Monday, October 20, 2025

What did Sinaloa Cartel leader ‘El Mayo’ Zambada confess to in US court?

By
MND Staff
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U.S. District Court in Brooklyn
Zambada, 75, pleaded guilty to being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise — the Sinaloa Cartel — and to a racketeering charge in Brooklyn, New York, on Monday. (Shutterstock)

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a co-founder and longtime leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in U.S. federal court on Monday, exactly 13 months after he was arrested in New Mexico following his alleged kidnapping in Mexico.

Zambada, 75, pleaded guilty to being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise — the Sinaloa Cartel — and to a racketeering charge.

“Culpable,” he said in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, using the Spanish word for “guilty.”

The courtroom was “packed with members of the Drug Enforcement Administration and other U.S. law enforcement agencies,” Reuters reported.

Zambada — who will not face trial as a result of his guilty plea — will be sentenced to life in prison on Jan. 13, 2026, the presiding judge determined. As part of his plea agreement, he “agreed to the entry at sentencing of a [US] $15 billion forfeiture money judgment,” the U.S. Justice Department said.

According to U.S. prosecutors, the Sinaloa Cartel under Zambada’s leadership smuggled huge quantities of narcotics into the United States over a period of decades.

Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and US prosecutors in talks about a plea deal

“For decades, under El Mayo’s leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel made billions of dollars by importing poisonous drugs to the United States, flooding our streets with cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti.

Speaking through an interpreter, Zambada recounted a life in crime that he said began when he planted a marijuana crop at age 19 in 1969.

He entered his guilty plea two weeks after U.S. prosecutors said they wouldn’t seek the death penalty in his case.

What did ‘El Mayo’ say in court?

“Ismael Zambada García. Seventy-five. Up to sixth grade. Sinaloa”

They were the answers the Sinaloa native gave when asked in court to give his full name, his age, his highest level of studies and the place where he went to school.

Wearing prison attire, the bearded, gray-haired former capo read a prepared statement softly and rapidly, according to media reports.

The judge at the hearing was Brian M. Cogan, who presided over the trial of Zambada’s former business partner, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, who is serving a life sentence in the “supermax” federal prison in Florence, Colorado.

In court, Zambada said that he recognized “the great harm illegal drugs have done to the people of the United States, of Mexico, and elsewhere.”

“I take responsibility for my role in all of it and I apologize to everyone who has suffered or been affected by my actions,” he said, referring to both drug trafficking and associated violence.

Zambada, who founded the Sinaloa Cartel with Guzmán Loera and others, made a number of other confessions during an eight-minute statement.

  • He said he became involved in drugs in 1969 when he planted marijuana “for the first time.”
  • He said he had trafficked at least 1.5 million kilograms of cocaine between 1980 and 2024. He said that most of that amount went to the United States.
  • He said he was a Sinaloa Cartel leader between 1989 and 2024.
  • He acknowledged that the Sinaloa Cartel was a large operation under his leadership. According to an Associated Press report, Zambada spoke about “underlings who built relationships with cocaine producers in Colombia, oversaw importing cocaine to Mexico by boat and plane and smuggling the drug across the U.S.-Mexico border.”
  • He said that the Sinaloa Cartel had income of hundreds of millions of dollars per year.
  • He said he had “a large number of armed men” at his service and under his control.
  • He admitted to ordering murders, and noted that “a lot of deaths” occurred in wars against rival criminal groups. He also admitted that “many innocent people” died.
  • He admitted that people working for him paid bribes to police, military commanders and politicians so that the Sinaloa Cartel could “operate freely.”
  • He said that the organization he led “promoted corruption in my own country.”
  • He responded “no, señor,” when asked whether he had been a drug addict or alcoholic.

Pam Bondi: El Mayo ‘will die in a US federal prison where he belongs’

At a press conference in New York on Monday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi described Zambada’s guilty plea and his upcoming sentencing to life in prison as a “landmark victory for the Justice Department, our law enforcement partners and the United States of America.”

“Ismael Zambada García, also known as ‘El Mayo,’ has confessed to a lifetime of crime in service to the Sinaloa Cartel, a foreign terrorist organization,” she said.

