Promote learning by reading to your child in Spanish

By

-

April 9, 2024

picsea-EQlTyDZRx7U-unsplash — Falling in love with reading starts at a young age, and you can play an important part in that process - while teaching them to speak Spanish too. (Picsea/Unsplash)

In the digital age and a world saturated with visual stimuli, reading remains a fundamental part of children’s development. Books are not only the doors of knowledge but also fuel imagination, strengthen language and foster concentration and communication.

Reading books in a foreign language can help kids adopt a second language more easily. According to the Montessori Academy, there are many benefits to learning a second language as a child. These include “better memory skills, improved ability to focus, increased vocabulary and more. Developing these skills will help your child overcome their school challenges and allow them to grow into confident learners.”

Reading books in a foreign language can help your child adopt a second language more easily. (Jonathan Borba/Unsplash)

To achieve this, you must teach your child a new language early. Enrolling them in classes or keeping them in a bilingual school is also recommended.

According to a May 2021 report from the aprende.mx General Directorate — the agency that produces the Education Ministry’s educational broadcast programs — reading is an indispensable resource for growing minds. However, despite its importance, experts note a growing lack of interest in reading among new generations.

How can we create a love for reading in children?

The first step is to change their perception of reading. Children and young people must understand that reading is not a boring task but a rewarding experience that can provide excitement and escape from routine. They must see their parents and family members enjoying reading, setting an example to follow.

It’s important to allow young people to choose books according to their interests and preferences. Reading should not be imposed by a school curriculum but encouraged as a pleasurable and enriching activity. Creating a routine and setting a specific time of day for reading can turn it into a habit.

Likewise, adults should get involved in young people’s reading process by asking them about the books they’re reading or would like to read. This shows interest on the part of adults and can encourage discussion and exchange of ideas.

Books must be accessible, attractive and of appropriate length for a child’s age and ability to ensure that they enjoy reading. Often, disinterest arises when the vocabulary is complicated or the narrative is too complex, or, conversely, too easy for them.

It is crucial to change teenagers’ perceptions that reading is an obligation. Introducing them to books that deal with their hobbies and interests is recommended, allowing them to explore different genres and themes. As the world is experiencing a big boom of teenage novels and publications, it’s a perfect time for teenagers to get familiar with reading. Options are everywhere and for everyone.

The benefits of reading are numerous. It improves language, strengthens concentration, stimulates imagination, enhances memory, facilitates communication, exercises the brain, improves spelling, and expands vocabulary. In summary, reading is an investment in the holistic development of young people.

Below are some children’s books and the specific benefits they can offer. Spanish-language versions of all of them are available in Mexico and can also offer the benefit of helping your kids become bilingual:

Cognitive Development

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle

This classic picture book follows the journey of a caterpillar as it eats its way through various foods before transforming into a beautiful butterfly. Through vibrant illustrations and simple storytelling, it teaches children about the days of the week, counting and the life cycle of a butterfly.

Language acquisition

“Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown

A bedtime classic, “Goodnight Moon” takes readers through a bunny’s nighttime ritual of saying goodnight to everything in his room, from the moon to the stars to the mittens. Its soothing rhythm and repetitive language make it an excellent tool for language development and bedtime routines.

Learning Spanish

Con Pollo: A Bilingual Playtime Adventure by Jennifer Lopez and Jimmy Fallon

The book is loaded with humor and helps young readers learn Spanish vocabulary through a feathered friend named Pollo.

Cultural understanding

“Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak

In this beloved story, Max, a young boy dressed in a wolf costume, is sent to bed without dinner and imagines sailing away to a land where wild creatures roam. Through his adventure, Max learns about the power of imagination, the importance of self-expression and the comfort of home.

Understanding emotions

“The Angry Book”, Cédric Ramadier

Its simple story and simple illustrations play with the symbolism of the color red to make the story more understandable. Interactively, readers or listeners, accompanied by a little mouse, can learn and practice strategies and tools to deal with anger, which in this book is represented by the book itself.

In addition to physical books, digital platforms also play an important role in promoting reading. Wattpad, Kindle, Goodreads and other online communities allow young people to share reviews, participate in writing contests and discover new stories.

That’s also true of Leoteca, a Spanish-language platform that promotes reading in children and adolescents up to 16. Here, children can comment on the books they read. To do so, they can access an extensive catalog of over 55,000 children’s and young adult literature titles from almost 400 publishers. Each book is accompanied by all the necessary information: the subject matter, the recommended reading level according to age, the opinions of other readers and even the first pages to browse through the book. The goal is for children and teenagers to have a place to share their opinions about the books they read with their friends while making recommendations for their favorite titles.

Ultimately, reading is an essential life skill. Without it, access to information would be limited and navigating the current world would be more difficult. Therefore, we must foster the habit of reading in our kids, cultivating a generation of curious, creative and well-informed minds. Share your children’s favorite books with us, and let’s continue to foster a love of reading in the next generation.

Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer and cultural promoter and is Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.

