According to Ukrinform, Zelensky announced this in his Telegram “We are preparing for important meetings in South Africa with President Cyril Ramaphosa and representatives of political It is important to bring a decent peace closer We are working to ensure that the G20 countries are involved in diplomatic efforts We look forward to South Africa's effective participation in the international coalition to return thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia We will definitely strengthen our cultural and educational ties,” the statement said As Ukrinform previously reported, South Africa said that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky would visit the country in April to meet with his counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa While citing and using any materials on the Internet links to the website ukrinform.net not lower than the first paragraph are mandatory citing the translated materials of foreign media outlets is possible only if there is a link to the website ukrinform.net and the website of a foreign media outlet Materials marked as "Advertisement" or with a disclaimer reading "The material has been posted in accordance with Part 3 of Article 9 of the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" No 1996 and the Law of Ukraine "On the Media" No 2023 and on the basis of an agreement/invoice Online media entity; Media identifier - R40-01421 Academics and public servants alike admit that emigration has turned at least 20 municipalities in Zacatecas into all but ghost towns The representative of the National Immigration Institute (INM) in Zacatecas says the state has the third highest levels of emigration in the country People don’t emigrate to another country for pleasure [Mobility] should be something optional for people and not an obligation in order to have a better quality of life,” he said He said emigration rates are the highest in the state’s canyon country And although emigration has been a problem in Zacatecas for years Fraire says it has also brought economic benefits to the state through remittances sent from the United States “The amount of money that comes as remittances is almost equal to what the federal government invests in the state,” Fraire said “The money that people from Zacatecas send home is the second most important source of revenue This importance is also recognized by Javier Mendoza Villalpando a state delegate of the Secretariat of Foreign Relations (SRE) “The total budget for the state is around 26 million pesos [US $1.3 million] and we’re talking about almost 18 million pesos of that coming from remittances,” Mendoza said “That’s how important our compatriots in the United States are.” A professor and researcher at the Autonomous University of Zacatecas (UAZ) says that Mexican authorities have not been able to provide the education or work opportunities necessary for its citizens so they are not forced to leave the country bilateral emigration to the United States from Mexico has become an escape valve for problems like poverty marginalization and lack of growth and development which are the consequences of the neoliberal economic model,” Rodolfo García Zamora said using the catch phrase preferred by President López Obrador to describe Mexican governments of the last few decades García claims that the remittances have not been a benefit to Zacatecas but rather a palliative for the state’s social “In Zacatecas we have a 100-year history of international emigration and the billions of dollars that come in annually haven’t been able to rectify the marginalization and lack of employment,” he said Source: El Universal (sp) ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC By Alfredo Corchado Mexico - The human exodus here reached new heights over the summer as entire families hightailed it out of this once booming agricultural valley and far away from a nation grappling with the latest broken promises “There are some communities -- rancherias -- that simply cleared out,” and headed for the U.S. a university student who traveled this region in the central state of Zacatecas as part of his field work as a psychology major “We thought political change would automatically usher in a new country Flores was referring to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s promise to turn back the tide of poverty But AMLO’s promise of a grand Fourth Transformation -- fourth after the 1810 independence uprising political reforms of the Benito Juarez era in the mid-1800s and the Mexican Revolution of 1910-1917 -- is facing deep obstacles as the violence instead grows and the economy gradually slows Breaking NewsGet the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond GoogleFacebookBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy sells beef-filled gorditas with potato and green chili to hungry passengers riding on a myriad of buses heading north and south on Mexican Highway 45 “I still believe AMLO will rescue us from poverty,” Sanchez said of the president “We just need to be patient and don’t