“Thanks to the relentless work of our prosecutors and our federal agents, El Mayo will spend the rest of his life behind bars. He will die in a U.S. federal prison where he belongs. His guilty plea brings up one step closer to achieving our goal of elimination of the drug cartels and the transnational criminal organizations throughout this world that are flooding our country with drugs, human traffickers and homicides,” Bondi said.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Justice is on the frontlines of this fight. We’re standing shoulder to shoulder with all of our law enforcement partners to dismantle these narco-terrorists, and that’s exactly what they are,” she said.

El Mayo, arrested in July 2024, is not cooperating with US government, says lawyer 

Zambada’s submission of his guilty plea came exactly 13 months after he was arrested at a small airport in New Mexico after touching down in a private plane in the company of Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of “El Chapo.”

He initially pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges during a brief court appearance last September.

Last August, a few weeks after his arrest, the former Sinaloa Cartel leader asserted that he was kidnapped and forced onto the U.S.-bound plane by Guzmán López, one of the leaders of the “Los Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Guzmán López was also arrested and faces drug trafficking charges in the United States.

The alleged kidnapping and arrest of Zambada triggered an escalation of a long-running dispute between the “Los Mayos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and “Los Chapitos.”

The battle between the rival groups has claimed well over 1,000 lives since September 2024, and more than 1,000 people have disappeared in Sinaloa in the same period.

On Monday, Zambada’s lawyer, Frank Perez, said that his client had not made any commitment to cooperate with U.S. authorities as part of his plea agreement.

“He recognizes that his actions over the course of many years constitute serious violations of the United States drug laws, and he accepts full responsibility for what he did wrong,” Perez said in a statement.

“The agreement that he reached with the U.S. authorities is a matter of public record. It is not a cooperation agreement, and I can state categorically that there is no deal under which he is cooperating with the United States Government or any other government,” he said.

Perez told reporters that Zambada wouldn’t provide names of any politicians or others who allegedly received bribes from the Sinaloa Cartel. Genaro García Luna, security minister during the 2006-12 government of former president Felipe Calderón, was last year sentenced to more than 38 years in prison in the U.S. after he was convicted of colluding with the Sinaloa Cartel.

In his written statement, Perez also said that Zambada is “mindful of the impact of this case on his home state of Sinaloa.”

“He calls upon the people of Sinaloa to remain calm, to exercise restraint, and to avoid violence. Nothing is gained by bloodshed; it only deepens wounds and prolongs suffering. He urges his community to look instead toward peace and stability for the future of the state,” he said.

With reports from AP, Reuters, The New York Times, ABC News, Milenio, La Jornada, Reforma

With huge upset, Mexico’s Renata Zarazúa advances in US Open

By
MND Staff
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Renata Zarazúa
Renata Zarazúa, from Mexico City, stunned the tennis world by beating world No. 6 Madison Keys to advance in the US Open on Monday. (Juegos Olímpicos/X)

Mexico’s Renata Zarazúa pulled off a major upset at the US Open tennis tournament on Monday, eliminating Madison Keys — ranked No. 6 in the world — in stirring come-from-behind fashion.

Zarazúa, 82nd in the WTA world rankings, gave Keys — the reigning Australian Open champion — fits the entire match. She lost the first set 6-7, despite 37 errors by Keys that were technically unforced but often consequences of the Mexican’s relentless pressure.  

After falling behind 0-3 in the second set, Zarazúa turned it around to win 7-6 in a tiebreak, before claiming the final set 7-5 to advance.

Afterward, Zarazúa thanked those in Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York who supported her:

“Mexico is a country where there are not many tennis players, but I could definitely hear a lot of Mexicans supporting me, so that was really nice,” she said. “I was trying to focus on the court, which seemed too big to me … when I retire, I’ll be very happy about this.”

The victory is the biggest triumph of Zarazúa’s career and her first-ever win over a Top 10 opponent. Yolanda Ramírez — twice a finalist at the French Open in the early 1960s — is the only other Mexican female to defeat a Top 10 opponent.

Monday’s three-hour, 10-minute marathon was also Zarazúa’s first-ever win on the main court of a Grand Slam event. 

Her other appearances on Center Court came in the 2020 French Open (a 6-3, 0-6, 6-2 loss to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina), at Wimbledon 2024 (a 7-6, 6-3 loss to Britain’s Emma Raducanu) and at this year’s Australian Open (a 6-2, 6-3 loss to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini).