The insider’s guide to investing in real estate in Oaxaca

By

Anna Bruce

-

April 9, 2024

4

Oaxaca city real estate houses — Oaxaca is Mexico's home of art and food. Find out the best areas to invest if you are thinking of making Oaxaca your home. (All photos by Anna Bruce)

As a photojournalist, I never pictured myself settling anywhere. For years, I never stayed anywhere longer than a few months, usually traveling extensively within that time. That was until 2013, when I first came to Oaxaca.

Oaxaca state lies in a mountainous region that stretches down to the southwestern border of Mexico. Oaxaca de Juárez, normally shortened to Oaxaca, is the state’s capital and largest city. Like many before me, I fell in love with the vibrant atmosphere, eclectic architecture and the overall vibe of the city.

Known for its delicious mezcal and sumptuous mole, Oaxaca is also a hub for beautiful textile and ceramic crafts. The city boasts colorful markets, numerous galleries and cultural centers. Lately there has been a wave of new boutique hotels, rooftop bars and trendy cafes.

With many structures dating back to the 16th century, the city has a strong connection to its history. In the last decade or so, a wave of new builds and renovations has added a contemporary flare.

I knew I wanted to be outside of the hustle and bustle of the historic center, which was becoming busier and more expensive every year. I eventually decided on a spot about a thirty minute walk from downtown with a more residential feel and beautiful views of Oaxaca city.

Fortunately, buying in the area was relatively straightforward. With the help of a local attorney, I completed the private sale, first making a deposit and then following with the rest of the full amount a couple of months later. I am a permanent resident in Mexico, which also helped make these transactions smoother, although it is possible to buy without being a resident.

Why are people investing in real estate in Oaxaca city?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became easier to get temporary residency through a process called normalization. It is clear that since the pandemic there are many more people looking to move to and buy property in Oaxaca city.

Mary Aquino of Re/Max Cantera, a brokerage in Oaxaca, explains that “there are many factors why not only locals but also foreigners are becoming more and more convinced to invest in the state of Oaxaca. In the case of locals, they are investing in the outskirts of the capital city, while foreigners are investing within the capital city due to its tourism and gastronomic appeal. While it is true that the prices are not cheap, it is a good investment for the future.”

Aquino considers the key areas that are growing include “the city center, El Tule, Huayapam, Etla and some of the most emblematic neighborhoods: Xochimilco and Jalatlaco.” In my opinion, San Felipe and Guadalupe Victoria are also areas with significant development. Each of these areas have their own identity and are suited to different living and working requirements. Recently, a wave of friends have moved further from the center to areas like Etla, El Tule and San Felipe.

The Etlas, El Tule and Xochimilco

The “Etlas” are several small communities about a half hour’s drive from Oaxaca city. Many people have moved there to be part of the creative network that has grown there. It is also an area with more water than most, which is a sought after commodity in Oaxaca.

Santa María del Tule. (Gabriel Tovar/Unsplash)

Santa María del Tule, also known simply as El Tule, is a peaceful suburb famous for its massive Montezuma cypress tree. The town boasts market stalls and restaurants, as well as a bike track that takes you into Oaxaca city.

Most of my friends with children have moved to San Felipe. Rebecca Bailey, founder and editor of the Qué Pasa Oaxaca cultural guide, explained that she considered San Felipe “because we have a lot of friends there and it’s close to schools. Even though it’s kind of famous for wealthy politicians, there are lots of young families there because there are a lot of houses with gardens.”

The historic center

As Mary Aquino mentions, Oaxaca city’s two most emblematic neighborhoods are Jalatlaco and Xochimilco; east and north of the historic center, respectively. With cobblestone streets and striking street art, they are extremely charming.

Price per foot changes drastically depending on the distance from the city center. Aquino estimates a price per square foot in Oaxaca’s historic center at 2500 pesos, while the nearby area of Xochimilco is 1500 pesos per square foot. If the property has a luxury amenity such as a pool, expect this to be doubled.

Jalatlaco has become an increasingly sought-after neighbourhood. (Remax)

John Harvey Williams, owner-partner at Real Estate Oaxaca, notes that “Real estate values in Mexico are the sum of the value of the land and construction.” “Land in Jalatlaco,” Williams says, “is valued at around US $100 per square foot. Construction is valued from zero for a tear-down to around US $75 per square foot for the finest quality construction and finishings.”

Empty lots in Jalatlaco, however, are few and far between. “I can think of only a half dozen that are empty now, and none of them are for sale,” Williams told me.

According to Dolores Pérez Islas, general director and CEO of the real estate investment company Silmexico, explains that prices in Oaxaca’s historic center start at US $180,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom house. Homes in a great location on one of the neighborhood’s main streets in the main square command anywhere from US $800,000 to $1.5 million.

The carefully preserved colonial architecture, Pérez added, “gives a magic touch that every owner wishes to obtain. It’s surprising that there are still places like Jalatlaco, since it looks like it did 100 years ago.”

Value also depends on the legal and preservation status of the structure or land. Restoration should be carried out in compliance with guidelines provided by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH’s) Oaxaca division, which dictates the preservation of primary features and the original layout.

