The federal Education Ministry (SEP) celebrated the students’ victory as “a source of Mexican pride that shines brightly throughout the world.” (Maru Campos/X)
Three Mexican students delivered an outstanding victory at the 2025 World Robot Contest (WRCC) held in Beijing, China (Aug. 8-12), after securing first place in one of the world’s leading robotics competitions.
The students, originally from the northern state of Chihuahua, won the “DOBOT Intelligent Manufacturing Challenge — Moon Landing Challenge,” which involved designing, programming and building robotic arms that simulated a moon landing.
“This historic achievement not only makes Chihuahua proud, but also all of Mexico,” the state government said in a statement. “It sends a clear message that talent, when combined with vision, preparation and teamwork, can conquer any challenge, even on a global scale.”
The award-winning team successfully represented Mexico in this international competition, thanks in part to the support of the Chihuahua STEM Council. This local institution seeks to boost STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities in the state and nurture young talent in the industry as part of Chihuahua’s Digital Policy strategy. One of the council’s initiatives is to support students’ participation in international competitions.
The federal Education Ministry (SEP) celebrated the students’ victory as “a source of Mexican pride that shines brightly throughout the world.”
The INADET/CENALTEC team was made up of students Karina Jaired Castellanos Hernández, Gabriel Enrique Ojeda Carrillo and Luis Fernando Quintana Ríos. They were coached by Joel Hiram López Echavarría and supported by engineers Walter Ignacio Zamarrón Estrada, Sergio Mancinas and Lennin Rubio.
Karina Jaired Castellanos Hernández, Gabriel Enrique Ojeda Carrillo and Luis Fernando Quintana Ríos working on their project for the “DOBOT Intelligent Manufacturing Challenge — Moon Landing Challenge” at the 2025 World Robotic Contest in Beijing last week. (Maru Campos/X)
They also received advice and training from the Ibero-American STEM Academy, a nonprofit scientific organization that promotes innovation and technological development among students, teachers and professionals in Mexico and the rest of Latin America.
“This triumph represents not only a source of pride for Chihuahua, but also for all of Mexico, consolidating CENALTEC, the Ibero-American STEM Academy and the Chihuahua STEM Council as leaders in developing talent capable of competing and succeeding at the highest international levels,” the Ibero-American STEM Academy said in a social media post.
The milestone achieved by the Mexican team strengthens Chihuahua’s position as a national leader in robotics production. According to data from the Economy Ministry, Mexican exports of commercial robots reached US $1.15 million through the second quarter of this year. Chihuahua led sales with US $922,000, followed by Jalisco with $227,000.
The WRCC has attracted over 100,000 contestants from more than 20 countries since its first edition in 2015. The competition takes place during the World Robotics Conference, hosted by the Chinese Institute of Electronics and is considered the “Olympics” of robotics.
Leonel Maciel was part of Mexico's Breakaway Generation of artists who abandoned the nationalistic themes of muralism, which had dominated Mexican art since the Revolution. (Autonomous University of Hidalgo)
One of Mexico’s most beloved and well-known artists is Leonel Maciel. Now in his 80s, Maciel grew up in the small town of Petatlán, just 45 minutes from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, which lies in Guerrero’s Costa Grande region.
By chance, Maciel was visiting Coacoyul from his main home in Cuernavaca. I was invited to join Maciel and his family and friends for lunch at a restaurant at the Museo del Coco in Coacoyul.
Maciel’s 2016 work “Sol” (Sun), which both nods to science that revealed the sun’s spots, and religion that caused ancient Mexican civilizations to make blood sacrifices to the sun. (Coleccion Milenio Arte)
Years ago, Leonel Maciel, together with his brother Carlos Maciel, who is also a famous Mexican artist, created a breathtaking double-sided mural that dominates the entrance to the compound. It measures 4 meters high by 20 meters wide and tells the story of the coconuts’ importance to the region. This stunning masterpiece alone makes Coacoyul well worth a visit.
At our first meeting, Maciel quickly put me at ease; he was charming and immediately likable. Although he spoke very little English, his nephew and other guests were there to help me when I got stuck. I even joked that my Spanish was better with mezcal, and soon a bottle appeared in front of me, to much laughter, followed by a toast to new friendships.
During the meal, I caught a glimpse of who he was — humble, humorous, interesting and dedicated to his work. After enjoying the food and a couple of shots, I excused myself with the promise of another meeting.
Our second meeting was a couple of weeks later at a popular downtown restaurant in Zihuatanejo, La Sirena Gorda. Armed with extensive research from a retrospective art book about him entitled “Leonel Maciel, El Buscador Impentiente (The Unrepentant Seeker),” I felt better prepared.
The book, filled with beautiful samples of his work, was written in Spanish but also translated into English and Russian. I was captivated by the images that leapt off the page and soon drawn in by the sheer genius of his work.