US Open Tennis paid tribute to the 27-year-old Mexico City native on its social media account and the WTA Tennis website published an extensive post-match report.

Keys suffered through an error-strewn performance, as the American made 89 unforced errors and hit 14 double faults.

The high number of errors suggests Keys cost herself the match, but James Hansen of the sports magazine of the New York Times, The Athletic, thought otherwise. 

“Though they went down on the stats sheet as mistakes, a significant number of the 80-plus unforced errors that Zarazúa drew from Keys’ racket were in reality the product of accumulated pressure,” he wrote.

Zarazúa will face Diane Parry of France, currently ranked No. 107, in the second round on Wednesday, with a solid chance of advancing past the second round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in her career.

With reports from Milenio, El Universal, CNN en Español and BBC Sport

2 solar thermal power plants planned for Baja California Sur    

By
MND Staff
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CFE director Emilia Calleja presenting a solar plant project for Baja California Sur
"Very few plants globally use this type of system,” said CFE Director Emilia Calleja on Tuesday. (Sener MX/X)

Mexico’s federal government plans to invest 800 million pesos (US $42.8 million) to construct two solar-powered electricity generation plants for the state of Baja California Sur.

President Claudia Sheinbaum, who made the announcement during her daily press conference on Tuesday along with Energy Minister Luz Elena González, said that construction will be carried out by the state-owned Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).

It is not yet certain exactly where the two plants will be developed. “We are determining the site for the land acquisition,” Sheinbaum said. “Our idea is to have everything ready to begin bidding this year, if not, by early 2026.”

González said that the two 50 megawatt solar plants destined for the northwestern peninsula will incorporate thermal storage capacity, allowing them to supply power even when the sun is not shining. 

“The objective is to strengthen the electricity supply in Baja California Sur … in response to growing demand in this area” González said at the press conference. 

Baja California Sur’s energy structure runs off an independent electric power grid, separate from the country’s main transmission network. Previous plans to construct an underwater cable to connect the Baja California Peninsula to Mexico’s national grid have been scrapped due to high costs. Instead, the government decided to invest in the new solar plants to boost capacity, while maintaining the state’s independent energy network. 

Noting that the project is “the first of its kind in Mexico,” González stressed that it aligns with the Morena government’s goal to generate 35% of Mexico’s electricity using renewable sources by the end of Sheinbaum’s six-year term, in 2030. The plants are part of the 2025-2030 plan to strengthen and expand the national electricity system using innovative technologies, according to González.

“This [project] is very important for the country because we are at the forefront of renewable energy,” said CFE Director Emilia Calleja. “Very few plants globally use this type of system.”

CFE already had plans to develop the Baja California region’s energy network, including renovating some of its older plants. In March, the CFE approved the construction of the 240-megawatt Los Cabos Internal Combustion Plant, which will run on natural gas, for 272 million pesos ($14.6 million).

Mexico’s energy sector has faced several challenges in recent years, leading to heavy reliance on natural gas imports. Some estimates suggest that over 70% of Mexico’s natural gas supply now comes from the United States. 

Greater diversification through the expansion of Mexico’s renewable energy industry could, therefore, help enhance energy security over the coming decades. 

 With reports from La Jornada, Infobae and Tribuna de México

Bringing culture to poverty: Mexico City’s Yancuic Museum

By
Ana Paula De la Torre
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The new Yancuic Museum is bring culture and high architecture to an overlooked area of Mexico City. (SPRB Architectos)

Mexico City is one of the cities in the world with the largest number of museums. There are at least 186 museums across the city, with 95 located in the Cuauhtémoc district alone, according to the Mexican government’s Cultural Information System. However, the situation is quite different in other districts, such as Iztapalapa. 

Iztapalapa is home to at least one-fifth of Mexico City’s population. That makes it the second most populous district, with nearly 2 million inhabitants as of 2020. Yet, it suffers from issues related to poverty, inequality and insecurity, as well as a chronic lack of basic services. Therefore, the relatively new Yancuic Museum, built in 2015, represents progress by the city government. Both in terms of cultural offerings and social impact in an area that has long been characterized by low public investment.

Yancuic Museum in Mexico City
The architectural design for Yancuic Museum in Mexico City is particularly luminous at night. (SPRB Arquitectos)

Admission is free at the museum, whose name is derived from Nahuatl and means “new.” It’s part of Mexico City’s “Let’s Build a City” government program, one of the aims of which is to diversify the capital’s cultural offerings. 