give up The bustling highway offers a picturesque journey that underscores Mexico’s beauty -- lush valleys and low-hanging clouds that seem to touch rain-soaked green hills But it’s also a sobering reminder of the ills that still haunt the country: The Cartel Jalisco New Generation is fighting for control of the coveted freeway to transport illicit drugs and control the flow of migrants It’s just another battleground for the endless bloodshed being carried out by rival cartels Sanchez makes the sign of the cross with a few pesos he’s collected so far on this day and explains: “I did think we would be better off by now In interviews along Highway 45 from Mexico City to Durango Mexican sentiments ranged from cautious optimism to dimming hope about the future Promised changes by Mexico’s first left-leaning president in decades have proven to be as elusive as those made by his predecessors They also reveal ominous signs of things to come as support for the populist AMLO erodes and a slowdown in the economy leads to quiet anxiety who operates a corn-on-the-cob stand in Mexico City I worry about every peso and I’m running out of pesos but let’s get get going: Move the country forward.” Lopez Obrador swept into office with a landslide victory of 53 percent of the vote, boasting of strong majorities in both houses of congress. His approval rating is still strong, but fell to 61 percent from 66 percent in the second quarter of the year according to a national GEA-ISA poll released last month “I don’t think AMLO supporters have actual regrets,” said Carlos Bravo “But I’m sure a rising number of them are dealing with gradual disappointment.” Crime is on the rise and the economy is teetering on recession both issues looming as threats to Lopez Obrador’s ambitious plans for his much-touted “transformation” of the country’s society and politics Safety concerns run through swaths of the country Homicides increased 3.3 percent during the first eight months of the year to 23,063 from 22,316 last year according to recently released data from the federal government surpassing last year’s numbers when investigators opened more than 33,000 murder probes Critics say Lopez Obrador’s harsh rhetoric against journalists isn't helping the situation Those in the AMLO administration “love the media,” said Bravo who’s also associate professor and coordinator of the journalism program at the Center for Economic Research and Teaching Lopez Obrador is trying to show that he takes the nation’s ongoing problems with violence seriously with his security team to assess the latest crime statistics from across the country He’s also acknowledged that more needs to be done to restore security even personally appealing to criminals “to think about themselves “They know how much their mothers suffer because of the sublime love they have for their children visitors are encouraged through friends or relatives to have “permission” from members of organized crime syndicates to set foot in those areas buses occasionally cancel services when the sun sets as weary drivers express concerns about violence The same is true in the neighboring state of Zacatecas where in the city of Fresnillo a headline from the Diario newspaper blares: “Buses halted because of insecurity.” “Lopez Obrador inherited a sinking ship,” said Bernardo Saldivar “We all need to do less complaining and more to help him rescue it because we’re all riding on it.” Coahuila and expert on drug violence in the region known as La Laguna the violence seems to be contained in the “Durango and Zacatecas Lopez Obrador has blamed the slow economy partly on lingering problems resulting from the neoliberal policies carried out by previous administrations The economy is poised to grow at less than one percent down from the promised 4 percent he pledged to deliver when he took office last December Others in the government and some business leaders say the downward turn in the economy has more to do with the uncertainty over a new free trade agreement between Mexico and the U.S The government is putting its faith in policies that focus on subsidies for youths the poor and education programs to help the economic development of the country long term The economic situation is unsettling for domestic and foreign investors where businesses are on "standby," waiting to see what Lopez Obrador does and how President Donald J Trump's political future may affect the economy in Mexico Many blame Mexico’s historic ties to the U.S and Trump’s mercurial mood swings  for Mexico’s growing economic woes Mexican government officials and business leaders check Trump’s tweets to assess their own situation Lopez Obrador has received much criticism for appearing weak and appeasing to Trump especially by deploying an estimated 27,000 national guardsmen across the northern and southern borders to slow down the flow of migrants headed to the U.S -- in essence building a human wall for Trump “Our concern is crime,” said Moises Morales “But what has our National Guard been doing see Lopez Obrador’s odd