Your questions answered about black beans

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September 23, 2023

frijol-negro-lugar-placa-madera-pequena-sobre-tela-saco (1) — Beans in general, and black beans in particular, are very healthy foods, high in plant-based protein, fiber and antioxidants. (Freepik)

When it comes to pantry favorites, frijoles negros—black beans—have a permanent place in mine. They’re good tasting and good for you; inexpensive and easy, especially if you use the canned ones; and so versatile it’s kind of ridiculous.

Beans in general, and black beans in particular, are extremely healthy foods, high in plant-based protein, fiber and antioxidants that help manage cholesterol, sugar and blood pressure levels.

While 70% of the calories in black beans come from carbs, they’re unique in that their starch content is what’s called “resistant starch,” meaning that much of it passes through our upper digestive tract without breaking down. Because the starch doesn’t convert into sugars, blood sugar levels don’t rise.

So, are black beans good for you? Absolutely!

Will eating black beans help you lose weight? In a roundabout way, yes. Foods rich in fiber make us feel full quickly; one would ostensibly eat less if they were part of your regular diet.

Long a dietary staple in Central and South America, black beans are everywhere in Mexican cuisine. In the U.S. they weren’t mainstream until fairly recently, although vegetarians were using them as a source of protein long before that. When Chipotle’s Mexican Grill opened in the early 1990s, black beans were an integral part of the menu, quickly beloved by the public.

Black beans have a rich hearty flavor and meaty, dense texture that makes fabulous burgers and chili and is a perfect touch sprinkled on chilaquiles or nachos or used in tacos, quesadillas, vampiros, and other classic Mexican foods. Refried beans (frijoles refritos), found everywhere in everything, are just cooked beans blended or mashed and then sautéed in oil or manteca (lard), with or without added spices, until they form a spreadable paste. A traditional recipe in Mexico is for a robust soup with a black bean base topped with all your favorite things: chopped avocado and onion, a drizzle of crema, a sprinkling of cilantro, maybe a dash of hot sauce.

Do black beans need to be soaked overnight before cooking? Two fiercely loyal camps swear they know best. I’ll leave it to the experts to explain which method is best and why.

You may also have heard that black beans are good for dogs. In small portions, unsalted and with no added oil or spices, they can be. PetMD suggests that “occasionally” offering your dog a “small bite” of black beans mixed into their regular food isn’t harmful, but some dogs may have difficulty digesting them.

Loaded Sweet Potatoes (Camotes Locos)

2 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed and halved lengthwise (or purchased already roasted)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
Salt & pepper
1 cup cooked black beans (if using canned, rinse and drain)
1 cup shredded Chihuahua or sharp Cheddar cheese
Optional toppings: crema, chopped cilantro, guacamole, salsa Mexicana

If baking the sweet potatoes, heat oven to 425F/220C. Brush sweet potatoes with oil. Sprinkle with salt. Place cut side down on baking sheet and roast 30-40 minutes until cooked through. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. (If using purchased baked sweet potatoes begin here.) Using a fork, rough up the flesh and slightly flatten the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper.

Divide half the cheese among potatoes. Spoon black beans over them, then cover with remaining cheese. Return the pan to the oven; bake another 5 minutes, until cheese melts and beans are warm. Serve with assorted toppings.

Black Bean Mac & Cheese

Mac and cheese with black beans (Stylishcuisine).

2 tsp. cornstarch
1 (12-oz.) can evaporated milk
2 eggs
½ lb. elbow macaroni
1 (15-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 whole chipotle chiles packed in adobo, minced, plus 2 Tbsp. adobo sauce from can
1 serrano or jalapeño chile, minced
1¼ cups grated or shredded Chihuahua, Manchego or Asadero cheese
1½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
4 finely sliced scallions

Combine cornstarch, evaporated milk and eggs in a bowl and whisk. Set aside.

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking water. Return pasta to pot and add reserved cooking water, beans, chipotle chilies, serrano or jalapeño, evaporated milk mixture and cheeses. Cook over very low heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning, until cheese melts and sauce is creamy and smooth. Stir in cilantro and scallions, reserving some for garnish. Transfer to serving bowl, top with remaining cilantro and scallions, and serve immediately.

Black Bean Veggie Summer Salad

1 (14.5-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 Tbsp. minced onion
1 ear sweet corn, kernels sliced off
1 jalapeño, minced
Salt & pepper
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp. olive oil
½ Tbsp. white wine vinegar
¼ tsp. ancho chile powder
Pinch ground cumin
¼ cup crumbled corn chips
1½ Tbsp. minced fresh cilantro
Combine beans, onion, corn and jalapeño in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

In another small bowl, whisk lime juice, oil, vinegar, chili powder and cumin. Whisk in salt and pepper. Toss vinaigrette with black bean mixture. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.