I learned in this book that Maciel attributes the unique personalities of his parents, María Sánchez Ríos and Justo Maciel Rodríguez, as his inspiration. It was through their gifts — his mother being an avid reader of literature and his father a born storyteller who retold her stories as she relayed them — that Maciel began to paint at a very early age.
Leonel Maciel’s 1970 oil on canvas painting, “Carnaval.” (Aura Art Galleries)
Even as a child, he said, “I painted as an adult.”
However, when I asked Maciel about his parents’ influence, he joked in response.
“My father was a great storyteller, a liar,” he said. “But our mother encouraged us to read. I painted as I heard the stories from literature. And it is not so much that they influenced me. That’s something someone said. People always think they know you better than they do.” He laughed. “But when I was about 4 or 5, I saw a group of men riding horses, and that made me want to paint.”
Maciel began his formal training at the Esmeralda National School of Art in Mexico City (La Esmeralda, or Escuela Nacional de Pintura, ENPEG). Later, he travelled extensively in Europe and Asia, learning, painting and experiencing different cultures.
He can rattle off the places he visited.
“I went to Bali, Thailand, Hawaii, Bhutan, Europe, the United States. Bali was my favorite. The people were incredibly warm and kind, and the scenery was beautiful. After that, I did 30 paintings and sold them all.”
Maciel, left, in 2024 in Cuernavaca, where he is currently based, with the director of the Mexican photo news agency Cuartoscuro, Pedro Valtierra Ruvalcaba. (Margarita Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro)
When examining Maciel’s work, the constant evolution of his style over various periods in his life is evident. There is his primary orange and red series, and then a completely different style, done in mainly blues and browns. There are also his erotic paintings and sketches — all so different, you wonder if they have come from the same person.
When I asked him about it, he said, “I paint how I want, when I want, how I feel at the time. I paint free.”
Today, Maciel’s work is exhibited in several art galleries and museums in Mexico, including in the Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Museo de Arte Moderno, both in Mexico City. He also has works in galleries and museums in Ireland, Nicaragua, and Reykjavik, Iceland.
When I asked him what was next for him, he replied, “I will paint until I die.”
The writer divides her time between Canada and Zihuatanejo.
Mexico's president said that there will be "very interesting issues" to discuss with the two Central American leaders, but didn't disclose what they will be. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)
At her Monday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum once again expressed her opposition to any kind of U.S. military incursion to combat Mexican organized crime groups, six of which were designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government earlier this year.
She also provided an update on the number of Mexicans detained at the Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention facility in Florida and announced that she would be making a brief international trip this Friday.
Sheinbaum: ‘We would never allow’ the US army to set foot on Mexican soil
Asked about CIA drone flights over Mexican territory, Sheinbaum said that none are currently taking place. She stressed that flights of U.S. drones over Mexico can only occur under Mexican supervision and at the request of Mexican authorities.
“It has to be within the framework of collaboration,” Sheinbaum said.
“It has to be made very clear to all Mexicans … [that] we will never put our sovereignty at risk, never,” she said.
“We will never put the independence of Mexico at risk. Mexico is a free, sovereign, independent country,” Sheinbaum said.
“We collaborate, we coordinate on security issues and other issues, but we never subordinate ourselves. And we would never allow the United States Army or any other institution of the United States to set foot on Mexican territory, never,” she said.
That remark came three days after the president declared that there will be no U.S. military “invasion” of Mexico after news broke that President Donald Trump had “secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels.”
Asked last Tuesday about the possibility of a U.S. military intervention against criminal groups in Mexico, Sheinbaum reminded reporters that she previously rejected an offer from U.S. President Donald Trump to send the U.S. army into Mexico.
During the 2018-24 presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Mexico’s Congress approved legislation that regulates the activities of foreign agents in Mexico, removes their diplomatic immunity and allows for their expulsion from the country. The legislation was seen as being aimed primarily at the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation agents who have long operated in Mexico.
Sheinbaum: 81 Mexicans have been detained at Alligator Alcatraz
Sheinbaum told reporters that officials at the Mexican Consulate in Miami, Florida, have met with 81 Mexicans detained at the Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention center, located in the Everglades region of the “Sunshine State.”
She said that Mexico’s consul general in Miami, former Chiapas governor Rutilio Escandón, is making regular visits to the facility “to see what the Mexicans imprisoned there need.”
Sheinbaum said that her government is working at a “diplomatic level” to advocate the immediate deportation of Mexicans who wish to return to their country of origin.
Por instrucciones de nuestra Presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, acudí nuevamente al Centro de Detención de los Everglades (Alcatraz de los Caimanes), con el firme compromiso de dar seguimiento puntual a los casos de nuestros connacionales detenidos por temas migratorios. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/EIEMyfzIXZ
She didn’t say how many Mexicans have returned to Mexico after being detained at Alligator Alcatraz, the official name of the state-run facility.