Iztapalapa, it should be noted, boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage. Founded by the Culhuas in 670 AD between the northern foothills of Cerro de la Estrella and the shores of Lake Texcoco, it is also the site of the famous New Fire ceremony (Huizachtecatl). This Mexica ritual marks the end of a 52-year cycle and the commencement of another, symbolizing the renewal and continuity of life.

What makes the Yancuic Museum so special?

Opened in 2024, the Yancuic Museum features a distinctive aesthetic that can be appreciated from every angle. Its façade resembles a large piece of unfolded origami, characterized by big open windows that integrate indoor and outdoor spaces. The museum appears to expand, creating an enchanting atmosphere, particularly at night, thanks to its luminous design.

Yancuic is dedicated to environmental care and Nahua cosmogony. Thus, there is a wide variety of outdoor spaces. The entire ground floor is a public space, where, according to the museum, “A plaza extends into the museum, so access is through a diffuse boundary: A forest of wall columns that lead from the public lobby into the interior of the building.”

Additionally, the exhibition areas are interconnected by double-height spaces, providing sweeping views of Cerro de la Estrella, Cerro de la Mina and Volcán Tetlalmanche (commonly known as Cerro de Guadalupe). Visitors can also appreciate the vast territory inhabited by nearly two million people in the municipality. The museum showcases four exhibition halls designed to raise awareness about climate change, focusing on worldview, dialogue and action, ecosystems and biodiversity, and crisis and resilience, respectively.

There is also a bookstore run by the Fondo de Cultura Económica (FCE). Named Julieta Fierro, after the Mexican scientist, it offers around 20,000 titles across various subjects.

Awards and achievements

The angular lines of Yancuic stand out against the buildings of Iztapalapa. (SPRB Architectos)

The Yancuic Museum covers an area of 20,000 square meters and consists of five floors, accommodating up to 5,000 visitors per day. According to the Secretary of Culture of Mexico City, it has welcomed over 214,000 visitors since February 2025.

This project stands out not only for its social impact but also for its architectural and aesthetic qualities. It gained initial recognition when architects Carlos Rodríguez Bernal, Laura Sánchez Penichet, Mara Gabriela Partida Muñoz and Héctor Mendoza Ramírez, along with Boris Bezan, presented it at the 2015 National Architecture Competition. It won first place.

The museum also received the Gold Medal at the 18th National Biennial of Mexican Architecture in 2024. This is organized by the Federation of Architects’ Associations of the Mexican Republic. It’s one of the most prestigious architecture awards in Mexico.

Set against an endless sea of concrete, the Yancuic Museum stands as an oasis. Visitors are welcomed with four enormous sculptures of the white-tailed deer, Mexican wolf, jaguar and axolotl. These are made from recycled materials by ‘El Volador’, a collective of artists, designers and builders based in Iztapalapa. Yancuic is, definitely, an architectural gem that enhances the cultural significance of this historical but relegated area of Mexico City.

Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and contributor for Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.

I ate Nun Farts and they’re delicious!

By
Bel Woodhouse
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A bag of chocolates labelled 'pedos de monja' or 'nun's farts'
It might have a strange name, but this Querétaro treat is more than worth trying. (Picale)

The sweet smell of chocolate surrounded me as I stood in a Querétaro street. Trying to believe what I was reading, the poster read “Pedos de Monja.” Now, I know my Spanish is improving but am I reading that right? Nun Farts … yes, I am. 

Trying to stifle my inner child’s potty humor giggles, I had to go in and see what that was all about. After all, it’s not every day you see something like that, right? And it had a cute little poop symbol smiling at me! So how could I not be curious?

(Turismo de Querétaro/X)

I must say, this delighted me. Exploring Mexico, finding unusual things like these amazing ganaches, is one of my all-time favorite things. After all, I’d never been to Querétaro so it was delightful to discover it’s famous for Nun’s Farts.  

Calling all sweet tooths and chocoholics

Tummy growling, I stepped into the sweet shop. Every color of the rainbow greeted my eyes. Was this Willy Wonka’s wonderland?  Huge swirled lollipops, large enough to hide an “Oompa Loompa,” took up one corner. Chocolate this and that, cookies, caramels, you name it, it was there. My hungry eyes scanned from left to right, devouring the scene before me. 

