CIBanco, with over US $7 billion in assets, confirmed the unilateral decision by Visa, which was announced suddenly on Sunday and took effect on Monday afternoon. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
CIBanco, with over US $7 billion in assets, confirmed the unilateral decision by Visa, which was announced suddenly on Sunday and took effect on Monday afternoon.
S&P Global Ratings also terminated its contract with CIBanco on Monday and withdrew its ratings data, including the downgrade to “CreditWatch with negative implications” S&P had issued on Friday.
“We believe CIBanco is in a very vulnerable situation given the consequences that may arise from FinCEN’s announcement,” the ratings agency said.
Additionally, Mexican real estate trusts Terrafina and Fibra Inn said they would remove lender CIBanco as their trustee, according to Reuters.
Visa not only suspended all transactions without prior coordination with CIBanco, but also did so before the 21-day period the Treasury Department typically allows for such actions, according to the magazine Expansión.
The suspension specifically affects CIBanco’s international transactions, including those made with the CICash Multicurrency card. CIBanco has stated that client funds are safe and can be reimbursed.
On Thursday, Mexico’s National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV) decreed a “temporary managerial intervention” at CIBanco after the FinCEN announcement, saying the move was aimed at protecting the bank’s creditors and depositors.
On Friday, Mexico’s Finance Minister Edgar Amador said the interventions at the three financial institutions “provide certainty” to account holders.
CIBanco issued a similar statement to clients:
“Your funds are safe and can be reimbursed through our branch network in the original currency (if available) or in local currency using the method the customer chooses,” it said.
S&P is not so bullish, however. According to the ratings agency, there is a risk that the bank will not be able to access financial transfers with U.S. and domestic institutions, which would limit the sustainability of the business over the next 12 months.
S&P warned that CIBanco’s profitability and capital levels could also be weakened given the contraction in revenue.
CIBanco was originally established in 1983 as Consultoría Internacional (CI), a currency exchange house. It later transformed into a multiple banking institution in 2008.
The battle between the "Los Chapitos" and "Los Mayos" factions of the Sinaloa Cartel has claimed well over 1,000 lives since September 2024. (José Betanzos/Cuartoscuro)
Authorities in the violence-plagued northern state of Sinaloa reported on Monday the discovery of 20 bodies in Culiacán, five of which were decapitated.
Four decapitated bodies were found hanging from a bridge above Federal Highway 15, according to the Sinaloa Attorney General’s Office (FGE).
Sixteen other bodies, one of which was decapitated, were found in a van left on the side of the highway beneath the bridge.
The FGE said that a bag containing five heads was found at the scene. It said that all the victims were men and had gunshot wounds on their bodies.
The bodies were found late on Sunday night north of central Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa and an epicenter of cartel violence. None of the victims had been identified by late Monday.
The grisly discovery came almost one year after alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García was arrested in the United States after he was allegedly kidnapped and forced onto a private plane by Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera.
The alleged kidnapping and arrest of Zambada triggered an escalation in a long-running dispute between the “Los Chapitos” and “Los Mayos” factions of the Sinaloa Cartel. The battle between the rival groups has claimed well over 1,000 lives since September 2024. More than 1,000 people have disappeared in Sinaloa in the same period.
Narco-message was left with the bodies
A narcomanta (narco banner) was left inside or on the Ford Transit Van in which 16 bodies were found, according to media reports.
The Reforma newspaper reported that the message on the banner was directed to “the sons of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, specifically … Iván Archivaldo, leader of the debilitated ‘Los Chapos’ group.”
Casi 300 días de violencia en #Culiacán y lo de esta mañana supera la ficción:
20 sujetos fueron encontrados asesinados: cuatro colgados de un puente carretero en la salida norte y otros 16 cuerpos al interior de una vagoneta.
— Juan Pablo Pérez-Díaz (@perezdiazmx) June 30, 2025
According to Reforma, the message said:
“Start fighting, stop hiding, stealing, and screwing over the people. … This is what will happen to the entire bunch of delusional ones who go along with the ‘Chapozetas’. We’ll be waiting for you here — welcome to the new Sinaloa, without extortion and fighting against scum. Sincerely, The People of Sinaloa.”
The massacre of 20 people is the deadliest single episode of violence of what has widely been described as a “war” between “Los Chapitos” and “Los Mayos.”
Citing four sources, The New York Times reported on Monday that amid the turmoil “Los Chapitos” have entered into an alliance with “an old and powerful adversary, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel,” or CJNG.
“The risky move by El Chapo’s sons could ultimately turn the Jalisco cartel into the world’s biggest drug trafficker — a shift that could potentially redraw alliances and power structures across international drug markets, analysts say,” the Times reported.
Sinaloa government: ‘Military and police forces are working together to reestablish total peace’
Feliciano Castro Meléndrez, general secretary of the Sinaloa government, said that the murders of the 20 people whose bodies were found in Culiacán “is part of the the violence and insecurity” plaguing Sinaloa.
“[It’s a] regrettable situation, all deaths are regrettable, even more so when they are deaths imposed by violence,” he said.
Castro said that the Sinaloa government, led by Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, “in coordination” with the federal government, is committed to “implementing the measures necessary to continue making progress in the fight against this situation of violence and security.”