Sheinbaum said that some of the detainees don’t want to be immediately sent to Mexico as they want to take their cases to courts in the United States.
She said there had been no reports of the violation of the human rights of Mexicans held at Alligator Alcatraz, so named due to the presence of the reptiles in the Florida Everglades.
“Obviously we don’t agree with these types of places of imprisonment,” Sheinbaum said.
Sheinbaum to meet with President Arévalo in Guatemala
Sheinbaum said that she would meet with President Bernardo Arévalo of Guatemala in the Central American country this Friday.
The president, who said last Thursday that she planned to meet Arévalo somewhere in the southeast of Mexico, didn’t specify where in Guatemala she would meet with her counterpart.
However, Sheinbaum said she would hold her mañanera on Friday in Chetumal, the capital of the state of Quintana Roo. From Chetumal she will travel to Guatemala to meet with Arévalo, president since early 2024.
Sheinbaum said she spoke with the Guatemalan president on Friday and noted that he invited her to Guatemala.
“And yes, we’re going to be in Guatemala a few hours,” she said.
“… We love, respect and admire President Arévalo of Guatemala, so we’re going to go to Guatemala for a few hours,” Sheinbaum said.
“After we’ll return to Calakmul,” she said, referring to the archaeological site in Campeche that is just 35 kilometers from the border with Guatemala.
“We’re going to welcome the prime minister of Belize there,” Sheinbaum said, noting that Arévalo will also make the trip to Calakmul for a trilateral meeting with Belizean Prime Minister Johnny Briceño.
She said that there will be “very interesting issues” to discuss with the two Central American leaders, but didn’t disclose what they will be.
“They can be an article for that day, the surprise of that day,” Sheinbaum said.
“There are many agreements we have made with the countries on our southern border, with whom we have an excellent relationship,” she said.
“We’re going to announce them on Friday,” Sheinbaum said.
AT&T's corporate headquarters on Paseo de Reforma in Mexico City may have a different name in the near future as reports are circulating that the telecom company is considering selling off its Mexican unit after more than a decade in the country. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
AT&T may be packing its bags and preparing to leave Mexico.
Bloomberg News reported last week that the U.S. multinational, one of the world’s leading telecommunications companies, is working with financial advisers to find a potential buyer for its Mexican unit.
Though consistently lagging far behind Telcel, AT&T has some 23 million users who would be shifted to whatever entity buys the company, assuming there is in fact a sale. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
Dallas-based AT&T is reportedly seeking more than US $2 billion for the deal, according to unidentified sources cited by Bloomberg. The report says the talks are confidential and no final decision has been made. Additionally, there is no guarantee the deal will go through.
AT&T has been in a losing battle for more than a decade with billionaire Carlos Slim’s Telcel, the dominant carrier in Mexico. This, despite telecoms reforms that, according to Bloomberg, had given international companies hope that they could compete with Telcel.
Despite investments of more than US $10 billion in the country, AT&T’s share of the Mexican mobile market has been significantly smaller than Telcel’s, which regularly tops 60%.
The fact that the sales price reportedly being sought represents just 20% of AT&T’s total investments in Mexico seemingly highlights concerns about regulatory uncertainty in Mexico and the entrenched market dominance enjoyed by Slim’s companies.
AT&T entered the Mexican market in 2014 by paying US $2.5 billion to acquire wireless telecommunications and cellular services company Grupo Iusacell from billionaire Ricardo Salinas. Soon thereafter, the company purchased the Mexican wireless operations of NII Holdings Inc. for nearly $1.9 billion.
The competition between AT&T and Slim has been testy over the years, Bloomberg reported.
In 2022, Slim’s América Móvil — the largest wireless provider in Latin America — accused AT&T of interfering with the media giant’s efforts to obtain a television license, leading to “a dispute that escalated into insults.”
If AT&T’s business in Mexico is sold, the company’s 23 million users would become part of the future buyer, assuming the transaction is approved by the country’s regulators.
Telefonica’s Movistar México may also be up for sale
AT&T isn’t the only telecom group looking to exit Mexico, Bloomberg added. Spain’s Telefónica is also reportedly in talks to sell its Mexican subsidiary Movistar México.
Telefónica’s move is not wholly unexpected. Since 2019, the Spanish telecom giant has opted to lease AT&T’s network rather than continue investing in its own infrastructure.
If both AT&T and Telefónica exit, the telecom landscape in Mexico could change dramatically, according to Merca 2.0 magazine.
While Telcel would remain the dominant operator, other players cited by Merca 2.0 — particularly companies known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators, which don’t own their own infrastructure and rely on third-party networks, could benefit from “a reconfigured ecosystem following the exit of traditional operators.”
The only industrial sector to record a year-over-year increase in activity in June was construction, whose output rose 1.5%. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
Industrial activity in Mexico declined in June compared to May and in annual terms, the national statistics agency INEGI reported on Monday.
