Venezuelan President Maduro to attend migration summit in Mexico

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October 18, 2023

Alicia Bárcena and Nicolás Maduro — Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena met with Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro in October.(SRE/Cuartoscuro)

As large numbers of Venezuelan migrants enter Mexico via its southern border, the federal government has confirmed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will attend this Sunday’s regional migration summit in Palenque, Chiapas.

Maduro confirmed his attendance during a meeting with Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena in Caracas on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) said in a statement.

Venezuelans have arrived in Mexico in large numbers in the past few years, pushed out of their country by a deep economic crisis. (Cuartoscuro)

President López Obrador will host the migration meeting, to which leaders and other officials from Ecuador, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, Cuba, Costa Rica and Panama were also invited.

In Caracas, Bárcena and Maduro “agreed on the importance of maintaining a frank dialogue with the other invited countries to better face the enormous challenges posed by human mobility, while focusing on development and on addressing its structural causes,” the SRE said.

López Obrador said last week that the aim of the summit – officially called the Meeting for a Fraternal Neighborhood with Wellbeing – is to reach agreements “to attend to the migration phenomenon while respecting human rights, providing options [and] protecting migrants.”

“… We need to come to an agreement because we can do a lot of things. And also, if we agree, we can seek the cooperation of the United States government, ask them to help. They already are, but they should apply themselves more to attending to the causes [of migration], and not just think about walls, about militarizing the border,” he said last Friday.

Alicia Bárcena at the Senate — Bárcena spoke in front of the Mexican Senate on Tuesday. (SRE/X)

During an appearance in the Senate a day after her meeting with Maduro, Bárcena said that some 60,000 Venezuelan migrants crossed into Mexico last month. Over 7 million Venezuelans have left their homeland in recent years, mainly due to the severe economic crisis in the South America nation.

Bárcena also said that 35,000 Guatemalans and 27,000 Hondurans entered Mexico via the southern border in September.

Reuters reported that the numbers of migrants crossing Mexican territory “fell abruptly” after United States authorities authorized in May more legal pathways to enter the U.S.

“But the numbers have again shot up in recent weeks,” the news agency said.

Nicolás Maduro and Alicia Bárcena in Caracas — At the meeting in Caracas, Bárcena discussed migration with the Venezuelan president. (SRE/X)

Bárcena told senators that about 1.13 million migrants have reached Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala this year, and that 1.75 million had made it to the northern border with the United States.

Migration wasn’t the only issue discussed at the foreign minister’s meeting with Maduro, who became president in 2013 following the death of Hugo Chávez.

The SRE said that Bárcena, on behalf of the Mexican government, “welcomed the decision” of the Venezuelan government and the Unitary Platform opposition alliance “to resume the dialogue and negotiations agreed in Mexico in 2021.”

Meeting in Barbados — In a meeting in Barbados on Tuesday, Mexican officials were present in the Venezuelan political negotiations regarding the country’s 2024 presidential elections. (SRE/X)

In Barbados on Tuesday, the two parties “agreed to electoral guarantees for 2024 presidential elections, paving the way for possible U.S. sanctions relief,” Reuters reported.

The SRE said that Bárcena “also held meetings with various Venezuelan authorities.”

“The officials agreed on the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the areas of economic reactivation and energy self-sufficiency, among others,” the ministry said.

In addition, Bárcena “met with other sectors of Venezuelan society and reviewed the needs of our embassy in Caracas to continue providing the best possible service to the Mexican community in that country,” the SRE said.

With reports from El País and Reuters

Renting in Mexico? What to know before and just after arrival

By

Leigh Thelmadatter

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October 18, 2023

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deborah-cortelazzi-gREquCUXQLI-unsplash (1) — Despite all the controversy about foreigners’ role in gentrification, there are good reasons to live in places popular with them, at least at first. (Unsplash)

When it comes to talking renting, there are two caveats to start with. Firstly, no matter how much you read, you cannot anticipate everything that you might encounter as you look for housing in Mexico. Secondly, the issues that I bring up here do not apply to absolutely every situation. Mexico’s housing market is just as varied as anywhere else. The point here, though, is to discuss issues that might surprise you as a foreigner.

When I came to Mexico 20 years ago, in the days before online work and Airbnb, the school that hired me set me up with a temporary place to live. That space was a godsend in the time it took me to get my bearings.

Part one of some of the many things you need to consider about finding the right place to live. (Mercado Libre)

But many arrivals today don’t have this luxury, so it’s still important to get as much information and advice as possible.

Rent short-term first

This is by far the most important piece of advice anyone can give you. No matter what’s on the internet, there’s more you won’t know until you get there.

Whatever you arrange for when you land, it should be for no more than three months — tops. It’s possible that you might get lucky and love the place. In that case, you likely can negotiate something with the landlord: more than a few owners are just as frustrated with Airbnb as many renters are.

But you also need enough time to get your bearings in general and the get to know rental market in particular, and the typical hotel stay is not enough.

Despite all the controversy about foreigners’ role in gentrification, there are good reasons to live in places popular with them, at least at first. These neighborhoods tend to have landlords more willing to work with foreigners, you can network with the local expat community. The downside is that prices are going to be higher, and you’ll likely have to compete with others for a place you want.

