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☆ Mexico set to offer Vulcan $390 million to buy land to settle spat
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, July 27 (Reuters) - Mexico plans to offer 6.5 billion pesos ($390 million) to U.S. construction company Vulcan Materials for land it holds in the southeast of the country, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Thursday, in a bid to resolve an ongoing dispute. Since then, Vulcan has been unable to export its production and is demanding over $1.5 billion in compensation from the ICSID. "We did an appraisal (...) and it has a value of around 6,500 million Mexican pesos ($386.99 million)," he added, noting the intention to buy all the company's 2,400 hectares (5,930.5 acres) in the area. Lopez Obrador previously proposed the company convert its operation, in the Caribbean state of Quintana Roo, into a tourist development with a port for cruise ships. ($1 = 16.7677 Mexican pesos)Reporting by Diego Ore; Writing by Isabel Woodford; Editing by Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Vulcan, Esteban Moctezuma, Lopez Obrador, Quintana Roo, Diego Ore, Isabel Woodford, Richard Chang Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Vulcan, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, U.S, Caribbean, Quintana, United States

☆ Drug onslaught pushes violence to record levels in Costa Rica: Security Minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Alvaro Murillo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Costa Rica closed 2022 with a record 656 murders. In parts of Costa Rica, authorities are seeing violence synonymous with Mexican cartels like torture, gang killings, and assassinations carried out by highly trained hitmen. In May, Chaves named as security minister Zamora, who also held the post under the 2010-2014 presidency of Laura Chinchilla, and has a reputation for being tough on crime. Zamora said the situation was very different to when he was first security minister. The measures are due to be rolled out across Costa Rica by 2025.

Persons: We've, Mario Zamora, Costa, Rodrigo Chaves, Chaves, Zamora, Laura Chinchilla, Moin, Alvaro Murillo, Diego Ore, Sarah Kinosian, Stephen Coates Organizations: JOSE, Costa, Costa Rican Security, Reuters, Costa Ricans, Central American, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Colombia, Costa Rica, Costa Rican, Sinaloa, Central America, Europe, Costa Rica's, Limon, Costa

☆ Heat wave in Mexico leaves at least 100 dead, authorities say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Paramedics attend to a person during a day of high temperatures, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico June 27, 2023. A three-week-long heat wave this month strained the energy grid with record demand, forced authorities to suspend classes in some areas and left many Mexicans sweltering. Around 64% of the deaths occurred in northern state of Nuevo Leon bordering Texas. However, some northern cities are still seeing high temperatures. In the state of Sonora, the town of Aconchi saw highs of 49 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday.

Persons: Jose Luis Gonzalez, Diego Ore, Kylie Madry, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Jose Luis Gonzalez MEXICO CITY, Thomson Locations: Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Nuevo Leon, Texas, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Sonora, Aconchi

[1/10] People attend to cast their vote at a polling station during the first round of Guatemala's presidential election in Chinautla, Guatemala, June 25, 2023. She is up against more than 20 other candidates, including Edmond Mulet, a career diplomat, and Zury Rios, daughter of the late dictator Efrain Rios Montt. "All the young people right now will have a role in politics in Guatemala in 20 years time ... "(The next) four years won't allow time to undo how poorly managed the government has been for so many years," said Andres Nolasco, a 25-year-old accountant from Guatemala City. Reporting by Sofía Menchú in Guatemala City and Diego Oré in Mexico City; Writing by Isabel Woodford; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Chizu Nomiyama and Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sandra Torres, Edmond Mulet, Zury Rios, Efrain Rios Montt, Maximo Santacruz, Julio Valenzuela, Alejandro Giammattei, Carlos Pineda, Pineda, Carolina Jimenez, San Jose del Golfo, Irma Palencia, Andres Nolasco, Torres, Alvaro Colom, Sofía Menchú, Diego Oré, Isabel Woodford, Daniel Wallis, Chizu Nomiyama, Chris Reese Organizations: REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Young, European Union, Washington, Central American, Thomson Locations: Chinautla, Guatemala, Josue, GUATEMALA, United States, America, WOLA, San Jose, Guatemala City, Mexico City