“But NO Bel, behave yourself, you’re here to see what these farts are all about.” 

There’s a sentence I never thought I’d say, let alone write!

Nonchalantly standing neatly in a row, they featured a bright golden poop symbol smiling at me. With the name Nun Farts written in English for those of us not fluent in Spanish, which was weirdly validating, to know I got the name right. 

Grabbing a pack, the shopkeeper asked if I wanted two. Obviously, he knew something I didn’t. Then my friend Terry, who lives in Querétaro, said “You sure you don’t want another pack? They’re amazing!” 

So amazing in fact, that the shopkeeper smiled and picked up another box. It seems he can barely keep them on the shelves. And if I’m honest, I was dying to open the pack and scoff one down right there. But being a lady, I decided to wait and not descend on the farts like a hungry horde. 

What’s a fart taste like? 

Delicious. Chocolate lovers are going to go bonkers over Nun’s Farts. They are, without a doubt, the most delicious ganache I’ve ever eaten. Rich, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth amazing!

Now I know what Terry and the shopkeeper were talking about. WOW. All I could think was “OMG I’m so happy I can’t get these in Cozumel, I’d be so fat!”

The chocolatiers at the Chocolate Palace have certainly put the finest craftsmanship into making these. Once I started, I couldn’t stop gobbling down farts. Until, you guessed it, the pack was gone. 

Wanting to elevate the humble Nun Fart’s to the finest chocolate in Mexico, I agree with the makers.  They say, “Why continue to think that the best chocolate is Swiss, Belgian, or French,when the raw material isn’t produced in any of these three countries?”

Mexico is magic! The longer I live here and travel around the country, the more I fall in love: With the people, the food, and now, the amazing chocolate. 

How did Nun Farts get their name? 

There are a few origin stories. One involves language and pronunciation changes from Italian to Catalonian then to Mexican Spanish.

Others involve the light fluffy texture of the pastry it was named after. 

An AI image of a nun making rompope. The history of rompope began in Puebla
An order of nuns created several of Mexico’s most famous food and drinks during the 17th century. This is probably not what they had in mind though. (Canva)

Yet my favorite, because I have the potty sense of humor of a five-year-old, is this: One day, some nuns were in the kitchen cooking. One nun got the giggles and dropped dough into oil  after another nun farted. I can see that happening. They’re only human after all, and don’t we all find flatulence funny?

Maybe it’s because I grew up with three older brothers. Or, maybe it’s because we all know itto be a little taboo so  one of the adults is about to roll their eyes. To me, hearing that a nun got a giggle fit after a fart, tickles my funny bone. 

Where can I get some Nun’s Farts? 

Good news. They ship all over Mexico! The famous El Palacio Del Chocolate will ship direct to your home or office. Plus, they’re available in many cities; see a full list here. 

Bel Woodhouse, Mexico Correspondent for International Living, is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with more than 500 articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Having lived in the Mexican Caribbean for over seven years now, she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.

 

 

Checo Pérez to return to F1 in 2026 with Cadillac

By
MND Staff
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0
Checo Cadillac
The Guadalajara native will partner with Finland’s Valterri Bottas, also released at the end of the 2024 season, at the brand new Cadillac entry.(Cadillac F1/X)

Mexico’s Sergio “Checo” Pérez is set to make a return to Formula One, a year on from his unceremonious firing from Red Bull Racing.

The Guadalajara native will partner with Finland’s Valterri Bottas, also released at the end of the 2024 season, at the brand new Cadillac entry. Between them, they have won 16 races, six of which were taken by Pérez between 2021 and 2023. Both drivers have also scored second-place finishes in the Drivers’ World Championship.

General Motors’ entry to the top level of motorsport has been long-awaited, and the team has made it a priority to hire two experienced drivers to help the outfit during their first season of F1. Rumors of Pérez’s imminent signing have been swirling through the paddock for most of 2025, with the Mexican driver said to command a powerful portfolio of financial backers, as well as a nation of loyal fans. 

Cadillac Chief Executive Dan Towriff gave his backing to the new lineup.”Their experience, leadership and technical acumen are what we need,” Towriss was quoted saying by the Associated Press. “We’re humbled by their belief in us and this project.”