relationship with Trump as a reflection of the tall price for the economic integration between both countries “Mexico’s national sovereignty,” said Ramon Cantu Deandar “is a utopian thing,” explaining that the pressures from the U.S limit Mexico’s options and challenge Mexico’s own sovereignty It’s a reality that many bus passengers understand particularly in the prosperous region of El Bajio where passengers transfer to buses headed for Mexico City or the northwest to Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo The mood is jovial as the song El Destino blares and people prepare for the weekend which includes a festival in San Miguel de Allende Worries of an unusual crime wave in the state dissipate a driver explained: “We can’t spend all our time worrying hoping that he does his part and we do our part as citizens.” sandwiched between San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato “That I don’t have time to think about Lopez Obrador I focus on what I can do” and resist the temptation of “going north like the rest of my family,” which lives throughout Texas if not thousands of Mexicans have flocked to multiple border crossings to seek asylum a stark turnaround after years of a steep decline of immigration from Mexico “I love Mexico because somehow it gives me enough to feed my family,” she said “Lopez Obrador may end up being just another leader with big promises -- Mexico plans summit to target rise of white supremacy -- How a new surge of asylum-seekers from Mexico ratchets up the pressure on both sides of the border -- Americans in Mexico watch uneasily as anti-Mexican rhetoric shows its face in the U.S. a small town where fine dust blows through sun-scorched streets in Mexico’s northern state of Chihuahua an old woman eventually takes pity on me as I walk in circles she leads me around the corner to Gerardo Ruelas’ house past a bar with a tiny deer head on the wall who pours me a cup of Nescafé and begins describing sotol the liquor that has brought me to his door But as I struggle to understand his rapid-fire mumble of Spanish he decides that coffee is not up to the task of easing our conversation The drink is dank on the nose and definitely herbal friendlier than most aperitifs but somehow with more of an alcoholic punch The most prominent flavor additives: marijuana and peyote I silently hope that neither of those ingredients share more than their flavor with the drink if you’ve been to a bar where beards and mixology dominate then you’ve likely run across mezcal pitched as the rough is the smoother brother that’s still flying under the radar in northern Mexico Ruelas is one of the few heritage sotoleros in Chihuahua carrying on a tradition going back three generations in his family from anejo—aged—versions to cremas de sotol which are flavored like walnuts and could easily serve as a substitute for Bailey’s Irish Cream tracing its lineage back hundreds of years to Mayan agave beer When the Spanish introduced liquor stills to Mexico farmers started upping the proof of their offerings those who harvested the country’s nearly 200 species of agave made mezcal Tequila splintered off as the region around the eponymous town of Tequila built a reputation for a distinct style of the spirit made only from blue agave was harvested to create a unique spirit that was popular during U.S After legal alcohol production returned stateside tequila exports total more than a whopping 100 million liters per year while mezcaleros send about one million liters abroad are on the order of a few tens of thousands of liters per year and so it has tended to stay on back roads and in village kitchens Ruelas’ middle-school aged son filled a water glass full of Elixir eliciting only mild protest from the neighbor before he settled into the cup of 96-proof alcohol Blindness is not an unreasonable concern when drinking moonshine in 2014 in Chihuahua City as a sort of cultural heritage center Blindness is not an unreasonable concern when drinking moonshine: methanol poisoning from poorly processed liquor is no joke and you should definitely know your distiller (and let them drink their hooch first) La Sotoloria is tucked into an alley full of chic clubs the 18th-century Catedral Metropolitana de Chihuahua dominates the historic city center watched over by a colorful mural of a Pop Art Chihuahua dog Marin gets a lot of tourists looking for an authentic if comfortably familiar experience but also draws in some Chihuahueños curious about their grandparents’ liquor Most of what’s on Marin’s menu is not traditional—hamburgers and mojitos both made with sotol for instance—but he’s making an effort to educate his clients about the traditional spirit Sotol facts are scattered on the ceiling between abstract paintings drinking Budweiser and whatever,” interjects a waiter inexplicably dressed in a red bathrobe and oversized sunglasses Many city dwellers stick to the international standards: Johnnie Walker and cheap beer but we put more people in touch with sotol,” says Marin He carries a variety of