Guadalupe Victoria

Guadalupe Victoria is an up-and-coming area of Oaxaca that has ejido status, meaning that the land is communally owned. In recent years, there has been considerable construction in the area. Architect Tom Van den Bout, who has several projects in Guadalupe Victoria, describes ejidos as self-governed and largely independent — from Oaxaca City, for instance. Some ejidos are truly communal, co-owned and regulated by all residents. Others, like Guadalupe Victoria, are still run by the founding families but allow sale of land to outsiders and all sales are registered with the ejido.

With over thirty years of experience, Van den Bout found the process relatively straightforward. However, the terms of buying land with ejido status can vary. According to Van den Bout, “Any ejido that is comunal would be virtually impossible to purchase into. Every resident would need to agree to the sale and agree in perpetuity. Your ‘purchase’ could be reclaimed at any time and living there often requires a form of community service. Most ejidal land beyond those near Oaxaca city, such as Guadalupe Victoria, is communal.”

Other things to consider when investing

The coast of Oaxaca is an area with similar complications when it comes to buying land. Per the Mexican Constitution, foreigners cannot own land within 100 kilometers of a land border and 50 kilometers of a beach. It is possible, however, to acquire property in this restricted zone through a fideicomiso (trust) or by constituting a Mexican company. As a buyer, you will be designated as the primary beneficiary. Aquino explains that “there are several companies offering this service and it actually works very well, but it can be a bit pricey. However, it provides much more peace of mind and confidence for buyers.”

If you are considering buying property in Oaxaca, Van den Bout suggests “looking closely to be sure the land can be legally sold and a deed will be issued in the buyer’s name.”

Aquino recommends buying privately when possible, ideally with a certified real estate agency. “Certified agencies are attached to a government institution that fulfills the function of safeguarding the rights of sellers and buyers.” Real estate brokers such as Remax or Silmexico take on the task of investigating the legal status of the property to prevent the client from having problems in the future. There are also excellent land use attorneys in Oaxaca.

Anna Bruce is an award-winning British photojournalist based in Oaxaca, Mexico. Just some of the media outlets she has worked with include Vice, The Financial Times, Time Out, Huffington Post, The Times of London, the BBC and Sony TV. Find out more about her work at her website or visit her on social media on Instagram or on Facebook.

Xcaret unveils new nocturnal attraction Xenses Insomnia

By

MND Staff

-

April 9, 2024

2

sliders-ficha-xsi5 copy — The park's Owl Flight attraction takes you on a whimsical flight while surrounded by fireflies and sparkles. (Xcaret)

Grupo Xcaret recently launched a new nighttime version of its popular creative space Xenses in the Riviera Maya.

Xenses Insomnia offers over 20 activities, 50 scenarios and over 100 photography points.

Take an evening dip in the riolajante, or relaxing river, at Xenses. (Xcaret)

“With the opening of Xenses Insomnia, we seek to sharpen your senses and challenge your imagination through a stimulating experience at all times,” Elizabeth Lugo Monjarrás, executive director of Parks, Tours and Shipping at Grupo Xcaret, said at the opening.

The new Xenses park offers a variety of attractions, such as a light and shadow show, an exhilarating slide that ends in a refreshing natural pool and the opportunity to experience the sensation of flying: Owl Flight takes you on a whimsical flight surrounded by fireflies and sparkles under a starry night in the jungle. These are just a few of the many activities available to visitors.

Grupo Xcaret has also launched a new ferry service between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen, expanding its ferry business.

The new route will have two state-of-the-art vessels, one of which can transport 650 passengers each. Services on board will include bathrooms (including one for people with disabilities), WIFI, maritime safety equipment (vests and rafts life jackets), first aid equipment and information screens.

“This expansion in the Xcaret Xailing division, which involved an investment of 315 million pesos (US $19.2 million), reflects Grupo Xcaret’s commitment to innovation and excellence in the tourism industry,” said Lugo in a separate statement.

Grupo Xcaret entered the ferry business at the end of 2021, with the Cancún-Isla Mujeres route.

Founded in 1990 by Mexican entrepreneurs, Grupo Xcaret operates several iconic parks in Cancún and the Riviera Maya. These parks include Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xavage, Xoximilco, Xenses and the Xenotes tour.

The group ventured into the hotel industry in December 2017 with the opening of Hotel Xcaret México. Today, they have expanded their offer with the adults-only Hotel Xcaret Arte and the boutique hotel La Casa de la Playa.

With reports from Reportur, Debate and El Economista

F1’s Checo Pérez returns to the podium, takes second in Japan

By

MND Staff

-

April 8, 2024

0

Checo Pérez celebrates with Red Bull teammate and race winner Max Verstappen in Japan. (Peter Fox/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool)

Mexican race car driver Sergio “Checo” Pérez finished second in the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, giving Red Bull a 1-2 finish with three-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen taking first place.

Pérez’s return to the podium in Suzuka, Japan, followed a disappointing showing for Red Bull in the previous Formula 1 event, the Australian Grand Prix on March 23, in which Verstappen departed after a mechanical failure and Pérez finished fifth.