Where to find a place

Over the past decades, Mexicans have slowly adopted more e-commerce practices, although the landscape still isn’t like the United States or Europe: the best deals on apartments are still found by walking neighborhoods looking for “SE RENTA” signs. The demise of physical newspapers, however, means that online advertising has become more accepted.

Airbnb remains the top source for first time rentals in Mexico and that may not change anytime soon. It has come under fire socially and politically, which has prompted some entrepreneurs in Mexico City to attempt various alternatives. Few have lasted for more than a handful of years.

Even if your Spanish is only basic, you can browse other sites that will help you get a sense of rental rates in your chosen areas. These include Vivanucios, MetrosCubicos and InMuebles and handle both rentals and sales. They may have announcements for roommates, but better bets in that area are Dada Room and RoomGo.

But Mexico is a networking culture, not a one-stop shopping one, and connecting with people here is key for the best deals.

Although passé in some countries, Facebook and WhatsApp are still very useful sites both before and after arrival in Mexico. Facebook has a myriad of searchable groups for digital nomads and foreigners in specific cities and states, as well as groups specific to renting. WhatsApp is the most popular text messaging app; although not searchable, some valuable groups like CDMX Housing Search are hosted on the app.

Facebook and WhatsApp groups have a relative abundance of announcements of people subletting their apt for weeks or months. This might be an option if your arrival date is flexible and you’re sure you can vacate at the end of the period.

Rental prices

I’m always bemused by social media posts that start off by asking how much it costs to rent a place in Mexico. I don’t know why people assume there is a one-size-fits-all answer to this or a single website that will analyze your options for you. Neither exists.

There are myriad of variables determining rental prices, but many are the same as just about anywhere else in the world:

Location, location, location: What is the socioeconomic level of the neighborhood? How close is it to attractions and services like markets and public transportation?
What is the overall condition/arrangement of the rental unit? Apartment or house? How many square meters? How many bedrooms? Is it furnished?
Is it a condominium arrangement? How formal is that arrangement? Even townhouse/house subdivisions on the edge of cities are often condos.
Are there common areas or facilities such as a rooftop garden, a gyms, a pool?
How old is the building? Pro tip: older apartments in Mexico City tend to be larger than newer ones and often quite charming. The trade-off is the lack of modern amenities.
What is the overall condition of the building? Lack of care for common areas is a common problem.

Browsing online classifieds in the areas that interest you will give you some idea of the range of rates, but this takes a little time. Aside from higher rents in more desirable areas, one other constant seems to be that rental prices are constantly rising because real estate prices have shot through the roof.

I, for example, bought my apartment in the working-class neighborhood of Doctores in a new condo building in 2008. At the time, the modest two-bedroom went for only 550,000 pesos, well within my means as a single English teacher with a decent full-time job. Today, that apartment is worth over three times that. I could not buy it now. And no, Doctores is not popular with foreigners, but it is centrally located in Mexico City. If you renew your lease, expect an increase each time of between 5-10%.

Even after all of that, we haven’t touched upon the quality of life issues that will not be obvious when you go and look at an apartment but are nonetheless important in determining if you can stay or not. We’ll look at those issues in the next installment of this series.

Leigh Thelmadatter arrived in Mexico over 20 years ago and fell in love with the land and the culture in particular its handcrafts and art. She is the author of Mexican Cartonería: Paper, Paste and Fiesta (Schiffer 2019). Her culture column appears regularly on Mexico News Daily.

Hurricane Norma strengthens on path towards Baja peninsula

By

MND Staff

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October 18, 2023

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AMLO with map of Hurricane norma — President López Obrador highlights then-Tropical Storm Norma's projected path at his Wednesday morning press conference (lopezobrador.org.mx)

Tropical Storm Norma was upgraded to hurricane status on Wednesday afternoon after it rapidly strengthened well off the Colima and Michoacán coasts, according to Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN) and the U.S.-based National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Intense rain was expected in several western states, but with the center of the hurricane 545 kilometers southwest of Manzanillo, Colima as of 3 p.m. MDT Tuesday, the NHC noted that “there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.”

Map of Hurricane Norma's projected wind speeds — Norma’s sustained winds have now reached an average of 130 kmh (National Hurricane Center)

The hurricane is expected to hit Guerrero, Michoacán, Jalisco and Colima with intense, occasional rains, and cause heavy rains in Nayarit, the SMN noted. In addition, winds with gusts of 59 to 80 km/h are expected in Guerrero, Michoacán and Colima, along with waves of 1.8 to 3.9 meters and possible formation of waterspouts.

On Tuesday morning at 9 a.m., Norma had sustained winds of 109 to 112 km/h, gusts of 140 km/h and its moving speed had decreased. By the next report at 3 p.m., its sustained winds had increased to 130 km/h, with gusts of 157 km/h.

Norma qualified as a Category 1 hurricane by having winds of 119 to 152 km/h, with swells that “are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” the NHC noted. Its hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 35 kilometers (25 miles) from the center, with tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 220 kilometers (140 miles).

According to the SMN model, the hurricane could reach Category 3 status (179 to 208 km/h) or beyond on Thursday as it makes its way toward the Baja Peninsula, but gradual weakening is forecast on Friday and Saturday.

