The investment is expected to generate roughly 1,200 new jobs in coming years. (Shutterstock)
British consumer goods company Unilever will invest $30 billion pesos (US $1.5 billion) in Mexico over the next three years to increase production capacity.
Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard made the announcement during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Friday morning press conference.
“It’s important to recognize that these investment announcements are being made in an uncertain economic environment,” Ebrard said. “So beyond the [monetary] value, the fact that companies are investing in Mexico means they see a positive and promising future for Mexico.”
The factory will be located in the municipality of Salinas Victoria, Nuevo León, about 38 kilometers north of Monterrey. It will produce beauty products and personal care items by its brand leaders Dove, Rexona and Sedal, according to Willem Uijen, Unilever’s chief supply chain and operations officer.
Uijen said the London-based company maintains a long-term commitment to Mexico’s development and is intent on strengthening its operations in the country.
Unilever COO Willem Uijen (left) and Unilever Mexico Director Mildred Villegas (center right) shared news of the investment at President Sheinbaum’s Friday morning press conference. (Presidencia)
He also said the investment — which is expected to generate 1,200 new jobs — will increase production capacity, help launch product lines, fund logistics projects, finance the digitalization of operations and strengthen existing brands.
Unilever has operated in Mexico for more than 60 years and employs more than 7,000 people. It currently has one factory in Mexico City, two in México state and one more in the state of Morelos.
Friday’s announcement adds to a wave of foreign investment pledges that indicate confidence in Mexico’s economic outlook, as the Sheinbaum administration has been able to attract global companies amid rising trade tensions with the U.S.
Unilever’s announcement further supports Sheinbaum’s “Plan México,” an initiative to increase investment in Mexico by domestic and foreign companies.
The plan, among other goals, aims to increase Mexico’s food and energy sovereignty, promote infrastructure development and home construction, and increase access to loans.
“We fully support the principles of Plan México,” Uijen said, adding that Unilever is eager to support the government’s project “to promote public welfare, encourage sustainable development and actively contribute to a more prosperous future for everyone.”
CJNG’s fuel theft network faces new U.S. financial restrictions. (Especial/Cuartoscuro)
The U.S. government announced new economic sanctions and a financial crimes alert targeting the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and its fuel theft network.
The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on “three Mexican nationals and two Mexican-based entities linked to” the CJNG.
Oil smuggling, a lesser-known source of income for the cartels, involves complicity on both sides of the border.(@NewsNotBs/X)
“This network generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually, benefitting CJNG’s narco-terrorist enterprise through a slew of criminal activities, including fentanyl trafficking, fuel theft and smuggling crude oil from Mexico,” the Treasury statement said.
The fuel-smuggling network has resulted in tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue to the Mexican government, the Treasury said.
The FinCEN alert said the CJNG, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Gulf Cartel and “other Mexico-based transnational criminal organizations” were actively involved in fuel smuggling.
“[F]uel theft in Mexico, including crude oil smuggling, has become the most significant non-drug illicit revenue source for the Cartels and enables them to sustain their global criminal enterprises and drug trafficking operations into the United States,” the alert said.
FinCEN alleged that the cartels use “complicit Mexican brokers in the oil and natural gas industry” to smuggle and sell crude oil stolen from Mexico’s state oil company Pemex to “complicit, small U.S.-based oil and natural gas companies” operating near the U.S. southwest border.
The alert said the cartels obtain crude oil by bribing corrupt Pemex employees and local government officials, but also illegally tap oil pipelines and steal from refineries.
Fuel theft, known as “huachicol” in Mexico, has become “the most significant non-drug illicit revenue source for the Cartels.” (Beto Arias /Cuartoscuro)
The crude oil is then transported on tanker trucks across the U.S. southwest border, FinCEN said, mislabeled as “waste oil” or other hazardous materials related to the oil and natural gas refining process to avoid scrutiny and evade taxes.
In September, the Treasury sanctioned nine Mexican nationals and 26 Mexico-based businesses allegedly involved in the CJNG fuel theft network.
In trade talks with Mexico, the White House has said Mexico must be held accountable for its promises to halt illegal immigration and stop fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into the U.S.
This week, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her party in Congress is working to address fuel theft and smuggling by strengthening the government’s tools to provide traceability for fuel shipments.
“With regard to any tanker truck carrying fuel … we will know: where it came from; where it’s going; if it’s imported, with what import permit it entered, where it was store, and from there to which service station it is being taken,” Sheinbaum said, according to The Associated Press.