When ready to serve, add corn chips and cilantro and stir to combine. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Janet Blaser is the author of the best-selling book, Why We Left: An Anthology of American Women Expats, featured on CNBC and MarketWatch. She has lived in Mexico since 2006. You can find her on Facebook.

Study identifies crime groups among Mexico’s biggest employers

By

MND Staff

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September 22, 2023

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Members of the CJNG during a training exercise — The research article estimates the size of cartels based on mathematical modeling. (Cuartoscuro)

Drug cartels are collectively one of the largest employers in Mexico, employing more people than the ubiquitous Oxxo convenience store chain and the state oil company Pemex, according to a research article published in the journal Science on Thursday.

Using a mathematical model that takes things such as cartel recruitment, homicides and incapacitation of members due to imprisonment into account, the authors of the article calculated that cartels employed between 160,000 and 185,000 people in Mexico in 2022.

Chart from research article in Science — The researchers used mathematical modeling to estimate cartel employment. (Prieto, Campedelli, and Hope/Science)

“To construct our model, we gauge data on 150 cartels active in Mexico in 2020, including information on their alliances and rivalries and data corresponding to homicides, missing persons, and incarcerations,” the authors said.

With an estimated 175,000 people on their payroll, organized crime groups including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel are Mexico’s fifth largest employer, the researchers concluded.

Only Femsa, a beverage and retail company and Coca-Cola bottler, Walmart, staffing firm Manpower and telecommunications corporation América Móvil have more employees in Mexico, according to the study.

Cartels’ employees include producers of drugs such as methamphetamine and fentanyl, smugglers, sicarios or hitmen, hawks or lookouts, recruiters, accountants and money launderers. Police or politicians who receive payments from cartels could also be considered employees.

Incarceration is one of the ways cartels’ numbers are depleted, but they have successfully recruited enough members to have net gains each year according to the research. (Gob MX)

Published under the headline “Reducing cartel recruitment is the only way to lower violence in Mexico,” the article – after citing data and mathematical calculations – said that “despite efforts from the state to hinder their power, cartels have increased their size by 60,000 members in a decade” between 2012 and 2022.

“Incarcerating nearly 6000 cartel members each year has not prevented them from growing into larger organizations,” the three authors said.

Why? Cartel recruitment, as the research article explains.

“Between January and December of 2021, cartels recruited 19,300 individuals, losing 6500 members as a result of conflict with other cartels and 5700 members as a result of incapacitation, which resulted in a net gain of roughly 7000 members during that year…A similar estimate is observed for each year between 2012 and 2022,” the authors said.

Bullet casings at a crime scene — The articles authors estimated that “over half of the country’s casualties result from the fight between the smallest 140 and largest 10 cartels.” (MARGARITO PÉREZ RETANA /CUARTOSCURO.COM)

“Unless all cartels combined recruit between 350 and 370 people per week, they would have collapsed as a result of conflict, incapacitation, and saturation combined,” they added.

The article explains that “saturation” is indicative of “internal instability and dropouts, which lead to organizational fragmentation.”

The authors – Rafael Prieto Curiel, Gian Maria Campedelli and the recently deceased security analyst Alejandro Hope – calculated that the “10 largest cartels in Mexico have more than 50% of the active affiliates in the country.”

Of the estimated 175,000 cartel affiliates (or employees), 17.9% work for the CJNG and 8.9% are on the Sinaloa Cartel payroll, the researchers calculated. The Nueva Familia Michoacana, the Northeast Cartel and the Unión Tepito were identified as the next biggest criminal employers.

While over 50% of “active affiliates” work for the 10 biggest cartels, “the conflict between them only produces 15% of the fatalities [in Mexico], ” the article said before noting that the country’s most powerful criminal organizations often target small local ones in order to incorporate them into their own structures.

“… We estimate that more than half of the country’s casualties result from the fight between the smallest 140 and the largest 10 cartels,” Prieto, Campedelli and Hope said.

Graffiti with letters CJNG — The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is estimated by the study authors to have the largest number of “affiliates” or employees. (Cuartoscuro)

The authors outlined a concerning possible scenario for coming years based on the growth of cartels and the increase in homicide numbers seen over the past decade.

“On the basis of the size of cartels in 2022 and the trends observed in the past decade, we predict that the weekly number of casualties related to organized crime will keep increasing in the coming years,” they said.

“We estimate that if current trends continue, cartels will keep increasing their power, and we could observe 40% more casualties and 26% more cartel members by 2027.”

The key to avoiding that scenario, the authors argued, is reducing cartel recruitment rather than increasing arrests.

“Decreasing the cartel’s ability to recruit by half will reduce the weekly casualties by 2027 by 25% and cartel size by 11%,” they said.

