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

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

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