Saturday, August 30, 2025

Tropical Storm Alvin forms off Pacific coast, heading for Baja

By
MND Staff
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0
A map showing the path Tropical Storm Alvin is predicted to take, starting off the Mexican coast and approaching the Baja Peninsula
Alvin is likely to degrade into a tropical depression before hitting Baja California Sur over the weekend. (NOAA)

Tropical Storm Alvin became the Northern Hemisphere’s first named storm of the year on Thursday after it formed in the eastern Pacific Ocean, off the coast of the Mexican state of Michoacán state.

Alvin formed at 9 a.m. almost 600 km off the coast of Punta San Telmo in Michoacán. At the time, it was moving northwest at a speed of 17 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h, according to Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN).

The United States National Hurricane Center reported that the storm is likely to bring heavy rain and strong winds to Mexico’s west-central coastline through the weekend.

Alvin is the first registered tropical storm in the Northern Hemisphere this year, bringing an end to several months without strong activity. Typically, multiple storms have formed in the region by this time in the year.

A typical hurricane season in the eastern Pacific sees 15 named storms. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a below-average eastern Pacific hurricane season, while it forecasts an above-average hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean.

Alvin may potentially strengthen into a hurricane, according to the weather forecaster AccuWeather. However, it is expected to lose wind intensity as it moves over cooler waters and an area of increased wind shear, which typically weaken storms, as it moves toward northern Mexico over the weekend.

“While many eastern Pacific tropical storms and hurricanes move west-northwest and eventually fizzle in the open ocean, some do strike land, as we saw in 2023 with the remnant of Hurricane Hilary in the Desert Southwest and with Category 5 Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Mexico,” meteorologist Sara Tonks stated in an online forecast on Thursday.

Hurricane Otis was the strongest ever to hit Mexico’s Pacific coast and Acapulco is still recovering from the widespread damage caused by the event, as well as from Hurricane John which slowed the city’s recovery when it hit in September 2024.

Weather warnings

Alvin is forecast to progress along the following trajectory:

  • 6 p.m. May 29: 580 km southwest of Punta San Telmo, Michoacán, as a tropical storm
  • 6 a.m. May 30: 510 km southwest of Playa Pérula, Jalisco, as a tropical storm
  • 6 p.m. May 30: 436 km west-southwest of Playa Pérula, Jalisco, as a tropical storm
  • 6 a.m. May 31: 360 km west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, as a tropical storm
  • 6 p.m. May 31: 270 km south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, as a remnant low
  • 6 a.m. June 1: 170 km southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, as a remnant low

Mexico’s SMN expects Alvin to cause heavy rains and strong winds in Mexico’s western, central and southern states over the coming days, which could cause river and stream levels to rise, as well as landslides and flooding in low-lying areas.

There are rainfall alerts for 12 states, including Mexico City, Michoacán, Guerrero, Puebla, Jalisco, Colima and Guanajuato. Very heavy rain is expected in Querétaro, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, México State and Morelos.

Meanwhile in the Atlantic, SMN announced on Thursday that it is monitoring a tropical depression in Veracruz that could become the Atlantic’s first named storm of the season. The cyclone is expected to bring rainfall to the Gulf Coast state.

With reports from USA Today, Imagen de Veracruz, N+ and The Weather Channel

Sinaloa steps up the fight against wildfires and prays for rain

By
MND Staff
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0
Firefighters battle a forest fire in Sinaloa.
State authorities have deployed Civil Protection agents to assist volunteer firefighting brigades in rural communities. (SEBIDES)

The Sinaloa government is stepping up efforts to control the forest fires that have ravaged rural areas of the state this month, an endeavor complicated by drought and the state’s ongoing security crisis.

Sinaloa is experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons in recent history. According to the National Forestry Commission’s (Conafor) National Weekly Forest Fire Report, as of May 22, Sinaloa has seen the second-largest area of forest and vegetation burned by wildfires.

To date, the state has been affected by 11 fires, mainly in the municipalities of Badiraguato, Concordia, San Ignacio, Cosalá and Culiacán.

State and federal authorities, along with volunteer brigades, are working in the most affected areas, especially in Concordia and Badiraguato, where officials report significant progress in controlling the fires with no risk to nearby communities.

State authorities on Thursday announced the deployment of 60 Civil Protection members to firefighting efforts around the state.

“We’re developing strategies, not only as a state government, but also at the state and municipal levels in collaboration with the firefighters themselves. In other words, we’re doing very intensive work, and we’ll continue until these fires are extinguished in these two areas: Concordia and Badiraguato,” said Aurelio Roy Navarrete Cuevas, director of the State Institute of Civil Protection. 

So far this year, 55 fires have burned 66,636 hectares in Sinaloa, surpassing states like Jalisco and Durango. Those states had a much higher number of fires – 749 and 273, respectively. With 66,000 hectares affected, Sinaloa has set a new record for the largest area burned since records began in 1970. In 2023, 38,446 hectares were affected; the figure increased to 42,364 hectares in 2024.

The Mexican state most affected by fires this year is Chihuahua, with 409 fires impacting 75,915 hectares of forested land.

Despite the scale of the fires, Sinaloa is among the statest allocating the fewest resources to firefighting. Only 1,129 person-days have been deployed in firefighting efforts, a figure that is significantly lower than other states. For instance, Chihuahua devoted 23,448 person-days while Jalisco devoted 23,253, even though both states had fewer affected hectares than Sinaloa.