The researchers also calculated that “even in the hypothetical scenario where recruitment drops to zero, it would take three years to return to the – already high – levels of violence observed in 2012.”

One of the limitations of the research pointed out by some analysts is whether government officials are tallied as cartel employees. Mexico’s ex-security minister Genaro García Luna was convicted of taking bribes from the Sinaloa Cartel in the U.S. earlier this year. (Cuartoscuro)

“This further calls for rapid and timely large-scale initiatives to reduce recruitment in the country,” they said.

Tackling recruitment, the authors said, “will have a triple effect in the future.”

“First, it will lower the number of cartel members, reducing the violence that it can create by having fewer killers. Second, it will lower the number of targets, so fewer people are vulnerable to suffering more violence. And third, it will reduce the cartel’s capacity for future recruitment,” they said.

Prieto, Campedelli and Hope said that “offering policy recommendations is beyond the scope of this work,” but argued that “reducing recruitment requires structural efforts at the state and local levels.”

“This especially applies to areas with high cartel support, where offering educational and professional opportunities that outweigh the short-term benefits offered by cartels represents a critical goal for the future of the country,” they wrote.

President López Obrador agrees. His government has implemented a so-called “hugs, not bullets” security strategy that seeks to address the root causes of crime by offering work and education opportunities to Mexicans, especially the nation’s youth.

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram has launched a “laser-focused” campaign against the CJNG and Sinaloa drug cartels, blaming the groups for “the most devastating drug crisis in our nation’s history.” (Shutterstock)

The “hugs” part of the strategy includes the provision of educational scholarships and employment programs such as the Sowing Life reforestation scheme and the Youths Building the Future apprenticeship initiative.

Despite the government’s efforts to tackle crime and violence in those ways, homicide numbers have hit record high levels during López Obrador’s administration, although there was a decline of almost 10% in 2022 compared to the previous year. The president has repeatedly said that his security strategy will take time to “bear fruit.”

The publication of the cartel-focused research article in Science comes eight weeks after United States Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram asserted that the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG have more than 40,000 operatives in over 100 countries around the world.

She says that those two cartels pose “the greatest criminal threat the United States has ever faced” given the large quantities of narcotics, including the powerful synthetic opiod fentanyl, they ship to the U.S.

Prieto, Campedelli and Hope said that their work, to the best of their knowledge, “represents the first scholarly attempt to mathematically quantify the size of the cartel population in Mexico.”

They acknowledged “some limitations,” saying that while “the lack of data on the size of cartels represents the inherent motivation of this work, it also represents a structural limitation because our estimates cannot be meaningfully validated with real-world information.”

DEA chart on Sinaloa Cartel — The DEA has claimed that the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG have over 40,000 operatives working in more than 100 countries. (DEA)

Victoria Dittmar, a project manager at Insight Crime, a think tank and media organization that researches crime in the Americas, noted that she hadn’t seen any other estimates of cartel member numbers in Mexico.

Quoted in a report by The Guardian, Dittmar expressed some reservations about the study, commenting that “it can be very difficult to say who is a member of a criminal organization, and who isn’t.”

“What about a politician that receives money? Or someone who cooperates with the group just once?” she asked.

Ioan Grillo, a British journalist with vast experience reporting on cartels in Mexico and further afield, said in an article on his Substack site that he was “skeptical of seeing formulas and precise numbers” on cartel activities.

However, he also wrote that he “instinctively” agreed with its conclusions.

“Cartels do employ a hell of a lot of people, perhaps even more than the study finds, and it’s important to point out this colossal problem,” Grillo wrote.

“Preventing youths from joining them has to be key to finding a way out of this mess.”

Mexico News Daily

Adventures on ‘The Hummingbird Route’ in Jalisco

By

John Pint

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September 22, 2023

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13 sm-bp Purification-with-incense — Each participant is purified with incense from head to toe. (Photo John Pint.)

A poster came my way announcing an all-day excursion called “La Ruta del Colibrí” — the Hummingbird Route. It promised a three-part adventure quite unlike any other, so I signed up and I must say the organizers kept their promise.

This activity was conceived by people in the little town of Ahualulco de Mercado, Jalisco, located 60 kilometers west of Guadalajara. Ahualulco natives have always known that curious and wonderful attractions surround their town and, at last, have decided to share some of them with the rest of the world.

Birdwatching with experts. (Photo John Pint)

We met in the town square at 7:00 a.m. I found that 16 people had signed up for La Ruta del Colibrí and had obviously gotten out of bed very early that morning.

Birdwatching at 7 a.m.

The early start was de rigueur because the first item on the schedule is bird watching and the best time to see birds is right after sunrise.