Map of Hurricane Norma's projected wind arrival time — Tropical storm-force winds are projected to hit the Baja Peninsula by Friday morning (National Hurricane Center).

Norma isn’t expected to move directly over land until Monday morning, but the NHC said the potential track of the storm has “greater-than-normal uncertainty.”

That may be because of what happened with Hurricane Lidia earlier this month. After tracking as a tropical storm parallel to and well off Mexico’s Pacific Coast, Lidia rapidly intensified and took a sharp right turn toward the state of Jalisco, peaking as a Category 4 hurricane. It battered the coast and killed at least one person.

Still reeling from damage caused by Lidia, the state of Colima began feeling the presence of Norma on Tuesday with intense rain, particularly in the coastal municipalities of Manzanillo, Armería and Tecomán.

With reports from Milenio and Reuters

Dengue cases up over 300% this year in Mexico; Yucatán most affected

By

MND Staff

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October 18, 2023

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Aedes aegypti mosquito — Dengue serotype 3 (present across Mexico today) is spread by female Aedes species mosquitoes. (Wikimedia Commons)

Confirmed cases of dengue have risen over 300% this year compared to 2022, with 71% of all infections detected in just five states.

According to the Health Ministry’s most recent dengue report, there were 30,320 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne disease between Jan. 1 and Oct. 7. Confirmed cases have increased 337% this year after 6,942 were recorded in the same period of 2022.

Dengue cases have risen precipitously this year, concentrated mostly in five states. (Salud México)

The Health Ministry also reported that there have been over 167,000 probable cases of dengue this year as well as 48 deaths caused by the disease.

Data shows that Yucatán has recorded the highest number of confirmed dengue cases among Mexico’s 32 federal entities in 2023 with 7,523. That figure represents a whopping 4,915% increase compared to the January-October period of last year when just 150 cases were recorded in the state.

Veracruz ranks second with 6,402 confirmed cases, followed by Quintana Roo, 3,369; Morelos, 2,300; and Puebla, 2,082.

Case numbers in the five aforesaid states add up to 21,676, or 71.5% of the total.

Public health anti-dengue campaign — Public health authorities have stepped up their campaigns to reduce mosquito populations across the country. (DAMIÁN SÁNCHEZ/CUARTOSCURO.COM)

Four other states have recorded more than 1,000 confirmed dengue cases this year: Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Tabasco.

National case numbers have spiked in recent months amid increased precipitation in many parts of the country due to the annual rainy season.

Julián García Rejón, head of the Arbovirology Laboratory at the Autonomous University of Yucatán, told the newspaper El Economista that dengue serotype 3 (DENV-3) – one of four dengue serotypes – is currently present across the majority of Mexico.

That serotype has not previously been prevalent in Mexico and therefore many people are susceptible to becoming sick with dengue if they are bitten by a female Aedes genus mosquito carrying it. Infection with one dengue serotype provides lifelong immunity against it, but only “partial and transient protection” against the other three, according to the World Health Organization.

Fumigation to prevent dengue — Public health officials have implemented fumigation in various areas to prevent the spread of dengue and other mosquito-borne illnesses. (MICHAEL BALAM/CUARTOSCURO.COM)

García said that DENV-3 likely reached Mexico from Central or South America, where there were large dengue outbreaks in the first half of the year. People with dengue caused by DENV-3 may have traveled to Mexico and subsequently infected mosquitos with that serotype, he said.

Another possibility is that mosquitos carrying DENV-3 arrived here in vehicles or on planes, García said.

The scientist said that the ongoing rainy season in various parts of the country continues to create favorable conditions for the propagation of dengue.

In Yucatán, a peak dengue infection period could be just around the corner, García warned. He said that data from previous years show that the highest number of infections in Yucatán have typically occurred in “epidemiological week 43,” which in 2023 will run from Oct. 22 to 28.

In the Americas, Aedes aegypti is the mosquito vector that is the main source of dengue transmission, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Dengue, also known as breakbone fever, is “an illness that affects infants, young children, and adults, with symptoms ranging from mild fever to incapacitating high fever, with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash,” PAHO says on its website.

PAHO warning signs of severe dengue — The PAHO describes the warning signs of severe cases of dengue, including intense abdominal pain, dizziness, and a drop in body temperature. (PAHO)

“The illness can evolve to severe dengue, characterized by shock, respiratory distress, severe bleeding, and/or serious organ impairment.”

PAHO also says that “following infection with one serotype, subsequent infection with a different serotype increases a person’s risk of severe dengue and death.”

There are two different vaccines against dengue, of which one is used in Mexico, albeit not widely. Health regulator Cofepris issued a statement last month reminding health workers that the Dengvaxia vaccine shouldn’t be administered to children younger than nine.

“After detecting that this biologic was administered to children younger than nine, this health authority informs that the Dengvaxia vaccine made by Sanofi can only be prescribed for people from nine years of age to 45,” it said.

Of the more than 30,000 confirmed dengue cases in Mexico this year, 871 cases were considered serious and 12,636 were deemed cases with “signs of alarm.” The other 16,813 cases were considered “non-serious.”