The average number of hectares burned per fire in Sinaloa is 1,212, one of the highest figures in the country, surpassed only by Baja California, where the average is 1,458 hectares per fire.

Map and graphic showing active forest fires in Mexico.
Drought and high winds intensify firefighting challenges in Sinaloa and throughout Mexico. (CONAFOR)

Some reports indicate that some fires have been started deliberately, including with bombs dropped from drones as part of the armed conflict between organized crime groups in the mountainous areas. In the community of Loberas, Concordia, forestry brigades stopped fighting a fire due to bombs and explosives on the ground, which Mexican cartels use in their ongoing conflicts.

The fire crisis in Sinaloa is worsened by one of the most severe droughts of the past 30 years, which has fueled the spread of the flames. Navarrete said that surveillance is ongoing at high-risk areas to prevent potential fires from rekindling, with winds reaching 60 kilometers per hour and temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.

 With reports from Crónica, Revista Espejo, El Sol de Mazatlán, Infobae and Proceso

Bank of Mexico cuts 2025 economic growth forecast to just 0.1%

By
MND Staff
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Mexico's central bank (Banxico) headquarters, an ornate beige building
The drop in inflation has upended expectations that Mexico's central bank would ease off rate cuts this summer. (Shutterstock)

The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) has slashed its 2025 and 2026 growth forecasts for the Mexican economy, citing expectations of “sluggish” domestic activity and “significant challenges” related to U.S. protectionism.

The central bank said in its first quarter report that is now forecasting growth of just 0.1% this year, down from a 0.6% prediction in its previous report.

For 2026, Bank of Mexico cut its economic growth forecast to 0.9% from 1.8%.

“Domestic economic activity is expected to be sluggish over the forecast horizon,” said the quarterly report, which was published on Wednesday.

“In addition to the weakness that has already been observed, the global economy faces significant challenges stemming from the changes in U.S. trade policy. Since the previous report, the United States has imposed tariffs of varying magnitude on most of its imports, and the possibility of additional measures remains,” Banxico said.

“There is uncertainty regarding the effects that these actions could have on Mexico’s external demand. For the time being, only a limited effect is incorporated into our outlook, considering the resilience shown by Mexican exports based on the most recent information available, the preferential treatment these exports continue to receive under the USMCA framework, and pending further information on the adjustment mechanisms of domestic exporting firms,” the bank said.

The report was prepared and published before a United States federal court on Wednesday blocked United States President Donald Trump from imposing tariffs on imports under a U.S. emergency powers law, ruling that he exceeded his authority.

The Associated Press reported that the ruling threw “into doubt Trump’s signature set of economic policies that have rattled global financial markets, frustrated trade partners and raised broader fears about inflation intensifying and the economy slumping.”

However, the U.S. president could use laws other than the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday that the Economy Ministry would conduct an analysis of the “reach” of the ruling as it will affect tariffs on Mexican goods. She noted that the U.S. government was challenging the ruling.

“We’re going to wait,” Sheinbaum said.

More than 80% of Mexico’s exports go to the United States, making it particularly vulnerable to U.S. protectionism. Duties currently apply to Mexican steel, aluminum, cars and goods not covered by the USMCA.

Exports at the Manzanillo port
The impact of Trump’s trade policy is magnified in Mexico, which sends more than 80% of its exports to the U.S. (Lloyds)

The tariffs on goods not covered by the North American free trade pact were imposed by the United States due to what the White House said was a failure by Mexico to take adequate action against “the influx of lethal drugs” to the U.S. Those tariffs were blocked by Wednesday’s court ruling.

The publication of Banxico’s latest growth forecasts came after the Mexican economy avoided a technical recession by expanding 0.2% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the final quarter of last year. The economy contracted 0.6% on a sequential basis in the final quarter of 2024.

In April, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank also slashed their economic growth forecasts for Mexico. The former is now forecasting a 0.3% contraction while the latter is predicting 0% growth.

The most recent 2025 forecast from Mexico’s Finance Ministry was growth in the range of 1.5% to 2.3%.

‘A stagnant economy’

Gabriel Cuadra, a deputy governor of the Bank of Mexico, said Wednesday that “after the Mexican economy showed resilience in 2023 and 2024, now in 2025 we’re forecasting an [economic growth] variation close to zero, a stagnant economy with a balance of risks biased to the downside.”

In its report, Banxico mentioned a range of “downside risks throughout the forecast horizon.”

They included:

  • That uncertainty “driven by the policies that could be implemented in the United States” increases and “negatively affects external demand as well as consumption and investment spending in Mexico.”
  • That economic growth in the U.S. is lower than expected.
  • That the reduction in public spending in Mexico “has a stronger impact on economic activity.”
  • That “severe weather phenomena, such as extreme temperatures, cyclones, or droughts, adversely impact the Mexican economy.”

Banxico also cited various “risks to the upside throughout the forecast horizon.”

They included:

  • That “incoming data regarding U.S. trade policy mitigates uncertainty and signals a favorable resolution that will benefit economic activity in the region.”
  • That growth in the U.S. is “greater than expected, favoring Mexico’s external demand.”
  • That “under the USMCA, the global reconfiguration of production processes provides a greater-than-expected boost to investment.” (Mexico received record high foreign direct investment in the first quarter of the year.)
  • That “public spending provides a greater-than-expected boost to economic activity.”