Off we went in a van along a picturesque dirt road that winds its way through a magnificent forest up to one of the most extraordinary geological sites in the world: the Cerro de Piedras Bola. This mountaintop in the Sierra del Águila is covered in gigantic, remarkably spherical stone balls.

We parked a kilometer and a half from the top and proceeded on foot. Leading the group was biologist and self-made ornithologist Julio Álvarez, who passed out binoculars to all.

As we made our way up the road, we were introduced to all kinds of birds, ranging from the astonishingly beautiful red-faced warbler, as well as the plainest bird imaginable: the brown-backed solitaire. Known as the clarín jilguero in Spanish, this dull-looking bird, surprises with its glorious song, which sounds like three flutes being played simultaneously. Yes, we saw plenty of beautiful hummingbirds as well.

70 giant stone balls

At the top, we snacked among the huge balls of volcanic rock – which measure measuring close to nine meters in circumference – as we listened to the latest theories of how the Piedras Bola were formed were formed, from Canadian geologist Chris Lloyd, who accompanied us on the walk.

Happy apple eater on a giant stone ball. (Photo John Pint.)

Researchers have counted more than 70 giant balls on this hilltop and as far back as 1967 a writer for National Geographic Magazine spent time here trying to figure out just where they all came from.

Hot and sweaty after our hike, we jumped back in the van and proceeded down the mountain to the Hummingbird Temazcal, hidden away in a jungly spot nearby.

Inside a traditional Mexican temazcal (sweat lodge)

Our hosts, Maru Magaña and Marco Martínez, explained that the word temazcal means “house of the hot rocks” and is part of one of the oldest traditions in the world.

Maru Magaña and Marco Martínez with their temazcal in the jungle. (Photo John Pint.)

Temazcals and sweat lodges were used, perhaps monthly by just about every community up and down the continent of America and in many other parts of the world. Fortunately, some places all over Mexico still follow the temazcal rituals, allowing you to participate in one of the most important and ancient traditions of the human race.

So, wearing shorts or long white dresses, we were called to the sweat lodge by the blowing of a conch shell. Next, we were purified by incense, and then, after making an offering of tobacco, we found ourselves sitting together in darkness as hot volcanic rocks –traditionally called abuelitas (grandmas) were brought in one by one and placed in a hole in the center of the temazcal.

A good number of “abuelitas” or red-hot volcanic rocks must be kept at the ready outside the temazcal. (Photo John Pint.)

“¡Bienvenida, Abuelita!” we would greet each of them.

As none of us was a tough guerrero (warrior), our group remained inside the temazcal for only four puertas (doors), each of which is a period of time spent in darkness, the entrance having been covered with a blanket after seven new abuelitas are brought in.

Once the door is closed, the hot rocks and all the participants are sprinkled with aromatic plants dipped in water. Clouds of steam fill the temazcal.

Inside the little hut, there are also a drum and castanets.

Someone begins to sing an ancient song with easy lyrics, which we soon repeat. The hypnotic drum beat echoes In the misty darkness, doing its magic. In no time at all, we are transformed into a community of friends.

Twenty-eight hot rocks later, we and the bandanas on our heads are completely soaked by sweat and much sprinkling.

Preparing incense for the temazcal ritual. (Photo John Pint.)

The temazcal is like a womb. Slowly, we crawl out of it, one by one, each of us touching his or her head to the floor in reverence. We are reborn.

Washing off the sweat is a delightful experience and the fresh watermelon and orange slices awaiting us outside taste extraordinarily delicious. But this is just a snack. We are ravenously hungry and lose no time getting back into the van. We are heading for El Restaurante de la Tía Lancho, located in the pueblo of Teuchiteco, a two-kilometer drive from the temazcal.

The pre-Columbian restaurant of Tía Lancho

Tía Lancho is a member of Las Mujeres de Maíz, founded in 2011 by Mexican cookbook guru Maru Toledo. Members of the group are graduates of Toledo’s “Smoky School of Gastronomy.” They are skilled not just in cooking without the benefit of gas or electricity but also in finding or growing all the herbs and plants needed for making a meal.

Tía Lancho prepares delicious tortillas for her guests. Las Mujeres del Maíz specialize in rescuing pre-Hispanic traditions and recipes. (Photo Julio Álvarez.)

Whether Tía Lancho serves you mole, pipián, espinazo, or hand-made tortillas, it will taste far more delicious than what you might find in a regular restaurant, and apart from enjoying your meal, you may also be fascinated by a visit to the old-style smoky kitchen where it was made.

Here, you might even try using a molcajete or a metate and discover just how strong pre-Hispanic cooks had to be.

If you want to visit any of these sites or join in on the next Ruta del Colibrí, just contact the Kan Baálam Travel Agency in Ahualulco. “We can pick people up at the Guadalajara airport,” says owner Alejandro López, “and, yes, we speak English.”