The “military and police forces are working together to reestablish total peace in Sinaloa,” he said.
Almost 10,000 members of federal security forces, including the army and the National Guard, have been deployed to Sinaloa in the past year. (José Betanzos Zarate/Cuartoscuro)
Almost 10,000 members of federal security forces, including the army and the National Guard, have been deployed to the state, but have been unable to quell the violence to any significant extent.
Castro said that “every occurrence” of violence obliges authorities to “review the process of the [security] strategy,” adding that it was especially incumbent on them to do so after “events of the magnitude such as that we have just recorded.”
He asserted that “very significant results” have been achieved in the fight against violence in Sinaloa, and noted that in early July the state government will present “a complete report” on the security situation based on the events of the first six months of the year.
The task authorities face is a monumental one. Sinaloa was the fifth most violent state in Mexico in the first five months of the year in terms of total homicides with 686, according to federal data. Murders in the northern state increased by 244% compared to the 199 recorded in the first five months of 2024.
In Culiacán, “intense fighting between the heavily armed” rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel “has become the new normal” since the escalation of their dispute last year, according to the Associated Press.
The news agency reported that “dead bodies appear scattered across Culiacán on a daily basis, homes are riddled with bullets, businesses shutter and schools regularly close down during waves of violence.”
“Masked young men on motorcycles watch over the main avenues of the city,” AP added.
In addition to the discovery of the 20 bodies on Federal Highway 15 late Sunday, there were numerous other murders in Culiacán and other parts of Sinaloa in recent days. The news website La Silla Rota reported that there were a total of 45 murders across six Sinaloa municipalities in the four days between last Friday and Monday.
July in Oaxaca means Guelaguetza, of course. But that's not the only thing to do in town this month. (Dreamstime)
In Oaxaca, July can be seen as a month of two halves. The first is in build-up to the famous Guelaguetza celebrations. Throughout the month, you can experience the colorful traditions of Oaxaca — from iconic dances like Danza de la Pluma to the everyday spirit of sharing that defines Guelaguetza. You can attend the main dance events at the Guelaguetza stadium on the two “lunes del Cerro,” this year starting on the 21st of July, though tickets are hard to come by.
Even without a ticket to the auditorium, there are many ways to enjoy the Guelaguetza experience. Street parades, markets, and other celebrations bring the festival to life beyond the stadium. Throughout July, artisan, food, and mezcal fairs are held in the city and surrounding towns.
Danza de la Pluma
Danza de la pluma Guelaguetza
Great places to visit for Guelaguetza include Zimatlan, Teotitlan del Valle and Cuilápam de Guerrero. These celebrations include la Danza de la Pluma. This dance reenacts the Spanish conquest through the depiction of two warring factions — the Spanish and the Mexica. Dancers wear large semicircular headdresses made from thousands of brightly colored feathers, embedded with mirrors representing the moon and stars. Each Monday, more than a dozen communities from Oaxaca’s eight regions take the stage, with different groups performing in the morning and afternoon shows. Through dance, music, and traditional clothing, they showcase the unique traditions and identities of their communities.
When: Every Monday until July 21 Cost:No cover Where: Across Oaxaca
Tlayuda Fair
(Anna Bruce)
Enjoy the best of Oaxacan cuisine with a wide variety of tlayudas and traditional products. The event will include “The World’s Largest Tlayuda!” Come witness Oaxaca set a new world record for the largest tlayuda!
When: July 11-13, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Cost: No cover Where: Parque Primavera Oaxaqueña.
Mezcal Fair
(Canva)
One of the most anticipated events during the Guelaguetza season, bringing over 300 Oaxacan mezcals under one roof. This spirit is a taste of Oaxaca, with deep roots expressing tradition and terroir. While mezcal is the focus, you’ll also find local brewers, coffee roasters, traditional foods, and artisans showcasing their work.
When: July 18 29, 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Cost: 75 pesos Where: Centro Cultural y de Convenciones de Oaxaca
Legend of Donaji performance
Cautiva “Donají…” en su segunda presentación
The Zapotec legend of Donají is a tale of love between a Zapotec princess and a Mixtec warrior prince that ultimately ends in sacrifice. The legend is brought to life through music and dance in Donají La Leyenda. The performance takes place in the auditorium on the two Sundays leading up to Los Lunes del Cerro. The show is in Spanish with interpretive dance and music.
When: July 20 and 27, 8:30 p.m. Cost: 400-450 pesos Where: Guelaguetza Auditorium
Cocktail collaboration night
(Rambling Spirits)
Caldo de Piedra make their famous soup, a culinary tradition that dates back to pre-Hispanic times. This gastronomic heritage has been preserved by families of San Felipe Usila, in Tuxtepec, a Chinantec town in Oaxaca. The soup is made up of a broth, shrimp, fish, onions, herbs, and chile, heated by fire-heated stones.
Espacio Verde will provide fresh oysters and sushi, while Rambling Spirits will serve a selection of cocktails to support each dish.
