprise that May comes with a heavy dose of old-world charm. (Mexico Desconocido)

May is one of Oaxaca’s hottest months, so it is a good time to explore cooler areas, like the forests of the Sierra Norte, a great place to hike or mountain bike. Some visitors may expect a big party on May 5, a date which marks the Battle of Puebla, but this date isn’t especially celebrated in Oaxaca. However, there are numerous events and fiestas to enjoy such as Mothers Day on May 10, and the Velas of Oaxaca’s Isthmus of Tehuantepec, taking place throughout May.  

Fiesta de la Santa Cruz and Day of the Construction Worker

(Twitter)

Día del Albañil, which takes place on May 3, honors the hard work of builders. Wooden crosses are erected at the top of construction sites. Local tradition is to decorate the cross with flowers, making it colorful and eye-catching. After placing the cross, a prayer is made to bless both the site and the workers, asking for their safety and the success of the project. 

The tradition is believed to have started in pre-Columbian communities, where ceremonies were held to ask for a good rainy season. In Teotitlán del Valle, about 30 minutes from Oaxaca City, community members still climb to the peak of the nearby Picacho mountain to ask for rain, bringing offerings to giant crosses that sit atop the mountain.

Where: Teotitlán del Valle
When: May 3 at 7 a.m.
Cost: Free

Learn Spanish and literary classics in Oaxaca city

(El Burrito/Instagram)

El Burrito Librería, a charming neighborhood bookstore founded in 2018, invites Spanish learners to practice the language by reading the best poems and short stories of Latin American and world literature. A great way to improve your Spanish and meet locals, expats and travellers in this fun, colorful shop.

Where: El Burrito Librería, Aldama 315, Barrio de Jalatlaco, Oaxaca de Juárez
When: May 5 at 7 p.m.
Cost: 150 pesos

Marco Antonio Solís plays the Auditorio Guelaguetza

(Latin Grammy Awards/X)

Marco Antonio Solís’s musical career began in 1970 when the 11-year-old and his cousin Joel formed Los Hermanitos Solís, which would later become El Dueto los Bukis and the hit-making group Los Bukis. They produced great hits that have become part of the popular songbook and the hearts of Mexican and Latin American audiences. 

After two decades with Los Bukis, Marco Antonio began a new chapter in his career and music in 1996, releasing his first solo album, “En pleno vuelo,” which earned both Gold and Platinum certifications. Solís participated in the Spanish version of the Oscar-winning film “Coco,” lending his voice to the character of Ernesto de la Cruz.

When: May 9 at 9 p.m.
Where: Auditorio Guelaguetza
Cost: Tickets start at 925 pesos

Paul van Dyk

DJ Paul van Dyk in front of DJ equipment
(Sutori)

German DJ Paul van Dyk is coming to Oaxaca this May. Van Dyk is a Grammy-winning electronic musician and producer who started out in the Berlin club scene of the early 1990s. Hard-hitting, industrial-orientated Detroit techno music was the sound of the era in Berlin, and van Dyk was one of its pioneers.

When: May 15 at 8 p.m.
Where: Centro Cultural y de Convenciones de Oaxaca, Av. Lázaro Cárdenas 1001, Santa Lucía del Camino
Cost: Tickets start at 1000 pesos

Celebrate the saints of Oaxaca with the Velas Istmeñas

(Gorda en Tobogán)

Although velas can take place throughout the year, May is the principal month for these festivities, which come from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec but are celebrated across Oaxaca. Velas are held in honor of the patron saints of families, groups, trades and places. People gather for public and cultural events, with masses and processions showcasing traditional regional dress. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is home to the Zapotec, Chontal, Huave, Zoque, Mixe, Mixtec and Chinantec peoples. This blend of cultures gives rise to the most colorful dances that characterize the Velas. The Oaxacan city of Juchitán is an amazing place to visit, in particular during velas.

Where: Juchitan
When: May
Cost: Donation 

There will also be velas in Oaxaca city. 

When: May 17 at 9 p.m.
Where: Estadio Tecnológico de Oaxaca, Avenida Constitución, Oaxaca de Juárez
Cost: 200 pesos, available calling ‪951 308 8920 

Expat Q&A

A group of elderly people in front of a bookcase in a library in Oaxaca
(Oaxaca Lending Library/Facebook)

An hour-long question and answer session on the upstairs terrace of the Oaxaca Lending Library is valuable for tourists, digital nomads, long term visitors and those who are considering a move to Oaxaca. No reservation necessary; Every Monday except when the Library is closed for a holiday.

Where: Oaxaca Lending Library
When: May 19 at 11am
Cost: Entry is free

Mexico Design Fair returns to the Oaxaca coast

 A forum for collectors, gallerists and design professionals, Mexico Design fair focuses on contemporary furniture pieces and design objects. This year’s edition’s main exhibition is hosted at Casa Naila. Designed by Alfonso Quiñones, this ocean-facing property merges contemporary Mexican design and local character surrounded by 20-thousand square feet of private beach. 

When: May 23 to 2025
Where: Casa Naila, Puerto Escondido

Surfistas del Sistema at Bar Ilegal

Surfistas del Sistema - La magia esta en tu piel (version loop)

Surfistas del Sistema is an Argentine pop and synthpop band formed in 2013. It is made up of singer and guitarist Fran Frione, drummer Cisco Achaval and bassist Rama Vázquez. In 2014, the band was nominated for best rock/alternative pop album at the Gardel Awards, Argentina’s answer to the Grammys.

When: May 31 at 7 p.m.
Where:  Bar Ilegal, Murguía 215, Centro, Oaxaca de Juárez
Cost: Presale tickets start at 400 pesos

Anna Bruce is an award-winning British photojournalist based in Oaxaca, Mexico. Just some of the media outlets she has worked with include Vice, The Financial Times, Time Out, Huffington Post, The Times of London, the BBC and Sony TV. Find out more about her work at her website or visit her on social media on Instagram or on Facebook.

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