Although Banxico is forecasting 0.1% growth, Cuadra conceded that it is possible that the Mexican economy will contract in 2025.

Banxico Governor Victoria Rodríguez Ceja
Despite the bad news, Banxico Governor Victoria Rodríguez Ceja said Mexico is not entering a recession. (File photo)

The Bank of Mexico’s forecast range is -0.5% to 0.7%, indicating that it is not completely ruling out the possibility of GDP declining this year.

However, Banxico Governor Victoria Rodríguez Ceja told a press conference on Wednesday that “we are foreseeing a period of weakness for economic activity, but not a recession.”

Rodríguez asserted that strengthening of the rule of law in Mexico and promoting competition in the market are essential to support economic growth.

“It is [also] essential to promote greater investment and productivity improvements in the economy,” she added.

Despite an increase in inflation this year, the Bank of Mexico has cut its key interest rate by 50 basis points after all three monetary policy meetings this year, in part due to the prevailing weakness in the Mexican economy.

With reports from El Financiero

What I learned from traveling on the Maya Train

By
Bel Woodhouse
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Front car of a Maya Train convoy in the Palenque station
Planning a trip on the Maya Train? This is what we found out when making the epic journey. (All photos by Bel Woodhouse)

It was a joy to ride the rails and complete the whole route of the Maya Train in the process of writing this guide. And yes, I’m talking the whole enchilada, from top to bottm. From my state of Quintana Roo in the east, all the way across the Yucatán Peninsula and southern Mexico, crossing five states to Chiapas in the west. And back again, of course. 

We saw everything from the golden city of Izamal to Bacalar’s Lagoon of Seven Colors. Add the stunning rainforests and ruins of Palenque and we explored a total of three Pueblos Mágicos. I got to scratch them off my Pueblos Mágicos scratch map, which is still the most fun way I’ve found to explore Mexico. 

The comfortable interior of the Maya Train.

I love that the Maya Train has included stops to or nearby so many Pueblos Mágicos and given us a luxurious way to get there. 

So, what do you need to know before you go? Here’s what I learned. 

Get tickets early

Tourists explore ruins at Palenque
The ruins at Palenque, whose rail station is the western terminus of the Maya Train.

Ticket lines can be quite long, so plan on getting to the station an hour early if you want a good seat. This will help because buying a ticket takes a while. It’s not as simple as buying a bus ticket, where you state your destination then pay: it took us nearly ten minutes to get two standard tickets.

The ticket office workers take down a lot of information, so have your email address and phone number ready. This will save time and, if you don’t speak Spanish, any miscommunication: we found that most of the time, ticket office workers didn’t speak any English. Don’t worry though, the station managers often do, so there’s usually someone nearby to help out in a pinch. 

Alternatively, you can buy your tickets online on the Maya Train website or download the railroad’s app to get tickets before you go. 

Check the timetable before you go

At many stations, the Maya Train leaves just once a day, so be sure to check the schedule before heading out.

If you’re leaving from a popular tourist destination like Bacalar, get tickets in the morning: they’re likely to sell out. There, the train only leaves once a day at 5 p.m. and it fills up fast. But the good news is that if you do miss the train, ADO buses leave about every half hour, so you won’t be stranded (but it’s much less fun). 

Take the Maya Train bus

Passenger bus with Maya Train livery in front of a train station, daytime
The Maya Train has an official associated bus line.

We started out adventure at Cancún airport, because a dear friend flew down from the United States to join me on this adventure. Here, a taxi tried charging us 500 pesos to go to the station. The railroad’s official bus arrived within ten minutes, and it was 35 pesos; less than US $2, so don’t risk getting scammed.  

Luckily, along the rest of the route, on all of our stops, the taxis were lovely. If there is no shuttle, bus or other form of transport, don’t be concerned about being overcharged. There is a set price and a lot of stations have a taxi booth that will call for you and tell you the price up front.

It’s really safe

Line of horse-drawn carriages in front of a building in Izamal
Izamal is the last stop on the Maya Train’s third section and the first on its fourth.

My friend was very impressed with the trip’s safety. Coming down from the United States and being used to some of the unfriendliness of the U.S. news cycle, she felt very safe. More than once, she mentioned the friendliness of the guards on the route.

It’s true. Each time we arrived at a station, National Guard (GN) agents were there along the platforms to greet us, always polite and smiling. When we left a station, they would often wave goodbye.

On the train itself, we noticed there were always a couple of GN agents traveling aboard, smiling when passing you in the aisles. The Maya Train feels like a very safe way to travel around southern Mexico. 

The bathrooms are awesome

Compliments for public bathrooms are not something you hear every day. But the cleaners on the Maya Train do an amazing job. 

The bathrooms even smelled good. If you’re like me, then you probably only use public bathrooms when you can’t hold it any longer. It’s not something I look forward to, ever. But the cleaners travel on the train with you and are constantly cleaning both the floors and the bathrooms.

It’s okay to take snacks

Two hands holding beers in front of a window on the Maya Train looking out on the landscape
Beer and other beverages are available for purchase aboard the Maya Train.

We traveled on the train for long periods. There’s a dining car with a great menu, but we always had a big breakfast off the train. Aboard, we just wanted snacky things, like when you go on a road trip. 

So, we had our snacks but — oh no! — that produced a lot of crumbs. If you’re a snacker, you know what I’m talking about. Everything was okay: within five minutes of us finishing our snacks, the crumbs were swept away by the cleaners and our seats were back to being pristine.