Pérez behind the wheel in Suzuka, Japan on Sunday. (Mark Thompson/Getty Image via Red Bull Content Pool)

Every time Pérez has a disappointing race, speculation flies that he will not be back with Red Bull after 2024. Each team has two front-line drivers, and Pérez’s contract expires after this season; he signed a two-year extension worth roughly US $10 million in 2022.

Much of the speculation stems from Pérez’s rough 2023 campaign. Although he finished second in the overall standings, he had only two wins in 22 races, and none after the first four races of the season — despite having access to one of the most dominant cars in Formula 1 history. In his career, he has won only six times in 261 starts.

But in the first four races of the year, he snagged three second-place finishes (behind his Belgian-Dutch teammate Verstappen each time), and after the most recent, there was chatter about a new contract.

Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko praised Pérez’s improvement and ability to adapt to some recent car upgrades.

“I think Pérez was better than expected, especially after a very bad weekend here last year,” Marko said in Japan, alluding to Pérez’s 2023 collision and eventual retirement from the race.

He was especially happy Pérez was able to qualify last week in the number 2 position in the front row, alongside Verstappen.

“He gives the impression that he can do it,” Marko added. “But maybe it is also influenced by the fact that next year’s contracts are up for grabs … That also seems to be very motivating.”

After the Japan race, Pérez said he expects his Red Bull and F1 future to be clarified within the next month. Perhaps he’ll be driving with another team.

“I am pretty relaxed about it,” he told Sky Sports F1. “The driver market is moving, and the next few weeks are going to be a lot of movement for sure, so I expect within a month to really know what I’m doing next year.”

For now, the Red Bull seat is “Pérez’s to lose,” said Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who has been critical of Pérez in the past. “I think his confidence is high, he’s very focused on the job at hand and he’s comfortable in the team.”

The next Formula 1 race is the Chinese Grand Prix on April 21 in Shanghai.

With reports from Récord, Formula1.com and Sports Illustrated FanNation

Peso ‘eclipses’ US dollar, trades at 16.30

By

MND Staff

-

April 8, 2024

3

US dollars and Mexican pesos — The peso continued its hot streak over the weekend, trading at 16.30 before closing at 16.33 to the dollar on Monday. (Shutterstock)

The Mexican peso continued its hot streak on Monday, appreciating to its strongest level against the dollar in almost nine years.

After strengthening on Friday to close at 16.46 to the greenback, the peso appreciated around 1% to reach 16.30 to the dollar on Monday, its strongest position since August 2015.

U.S. dollars and coins — A general weakening of the dollar, as shown by a slight decline on the DXY index, propped up the peso on Monday. (Mathieu Turle/Unsplash)

The currency subsequently weakened slightly to close at 16.33, according to the Bank of Mexico.

Asserting that the Mexican peso had “eclipsed” the US dollar on a day on which the moon totally obscured the view of the sun from parts of North America, the El Financiero newspaper reported that the peso was the world’s best-performing emerging market currency in Monday trading.

Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Mexican bank Banco Base, said on the X social media platform that the appreciation of the peso was due to three factors.

She cited the inflow to Mexico of foreign currencies from exports, remittances and direct foreign investment (FDI); the “expectation” that the wide gap between interest rates in Mexico and the United States “will attract capital to Mexico”; and the “expectation” that nearshoring “will attract waves of dollars” to Mexico due to an increase in FDI and exports.

The peso also got a boost from a general weakening of the dollar, as shown by a slight decline on the DXY index, which measures the value of the greenback against a basket of foreign currencies.

The peso has benefited for an extended period from the difference between the Bank of Mexico’s key interest rate — currently set at 11% after a 25-basis-point cut last month — and the 5.25%-5.5% rate of the United States Federal Reserve. The March 21 decision by the Bank of Mexico board to reduce rates hasn’t had an adverse impact on the peso despite a narrowing of that gap.

In fact, the peso has appreciated around 2.5% since the interest cut was made. Compared to the beginning of last year when one dollar was buying around 19.5 pesos, the gain for Mexico’s currency is almost 20%.

With inflation still above the Bank of Mexico’s 3% target, interest rates are expected to remain high in Mexico for some time. Inflation data for the entire month of March will be published later this week.

With reports from El Financiero, El Informador, El País and Aristegui Noticias

Scientists urge Mexico to save its ‘most important’ telescope

By

MND Staff

-

April 8, 2024

1

The Alfonso Serrano Large Millimeter Telescope (GTM) in Puebla, Mexico — The Alfonso Serrano Large Millimeter Telescope (GTM), a joint project of the United States and Mexico, is the world’s largest single-aperture telescope in its frequency range. (INAOE)

A telescope in Puebla deemed “the most important astronomical project in Mexico” is in danger of having the plug pulled on August 31 due to a lack of funding, a group of Mexican and international scientists is warning.

The Alfonso Serrano Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT), a joint project of the United States and Mexico, is the world’s largest single-aperture telescope in its frequency range. Located in Pico de Orizaba National Park, it sits atop the extinct Sierra Negra volcano, the fifth-highest peak in Mexico at 4,580 meters (15,000 feet) above sea level.