liquors but features Ruela’s prominently whom I now notice is wearing bath slippers to match his robe sets a tasting flight in front of me with six shots of sotol in as many earth-tone shades The anejo is lightly fruity and finished with sweet smoke A version blended with almond is rich with cinnamon and tropical flavors Another blended with walnut flavoring is cloyingly sweet Enrique Elias pours me a paper cup full of his clear reposado sotol—silky “like wet earth after it rains,” he says—as we sit in the back of a Starbucks and talks excitedly about his family’s Sotol Hacienda de Chihuahua compared to the 8-10 that it takes for tequila’s blue agave to be ready to harvest but Elias argues that the extra time in the ground gives sotol more richness and complexity which ultimately gives his spirit the advantage in the premium market The Hacienda is the largest producer of sotol in Mexico and is chasing the global market they’re open to a new agave experience,” explains Elias Elias’ sell does not draw heavily on tradition His company is built on the work of a distiller who once made brandy for Martell and he prefers to compare his sotol to other spirits that you’d drink with a cigar Elias flips up his phone to call an assistant to bring in a bottle of their newest “Platinum” sotol I note the flavor of roasting marshmallows with a floral smell and a hint of cinnamon “It’s like incorporating a very natural plant with a very high-end “Sotol—Johnny Depp actually came up with this—makes you eloquent.” Elias invites me to the smoking room at one of his favorite private clubs His wife is giving birth to their 12th child in El Paso and we share a cigar with a snifter of his “Plata” on the side we talk about Donald Trump’s election with an elderly man and a Pemex executive who spends an hour telling us how his company is casually hacking personal information from just about anyone they please in Mexico The scene is a little different as I pass back by Gerrardo Ruelas’ house in Juan Aldama As he refills my cup with his reposado and passes me a Styrofoam container of tacos from a stand around the corner he describes the recent small-batch mezcal market boom and how he’s invested in a couple of mezcal labels He’s hoping his Oro de Coyame sotol can follow that trend as drinkers look for the next new thing We load into his truck and drive to the palenque where all of his sotol is roasted in a pit ground by a mule pulling a stone in a circle the result of a property dispute with a neighbor and so Ruelas calls the police and we hop the fence I taste the lineup of young and aged sotols there is collection of gently vibrating buckets Ruelas pulls out a snake from one to milk it sotol aged with snake flesh and venom is also traditional Tasting notes: strong overtones of rotting meat When the police finish cutting their way through Oro de Coyame’s gate they unload from a squad of pickups with beers in hand Everything I’d ever heard about Mexican police tells me I should be worried saunters over and cracks open a bottle for me He has just had a baby and is celebrating harder than he is working He pulls out his phone and tours the distillery; as a result there is now a Facebook live video of me with a very jovial police officer floating around the internet “This is the best sotol in the world,” declares Ismael He proceeds to light some of Ruelas’ liquor on fire Ruelas pours some into a shot glass made of horn showing high alcohol levels that he estimates at 52 percent ABV Then Ruelas dips a graduated cylinder in a giant basin of sotol and proves himself right: a precise 52 percent Ruelas fills a gallon jug and pays the police in sotol Though he’s working to sell his nicely branded sotol in bars and restaurants plenty of his business still stops by for a sip “The future is definitely artisanal,” Ruelas says Join our newsletter to get exclusives on where our correspondents travel How a playful spirit made its way from Mexican beach towns to the cocktail bars of New York City and beyond How a 141-year old waste management company is pioneering the recycling—rather than mining—of phosphorus and other resources we need to keep feeding the world Covering stories that matter to the community San Diego State University-Imperial Valley Hosts Music and Mexican Independence Event Put On By Calexico Rotary Club CALEXICO — “¡Viva Mexico!” More than a refrain for the evening it was a spirit felt by all who attended the Mariachi sin Fronteras Festival on Saturday night to celebrate “El Grito,” Mexico’s “Cry for Independence,” on the campus of San Diego State University-Imperial Valley in Calexico voiced the traditional “Grito de Independencia” while people stood to pay respect with chants of “¡Viva Mexico!” and it concluded with Florentino Gutiérrez leading the people with the “Himno Nacional Mexicano,” or the Mexican national anthem The “Grito” itself represents when Father Miguel Hidalgo flanked by Ignacio Allende and Juan Aldama rang his church bell in the town of Dolores on Sept and called on all of Mexico to revolt against Spanish control The move triggered the Mexican War of Independence Long live the heroes who gave us our homeland SDSU-Imperial Valley Dean Gina Nuñez-Mchiri welcomed those who gathered on Rollie Carrillo Quad on blankets and in lawn chairs to hear music and celebrate Mexico’s independence So many people are here today with their kids so you can have this beautiful event today Mexican consular assistant Florentino Gutierrez commented on the success of the evening and how he was pleased to see so many people still connected to their Mexican roots such as “how to celebrate Mexican Independence Day ‘El Grito.’ … The event came out beautiful.” Scores of people spread out along the open quad where children ran around and played near the stage area put his skills to work introducing the local musical and dance acts and acting as the playful jester interacting with the crowd.  In addition to the entertainment on the stage the university’s Steppling Art Gallery offered a Mexican cultural art exhibit “A Darle que es Mole de Olla,” a visual exhibition of a popular Mexican proverb “A darle que es mole de olla” is an expression that means to do something now and look for the best way to solve it putting effort into this activity and fulfilling an obligation with a positive attitude Numerous vendor booths were also set up around the quad selling everything from toys that lit up the night for the children in attendance or some artisan jewelry and  traditional clothing tto fit in with the theme of the night it was the local mariachi and folklorico dancers who were the “estrellas” of the evening as they put on a great show and entertained hundreds of guests and many local dignitaries while everyone ate tacos chugged “cerveza,” all the traditional cuisine of southwest Mexican culture twirled and stepped with their traditional dances in brightly colored ruffled skirts trimmed with ribbons shoes with heavy clog-like heels and ornate hair pieces Musicians in traditional charro outfits from Mariachi Amanecer of Imperial and Mariachi Aurora de Calexico The festival started off with Grupo Norteño Corona Olga Vega-Pradis of SDSU-Imperial Valley said the festival was exemplified by its focus on “family.”  help them understand our culture and show them the beauty of Mexico and its people,” Vega-Pradis said She also said she was happy with today’s turnout “We wanted a big turnout and that’s what we got.” The Mariachi sin Fronteras Festival was put on by the Calexico Rotary Club and the city of Calexico as a fundraising event and has been helping students for many years providing scholarships to both SDSU-IV students as well as local high school students well executed and people are happy,” Calexico Mayor Raul Ureña “It shows a deep connection and renewed collaboration with SDSU-IV with the Consulate and community organizations like the Rotarians.” Longtime Calexico resident Sylvia Bernal said “A lot of people have been saying that this is the first time that there’s been an event in Calexico in a long time where the community can just come out and enjoy the evening and enjoy a nice event I think that is why there is such a big crowd because people want to be around people For advertising and submission of legal notices or inquiries email: info@calexicochronicle.com This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Already have an account? Log in here Aerospace engineering freshman Carlos Rubio holds a photo of him and his grandmother in Mexico when he was a baby Feb Political science sophomore Maribel Hernandez (left) and her siblings Hernandez an her mother journeyed to the United States from Juan Aldama in Zacatecas she and her pregnant mother began their journey to the United States from Juan Aldama in Zacatecas They rode in a series of trucks for hundreds of miles with others on other journeys Immigration and Customs Enforcement and helicopters Sickness in the trucks was rampant — if someone got sick Hernandez and her mother later reunited with Hernandez’s father who had already come to the United States by plane Students pay about $14 in fees that support the Daily If you're not a student and value our work Hernandez applied for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals soon after President Barack Obama’s administration created it in June 2012 The program allows undocumented people who entered the United States as minors and meet other criteria to receive renewable two-year relief from deportation and it makes them eligible for work permits Hernandez is now a political science sophomore with an uncertain future in a tumultuous political climate vice president for the university community said admissions' office data shows there are 75 undocumented students at OU President Donald Trump said he would repeal DACA calling it “illegal amnesty.” He has since softened his stance on DACA saying at a White House press conference Feb 16 that it’s a “difficult subject” for him DACA’s future is up in the air — the Trump administration may repeal or change the program They’re not sending