The Maya Train is a smooth ride

Journal page with sketches of birds
The ride on the train is smooth enough for accident-free sketching.

If you get motion sickness, as my friend does, you’re in for a treat. We traveled for over ten hours on the train one day and she didn’t once need her Dramamine. 

Best of all, I could sketch in my travel journal from place to place. Using a pen. Without mistakes or a rattling train causing boo-boos. That in itself, is amazing to me. 

Overall, it was a fantastic trip on the Maya Train. I sincerely hope you take the chance to explore some of the Pueblos Mágicos and other sites along the route. It’s a wonderful way to get around Mexico.

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

What’s on in Guadalajara and around Lake Chapala in June?

By
MND Staff
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1
Classical musicians intently playing violins in an orchestra performance
Guadalajara lights up in June with internationally prestigious events like the Guadalajara International Film Festival and a concert by Amalia Rodriguez's Folkloric Ballet, but also local events for all ages. (Conjunto Santander/Facebook)

June will be a sweet month in Guadalajara — literally, as the city hosts two separate June events featuring honey.  

In addition to these culinary events, Jalisco’s capital and the surrounding area has several artistic and musical events in store for June, including Guadalajara’s iconic International Film Festival, a world-renowned Mexican folkloric dance concert, a classical-music gala honoring Tchaikovsky and much, much more.

Let’s dive right into it.

The Honey Fair

A small pile of honeycombs on a white plate in the foreground and a person's hand touching the honeycomb in the background, which is slightly blurred.
(Unsplash)

To kick off Guadalajara’s June events, the city will be hosting Guadalajara’s Honey Fair, organized by the Local Livestock Association of Beekeepers of Guadalajara. Attendees can expect a variety of honey-derived products for sale, including pollen, propolis, mead and sweets, as well as personal care products like soaps, shampoos and body lotions. 

The event will also feature workshops for kids.

Date: 29 May–June 1
Location: Portales of the Municipal Palace of Guadalajara. Av. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla 400, Zona Centro, 44100 Guadalajara
Cost: Free

Guadalajara International Film Festival

A man and a woman stand on a stage in a theater under a huge projection screen that has the logo for the Guadalajara International Film Festival in Spanish.
(Guadalajara International Film Fest)

The Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG) will celebrate its 40th edition in June, with the exhibition of 170 films. This year, Portugal will be the guest country, and the festival will feature 30 Portuguese films.

The opening film will be “Soy Frankelda” (I am Frankelda), the first Mexican feature film to use stop-motion technique, directed by brothers Arturo and Roy Ambriz.

Films will be screened in the city’s FICG Film Library, the Cineforo and the Cinépolis Centro Magno, and Cinépolis VIP Midtown movie theaters.

Date: June 6 to 14
Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Cost: Prices vary according to cinema box office

Mexican Wine Festival

The Mexican Wine Festival (FEVINO) is back in Guadalajara for its 11th year. Bringing together over 60 wineries from across Mexico, the event seeks to bring people closer to the culture of wine. 

Attendees will be able to meet producers, learn about their processes, sample different labels and purchase their favorite vintages at special prices. There will also be talks given on wine and on Mexican chocolate. 

For an additional price, you’ll gain access to an exclusive lounge area and to private wine tastings. Premium-ticket holders can also attend special gastronomy events, including a tacos tasting with the renowned chef of the Guadalajara restaurant Quelite, Jonathan Davalos. Premium ticket holders also get access to a wine-tasting event with sommelier Sam Cepeda. Check them out on Instagram for more information.

Date: June 7
Location: Ávila Camacho Park, Lomas del Country, 44610 Guadalajara.
Cost: Starting at 1,100 pesos (US $56)

Gala Tchaikovski 

Mexican conductor Arturo Diemecke caught in mid conducting. He is wearing a tuxedo jacket and white shirt clasped at the neck with a brooch.
(Orchestra Sinfónica Nacional de México)

The Santander Performing Arts Ensemble of the University of Guadalajara will put on a classical concert honoring Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky under the direction of conductor Enrique Arturo Diemecke and featuring the Soloists of America Orchestra. The event promises to feature all the maestro’s iconic pieces.  

Date: June 8
Location: Conjunto Santander de Artes Escénicas. Anillo Periférico Norte Manuel Gómez Morín 1695, Colonia Rinconada de la Azalea, Zapopan.
Cost: Starting at 500 pesos ($26)

Asgard Fest

A group of men dressed as vikings
(Woden Ulfar Festival Vikingo y Medieval/Facebook)

If you missed Avalon Fest, Guadalajara’s annual medieval festival held this past March, don’t miss out on Asgard Fest, put on by the same Guadalajara performing arts company, Woden Ulfar.

This time, the theme is Vikings, featuring combat performances in period Viking costume, opportunities to fight in battle like a Viking, try out archery and more. Listen to live medieval music on period-style instruments or take a souvenir home from the medieval marketplace, featuring artisan items from a range of craftspersons.

The event is open to children and adults. For more information on the location and ticketing, message the organizers on WhatsApp +52 33 2169 0727. 

Date: June 7 and 8
Location: Terraza Paraíso. Prolongación Niños Héroes 88, San Agustín.
Cost: Starting at 190 pesos (US $9) for kids and 350 pesos (US $18) for adults

Guadalajara Pride 

A outdoor crowd waving dozens of rainbow flags.
(Gay Games/Facebook)

Two Pride parades will take place this year in Guadalajara, with one happening on June 7 and the other on June 14.