☆ Mexico's ruling party to announce 2024 presidential candidate on Sept. 6
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Alfonso Durazo, President of the National Council of Mexico's ruling National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) party, announces the names of four aspiring candidates for the party's 2024 presidential candidacy, in Mexico City, Mexico June 11, 2023. REUTERS/Henry RomeroMEXICO CITY, June 11 (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's ruling National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) said on Sunday its candidate for the 2024 presidential election will be announced on Sept. 6. All those competing for the party's 2024 candidacy must step down from public office to campaign, MORENA resolved. That decision had been widely anticipated, and followed what party insiders said was a recommendation made by Lopez Obrador on Monday evening which aimed at keeping his movement united. Reporting by Diego Ore and Dave Graham; Writing by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Alfonso Durazo, Henry Romero MEXICO, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's, MORENA, Lopez Obrador, Diego Ore, Dave Graham, Carolina Pulice, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: National Council of, Regeneration, REUTERS, Henry Romero MEXICO CITY, Thomson Locations: National Council of Mexico's, Mexico City, Mexico, MORENA, Sonora

☆ Mexico arrests 16 soldiers involved in 'execution' of five men, ministry says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, June 10 (Reuters) - Mexico's defense ministry said on Saturday that the 16 military personnel allegedly involved in an "execution" have been arrested, after soldiers were filmed beating and then shooting five men. A military court on Thursday issued 16 arrest warrants against the military personnel involved for "crimes contrary to military discipline," the ministry said in a statement. The video shows the soldiers pulling five occupants from the vehicle with kicks and punches before pushing them against a wall. The troops then appear to take cover and shoot into the distance at unseen targets, before shooting the men. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said at a press conference earlier this week that the killings appeared to have been an "execution."

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Carolina Pulice, Diego Ore, Andrea Ricci Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Tamaulipas

☆ Mexico foreign minister's departure primed to spark more resignations
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Dave Graham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Interior Minister Adan Augusto Lopez also plans to resign next week to focus on his own presidential bid, two government sources told Reuters. If MORENA's board decides that on Sunday, then interior minister Lopez and Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, two other top contenders, would need to resign, Lopez Obrador said at a regular press conference. Lopez Obrador made the remark after observing that more contenders could follow Ebrard's lead in the next few days. Supporters of Ebrard argue his post does not allow him to focus as much on domestic issues as Sheinbaum and Lopez. Lopez Obrador did not immediately name a replacement for Ebrard, who is due to step down next Monday.

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Marcelo Ebrard, Ebrard, Lopez Obrador, Adan Augusto Lopez, Mario Delgado, Lopez, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, Ricardo Monreal, MORENA, Dave Graham, Diego Ore, Stefanie Eschenbacher, Matthew Lewis, David Gregorio, Grant McCool Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Foreign, Regeneration, Reuters, Mexico City Mayor, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Ebrard

Walmart de Mexico (Walmex) (WALMEX.MX) in April said it had bought Trafalgar, a payment app, to compete in a market dominated by Grupo Salinas' Baz, Oxxo's (FEMSAUBD.MX) Spin and MercadoPago of MercadoLibre (MELI.O). Executives at the Walmart unit expect the deal to "unlock Cashi's potential," starting with transfers, withdrawals and remittances while keeping open the option of loans and other financial services in the future. "We want to be the best financial services application in Mexico, and that requires constant investment," Marcelino Herrera, Walmex senior vice president of financial services, told Reuters. Walmart plans over $15 billion in capital expenditures for automation and alternate revenue streams in 2023, including its ad business, third-party marketplace, and deliveries. SYNERGIESWalmart has not defined fintech as a top investment priority but has poured money into it over the past year.