INEGI reported that industrial activity — which includes activity in the manufacturing, mining, construction and electricity/water/gas sectors — fell 0.1% in June compared to May, the first month-over-month decline since March.
In annual terms, industrial activity was down 0.8% in June.
INEGI also reported that industrial activity declined 1.3% annually in the first six months of 2025. It was the first annual decline for the first six months of a year since 2020.
In 2025, industrial activity in Mexico has been affected by uncertainty related to trade with the United States, which has imposed new tariffs on a range of Mexican goods.
President Claudia Sheinbaum recently expressed confidence that construction sector activity will increase in the second half of 2025 as a result of public infrastructure projects, including the construction of new railroads and homes.
Mining, construction and electricity sector activity down in June compared to May
INEGI reported that mining sector activity (or output) fell 1.4% in June compared to May.
Construction sector activity declined 0.2%, as did activity in the combined sector that includes the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity as well as the supply of water and natural gas.
The only sector whose activity increased in June on a sequential basis was manufacturing. Manufacturing activity increased 0.3%, INEGI reported.
The 0.1% decline in month-over-month industrial activity came after increases of 0.7% in May and 0.1% in April.
In January, industrial activity declined 0.3% before increasing 2.4% in February. Industrial activity fell 1.1% on a sequential basis in March.
Manufacturing activity stagnant in annual terms, mining declines 8.5%
INEGI data shows that there was a variation of 0.0% in manufacturing sector activity between June 2024 and the same month of this year.
Mining activity fell 8.5% annually in June, while electricity/water/gas sector activity declined 3.8%.
The only industrial sector to record a year-over-year increase in activity in June was construction, whose output rose 1.5%.
The 0.8% annual decline in industrial activity in June came after decreases in each of the previous three months.
First January-June decline since 2020
The 1.3% annual decline in industrial activity between January and June was the first decrease for the period since 2020, when the COVID pandemic and associated restrictions caused a 13.6% year-over-year reduction.
The newspaper El Economista reported that the decrease between January and June is greater than the 1.1% annual decline recorded during 2019, the first full year of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presidency, “which was marked by the pessimism that was created by his decision to cancel construction of the new Mexico City International Airport in Texcoco,” México state.
Mining sector activity (including oil and gas drilling) declined 8.8% annually in the first half of 2025, while activity in the electricity/water/gas industry fell 2.1%.
Construction sector activity also fell, declining 1.1% compared to the first half of 2024. Activity related to the construction of civil engineering projects declined 24.6% due to a significant decrease in spending on public works.
The manufacturing sector recorded a modest 0.1% annual increase in activity. Thirteen of 21 sub-sectors of the manufacturing industry, including the automotive sector, recorded year-over-year declines in activity in the first half of the year.
Thirteen of 21 sub-sectors of the manufacturing industry, including the automotive sector, recorded year-over-year declines in activity in the first half of the year. (Cuartoscuro)
Manufacturing sectors affected by imports from Asian countries, including the wood and clothing sectors, also recorded annual declines in activity.
Among the eight manufacturing sectors that recorded increases were food production, computer equipment and electrical appliances.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or loss of life due to flooding on Sunday. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Torrential rain in Mexico City on Sunday flooded streets and homes, interrupted services on the subway system and forced the suspension of takeoffs and landings at the capital’s airport for around four hours, affecting more than 100 flights and almost 15,000 passengers.
The rainfall during a storm on Sunday evening was “the most intense” of the 2025 rainy season in the capital, according to Mexico City Water Management Minister José Mario Esparza.
Hail also fell in some parts of the city, where flooding is common during the annual rainy season.
Esparza said on Sunday night that more than 84 millimeters of rain was recorded in the Zócalo, flooding the capital’s central square and other parts of the historic center.
He said that the historic average for rainfall in Mexico City across the month of August is 152 millimeters, meaning that the capital — in its downtown area at least — received more than half the usual amount of rain for this month in a single day.
Mayor Clara Brugada said on social media on Sunday night that the city’s Plan Tlaloque was activated when the heavy rain began in the capital. The activation of the plan put “all emergency services” in Mexico City into action, she said.
Flooding along Calle Regina in the area surrounding Mexico City’s Zócalo on Sunday night. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
The city’s purple alert — the highest warning level for rainfall — was activated in the central Cuauhtémoc borough, while the second-highest level, a red alert, was issued for several other boroughs.
Brugada called on Mexico City residents to exercise caution and only leave their homes if necessary on Sunday night.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or loss of life due to flooding. Cleanup efforts were continuing on Monday.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday that the federal government would provide support to the areas of the capital most affected by the flooding.
More rain is forecast to fall in Mexico City on Monday.
104 flights affected by airport closure
The Benito Juárez International Airport said in a statement on Monday that air operations were suspended for around four hours from 7:45 p.m. to allow water to be cleared from the runways. Poor visibility was also a factor in the decision to suspend takeoffs and landings.