Data shows that the highest number of serious and alarming dengue cases were recorded among children aged 10-14, followed by adolescents aged 15-19. Such cases were significantly higher among children and young adults than among older adults.

Children at a school in Campeche — Children gather at a memorial service for a student who died from an apparent dengue infection in Campeche last month. (MICHEL BALAM/CUARTOSCURO.COM)

Morelos has recorded the highest number of dengue deaths this year with 11, followed by Yucatán and Quintana Roo, with seven each, and Guerrero and Oaxaca, with six apiece. There were 99 dengue deaths in Mexico in 2022, 85 of which occurred toward the end of the year. In the first 40 weeks of 2022, 14 deaths were attributed to dengue, 34 fewer than in the same period of this year.

Despite more than 7,500 confirmed cases of dengue and over 37,000 probable cases having been recorded in Yucatán this year, state health official Carlos Isaac Hernández Fuentes told local media that the declaration of a state of emergency is not warranted.

Governor Mauricio Vila has highlighted that authorities continue to fumigate against mosquitos that transmit dengue as well as chikungunya and zika. Trucks fitted with spray equipment are a common sight in state capital Mérida.

Authorities in other states also fumigate to reduce mosquito populations.

Ruy López Ridaura, former director of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control Programs and now a deputy health minister, said in a meeting with state officials in late August that to reduce the incidence of dengue, zika, chikungunya and malaria, and to improve the diagnosis and treatment of those diseases, a focus on four “fundamental” things is required: “medical care, prevention and control, epidemiological intelligence and communication of risks.”

López, according to a Health Ministry statement, “emphasized the importance of making progress in what is known as vector action, which consists of efforts undertaken by health authorities to eliminate mosquito breeding sites through constant fumigation campaigns” and the removal of items in which water can accumulate.

With reports from El Economista

Peso weakens again after slight recovery against the US dollar

By

MND Staff

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October 18, 2023

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Mexican 500 peso bills — After dipping to a six-month low earlier in October, the peso had regained against the US dollar last week, but again weakened since Monday. (ISABEL MATEOS/CUARTOSCURO.COM)

The Mexican peso is once again trading at well above 18 to the US dollar.

After depreciating to a six-month low of 18.37 against the dollar in early October, the Mexican peso made up some lost ground last week, closing at below 18 to the greenback on three consecutive days between Tuesday and Thursday, according to Bloomberg data.

Mexican pesos — The Mexican peso is trading again above 18 to the US dollar, losing 2.3% against the greenback between Monday and Wednesday. (Cuartoscuro)

The USD:MXN exchange rate went above 18 last Friday, but at the close of markets on Monday, the peso was back to 17.88. It’s been downhill for the Mexican currency since then.

It closed at 18.01 to the dollar on Tuesday, and dipped to as low as 18.30 on Wednesday, a depreciation of 2.3% compared to its closing position on Monday.

At 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the peso was trading at 18.25 to the dollar, a depreciation of 8.9% compared to its strongest 2023 position of 16.62 to the greenback in late July. However, the currency is almost 7% stronger than it was at the start of the year when the USD:MXN rate was about 19.5.

Janneth Quiroz, head of analysis at the Monex financial group, said on the X social media site on Wednesday morning that the peso had weakened due to increased risk aversion amid an increase in geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

She also noted that the DXY index, which measures the value of the US dollar against a basket of six foreign currencies, had opened stronger.

In a separate post on Wednesday morning, Quiroz said that the Mexican peso was in first place for losses against the greenback among emerging market currencies.

One factor that has helped the peso appreciate against the US dollar in 2023 is the significant difference between the Bank of Mexico’s key interest rate – currently set at a record-high 11.25% – and that of the United States Federal Reserve, which has been set at a 5.25-5.5% range since July.

Bloomberg Línea, a Latin America-based affiliate of Bloomberg Media, reported Wednesday that despite a softening of the discourse of U.S. central bank officials, the possibility of the Fed raising rates in December “has not closed.”

US Federal Reserve building — The U.S. Federal Reserve may increase rates to curb inflation. (Shutterstock)

As a result the peso could depreciate further, the news website said.

Bloomberg reported that “policymakers have said additional hikes are possible because of the U.S. economy’s resilience, as shown in stronger-than-expected retail sales and factory-output figures Tuesday, which could keep inflation elevated.”

However, Fed Governor Chris Waller – described by Bloomberg as “among the more hawkish” Fed officials – said Wednesday that the U.S. central bank can wait and gather more data before deciding whether rates need to be raised.

The Fed, which will make monetary policy decisions in November and December, said in its Beige Book report on Wednesday that “prices continued to increase at a modest pace overall.” Annual headline inflation was 3.7% in the U.S. last month, well above the Fed’s 2% target.

The Bank of Mexico has indicated that it intends to maintain its 11.25% rate for an “extended period.”

Inflation in Mexico has declined every month since February, but remains above the central bank’s 3% target. The annual headline rate was 4.45% in September.