Each species has a breeding populations of only 1,000 animals, making them highly vulnerable to extinction. (Bro takes photos/Unsplash)
Researchers from McGill University in Montreal, in collaboration with Mexican scientists, have identified two previously unknown crocodile species inhabiting two islands off the Yucatán Peninsula.
Found on the renowned tourist island of Cozumel and within the Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve 210 kilometers to the south, both new species remain unnamed, pending formal taxonomic description.
Crocodiles are more common than humans in Banco Chinchorro, a remote atoll near Mexico’s border with Belize. (Rodrigo Friscione/Conanp)
Banco Chinchorro is an atoll reef — a ring-shaped coral formation with a central lagoon — off the southeast coast of Quintana Roo that’s popular with divers and snorkelers.
The recent findings were published in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. Funding was provided by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), along with Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) and the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN).
The discovery, announced last week in a news release from McGill’s Faculty of Science, stemmed from genetic and anatomical analyses of isolated populations, revealing stark differences from mainland American crocodiles, the type usually found in Mexico. Crocodylus acutus is its binomial name.
Mexican rsearch José Avila Cervantes holds a crocodile during a nighttime sampling expedition. (McGill)
The findings have upended long-held assumptions about the American crocodile and underscore urgent conservation needs.
“Biodiversity is disappearing faster than we can discover what we’re losing,” said lead researcher Hans Larsson, a biology professor at McGill. “Most crocodile species are already endangered, and rapid shoreline development threatens nearly every population.”
When researchers compared DNA sequences and skull morphology across Caribbean, Central American and Mexican Pacific crocodiles, they found the island populations were genetically distinct.
“These results were totally unexpected,” said José Avila-Cervantes, the study’s lead author and a former McGill graduate student. “We assumed Crocodylus acutus was a single species ranging from Baja California to Venezuela. Our study is the first to extensively explore genomic and anatomical variation in these animals.”
Each newly identified species has fewer than 1,000 breeding individuals, researchers added.
While current populations appear stable, their restricted habitats — Cozumel’s mangroves and Banco Chinchorro’s coral atoll — leave them vulnerable to coastal development and tourism.
Banco Chinchorro, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, offers stronger protections, but Cozumel’s fragmented ecosystems require immediate safeguards, researchers noted.
Cozumel Island is significantly more developed than Banco Chinchorro and hosts millions of tourists every year. (File photo)
“The rapid loss of biodiversity can only be slowed if we know what species are most at risk,” Larsson said. “Limiting land development and implementing careful conservation strategies on Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro will be key to ensuring their survival.”
The research team included scientists from El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, a public scientific research center that addresses sustainable development and environmental and social challenges in Mexico’s southern border states.
The team captured and released crocodiles to collect blood, scale and tissue samples.
The study highlights how island isolation drives evolution, with ocean currents and habitat barriers fostering unique species.
Thousands marched May 1 to demand a 40-hour workweek, a longtime goal of Mexico's labor movement. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
Workers across Mexico commemorated Labor Day by voicing their demands for a 40-hour workweek. It appears that the National Palace was listening.
Labor Minister Marath Bolaños on Thursday said that before the end of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s term in September 2030 the government would gradually install a mandatory 40-hour workweek.
Speaking to union leaders and labor representatives during a lunch at the National Palace, Bolaños reminded those in attendance that the 40-hour workweek is No. 60 on Sheinbaum’s list of 100 promises.
“We are convinced that giving workers eight extra hours of free time each week will contribute to national development,” she said.
For her part, Sheinbaum said she would summon workers, union leaders, businessmen and academics to take part in a dialogue from June 2 through July 7 aimed at producing a consensus as to how to implement the reduced workweek.
“We realize we can’t execute this reform from one day to the next, so it is important to agree how it can best be achieved,” Sheinbaum said.
Officials announced the 40-hour workweek goal at a lunch with labor representatives at the National Palace. (Presidencia)
Bolaños said the Labor Ministry would organize the talks as public forums in cities across the country so as to allow for the input of people of all perspectives.
“The goal is to dignify the labor of all workers,” Bolaños said, adding that the reduction of the workweek does not imply lost productivity. “This will add hours to [workers’] lives, boost family welfare and increase employee happiness.”
The issue has been a topic of public debate since Deputy Susana Prieto, a member of the ruling Morena party, submitted a bill to reform Article 123 of the Constitution in 2023.
