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☆ Analysis: Capture of El Chapo's son gilds Mexican president's patchy record on crime
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Dave Graham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The arrest of Ovidio Guzman, son of captured kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, was a timely reversal of fortune for Lopez Obrador. However, the arrest, one of just a handful of major scalps Lopez Obrador has claimed, is unlikely to herald a major sea change in the battle on organized crime unless the government is more aggressive about going after gangs, analysts said. Lopez Obrador took office in 2018 vowing to get a grip on gang violence. And while Lopez Obrador is popular, his record on combating crime has consistently been viewed critically by voters. GOODWILLLopez Obrador's attitude to the Sinaloa Cartel has stirred up misgivings, particularly when he decided to greet El Chapo's mother on a trip to Sinaloa in 2020.

☆ At least 29 killed during Mexico capture of El Chapo's son
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mexican security forces on Thursday captured Guzman, a son of jailed kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Members of the Sinaloa Cartel and their associates went on a rampage, fighting security forces, setting vehicles on fire and blocking roads across the Pacific coastal state. Ovidio Guzman, 32, was arrested in the early hours of Thursday, prompting a shootout with gang members, Sandoval said. Guzman was then extracted by helicopter from the house where he was caught and flown to Mexico City, the minister added. Ovidio's latest capture comes before a North American leaders' summit in Mexico City next week, which U.S. President Joe Biden will attend.

☆ Mexican govt inks deal to buy Mexicana airline brand for $42 mln, union says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Kylie Madry | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said the government intends to use Mexicana to launch a military-run commercial airline. In December, Lopez Obrador said the airline was set to launch operations in 2023. The payment will be divided between pilots' union ASPA, flight attendants' union ASSA, ex-aviation workers' union AJTEAM and transportation workers' union SNTTTASS proportionally by a percentage of what was owed when Mexicana shuttered, Alonso said. The deal was reached Friday between Mexico's transportation ministry and the unions with supervision from the labor ministry, Alonso added. The push to operate the military carrier comes as Lopez Obrador has expressed his discontent with the country's airlines.

☆ Explainer: Why the U.S.-Mexico energy spat is a tough nut to crack
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Isabel Woodford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Under USMCA, if the controversy is not resolved during consultations, a dispute panel can be called to adjudicate. Lopez Obrador has put on a bullish front, saying Mexico has broken no laws and that "nothing is going to happen." Resolution appears to hinge on whether energy nationalists inside the Mexican administration, who have taken their cues from Lopez Obrador, are prepared to compromise. Lopez Obrador has made energy policy a cornerstone of his presidency, making it hard for him to back down. Still, the spat has hit investor confidence in Mexico, and Lopez Obrador is seeking U.S. help to finance solar power output in northern Mexico and attract investment in greener manufacturing, particularly in carmaking, a key industry.

☆ Exclusive: Canada seeks progress in dispute over Mexican energy policies at summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OTTAWA, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Canada and the United States are going to argue at a North American leaders' summit next week that resolving a dispute over measures that favor Mexican energy companies would help draw more foreign investment to Mexico, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday. Asked if he hoped to make progress at the summit in Mexico City, Trudeau said: "Absolutely". The United States and Canada entered into dispute settlement talks last year with Mexico under a North American trade deal, known as the USMCA, charging that Mexican energy policies were discriminatory and undermine international firms. Trudeau will arrive in Mexico City on Monday for a three-day visit, which will include bilateral meetings with both Biden and Lopez Obrador. The United States and Canada are challenging amendments to Mexican legislation that prioritize distribution of CFE-generated power over cleaner sources of energy provided by private-sector suppliers, such as wind and solar.

Mexican security forces captured Guzman, the 32-year-old son of jailed kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, in the early hours of Thursday morning, prompting hours of unrest and shootouts with gang members, the minister said. THE EXTRADITION QUESTIONThe United States has sought Guzman's extradition for years. Guzman, known by the nickname "The Mouse," has been charged in the United States with conspiracy to traffic cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana into the United States. Surging flows of the synthetic opioid fentanyl into the United States, where it has fueled record overdose deaths, have heightened pressure to capture Guzman. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration considers the Sinaloa Cartel, along with one other gang, to be responsible for most of the fentanyl inside the United Sates.

☆ Why is Ovidio Guzmán one of Mexico’s most wanted men?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

MEXICO CITY — Mexican security forces on Thursday arrested cartel leader Ovidio Guzmán, son of incarcerated kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, the country’s defense minister said. Guzmán, known by nickname as “The Mouse,” became a high-level leader in the Sinaloa Cartel after his father’s arrest in 2016 and extradition in 2017. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador months later said he personally ordered Guzmán’s release to protect the population. While López Obrador took office in 2018 promising to trade a hard-on-crime security approach for one that tackles the root causes of violence, homicides are near record levels. Guzmán’s arrest Thursday could signal the government is willing and able to stand up to them.

WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - The United States plans to accept up to 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela under a program paired with expulsions of people from those countries caught at the U.S.-Mexico border, U.S. and Mexican officials said. He said earlier in the day that he intended to visit the southwest border but that details were still being finalized. "I'm going to be making a speech tomorrow on border security, and you'll hear more about it tomorrow." Biden, who took office in January 2021, has struggled operationally and politically with record numbers of migrants caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, and migration is expected to be on the agenda at the meeting. Republicans have criticized what they say are lenient border security policies, while Biden officials say they are trying to create a more orderly and humane system.

☆ Mexico nabs son of drug lord 'El Chapo' before Biden visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval said Army and National Guard personnel had captured a son of "El Chapo." Ovidio Guzmán, nicknamed "the Mouse," had not been one of El Chapo's better-known sons until an aborted operation to capture him three years ago. "This is a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel and major victory for the rule of law. A burning truck is seen across a street during an operation to arrest the son of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, Ovidio Guzman, in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on January 5, 2023. Marcos Vizcarra | AFP | Getty ImagesVigil said that Ovidio Guzmán was involved in all of the cartel's activities, especially the production of fentanyl.

☆ Top U.S. and Canada officials to attend Mexico summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, Jan 5 (Reuters) - A host of top cabinet officials from the United States and Canada will take part in a North American Leaders' Summit in Mexico City next week, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Thursday. U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visit Mexico City early next week for meetings that will encompass climate change, competitiveness, immigration, security and equity, Ebrard said. The summit will be the first in person encounter between the three leaders since late 2021. Biden and Lopez Obrador would meet for private talks on Monday afternoon, after which high level meetings would take place between Mexican and U.S. officials, Ebrard told a news conference alongside the Mexican president. On Tuesday, a trilateral meeting between Biden, Trudeau and Lopez Obrador would take place, as well as a working lunch for the government delegations.

[1/6] Burning vehicles are seen blocking a road after drug lord Ovidio Guzman's capture, in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico January 5, 2023. Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval told a news conference that security forces had captured the 32-year-old senior member of the Sinaloa Cartel. Ovidio, a fugitive since the previous arrest attempt, was now being held in the capital Mexico City, Sandoval said. The city's airport was caught up in the violence, with Mexican airline Aeromexico (AEROMEX.MX) saying one of its planes had been hit by gunfire ahead of a scheduled flight to Mexico City. "It's very important the government bear in mind that the weakening of the Sinaloa Cartel may also bring about an even greater expansion, a greater presence of the Jalisco Cartel."

☆ Explainer: Why Ovidio Guzman is one of Mexico's most wanted men
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Brendan O'Boyle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Raquel CunhaMEXICO CITY, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Mexican security forces on Thursday arrested cartel leader Ovidio Guzman, son of incarcerated kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the country's defense minister said. Guzman's detention in Culiacan, the capital of the northwestern state of Sinaloa, the heartland of Mexico's drug trade, follows his short-lived detention in 2019. Guzman, known by nickname "The Mouse," became a high-level leader in the Sinaloa Cartel after his father's arrest in 2016 and extradition in 2017. WHAT DOES GUZMAN'S ARREST MEAN FOR THE GOVERNMENT? Guzman's arrest Thursday could signal the government is willing and able to stand up to them.

MEXICO CITY, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Mexican drug cartel leader Ovidio Guzman, a son of incarcerated kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, has been arrested by Mexican authorities, five officials familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. The United States had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Ovidio. Local government urged people to stay indoors and said schools and administrative offices were closed due to the violence. "We ask the citizens of Culiacan not to leave home due to the blockades that have occurred in different parts of the city," Culiacan Mayor Juan de Dios Gamez wrote on Twitter. Joaquin Guzman, 65, was convicted in New York in 2019 of trafficking billions of dollars of drugs to the United States and conspiring to murder enemies.

☆ Biden Considers Visit to U.S.-Mexico Border
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Tarini Parti | Annie Linskey | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—The White House is strongly considering adding a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border to President Biden’s trip to Mexico City next week, according to people familiar with the discussions. Mr. Biden is expected to meet Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Mexico City for the North American Leaders’ Summit on Jan. 9-10. A final decision hasn’t yet been made on whether Mr. Biden would make what would be his first visit to the border as president as part of the trip, the people said. One of the people said there would be no new policy announcement at the event if it occurs.

☆ Childhood photos of Prince Harry
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Jeremy Schultz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Parts of Mexico's remote southern jungles have barely changed since the time of the ancient Maya. In the eyes of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the Tren Maya railway will bring modern connectivity to areas for generations deprived of significant economic benefits. But the hasty railway construction critically endanger pristine wilderness and ancient cave systems beneath the jungle floor.