☆ Taiwan strengthens ties with Guatemala following Honduras rupture
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen walks with her Guatemalan counterpart Alejandro Giammattei, during her visit at Chimaltenango hospital in Chimaltenango, Guatemala, in this photo released on April 2, 2023. Guatemala Presidency/Handout via REUTERSGUATEMALA CITY, April 2 (Reuters) - Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen completed a three-day trip to Guatemala on Sunday where she offered more cooperation with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei's government, one of Taiwan's few allies in the world. Tsai's tour, which will take her to Belize on Sunday afternoon, comes a week after Honduras severed diplomatic relations with Taipei in favor of Beijing. China refuses to allow other countries to maintain diplomatic relations with both at the same time. While visiting Guatemala, Tsai signed a $4 million agreement to modernize rural areas and promised to promote and increase cooperation between the two countries.

☆ Mexico makes lots of electric cars, but few Mexicans drive them
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Aida Pelaez-Fernandez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, BMW and Volkswagen's Audi unit also are producing EVs in Mexico, or plan to. "There are still a number of issues that need resolving in Mexico before there's a massive influx of electric cars," said Mario Hernandez, KPMG's lead manufacturing partner in Mexico. Hernandez said drawbacks included a lack of subsidies for buyers, high costs for installing charging devices at homes and a shortage of public charging stations, vital for longer journeys. Mexico has about 1,100 charging stations nationwide, mostly in the capital and other major cities, according to AMIA. Pedro Corral, director of operations for EV charging stations platform Evergo, drives his all-electric i3 BMW around Mexico City.

☆ US firm says Mexican authorities illegally seized its port terminal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Sarah Morland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A sign reading "Closure" hangs on a fence at the entrance of the limestone mining by Vulcan Materials in Calica, in Quintana Roo state, Mexico May 6, 2022. Mexico's government on Friday ordered a halt to Vulcan Materials, a producer of gravel and crushed stone, citing environmental concerns and provoking the U.S.-based firm to say it will take legal action to restart operations in Playa del Carmen. REUTERS/Paola ChiomanteMEXICO CITY, March 20 (Reuters) - U.S. construction materials company Vulcan Materials (VMC.N) said on Monday Mexican security forces illegally took possession last week of its port terminal in southern Mexico, amid an extended lawsuit over its nearby limestone mining activities. It follows a 5-year fight with the Mexican government over Vulcan's concessions punctuated by sharp criticism from the country's president last year. Vulcan declined to say how last week's action was illegal or who is currently in control of its terminal.

The local unit of Canada's Xebra Brands (XBRA.CD) is the first company to obtain permits to cultivate, process, produce and market cannabis in Mexico, according to a statement from the firm. In its statement, Xebra Brands said it faces no restrictions where it can grow cannabis in Mexico, the size of cultivation facilities or processing volumes. "This represents an important moment for cannabis globally," Xebra Brands CEO Jay Garnett said in the statement. In an interview with Reuters in late 2021, the firm's former president said regulatory authorizations would position Mexico as the industry's most important North American player. Xebra Brands added it is actively looking for farm land and a site to build an extraction facility to produce CBD-rich hemp derivatives.