you,” Trump said pointing at people in a crowd June 16 “They’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems with us “They sacrificed their entire lives just for me And to hear someone say that Mexico sends it worst and for someone to run their campaign on such hateful words aerospace engineering freshman from Jalisco said people who agree with Trump’s rhetoric don’t see who immigrants really are “They don’t see what’s good from them and what they can bring to society,” he said On Feb. 17, The Associated Press reported that the Department of Homeland Security had weighed using 100,000 National Guard troops for immigration roundups although the White House has denied that report’s validity an immigration attorney in Oklahoma City who said he has assisted in processing 100 to 300 DACA applications said there is fear that Trump may reverse the deportation philosophy set forth by the Obama administration which was to prioritize deporting criminals before anyone else “DACAs right now still are last in line for deportation,” Langer said the natural reaction of the enforcement is to go for low-hanging fruit because that’s how you put up the most impressive numbers That’s how you’re able to round up the most people.” Even with that philosophy, ICE deported 3,118,927 people under the Obama administration — more than it did under any other president Rubio said he is worried that Trump will deport even more “That number is going to shoot up,” he said Oklahoma was one of the most pro-Trump states in the country during the presidential election with more than 65 percent of its votes going to the real estate mogul Not only do Rubio and Hernandez think Trump and his administration are against them they also think Oklahoma’s federal representatives — Sens Rubio said there are pockets of support within the state an Oklahoma City-based organization that helps undocumented students through mentorship Rubio’s OU experience began as a student at Booker T Rubio said Shumate began mentoring him when he found out about Rubio’s undocumented status Shumate said Rubio is like a little brother to him “He was one of the first students I had a chance to personally recruit and we’ve become very close,” Shumate said “Carlos Rubio is a survivor,” he continued “He doesn’t let any setbacks cause him to be bitter or be ungrateful Student Government Association President J.D and other students have also expressed support for undocumented students according to a statement from OU press secretary Matt Epting which expressed his support of undocumented students and asked them to support the proposed BRIDGE Act Baker said he has not yet heard back from any of the three politicians The Daily also contacted Lankford and Inhofe Feb 12 regarding the BRIDGE Act and Baker’s letters but received no response “If they responded (to Baker’s letters) .. it would feel like they were listening,” Rubio said government had approved 1,340,305 total requests for initial and renewed deferred action but Langer said it would be “catastrophic” if Trump deported everyone protected under DACA “The country runs on stability and confidence Our country doesn’t run on chaos and misdirection,” Langer said “It would take us from an immigrant-created country over to the category of a nationalist sort of country Langer said he does not think Trump will immediately remove every DACA-protected person from the country He said he thinks Trump will most likely let applications in process go through but still remove them when their two-year deferral is over “To be uncertain about your future … I guess we’ve lived with that for our whole lives,” Rubio said Rubio and Hernandez are trying to be optimistic Hernandez said she thinks all the time about her deferred action being repealed “If I don’t end up receiving full citizenship then I guess I’m gonna have to follow my dreams elsewhere or try to get back somehow,” Hernandez said Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Total applications approved: 1,340,305 (initial requests and renewals) Total applications denied: 68,240 (initial requests and renewals) Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Students pay about $14 in fees that support the Daily. If you're not a student and value our work, please disable your ad blocker or click here to match that if you can. Five drug cartels are involved in the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs in Zacatecas according to the state public security secretary Ismael Camberos Hernández told the newspaper El Universal that the Gulf Cartel the Northeast Cartel and Los Talibanes have long had a presence in Zacatecas through which drugs pass en route from Pacific coast states such as Jalisco and Colima to Mexico’s northeast border with the United States the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) have also become involved in the drug trade in Zacatecas The former’s presence is strongest in the municipalities of Mazapil The CJNG’s involvement in the trafficking and transport of fentanyl and other narcotics is via a pact with