When: 19 July, 12 p.m. Cost: No cover Where: Caldo de Piedra, Carretera al tule Cristóbal Colón 116, Tlalixtac de Cabrera
3rd Anniversary of Mezcaleria Quiote
(Quiote Mezcaleria)
Driven by a deep passion for mezcal and a commitment to preserving its authentic roots, Celia created a space to honor the connection between the land and its people, allowing the rich stories of mezcal to be shared. You know you are on the right path to finding this hidden gem by following signs saying “rare mezcal.’
When: July 28th, 4 p.m. Cost: No cover Where: Quiote Mezcaleria – C. José López Alavez 1423, Xochimilco, 68040.
Ghibli in concert
(Studio Ghibli)
A concert in tribute to Joe Hisaishi. Mamoru Fujisawa, known professionally as Joe Hisaishi, is a Japanese composer, musical director, conductor, and pianist, known for over 100 film scores and solo albums dating back to 1981.
When: July 5, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Cost: 350 MXN in advance, 400 MXN at the door Where: Casa Ceiba
The Casa Subterránea Art School is an educational and artistic initiative with a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative approach. Its mission is to foster the creative and critical development of young people from vulnerable backgrounds, offering them a learning space that prioritizes respect, participation, and reflection. You can learn about the graphic traditions of Oaxaca and how to make large-format paper stencil.
Bringing together more than 50 vendors selling a selection of tejate-based drinks and tamales, the festival is a chance to try some delicious favorites. You’ll have the chance to taste tejate in its traditional form as well as in creative variations like coconut tejate and tejate-based ice cream, cookies, and cakes. The tamales feature traditional mole and bean fillings as well as specialty tamales.
When: TBC Where: Plaza de la Danza Cost: No cover
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.
In her new home in the small Guerrero town of El Coacoyul, the writer has found that her life is slower and smaller than in her previous home of Zihuatanejo, but that this has been a positive change. (Elisabeth Ashe)
When I first arrived in Mexico over 31 years ago, I was immediately smitten with Zihuatanejo and felt drawn to find a way to live and work there on either a part-time or full-time basis. Somehow, my dream of Mexican life was realized, and I divided my time between Mexico and Canada almost equally.
After renting for many years in various parts of both Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, I decided three years ago to build a home on some property I had purchased years earlier, just 15 minutes south of Zihuatanejo in the small Mexican town of El Coacoyul (population 6,900 people). El Coacoyul, formerly known as Hacienda El Coacoyul, is named after an exotic plant popular in the town. The name is Indigenous and means “navel of the world.”
The writer recently moved from the expat enclave of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo for a different life in a small town not far from the beach resort area. (Eduardo Romero/Unsplash)
El Coacoyul has beautiful murals that appear unexpectedly on hidden streets and walkways. Although a little faded from when various artists first painted them a couple of years ago, they showcase the amazing talent in the area, and I enjoy exploring the side streets in search of them.
The town has experienced rapid growth, thanks in part to the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport and to its proximity to the city of Zihuatanejo and surrounding tourist areas. Large acres of coconut groves in the town rapidly made way for the current building sites of today.
However, El Coacoyul still has a small-town feel, and I appreciate the rural setting and privacy it provides while still being close enough to amenities. When choosing where to live in Mexico, most people feel more comfortable moving to a larger city rather than a small town. For one thing, the social aspect is better, and they are often surrounded by other expats, which can be comforting for some.
I understand that. At first, the major adjustment I had to make was being unable to step out of my door and walk to my regular Zihuatanejo haunts. The other adjustment was that I knew very few people in El Coacoyul, and at night, especially, it can get a bit lonely without friends nearby.
However, I now enjoy being one of the few foreigners in the community. It forces me to be outgoing and to talk to strangers that I might normally pass by. It’s rewarding when locals stop and say hello. I grew up in a small town in Canada, and knowing everyone was what made it special.
Being here reminds me of home, and I find a similar sense of acceptance that I appreciate in small communities. And when I need a more social life, I know I can always drive to nearby Zihuatanejo. What has been interesting to me is that the more I become accustomed to peace, quiet and solitude, the more I like it.
El Coacoyul’s small-town atmosphere reminds the writer of her childhood in a small community in Canada, where residents know each other well and look out for their neighbors’ welfare.
My move did involve other adjustments: At first, I still found myself driving to Zihuatanejo for most of my supplies. However, I have since discovered that anything I need is just a stone’s throw away from where I live. And so, as the song goes, here are just a few of my favorite things and the reason I am so happy in my new home.
Down the street, I buy fresh chicken at a place called Pollería Luz, where the owner, always friendly, sells the best fresh, plump chicken in his small, immaculate shop. If I haven’t been there in a while, he notices my absence and asks if everything is all right with me. Along the same street is the wonderful cake shop that has caught my attention. Since I am not a fan of the more commonly sold tres leches cake, I was thrilled to know they sell authentic chocolate cake.
I am now such a frequent customer that as soon as I pull up on my scooter, they ask, “Chocolate?”
Heading back to the main road, there is my favourite fruit and vegetable stand. It’s always a relief not to fight traffic like when I’m trying to find that elusive parking spot in downtown Zihuatanejo. Here, Julio sells a wide variety of fresh produce at reasonable prices, and he’ll sometimes toss in an apple or an orange as a bonus, which never fails to put a smile on my face. Hector the locksmith has bailed me out more than once when my locks mysteriously stop working. He not only makes house calls but also speaks English.