Largas filas de pasajeros se registran en el Aeropuerto internacional de la Ciudad de México, luego de las demoras y cancelaciones de vuelos por las lluvias registradas durante la tarde de ayer. #DíaEnImágenes / Alfredo Domínguez pic.twitter.com/IMfFZvIcWF
The airport said that “the intensity of the atypical storm caused several areas of the terminal buildings to also be affected.”
It said that the rain overwhelmed the airport’s stormwater drainage system.
Video footage showed the baggage claim in Terminal 2 under water on Sunday night.
The airport said that vacuum trucks and motorized pumps were used to remove water and thus “guarantee optimal conditions on runways, taxiways and aprons,” allowing them to reopen early Monday.
It said that 104 flights and 14,892 passengers were affected by the suspension of operations, with incoming flights diverted to “alternate airports.”
The airport said that flights resumed on one runway at 12:05 a.m. Monday, while operations recommenced on the other at 6 a.m. — more than 10 hours after it was closed.
#CDMX ✈️🔴|| Esta noche, la intensa lluvia con tormenta eléctrica obligó al Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México (#AICM) a suspender operaciones, dejando pistas inundadas, retrasos de 3 a 4 horas y cancelaciones, incluyendo vuelos de Viva a Los Ángeles, mientras… pic.twitter.com/0OGGoY2dOI
The Guadalajara and Cancún airports were among the airports to which Mexico City-bound flights were diverted. Some Mexico City-bound flights landed back at the airports from which they took off, including an Air Canada flight that returned to Toronto and an American Airlines flight that returned to Dallas-Fort Worth.
Flooding in various CDMX boroughs
Serious flooding was reported in various parts of Mexico City, including the boroughs of Cuauhtémoc (which includes the historic center), Venustiano Carranza (where the airport is located), Iztacalco and Gustavo A. Madero.
The Lineal Park in Venustiano Carranza, situated in an old drainage canal, filled up with water and overflowed, flooding nearby streets and scores of homes in the area.
“I started crying because it was a desperate situation,” one affected homeowner, María del Consuelo, told TV Azteca.
Parts of the historic center of Mexico City were covered by up to 40 centimeters of water, the El Financiero newspaper reported.
The Zócalo was covered with water and nearby jewelry stores were flooded, something that hadn’t happened in decades, according to El Financiero.
The Metropolitan Cathedral, located opposite the Zócalo, was also affected, with water accumulating in various parts of the edifice. People visiting the cathedral and its personnel banded together to remove the water and avoid major damage to the building’s interior, El Financiero reported.
Flooding was also reported at several Mexico City hospitals, including the Balbuena General Hospital and the Gregorio Salas Hospital in the historic center.
At the Balbuena hospital, firefighters helped move patients out of danger, the newspaper Reforma reported.
CDMX roads and subway system affected
Dozens of roads in Mexico City, including a number of major arteries, were flooded as a result of the intense rainfall on Sunday. Authorities rescued stranded motorists and in some cases removed vehicles from floodwaters.
In the Mexico City Metro system, the downpour on Sunday evening caused the closure of six stations on Line 5 and two stations on Line 3. There was significant flooding outside some of the shuttered stations, all of which had reopened by Monday morning.
On Line 2 of the metro, an explosion and fire occurred near the San Antonio Abad station due to a short circuit caused by the rain. Line 2 services were consequently suspended for around two hours from 7:30 p.m.
Sunday’s downpour caused the closure of six stations on Line 5 (pictured above), two stations on Line 3 and the temporary suspension of Line 2 due to a short circuit. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Authorities respond to the extreme weather
Esparza, the capital’s water management minister, said that more than 200 personnel from the Water Management Ministry were deployed to respond to the flooding in various parts of Mexico City. They used electric water pumps and other equipment to alleviate flooding.
National Water Commission (Conagua) personnel also assisted the efforts to reduce the flooding.
“Due to the intense rain in the Valley of Mexico, we put 37 pumps into operation to remove 74,000 liters per second,” Conagua said on social media.
“In addition, specialized equipment was sent to [the México state municipalities of] Nezahualcóytl and Ecatepec, with the aim of supporting the population and mitigating the effects of the rain,” the water commission said.
Esparza told the Aristegui news outlet that parts of Mexico City’s deep drainage system collapsed due to the torrential rain.
“The drainage system remains full,” he said on Monday morning.
“In other words, the pipes are at their maximum capacity and everything is now flowing out of the Valley of Mexico to the Tula River basin,” Esparza said.
He said that the accumulation of trash is the main thing that affects Mexico City’s “deep” and “conventional” drainage systems.
Esparza called on residents to be “very careful” with the disposal of their trash to ensure that it doesn’t end up in stormwater drains.
The drainage systems, he said, are designed for average amounts of rainfall. The rain on Sunday, however, was “extraordinary in its volume and intensity,” Esparza said.