The business sector vociferously opposed the proposal, but Congress created a commission to study the matter. However, the bill was never moved to committee for consideration.
Management has expressed concern about productivity, while workers are determined to prevent a reduction in wages in conjunction with the proposed reduction in work-hours.
Since the new Congress was seated in September 2024, 10 bills featuring a proposal for a 40-hour workweek have been submitted.
Labor Minister Marath Bolaños said reducing the workweek will boost the well-being of employees and families without necessarily causing a drop in productivity. (Presidencia)
A bill submitted by Deputy Juan Ignacio Zavala (Movimiento Ciudadano party) in October 2024 proposed that the Labor and Economy ministries install a one-year pilot program to study how reduced hours impact productivity. The same bill suggests that certain industries be granted exemptions or receive government subsidies.
In November, Deputy Manuel Vázquez (Movimiento Ciudadano) sponsored legislation that would stagger the implementation of the 40-hour workweek according to the size of the enterprise.
In Vázquez’s bill, micro-businesses would have three-and-a-half years to come into compliance, small businesses would have two years, medium-sized companies would have a year-and-a-half, while large companies would have six months.
Other bills offered similar solutions, one being a two-year implementation process whereby companies have one-year to reorganize their labor needs, then employees work five-and-half days during the second year, with full compliance achieved thereafter.
Last month, Labor Party Deputy José Alberto Benavides proposed a reform mandating a 7-hour workday. This bill would reduce the workweek to 42 hours while still allowing companies to maintain six-day workweeks.
The ongoing debate has prompted the business sector to offer counterproposals including flexible work hours, a change from a daily minimum wage to an hourly minimum wage and a package of incentives for small businesses which might be most impacted by the legislation.
Pemex’s Olmeca refinery in Dos Bocas prepares for a restart after a recent shutdown. (Luis López/Cuartoscuro)
Pemex’s Olmeca refinery in Tabasco is set to progressively restart operations after the state-owned company confirmed that a satellite communication failure was responsible for a work outage last week.
Located in Dos Bocas, in the municipality of Paraíso, construction on the Olmeca refinery began in August 2019 during the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. While it began operations in 2022, the refinery has been testing and commissioning ahead of full commercial operation.
The Olmeca refinery stands as a centerpiece of Mexico’s energy strategy in Tabasco. (Luis López/Cuartoscuro)
According to Pemex, the incident occurred during electrical load balancing procedures, as operators adjusted a turbo generator. Satellite communication with an airflow control device failed, triggering the automatic activation of a cogeneration plant’s heat recovery units. That led to a general steam failure, resulting immediate shutdown of the processing plants.
As a result of the incident, “the complex’s electrical load was reduced from 130 to 65 megawatts per hour, resulting in the gas turbo generators shutting down at 00:59 hours on April 26, 2025.”
Pemex was quick to point out that the shutdown did not put staff, nearby communities, the refinery or the environment at risk.
“[This] needs to be investigated, but it’s not like the refinery is out of service now. It’s nothing serious,” she said, adding that the refinery was producing 100,000 barrels per day.
Olmeca processed 6,797 barrels per day in February and none in January, after the company reported problems with higher-than-usual salt and water content in the crude oil Pemex pumps.
According to the Dos Bocas National Port System administration, between 2024 and 2025, the refinery’s pipes transported 4 million barrels of oil products, with diesel as the main product.. During the same period, 7.6 million processed barrels of hydrocarbons, mostly diesel, were imported from the United States and other Mexican ports.
The refinery has a capacity to process 340,000 barrels per day. Pemex CEO Victor Rodriguez Padilla said last month that Olmeca would reach full capacity this year.
An innovative program at UNAM is bringing together average people to discuss classic works of literature as a way to start discussions about some of Mexico's biggest societal issues, such as corruption and the obesity epidemic. (File photo)
In a busy clinic in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa neighborhood, patients struggling with obesity aren’t just receiving nutritional advice and medical treatment. They’re reading poetry, sharing personal stories and engaging with literary texts. Over at the National Autonomous University (UNAM), meanwhile, a mix of students and professionals analyze and discuss Carlos Fuentes’ masterpiece “La Muerte de Artemio Cruz” (The Death of Artemio Cruz). Together, they uncover themes within the book similar to the corporate ethical dilemmas and interpersonal conflicts of today.