Both will kick off at 3 p.m. from the Minerva roundabout. From there, participants will parade through López Mateos until reaching Liberation Square. Organizers have planned an after-party on Liberation Square after the parade on June 14.  

For more information, click here.

Date: June 7 and 14
Location: Starting meetup point is at the Minerva roundabout in Avenida Vallarta
Cost: Free

Amalia Hernández’s Mexican Folkloric Ballet concert

A young Mexican woman in a traditional Mexican folkloric dance dress with a huge petticoat that she is holding up on either side as part of a dance move.
(Ballet Folklórico de México)

The Amalia Hernández Mexican Folkloric Ballet, one of the most recognized traditional dance troupes in Mexico, will be performing in Guadalajara in June.

Founded in 1952, the ballet is world-renowned for its efforts to disseminate and preserve traditional Mexican dance, having toured more than 60 countries and 300 cities.

Date: June 15
Location: Teatro Diana. Av. 16 de Septiembre 710, Centro, Guadalajara.
Cost: Starting at 300 pesos (US $15)

Beekeeper for a Day at Rancho Miel Oro

Four children smiling for a photo on the grass in front of a large tree. They are wearing full beekpeer suits, including the protective head coverings.
(Rancho Miel Oro)

If you want to know what a beekeeper does and learn about the importance of bees to the environment, head to Rancho Miel Oro’s “Apiculture for a Day” event.

The price of admission includes a guided tour to see beehives up close, demonstrations of honey extraction, a honey-tasting event and opportunities to taste mead, an alcoholic beverage made with honey.

Date: June 21
Location: Rancho Miel Oro, Carretera La Venta – Tesistán km 3.3
Cost: Starting at 710 pesos per person (US $32)

Community Theater Opportunity 

Indulge your creativity, make new friends and experience art as part of a community with a new theater workshop starting up in Ajijic on June 4. 

This free workshop requires a weekly commitment on Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Individuals 16 and older can participate, and no previous experience is required.

To sign up and for more information, send an email here.

Date: June 4
Location: Centro para la Cultura y las Artes de la Ribera, Carr. Chapala-Jocotepec 168, La Floresta, Ajijic.
Cost: Free 

‘For the Love of Chapala’ Poetry Workshop 

If you’d like to learn how to write poetry in Spanish, you can’t miss the poetic workshop “Por Amor a Chapala” (For the Love of Chapala).

Taught by Ana Warren, participants will be encouraged to write a poem to Chapala after learning about the town’s history and culture. 

To enroll, send an email here.

Date: June 10 and 20
Location: Centro para la Cultura y las Artes de la Ribera, Carr. Chapala-Jocotepec 168, La Floresta, Ajijic.
Cost: Free

Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog, Dunas y Palmeras.

Canada PM invites Sheinbaum to G7 Summit: Wednesday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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9
President Claudia Sheinbaum
Will Sheinbaum finally meet Trump in person in June? "We will see," she says. (Gabriel Monroy/Presidencia)

A possible trip to Canada next month, this Sunday’s judicial elections and Mexico’s obligation to deliver water to the United States via the Rio Grande were among the issues President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about at her Wednesday morning press conference.

Here is a recap of the president’s May 28 mañanera.

Sheinbaum invited to G7 Summit in Canada, where she could potentially meet with Trump 

Sheinbaum confirmed a report by the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney invited her to attend the Group of Seven (G7) Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17.

She said that Carney invited her to the summit when she spoke to him to congratulate him on his election victory last month.

“We spoke about various issues, including the [USMCA] trade agreement and the relationship with the United States. He invited me to attend the G7 [Summit], which will be in Canada,” Sheinbaum said.

“I haven’t yet taken the decision about whether I’ll attend or not, but it’s a possibility. I thanked him for the invitation,” she said.

Carney and Sheinbaum
If Sheinbaum takes Carney up on the invite, the leaders of the parties to the USMCA free trade agreement could meet for the first time in June. (Mark Carney/X. Archive)

Sheinbaum noted that “Mexico isn’t part of the G7,” a grouping of Canada (which current holds the presidency of the group), France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

“They would be inviting us, they are making this invitation [to us] as special guests, let’s say,” she said, adding that she was assessing “the possibility of attending” while considering her responsibilities at home.

The Globe and Mail report was headlined “Carney invites Mexico’s President to G7 summit, raising hopes for sideline tariff talks with Trump.”

When asked about the possibility of having her first face-to-face meeting with the U.S. president, Sheinbaum responded:

“We will see. If we decide to attend, we will inform you.”

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has imposed tariffs on some imports from Mexico and Canada, including steel, aluminum and vehicles.

Three podiums on a parquet floor stage, each with a flag behind them - one of Mexico, one of the US and the third of Canada
Regardless of what happens at the G7 Summit, USMCA talks are likely to begin (again) this fall. (Shutterstock)

The USMCA pact, which is supposed to guarantee the free trade of most goods between the United States, Mexico and Canada, is scheduled for review in 2026, but Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard believes formal talks will begin in late 2025.

Sheinbaum, Trump and Carney could make a head start on those discussions if they come together in Alberta next month.

‘We’re going to have a better judiciary’ 

On the last day of the official campaign period ahead of this Sunday’s judicial elections, Sheinbaum once again urged citizens to vote.