Mexico News Daily

Domestic air travel continues to boom in Mexico

By

MND Staff

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October 18, 2023

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Volaris regresa AIT -2.jpg — 5.9 million passengers flew on domestic flights in August, making it the busiest month this year. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)

In August, over 5.9 million passengers flew on domestic flights, Tourism Minister Miguel Torruco Marqués reported, making it the busiest month for domestic air travel in Mexico this year.

With a total monthly capacity of 7.2 million seats, the occupancy rate reached 83%, the highest figure reported for 2023.

Tourism Minister Miguel Torruco Marqués reported that 80.5 million seats have been scheduled on domestic flights so far this year, an 8.4% increase over 2022. (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)

According to Torruco, 80.5 million seats on domestic flights have been filled so far this year, which represents an 8.4% increase from 2022.

Volaris and Viva Aerobus led the way

The two airlines with the highest number of scheduled seats on domestic routes are Volaris and Viva Aerobus. Volaris holds 38.7% of the total occupied seats while Viva Aerobus has 32.6%. Together, they provide 57.4 million seats, which is equivalent to 71.4% of the national market.

Torruco said that the number of passengers on domestic flights in the first eight months of the year surpassed 42.2 million.

A volaris aircraft — Volaris holds 38.7% of the total domestic seat capacity, making it the leading national airline. (Volaris/Instagram)

Cancún, Mexico City and Guadalajara were the busiest airports

This year, the routes in Mexico with the highest number of scheduled seats are the following: Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to Cancún with 2.43 million seats;. Cancún to AICM with 2.42 million seats;, and AICM to Monterrey with just over 2.59 million seats.

Meanwhile, the top three airports with the most scheduled seats on international flights to Mexico in 2023 are Cancún International Airport, AICM, and Guadalajara International Airport. Together, these three airports offer 25.6 million seats, which accounts for 73.3% of the total seat capacity.

Dallas and Los Angeles were the busiest international routes to Mexico

An American Airlines Boeing 777-300 — Flights from the United States and Canada make up 75.7% of all international flight traffic to Mexico. (American Airlines)

As for international routes to Mexico, the ones with the highest number of scheduled seats are Dallas to Cancún with 702,392 seats, Los Angeles to Guadalajara with 659,297 seats, and Toronto to Cancún with 626,127 seats.

American Airlines and Aeroméxico are the two carriers with the highest number of scheduled seats for international service to Mexico in 2023. American Airlines will have 13.9% of the total share while Aeroméxico will have 12.3%. Together, they will offer a total of 9.1 million seats.

Throughout 2023, flights from the United States and Canada to Mexico will offer 26.4 million seats, which represents a 75.7% share of the international flight market.

With reports from Forbes México

Beloved ‘dichos’: navigating life through Mexico’s folk wisdom

By

Sandra Gancz Kahan

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October 18, 2023

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priscilla-du-preez-nF8xhLMmg0c-unsplash (1) — Beyond their surface humor, each saying carries a wealth of tradition, history, and insight. (Photo Priscilla Preez/Unsplash)

I love dichos, those sayings that we often blurt out to illustrate or lighten the mood in certain situations. In Mexico, it’s not uncommon to hear locals effortlessly pepper their conversations with sayings that seem as curious as they are colorful. To an outsider, these expressions may appear to be amusing linguistic quirks, but in reality, they are profound windows into the cultural fabric that binds Mexicans together.

Most Mexicans hold a vast repertoire of these nuggets of wisdom. Wrapped within the humor and charm of Mexico’s dichos lies the essence of our identity, and there’s no better way to teach and remind us of our values than through the phrases we’ve heard since childhood.

Beyond their surface humor, each saying carries a wealth of tradition, history and insight.

In this article, we delve into some of the most popular and endearing phrases, exploring how they reflect Mexican values, beliefs and even the challenges faced by a nation with a complex history.

Remember that dichos don’t translate very well because the humor and recall are in the rhyme, but they are a fun way to practice your Spanish pronunciation and an ace under your sleeve when you need to say something clever.

Cuando el hambre entra por la puerta, el amor sale por la ventana.

Translation: Love leaves through the window when hunger enters through the door.

This saying conveys that romantic matters take the back seat when people are struggling to meet their basic needs. In other words, relationships weaken during times of hardship. This reminds people to go out and make a decent living so they can get cozy after dinner. Happy wife, happy life!

Para todo mal, mezcal; para todo bien, también.

Translation: For every bad [thing], mezcal; for every good [thing] too.

This saying encourages drinking mezcal on every occasion, from coping with adversity to celebrating the good times. It’s true, mezcal is a wonderful elixir and Mexicans never run out of excuses to drink it. People use this phrase to cheer when sharing a round of mezcal on both good and bad occasions because… why not?

El muerto al pozo y el vivo al gozo.

Translation: The dead to the grave and the living to delight.

This saying may seem a little dark and impertinent, but its underlying message is a reminder to those grieving the loss of a loved one that they must embrace life again. It encourages individuals to move forward, find happiness, and appreciate the time they have left. While it may sound a bit blunt, it prompts people to shift their focus and take a positive approach to life after loss.

Tanto peca el que mata a la vaca como el que le agarra la pata.

Translation: The person who kills the cow is sinning as much as the person who grabbed its leg.