Together with Dr. Aurora González, a Mexico City-based psychologist and UNAM instructor, Birriotti kick-started the Applied Literature Seminar. Soon enough, scholars from diverse fields began to use literature as a tool for understanding and addressing complex human and social issues, going as far as applying the method in hospitals, community centers and professional workshops.
The Seminario approaches literature as more than just material for classrooms and literary critics. These classic texts communicate profound insights into human conflicts, ambiguity and the complexities of experience. And when addressing problems like obesity that have psychological, cultural and social dimensions, that’s precisely what is needed.
Literature meets Mexico City’s health crisis
Mexico City faces some of the highest rates of childhood and adolescent obesity worldwide, and traditional public health approaches have struggled to address the complex factors behind this public health issue. Beyond the array of unhealthy food supplied in schools and unethically marketed to children, some experts identify Mexican cultural attitudes toward food as an obstacle to implementing real change.
Maurice Biriotti, the founder of the Applied Literature method and involved in developing the Applied Literature Seminar, holds a Chair of Medical Humanities at University College London and is a visiting professor in the department of psychiatry at Yale University.
To combat childhood obesity, the Applied Literature Seminar hosts community-wide workshops and chats to get people talking about their experiences. In their narrative workshops, participants read and discuss texts, such as novels by Rosario Castellanos and poems by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, which center around food, body image and health. Empathetic storytelling sessions provide a safe place for patients suffering from the health effects of obesity to reveal the stigma around the condition.
In a more academic setting, medical professionals and humanities scholars often meet for interdisciplinary dialogues, dissecting texts such as Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” and Fuentes’ ”La muerte de Artemio Cruz” for their themes of mortality, human dignity, class disparity and the social determinants of health.
Mexican literature transforms business ethics
The role that ethics play in business is another important focus for the seminar. In its first major colloquium, “El canon literario mexicano en el campo empresarial” (The Mexican literary canon in the field of business), the group explored how Mexican literary works can illuminate ethical dilemmas in workplace settings.
Carlos Fuentes’ “La muerte de Artemio Cruz,” which examines a businessman and former revolutionary’s rise to power through ethical compromises and corruption, provided powerful material for discussions about power dynamics and moral responsibility in Mexican organizations.
The seminar also referenced foundational texts that address leadership, negotiation of values and the formation of Mexican identity, such as canonical works by 19th-century liberal writer Ignacio Manuel Altamirano and periodicals of the same period, like El Recreo de las Familias and El Renacimiento.
The discussions aim to help professionals view workplace conflicts from new perspectives. By examining literature that deals with abstract concepts like corruption and discrimination, participants can connect these ideas to real-life experiences, making them more tangible and emotionally resonant for ethical decision-making.
How literature is leaving classrooms and entering communities
The Seminario de Literatura Aplicada at UNAM is transforming the traditional boundaries between literary study and everyday experience, one public program at a time. Through community events, academic seminars and hands-on creative sessions, the program is actively dissolving the separation between the arts and real life in Mexico City.
That breakthrough is taking place via academic seminars, creative writing sessions and theater. Regularly scheduled events, like the Seminario de Literatura y Géneros Vórtices explore literature’s intersections with gender, identity and social issues. Local health centers and hospitals host workshops for patients to read, write and share stories about their personal challenges with obesity, mental health and community memory.
UNAM researchers have also ventured into theater productions, in collaboration with Teatro UNAM, as a different way to provoke discussion. (Teatro UNAM/Facebook)
Applied literature has even made its way on stage, with projects like “Teatro para los que nos curan” and “Yo soy Amalia” blending art with real life. These performances are designed to both analyze and process current social realities, including the aftermath of the pandemic or current healthcare challenges.
A novel approach to urban challenges
The seminar continues to expand its work, exploring applications in other areas of social concern such as violence prevention, environmental awareness and improving education.
Applied literature offers ways to address problems that resist purely technical solutions. It’s easy to oversimplify social issues, especially in a complex urban environment like Mexico City. However, by capitalizing on the city’s layered history and diverse population, literary approaches give researchers and participants the opportunity to recognize patterns and embrace challenges for a better future.
For more information on how the Seminario de Literatura Aplicada uses humanities-based approaches to complement and enhance traditional intervention strategies, check out the program’s main page and literary events calendar.