Participants in the Hummingbird Route say they were amazed at how much they learned about temazcals and traditional Mexican food…not to mention those amazing Giant Stone Balls!

The writer has lived near Guadalajara, Jalisco, since 1985. His most recent book is Outdoors in Western Mexico, Volume Three. More of his writing can be found on his blog.

Chinese cars are making inroads in the Mexican market

By

Cat Rainsford

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September 22, 2023

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geely_chinese company_Photo by Jenson_Shutterstock — Chinese brands have exploded onto the Mexican market, and are on track to capture a 20% market share by the end of the year. (Jenson/Shutterstock)

More than 80,500 Chinese cars were sold in Mexico in the first eight months of this year, with Chinese brands on track to account for 20% of the domestic car market.

The Mexican Association of Automotive Distributors (AMDA) said on Wednesday that Chinese car imports have increased by 62.6% during 2023 so far, growing their market share from 5.7% to 19.4%.

MG was the top-selling Chinese-owned brand, with more than 35,000 cars sold so far in 2023. (MG Motors/Instagram)

“The arrival of Chinese brands increases the [number of available] offerings and has contributed to the updating of the inventory available in our market,” AMDA president Guillermo Rosales said at a press conference.

Four brands currently dominate the market for Chinese-owned brands in Mexico. MG Motors sold 35,322 units in the first eight months of 2023, followed by Chirey Motor with 26,174, JAC with 12,840, then the Motornation collection of 3 brands, with 6,208.

According to consultancy J.D. Power Mexico, more Chinese firms are now entering the market, including BYD, Omoda, Jetour, GWN Motors and Geely Autos.

“We know that there are seven more confirmed brands that are going to start operations in Mexico and this will give us, not an exponential growth, but a substitution, a fight for the market,” said J.D. Power’s director, Gerardo Gómez.

BYD manufactures vehicles for Bimbo, Lala, Cemex and FEMSA, as well as for ride-sharing app DiDi. (User3204/Wikimedia)

BYD, which first started to explore the Mexican car market a year ago, exemplifies this growing competition. The Chinese company already supplies trucks to brands including Bimbo, Lala, Cemex and FEMSA, as well as manufacturing vehicles for ride-hailing app DiDi. On Thursday, it launched the ‘Dolphin,’ its first electric vehicle for the Mexican domestic market, of which it expects to sell up to 30,000 units next year, according to BYD Americas’ president, Stella Li.

“We will import the vehicles at first, but we have plans to produce vehicles in Mexico,” Li told El Financiero newspaper. “We are doing the research, but we haven’t decided the location yet.”

The arrival of new Chinese brands is just one factor driving dynamism in Mexico’s car market. According to Rosales, traditionally popular brands in Mexico – such as Nissan, Volkswagen and General Motors – are also bringing new models onto the market as they recover from the drop in demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We can observe it on the sales floors of the distributors, with increasing coverage and approaching normal conditions,” Rosales said. “We expect this to continue in the coming months, and foresee a 2024 with greater competition among all participants.”

According to the national statistical agency (INEGI), sales of new cars in Mexico grew by 23.8% last month, reaching 113,873 units, the strongest year-on-year growth Mexico’s automotive industry has seen in the month of August for 23 years.

With reports from El Financiero and Latinus

Survey: Mexico is ‘king’ of searches for US second home buyers

By

MND Staff

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September 22, 2023

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San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato is one of the most-searched Mexican destinations for vacation home buyers, according to Point2. (Shutterstock)

Large numbers of people in the United States aspire to own a home in Mexico, a recent analysis suggests.

Mexico is the “most wanted destination for U.S. homebuyers looking for a home in the Americas,” according to the real estate company Point2 Homes.

Vacation home in Tulum — Beach destinations like Tulum are some of the most desirable locations for second home buyers. (Jared Rice/Unsplash)

That conclusion is based on the number of people in the U.S. doing web searches using Mexico-relevant real-estate related keywords such as “homes for sale in Mexico” or “Puerto Vallarta homes.”

The news division of Point2 Homes – which conducted the web search analysis – reported that the average number of Mexico-related real estate searches in the U.S. was 136,530 per month during the 12 months to the end of June, up 3.3% from a year earlier.

Such searches surged almost 60% in a 12-month period prior to the publication of Point2 Homes’ 2022 study, which noted that Mexico had retained its title as “the king of vacation destinations and locations for second homes” for United States citizens.

Point2 said in its latest report that “Mexico remains undefeated” as the most desirable country in the Americas for U.S. homebuyers, despite only a modest annual increase in related web searches.

Mérida, Yucatán has become an increasingly popular destination for foreigners. (Shutterstock)

“With more than 130k monthly visits, this land of endless, dazzling beaches and rich culture continues to attract buyers,” the company said.