Construction of the GTM took 20 years, beginning in the late 1990’s, though the telescope made its first observations in 2011. (lmtgtm.org)

With funds about to run dry, a group of scientists that includes leading astrophysicists and astronomers from around the globe has sent a letter to Mexico’s Secretary of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP).

The letter describes the telescope, built over 20 years, as a “flagship” project between Mexico and the United States and how its current funding comes from a National Council of the Humanities, Science and Technology (Conahcyt) program that was approved in 2018 and will soon expire.

“As of September 1, it will find itself without resources to continue operating,” the scientists wrote, adding that pulling the plug would be “a very serious obstacle to meeting the scientific, technological development and training objectives” of the project.

The scientists also noted that this would have a negative impact on the relations and commitments between Mexico and the United States. The telescope is 70% operated by Mexico’s National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INAOE) and 30% by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and is part of a global network of telescopes that has been jointly collecting data since 2017. As reported by the news site La Silla Rota, the INAOE requires US $3 million annually to operate the LMT.

Six scientists, including Luis Alberto Zapata, director of the Institute of Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), lent their names to the letter, which was supported by another 1,300 signatories.

“We have approached Conahcyt [before the letter] to talk about how to extend the funds, but they have not responded,” Zapata told the newspaper El País last week. “Previously, it was easier to approach the director of Conahcyt and talk to him about your concerns. Now, with the new director [María Elena Álvarez-Buylla Roces], it is more difficult. There is no conversation. It is more of a monologue.”

Dr. Luis Alberto Zapata has called the GTM “the most important astronomical project in Mexico.” (UNAM)

The GTM — which refers to its name in Spanish, Gran Telescopio Milimétrico — observes radio waves in lengths from approximately .85 to 4 millimeters (.033 to .158 inches). Its 50-meter diameter primary reflector makes it the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope performing observations at those wavelengths, and its high-elevation location gives it great sensitivity.

The GTM has made many significant contributions in exploring the physical processes behind the formation and evolution of planetary systems, stars, black holes and galaxies.

It participated in obtaining the first image in history of the shadow of a supermassive black hole in the center of our galaxy. This resulted in several international awards, such as the Breakthrough Prize in 2020 in Fundamental Physics and the Albert Einstein Medal.

With reports from El País, El Sol de Puebla, Academia de Ciencias de Morelos and Newsweek en Español

Mexico breaks diplomatic relations with Ecuador over police raid of embassy

By

MND Staff

-

April 8, 2024

4

Ecuadorian police arresting Jorge Glas — On Saturday, Ecuadorian police arrested former vice president Jorge Glas, who had been staying in the Mexican embassy. (National Police of Ecuador)

The Mexican government broke diplomatic relations with Ecuador on Saturday after Ecuadorian police broke into the Mexican Embassy in Quito on Friday night, seeking to detain a former vice president of the South American nation who had been promised asylum in Mexico.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry (SRE) announced the decision, saying that it was made on the instructions of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who called the forcible entry of police to the embassy “a flagrant violation of international law and Mexico’s sovereignty.”

Former Ecuadorian vice president Jorge Glas had already been convicted of corruption by Ecuadorian courts at the time of his arrest. (Wikimedia Commons)

“In consultation with the president of Mexico … and in view of the flagrant and serious violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, in particular of the principle of inviolability of Mexico’s diplomatic premises and personnel, and the basic rules of international coexistence, Mexico announces that it is immediately breaking diplomatic relations with Ecuador,” said Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena.

“Mexico strongly condemns the acts of violence committed against the deputy chief of mission, Roberto Canseco Martínez, and the arbitrary arrest of former vice president Jorge Glas Espinel, who was in the embassy and seeking political asylum due to the persecution he has been experiencing,” the SRE said.

The New York Times described the events in Quito — during which Canseco was pushed to the ground by police — as “a rare instance of one government entering another’s embassy to make an arrest.”

In a post to the X social media platform that was “reposted” by Bárcena, human rights lawyer Aitor Martínez said that Mexico’s Embassy in Chile gave asylum to dozens of people during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

Así sometieron a Roberto Canseco en Ecuador

Watch this video on YouTube

Recordings of Mexican diplomat Roberto Canseco’s impassioned defense of the embassy were shared widely on social media after the raid.

“Pinochet respected international conventions. The documents from the time attached here show that Daniel Noboa has crossed boundaries that not even Pinochet dared to cross,” Martínez wrote.

A day after the Mexican government severed ties with its South American neighbor, Mexico’s diplomatic personnel in Ecuador returned to Mexico. Among the 18 members of the diplomatic corps who arrived at the Mexico City airport on Sunday was Ambassador Raquel Serur Smeke, who was declared a persona non grata by Ecuadorian authorities on Thursday after López Obrador insinuated that Noboa benefited from the assassination of a rival candidate during last year’s presidential elections in the South American nation.

“I would like to commend all the officials and their families … who truly defended our embassy in Quito, even risking their own safety,” Bárcena said at the airport after welcoming the returning diplomatic staff.