“The election on Sunday is very important. You should participate freely, … [vote] for who you want to vote for, but participate. It’s very important that there is a massive turnout in the election, and there will be,” she said.

“Millions of people will vote on Sunday,” Sheinbaum said, adding that it is “better” for citizens to choose judges than the president and the Senate.

“The people who go out and vote will decide who is the judiciary. And the winners of this election, those who are elected by the people, will respond to the people. That is the big difference,” she said.

Sheinbaum points to a sample ballot projected on a large screen
Sheinbaum shared a sample ballot for Sunday’s judicial elections. (Gabriel Monroy/Presidencia)

Sheinbaum highlighted that she is “relinquishing” the right to appoint Supreme Court justices in favor of allowing the people of Mexico to decide.

More than 60 candidates are vying to win one of nine Supreme Court justice positions. The bench of Mexico’s highest court will be reduced to nine from 11 after the election.

Sheinbaum said that the new popularly elected justices will be tasked with making decisions about “the issues in the country.”

“… In the end what we want is for there to be justice in the country, that justice isn’t just for those who have money and not for those who don’t,” she said.

“… What we want is for all of us to have the same access to justice, the rich person, the poor person, the person who lives in the north, the person who lives in the south,” Sheinbaum said.

“That demand comes from the Sentimientos de la Nación (The Feelings of the Nation), of [José María] Morelos,” she said, referring to a document dating back to the Mexican War of Independence in the early 19th century.

Sheinbaum: Mexico making progress on delivering water to US

A reporter asked the president about the agreement the Mexican and United States governments reached in late April under which Mexico committed to immediately deliver water to the U.S. — to which it owes a huge quantity of water under the terms of a 1944 bilateral treaty.

“Progress continues to be made, that is to say, progress is being made on what we committed,” Sheinbaum said.

Mexico has struggled to meet its water delivery obligations during the current five-year cycle of the 81-year-old treaty due to widespread drought that has been particularly severe in the north of the country. Mexico is required to send water to the United States via the Rio Grande and receives water from the U.S. via the Colorado River.

The Mexican government said in late April that the agreement with the United States provides for “immediate transfers of water” from Mexico to the U.S. as well as additional deliveries “during the upcoming rainy season,” which has now commenced.

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

8 members of Mexico’s National guard killed in landmine explosion

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MND Staff
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A National Guard member participates in a February operation in Uruapan, Michoacán. The National Guard is highly involved in security operations in Michoacán and along the Jalisco border. (Juan José Estrada Serafín/Cuartoscuro)

The explosion of a landmine in Michoacán has claimed the lives of eight members of the National Guard (GN), according to federal authorities.

An armored tactical vehicle in which eight members of the GN’s Immediate Reaction Special Force (FERI) team were traveling ran over the landmine on a dirt road in the municipality of Los Reyes Tuesday night, causing it to detonate.

The initial death toll was reported to be six with two GN members injured. The injured troops were reportedly transferred to hospital by helicopter.

Military sources said on Wednesday that the number of fatalities had risen to eight, making the landmine explosion the deadliest since it first became know that criminal groups such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) were using improvised explosive devices in their fight against authorities and each other. At least two of the victims occupied leadership positions within the National Guard’s FERI team.

According to media reports that cited federal sources, the National Guard was commissioned to locate and dismantle a CJNG operations center and training camp in the municipality of Santa María del Oro, Jalisco. The explosion of the landmine reportedly occurred after the FERI members left that location.

Santa María del Oro borders the state of Michoacán, while the municipality of Los Reyes borders Jalisco. The location where the landmine detonated is part of an area where both the CJNG and the Cárteles Unidos (United Cartels) are vying for control, according to the El Universal newspaper.

A tow truck pulls a destroyed camo Sandcat armored vehicle
Images of the destroyed tactical vehicle circulated on social media after the incident. (X)

The Cárteles Unidos is made up of various criminal groups, including the Cártel de los Reyes, based in Los Reyes, Michoacán. According to Michoacán authorities, both the CJNG and the Cártel de los Reyes have recruited former Colombian soldiers who are experts in explosives.

Led by the elusive Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the CJNG is one of six Mexican cartels that were designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the United States government earlier this year.

Sheinbaum laments death of National Guard members 

Asked about the death of the GN troops in Michoacán at her Wednesday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum said “it is very regrettable that this occurs — the use of explosive devices.”

“Our solidarity, affection and support to the relatives of the National Guard [troops],” she said.

Sheinbaum asserted that progress has been made on improving the security situation in Mexico, highlighting that the national homicide count on Tuesday was 44.

“Of course we wish there were none. But remember that the average in September last year was almost 80 [homicides per day], 75,” she said.

Murders are declining and there have been “very significant arrests,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the period of almost eight months since she took office.

With reports from Milenio, EFE, La Jornada and El Universal

BBVA to invest 100 billion pesos in its Mexican banking operations

By
MND Staff
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man at microphone
The investment was announced by Eduardo Osuna, director general of BBVA México, at a meeting of bank investors and clients. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

BBVA, the largest financial group in Mexico, has announced a historic investment of 100 billion pesos (US $5.1 billion) for the next six years.

The announcement was made by BBVA Mexico’s Vice President and CEO Eduardo Osuna during the bank’s National Meeting of Regional Councillors (RNCR) which brought together businesspeople, clients and investors. 

bank building
In making the announcement, BBVA executives offered a reason for the investment as ambitious as the 12-figure sum: “transforming the bank.” (Shutterstock)

Osuna said the investment would go toward technology and physical infrastructure to keep “transforming the bank.”