In a team statement, Pérez said that he was looking forward to returning to motor racing, and that the Cadillac project was particularly exciting. “”From our first conversations, I could sense the passion and determination behind this project. It’s an honor to be part of building a team that can develop together so that, in time, we will fight at the very front.” 

“To help bring such a fantastic company to F1 is a huge responsibility, one I’m confident of taking on,” Pérez said.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Cadillac Formula 1 Team (@cadillacf1)

The competitive nature of the sport means that 2026 will likely see Pérez and Bottas struggling at the back of the grid, but Checo called on his countrymen — on both sides of the border — to come together and support Cadillac. 

“I believe we can help shape this team into a real contender, the team of the Americas. We’re counting on support from across the continent – and we want to make everyone proud,” he said.

Mexico News Daily

Tulum transportation workers report steep decline in tourists

By
MND Staff
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A white 15-passenger van in Tulum with people exiting it.
An existing alternative in Tulum to taxis is the colectivo, a large passenger van service that can transport around 15 people. However, these operate largely outside of the downtown. (Cancun Airport Transportation)

Public transportation between Tulum and Playa del Carmen is seeing one of its sharpest declines in recent years, with daily ridership falling by more than 50%, according to estimates by local transport operators. 

Union representatives said the historic drop has had a severe economic impact, as demand remains well below previous years. Just last year, some 70,000 passengers used the service each day. Today, that figure has dropped to between 30,000 and 35,000, according to the transport union.  

Residents of Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Cancún and Felipe Carrillo Puerto commonly use the collective bus for their daily transportation. These so-called vans offer more affordable fares than public buses, costing 60 pesos per ride. However, they are also popular among tourists. 

Moisés Pool Quijano, general secretary of the National Union of Transporters of Change (UNTRAC) in Tulum, attributed the slump to a decrease in tourist arrivals. He pointed to several factors behind the decline including security concerns, massive amounts of sargassum arriving on local beaches and the new entry fee at Jaguar Park, which also covers beach access. 

Due to the decrease in passenger flow, Quijano explained that transport unions were driven to reduce the daily fees that operators must cover by 200 pesos as a support measure in light of the challenging economic scenario.

“Operating costs, such as fuel and unit maintenance, remain high, but we simply can’t make ends meet,” he said. 

Public vans aren’t the only ones hit by the slump in tourists arrivals. Lourdes Jiménez Rojo, commercial manager of ADO Mobility in the Riviera Maya, said passenger numbers to and from Tulum International Airport this summer season have fallen between 20-30% compared to the same period in 2024. She added that initial projections for the season in Tulum were not met, while Cancún maintained stable visitor numbers.

Tulum Airport loses another carrier as Discover Airlines moves its flights to Cancún

 

Several airlines from the United States, including American, Delta, JetBlue and United, are drastically cutting back capacity for the upcoming winter season, with significant cuts on routes from Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, Charlotte, Chicago and New York. Earlier this month, Discover Airlines, the German subsidiary of Lufthansa, joined the list, canceling its direct route to Tulum from Frankfurt, which was set to start this winter.

Overall, seat availability on flights to Tulum Airport is expected to drop by 27%, reflecting deflated tourism demand following the enthusiasm of last year.

With reports from La Jornada Maya, QR Agenda and Sol Quintana Roo

Acapulco debuts maritime public transport system

By
MND Staff
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Preisdent with boat crew
President Claudia Sheinbaum was on hand on Saturday for the flagging of the new Marinabús under the supervision of Asipona, the National Ports System Administration. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

The port and resort city of Acapulco, Guerrero, on Mexico’s Pacific Coast launched a new boat-bus service Saturday for tourists and residents to connect to different points of the bay.

Dubbed the Marinabús, the new public transportation service seeks to relieve traffic on the tourist-heavy coastal thoroughfare Costera Miguel Alemán by covering a 10-kilometer route across Acapulco Bay with access to hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and beaches. 

The Marinabús takes 90 passengers at a time to such popular points along Acapulco Bay as the Zócalo of Acapulco, Puerto Marqués, Icacos, Caleta and the Miguel Alemán Coastline. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro.com)

The vessel, built of steel by the Acapulco Marine Shipyard, measures 25 meters by 7 meters and has a capacity for 90 passengers. With a 400-horsepower diesel engine, it reaches a maximum speed of 17 kilometers per hour. It is operated by the Navy.