Point2 said that the only modest increase in online interest in homes in Mexico compared to a year earlier “could prove that the pioneers leading the work-from-everywhere movement are all done searching and buying, leaving the laggards behind.”

“Or, it could be that this year, American buyers have zoomed in on other destinations,” the company said, noting that interest in purchasing a home in Canada – ranked as the “second most wanted destination” in the Americas – had surged 54% in annual terms.

The “most sought-after locations” for home ownership in Mexico, Point2 said, were the Jalisco resort city of Puerto Vallarta, Guanajuato’s colonial gem San Miguel de Allende, Baja Sur hotspot Cabo San Lucas, trendy Tulum in Quintana Roo and Yucatán capital Mérida.

Who is interested in buying property in Mexico?

Point2 Homes’ internet traffic data showed that men were responsible for just over 58% of Mexico-relevant real-estate related searches in the United States in the 12 months to the end of June, while almost 42% of searches were made by women.

U.S. residents aged 35 to 44 made 23.7% of the Mexico real estate-related searches during the period, more than any other age cohort.

Point2 Homes chart — According to the Point2 survey, the 35-44 age demographic was responsible for the largest percentage of searches compared to other cohorts. (Point2homes.com)

Those aged 25-34 and 45-54 were each responsible for just over 20% of total searches, while Americans in the 55-64 bracket accounted for 15% of searches. The percentages for those aged 18-24 and 65+ were 12% and 8.5%, respectively.

“The surprising part is that people in the youngest age bracket (18 to 24 years old) are driving traffic to Mexico’s real estate pages more than retirees,” Point2 said.

“People aged 65 and over, who might be interested in warmer climate areas to buy a home and retire to are outnumbered by their much younger peers.”

Families with kids are among a recent wave of U.S. citizens who have moved to Mexico.

What kinds of properties are they looking for?

Just over 57% of Mexico-related real estate searches in the U.S. over the past year were for houses, Point 2 said. About one-third of the searches were for apartments while just over 10% were for land.

According to Point2, potential buyers are looking mostly for houses, and primarily in coastal destinations like Cabo San Lucas. (John Cafazza/Unsplash)

In a statement to The Epoch Times, Andra Hopulele of Point2 offered some insight into what buyers are looking for.

“First off, it should be a better version of the home they already live in and boast all the amenities they love or would love to have; and second, the location should be exceptional. That’s why beach and waterfront properties in countries like Mexico, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica immediately come to mind,” she said.

Around the web

Bloomberg reported earlier this year that low crime rates in the state of Yucatán had led to an influx of real estate investors, “some from the U.S. and Canada, who have renovated old houses in downtown Mérida and put them up for rent on Airbnb Inc.”

The news organization said that a three-bedroom luxury home in the historic center of Mérida “might cost about [US] $700,000, while an apartment by the beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico could go for $340,000.”

The New York Times reported in late 2022 that “the housing market in Mexico City is gaining strength” after a pandemic slowdown.

The Times cited data from statistics website Statista that showed that the average home price in Mexico City was about 2.9 million pesos in the first quarter of 2022, “making it Mexico’s most expensive market,” but still “more affordable than many markets in the United States.”

Statista’s data for the first quarter of 2023 shows that the average price of a home in Mexico City was 3.66 million pesos (about US $213,000), a 26% increase in the space of a year.

Nayarit had the second most expensive real estate among Mexico’s 32 federal entities, according to Statista, followed by Morelos, Baja California Sur and Querétaro.

Durango had the cheapest average housing price followed by Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Tlaxcala and Hidalgo.

Coahuila police arrest giant ‘Chucky’ doll for public threats

By

MND Staff

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September 22, 2023

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Chucky doll in handcuffs — A giant "Chucky" doll ended up in handcuffs after its own was arrested for threatening behavior. (TerrorActo/X)

Police in the northern Mexican city of Monclova, Coahuila have arrested a large “Chucky” doll for allegedly threatening passersby.

The doll, made famous by the 1988 horror film “Child’s Play”, in which it was possessed by the soul of a criminal before carrying out a series of murders, has long been a fixture of the Halloween season.

The doll was taken to the local police station. (César Cespada/X)

According to local media, the doll was operated by a man known as Carlos “N”, who used a large knife to threaten people on the street and demand money. When police arrived at the scene on Wednesday, Carlos and “Chucky” were both arrested and handcuffed, and were charged at the scene with disturbing public order and endangering the public.

Images of the handcuffed “diabolical” doll quickly spread on social media. Authorities in Monclova say the police officer who carried out the arrest has since been sanctioned for her failure to carry out her duties in an appropriate manner. The officer claims that the doll was handcuffed at the request of local media.

