¡Hola amigos! This week, AT&T is eyeing a $2B exit from Mexico’s mobile market, Sheinbaum is pushing back hard against any U.S. military presence, and Delta–Aeroméxico’s eight-year flight pact could be grounded.

We’re also covering medicine shortages in Mexico, how to avoid real estate scams, and the tiny insect that once dyed the world red.

Let’s do this! 

❓México Trivia

Which ancient Mexican site is famous for its rare circular pyramids – a design almost never seen in Mesoamerica?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 Qué Paso

📱AT&T plans to sell its Mexico mobile unit for more than $2B after more than a decade of struggling to compete with Telcel.

🇲🇽 President Sheinbaum rejected any U.S. military presence in Mexico after a New York Times report that President Trump authorized the Pentagon to target cartels labeled as terrorist groups. Sheinbaum said cooperation will continue, but “invasion” is “absolutely ruled out.”

🚓 Puebla deployed 50 patrols with drones using facial and license plate recognition to boost security and curb cargo theft on the Mexico-Puebla-Veracruz highway.

🌧️ For the second time this week, Mexico City’s AICM airport was shut down due to heavy rain. Check out the footage from Sunday’s closure.

✈️ The U.S. Justice Department backed a plan to revoke antitrust immunity for Delta Air Lines and Aeroméxico, ending a deal that’s let them coordinate schedules, pricing, and capacity on U.S.–Mexico flights since 2016. 

👟 Adidas and designer Willy Chavarría apologized to Oaxaca’s Indigenous community of Villa Hidalgo Yalálag after officials accused them of copying the traditional “huarache” sandal for their “Oaxaca Slip-On” shoe. The brand says it will work with the community and has contacted the Oaxaca government to start talks with support from the Ministry of Culture and National Copyright Institute.

🛫 Mexico is investing MX$327M (US$18.9M) to expand the Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado Airport in Buenavista, Colima, ahead of its upgrade to international status. 

🦷 If you’re using Colgate Total Prevención Activa Clean Mint toothpaste, stop. Mexico’s health regulator COFEPRIS issued a risk alert after reports of gum inflammation, ulcers, and allergic reactions, giving 30 days to pull it from stores.

⚡ CFE held its first national operations meeting to outline plans for new plants and grid upgrades with the goal of securing Mexico’s power supply for the next eight years.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Why Patients in Mexico Are Saying ‘Time’s Up’

At the end of July, Mexico’s Health Ministry announced it had purchased 96% of the medicines and supplies needed for 2025–2026. They also promised deliveries to IMSS, ISSSTE, and IMSS-Bienestar hospitals nationwide.

But doctors and patients are telling a different story – one where prescriptions aren’t filled and treatments are postponed. 

The state-owned distributor Birmex still hasn’t formally assigned suppliers for much of the order. This has left public hospitals – including IMSS-Bienestar facilities – in limbo.

As expected, the shortage has hit the sickest first. Cancer drugs, immunology treatments, and therapies for rare diseases remain scarce or entirely unavailable in several regions.

For many, this frustration is nothing new. Medicine shortages have been a recurring problem in Mexico’s public healthcare system for years.

Nariz Roja A.C. and other patient groups paused a planned march in June 2025 after senior federal health officials – including Health Secretary David Kershenobich – promised that essential cancer drugs had been purchased and would be delivered between August 15–20.

When shortages persisted, the group called for a renewed national protest to send a message before that delivery window – essentially, a “time’s up” statement.

On Aug. 9 and 10, the #QueremosMedicina marches took over streets in cities from Mexico City to Guadalajara.

Patients, relatives, and healthcare workers rallied together, demanding immediate government action to restore consistent access – from chemotherapy to essential generics. Pediatric oncology shortages were front and center, with parents warning the delays are costing lives.

Officials insist the supply is secured and distribution is improving. 

Critics say numbers on a spreadsheet don’t matter if the medicine never reaches the patient.

We know many of our readers are registered with IMSS – so this is something to keep an eye on and share with anyone you know who relies on it.

