Malfunctions by two escalators in the Mexico City subway system injured at least 10 people over the last month, prompting the city government to shut down over 70 so they can be inspected.
The injuries occurred after mechanical problems caused them to stop suddenly.
Yesterday, the transit operator said 90 escalators in 12 stations are being checked, and that while 16 of those are now fully operational the remainder will be shut down until they are deemed safe to operate, a process that could take until next week.
Line 7 is the most affected, with escalators in 10 of its 14 stations not operating. Two more stations are affected on Lines 3 and 8.
Metro officials said the mechanical malfunctions were due to the age of the escalators and a lack of maintenance.
The Mexico City Metro has about 468 escalators, which the manufacturer says should last for about 25 years. One of the escalators that malfunctioned was installed 33 years ago.
A war between rival drug and fuel theft cartels is believed to be responsible for the deaths of seven people in Puebla Sunday night, including a gang leader.
Authorities found the bodies of two men and one woman inside black plastic bags in a neighborhood in the north of Puebla city at around 9:30pm after receiving a tip-off from residents. Later that night, the bodies of four men were found in a neighborhood in the east of the city.
Among the latter was the body of Ángel Villegas, the leader of the Villegas criminal gang from the town of San Martín Texmelucan. Also known as “El Pelón” (Baldy), Villegas was arrested last year but later released.
Preliminary investigations indicate that all seven deaths are linked to a dispute between Los Villegas and another gang that also operates in San Martín, located around 40 kilometers northwest of Puebla city.
An eighth body was also found in the state capital Sunday night but the man’s death is believed to be the result of an incident that is unrelated to the cartel war.
The news website Periódico Central said that that a gang, which it didn’t name, began an offensive against Los Villegas last week.
Last Wednesday, a family of six – including three children – were wounded in an attack at a used-car lot in Santa Rita Tlahuapan, a municipality that borders San Martín.
Armed men subsequently set the car lot on fire and left a narco-banner threatening “El Pelón” Villegas.
According to Periódico Central, the Villegas gang has ties to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and was protected by the previous municipal government in San Martín Texmelucan, known as Mexico’s capitalhuachicolera, or fuel-theft capital.
The gang is believed to be behind the violence that has plagued San Martín for the past two years.
Slim, left, and Salinas both offered a positive assessment of the first 100 days.
The private sector expressed confidence in the federal government yesterday after President López Obrador outlined the achievements of his first 100 days in office in a self-congratulatory report.
“It was a very good report. We’re very surprised about everything that has been achieved in 100 days, it’s incredible,” said Ricardo Salinas Pliego, founder and chairman of the conglomerate Grupo Salinas.
Salinas described López Obrador as a “natural-born leader” and said the outlook for this year is positive.
Carlos Salazar Lomelín, the new president of the influential Business Coordinating Council (CCE), said that despite signs and warnings of a slowing economy, there is confidence within the private sector that the government will stimulate growth through initiatives outlined by López Obrador yesterday, such as actions against corruption and the construction of infrastructure projects.
“There is faith that with these actions, the [growth] numbers can recover and we can have a much better performance, even starting from this year,” he said.
Salazar qualified his statement, however, by saying that “it is too early to judge” the performance of the government in a comprehensive way and to predict how successful its policy initiatives will be.
“We have to have a little bit of patience, see what happens . . . [There are] huge expectations, which is reflected in the country’s [consumer] confidence index and I believe that is a good start. What interests the business community the most is that the climate of confidence continues in order to have greater . . . investment and for that to bring about . . . the growth we all want,” he said.
Antonio del Valle Perochena, president of the Mexican Business Council (CMN) – an elite group made up of 60 of the largest businesses in the country – described López Obrador’s report as conciliatory and positive for the country.
“He announced a lot of investment, which is very positive. We have to concentrate on the new infrastructure projects which I believe are very positive,” he said.
Francisco Cervantes Díaz, president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin), said that the private sector has confidence in López Obrador, while José Manuel López Campos of the Confederation of Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco) described the president’s report as “balanced” while acknowledging that 100 days is a very limited time within which to implement the changes the country needs.
Mexico’s richest man, Grupo Carso chairman Carlos Slim, also recognized that only so much can be achieved in such a short period but gave a positive overall assessment of the government’s performance to date.
The audience applauds yesterday during the president’s 100-day report.
Interviewed at the National Palace after López Obrador delivered his report, Slim said that he wasn’t at all concerned about the direction the López Obrador administration is taking or the prevailing economic conditions in the country despite a warning from credit rating Standard & Poor’s that Mexico’s sovereign rating could be downgraded during the coming year.