At Carnitas Quirego, my favourite taco stand, I’m conspicuous among the locals, who smile back when I greet them, somewhat surprised I speak Spanish, but it’s a great ice-breaker. Coacoyul boasts a large sports area, and I often see events held there in the evenings as I’m driving home. I keep promising myself I’ll muster the courage to stop and mingle, but so far, I’ve been too shy to do it. But I can see the opportunities for connecting with others there.
I also visit the Museo del Coco (The Coconut Museum), which is a short three blocks from the highway heading south on a paved road, for two reasons: One, they have a great restaurant and host fun-filled events and exhibitions regularly. Not only can I buy all things coco in the gift shop, such as mezcal, soap and oil but I also can take in a special exhibit, like the one that just happened to feature snakes, reptiles and insects. The second reason — if you will pardon the blatant self-promotion — is that it is home to The Seahorse Sanctuary & Equine Therapy Centre, a nonprofit organization I founded three years ago that helps kids and adults with disabilities through our horse program.
The mural at the Museo del Coco, which preserves the area’s history of commercial coconut farming. The groves are disappearing as they give way to the thirst for development around Zihuatanejo.
It’s not easy to integrate into any community, regardless of the country in which you live. It’s a challenge to make new friends while also embracing a different mindset. For example, people here tend to be generally more relaxed. However, I find that I prefer the slower pace, especially when I drive on the quieter side streets.
I watch older adults, who have most likely known each other their whole lives, stop and chat on the streets while sweeping the sidewalks clean. Gaggles of children walk to and from school, and although this happens in larger centers too, there is something so “Norman Rockwell” about the sight — a reminder of days gone by. Dogs roam the streets, sometimes lazily sleeping in the middle of the road. Sometimes, I’ve had to honk my horn, but more often than not, I’ve had to go around. It never fails to amuse me.
I’m calmer living here. I don’t get as triggered by little things as I used to. I find myself more at peace than I have ever been in my entire life. And that’s a good thing.
The writer divides her time between Canada and Zihuatanejo.
The president celebrated the reduction of the proposed tax rate to 1%, from 5% originally, and 3.5% in legislation approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)
The United States’ proposed tax on outgoing remittances, the upcoming renewal of Mexico’s judiciary and the appointment of a controversial former government official to an international role were among the issues President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about at her Monday morning press conference.
Here is a recap of the president’s June 30 mañanera.
Reduction of US tax on remittances to 1% an ‘achievement’ of ‘our compatriots,’ says Sheinbaum
Sheinbaum noted that the U.S. Senate’s proposed tax on remittances sent abroad from the United States is just 1% and will only apply to cash transfers, if approved by the U.S. Congress.
(A marathon voting session in the U.S. Senate on Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” was still taking place at the time of writing.)
“That achievement is of our compatriots, mainly due to the sending of letters to senators, especially by those who have dual nationality,” Sheinbaum said.
“… A lot of letters arrived [to senators],” she said.
“… How did the wording end up? It ended up at [a] 1% [tax], but only on remittances sent in cash. All the electronic transfers will have a 0% tax. And more than 90% [of remittances] are sent by electronic transfers,” Sheinbaum said.
“For those who send in cash, on Friday this week we’re going to announce a special program … in order to be able to reimburse that 1%,” she said.
If passed by the United States Congress, the bill establishes a 1% tax on remittances, but only those sent in cash.
Sheinbaum subsequently noted that “according to the Bank of Mexico, 99% of remittances [to Mexico] are sent by electronic transfer.”
“… And those who send in cash are a very small percentage. And for those who send in cash, we’re going to provide a reimbursement of that 1% through the [government] Finabien card,” she said.
Judicial system with new judges will ‘work well’
A reporter noted that judges elected at Mexico’s first-ever judicial elections, including Supreme Court justices, will assume their positions on Sept. 1. Many of the judges elected are aligned with, or seen as sympathetic to, the ruling Morena party, leading to claims that an essential check on executive and legislative power will be lost.
Sheinbaum asserted that the judicial system will “work well” once the judges elected on June 1 assume their positions.
“Better than the current one, much better, and it will become stronger so there is justice in the country, not like now, with a very corrupt judiciary,” she said.
A new prisons ‘policy’ is coming, says Sheinbaum
A reporter noted that around 20,000 people have been arrested for high-impact crimes since the current government took office on Oct. 1.
“Where do they go? In which prisons are they? Are you thinking about opening new detention centers?” the reporter asked.
“There is also a policy for penitentiary centers,” Sheinbaum responded.
“We’ll announce it in due course,” she said.
Ex-COVID czar will be Mexico’s delegate to WHO
Sheinbaum confirmed that former deputy health minister Hugo López-Gatell will be Mexico’s next representative to the World Health Organization.
Hugo López-Gatell became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time he was Mexico’s deputy health minister. (lopezobrador.org.mx)
She said she didn’t know the exact date he would start in the position as Mexico’s delegate to the Geneva-based specialized United Nations agency.
“I appointed him,” Sheinbaum said, noting that the designation doesn’t require the approval of the Senate.