☆ Inside the battle for Ukraine: Scenes from the frontlines
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Jeremy Schultz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Fresh tech unveiled at CES
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Jeremy Schultz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Mexico's Mayan Train a threat to ancient areas, scientists warn
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

MEXICO CITY — Parts of Mexico’s remote southern jungles have barely changed since the time of the ancient Maya. But the railway and its hasty construction also critically endanger pristine wilderness and ancient cave systems beneath the jungle floor, droves of scientists and environmental activists say. Construction costs are seen at up to $20 billion, López Obrador said in July. “The Mayan Train project is of course safe, monitored and regulated by the environmental authorities as has happened up to now,” the agency told Reuters. A spokesman for López Obrador did not respond to a request for comment.

Biden told reporters at the White House on Wednesday after a visit to Kentucky that he wants to see "peace and security" at the border. He said earlier in the day that he intended to visit the southwest border but that details were still being finalized. "I'm going to see what's going on," Biden said of the border trip. "I'm going to be making a speech tomorrow on border security, and you'll hear more about it tomorrow." Republicans have criticized what they say are lenient border security policies, while Biden officials say they are trying to create a more orderly and humane system.

☆ Mexico elects first female Supreme Court president
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A screen shows the ceremony in which Norma Lucia Pina prepares to take the oath as president of the Supreme Court of Justice while speaking on a television screen in the press room of the Supreme Court building in Mexico City, Mexico January 2, 2023.REUTERS/Henry RomeroMEXICO CITY, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Mexico's Supreme Court on Monday elected its first female president, who has pushed back against the government's nationalist energy agenda, amid a succession process clouded by allegations of plagiarism against another justice competing for the job. By a 6-5 majority vote, the justices chose Norma Pina to head Mexico's highest court, putting in place a member appointed to the tribunal under the previous administration. Esquivel vehemently denied the accusation, which triggered an investigation by her alma mater, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). His electricity bill ended up at the Supreme Court, and Pina cited Mexico's constitutional obligation to cut its carbon footprint in voting down sections of the law, including one that gave priority to CFE in connecting power plants to the grid. Reporting by Dave Graham; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Analysis: Is the party over? Mexico's peso could lose solid gains in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Noe Torres | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Mexico's peso, which is ending 2022 with one of its strongest performances in a decade, could have its gains wiped out in 2023 after an expected end to the Bank of Mexico's rate hikes cycle and a possible recession in top trade partner the United States. "The carry trade, the phenomenon that has benefited (the peso) this year, will likely dissipate a bit," said CI Banco analyst James Salazar. The carry trade refers to a trading strategy of taking advantage of yield differences between Mexico and other economies. Traders at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, considered a bellwether of market sentiment, have started to bet the peso will begin depreciating. Reporting by Noe Torres; Writing by Anthony Esposito; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Thriving network of fixers preys on migrants crossing Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +23 min

With soaring numbers of people entering Mexico, a sprawling network of lawyers, fixers and middlemen has exploded in the country. Detained migrants stand in the outdoor area of the Siglo XXI Migrant Detention Center in Tapachula, Mexico, on Oct. 4. When the immigration agency was asked directly, via freedom of information requests, it said it was just one. An empanada vendor's stall advertises information, and immigration documents outside the main immigration office in Puebla, Mexico, on Sept. 23. By mid-December, the immigration agency suddenly announced the closing of the camp with no explanation.

☆ In Mexico, legal struggle to free women jailed for abortion continues
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

MEXICO CITY — About 200 women are still in prison in Mexico under outdated anti-abortion state laws even though the Supreme Court decriminalized abortion last year, advocates said. García Cruceño grew up in a Nahua indigenous community in one of the poorest mountain regions of Guerrero state. “I was very sad, with a lot anxiety,” García Cruceño said. That night, a judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to continue holding García Cruceño. “It feels strange,” García Cruceño said.

☆ Mexico's newest oil refinery now seen working at half capacity in mid-2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Adriana Barrera | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Olmeca oil refinery, being built next to the Dos Bocas port, is set to be Pemex's eighth when it comes on line. It is key to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's plan to make the country self-sufficient in gasoline and diesel, ending longstanding heavy dependence on imports, mainly from U.S. refiners. By September 15, the day before Mexican Independence Day, it would process its full capacity of 340,000 bpd and yield 280,000 bpd of gasoline and diesel, Lopez Obrador said, posting on Twitter. The Olmeca refinery has been one of the leftist president's signature public works projects since he took office in late 2018. Reporting by Adriana Barrera; Writing by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Bradley PerrettOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Investors have for years considered Pemex a laggard as rivals worldwide moved to dramatically decrease emissions from energy production and consumption over climate change concerns. In its updated business plan for 2023 to 2027, Pemex said its environmental, social and governance (ESG) record risked hurting its financing. "Limitations from ESG financing" are posing a threat, as is the "acceleration in energy transition that is decreasing the market for Pemex's crude oil and products," the company said. Further weaknesses are "important gaps in reaching net-zero-emissions" and operational challenges, particularly in gas exploration and production. "Pemex has to make significant efforts if it intends to access financing," said Gonzalez.

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