“I wouldn’t worry about anything. Inflation is coming down, there is greater austerity, sobriety . . . The important thing is that there is a reasonable budget that is being met . . . There is budgetary discipline and the maintenance of macroeconomic balances is working, we’re doing very well, there is no concern,” he said.
The businessman contended that cuts to growth forecasts were not unusual at the start of a new government, and expressed confidence that reaching the 4% economic growth targeted by López Obrador is possible.
“Growth from 1933 to 1982 was 6.2% so of course we can get to 4%. All that’s needed is investment, economic activity, job creation and an improvement to people’s incomes,” Slim said.
He also expressed support for the government’s crackdown on corruption and fuel theft and its plans to combat insecurity, which includes the creation of a national guard.
Sinaloa Governor Quirino Ordaz Coppel said there are high expectations for the new security force, whose creation has been ratified by a majority of state legislatures.
“I believe that it [the national guard] is necessary. The objective of everyone is to reduce insecurity rates . . .” he said.
However, Michoacán Governor Silvano Aureoles expressed skepticism that the national guard will achieve the quick results the federal government is seeking, adding that state and municipal police officers should also be included in the security force in order to bolster its numbers.
He said that combatting insecurity and growing the economy are the two biggest challenges faced by the federal government but praised its efforts to date on reducing fuel theft, an achievement López Obrador highlighted in his report.
Adán Augusto López Hernández, governor of the president’s home state of Tabasco, gave a positive appraisal of López Obrador’s first 100 days in office, emphasizing that there are high expectations for the Maya Train and new oil refinery projects.
One of six of the new planes in the Aeroméxico fleet.
After the deadly crash that killed all 157 people aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight just minutes after takeoff Sunday from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aeroméxico is the latest airline to ground its Boeing 737 MAX planes.
The aircraft was the second new Boeing 737 MAX to crash in five months. The first was Lion Air Flight 610, which also crashed just minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 189 people aboard.
Aeroméxico announced that it will temporarily take all six of its Boeing 737 MAX planes out of service pending more information about what caused Sunday’s crash.
The airline said in a statement that it has used the aircraft to fly to destinations including Lima, Bogotá and Monterrey during the past year. But for the time being all flights previously serviced by the new model will be covered using other planes in Aeroméxico’s fleet.
The company said it will remain in contact with the manufacturer and corresponding authorities until the investigation into the latest crash is concluded.
Boeing has delivered 330 of the new planes and has orders for more than 5,000 more.
Aviation authorities in at least 10 countries, including China and Britain, have grounded the planes.
IMSS bought supplies from a company linked to the health agency's board.
The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) purchased medications worth more than half a billion pesos between 2015 and 2018 from a company owned by the son of one of its board members, according to an anti-graft group.
Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity (MCCI) said it obtained documents that show that the pharmaceutical company Marzam received contracts in that period for more than 526 million pesos (US $27.1 million at today’s exchange rate).
Luis Doporto Alejandre, son of Héctor Doporto Ramírez, purchased Marzam in 2015.
For the next three years, the company’s sales to IMSS, which operates public hospitals and health care clinics, were more than five times greater than its sales to the same government organization in the much longer period between 2002 and 2014.
Héctor Doporto has sat on the IMSS board since 2010.
MCCI said in its investigation report that as the value of Marzam’s contracts with IMSS multiplied, the company was under investigation by federal authorities for financial crimes.
Luis Doporto Alejandre told MCCI that although his father sat on the IMMS board, he was a substitute rather than a permanent member and never involved in purchasing processes, “least of all for medications and dressing materials.”
The president presents a 100-day report in the National Palace. el universal
President López Obrador today highlighted the approval of constitutional changes to combat corruption and create the national guard as among his most significant achievements in a report to mark his first 100 days in office.
But he conceded that crime-fighting efforts have only succeeded in containing crime rather than reducing it.
Speaking at the National Palace in Mexico City, López Obrador said three constitutional reforms have so far been approved by Congress including one that allows for the prompt seizure of assets acquired through corruption and violence, and another that reclassifies corruption as a serious crime.
The latter reform also removes bail rights for people accused of corruption, fuel theft and electoral fraud, among other offenses.
“. . . It wasn’t accidental that for a long time, corruption wasn’t considered a serious crime,” López Obrador said.
“Do you know when the criminal code was reformed to remove the seriousness [classification] from all acts of corruption? January 10, 1994, in the middle of the neoliberal boom . . .” he added.
The third constitutional reform – to create the national guard – has been approved by Congress and a majority of state legislatures, López Obrador said, adding that its main goal is to “guarantee public security for all Mexicans.”