“The Marinabús [is] a new maritime transportation system that travels across the bay quickly, safely and sustainably; it will benefit thousands of people with daily transportation,” President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on her official X account.

Sheinbaum said that the project shows that the port “is alive, strong and full of future,” noting that it’s part of the reconstruction process following Hurricanes Otis and John.

In October 2023, Acapulco was hit by Otis, a Category 5 hurricane that caused massive destruction, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes damaged and a near-total collapse of infrastructure. The natural disaster resulted in dozens of fatalities and major economic losses. A year later, the beach destination was hit by Hurricane John, leading Sheinbaum to declare a state of emergency in Guerrero.

“This is more than just a means of transport,” Sheinbaum said of the Marinabús. “It is a symbol of reconstruction and hope.”

The service offers 16 daily trips, from 7 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. The stops include the Zócalo of Acapulco, Puerto Marqués, Icacos, Caleta and the Miguel Alemán Coastline.

Prices vary depending on the passenger. Residents pay 30 pesos per ride, domestic visitors 60 pesos, and international tourists 160 pesos. Tickets will be available at boarding points along the bay.

With reports from Record and Morita Digital

Sheinbaum responds to opposition senator’s latest accusation: Monday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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Sheinbaum mañanera 25 August 2025
Sheinbaum, on Monday, was also quizzed by reporters about Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and professional boxer Julio César Chávez Jr., two high-profile Mexicans who face serious criminal charges. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

At her Monday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum fielded questions about two high-profile Mexicans who face serious criminal charges, one in the United States and the other here in Mexico.

She was also quizzed about an allegation made against her by one of Mexico’s most prominent opposition politicians.

Here is a recap of the president’s Aug. 25 mañanera.

Sheinbaum unconcerned by possible testimony from ‘El Mayo’ in US

A reporter asked the president whether there is “concern” in her government about possible testimony in the United States from Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who was arrested in the U.S. last year after arriving in New Mexico — against his will — on a private plane with one of the sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

Later on Monday, Zambada pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in a U.S. federal court in Brooklyn, New York.

The aforesaid reporter noted that in February, Zambada demanded to be repatriated to Mexico, and highlighted that he said in a letter to the Mexican government that he could cause a “collapse” in the Mexico-United States relationship through his testimony in the U.S.

Sheinbaum responded “no” to the question about whether there was “concern” in her government about the information he could reveal.

Anything that Zambada says that is related to Mexico will have to be supported by “evidence” and by the Federal Attorney General’s Office in Mexico, she said.

“There is a procedure,” Sheinbaum said.

In court on Monday, Zambada admitted that the Sinaloa Cartel under his leadership bribed police, military personnel and politicians.

The New York Times reported that the septuagenarian will be sentenced to life in prison, noting that he “pleaded guilty to one count of taking part in a continuing criminal enterprise and one count of racketeering conspiracy.”

It remains to be seen whether Zambada will name any of the politicians that he says colluded with the Sinaloa Cartel, but that currently appears to be unlikely. His lawyer, Frank Perez, said in a statement that his client’s plea agreement doesn’t include any commitment to cooperate with U.S. authorities.

“The agreement that he reached with the U.S. authorities is a matter of public record. It is not a cooperation agreement, and I can state categorically that there is no deal under which he is cooperating with the United States Government or any other government,” Perez said.

In a post to X, Ioan Grillo, a veteran Mexico-based journalist who specializes in investigating and reporting on organized crime, wrote:

“I think it’s unlikely Mayo will testify against Mexican politicians (unpopular opinion).

– He is going to die in prison anyway.

– He could get better jail conditions by helping with asset seizures.

– He has family in Mexico to protect.

– Why take the stand? (Maybe, I’m wrong)”

Sheinbaum declines to comment on conduct of judge who released Julio César Chávez Jr. from prison

A reporter asked the president about the decision of a judge who ruled that former world middleweight boxing champion Julio César Chávez Jr. could await trial on organized crime and firearms offenses outside prison.

“It’s what the judge decided, that’s it,” Sheinbaum said.

Later in her press conference, she said that it was up to the Federal Attorney General’s Office to decide whether to challenge the decision or not.

Chávez was deported to Mexico from the United States last week and subsequently transferred to a federal prison in Hermosillo, Sonora. He was released from prison on Sunday.

Like her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum has, at times, been critical of judges for releasing suspects from preventive detention before they face trial.