While Carlos “N” was released later that day, there have been no reports on whether “Chucky” has remained in police custody.

With reports from El Universal and Infobae

Which was the top Mexican business on TIME best companies list?

By

MND Staff

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September 22, 2023

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edificio_Bimbo_Pedro Hiriart_Muca UNAM — At 113th, Grupo Bimbo was the highest-ranked Mexican company on the list. (Pedro Hiriart/Muca UNAM)

TIME magazine and research provider Statista have released a list naming the 750 companies that are “changing the world”. 10 Mexican companies made the final list, and Grupo Bimbo was revealed to be the highest-ranked Mexican firm, falling just outside the global top 100.

Where does Grupo Bimbo rank compared to other global companies?

The world’s largest bread maker ranked No. 113 in the World’s Best Companies list, just after logistical giant Fedex and above Swedish fashion chain H&M.

Grupo Bimbo ranked as the fourth best company in the Food & Beverage category beating PepsiCo (No. 124), Danone (No. 230), Heineken (No. 290), Keloggs (No. 305), Hershey (No. 425) and Kraft Heinz (No. 642).

Employing more than 145,000 people in 34 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, Grupo Bimbo also beat multinationals in other industries including Santander (No. 134), Hyundai (No. 151), Chanel (No. 154) and Expedia (No. 336).

“Since our founding 78 years ago, we seek to be an agent of change that positively impacts the communities where we operate in, contribute to caring for and regenerating natural systems, as well as always offering the best products with the highest quality to all our consumers,” General Director of Grupo Bimbo Daniel Servitje said in a statement regarding the company’s ranking.

Which other Mexican companies made the list?

Coming in as the second best Mexican company was Banorte at No. 242. FEMSA (owners of convenience chain OXXO) followed at No. 285, then department store group Liverpool came in at No. 294, América Móvil at No. 348 and Cemex at No. 388. Grupo México (a conglomerate that owns mines and railways) was listed as No. 463.

Other Mexican firms on the list included Grupo Elektra, Lala, Carso and Gruma.

What were the criteria?

The ranking was based on a formula which considered employee satisfaction, financial growth and sustainability achievements (ESG).

Bimbo staff — Companies were ranked for employee happiness, revenue growth and sustainability. (Grupo Bimbo)

TIME’s economic correspondent Alana Semuels explained that the rankings show “just who dominates the world order with fast-moving tech and business-services companies unseating the manufacturers and consumer-goods companies that once drove the global economy.”

Big tech companies dominated the upper echelons of the list. Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet (formerly Google) and Meta ranked as the five best companies in the world.

With reports from Forbes Mexico, Reforma and TIME

Mexican employers announce initiative to offer jobs to migrants

By

Cat Rainsford

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September 22, 2023

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926391_AMLO Supervisión Autopista Oaxaca-5_impreso_Presidencia_cuartoscuro — There are work opportunities in Mexico that could be made available to migrants in the country, according to the Coordinating Business Council (CCE). (Cuartoscuro)

Mexican employers are working on an initiative to offer temporary employment to migrants in transit through the country, according to Francisco Cervantes Díaz, president of the Mexican Business Coordinating Council (CCE).

Cervantes said at a press conference that he had already discussed the idea with the director of the National Immigration Institute (INM), Francisco Garduño.

Salomón Jara Cruz — Francisco Cervantes, head of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) made the announcement at an event in Oaxaca on Wednesday. (Carolina Jiménez/Cuartoscuro)

“[Migrants] are looking for an opportunity, and we could offer them well paid job opportunities,” Cervantes said. “There is a lack of workers, we can find a way with the federal government to give temporary permits and training; it’s a matter of humanity.”

Cervantes made the remarks to reporters following the signing of the Oaxaca Initiative, which seeks to promote foreign investment in the southern state. Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara Cruz and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar were also present.

“Through our group Friends for Oaxaca, we believe that we can contribute to the development of this state through a work route that allows us to shore up the south-southeast,” Cervantes said.

Cervantes also stressed that Oaxaca in particular has a need for additional labor, given upcoming infrastructure projects such as the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT), which includes 10 new industrial parks in Oaxaca and Veracruz.

Oaxaca has seen an uptick in the arrival of migrants coming up from Mexico’s southern border. (Cuartoscuro)

Oaxaca is also one of the states located on the route most commonly taken by migrants from the Guatemalan border to Mexico City and the United States.

Although the idea of offering temporary work to migrants is still in its early stages, Cervantes said that the CCE’s Executive Committee is working on a database to help make it a reality.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced a government plan to assist migrants in May, which would offer one-year visas to Central American migrants to work on public infrastructure projects in Mexico such as the Interoceanic Corridor and the Maya Train.