This article draws on research conducted at UNAM’s Faculty of Philosophy and Letters and various community applications of the applied literature approach across Mexico City since 2016.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
Oaxaca often feels like a different country, so it's no surprise that May comes with a heavy dose of old-world charm. (Mexico Desconocido)
May is one of Oaxaca’s hottest months, so it is a good time to explore cooler areas, like the forests of the Sierra Norte, a great place to hike or mountain bike. Some visitors may expect a big party on May 5, a date which marks the Battle of Puebla, but this date isn’t especially celebrated in Oaxaca. However, there are numerous events and fiestas to enjoy such as Mothers Day on May 10, and the Velas of Oaxaca’s Isthmus of Tehuantepec, taking place throughout May.
Fiesta de la Santa Cruz and Day of the Construction Worker
(Twitter)
Día del Albañil, which takes place on May 3, honors the hard work of builders. Wooden crosses are erected at the top of construction sites. Local tradition is to decorate the cross with flowers, making it colorful and eye-catching. After placing the cross, a prayer is made to bless both the site and the workers, asking for their safety and the success of the project.
The tradition is believed to have started in pre-Columbian communities, where ceremonies were held to ask for a good rainy season. In Teotitlán del Valle, about 30 minutes from Oaxaca City, community members still climb to the peak of the nearby Picacho mountain to ask for rain, bringing offerings to giant crosses that sit atop the mountain.
Where: Teotitlán del Valle When: May 3 at 7 a.m. Cost: Free
Learn Spanish and literary classics in Oaxaca city
(El Burrito/Instagram)
El Burrito Librería, a charming neighborhood bookstore founded in 2018, invites Spanish learners to practice the language by reading the best poems and short stories of Latin American and world literature. A great way to improve your Spanish and meet locals, expats and travellers in this fun, colorful shop.
Where: El Burrito Librería, Aldama 315, Barrio de Jalatlaco, Oaxaca de Juárez When: May 5 at 7 p.m. Cost: 150 pesos
Marco Antonio Solís plays the Auditorio Guelaguetza
(Latin Grammy Awards/X)
Marco Antonio Solís’s musical career began in 1970 when the 11-year-old and his cousin Joel formed Los Hermanitos Solís, which would later become El Dueto los Bukis and the hit-making group Los Bukis. They produced great hits that have become part of the popular songbook and the hearts of Mexican and Latin American audiences.
After two decades with Los Bukis, Marco Antonio began a new chapter in his career and music in 1996, releasing his first solo album, “En pleno vuelo,” which earned both Gold and Platinum certifications. Solís participated in the Spanish version of the Oscar-winning film “Coco,” lending his voice to the character of Ernesto de la Cruz.
When: May 9 at 9 p.m. Where: Auditorio Guelaguetza Cost: Tickets start at 925 pesos
Paul van Dyk
(Sutori)
German DJ Paul van Dyk is coming to Oaxaca this May. Van Dyk is a Grammy-winning electronic musician and producer who started out in the Berlin club scene of the early 1990s. Hard-hitting, industrial-orientated Detroit techno music was the sound of the era in Berlin, and van Dyk was one of its pioneers.
When: May 15 at 8 p.m. Where: Centro Cultural y de Convenciones de Oaxaca, Av. Lázaro Cárdenas 1001, Santa Lucía del Camino Cost:Tickets start at 1000 pesos
Celebrate the saints of Oaxaca with the Velas Istmeñas
(Gorda en Tobogán)
Although velas can take place throughout the year, May is the principal month for these festivities, which come from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec but are celebrated across Oaxaca. Velas are held in honor of the patron saints of families, groups, trades and places. People gather for public and cultural events, with masses and processions showcasing traditional regional dress. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is home to the Zapotec, Chontal, Huave, Zoque, Mixe, Mixtec and Chinantec peoples. This blend of cultures gives rise to the most colorful dances that characterize the Velas. The Oaxacan city of Juchitán is an amazing place to visit, in particular during velas.
Where: Juchitan When: May Cost: Donation
There will also be velas in Oaxaca city.
When: May 17 at 9 p.m. Where: Estadio Tecnológico de Oaxaca, Avenida Constitución, Oaxaca de Juárez Cost: 200 pesos, available calling 951 308 8920
Expat Q&A
(Oaxaca Lending Library/Facebook)
An hour-long question and answer session on the upstairs terrace of the Oaxaca Lending Library is valuable for tourists, digital nomads, long term visitors and those who are considering a move to Oaxaca. No reservation necessary; Every Monday except when the Library is closed for a holiday.
