Mexico News Today Monday, August 24, 2020

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020

As deaths reach 60,000, health officials say virus numbers are declining—but so is testing The number of Covid-19 tests being performed each day has consistently trended downwards in recent weeks from 10 per 100,000 inhabitants to as low as 3. FULL STORY ‘Excessive fine’ imposed against newsmagazine critical of AMLO government The government has fined Nexos for an irregularity in some paperwork but several critics and the magazine itself see it as an attempt at intimidation. FULL STORY Share this email and introduce friends to Mexico News Daily Forward

Mexico shaping up as one of worst health and economic casualties of virus Mexico surpassed its “catastrophic” worst-case scenario of 60,000 Covid-19 deaths on Saturday and while the government continues to be upbeat, some observers say it's not over yet. FULL STORY Mexico City remains at orange virus risk level but theaters allowed to reopen The city will remain at the high-risk level for the coronavirus for the ninth straight week, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum announced. But conditions are holding steady and some restrictions will be eased. FULL STORY 47-day-old baby recovers after contracting Covid-19 A baby girl born in Chiapas with Covid-19 transmitted by her mother is safe and sound at home after a 47-day battle for her life. FULL STORY Tabasco restaurant serving traditional cuisine among world’s top 20 A restaurant specializing in pre-Hispanic cuisine has made it onto the list of the top 20, compiled by Travel + Leisure and Food and Wine. FULL STORY IKEA supplier set to build manufacturing plant Upon completion in the second quarter of 2021, the mattress and sofa factory is expected to provide 2,000 new jobs in Coahuila. FULL STORY THE MND POLL THE STORY: Municipal council in Hidalgo decides kids shouldn’t be barred from bullfights FULL STORY THE QUESTION: Should children be permitted to attend bullfights and cockfights? VOTE HERE LAST POLL: Do you support banning the use of the herbicide glyphosate? 80% said yes. VIEW FULL RESULTS 24 billion pesos disappeared from Federal Police coffers Former commanders diverted money that was to have been used to pay for officers' travel expenses and bonuses among other operational costs. FULL STORY WHO  says scale of pandemic 'under-recognized’ The magnitude of the Covid-19 epidemic in Mexico is being underestimated, warns the World Health Organization, and one of the main reasons is the lack of testing. FULL STORY ADVERTISEMENT Electricity commission has ‘abandoned’ Baja California, governor charges Jaime Bonilla has accused the CFE of abandoning the state as it seeks a solution to its energy crisis with a new solar plant. FULL STORY Electricity shortage triggers appeal to cut consumption A growing deficit of electricity in Baja California is affecting the water supply to 60 neighborhoods in Tijuana and requiring 15 companies to operate at reduced capacity during the summer months. FULL STORY Classes by TV not an option for many communities More than 30 million students across Mexico were scheduled to return to school by attending virtual classes on Monday but not all of them have access to the technology they need to study remotely amid the coronavirus pandemic. FULL STORY Project links donors with students needing computers "Laptops With A Cause” distributes donated computers to students who don't have one. So far, organizers have received applications from 4,700 people looking for a computer, and 300 have donated one. FULL STORY

MEXICO LIFE Chocolate: a gift from Quetzalcóatl to Mexico and the world Tabasco, which produces 66% of Mexico's cacao, may be the best place to visit and see how it is grown and processed, writes Leigh Thelmadatter. Its Chocolate Route connects traditional haciendas that open their doors to visitors.. FULL STORY Because some like it hot: jalapeños add kick to everything they touch The secret to the popularity of jalapeños may lie in their hot but tolerable (and often irresistible) chile pepper kick, writes Janet Blaser, who says the pepper can be added to a smorgasbord of dishes. FULL STORY

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