This dicho conveys that all who are involved in wrongful acts are equally guilty and share the blame with the main perpetrator. It emphasizes that individuals who assist in or contribute to an immoral or illegal action are not absolved of responsibility. It is a reminder to stay a safe distance from people who get into trouble, as being an accomplice is no less of a crime.

Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.

Translation: The devil knows more due to his old age than to being the devil.

This conveys that knowledge and expertise are acquired through life experiences rather than solely due to one’s innate character or abilities. It reminds us that elders hold a unique wisdom, a profound understanding, and insight that can only be acquired through time.

Now, you can spice up your conversations with a dash of local attitude. Share these with your expat friends so they, too, can chuckle, ponder and appreciate the folk wisdom that shapes the soul of this remarkable nation.

Sandra is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at: [email protected]

Chinese construction company LGMG to invest US $5B in Nuevo León

By

MND Staff

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October 18, 2023

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337098432_175745871984331_7594917621212476030_n — On Monday, Nuevo León Governor Samuel García announced that Lingong Machinery Group (LGMG) will invest in a 10-hectare industrial park to open in 2024. (LGMG/Facebook)

Hardly a day goes by without news of another foreign company deciding to build a factory in Nuevo León, and now, the Chinese construction company LGMG can be added to the list.

Samuel García, governor of the northeastern Mexican state, announced this week that the Lingong Machinery Group (LGMG) will bring billions of dollars in investment to Nuevo León and create 7,000 new jobs.

Governor of Nuevo León Samuel García posted a video from the LGMG headquarters during his visit to China this week. (@samuel_garcias/X)

In a joint statement, the Nuevo León government and LGMG revealed plans to invest US $5 billion in the development of a 10-hectare industrial park with three clusters of activity: processing and manufacturing; warehousing and logistics; and business support services..

The dollar figure is in the same stratosphere, though not quite as lofty, as the US $15 billion that García says Tesla will invest in a new gigafactory in Monterrey, the state capital with a population of 5.8 million.

García boasted about the LGMG news on Monday, saying via his social networks that his party, Movimiento Ciudadano (Citizens’ Movement), is proactive in generating new investment while officials from other parties remain “on the grid.”

He highlighted how he travels to other countries to court their business leaders, “So they come to Nuevo León, the epicenter of nearshoring and the best place to invest and do business,” he posted.

LGMG’s specialties are scissor lifts, vertical lifts and boom lifts. (lgmglifts.com)

In citing “this historic investment,” García swiped back at Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and National Action Party (PAN) leaders who he claims have been trying to muck up his efforts. “If we put together all their governments of the last 40 years, they don’t even come close to us,” the 35-year-old governor said.

Founded in 1972, LGMG says on its website it is “one of the top 100 enterprises in [the] machinery industry, and one of the top four groups in [the] construction machinery industry in China.” In 2020, it reportedly entered the global top 10 of the largest construction equipment manufacturers in the world.

The company manufactures construction machinery, mining machinery, elevated platforms and other machinery. Its specialties are scissor lifts, vertical lifts and boom lifts.

The company expanded to Rotterdam, Netherlands in 2018 and to the United States in 2019. Its North American headquarters was relocated from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania to just outside Dallas, Texas earlier this year.

García meeting with Chinese solar panels manufacturer Trina Solar earlier this week. (@samuel_garcias/X)

Land for the industrial park in Nuevo León will be acquired this month, García said, with the first phase to be completed in July 2024.

LGMG highlighted the location as a gateway to the North American and Latin American markets.

On Monday, García announced a deal with Japanese motorcycle maker Kawasaki and said Chinese solar panels manufacturer Trina Solar is “interested” in investing in Nuevo León, as well.

García has cited other interested firms such as Changan Automobile, which makes compact and electric vehicles; tech giant Huawei; and Toupu, which specializes in driving control systems. He also said he had meetings with Intertech, Opple, CF Moto, MG, JL Mag and Apple during his Asian tour.

With reports from El Economista and El Financiero

Why are Mexican court workers protesting?

By

MND Staff

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October 17, 2023

4

Protesters and police — Protesters in Mexico City blocked roads for several hours on Tuesday until they were dispersed by police. (Cuartoscuro)

Employees of Mexico’s judicial system protested across the country on Tuesday morning against a proposed cut to funding for the federal judiciary.

Court workers in Mexico City, Morelos, Tamaulipas, Puebla, Michoacán, Veracruz and Jalisco were among those who joined protests convened by the Union of Federal Judicial Power Workers (STPJF) and the College of Secretaries and Court Clerks of the Federal Judiciary (CSAJF).

Protesters in Mexico City and other parts of the country came out on Monday and Tuesday against proposed cuts to the federal judicial system budget. (Cuartoscuro)

Court workers also protested in some parts of the country on Monday, including in Mexico City, where they blocked several roads.

What exactly are they protesting?

On Oct. 10, the Budget and Public Accounts Committee of the lower house of Congress approved a bill that seeks to eliminate 13 of 14 public trusts that provide funding for the Supreme Court (SCJN), the Federal Electoral Tribunal and the Federal Judiciary Council (CJF).

Their elimination would cut funding for the federal judiciary by 15.45 billion pesos (US $858.7 million) in 2024.