Where: Oaxaca Lending Library When: May 19 at 11am Cost: Entry is free
A forum for collectors, gallerists and design professionals, Mexico Design fair focuses on contemporary furniture pieces and design objects. This year’s edition’s main exhibition is hosted at Casa Naila. Designed by Alfonso Quiñones, this ocean-facing property merges contemporary Mexican design and local character surrounded by 20-thousand square feet of private beach.
When: May 23 to 2025 Where: Casa Naila, Puerto Escondido
Surfistas del Sistema at Bar Ilegal
Surfistas del Sistema - La magia esta en tu piel (version loop)
Surfistas del Sistema is an Argentine pop and synthpop band formed in 2013. It is made up of singer and guitarist Fran Frione, drummer Cisco Achaval and bassist Rama Vázquez. In 2014, the band was nominated for best rock/alternative pop album at the Gardel Awards, Argentina’s answer to the Grammys.
When: May 31 at 7 p.m. Where: Bar Ilegal, Murguía 215, Centro, Oaxaca de Juárez Cost: Presale tickets start at 400 pesos
Anna Bruce is an award-winning British photojournalist based in Oaxaca, Mexico. Just some of the media outlets she has worked with include Vice, The Financial Times, Time Out, Huffington Post, The Times of London, the BBC and Sony TV. Find out more about her work at her website or visit her on social media on Instagram or on Facebook.
Eat, drink and... take a trip to Portugal? It's all in San Miguel de Allende this month. (Viñedo San Lucas/Facebook)
May in San Miguel de Allende brings a dazzling lineup of events that highlight the city’s vibrant spirit and exceptional talent. From jazz concerts to captivating belly-dance performances and international equestrian competitions, this month is brimming with top-tier entertainment.
Sip fine wine at sunset, explore the latest in sustainable agriculture, savor world-class cuisine and music or support a retreat center designed to heal the soul while gazing at the stars. Whether you’re looking to celebrate, reflect, or simply be inspired, May is filled with unforgettable experiences.
Queros Fundraiser
(Facebook)
Enjoy a magical evening of music and community at the Queros Fundraiser. Our beloved local astrologer, Sammy Astrosam, invites you to support his vision of a holistic healing and retreat center.
Queros, a beautiful sanctuary near Dolores Hidalgo, features seven luxury lodging domes for rest, rejuvenation and transformation. Donors will have the joy of contributing to something meaningful and lasting.
The evening will feature soothing live zither music, a visual tour of the Queros project, delicious Indian vegetarian food and soulful high-vibration surprises. Plus, guests can enjoy a free mini astrology consultation with Sammy.
Get ready to fiesta Spanish and Portuguese style! Vendimia Bravatakes overViñedos San Francisco for a lively day of food, drinks and fun that channels the energy of classic Iberian fairs. Your ticket includes access to delicious food and house wines, entertainment, vineyard tours and a dedicated kids’ area.
Plan to arrive between noon and 1 p.m. so you don’t miss a bite, as the food is served from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Enjoy all the excitement at shared tables, adding to the communal vibe.
At 7 p.m., the after-party kicks off with music and dancing into the night. Entry is included with your main event ticket or can be purchased separately, and drinks and food at the after-party are sold separately. Glam up to impress: the dress code is Flamenco or Sevillana dresses for the ladies and formal jackets and ties for the gentlemen.
Prepare for an unforgettable evening of dance and mystery with a bold and immersive performance that brings Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy to life through contemporary belly dance.
Led by renowned dancer Mariana Rodríguez and her company, Tribu Buma, this one-of-a-kind show takes the audience on a sensory journey through the nine circles of hell. Stunning animated projections inspired by Gustave Doré’s iconic engravings blend with powerful choreography to create a hauntingly beautiful experience filled with shadows, symbols and raw emotion.
Don’t miss this mesmerizing fusion of movement and visual art that reimagines a literary classic with fiery passion and creative depth.
Date: Friday,May 9 at 6 p.m. Location: Teatro Angela Peralta, Mesones 82, Centro Cost:150–350 pesos
Entropy
(Teatro Santa Ana)
Enjoy an intimate evening of smooth R&B, jazz and blues with Entropy, a gifted ensemble of local musicians presenting their original compositions. This concert is part of the San Miguel de Allende Music Archive Project, an initiative dedicated to capturing and preserving the city’s vibrant musical talent through high-quality live recordings.
Entropy’s stellar lineup includes Mark Bissessar on keyboard, Israel Chavez on drums, Rubén Olvera on bass, Sophia Smith on flute, Alberto Robledo on saxophone and the soulful vocals of Yuyu Ferso. Ticket sales are donated in full to San Miguel’s La Biblioteca library.