“When we say more than 100 billion pesos, it is because technology is advancing so quickly that we have to modulate where we direct this investment,” Osuna said. 

During the meeting, global head of BBVA Carlos Torres Vila said that the multi-million dollar investment is a reflection of the institution’s trust in Mexico. 

“It’s not just an investment; it’s trust, a long-term vision, and a commitment to the more than 30 million customers we serve in the country,” he said. “Mexico has the structural strengths and competitive advantages to emerge stronger in this increasingly complex world.”

Torres recalled that Mexico had positioned itself as the United States’ main trade partner when it surpassed China in 2023 for the first time in 20 years. In 2024, he noted,  that lead  increased. 

Torres added that even amidst increasingly uncertain times, foreign direct investment in Mexico grew 5.4% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of last year. 

“And as time passes and uncertainty regarding the level of global tariffs decreases, investment in Mexico will resume its growth,” Torres speculated. He added that pending the renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which may occur this year, the U.S. tariff system currently “puts the country in a more advantageous position compared to other competing countries, particularly in relation to China.”

According to Torres, Mexico will likely be the country to face “the fewest trade barriers from the U.S.”

Mexico’s advantages, according to Torres, include competitive labor costs, a strategic location, high integration of value chains in complex products with the U.S., and a growing capacity to offer high value-added products and services. 

However, Torres acknowledged that the Mexican economy has slowed down, and that it will likely continue to shrink compared to last year. Yet, his outlook for the medium term is positive thanks in part to President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Plan México. 

“[Plan Mexico] is an ambitious plan with a broad vision that encompasses multiple initiatives in very diverse areas,” Torres said. “It will ensure that Mexico not only successfully tackles global challenges, including economic ones, but also emerges stronger.” 

With reports from La Jornada

US congratulates Jalisco State Police on its new Tesla Cybertruck fleet

By
MND Staff
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A parade of Jalisco security vehicles including a Tesla Cybertruck
The addition of a fleet of Tesla Cybertrucks to the Jalisco State Polic fleet has been hailed as a step into the future by the U.S. Embassy but mocked as an empty show by Mexico's ruling party. (Secretaría de Seguridad de Jalisco/X)

The state of Jalisco has integrated three Tesla Cybertrucks into its police fleet as part of a 678-vehicle security upgrade ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, drawing both cross-border praise and domestic scrutiny.

Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro said the investment of “around 970 million pesos” (US $50.1 million) — which also includes armored Black Mamba units —  aims to bolster safety and project a modern image for the host region.

A Black Mamba Sand Cat armored vehicle
The updated Jalisco fleet also includes Black Mamba Sandcats, armored vehicles that state Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro describes as “sort of like tanks.” (Special Military Forces/Facebook)

The Black Mambas “are sort of like tanks,” the governor noted, saying all the new vehicles will be distributed to state and municipal police in the Guadalajara metropolitan area and the interior of Jalisco.

“We need to work hard on security perception,” Lemus said.

Zapopan, a city of 1.5 million next to Guadalajara, will host four games during next year’s men’s soccer World Cup, which will be jointly staged by Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Mexico City and Monterrey will also host games during the nearly six-week tournament.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico applauded Jalisco’s acquisitions on social media, including a picture of the rugged, industrial-looking vehicle manufactured by the automotive magnate Elon Musk (whose planned Tesla gigafactory in Nuevo León is still on hold).

“Jalisco is stepping up into the future,” reads the post on X, known as Twitter until Musk bought it in 2022. “The state government is taking a bold step toward innovation with the acquisition of Cybertrucks for its official fleet. Technology, sustainability and a vision for the future at the service of its citizens.”

The ruling party is not impressed

Leaders in Mexico’s ruling party, Morena, mocked the leap “into the future” by the Jalisco state government (run by the Citizens Movement party) with the Morena state president, Erika Pérez, remarking sarcastically, “I see [the vehicle] and think Robocop is going to come out. I said, ‘Wow, we all don’t have to worry anymore. There’s someone out there to take care of us.’ Thank you very much.”

Mexican Congressman Carlos Lomelí, a senator representing Jalisco, demanded transparency, vowing to scrutinize the tender process and asking, “How will this reduce insecurity?”

Although the price Jalisco paid is not known, the list price for a Tesla Cybertruck in Mexico reportedly starts at 1.95 million pesos (US $100,455), fueling debates about fiscal priorities in a state grappling with crime.

Lemus said the purchase included a competitive, national bidding process for both the price of the vehicles and financing.

Tesla Cybertrucks have been subjected to eight recall notices from U.S. safety regulators since deliveries to customers began about 18 months ago. The latest, addressing a section of exterior trim that could detach while driving, occurred in March and affected some 46,000 Cybertrucks.

Jalisco’s security plan includes 4,500 personnel and a six-year investment of six  billion pesos (US $309 million) in the “Escudo Jalisco C5i” system, which expands surveillance networks by 50% and integrates AI-powered license plate readers. Patrols will prioritize tourist hubs like Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and Tequila, with Cybertrucks serving as mobile command centers using SpaceX’s Starlink internet, another Musk venture.

Jalisco is preparing for over five million visitors during next year’s World Cup. Estadio Akron in Zapopan will host group-stage games on June 11, 18, 23 and 26, 2026.