“We need a workforce for these projects, especially… skilled labor,” AMLO said at the time, stressing the need for engineers, ironworkers and other tradesmen. He even said that the government would launch a campaign to attract migrants, by spreading the word in Central America that salaries in Mexico are increasing.

However, the government has yet to release any data on the progress of this program.

With reports from Milenio and Excelsior

Inflation continues downward trend in September

By

MND Staff

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September 22, 2023

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AMLO at the Friday morning press conference — President López Obrador highlighted the latest inflation data published by INEGI at his Friday morning press conference. (MARIO JASSO/CUARTOSCURO.COM)

Inflation continued to decline in the first half of September, but the annual headline rate remains above the central bank’s target ahead of a monetary policy decision next week.

Annual headline inflation was 4.44% in the first half of the month, the national statistics agency INEGI reported Friday, down from 4.64% in August. Consumer prices rose 0.25% compared to the second half of August.

Inflation chart — This chart shows annual headline inflation rates from the first half of June 2022 through the first half of September 2023. (lopezobrador.org.mx)

The annual core inflation rate, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, was 5.78%, down from 6.08% in August. The core index rose 0.27% compared to the second half of August.

The annual headline rate is slightly lower than analysts forecast while the core rate is slightly higher. Inflation has declined every month since February, after the headline rate spiked to almost 8% in January.

The publication of the latest inflation data comes six days before the Bank of México (Banxico) board meets to discuss interest rates. Banxico targets 3% headline inflation with tolerance for one percentage point in either direction.

The central bank’s benchmark interest rate was raised to a record high of 11.25% in March and kept at that level following monetary policy meetings in May, June and August.

Given that the headline rate remains above the Banxico target, it appears likely that board members will vote once again in favor of maintaining the record high rate next Thursday.

After the Aug 10. monetary policy meeting, Banxico said, “In order to achieve an orderly and sustained convergence of headline inflation to the 3% target, [the board] considers that it will be necessary to maintain the reference rate at its current level for an extended period.”

The central bank raised its benchmark rate by 725 basis points during a hiking cycle that began in June 2021 and didn’t end until its decision in May to maintain the 11.25% level.

With reports from El Economista and El Financiero

Foreign Minister: Mexico made 25% of global fentanyl seizures since 2020

By

Cat Rainsford

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September 21, 2023

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barcenas_X_SRE — At the U.N. on Monday, Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena reiterated Mexico's commitment as part of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats. (@SRE/Twitter)

Fentanyl seizures in Mexico have increased tenfold in the last five years compared to the previous five, according to Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, who said Mexico accounted for a quarter of global seizures from 2020 to this year.

Bárcena shared the figures at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, during a presentation on how Mexico is confronting the threat of trafficking of synthetic drugs like fentanyl.

“The actions implemented between 2020 and 2023 by our country represent 25% of fentanyl seizures globally,” she said, adding that a 1,049% increase was seen between the period 2014-2018 and the period from January 2018 to March 2023.

Mexico’s recent successes in the fight against fentanyl also include the arrest in January of drug trafficker Ovidio Guzmán – son of notorious Sinaloa Cartel capo Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán – who was extradited to the United States last week.

Bárcena stressed that international collaboration is crucial in the fight against the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl, which caused 70,000 deaths in the United States last year alone.

She highlighted Mexico’s participation in the Global Container Control Program to monitor drug trafficking through seaports, as well as two pilot programs to track chemical imports and detect emerging precursors.

Bárcena stressed that international collaboration is crucial in the fight against the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl, and recognized Mexico’s role in the illegal drug trade. (Gob MX)

U.S. authorities accuse Mexican cartels of manufacturing fentanyl using Chinese precursor chemicals and then trafficking the substance over the border.

“Mexico has established very close communication with China, with India and with Korea because we want to analyze the chains of the precursor chemicals of fentanyl production and we want to help in this terrible pandemic,” Bárcena said.

China, however, has denied responsibility in the fentanyl supply chain, and refused to join Mexico in the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats launched by the U.S. in July. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, on the other hand, has previously denied that fentanyl is manufactured in Mexico, claiming it comes directly from China.

While Bárcena’s speech accepted Mexico’s role in the illegal drug trade, she stressed that combatting arms trafficking is crucial to undermining the power of organized crime. Most illegal weapons in Mexico are trafficked from the U.S.

Fentanyl caused 70,000 deaths in the United States last year alone. (Guardía Nacional)

Bárcena also advocated addressing the fentanyl crisis from “a preventive approach through public health,” focusing on the “structural causes” that lead to addiction.

In her remarks at the launch of the Global Coalition, Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez added that cultural, moral and spiritual values form the “principal vaccine” against this social and public health problem, and must be reinforced.

With reports from Aristegui Noticias

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