☆ Mexico, Tesla near deal on investment after president's phone call- sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lopez Obrador earlier revealed he would be talking to the "owner" of Tesla, which officials confirmed meant Musk. "The call went really well," a third Mexican official said. A fourth Mexican official said details of an agreement between Mexico and Tesla would be revealed on Tuesday. Mexico's government has also said the firm is considering investing near a new Mexico City airport. Reporting by Dave Graham and Diego Ore in Mexico City Editing by Brendan O'Boyle and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Mexican president speaks to Tesla's Musk, investment in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lopez Obrador mentioned the call as he was finishing a regular morning news conference, without explaining precisely if he meant Musk, who is the company's largest shareholder. Two Mexican officials confirmed the president was referring to Musk. One of them said details of the call would be given on Tuesday, echoing remarks made by Lopez Obrador. After Monday's call, one of the officials said Nuevo Leon was still in the running, and that the Mexican government and Tesla were "90 percent" of the way toward reaching agreement. Reporting by Dave Graham and Diego Ore; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Mexican president to speak to Tesla's Musk on Monday morning
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Tesla Inc FollowMEXICO CITY, Feb 27 (Reuters) - President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is holding a call on Monday morning with Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Elon Musk, two officials said, after the Mexican leader revealed he would be talking to the "owner" of the electric vehicle maker. Lopez Obrador made his remark as he was finishing a regular morning news conference, without explaining precisely if he meant Musk, who is the company's largest shareholder. Two Mexican officials later confirmed the president was referring to Musk. Those comments marked the strongest sign yet that the president's concerns over water supply could become a deal-breaker for Tesla's plans near the U.S.-Mexico border. Reporting by Dave Graham and Diego Ore; Editing by Brendan O'BoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 'Playing with fire': Mass protest planned against Mexico electoral overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MEXICO CITY, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Mexico's opposition plans a mass protest on Sunday against President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's drive to shrink the independent electoral authority, arguing the changes threaten democracy - an accusation he vigorously denies. Mexico's Congress last week approved a major overhaul of the National Electoral Institute (INE), which Lopez Obrador has repeatedly attacked as corrupt and inefficient. According to the INE, the president's overhaul violates the constitution, curbs the institute's independence and eliminates thousands of jobs dedicated to safeguarding the electoral process, making it harder to hold free and fair elections. This week he called the INE "anti-democratic" and a tool of the ruling elite, accusing it of fomenting electoral fraud. Critics of the INE overhaul argue Lopez Obrador is not confident MORENA can retain power without interference in the electoral process.

☆ Pemex hit by fires at three facilities in one day
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Emergency services work as smoke rises following a pipeline explosion at the facilities of state-owned oil company Pemex, according to local authorities, in Ixhuatlan del Sureste, Veracruz state, Mexico, February 23, 2023 in this still image taken from video obtained from social media. Samy Rodriguez/Perfil Regional/via REUTERSCompanies Petroleos Mexicanos FollowMEXICO CITY, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Three fires broke out on Thursday at different facilities in Mexico and the United States operated by state-owned Mexican oil company Pemex, leaving five missing and eight others injured as of Thursday evening. Pemex confirmed in a later statement on Thursday evening that a separate fire at its Minatitlan refinery, also in Veracruz, was under control after injuring five people. A third fire was also reported Thursday by a community alert at a unit at Pemex's Deer Park, Texas, oil refinery. Earlier this week, at least two people died after a vehicle collision inside a Pemex refinery in the Mexican state of Hidalgo, according to local media reports.

☆ Mexico passes electoral overhaul that critics warn weakens democracy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Mexican lawmakers on Wednesday approved a controversial overhaul of the body overseeing the country's elections, a move critics warn will weaken democracy ahead of a presidential vote next year. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador argues the reorganization will save $150 million a year and reduce the influence of economic interests in politics. The Senate approved the reform, which still needs to be signed into law by Lopez Obrador, 72 to 50. The INE has played an important role in the shift to multi-party democracy since Mexico left federal one-party rule in 2000. Lopez Obrador has repeatedly attacked the electoral agency, saying voter fraud robbed him of victory in the 2006 presidential election.