Former presidential candidate and current National Action Party Senator Ricardo Anaya was among the people who criticized the appointment of López-Gatell to the WHO role.
“Doctor death, the person responsible for many of the [pandemic] deaths, is being named as Mexico’s representative to the World Health Organization. Our deepest, most forceful rejection of that appointment,” he said.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream? Shakespeare was obviously inspired by what’s on in Mexico City in July 2025. (Frida Kahlo Corporation/Frida Kahlo: La Vida de un Ícono)
July in Mexico City will not give you a typical summer day. Not ever — and certainly not in 2025.
There’s a Mexico City for every taste this month. From art exhibits touring from the Dallas Museum of Art to the capital’s half marathon, chaotic CDMX will keep you on your toes this rainy July.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the Teatro Metropólitan
(Decklord/Wikimedia Commons)
“Hi, we’ve missed you,” The Yeah Yeah Yeahs recently wrote in a post on their official Instagram account. “They don’t miss you like we miss you.”
Frontwoman Karen O and the boys will be returning to Mexico after a two-year Yeah Yeah Yeahs drought, bringing anthems like “Gold Lion” and “Date With the Night” to the Teatro Metropólitano on the first two nights of July. They’re celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, so Mexicans are ready to bang our heads to their greatest hits. You could too!
Dates: July 1 and 2 Location: Teatro Metropólitan. Ave. Independencia 90, Centro, Cuauhtémoc Cost: Varies due to reserved seating
Staycationers like myself just love these kinds of artsy local pop-up events, full of life, design and cute plants to light up our living rooms.
Casa Botánica 2025, a collective that combines plants, design, art, fashion and well-being, promises unique workshops on the first weekend of July where you’ll likely leave with something green you made to decorate your home.
Eager to craft a therapeutic pillow stuffed with dry flowers? Looking to deepen your knowledge on how to grow your own orchids? This is your chance!
Dates: July 4 through 6, 2025 Location: Lucerna 32, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc Cost: Free admission. Workshop fees vary.
Mexicráneos exhibit
(Andrea Fischer/KINOKI Cine)
Mexico City usually awaits the annual Mexicráneos exhibit in November, just in time for Day of the Dead festivities across the capital. Traditionally occurring along Reforma Avenue, this exhibit showcases the talent of local artists and designers.
This year, Mexico City gets an early treat: the J. García López exhibition, featuring 105 monumental skulls, will arrive months ahead at the Xochimilco Ecological Park. Opening July 5, Mexicráneos 2025 will awaken the scent of cempasúchil flowers along the Xochimilco canals months before Día del Muertos.
Date: July 5 to Nov. 31 Location: Xochimilco Ecological Park Cost: Free
Dharma Day Festival at the Buddhist Center
(Amit Kumar/Unsplash)
Dharma Day is traditionally “one of the most important days in the Buddhist calendar,” explains the Buddhist Center of Mexico City, “on which the Buddha’s first teaching is celebrated.”
Falling on July 10 this year, Buddhist temples and centers around the world will hold pujas — sacred chanting sessions — throughout the night and special meditations to honor Siddhartha Gautama. Mexico City’s Buddhist Center is no exception.
Celebrations begin on July 10 and continue through July 11, when the Center will hold its very own chanting and meditation program. Free talks and discussion groups on the meaning of dharma are also held every year. You can book your spot online or go directly to the center, located in Roma Norte.
Date: July 10 and 11, 2025 Location: Centro Budista, Jalapa 94, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc Cost: By donation
Mexico City Half-Marathon
(Government of Mexico City)
This year, 30,000 people will compete in the capital’s annual half-marathon on July 13. Starting at the Torre del Caballito and heading out to Lomas de Chapultepec before looping back and speeding their way down Paseo de la Reforma to reach the finish line at the city’s iconic Independence Angel.
Competitors mustsign up online and be over 18 years of age. There is an entry fee.
By the way, unless you’re a participating runner or planning to attend, you may not want to leave home on Sunday, July 13, if you live in Mexico City. Authorities will close important roads along the route, starting with Reforma Avenue, and traffic will be chaotic. Take precautions!
The Barra México Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary on July 12–13 with cocktails, fine spirits, craft beer and a lot of wine.
Some of Mexico’s finest distilleries will be on hand to showcase their latest products. Representatives from Miami and London bars will be featured in this year’s lineup. Over 30 seminars, talks and tastings will also be held at the festival location: a Porfiriato-era estate that now functions as the Proyecto General Prim cultural center.
Some events will be available in English.
Date: July 12 and 13, 2025 Location: Proyecto General Prim cultural center at General Prim 30, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc Cost: Day passes start at 2,250 pesos
Guided architectural tour of the Tamayo Museum
(Galo Cañas Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)
Master painter Rufino Tamayo, a Oaxaca native, always dreamed that his work would be framed by the trees of Chapultepec Park, and the museum that bears his name is the realization of that dream.
Renowned Mexican architects Teodoro González de León and Abraham Zabludovsky were in charge of the museum’s design, which won them the National Prize for Sciences and Arts in the Fine Arts category in 1972.