AMLO at morning press conference — The president has said the bill is about “ending privileges” enjoyed by members of the judiciary. (Lopezobrador.org.mx)

The bill, backed by President López Obrador and the ruling Morena party, is yet to be considered by the broader Congress. Morena and its allies have a majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

The bill, which seeks to modify the Organic Law of the Federal Judicial Power, will pass Congress with the support of a simple majority.

What is Morena’s view?

Morena argues that the trust funds are not managed with transparency and afford Supreme Court justices and other senior judges undue privileges, such as allowances for gasoline and highway tolls.

Luis Rodríguez Bucio — The president and his administration have been critical of the judiciary, frequently calling out judges accused of corruption at the daily press conferences, or mañaneras. (Cuartoscuro)

The bill states that the existence of “economic benefits of privilege” that go to “a very small group of officials” is “absolutely unacceptable.”

It also says that the trusts have been subject to criticism due to the vast amount of money held in them and “the fact” that the money is mainly used to pay “special benefits.”

What does President López Obrador say?

López Obrador, a frequent critic of judges, said last week that the purpose of the bill is to cut privileges enjoyed by those occupying the highest ranking positions in Mexico’s judicial system, including Supreme Court justices. He said that at least one judge even had cosmetic plastic surgery “at the expense of the treasury.”

López Obrador asserted that the proposed elimination of the trusts won’t affect lower level court employees.

“It’s about [ending] privileges. [Ordinary workers] won’t be left without salaries, without their basic benefits. No court will be closed, nobody will be dismissed,” he said.

The president prides himself on leading an austere government that has already cut the salaries of many high-ranking officials. He said Tuesday that money saved through the elimination of the judicial trusts would be used to fund educational scholarships for “more than 2 million poor children.”

The judiciary’s opinion

The Supreme Court said in a statement that the elimination of 13 trusts would indeed “affect the work rights” of federal judiciary workers.

“At least six trusts are related to employer obligations,” the SCJN said, adding that meeting those obligations is necessary to guarantee workers’ labor and social security rights, including “pension, housing, health coverage and retirement” rights.

The 11 justices of Mexico’s Supreme Court. (SCJN)

It said that those rights are outlined in the Constitution of Mexico, the Federal Law on Workers at the Service of the State and in various “legal instruments.”

“The operation personnel of the Federal Judicial Power [PJF], which represents more than 60% of staff, are the main beneficiaries of the work benefits linked to the trusts,” the SCJN added.

“The elimination of the trusts DOES limit the operational capacity of the PJF and, with that, the right to access justice, to the harm of society as a whole,” the court said.

It also said that “the management of the trusts is transparent and has mechanisms of accountability.”

The protests

Court workers on Monday protested outside the Chamber of Deputies and set up traffic blockades at at least eight different points in Mexico City, according to media reports. The El País newspaper reported that court employees in other states also took to the streets on Monday to express opposition to the proposed elimination of the trusts.

Trabajadores del Poder Judicial de la Federación. durante sus protestas que se llevaron simultáneamente en varios partes de la #CDMX quemaron una piñata de #AMLO. Los manifestantes piden que no haya recorte al #Presupuesto. Afectaciones viales en la zona de @BJAlcaldia. #ULTIMO pic.twitter.com/BBFVBzDML0

— Pablo Castorena (@jpcastorena) October 16, 2023

Protesters in Mexico City set fire to a piñata effigy of AMLO on Monday

At one protest in the Mexico City borough of Benito Juárez, court employees set fire to a piñata effigy of López Obrador and chanted “fuera AMLO” – a directive for him to leave office.

The SCJN and the CJF later condemned the “symbolic expressions of hate” that occurred during the protests.

The STPJF and the CSAJF issued a statement last Friday calling on court employees across Mexico to protest outside their workplaces starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday. The workers have also been asked to dress in white to demonstrate their opposition to the proposed funding cuts.

Protesters in Toluca held signs saying “The law is the law” and “Don’t touch the court”. (Cuartoscuro)

Jesús Gilberto González Pimentel, secretary general of the STPJF, said that the protests were against the proposed elimination of the trusts as well as the “constant dismissive insults” López Obrador directs at the Mexico’s judicial system and its employees.

“If we don’t make our voices heard in defense of our rights … we’ll create the idea in society that we’re unable to defend [the rights] of those who come to courts and tribunals to seek justice, he said.

Court workers on Tuesday blocked roads in Mexico City, Zapopan, Cancún, Ciudad Victoria and Puebla City among other locations around the country, according to the news website Infobae. Clashes between workers and police were reported at two locations in Mexico City.

Protests were also held outside the Supreme Court and the Chamber of Deputies in the national capital.

What’s next?

A protest is planned at the Chamber of Deputies on Oct. 24, the day on which an “open parliament” session to discuss the 2024 budget will be held.

Deputies are reportedly scheduled to vote on the judiciary funding bill on Tuesday, but as of 3 p.m. a vote hadn’t been held.

With reports from El País, Sin Embargo, El Universal and Infobae

Mexican athletes to watch at the Pan American Games

By

MND Staff

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October 17, 2023

0

unnamed_X — Mexican tae kwon do champion Carlos Sansores and basketball player Karina Esquer are the two flag bearers for Mexico at the upcoming Pan American games in Santiago, Chile. (Conade/X)

The Pan American Games begin this week in Santiago, Chile, where Mexico will be represented by more than 475 athletes in 35 sports.