Hidalgo, just outside Mexico City, is hundreds of miles from the border yet land and labor costs are lower. The United States and Canada have formally entered a trade dispute over Mexico's energy policy. It remains unclear exactly what Tesla's investment in Mexico will look like and what the company plans to produce in the country. Yet Mexico's capacity for a nearshoring boom has been held back by Lopez Obrador, particularly his energy policies, analysts said. Reporting by Diego Ore and Daina Beth Solomonin Mexico City Additional reporting by Kylie Madry in Mexico City Editing by Stephen Eisenhammer and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Colombian military spots balloon-like object in its airspace
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 5 (Reuters) - A day before a U.S. military jet shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon, Colombia's military confirmed a sighting over its territory of an airborne object similar to a balloon. U.S. military officials on Friday said a Chinese balloon was spotted somewhere over Latin America but did not specify its location. The Colombian statement did not mention China or any other country as the balloon's origin. The statement added that the object exhibited "characteristics similar to those of a balloon," and that the air force monitored it until it left Colombian airspace. The saga of the Chinese balloon, downed off of the U.S. Atlantic coast on Saturday, captivated public attention for days, and was widely seen as worsening U.S.-China relations.

☆ At least 24 dead in Chile as wildfires expand; foreign help on the way
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Fabian Cambero | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

International help was set to arrive on Sunday from a handful of countries that have pledged resources, including planes and expert firefighting teams, as the most intense wildfires torched forests and farmland clustered around three regions near the middle of the South American country's long Pacific coastline. The government of President Gabriel Boric has issued emergency declarations for the largely rural southern regions of Biobio, Nuble and Araucania in an effort to speed relief. The fires have consumed some 270,000 hectares, officials said on Sunday, or an area roughly the size of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Some 260 fires are active across the parched region, interior ministry officials said on Sunday, with 28 of them considered especially dangerous. Chilean officials have sought international assistance to battle the fires, with new ones sparking to life each day.

☆ Colombia confirms possible balloon in its airspace
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 5 (Reuters) - A day before a U.S. military jet shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the country's Atlantic Coast on Saturday, Colombia's military confirmed a sighting of an airborne object similar to a balloon flying over its territory. Colombia's air force issued a statement on Saturday providing limited details concerning a possible balloon its air defense system had located Friday morning. U.S. military officials on Friday said another Chinese balloon was spotted somewhere over Latin America but did not specify its location. The statement added that the object exhibited "characteristics similar to those of a balloon," and that the air force monitored it until if left the country's airspace. The saga of the downed Chinese spy balloon off the U.S. coast captivated public attention for days, and was widely seen as worsening U.S.-Chinese relations.

☆ A Mexico soccer icon entered politics. Prosecutors say narcos followed
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Cuernavaca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +27 min

Regional politicians, officials and military officers gathered in the Morelos state capital of Cuernavaca for breakfast in February 2022 to mark Mexico’s annual Army day. Mexican drug lords have a long tradition of buying off politicians in exchange for government protection of their illicit trade. Attempts to reach two of the alleged drug traffickers in the photo – Figueroa and Irving Solano Vera – were unsuccessful. Prosecutors in April asked the Morelos state congress to impeach Blanco so that he could be stripped of that shield. “He likes me very much because I’m not a politician,” Blanco told Reuters, in reference to the president.

MEXICO CITY, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Electric carmaker Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) is considering setting up an assembly plant near a new Mexico City airport, which would serve as an export hub for the firm, Mexican presidential spokesman Jesus Ramirez said. "Tesla will invest there ... in an assembly plant, to export directly by air," Ramirez told the newspaper. Separately, a Mexican official told Reuters that Tesla had been shown the site, but had given no indication of its plans. Ramirez told El Heraldo de Mexico that Tesla was aiming to invest in the T-MexPark, a major industrial park being built close to the Felipe Angeles airport. Reporting by Diego Ore; Editing by David Gregorio Additional reporting by Raul Cortes Fernandez and Dave Graham in Mexico City, and Hyunjoo Jin in San FranciscoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Mexico arrests capo Ovidio Guzman, son of "El Chapo" - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

MEXICO CITY, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Mexican capo Ovidio Guzman, the son of incarcerated kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, has been arrested by Mexican authorities, four officials familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. Ovidio was briefly detained in the northern state of Sinaloa in October 2019 by security forces, but then quickly released to avoid violent retribution from his drug gang. Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz, Dave Graham and Diego Ore; Writing by Kylie MadryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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