Wildlife crossings have been reduced by 86% by the border wall, and jaguars on both sides may be among the animals whose migratory patterns are affected. (Hidde Rensink/Unsplash)
A male jaguar has been spotted five times this summer on the U.S. side of the U.S.-Mexico border near a 27-mile border wall project, reigniting debate over the issue of wildlife connectivity.
ICYMI: There’s a jaguar here again in southern AZ. A team of scientists and volunteers at the University of Arizona’s Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center have recorded five sightings of one male jaguar this summer, including the detections below. 😻 https://t.co/Rp8hsNk9ptpic.twitter.com/sdYiJD753f
Two Arizona-based environmental nonprofit organizations are suing the U.S. government over the border wall being extended through the San Rafael Valley, the last major open space for wildlife migration along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Motion-activated cameras recorded Arizona’s only known resident jaguar at three different locations in June and July, including a rare daylight detection.
Based on the previous sightings, they speculate that the jaguar migrated back into Mexico before returning to Arizona sometime during the past 18 months.
Such migrations have become more problematic as new sections of the U.S.-Mexico border wall are completed. A study published in November 2024 found that the border wall has reduced wildlife crossings by 86%.
Emily Burns, program director for an Arizona environmental nonprofit organization, said the U.S. government has begun work on another wall across another important wildlife corridor that will disrupt the hydrology of the Santa Cruz River near where it crosses back into the U.S. east of Nogales, Sonora.
“If we’re going to be working toward any kind of long-term recovery (for jaguars), we need to have open corridors,” said Susan Malusa, director of the WCC. “Anything — a border wall, a mine — can cause fragmentation of these corridors, further stressing the population.”
The forbidding San Rafael Valley is not favored by migrants looking to cross into the U.S. Sky Island Alliance cameras in the valley have documented an average of five pedestrians per month, including Border Patrol agents, hunters and hikers.
On the other hand, conservationists argue, these walls will be devastating to animals that rely on the critical migratory corridors there. One solution being promoted is to include small wildlife openings in the barriers.
The "Oaxaca Slip-On Sandal" and Willy Chavarria were at the center of a binational incident stemming from their failure to work with the footwear's original Indigenous artisans. Both the company and the commercial designer have now apologized, but the legal and financial issues still need sorting out.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Global athletic brand Adidas and fashion designer Willy Chavarria have issued public apologies after intense criticism from Mexican officials and Indigenous artisans over the Oaxaca Slip-On, a shoe inspired by huaraches (sandals) but produced without involvement from the originating community.
A propósito de la polémica con #Adidas, admiré el trabajo de los artesanos oaxaqueños de Villa Hidalgo #Yalálag en la elaboración ancestral de huaraches. pic.twitter.com/5zhNY1bMoe
The shoes feature thin leather straps braided in a style similar to huaraches, but with a chunky, sports sole rather than flat leather.
The shoes were reportedly produced in China without consultation or credit to the Sierra Norte community of Villa Hidalgo Yalálag, where artisans handcraft only a few pairs of huaraches a day.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum talked about the issue at her Friday news conference last week.
“Big companies often take products, ideas and designs from Indigenous communities,” she said. “We are looking at the legal part to be able to support them.”
Chavarria, a prominent Chicano designer raised among Mexican migrants in California’s San Joaquin Valley, addressed the backlash in a written apology:
“I am deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community,” he wrote. “This falls short of the respect and collaborative approach that Oaxaca, the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo Yalálag, and its people deserve. I know love is not just given — it is earned through action.”
Willy Chavarría, a Chicano designer from California, says he celebrates Latino culture. But the state of Oaxaca is accusing him of appropriating a part of that culture for commerical purposes without permission. (X)
Oaxaca’s state government and Mexico’s Culture and Arts Ministry (Seculta) had called for an immediate halt to sales and a formal dialogue “to reach an agreement to redress grievances with the Yalálag community.”
In a statement, Adidas said it “recognizes and values the cultural richness of Mexico’s Indigenous communities and the meaning of their artisanal heritage,” and expressed willingness to work with local authorities on “restitution to the people who were plagiarised.”
Promotional images reportedly have been removed from official websites and social media accounts.
Meanwhile, discussions are said to be continuing between Adidas and Oaxacan officials on compensation and next steps regarding the disputed footwear.
Mexico's chip makers are optimistic whereas its auto industry is wary as details remain scarce on Trump's newest plan to tax semiconductor imports. (Brian Kostiuk/Unsplash)
The United States could impose a 100% tariff on microchip and semiconductor imports to encourage investment in U.S. manufacturing, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday. “But the good news, for companies like Apple, is if you’re building in the United States or have committed to build in the United States, there will be no charge,” he said from the Oval Office.
If introduced, a 100% sectoral tariff could impact various sectors in Mexico that export microchips or chip-dependent products to the United States. It could also slow growth in Mexico’s chip-producing states, as foreign companies with nearshoring plans look instead to launch operations in the U.S.