Given this site’s architectural importance, museum authorities host cultural walks every Sunday to appreciate the compound’s architectural details. Book your free tour a week in advance, as this activity is in very high demand.
Date: Every Saturday in 2025 Location: Museo Tamayo, Reforma Avenue 51, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo Cost: Free
Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon
(Frida Kahlo Corporation)
¡Fridalízate! (“Get Frida’d”) That’s the invitation this exhibit’s organizers make to the public with “Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon.”
As animmersive biography experience, the Mexican artist’s entire pictorial work will dance before visitors’ eyes. The design agency Algo Studio collaborated with Museo Frida Kahlo to take a journey of the senses through the life and work of the surrealist painter.
For 60 minutes, visitors will indulge in immersive art on 1,000 square meters of screens. A mélange of historical photographs, original films, installations and digital art will make Kahlo’s legacy come to life.
Date: Runs until July 19 Location: Espacio ALTER. Laguna de Términos 260, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo Cost: 400-500 pesos
The Impressionist Revolution: From Monet to Matisse
(Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes)
This month is your very last chance to marvel at the great impressionist masters in the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Ending on July 27, this exhibit brings together some of the finest pieces from the Dallas Museum of Art collection. Renoir, Manet and some of the most renowned Impressionist painters have taken over the “Nacional” and “Diego Rivera” galleries of the Bellas Artes Museum.
The exhibition, according to organizers, seeks to reveal the “rebellious origins of the collective of independent artists known as the Impressionists,” in a statement earlier this year. If you haven’t had the chance to feast your eyes on Manet’s soft brushing technique, or Monet’s delicate “Le Pont Neuf”, this is your last chance! Plan a wonderful artsy Sunday morning and leave Centro Histórico feeling like a true art critic.
Date: Runs until July 27, 2025 Location: Palacio de Bellas Artes, Av. Juarez S/N, Centro Histórico Cost: 95 pesos
Harry Potter: Visions of Magic
(Harry Potter: Visions of Magic)
More interactive experiences with digital art in Mexico City? Yes, and this with a touch of whimsy, courtesy of every child’s favorite wizard — Harry Potter!
Harry Potter: Visions of Magic, taking place at the Gran Carpa Sante Fe circus hall, was designed for Potterheads who want to explore every corner of J.K. Rowling’s magical world. Inspired by the beloved film series, this exhibit recreates Harry Potter’s most iconic props and sets. From the Ministry of Magic to Knockturn Alley, visitors will be able to stroll their way across entire alleyways of screens. And yes, everyone gets an interactive magic wand too, to live out their Hogwarts fantasy.
Date: Runs until August 31, 2025 Location: Gran Carpa Santa Fe: Vasco de Quiroga 2000, Santa Fe, Álvaro Obregón Cost: Tickets start at 630 pesos
Oaxaca's annual Guelaguetza festival has acquired worldwide fame, and this year, its profits will go directly to an urgent cause. (Carolina Jiménez/Cuartoscuro)
Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara has announced that all profits from the Guelaguetza festival, the state’s preeminent Indigenous cultural event that takes place throughout July, will be devoted to the reconstruction of regions destroyed by Hurricane Erick.
In a social media post on Friday, Jara announced the creation of a Guelaguetza fund, with all ticket sales from the festival’s two iconic “Mondays on the Hill” (Los lunes del cerro) being redirected to hurricane clean-up efforts.
In one region of Oaxaca especially hard hit by Erick, it is estimated that 25% of the homes were destroyed. (Carolina Jiménez Mariscal/Cuartoscuro)
“Our sisters and brothers are not alone, and we will not abandon them,” he wrote. “We will work to get [the coastal areas] back on their feet and strengthen the region.”
The Guelaguetza festival is an annual celebration of Oaxaca’s rich cultural and ethnic diversity, showcasing traditional dances, music, food, and crafts from the state’s eight geographic regions.
Taking place July 18-29, the Mezcal Fair is expected to attract 132,000 people and generate more than 31 million pesos (US $1.6 million).
Even so, Jara said he expects the cost of rebuilding the affected areas will exceed the funds collected from July’s festivals.
Erick had strengthened to a Category 4 storm as it approached Mexico’s coast, but weakened to a Category 3 before making landfall on June 19. It came ashore in extreme western Oaxaca, east of Punta Maldonado — between the resort cities of Acapulco and Puerto Escondido — with 125 mph winds, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center.
Authorities reported landslides, blocked highways, flooding and downed power lines which left roughly 277,000 homes without electricity for several hours. Jara said about 25% of the 10,000 homes in the region were completely destroyed.
In another social media post, Jara praised the efforts of federal, state and local officials, as well as the public in general, for their efforts to re-establish basic services, re-open roads and highways and distribute provisions to those affected by Erick.
Employees of the state’s Potable Water and Sewage Services Operating System were particularly busy. In addition to assessing water supplies in affected areas, they affixed giant tarps as temporary protection to 50 homes whose roofs had been destroyed and distributed food supplies to more than 500 families.
On June 27, Jara reported that the municipality of San Francisco Ozolotepec was still cut off from assistance by land after a hillside collapsed and buried the lone road into the area. Residents from three towns in the municipality were receiving humanitarian aid by air, carried out by the Army, while the state worked to clear the road.
