Mexico

Two dead, two alive after Americans kidnapped in Mexico

Four US citizens were kidnapped by armed men on 3 March while driving into the city of Matamoros in the north-eastern state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, across the border from Texas.

BBC reports they had travelled there for cosmetic surgery, relatives told US media.

One man, named only as José "N", 24, from Tamaulipas, has been arrested.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: "We offer our deepest condolences to the friends and families of those who were killed in these attacks."

Mexico's top court decriminalises abortion in 'watershed moment'

The decision in the world's second-biggest Roman Catholic country means that courts can no longer prosecute abortion cases, and follows the historic legalisation of the right in Argentina, which took effect earlier this year.

Arturo Zaldivar, president of the Mexican Supreme Court, hailed the decision as "a watershed moment" for all women, especially the most vulnerable.

The court's ruling stemmed from a 2018 case challenging a criminal law on abortion in Coahuila, a northern Mexican state which borders Texas, which has just tightened its laws.

Mexico discusses migration in meeting with Biden envoys

President Joe Biden's administration sent envoys including border co-ordinator Roberta Jacobson to Mexico to discuss the increase in arrivals at the border. Initial talks began in Mexico on Tuesday (local time) and will continue in Guatemala.

"Humanitarian actions were highlighted to promote, in the short term, inclusive economic development in the north of Central America that mitigates the root causes behind migratory flows in the region," Mexico's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Mexico's coronavirus death toll becomes world's third highest

It has now suffered at least 46,688 deaths during the pandemic, with a total of 424,637 infections.

Previously the United Kingdom had the third highest toll, and registered 46,204 deaths as of Friday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned the effects of the pandemic will be felt "for decades to come".

In Mexico, local authorities have previously said they believe the real number of infections is likely to be significantly higher than those reported.

Woman snaps selfie with black bear in hair-raisingly close encounter in Mexico

In a video shared to social media, the black bear can be seen rearing up on its hind legs and getting a little too close for comfort to the woman, who calmly fires off a selfie as if the bear is nothing more than a hiking companion. The bear continues to sniff the woman, who appears to be on a trail with a friend, before eventually losing interest.

According to TMZ, the encounter happened on Saturday (local time) at the Chipinque Ecological Park in Mexico.

Newborn Mexican triplets test positive in 'unprecedented' case

Medical experts are investigating whether the disease could have been passed on through the mother's placenta during pregnancy.

Two of the babies, one boy and one girl, are in a stable condition in a hospital in San Luis Potosí state.

But the second boy is receiving treatment for a respiratory condition.

A spokesperson for the state's Health Safety Committee said contagion in multiple births had not been detected anywhere globally and so the case would be investigated.

Mexico receives ventilator shipment from US

The 211 machines were purchased from a US firm following an informal agreement between the neighbouring nations' leaders in mid-April.

Last week, several hospitals in Mexico City said they were turning patients away because of a lack of equipment.

President Trump has previously called the US "the king of ventilators".

In early April, President Trump said that the US would have 110,000 ventilators by the end of June.

He also said at the time that some of the machines could go to countries that were "desperate" for the machines.

     

Mexico bar attack leaves 25 dead

Another 11 were badly injured in the blaze in the Caballo Blanco (White Horse) bar in Coatzacoalcos, a port city in Veracruz, on Tuesday night.

Survivors said men believed to be gangsters blocked the exits before setting the venue on fire.

Mexican media reported that the bar was peppered with gunfire and Molotov cocktails were thrown inside.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the attack was "shameful", and that an investigation would look into how some of the suspects had recently been freed from custody.

Mexico issues warning over 'extremely dangerous' storm

Willa is expected to make landfall on Mexico's south-western coast on Tuesday and is "potentially catastrophic", the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned.

Currently a Category Four - out of five - storm, it threatens to bring torrential rains and major flooding.

Earlier this month areas of the US were devastated by Hurricane Michael, which left at least 27 people dead.

Willa is expected to deliver rainfall of up to 46cm (18in) along parts of south-west Mexico, the NHC said on Monday, as it reported that the storm was carrying winds of 250km/h (155mph).

Mexico 0 Chile 1

In his first appearance for Chile since March, Sanchez enjoyed some good moments in Santiago de Queretaro.

But while he was unable to provide the goals coach Reinaldo Rueda wanted, he helped set up Nicolas Castillo's 89th-minute winner for Chile.

Castillo capitalised on a parry by Mexico goalkeeper Hugo Gonzalez to score just his second international goal.

Mexico made a bright start before Chile almost took the lead after a quarter of an hour, Mauricio Isla firing wide from inside the area after an Arturo Vidal pass.