“… Can you imagine what it is like to leave your life, to leave a life that you had planned in a country and to have 48 hours to leave the country? It is a shock, … this is something that has never happened in Mexico’s history and, I would say, in the recent history of Latin America, not even in the worst moments of dictatorships,” added the foreign minister.

Raquel Serur, Mexican ambassador to Ecuador — Former Mexican ambassador to Ecuador Raquel Serur was declared a persona non grata in her country of residence last week. (Raquel Serur/X)

“We strongly condemn the violent intrusion of Ecuadorian security personnel into our embassy. … We will go to all the appropriate multilateral, regional and international forums so that this is absolutely condemned by the entire international community,” Bárcena said, specifically noting that Mexico would file a complaint with the International Court of Justice.

Glas — who served as vice president under two presidents, Rafael Correa (2007-17) and Lenín Moreno (2017-21) — was arrested four months after taking up residence in the Mexican Embassy in a move akin to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s habitation in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

The former official has already been sentenced to prison on corruption charges and a warrant had been issued for his arrest, President Noboa’s office said in a statement after the arrest on Friday night.

Last month, Mexico denied the Ecuadorian government’s request to enter the Quito embassy to arrest Glas, and announced Friday morning that it would grant the former vice president asylum. López Obrador said that the ex-official had faced “persecution” and “harassment” in Ecuador.

Before Glas’s arrest, the SRE requested that Ecuador guarantee safe conduct out of the country and officially objected to the police presence around its embassy, calling it a flagrant violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

For its part, the Ecuadorian president’s office asserted that “every embassy” has only one purpose: “to serve as a diplomatic space with the objective of strengthening relations between countries.”

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa. (Daniel Noboa Azin/Facebook)

“No criminal can be considered a politically persecuted person,” the office said, adding that “the diplomatic mission harboring Jorge Glas” had “abused the immunities and privileges” granted to it and gave the former vice president “diplomatic asylum contrary to the conventional legal framework.”

For those reasons, authorities proceeded with the “capture” of the ex-official, the statement said. Glas was subsequently transported to a high-security prison.

“Ecuador is a sovereign country and we’re not going to allow any criminal to go unpunished,” the president’s office said.

“We reiterate our respect for the Mexican people who share our commitment for the fight against the corruption that affects our countries,” added the statement from the office of President Noboa, who took office in late November and declared a state of emergency in January in recognition of “an internal armed conflict” in Ecuador.

Mexico News Daily

Last 8 hostages released following mass kidnapping of 66 in Culiacán, Sinaloa

By

MND Staff

-

April 8, 2024

1

Banners in Culiacán describing a recent kidnapping — More than two weeks later, there is no substantiated explanation of why the victims were kidnapped. (@linea_directa/X)

Officials in the northwestern state of Sinaloa reported on Sunday that all 66 victims of a mass kidnapping in Culiacán are now accounted for, more than two weeks after they went missing.

State Public Security Secretary Gerardo Mérida Sánchez told reporters that the remaining eight kidnap victims were back home and were deemed to be in good health.

Mérida called the case “atypical,” explaining that none of the victims wanted to file charges, the newspaper Expansión reported.

“This [case] is atypical for Sinaloa as well as for the rest of the Republic,” Mérida said. “This doesn’t happen here on a daily basis. Well, in some states it doesn’t.”

The 66 victims went missing on March 22 — most of them abducted directly from their homes — and two days later, 58 had been released in two separate actions, the German newspaper DW reported on March 25.

On March 26, Culiacán awoke to multiple “narco banners” strung around the city with the faces of some of the still-missing hostages.

banners bearing messages in Spanish and hanging off a bridge — After the kidnappings, banners bearing the faces of some kidnapping victims appeared around Culiacán, Sinaloa. (Twitter)

The signs vowed retribution “to all the thieves in Sinaloa,” warned that “robbery, kidnapping, extortion [and] collection of protection money aren’t allowed here,” and urged residents to report any act of that kind. They were signed with the initials of the son of “El Chapo” Guzmán, who is also a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel subgroup known as Los Chapitos.

Initially, authorities blamed a clash between rival criminal organizations. The day after the kidnapping, an Army contingent exchanged fire with armed civilians presumed responsible for the crime in Culiacán. The shoot-out resulted in the death of at least one soldier, reported the newspaper El Universal on March 25. Authorities have not confirmed whether those involved in the March 23 confrontation are connected with the kidnapping.

Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha was the subject of much criticism after addressing the mass abduction by saying “Sadly, these things happen” before urging residents not to be afraid.

On Sunday, Rocha expressed gratitude for the return of the final eight victims, thanking the authorities involved in the operation, including the Defense Ministry, Public Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez, the National Guard and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Upon questioning from reporters, Mérida declined to provide further information on the kidnapping, saying his office was continuing to investigate.

“I can’t provide additional details,” Mérida told reporters, “as this is an open investigation. The [state Attorney General’s Office] will determine when such information can be made available.”

The news site Infobae reported that state authorities had begun pursuing new leads during Easter Week, after reports that some of the final eight victims had already returned home, although no specifics were provided.