Get ready for two thrilling weeks of world-class equestrian sport at the GNP Otomí Grand Prix 2025, which takes place at the stunning Centro Ecuestre Otomí.
This prestigious event welcomes clubs and groups affiliated with the Mexican Equestrian Federation to compete in international show jumping competitions. With an impressive prize purse of $5,690,000 pesos, the stakes are high and the excitement even higher.
This event features two exciting show jumping competitions: CSI2 from May 1–4 and CSI3 from May 8–11.
Whether you’re a seasoned equestrian enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this is the perfect opportunity to witness elite riders and magnificent horses in action.
San Miguel de Allende will once again dazzle as it hosts the third edition of this high-end social and culinary event, where guests indulge in world-class gastronomy, fine wines and creative cocktails crafted by internationally acclaimed chefs, winemakers and bartenders.
Over four days, the city transforms into a runway of haute cuisine, with the Rosewood Hotel as the main venue, complemented by exclusive tasting dinners at Casa 1810 Parque and NUMU Boutique Hotel, each featuring a six-course menu and premium mixology.
Before each dinner, guests can enjoy amazing sunset views with rooftop cocktails, all set to the rhythm of two DJs and a live music band. Tickets are available individually or as part of a package, making this the ultimate long weekend for anyone who loves exquisite food, drink and style.
Date: May 23–26 Location: Rosewood Hotel, Nemesio Diez 11, Centro Cost:2,500 – 3,800 pesos
Foro Nacional de Agricultura Orgánica
(Foro Nacional de Agricultura Orgánica/Facebook)
The National Organic Agriculture Forum will be held at San Miguel’s stunning Hacienda Los Picachos for an inspiring two-day event. Join the largest event in Mexico dedicated to organic agriculture, where producers, experts and leading companies come together to connect and explore impactful solutions.
This gathering brings together sustainability experts and forward-thinking companies to exchange ideas, explore new technologies and share best practices. The event includes panel discussions, hands-on workshops, exhibitions and ample opportunities for networking. Attendees will dive into topics like natural pest control, improving crop resilience and innovative methods for boosting quality and profitability in organic production. Conferences also offer insight into international organic certification standards and the latest tools for optimizing harvests. It’s an ideal space to get inspired, stay ahead of the curve, and be part of the movement toward smarter, more responsible agriculture.
Date: May 22– 23 Location: Carretera San Miguel de Allende-Querétaro km3, San José de la Posta Cost:600 pesos
Sandra Gancz Kahan 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]
During her mañanera, she responded to public remarks made by some of Mexico’s most powerful and influential men.
Sheinbaum rules out distancing herself from the 4T
Sheinbaum said that since she took office some people, such as high-profile journalist Ciro Gómez Leyva, have wanted her to distance herself from the so-called “fourth transformation of public life in Mexico,” initiated by her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
“How are we going to do it!” she remarked.
According to its proponents — AMLO, Sheinbaum and other Morena party representatives — the “fourth transformation,” or 4T, is based on things such as combating corruption, putting Mexico’s most disadvantaged citizens first and giving the state a larger role in the national economy.
The president told reporters that her government “will never betray our origin, our history, what we think, our principles or the people of Mexico.”
Sheinbaum took the opportunity to reaffirm her support of the 4T movement and former President López Obrador, seen here near the end of his term. (Cuartoscuro)
“Never. We are the continuity of the beginning of the fourth transformation,” said Sheinbaum, whose government has maintained all of the social programs introduced by the López Obrador government and championed its major infrastructure projects.
She frequently says that her government is building the “second story” of the 4T, a line that perhaps has its origin in the fact that López Obrador put her in charge of his “segundo piso” (two-story) highway project in Mexico City while he was mayor of the capital in the early 2000s.
Sheinbaum served as Mexico City environment minister during AMLO’s mayorship, which concluded in 2005 before he took his first tilt at the presidency in 2006.
The president also took aim at a claim by Gómez Leyva that López Obrador is in hiding, given that he (apparently) hasn’t been seen in public since finishing his presidency seven months ago.
“What surprise is there in something that he was saying [he was going to do] for six months before finishing his six-year term? … He said: ‘… After I finish I’m going to withdraw from public life and write a book,'” Sheinbaum said.
“Maybe it’s not one [book] but several,” she said, adding that López Obrador is simply doing what he has done his entire life — doing what he said he would do.
