Rita Cetina Scholarship will benefit 9 million students

President Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated the Industrial and Services Technological Baccalaureate Center (CBTIS) number 290 in Tijuana, Baja California. The campus is integrated into the National Baccalaureate scheme as part of the federal goal of generating 200,000 new spaces for higher secondary education in the country.

Investment and capacity

During the ribbon cutting, Sheinbaum explained that the 2025-2026 plan includes 500 educational infrastructure actions. It includes enabling afternoon shifts in secondary schools, expanding current high schools and building new centers under the unified “Margarita Maza” model.

Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila thanked the federal administration for bringing study options closer to areas of high demand. Sheinbaum recalled that graduates can continue higher education at the Rosario Castellanos National University campus that operates in the region.

CBTIS 290 represented a total investment of 66.5 million pesos: 49.2 million in civil works and 17.7 million in technological equipment. It has two three-level buildings, 12 classrooms and a specialized laboratory. It is the only institution in the area that teaches Artificial Intelligence. It also has a multifunctional court, civic plaza and green areas. Its operational capacity is 540 students per shift.

Former president Felipe Calderón Hinojosa criticized the designation of Merlin Duck as the official ambassador of Mexico City for the 2026 World Cup. On his social media account, the PAN member pointed out that FIFA and various media make profits from the image of the bird, so its owners deserve fair payment.

“Yes, very good. It came ‘as a gift’, but we shouldn’t leave it like that: they should give it royalties or good financial support, with all the money that FIFA, many media outlets in the world and others with the image of Merlin Duck are making,” he wrote.

Merlin is a two-year-old Peking duck with white plumage and orange legs. He went viral when he was recorded wearing a National Team t-shirt while accompanying his owners – Karla Gómez and her son Christian – to sell water on the streets of the capital. The family considers him another member.

Calderón insisted that the owner, “that little guy who raised him,” should not be left without options after the World Cup. “Get out!” he added, referring to FIFA.

The popularity of duck has crossed borders. International media replicated his story, and President Claudia Sheinbaum invited him to her morning conference, calling him a symbol of Mexican culture. The controversy over the commercial use of his image remains open.

Investigation into fish mortality in Veracruz

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) and the National Water Commission (Conagua) responded to a complaint about the death of fish in the Limón River, located in the municipality of Ignacio de la Llave, Veracruz.

Following the alert from fishermen, personnel from both agencies visited the area on June 18 and also an alcohol company identified as a possible source of contamination. However, the company – whose name was not revealed – assured that it has not operated for several months.

According to a statement from Profepa, headed by Mariana Boy Tamborell, inspectors found no evidence of wastewater discharges or operational activity at the facilities. Nor were any spills detected that could affect the ecosystem.

During the inspection, Conagua, through the Gulf Central Basin Agency, took water samples at different points of the river to analyze them and determine the causes of the contamination. Samples were also collected at the alcohol company to rule out risks.

Profepa promised to carry out new visits to the area and follow up on the information provided by the fishermen, with the aim of identifying other sources of contamination and protecting natural resources.