A tech sector divided: Mexico’s chip makers optimistic, auto industry wary
The United States was the main destination of Mexican semiconductor exports in 2024, contributing US $466 million or 75% of Mexico’s chip exports, according to information from Data México.
The Mexican states with the highest sales were:
Baja California: $348 million
Jalisco: $111 million
Coahuila: $56.8 million
Chihuahua: $32.5 million
Nuevo León: $18 million
Chip producers such as Intel, Infineon, Skyworks and QSM Semiconductors already operate in the Mexican market, while Qualcomm and other firms have announced investment plans aimed at benefiting from Mexico’s skilled workforce and proximity to the United States.
That same month, the United States Embassy in Mexico and Canieti presented a joint Master Plan for the Development of the Semiconductor Industry in Mexico for 2024 to 2030, outlining aims to double exports and jobs in the industry.
Shortly after, in November, electronics manufacturing services company Flex announced plans to invest $86 million in a microchips research center in Guadalajara.
According to Miguel Ángel Landeros, president of the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade (Comce Occidente), companies producing chips in Jalisco and elsewhere in the country for U.S. firms will not be subject to the new tariffs. “[The tariff] is good news because it gives us an advantage over other countries,” he told the newspaper El Informador.
In Landeros’s view, the new tariff announcement — though light on details — does not impact the Mexican semiconductor industry because its primary clients are companies with a significant production footprint within the United States. “Mexico is analyzing the issue… and it is most likely that we will not be affected; we could even obtain benefits under the umbrella of the USMCA treaty itself.”
Mexico’s automotive industry faces a different challenge. While these companies also export primarily to the United States, many of their electrical components may originate outside Mexico, leading industry representatives to expect that the 100% semiconductor tariff will apply to their exports as well.
The tariff will “contribute to an increase in production costs,” said Padilla de León, the general secretary of the National Union of Auto Parts Industry Workers (SNTIA), in an interview with the newspaper El Sol de México.
“The dozens of components that a vehicle carries, from electronic cards to chips… as they become more expensive, will make our vehicles less attractive to the American market, because they will be more expensive.”
So you want to communicate in Mexico, but you don't want to sound like a walking textbook? Try throwing in some of these everyday slang and idiomatic expressions into the mix. (Gustavo Frazao/Shutterstock)
When my husband Barry and I first visited Guanajuato in 1999, we read an entertaining book called “How to Break Through Beginners’ Spanish”by Joseph Keenan. At the time, I spoke Spanish at an advanced beginner level, and the book was invaluable in helping me learn how to sound more conversational than I really was. That, in turn, gave me the confidence to persevere. Today, I’m fluent.
That book is just as relevant today — and, best of all, it’s a fun read. Borrowing from Keenan’s theme, here are some words and phrases that not only will help you sound convincing in Spanish but that are easy to learn and will build your confidence.
The book the writer used to pick up everyday phrases in Spanish that doesn’t always get taught in language books. (Texas University Press)
Starter phrases that give you time to think
When beginning to speak in Spanish, it’s helpful to take a moment to collect your thoughts. These “starter” words and idioms offer that opportunity.
Pues: This is the English word“well” when it is used to express hesitation or uncertainty. Mexicans often use “pues” as an opening response to stall for time when they’re not sure what to say.
So, for example, “Pues, no estoy seguro” means “Well, I’m not sure.”
Entonces: Similar to “pues,” this connecting word is used the way in English we use “so” or “then.”
For example, “Entonces, ¿qué vamos a hacer?” is “So, what are we going to do?”
Caught off guard and don’t know what to say in response? “Pues” can help get things started.
A ver: “Let’s see.”
So, for example, “A ver, voy a ver si puedo cambiar mi horario” means “Let’s see, I’m going to see if I can change my schedule.”
Es que or Lo que pasa es que: “The thing is…”
So, for example, if someone asks you “¿Por qué no quieres ir a la playa?” (“Why don’t you want to go to the beach?”) you can answer, “Es que tengo que trabajar” or ”Lo que pasa es que tengo que trabajar.” These both mean “The thing is, I have to work.”
Fíjate or fíjate que: “Look” or “Pay attention” A word for emphasis that means “to look” or “to pay attention to.”
My neighbor starts just about every sentence with this! “Fíjate que no puedo comer cacahuates porque soy alérgico,” which means, “Look, I can’t eat peanuts because I’m allergic to them.” Or, “Fíjate, no puedo ir a la fiesta porque voy a estar ocupada” means “Look, I can’t go to the party because I’m busy.”
¿Qué onda? and ¿Qué tal?: “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?”
As in English, note that these two phrases are fine for everyday interactions, but they’re pretty casual, so you might not want to use them in formal situations.
Mira and Oye: “Hey, look,” and “Hey, listen.”
These two are meant to get someone’s attention. So, for example: “Oye, la pelicula empieza a las 7:20, no a las 7:45” means “Hey, listen, the movie starts at 7:20, not 7:45.”
