Mexico News Today Friday, August 21, 2020

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 Videos show delivery of bags of cash to AMLO’s brother; president denies corruption More videos have surfaced in which large amounts of cash change hands, but this time it’s the Morena party that’s involved. FULL STORY In leaked document, ex-Pemex chief accuses 3 presidents, dozens of officials of accepting bribes Emilio Lozoya makes explosive accusations against three ex-presidents as well as former government ministers and federal lawmakers. FULL STORY Share this email and introduce friends to Mexico News Daily Forward Covid deaths reach 59,000 Mexico’s official Covid-19 death toll is on the cusp of reaching a figure that the country’s coronavirus czar once said could only be reached in a “catastrophic scenario.” FULL STORY Nurse alleges beating by neighbors fearful of virus A nurse in Guanajuato claims she and her family were beaten by neighbors who feared she would infect them with the coronavirus but the alleged assailants say the virus had nothing to do with it. FULL STORY Mathematician predicts 100,000 deaths by year’s end A UNAM mathematician also says confirmed cases could reach more than 1 million. FULL STORY ADVERTISEMENT Corruption probe is manna from heaven for AMLO Testimony from a confidential investigation is drip fed to the media almost daily, writes Michael Stott of the Financial Times, offering the president an opportunity to comment on a process that should be sub judice. FULL STORY State rides out hurricane Baja California Sur successfully rode out Hurricane Genevieve, which skimmed the Baja Peninsula as a category 1 storm, writes Susy Buchanan in this week's round-up of news from the state. FULL STORY Hurricane Genevieve: torrential rains, strong winds and big waves The storm delivered high winds and intense rain to Baja California Sur Thursday morning. FULL STORY Oaxaca is famous for mezcal. Could corn whiskey be next? Distiller buys farmers' surplus corn to produce an artisanal whiskey. FULL STORY Lozoya blaming others to protect himself: Videgaray Luis Videgaray, a former cabinet minister who served in the government of ex-president Enrique Peña Nieto, has rejected accusations made against him by former Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya. FULL STORY Ex-Pemex boss an instrument of ‘revenge, political persecution' Former president and others accused of taking bribes reject claims by Emilio Lozoya as 'lies of a confessed criminal.' FULL STORY July homicide numbers up 3.9% to total 2,980 Presenting the July data at Thursday's presidential press conference, the security minister said homicides are on the wane in 22 states. FULL STORY Yaqui tribe members turn off water for most of Guaymas The water was turned off for 12 hours, leaving 80% of Guaymas and neighboring Empalme without water. FULL STORY Mexico maintains poor ranking on impunity index Mexico’s deficiencies in security and justice coupled with high levels of corruption have landed the country in 60th place on the 2020 Global Impunity Index. FULL STORY Tricycle vendors say they suffer triple extortion Vendors in Miguel Hidalgo say they have to pay three different bribes totaling 700 pesos a week to peddle their wares. Sometimes the total represents more than half their income. FULL STORY Electricity commission, union agree to reduce retirement age from 65 to 55 Under the new collective agreement, male workers can retire at 55 if they have completed 25 years of service. Critics warn the 'politically motivated' plan will be costly. FULL STORY More than 1,000 people flee armed attacks in Chiapas The indigenous Tzotzil people have been forced to flee their homes due to violent attacks in Aldama and Chenalhó. FULL STORY THE MND POLL THE STORY: Herbicide shortage will have major effect on harvests, farmers warn FULL STORY THE QUESTION: Do you support banning the use of the herbicide glyphosate? VOTE HERE LAST POLL: Is Oaxaca's junk food prohibition a good idea? 79% said it is. VIEW FULL RESULTS MEXICO LIFE 8 places in western Mexico to escape a virus without running into a crowd If you live in western Mexico and have been cooped up too long, John Pint offers a few options for getting away from it all without getting infected. FULL STORY OPINION Classes are set to resume but many children will be left out, writes Sarah DeVries FULL STORY Homegrown hero SuperSlim joins the fight against Covid For the cash-strapped government the vaccine deal offered by the Carlos Slim Foundation was a godsend as it struggles to tame a pandemic that has killed nearly 60,000 people, writes Jude Webber. FULL STORY ADVERTISEMENT