More than two weeks later, there is no substantiated explanation of why the victims were kidnapped. Rocha and Mérida have speculated that contrary to the statements on the narco banners, the kidnap was a cash grab — that criminals were looking to plunder the victims’ houses — but no evidence has been forthcoming.

With reports from Expansión, El Universal and DW

‘Ice lady,’ ‘liar’; Personal attacks fly at first presidential debate

By

MND Staff

-

April 8, 2024

10

The 2024 presidential candidates sit at their podiums ahead of the first debate — Mexico's three presidential candidates participated in the first of three debates on Sunday night. (INE)

Personal attacks rather than proposals for the future were the defining feature of Mexico’s first presidential debate of 2024, held exactly eight weeks before Mexicans go to the polls to elect a successor to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO).

The two leading aspirants to the presidency, Claudia Sheinbaum of a coalition led by the ruling Morena party and Xóchitl Gálvez of a three-party opposition alliance, traded barbs during the two-hour debate in Mexico City on Sunday night, while the third candidate, Jorge Álvarez Máynez of the minor Citizens Movement (MC) party, went on the offensive against both women, and even took the opportunity to introduce himself to voters using sign language in one particularly memorable moment.

The candidates had two hours to debate topics as varied as education and health, corruption and violence against women. (INE/Cuartoscuro)

Moderated by two top journalists, the debate ostensibly focused on topics including education and health; the fight against corruption; and violence against women, but on several occasions, the candidates avoided or delayed responding to the questions put to them in favor of attacking their rivals.

After the debate, all three contenders claimed to have won, while many analysts concluded that Sheinbaum — the clear frontrunner in the race and a confident and calm debater —was the victor. In a “flash poll” conducted by the El País newspaper and W Radio, 46% of respondents declared that the Morena party candidate prevailed, while 25% said that Gálvez won and 10% concluded that Álvarez was the winner.

All three candidates on the attack

The three presidential hopefuls made a total of 59 “attacks” on their rivals, according to a count by the newspaper El Universal.

Sheinbaum, who leads the leftist “Let’s Keeping Making History” alliance made up of Morena, the Labor Party (PT) and the Green Party (PVEM), exclusively targeted Gálvez — a former senator and ex-mayor of the Mexico City borough of Miguel Hidalgo — accusing her of real estate-related corruption and of selling an apartment she pledged to donate to a Mexico City school.

The Morena candidate and former Mexico City mayor (2018-23) also took aim at the three parties that make up the Strength and Heart for Mexico opposition alliance, in particular, the National Action Party (PAN) and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), asserting that they want to return Mexico to its corrupt past, whereas she will continue the “transformation” initiated by AMLO, her political mentor.

“Today we have an honest president. You’ll never be able to say the same about the presidents of the PRIAN, which the candidate [Gálvez] represents,” said Sheinbaum, using a derogatory hybrid acronym for the PRI and the PAN.

Sheinbaum was deemed the victor in Sunday’s presidential debate. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

For her part, Gálvez, a computer engineer and businesswoman who has Indigenous Otomí ancestry, leveled a range of accusations at the Morena candidate, including that she was negligent in not shutting down a school in her borough before it collapsed in the 2017 earthquake, and that she is partially to blame for the fatal accident on Line 12 of the Mexico City metro in 2021.

“Claudia, you forgot to speak about the Rébsamen school. It’s unbelievable that due to your indifference, 19 children and seven adults died. A year before [the earthquake], Claudia, you had the evidence [necessary] to close that school, but you didn’t do it. I insist you’re a cold woman without a heart and that defines you completely,” said the PAN-PRI-PRD (Democratic Revolution Party) candidate, who also alleged that her rival has ignored the pleas of parents of children with cancer who have protested medicine shortages.

After highlighting that 26 people were also killed in the metro accident, Gálvez accused Sheinbaum of “criminal negligence,” noting that a private company determined that inadequate maintenance of Line 12 was one of the causes of the tragedy.

She also said she was prepared to take a polygraph test to demonstrate that corruption allegations made against her were untrue.

For her part, Shienbaum — who polls indicate is very likely to become Mexico’s first-ever female president — dismissed “everything the PRIAN candidate is saying” as “completely false.”

The Morena candidate, a physicist and environmental scientist, is aiming to use both her closeness to López Obrador, and her promise to perpetuate his political agenda, as an electoral asset. Early on in the debate, however, Gálvez remarked bluntly that “you are not AMLO” and declared that she can’t match the charisma of the current president, a loquacious nationalist and champion of the poor who has maintained high approval ratings throughout his 5 1/2 years in office.

Álvarez Máynez, MC candidate for president, deflected attacks by Gálvez with a big smile but didn’t hesitate to dish them back. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

Gálvez also asked Sheinbaum whether a government she leads would investigate AMLO’s sons for alleged corruption. “If there is proof, it should be presented to the Attorney General’s Office,” shot back the Morena candidate.

Álvarez, meanwhile, attacked Sheinbaum for what he characterized as a poor record of governance in Mexico City, and asserted on repeated occasions that Gálvez represents “the old politics” of Mexico, referring to the scandal-prone PRI that governed the country for the majority of the 20th century and the PAN, which held office between 2000 and 2012.