Were Mexico to be recommended for FATF's "grey list," it would be subject to increased monitoring and required to resolve its deficiencies, or risk being placed on the "black list." (Giorgio Trovato/Unsplash)
Could Mexico join countries such as Haiti, Venezuela and South Sudan on the Financial Action Task Force’s “grey list” due to deficiencies in its measures to counter money laundering?
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental organization that describes itself as “the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.”
The organization maintains a “black list,” which “identifies countries or jurisdictions with serious strategic deficiencies to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and financing of [weapon] proliferation.”
Three countries — North Korea, Iran and Myanmar — are currently on that list.
The FATF also has a “grey list,” which “identifies countries that are actively working with the FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and [weapon] proliferation financing.”
“When the FATF places a jurisdiction under increased monitoring” — i.e. on the “grey list” — “it means the country has committed to resolve swiftly the identified strategic deficiencies within agreed timeframes and is subject to increased monitoring,” according to the intergovernmental organization.
There are currently 24 countries and jurisdictions on the “grey list,” including the three mentioned above as well as Algeria, Bulgaria, Kenya, Monaco, Syria and the British Virgin Islands, among others.
US accusations ‘will be reflected in next FATF assessment,’ says anti-money laundering expert
El Universal reported on Monday that there is a risk that Mexico will be added to the FATF’s “grey list” due to the alleged cases of “narcolavado” (drug trafficking-related money laundering) involving the Mexican banks CIBanco and Intercam and the Mexican brokerage firm Vector.
The newspaper’s assessment was based on an interview with Genaro Gómez Muñoz, an anti-money laundering expert who is a member of the Money Laundering Prevention and Anti-Corruption Commission of the Mexican Institute of Public Accountants.
Gómez Muñoz told El Universal that the United States’ allegations against CIBanco, Intercam and Vector — all of which denied the allegations that they laundered millions of dollars for drug cartels — “will be reflected in the next FATF assessment” of Mexico, whose results will be announced later this year.
He noted that Mexico’s capacity to counter money laundering hasn’t been assessed by the FATF since 2017. This year’s assessment comes at a time when the Mexican government is seeking to strengthen anti-money laundering legislation. A proposed reform to that end was approved by the Senate last week.
Nevertheless, “the cases of the banks that are allegedly involved with [money laundering related to] drug trafficking will impact us in the result” of the FATF assessment, Gómez Muñoz said.
He said that the FATF’s rating of “due diligence” in Mexico with regard to efforts to prevent money laundering would suffer as a result of the United States’ accusations against CIBanco, Intercam and Vector.
Gómez Muñoz: US saw ‘a risk to the integrity and security of their financial system’
The United States Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) outlined the accusations against CIBanco, Intercam and Vector in orders that also prohibit transactions between U.S. banks and the three Mexican financial institutions.
FinCEN said last week that its orders would “become effective 21 days after … [they] are published in the Federal Register,” which occurred last week.
“By that date [mid-July] covered financial institutions should … cease any and all transmittals of funds, from or to CIBanco, Intercam, or Vector, as defined in the orders,” FinCEN said.
Mexico’s National Banking Commission took custody of CIBanco and Intercam on Thursday, replacing the two banks’ administrative bodies and legal representatives “for the purpose of safeguarding the rights of savers and clients of these institutions.” (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
United States Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said last Wednesday that, “Through the first use of this powerful authority, today’s actions affirm Treasury’s commitment to using all tools at our disposal to counter the threat posed by criminal and terrorist organizations trafficking fentanyl and other narcotics.”
“They saw there is a risk to the integrity and security of their financial system, [with it] being used by criminal organizations related to the trafficking of fentanyl, which at this time is the enemy of United States society,” he said.
CIBanco and Intercam customers report restrictions on USD transactions
“In the case of CIBanco, the manager of a company who preferred not to be identified, explained that he can’t withdraw, transfer or exchange foreign currency from his dollar account,” El Economista said.
The newspaper said that two other CIBanco customers it spoke to reported that there hadn’t been any problems with transfers in Mexican pesos.
El Economista didn’t provide additional details on the problems it said Intercam customers have also experienced when managing their dollar accounts.
Both CIBanco and Intercam were disconnected from Mexico’s SPEI money transfer system for five hours last Thursday, the newspaper said.
Finance Minister Edgar Amador Zamora said on Friday that the aim of the administrative takeovers was to “ensure there were no interruptions in the banking system and to look after … the savings of the clients of these institutions.”
Asked whether the money of account holders at the three financial institutions is safe, Amador responded, “Absolutely.”
The July events continue ongoing celebrations of the capital's Indigenous heritage, including the pre-Columbian dance presentation in June of "El ombligo de la luna" (the navel of the moon) — thought by some to be the literal meaning of the Nahuatl place name Mexico. (Magdalena Montiel/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico City is gearing up to celebrate the 700th anniversary of Tenochtitlán, the pre-Columbian capital of the Aztec Empire, with a series of events on and around July 26 at several of the modern capital’s landmarks.
Tenochtitlán, the largest and most advanced city of its time in Mesoamerica, is thought to have been founded in 1325 by the Aztecs — more accurately known as the Mexica (Meh-shee-ca) — on an island in Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico. It was the heart of a powerful multiethnic state that dominated much of Mesoamerica through alliances and conquests.