She argued that the judicial elections held in Mexico in June were necessary to rid the nation’s courts of corruption and other ills.

Sheinbaum’s war of words with PAN senator continues

A reporter noted that National Action Party (PAN) Senator Lilly Téllez was back on Fox News on the weekend and accused Sheinbaum of threatening to prosecute her.

During an interview on the Fox & Friends Weekend program, Rachel Campos-Duffy asked Téllez whether she is “afraid for her life” given the remarks she has made about Mexico being a “narco-state.”

“Yes, I am afraid and the president has threatened me, to proceed against me with criminal prosecution, to get me out of the Senate and get me in jail just because I told you, in this space, in Fox News, what is the reality of our country with the cartels,” the PAN senator said.

Asked whether Téllez’s remarks were true, Sheinbaum responded: “No, false.”

A war of words between the senator and the president began last week after the former told Fox News that most Mexicans would welcome U.S. assistance in the war against drug cartels.

Sheinbaum subsequently said it was “not a minor issue that a senator gave an interview to a foreign media outlet calling for intervention” from the United States.

Téllez responded with a lengthy statement on social media, contending she said no such thing.

On Monday, Sheinbaum acknowledged that the dispute had blown up on social media.

She subsequently stressed that her government has no intention to strip Téllez of her legislative immunity (known in Mexico as the “fuero“) or file a criminal complaint against her.

“But it is important that the people of Mexico know who is who and what they say,” Sheinbaum said.

“Now, they’re once again running with the ‘narco-government’ thing,” she said, adding that the tactic failed in last year’s federal elections — which the ruling Morena party dominated — “because the people know … [the claim] is false.”

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

Mexico’s U-8 baseball team beats US to win Cal Ripken World Series

By
MND Staff
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0
kids in baseball uniform holding flag
Mexico repeated its 2023 Cal Ripken World Series championship by beating the United States 10-2 in the final game of the Under-8 tournament. (Cal Ripken Baseball/Facebook)

For the second time in three years, Mexico’s U-8 baseball team won the Cal Ripken World Series with a convincing 10-2 win over the United States in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, on Sunday.

The star of the final game was pitcher Milán “Búfalo” Zazueta who struck out 10 batters in four innings of work. Reliever Carlos López closed out the victory, completing the last two innings and retiring the final batter via an easy ground ball back to the mound, sending players and coaches storming the field in jubilation.

Several players keyed Mexico’s offensive explosion, with outfielder Humberto Huizar knocking in three runs. Catcher Abraham Enríquez had two hits and two RBIs, while second baseman Roberto Cruz and third baseman Carlos Verdugo each contributed three hits.

Mexico scored twice in the first inning and put up runs in four of the five innings they came to the plate. The U.S. team narrowed the lead to 2-1 in the top of the second, but Mexico outscored their rivals 8-1 thereafter. 

The U-8 Player Pitch division is for 7- and 8-year-olds (players who turn 9 during the season remain eligible) and, unlike the U-8 Rookie division in which a pitching machine is utilized, features pitchers throwing from a small mound.

Eight of the 12 kids on Mexico’s roster hail from the state of Sinaloa — seven from the state capital of Culiacán and one from Mazatlán — while the other four ballplayers are from the state of Baja California — two each from Ensenada and Tijuana.

Mexico’s Cal Ripken Baseball national office celebrated the championship with a Facebook post recognizing the achievement:

“We extend our sincere congratulations to our champions and a profound thank you to the parents, managers, coaches, delegates and everyone who made this team project possible. This triumph reflects discipline, commitment and unity.”

A team from the same region of Mexico led by two youngsters from Mazatlán — Elías Córdova and Santiago Fuentevilla — won the same U-8 title in 2023.

Designed for players aged 4-12, Cal Ripken Baseball — named for the legendary Baltimore Orioles stars Cal Ripken, Jr. — is a division of the Babe Ruth League, an international youth baseball and softball league based in the U.S. 

Unlike Little League Baseball, which hosts a World Series for teams from around the world, the Cal Ripken Baseball World Series only features teams from the U.S. and Mexico. 

Mexico’s Little League team — from Chihuahua city — advanced to the quarterfinals of the loser’s bracket before being eliminated by Japan on Aug. 19.

With reports from El Imparcial, Milenio and Noroeste

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