The games will host approximately 7,000 athletes from 41 countries competing in 39 sports — from archery to basketball to artistic swimming to mountain biking.

Estadio Nacional Santiago, Chile — The opening ceremony will be held at the 48,600 seat Estadio Nacional on Friday. (Santiago2023.org)

Countries in the Americas participate in the games quadrennially, in the year before the Olympics.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday night, but preliminary rounds in sports such as baseball and boxing will begin before that. The closing ceremony is slated for Nov. 5.

Who will be Mexico’s flag bearers?

When the Mexican contingent marches in, Karina Esquer Vila and Carlos Adrián Sansores will have the honor of carrying the green, white and red.

President López Obrador with Karina Esquer — President López Obrador presented the flag to Karina Esquer in a ceremony on Monday. (Lopezobrador.org.mx)

Esquer, 22, a native of Hermosillo, Sonora, led Mexico to a gold medal in 3-on-3 basketball this past summer in the Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador. In Mexico’s thrilling 21-20 come-from-behind victory over Puerto Rico in the final, the 5-foot-6 player scored 14 points and nailed a clutch long-range shot worth two points.

Her tagline on X, formerly Twitter, reads “Proud to be a Mexican Girl.”

Sansores, 26, who hails from Chetumal, Quintana Roo, is a standout competitor in taekwondo. In the heavyweight division (192 pounds and above) at the World Taekwondo Championships, he won a gold last year in Guadalajara and took home a silver this year in Azerbaijan.

He is still looking to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, and could do it in these games. He’ll be trying to improve on the bronze medal he earned in the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima.

Mexican women archers Alejandra Valencia, Aída Román and Ángela Ruiz are all top competitors. (Comité Olímpico Mexicano/X)

Who are the Mexicans to follow?

In archery, one of Mexico’s top Olympic sports, Aída Román and Alejandra Valencia are the ones to watch. Román won a silver medal at the 2012 London Summer Olympics and also has a team bronze from Tokyo 2020. On the rise is 17-year-old Ángela Ruiz, who already has a World Cup silver and is ranked 29th in the world.

In gymnastics, two-time Olympian Alexa Moreno, 29, might not compete due to an injury, but Mexico still has a competitive women’s team, notably 21-year-old Natalia Escalera. Morena recently qualified for her third Olympics at the World Championships in Belgium. Among the men, Isaac Núñez, a specialist on the parallel bars, is one to watch.

Mexican star gymnast Alexa Moreno may miss the games due to an injury. (Alexa Moreno/Instagram)

In surfing, check out Alan Cleland, a 21-year-old phenom from Colima who has already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, meaning he’ll be the first Mexican surfer ever to compete in the Olympics (the sport made its Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2021). Cleland honed his craft at Pascuales, a surfing paradise on the Colima coast.

In artistic swimming — formerly known as synchronized swimming — the Mexican squad will be led by captain Nuria Diosdado, a 33-year-old from Guadalajara who competed in women’s duet in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.

In taekwondo, Daniela Souza and Leslie Soltero are the ones to watch in addition to Sansores. Each of the women won titles in the 2022 World Taekwondo Championships held last November in Guadalajara. Souza, 24, arrives in Santiago looking to defend the gold medal she won in Lima in 2019.

Mexican swimmer Miguel de Lara won gold at the Central American and Caribbean games earlier this year. (Comité Olímpico Mexicano/X)

In swimming, Miguel de Lara will be looking to improve upon his bronze at the 2019 Pan Am games and qualify for the Olympic in the 200-meter breaststroke.

Diver Osmar Olvera is coming off a silver medal in 3-meter individual springboard at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Diego Balleza and Viviana del Ángel won silver medal in the mixed synchronized 10-meter platform event.

Mexico in the Pan Am Games

This year is the 19th edition of the Pan Am Games, and Mexico has competed in every one of them since the first one in 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Mexico hosted the games in 1955 and 1975 in Mexico City, and in 2011 in Guadalajara. The 1975 hosting completed a run during which the Mexican capital also hosted the 1968 Summer Olympics and the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

Mexico’s best showing in the team standings are a pair of third-place finishes, one as the host country in 1955, finishing behind the United States and Argentina.

The other came in the last games, in 2019 in Lima, Peru, when Mexico’s medal haul of 37 golds, 36 silvers and 63 bronzes was better than every squad except the United States and Brazil.

Mexican athletic delegation — Mexico’s athletic delegation for the Pan American Games 2023 with President López Obrador and other officials. (Lopezobrador.org.mx)

Though Mexico has never finished higher than third place, the country has finished lower than sixth only once — an eighth-place showing in 1963 in São Paulo, Brazil.

How to watch

The Panam Sports Channel is the official channel of the Pan Am Games and is available online and through a free mobile app of the same name. Other broadcasters in Chile and beyond include TVN, Canal 13, Chilevisión, CDO, TNT Sports, Zapping TV and DSports.

With reports from UnoTV, Olympics.com, Infobae and Proceso