With reports from Milenio and Aristegui Noticias

Families of disappeared Ayotzinapa students call for dismissal of special prosecutor

By
MND Staff
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Protesters hold signs showing the faces of the disappeared on a rainy day in front of a Mexico City landmark
Families of the disappeared protested the lack of progress in the case in Mexico City on Monday. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

The special prosecutor leading the investigation into the 2014 disappearance of 43 students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Normal School in Guerrero earned a rebuke from President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday after stating that authorities have been “searching for corpses.”

“We have visited more than 800 sites in the mountains [of Guerrero] searching for corpses,” Rosendo Gómez Piedra told reporters outside the National Palace in Mexico City before a meeting on Tuesday with parents of the 43 Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College students who were abducted in Iguala in September 2014 and presumably killed.

Remains of just three of the students have been found and formally identified.

The Ayotzinapa case remains unresolved almost 11 years after the students — all young men — were allegedly abducted by members of a Guerrero-based crime gang after a bus they had commandeered to travel to a protest in Mexico City was stopped by allegedly corrupt municipal police.

The Mexican Army has also been accused of involvement in the disappearance of the students, which was a major blight on the 2012-18 presidency of Enrique Peña Nieto.

“Fue el estado,” or “It was the state,” has been chanted by hundreds of thousands if not millions of Mexicans at countless marches and protests since the disappearance of the students.

Ayotzinapa protesters carry a banner reading "Desaparicion forzada"
Local, state and military officials have all been accused of involvement in the 2014 disappearances, something protesters emphasized with banners referencing enforced disappearance during protests this week. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Gómez, head of a Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) unit focused on the Ayotzinapa case, highlighted on Tuesday that 120 people are in custody in connection with the abduction of the students and noted that some 46 criminal cases are in process.

No one has ever been convicted of involvement in the kidnapping and presumed murder of the 43 young men.

Gómez stressed that investigations are ongoing.

“Now, if you ask me whether we’ve found the young men, [I will say] we haven’t found them, but the investigations are continuing, the processes don’t stop,” he said.

Sheinbaum: Gómez’s ‘searching for corpses’ remark ‘very unfortunate’ 

At Sheinbaum’s morning press conference on Wednesday, a reporter noted that Gómez said that authorities are searching for the corpses of the missing students and asked the president whether her government believes the young men are dead.

“It’s a very unfortunate statement,” Sheinbaum said before noting that former deputy interior minister Alejandro Encinas — who led an Ayotzinapa truth commission during Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s 2018-24 presidency — had made a similar remark.

President Sheinbaum speaks into a microphone
Sheinbaum described Gómez’s comment as unfortunate and said the government continues to investigate the case. (Gabriel Monroy/Presidencia)

“The statement is not very fortunate but the important thing is that we continue working [on the case],” she said.

Students’ parents call for removal of special prosecutor Gómez

On Tuesday, parents of the 43 students called for the dismissal of Gómez, who faces accusations of embezzlement, extortion, abuse of authority, bribery and intimidation.

“The parents are asking for the departure of Rosendo,” said Melitón Ortega, father of one of the missing men and a spokesperson for the mothers and fathers whose lives changed forever when their sons disappeared on Sept. 26, 2014.

Questioned as to why the parents want Gómez to be fired, Ortega cited the corruption allegations against the Ayotzinapa special prosecutor.

The mothers and fathers of the missing students have evidently lost faith in his capacity to lead an investigation that will result in a resolution of the almost 11-year-old case.

“He hasn’t been competent in his position,” Mario González, father of another of the missing students, told the news magazine Proceso.

Rosendo Gómez Piedra
Families of the disappeared have lost faith in special prosecutor Rosendo Gómez Piedra, one father said, citing allegations of corruption. (X)

“And recently other things that we didn’t know have been discovered, like how he got drunk during searches for our sons, that he threw parties, that he went home [from work] at 1 in the afternoon and didn’t return. In other words, he didn’t do his job,” he said.

Sheinbaum on Wednesday acknowledged that the parents have asked for a “change” in the leadership of the FGR unit conducting the Ayotzinapa investigation.

“We are looking to see if it is necessary or not,” she said.

“In any case, the … [Attorney General Alejandro] Gertz, on our proposal, is strengthening the Attorney General’s Office with people who specialize in … [new] ways of investigating, which will allow us to open new routes in order to know the truth,” Sheinbaum said.

‘We’re developing new schemes of investigation’ 

Sheinbaum, who met with the students’ parents for around three hours on Tuesday, told reporters that the federal government, through the Security Ministry and the FGR, is “developing new schemes of investigation” aimed at getting to the bottom of the Ayotzinapa case.

“I don’t want to give much more information but it has to do with different schemes of investigation to those that have been followed up until now,” she said.

“And we’ve been in contact with the relatives, the mothers and the fathers, to explain what they are,” Sheinbaum said.

“That is giving us a lot more information so I have the hope, because certainty is sometimes difficult [to have], … that this new way of investigating will take us to what all Mexicans want. … We want the truth, justice and to find the young men,” she said.

Sheinbaum added that the parents of the missing students “agree” with the use of new “forms of investigation.”

“We’re working with them because we believe we must respect them,” she said.

Melitón Ortega said on Tuesday that Sheinbaum has shown a “willingness to continue working until we reach the truth.”

“… We will continue to give … [our] confidence to the president,” he said.

With reports from El Universal, Sin Embargo, Proceso, Milenio and N+

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