He didn’t mention that his original proposal for the security force to have a military rather than civilian command had to be modified.
López Obrador explained that legislative processes are under way in Congress to remove the president’s constitutional right to immunity, to guarantee citizens’ right to have their say on government decisions through public consultations and to subject the president’s rule to a vote three years after taking office.
The Congress has also been asked to approve laws on austerity and the right to access health care, and to cancel the educational reform implemented by the past government, he said.
The president pledged that by the middle of this year, the government will have “the essential legal framework” it needs to carry out what he has dubbed the fourth transformation of public life in Mexico.
New poll results compared with others in August and November 2018. In blue, those who fully or somewhat approved, in gray those who neither approved nor disapproved and in orange those who totally or somewhat disapproved.
“We maintain the firm conviction to not allow the state to be used to fabricate crimes against opponents or anyone, or to spy, persecute, torture or massacre the people,” López Obrador said.
The president also pointed to the implementation of social programs, the appreciation of the peso, lower inflation, higher consumer confidence, higher old-age pensions, the creation of a northern border free zone, the introduction of a youth apprenticeship scheme, the creation of a guaranteed price scheme for farmers and the increase to the minimum wage as other government achievements.
The political veteran, who won last year’s election in a landslide, asserted that his administration isn’t at the behest of anyone except the Mexican people.
“The government is for all Mexicans and its principal role is to enforce justice and seek the well-being and happiness of the people,” he said.
With regard to international relations, the president said that a policy of non-intervention has been adopted, stressing that “we want to maintain a relationship of friendship with all the people and governments of the world.”
The president said the relationship with the United States has been “cordial,” adding that neither party has resorted to the use of “accusatory or coarse language.”
López Obrador added that his government is not in favor of using force to contain migration but is seeking instead to address the causes of the phenomenon at its origin – Central American countries, in other words.
To that end, “we’re working with the government of the United States on an agreement of cooperation for development,” he said.
Mexico is “applying a formula to put an end to corruption and impunity in order to release funds that can be allocated to the development and well-being of the people,” López Obrador added.
He said that the government’s crackdown on fuel theft will generate savings of 50 billion pesos (US $2.6 billion) this year and that further funds will be freed up via the elimination of government luxuries such as high salaries for officials.
López Obrador also reiterated his commitment to achieve annual economic growth of 4% during his six-year term, a figure that is double that or more than most public and private financial institutions are predicting for this year and next.
“I’m absolutely sure that combatting corruption . . . will allow productive investment to be applied promptly and efficiently,” he said.
The president also highlighted the benefits that his government’s planned infrastructure projects will bring.
Construction of the Maya Train project will create around 300,000 jobs and after four years will have the capacity to transport 3 million passengers a year, López Obrador said, while pointing out the tourism benefits it will bring.
The president also said that the plan to convert the Santa Lucía Air Force Base for commercial aviation in lieu of continuing with the new Mexico City airport project will not only save more than 100 million pesos but also solve the saturation problem at the current airport more quickly.
Towards the end of his speech, López Obrador ran through statistics for some crimes, including homicides, since he took office, which showed some modest improvements.
However, he conceded, “we have only been able to contain criminality . . . not significantly reduce it as we had wished.”
The president concluded by saying that although it is only “the beginning of the path towards progress with justice,” the government has begun writing “the prologue to a great work of national transformation.”
“. . . I’m grateful for the confidence of the people of Mexico . . . I’m especially grateful for the confidence of the business community. I reiterate, confirm and reaffirm the commitment to not fail. I will never give up. I will die before I betray.”
The people’s confidence to which the president referred has been reflected in two recent polls.
Eight of 10 Mexicans approve of López Obrador’s performance as president, according to today’s El Universal survey, while another published by El Financiero last week showed an almost identical result.
After three years of construction, the Alfredo Harp Helú baseball stadium, the new home of the Diablos Rojos del México, will be inaugurated on March 23, just ahead of the start of the new season on April 5.
Team manager Othón Díaz announced that President López Obrador will throw the first pitch in the new stadium, located in Mexico City’s Magdalena Mixhuca Sports City.
The facility has broken records as Mexico’s most expensive baseball stadium with a price tag of 3.4 billion pesos (US $175 million).
The new home of the Diablos Rojos has a capacity of 20,000 people and is furnished with two gigantic screens to display games in detail, luxury box seating behind home plate and the latest generation of synthetic grass.
The home team’s new season in what will be their fourth new stadium in 100 years will kick off on April 5 with a game against Los Tigres de Quintana Roo.