“¿Que tal?” is a fun alternative to the more conventional “como estás/como está?” but use it with friends, family and coworkers more or less on an equal level; don’t use it with your boss. (Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock)
Filler words: Not just for native speakers!
Este: This is Mexico’s “um.” Not that I recommend using a crutch word, but if you’re going to use one, better the Spanish version!
So, for example, “Este…no sé qué pasó con tu cartera” means “Um…I’m not sure what happened to your wallet.”
Es decir: “That is” or “that is to say.”
For example, “Voy a ir a la fiesta, es decir, al menos que mi hermana tenga otra crisis” means “I’m going to the party — that is, unless my sister has another crisis.”
O sea: “In other words.” Just like in English, it rephrases or clarifies a point.
So, for example, “No puedo ir al concierto, o sea, tengo que vender mi boleto” means “I can’t go to the concert; in other words, I have to sell my ticket.”
Como: “Like.” Used similarly to English.
So, for example, “Es como una fusión de japonés y mexicana” means “It’s like a fusion of Japanese and Mexican.”
Bueno: “Good” or “O.K.” This word is sometimes used to softly direct a change in the conversation or to start a new thought.
For example, “Bueno, hablando de eso” means “O.K., speaking of that…”
“Bueno” is also used when answering the phone, which surprises English speakers, who assume the response would be “hola.”
Phrases to respond to what someone is saying
Learning the sorts of phrases Mexicans use to show interest and that they are listening can help a lot when you find yourself in a discussion. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Órale:“O.K.,” “right, “sure,” or “Let’s go!” It’s a word that can express agreement or excitement. I’ll never forget our Mexican architect talking on the phone. Every response he offered was “orale.” For example, “¡Órale, vamos a la playa!” means “Sure, let’s go to the beach!”
Así es: “Yes, that’s right.” A phrase used to acknowledge that something is true. “La biblioteca está en el centro?” “Así es.”
The meaning of “así es” can depend on the context. In some cases, it might mean instead, “That’s the way it is,” or, philosophically, “Así es la vida” — “that’s life.”
¿En serio?: “Really?” or “Seriously?” A simple phrase expressing surprise or asking for confirmation about something someone just said.
No te preocupes: “Don’t worry about it.”
Phrases to express surprise, delight and more
One of these guys might just be saying “Andale!” in this moment.
¡Hijole!: “Wow!” Or “Oh no!”
The aforementioned “orale” can also be used this way to express impressed surprise.
¡No me digas!: A direct translation of “You don’t say!” that expresses surprise and disbelief at unexpected news.
¡Quépadre! or Qué chido!: “Awesome!” or “Cool!” Be aware, though, “chido” is more of a younger generational term. Think millennials and Gen Z.
Ni modo: “Oh well” or “Whatever.” A way of expressing acceptance or resignation. For example, if you miss the bus, you might say, “Ni modo, ya se fue” (“Oh well, it already left.”)
Ándale:“Come on!” or “Hurry up!” depending on context. It can also be used to encourage someone to keep going, like if you’re watching competitive cyclists and want to say something supportive to cheer them on.
Saying goodbye
There are many ways to say goodbye in Mexico, with varying levels of formality and warmth. But people hardly ever say “adios.” (Yan Krukau/Pexels)
Nos vemos: “See you around.” As in English, you can use this if there’s an expectation that you’ll see the person again.
Qué te vaya bien: Literally, “I hope things go well for you,” but frequently used as a positive way of leave-taking. “Qué le vaya bien” is the usted version.
Cuidate or Cuidese: A command to take care of yourself, but it is a warm way to say goodbye. The first form is used for people with whom you would use “tu.” The second form is the “usted” conjugation.
¡Suerte!: This is the word “luck,” but it means “good luck.”
A few other miscellaneous terms
¿Mande?: “Excuse me?” Or “Perdón?” This is a polite way of asking someone to repeat themselves. Saying “¿Qué?” (What?) for this purpose can be considered abrupt and slightly rude by some Mexicans.
No hay de qué and con gusto: These both mean “you’re welcome” and are alternatives to the more familiar “de nada.” Mexicans will also sometimes shorten “no hay de que” to just “de que.” The first has the feel of “Oh, it was nothing,” and the second is more like “My pleasure.”
Aguas!: “Careful!” or “Watch out!”
So, as you can see, many of these examples are simple one or two-word phrases, easily interjected here and there in any conversation. Getting into the habit of using some when you’re chatting will not only build your confidence but also help you relax and have fun, which is the whole point of living in Mexico for most of us,¿órale?
Louisa Rogers and her husband Barry Evans divide their lives between Guanajuato and Eureka, on California’s North Coast. Louisa writes articles and essays about expat life, Mexico, travel, physical and psychological health, retirement and spirituality. Her recent articles are available on her website, authory.com/LouisaRogers
