Mexico News Today Wednesday, August 19, 2020

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2020

With daily consumption of 2.2 liters of Coca-Cola, Chiapas leads Mexico—and the world Nobody in the world drinks more Coca-Cola and other sugary drinks than the residents of Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost and poorest state. A researcher calls the state the epicenter of Mexico's 'soft drink consumption epidemic.' FULL STORY Video shows officials counting wads of cash believed to be bribe money A new video shows two former Senate officials — with links to the National Action Party — receiving wads of cash believed to be bribes to ensure approval of structural reforms in 2013-2014. FULL STORY Share this email and introduce friends to Mexico News Daily Forward

New coronavirus cases lift total to 531,239; 751 deaths reported Tuesday The federal Health Ministry reported 751 additional Covid-19 fatalities on Tuesday, lifting Mexico’s death toll to 57,774, while 5,506 new cases were registered. FULL STORY RELATED: 2 states see rising Covid-19 case numbers but nationally they’re dropping. FULL STORY 30 tourists arrested for not using face masks in Oaxaca The arrests in Huatulco came just as an increase in Covid-19 cases triggered an order that bars shut down in the popular beach destination. FULL STORY Mexico bookings stronger than in other destinations Mexico’s health and safety protocols appear to be inspiring confidence in travelers, particularly in Quintana Roo, where some hotels are at 100% of their permitted occupancy. FULL STORY Los Cabos first destination to get Platinum Beach award Five beaches have been designated as Platinum beaches, the first in the country to obtain the certification under a new government program. FULL STORY 3 beaches reopen in Playa Three beaches in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, will reopen Thursday as part of a pilot program, the mayor announced. FULL STORY Volunteers in Querétaro give classes in the street to kids without TV, internet For street kids in Querétaro, the classroom is coming to them thanks to a special education teacher and volunteers inspired by her actions. FULL STORY Health agency could come under Health Ministry and coronavirus czar The responsibilities of the government’s chief coronavirus strategist, could soon be significantly broader. But critics warn against taking away the autonomy of the federal health regulator, Cofepris. FULL STORY ADVERTISEMENT Efforts under way to capture jaguar and cub in Guerrero The search for the animals is underway in Chilpancingo, after the pair of felines was seen last weekend in neighborhoods near the capital city. FULL STORY Friends, family get jobs at tax department through AMLO’s ex-assistant A former member of President López Obrador’s security detail secured jobs for her partner, father-in-law and at least four friends and associates at the federal tax administration. FULL STORY Oil rig workers defenseless in face of pirate attacks: ‘We fear for our lives’ Frequent attacks by modern day pirates on oil platforms have left some workers scared that they could be killed while working offshore. FULL STORY Jalisco cartel's new tactic: drones armed with C-4 More evidence has surfaced to indicate the Jalisco New Generation Cartel is using drones armed with C4 explosives to attack its enemies. FULL STORY Genevieve triggers hurricane warning in Baja Sur; citizens asked to remain home Heavy rains began to fall in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday as Hurricane Genevieve closed in on Baja California Sur. FULL STORY Youths beaten in attempted lynching in Hidalgo Two young men accused of kidnapping a child were nearly lynched in Tlahuelilpan Tuesday night. FULL STORY AMLO threatens to take away port concession from 'private firm' in Veracruz But the administrator of the port of Veracruz is in fact a state-owned company created by the federal government in 1993. FULL STORY Scientific station will aid program to rescue condor The California condor has been successfully reintroduced into Baja California’s San Pedro Mártir National Park, and now a new scientific station is intended to help ensure the species’ continued survival. 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 Finding the elusive jaguar was a challenge for wildlife photographer It took several months for photographer Alejandro Prieto to capture his first image of a jaguar in the wild. It was the first of 100 he took for his project Jaguar Story. FULL STORY OPINION Indigenous Mexicans turn inward to survive Covid-19 While the coronavirus hammers Mexico, some indigenous communities in Oaxaca are finding creative ways to cope, writes Jeffrey Cohen. FULL STORY

Zipolite (Tune)

⭕️ Te Contamos Cómo Comenzó Todo En Zipolite Oaxaca, Entre Eclipses, Hippies Y Piratas T3 E15

Mexico News Today Monday, August 17 2020

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2020

Covid numbers decline for third week Health official says new case numbers are estimated to have fallen 20% between August 2 and 8 compared to the previous week. FULL STORY RELATED: Campeche first state to go yellow on Covid risk map after 23% decline in cases. FULL STORY Since gang leader El Marro’s capture, homicides down in Guanajuato Homicides have declined since the capture of crime boss José Antonio “El Marro” Yépez but the state remains the most violent in the country. FULL STORY Share this email and introduce friends to Mexico News Daily Forward

Colima governor: ‘it’s only going to get worse’ The governor slammed the federal government for its response to the coronavirus pandemic and predicted that the economy will collapse. FULL STORY Colima, Chihuahua make face masks mandatory Using masks for Covid protection will be required in both states. In Sinaloa, masks must be worn in government offices and on public transit. FULL STORY Mexico, US extend land border closure but travelers welcome by air The U.S. and Mexican governments will extend their agreement to close the land border to nonessential travel until September 21, but that doesn’t mean Mexico isn’t welcoming visitors. FULL STORY ADVERTISEMENT Nobel Prize winner working with farmers to seek alternatives to pesticides A company co-founded by a winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry is helping farmers in Mexico to reduce their use of pesticides through mating disruption. FULL STORY Veracruz rum wins international award A Mexican rum made the grade yet again in Europe, winning the International Taste Institute’s Superior Taste Award for the sixth year running at ceremonies in Brussels. FULL STORY AMLO sees manipulation behind Yaqui blockades President López Obrador said Monday that “corrupt politicians” might be behind the ongoing protests of Yaqui indigenous people in Sonora. FULL STORY Yaquis continue highway and rail blockades in Sonora Indigenous Yaqui people continue to block a rail line and federal Highway 15 despite a federally-brokered agreement reached in late July. FULL STORY Soccer player accuses México state police of extortion Premier League soccer player Jair Peláez claims that police used extortion to force him to pay 10,000 pesos after a routine traffic stop. FULL STORY Mexico City borough chastised for confiscating 140 vendors’ tricycles Authorities in the wealthy Mexico City neighborhoods of Polanco and Granadas are taking heat on social media after they confiscated 140 tricycles belonging to street vendors and marked them for destruction — some still containing their wares. 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 From picture frames to hospitals, this entrepreneur still growing strong Javier de Lope, who began selling recyclables at the age of 7, has poured his energy into the creation of companies in various fields, then selling them when they hit their stride. FULL STORY Agua fresca, a simple fruit drink that is refreshing and delicious, especially on a hot summer day Tasty, refreshing and often surprising, these simple fruit drinks are a tried-and-true standby for living in a tropical climate, writes Janet Blaser. FULL STORY Oaxaca’s colectivos a great way to travel though not for the faint of heart Colectivos aren't for the faint of heart, writes Joseph Sorrentino, but they provide good transportation for people on a tight budget. FULL STORY OPINION Oaxaca junk food ban a good start in deconstructing candy culture A combination of decades-long complacency and a rising Covid death toll forced the government to take bold steps toward a healthier future, writes Jack Gooderidge. FULL STORY ADVERTISEMENT Newsletter options Some readers prefer to stay up to date with the three-times-weekly summary of Mexico news provided by Mexico News Today. For others, however, it's too infrequent. The alternative is The Whole Enchilada: it gives readers links to the same stories as Mexico News Today but they arrive in your inbox daily rather than three times a week. If a daily news fix is what you want, check out The Whole Enchilada here.