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🏠 Real Estate Roundup 

How to Avoid Real Estate Scams in Mexico

Buying property in Mexico can be a dream come true – but it’s also a market where “too good to be true” deals often are. Protecting yourself starts before you ever sign a contract.

1. Hire your own independent real estate attorney. Avoid lawyers recommended by the seller. A good attorney will check the property’s history, confirm permits, and protect your interests.

2. Verify ownership and liens. Get a Certificado de Libertad de Gravamen from the Public Registry of Property to ensure the seller is the legal owner and the property is debt-free.

3. Know the rules in restricted zones. Within 50 km of the coast or 100 km of a border, you must buy via a fideicomiso (bank trust) or a Mexican corporation – skip this and you risk losing ownership rights.

4. Avoid cash payments and rush deals. Use traceable bank transfers, take your time, and read every contract in full before signing.

5. Get everything in writing. In Mexico, only what’s in the signed purchase agreement is legally binding – verbal promises don’t count.

6. Check pre-sale permits and zoning. Make sure developers have all legal approvals, and confirm the land is zoned for your intended use.

7. Steer clear of ejido land and shady timeshares. Communal land must be legally privatized before purchase, and timeshares require extra caution and legal review.

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Mexican Bug That Dyed the World Red

A tiny Mexican insect, no bigger than a peppercorn (5 millimeters to be exact), once ranked among the world’s most valuable commodities.

What was it? 

The Cochineal – the bug that yields a red dye so vivid and long‑lasting it was nicknamed “Mexico’s red gold.”

Native to Oaxaca and other highland regions of southern Mexico, cochineal was cultivated on the pads of the nopal cactus by Mixtec, Zapotec, and Aztec farmers for centuries before Europeans arrived. These Indigenous producers mastered the delicate work of hand-picking the insects, drying them in the sun, and grinding them into a pigment so prized it was used for royal garments, ceremonial textiles, murals, and codices. 

Crimson dye held deep meaning in Mesoamerican cultures, symbolizing gods, blood, and the sun. It was also revered by earlier civilizations, such as the inhabitants of Teotihuacan, where pyramids still show traces of its color.

Before cochineal, Europe’s brightest reds were dull and faded fast. When Spanish conquistadors saw the deep, fiery hue, up to ten times stronger than anything in Europe, they knew they’d struck gold. 

The Spanish crown kept production under tight control, banning the export of live insects or cactus and threatening smugglers with execution. 

For centuries, Europeans didn’t know the dye came from insects at all – Spain fostered the belief it was a plant seed or mineral. England, France, and the Netherlands sent spies, botanists, and smugglers to steal it, trying to grow cochineal in the Canary Islands, Guatemala, the Caribbean, and even Java. Most attempts failed until the late 18th century, when a French botanist managed to smuggle live insects to the Caribbean.

It takes 70,000 insects to make just one pound of dye. Each bug is hand-picked from cacti, then dried and ground. This painstaking process, paired with its unmatched vibrancy and permanence, made cochineal Mexico’s second-most valuable export after silver.

Cochineal’s brilliant red colored silk robes of royalty, the famous red coats of the British Army, and the canvases of master painters like Rembrandt, Rubens, and Van Gogh.

Synthetic dyes in the late 19th century ended its dominance, and Peru eventually overtook Mexico in commercial production. But in Oaxaca, Indigenous farmers still raise cochineal much as they did 500 years ago, using it to dye textiles, create art, and preserve a tradition that once colored the world. 

Today, you’ll find it quietly tinting everything from lipstick to strawberry yogurt – the enduring legacy of a tiny insect with a giant impact.

Check out this short video to see this tiny bug in action.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Avocado’s Best-Kept Secret Isn’t the Fruit

The avocado tree offers more than just its famous fruit – its leaves are a culinary and wellness staple.