The Diablos Rojos, or Red Devils, are a triple-A minor league team whose home stadium is currently the 5,200-seat Estadio Fray Nano.
It is the latest of several recently constructed baseball stadiums. Others are the Panamerican Stadium in Guadalajara, which opened in 2011; Sonora Stadium in Hermosillo, which opened in 2013; Tomateros Stadium in Culiacán, Sinaloa, 2015; and the home of the Yaquis in Ciudad Obregón in 2016.
At least 100 families from two towns in Las Vigas, Veracruz, have been evacuated due to a wildfire that was first reported in posts on social media this morning by people near the blaze in Toxtlacoaya.
La Lobera and Santa Rosa Hojas Anchas were evacuated earlier today due to their proximity to the fire, and have been given temporary shelter in municipal headquarters.
Las Vigas Mayor Alejandro Lina Cruz said in a video posted online that the fire was getting out of control due to the strong winds and that its course was changing. He urged residents to stay away from the area.
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The fire departments from the nearby municipalities of Perote and Coatepec were attempting to control the wildfire, and more firefighters were on their way.
They were still fighting the fire at 3:00pm today, the state Civil Protection office said.
There have been no casualties reported but the fire has destroyed a Las Vigas ambulance.
Pink is the predominant color of the Hilton's Barbie room.
Travelers to Mexico City will have a unique accommodation option available from now until the end of the year: they can stay in a hotel room with a Barbie doll theme.
The doll was introduced 60 years ago this month so its manufacturer, the toy company Mattel, has worked with the Hilton Santa Fe to develop the Barbie-themed room.
The predominantly pink room offers its guests a unique decor, amenities and special activities, and is furnished with nostalgic touches that include collector’s editions of the iconic doll.
Aimed at younger guests, the room can be booked with an adjacent one where parents and friends can also stay.
An event in Mexico City on Saturday also celebrated the anniversary when Mattel paid homage to several Mexican women and brought them together with young girls aspiring to similar goals.
Athletes, chefs, scientists, singers and inventors of all ages met at the Soumaya Museum and after entering on a pink carpet, enjoyed strawberry milkshakes, strawberries dipped in pink chocolate, donuts covered in pink glazing and a cake, also pink.
Guests included Olympic gymnast Chelly Cantú who shared the stage with Bibi Wetzel, a young gymnast with Down syndrome.
Mexican alpinist Karla Wheelock received a special tribute — her likeness in the form of a custom Barbie doll.
“I am very thankful. For a long time I played with my doll, and to have my own Barbie is incredible. I also love the idea of girls being inspired and recognized, and knowing that they can be whatever they want to be,” said Wheelock, who was the first female alpinist from Latin America to reach the top of Mount Everest from its northern slope.
Celebrations of the anniversary in Mexico City will also include Barbie’s house, which will open its doors at the Chapultepec Fair next month, and a Barbie race scheduled for June.
Human chain in Cancún issues call for security and peace.
The presence of federal security forces in Quintana Roo has been reduced despite high levels of violent crime in the tourism-dependent state.
Governor Carlos Joaquín González confirmed that Federal Police officers and members of the armed forces have been withdrawn.
There are only 100 federal security personnel currently deployed to security operations in the north of the state, where Cancún is located, while 150 more are engaged in active operational tasks in other parts of Quintana Roo.
A further 400 federal officers are carrying out intelligence work across the state.
But Joaquín hopes that once the national guard has been created, the numbers will significantly increase.
Most state congresses, including that in Quintana Roo, have now ratified the national guard proposal, meaning that the federal government can proceed with the process to create the new security force, which President López Obrador has pledged will reduce crime rates across the country.
The president acknowledged last week that the government hasn’t yet managed to reduce violence in Cancún but said that crime figures have fallen in other parts of Mexico such as Acapulco and Tijuana.
The homicide rate in Quintana Roo more than doubled last year to 44.63 per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 21.57 in 2017.
The governor expects that the homogenized force will collaborate with the national guard on security operations.
Insecurity in Cancún was cited as one reason why international arrivals at the city’s airport declined by 2% in January, the first year-over-year decrease for any month in almost seven years.
Among locals, perceptions of insecurity are also on the rise.
More than 90% of Cancún residents who responded to the National Survey on Urban Public Security late last year said that their city was an unsafe place to live.
Another indicator of resident’s concern manifested yesterday in the form of a 300-person-strong human chain for peace and security that stretched along Cancún’s Bonampak Avenue.
There have been 95 homicides in the resort city so far this year, according to the news site Infoqroo.