President Claudia Sheinbaum and Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada give the press a glimpse of the upcoming filmed opera about the Aztecs’ defense of Tenochtitlán. (@ClaraBrugadaM/on X)
It fell on August 13, 1521, to Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his Indigenous allies, marking the end of the Aztec Empire and the beginning of the colonial era. The Spanish conquerors proceeded to destroy most of what was left of Tenochtitlán as they started to build what would become Mexico City.
During President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Monday morning press conference, Diego Prieto, head of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), said that “the goal of this commemoration is to recover historical memory and recognize the greatness of those who built this city.”
Of course, the exact date of the city’s founding is not known, but Lorena Vázquez, head of INAH’s Urban Archaeology Program, explained that July 26 was chosen as a symbolic date because it marks the “second passage of the sun” in the Mesoamerican calendar.
What events are planned for the Tenochtitlán celebration?
This is the official program of the celebration, as announced by Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada:
Video Mapping: Every night from July 11 to 27, a light and sound show will be projected onto the facades of the National Palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City’s Zócalo, narrating the mythical journey of the Mexica from Aztlán to the founding and evolution of Mexico-Tenochtitlán.
Island Trail: A 23-kilometer illuminated path will mark the perimeter of the ancient island of Tenochtitlán, accompanied by murals and walls so that visitors can walk and learn about the city’s history.
📸😲 ¡Brotaron nopales en Paseo de la Reforma! Estas coloridas esculturas adornan ya mismo la avenida, corre a tomarte fotos y admirar todos sus detalles: https://t.co/GiX49jgSqopic.twitter.com/BO1fUQjmGH
Ancestral Migration: On July 26, some 3,500 dancers from different communities will perform a symbolic tour of the capital, commemorating the migration of the Mexica people. The migration will take place from the Cincalco cave in Chapultepec Park to the capital’s Zócalo.
Cuauhtemoczin Film Opera: The Mexico City government will present the Cuauhtemoczin Film Opera, which narrates in Nahuatl the heroic defense of Mexico-Tenochtitlán, led by Cuauhtémoc. Several performances at the Palace of Fine Arts are to be announced.
Nopalera in the Heart: Artists and collectives from the Milpa Alta borough recently inaugurated a public art exhibition featuring 50 sculptures of nopales, the edible cactus pads that are so important to the Mexican diet. The open-air exhibit can be viewed along the Paseo de la Reforma.
Tenochtitlán Codex Book: This book will be distributed in all elementary schools in Mexico City in an effort to share the history of the Mexica migration with children.
In addition to these events, members of the Ministry of National Defense (Defensa) will perform a staged reenactment of the decisive battles of Mexico-Tenochtitlán on July 26 at 10 a.m., followed by the unveiling of a new monument later that day.
Dubbed the “Tlalmanali” (or “tlalmanalli,” the usual spelling in the Aztec language Nahuatl, “ofrenda” in Spanish, “offering” in English), the monument will be located in the northeast corner of the Zócalo, as a symbol of the Mexica legacy.
Baja California has deployed more than 250 firefighters from the state and other parts of the country to contain the fires, as well as two helicopters. (Karen Castañeda/Cuartoscuro)
Wildfires have ravaged the border municipality of Tecate in Baja California, as firefighters enter their 15th consecutive day battling to extinguish the blaze.
The fire, which has now spread to over 16,000 hectares, started on June 16 in the Guadalajara 2 community of Tecate, a municipality of approximately 100,000.
The epicenter of the fires is in the town of La Rumorosa, where dozens of houses have been damaged or destroyed by the fires.
Thousands of native trees and plants across the region have also been destroyed, and many animals have died as they were unable to escape the rapid advance of the wildfires.
The National Forestry Commission (Conafor) reported on Sunday that approximately 75% of the blaze was deemed under control and 50% extinguished, though the risk of further spread will depend heavily on weather conditions over the coming days.
Temperatures in the Mexicali area, which borders Tecate, are expected to reach between 40 and 44 degrees Celsius this week.
Baja California has deployed more than 250 firefighters from the state and other parts of the country to contain the fires. Two helicopters were also assigned to the efforts over the weekend, according to a report issued by Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda on Sunday.
The government of Tecate issued a pre-evacuation warning for La Rumorosa, which has around 2,000 residents, as well as Rancho Ramírez, Bosques del Cóndor, Rancho Tierra Prometida, Rancho La Mesa Colorada, Ejido Cuarzo Rosa and nearby communities.
“This preventive measure aims to safeguard the safety of residents in the face of the risk posed by the fire, which continues to be combated by emergency services from all three levels of government,” the municipal government stated.
Local authorities urged people to consider pets and farm animals in evacuation plans. They asked that people stay informed and take preventive measures, such as preparing emergency supplies, including water, non-perishable food, flashlights, a first-aid kit and important documents.
Temporary shelters have been set up at the La Rumorosa Funeral Home and the DIF Community Center in El Hongo, in the Luis Echeverría neighborhood.
Air quality in the region has also worsened due to the fires, with children and the elderly most at risk.