The candidates’ visions for the future

When they weren’t criticizing each other, the three candidates did outline some of their plans as president should they win the June 2 election and succeed AMLO on Oct. 1.

Sheinbaum committed to providing scholarships for all public school students, while Gálvez said that a government she leads would offer financial support to attendees of private schools as well.

The PAN-PRI-PRD candidate also proposed increasing salaries for teachers and restarting the Full-Time Schools Program that was terminated by the current government. The program extended school hours for students at more than 25,000 schools and thus gave their parents — especially mothers — more time to work to support their families.

Álvarez, when speaking about his education plans, asserted that textbooks should not seek to indoctrinate students, as the current government has been accused of doing with texts published last year.

Primer Debate Presidencial - México 2024

Watch this video on YouTube

Concerning healthcare, Shienbaum pledged to strengthen the IMSS and ISSTE public health systems as well as IMSS Bienestar, the universal scheme created by the current government to offer care to people not registered via a formal employer.

Gálvez pledged to use technology to improve the healthcare system and put an end to medicine shortages that have plagued the current government. She also touted her plan to introduce a healthcare “smart card,” which would provide access to patients’ medical history among other information.

Sheinbaum, who was environment minister in the 2000-2005 Mexico City government led by AMLO, promised to continue the fight against corruption, which she asserted has generated huge savings over the past five years and thus allowed the current federal administration to allocate resources to major infrastructure projects and a range of welfare and social programs.

She also pledged to continue with the “republican austerity” doctrine of AMLO, who has cut public spending and eliminated what he describes as the unjust “privileges” enjoyed by officials in previous governments at the expense of the Mexican people.

In another memorable moment in the final minutes of the debate, Gálvez appeared to make a gaffe by holding a Mexican flag upside down as she declared she would defend the national symbol “from the corrupt [and] the criminals.”

“The Mexican flag will protect us all, it will protect us together, it will protect us in peace,” added the candidate.

Xóchitl Gálvez holds a Mexican flag outside of the INE, after holding the flag upside down in her closing message. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

Gálvez subsequently said on social media that a citizen who displays the flag upside down is in fact protesting the violence and insecurity currently plaguing the country.

Maintaining a happy demeanor through much of the debate and frequently flashing a broad grin, Álvarez pledged to put “the girls and boys” of Mexico at “the center” of his government’s education strategy and to use artificial intelligence to inform healthcare decisions. The 38-year-old former lawmaker asserted that a “new” Mexico is possible under his leadership and pledged that an MC government would treat migrants more humanely.

“What we have done with the southern border is inhumane,” he said, referring to the use of the National Guard and the armed forces to detain migrants who have entered the country from Guatemala.

“The militarization hasn’t made our border more secure but it has made it crueler. That’s why we have to change the model for one of human rights,” Álvarez said.

He and the two women seeking to become Mexico’s next president will meet again for a second debate on April 28. In the meantime, Sheinbaum, Gálvez and Álvarez will return to the campaign trail as they seek to convince some 100 million eligible voters that they are the right person to lead Mexico for the next six years.

With reports from Milenio, Reforma, El Universal, El País and El Financiero

Fire at Pemex oil platform leaves 1 worker dead, 13 injured

By

MND Staff

-

April 8, 2024

0

Fire at Pemex oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico — The fire broke out in a section of the platform where gas pipelines are located. (@NoticiasRNN/X)

One person was killed and at least 13 others were injured after an explosion at an offshore platform operated by Mexico’s national oil company Pemex.

The Saturday afternoon explosion at the company’s Akal-B platform, located in the southern Gulf of Mexico, led to a fire that was controlled within thirty minutes of the explosion, according to a company statement.

Nohoch-A after the fire — The Akal-B platform is located within Pemex’s Cantarell Field, which was previously the site of a major oil spill and fire that killed two in July 2023. (Carlos Alvarez/Twitter)

At least six of the victims — including the one fatally injured — are employees of the contractor COTER, whereas three victims are employees of the company Diavaz. Five victims are direct employees of Pemex.

All were airlifted to a Social Security (IMSS) hospital in Isla del Carmen, just off the coast of the nearby state of Campeche, immediately following the incident.

In its statement, the state-owned oil company said one of its employees would be airlifted to Mexico City for treatment of life-threatening injuries; two others suffered second and third-degree burns but were in stable condition, and two had suffered serious contusions but were in stable condition.

Four victims so far have been released from the Isla del Carmen hospital in good condition.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing. The fire broke out in a section of the platform where gas pipelines are located. The newspaper Forbes México reported that a total of 28 people were on the platform when the explosion occurred.

Pemex has yet to explain how oil and gas production might be affected by the accident nor did it offer an estimate as to when operations might be re-established there.

The Akal-B platform is part of Pemex’s valuable Cantarell Field of shallow-water wells, where in July 2023, the Nohoch-A link platform caught fire, killing two contract workers.

The Cantarell Field produces roughly 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

With reports from El Economista, Forbes México and El Financiero