For generations, avocado leaves – aromatic with a hint of anise – have been a staple in southern Mexican kitchens, adding their distinctive flavor to frijoles, moles, and the smoky, chile-packed Oaxacan salsa chintextle. Whether fresh or dried, these hojas de aguacate give an earthy taste found nowhere else.

Beyond the kitchen, avocado leaves have long been part of traditional wellness practices. 

Research shows they’re rich in antioxidants (especially quercetin, catechins, and polyphenols) that help defend skin cells from oxidative stress – a key factor in premature aging. 

One of their most valued uses is bruise healing. 

Fresh leaves are crushed or gently warmed, then applied directly to the skin. This traditional poultice is believed to reduce inflammation, boost circulation, and fade discoloration faster.

Avocado leaves are also used to help reduce puffiness, tone skin, and soothe irritation. Just steep them in hot water, let the infusion cool, and use as a facial rinse or toner.

The leaves can also be brewed into a tea and consumed internally to support digestion, ease inflammation, soothe pain, and promote overall wellness.

Emerging research also points to potential roles in regulating blood sugar and cholesterol, though studies are still in progress.

Flavor for your frijoles, healing for your skin – avocado leaves are Mexico’s perfect recipe for living well.

🎉 Vamos! Events

🎺 Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería – August 2–September 7, Guadalajara 
Now in its 32nd year, this world-renowned celebration of Mexican culture brings together the soul-stirring sounds of mariachi with the elegance of charrería, Mexico’s national sport. With over 20 events across the city, this is the cultural highlight of the season. Don’t miss the symphonic mariachi concert featuring Pandora and Flans at Auditorio Telmex, or the grand finale concert with Dina Buendía at Plaza Juan Pablo II. Most events are free. Ticketed concerts start at $50 pesos. More info here.

🌺 Apapaxoa GastroCultural Festival Xcaret – August 26–31, 2025, Riviera Maya
This six-day festival fuses haute cuisine, art, and cultural storytelling across Hotel Xcaret Arte, Xcaret Park, and adjacent venues. Highlights include immersive "Savory Tales" talks, workshops, rooftop mixology, bioluminescent fishing outings, and exclusive tasting menus. Day passes start at MX$2,950, with access-all passes from MX$18,500. More info here.

🍫 Festival Chiapaneco del Cacao y Chocolate – August 29–31, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas
This mouthwatering festival celebrates Chiapas’s cacao heritage in the magical setting of MUSAC (Museo de San Cristóbal). Now in its 7th year, it features pop‑up markets from local chocolatiers, free tastings, workshops on artisanal chocolate-making, cacao history talks, and live cultural performances from indigenous artisans and musicians. Entry is free, with daily hours from 10 am to 6 pm. More info here.

🏊‍♂️ Triatlón AsTri Veracruz Boca del Río – August 30–31, 2025, Veracruz
One of Mexico’s oldest and largest triathlons returns to Playa Gaviotas, in the vibrant coastal city of Boca del Río. Set against the iconic Malecón, the swim takes place in calm Gulf waters while flat bike and run routes make it beginner‑friendly but still fast for elite athletes. With Sprint, Olympic, Junior, Super Sprint, WomanUp, 3‑Kids, Duathlon, and Relay categories – there’s something for every fitness level. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

¡Ánimo!

Translation: “Cheer up!” / “You got this!”

Think of this as Mexico's one-word pep talk. Whether you’re consoling a friend or reassuring a neighbor nervous about their residency interview, a heartfelt ¡Ánimo! is like handing them a double shot of encouragement — no caffeine required.

🎯 Trivia Answer

Guachimontones, near Teuchitlán in Jalisco, was built around 1000 B.C. and served as the main center of the Teuchitlán Tradition. Spread over 20 hectares, it includes 40 circular structures, two monumental ball courts, and plazas. The largest circle, El Guachimontón, is 115 m across with 12 surrounding platforms.

This unique, perfectly round pyramid style – found nowhere else in Mexico – reflects a sophisticated urban plan and ceremonial life that flourished without Olmec influence.

Check out this stunning aerial footage of Guachimontones.

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