“… He’s in his house in Palenque, writing. … I’m not in contact with him, I just know he’s well, that he’s happy,” Sheinbaum said.
Sheinbaum accuses Mexico’s 5th-richest person of ignorance
A reporter noted that Televisión Azteca presenter Pedro Sola asserted that only taxpayers should be allowed to vote, a rule he suggested would prevent those who receive welfare “handouts” from casting ballots for the current government.
Ricardo Salinas, one of the richest men in Mexico, owns the parent company of business including Banco Azteca, Elektra, Italika, Totalplay and TV Azteca. (Ricardo Salinas/X)
Sheinbaum described the two men as “very ignorant because all Mexicans pay taxes.”
“When you buy a product you pay the IVA,” she said, referring to Mexico’s value-added tax.
“Everyone pays. So the truth is there is a lot of ignorance,” Sheinbaum said.
“Secondly, [there is] a lot of racism and a lot of classism,” she said.
“… There is a lot of hypocrisy, but look, there should be freedom of speech, that’s the most important thing,” Sheinbaum said.
¡Mentira! (Lie!)
Sheinbaum was asked about a segment broadcast by media outlet LatinUS in which prominent journalist Carlos Loret de Mola presented footage of an armed clash in Yemen that he claimed was a confrontation between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel in Sinaloa.
“Put it on. That’s a very good one,” the president said to an aide.
Shortly after the morning press conference, Loret de Mola issued an apology for accidentally misrepresenting the video in question. (Carlos Loret de Mola/X)
After the segment was shown, she elicited the response she wanted from the press corps, with various reporters shouting in unison that Loret de Mola had told a “mentira” or “lie.”
The journalist, a frequent critic of the 4T, presented “a regrettable episode in Yemen … as if it were a confrontation in Sinaloa,” Sheinbaum emphasized.
“And then they complain that we have our ‘lie detector’ [segment],” she said, referring to a fake news exposé session presented at her Wednesday mañaneras.
Mexico City will continue to host a race hailed by the Formula 1 CEO as “one of the most incredible and energetic experiences of our championship.” (Gran Premio de la Ciudad de México F1/Cuartoscuro)
Amid swirling rumors that Mexican driver Sergio “Checo” Pérez will return to Formula 1 with the new Cadillac team, Mexican motorsport fans have been electrified by the news that the Mexico City Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar through 2028.
With the current contract in its final year, a new three-year extension was confirmed Wednesday by Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and other officials.
In hailing the commitment between Formula 1 and Mexico City’s government, Brugada emphasized that the event will persist without spending taxpayer money, relying instead on private and business sector support.
Since its return in 2015, the Mexico City Grand Prix has become a marquee event, drawing record crowds — 405,000 attended over three days in 2024 — and adding significantly to the city’s economy and profile.
“This not only contributes to the economic development of Mexico City, but also promotes our city, as well as our country, in a significant way worldwide,” Alejandro Soberón, president and general director of Grupo CIE, an entertainment and media company headquartered in Mexico City, said in an F1 news report.
Over 150,000 fans packed Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez for last year’s final. (Formula One/X)
Domenicali echoed the sentiment, calling the event “one of the most incredible and energetic experiences of our championship.”
Brugada, meanwhile, in a quote in the sports news outlet Marca, hinted at even more positive news for fans. “At the beginning of next year, we will be giving you better news about the continuation of this wonderful event for many years in Mexico City,” she said.
The Mexico City Grand Prix became a Formula 1 main event in 1963 but was dropped in 1970 due largely to the inability to control massive crowds, making things dangerous for drivers.
It returned in 1986 at a redesigned racetrack, won by Gerhard Berger driving a Benetton-BMW, and stayed on the calendar until 1992, when it was dropped due to an inability to modernize the circuit and issues with pollution.
After 23 years, Formula 1 returned to Mexico City after the track underwent significant upgrades to meet modern standards, with Nico Rosberg winning that 2015 race for Mercedes.
Last year’s 305-kilometer race was won by Carlos Sainz for Ferrari.
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz of Spain (right) won the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix. (Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool)
Cadillac, set to join the F1 grid as a constructor for the first time in 2026, sees Pérez’s 281 starts in F1 and his experience over a 14-year career as vital assets for a novice team.
Although his signature with F1’s soon-to-be 11th team isn’t certain, Cadillac officials are in Florida ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix. They are gearing up for the team’s first official public announcement — but whether it includes any “Checo” news is anyone’s guess.