the Gulf Cartel The direct and indirect entry of the two powerful cartels has not caused violence to increase – homicides declined 7.6% last year to 634 cases from 686 cases in 2018 – but kidnapping and extortion are both up For his part, Zacatecas Governor Alejandro Tello Cristerna declared that there will be no complacency from authorities in the face of the threat posed by the two groups, identified by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration as the two most dominant cartels in that country Tello said that he has spoken with the governors of both Jalisco and Sinaloa about what can be done at a regional level to combat the criminal organizations [The cartels] are companies that are seeking to expand,” he said adding that Zacatecas’ geography provided both blessings and curses it places us in a position of great vulnerability,” the governor said because the state is on the way to the U.S. which is the largest drug consumption market in the world Tello expressed confidence that the deployment of 1,900 members of the National Guard will help to combat trafficking in Zacatecas There are two important federal highways that pass through the state en route to the border with the United States: federal highway 54 between Colima and Tamaulipas and highway 45 which runs to the border from central Mexico Fentanyl has been seized from vehicles traveling on the highways since 2018 Almost five kilograms of the synthetic opioid whose demand in the United States has surged in recent years while authorities confiscated just under a kilo of 97% pure fentanyl in October “What drives the cartels is money and as long as fentanyl yields large profits,” they will be involved in trafficking it The drug, considered up to 50 times more potent than heroin, is produced in Mexican states such as Jalisco and Durango with precursors imported from China and other Asian nations via Pacific coast ports including Manzanillo Clandestine labs have also been found in Zacatecas municipalities near the state’s border with Jalisco Security specialist Ricardo Márquez Blas warned last year that Mexico was on track to become the largest producer of fentanyl in the world predicting that the shipment of precursors to the country will only rise cartels will not only export more fentanyl to the United States but also begin to sell the drug domestically Source: El Universal (sp)  the Grito de Dolores — the famous call to arms or “cry for independence” made by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1810 on the steps of the parish church in Dolores Hidalgo — is reenacted in cities and towns of all sizes throughout Mexico followed in most cases by an impressive fireworks display and jubilant celebrations The festivities continue throughout September 16 with parades featuring schoolchildren dressed as adorable revolutionaries and plenty of patriotic speeches But one small community with a big claim to fame adds a particularly poignant commemoration to the mix home to the once-powerful Hacienda de la Asunción de la Erre lies four kilometers from that famous church in Dolores Hidalgo and it was the first stop for Padre Hidalgo and his ragtag band of soldiers on their march to war The actual Grito de Dolores happened around 2:30 a.m when Hidalgo rang the church bells to call his congregation from their beds With Ignacio Allende and Juan Aldama at his side While Allende and Aldama then rode off to garner reinforcements Hidalgo led a band of men to the Hacienda de la Erre and over a meal with the owners of the hacienda they reflected on what they had just done and considered how best to move forward Father Hidalgo said a mass for the assembled rebels—who represented a wide variety of social classes—under a mesquite tree at 11 a.m providing a powerful religious imprimatur to the cause of justice and independence the fledgling fighters then marched on to Atotonilco and San Miguel de Allende A commemorative mass is now said every year on that exact spot logging and even a lightning bolt that cracked it causing many of its branches to lie at ground level no one complained when a young child climbed onto the inviting branches The Hacienda de la Erre was one of the oldest in Mexico founded by the sixth Mariscal de Castilla Construction of the current buildings began in 1635 subdelegada (local government representative) Erika Morales shared her passion for her community and its place in history I feel a profound connection to this earth and the powerful moment in history that occurred right here and faith were put forth as the goals of our nation.” The current condition of the hacienda makes the annual commemorative event all the more poignant While the 389-year-old exterior walls of the enormous main house still stand the interior is crumbling into ruin due to severe floods that have caused the foundation to sink by several meters This and other difficulties such as Conagua expropriation and the economic challenges of maintaining such a property have resulted in it becoming unlivable “I feel such nostalgia for my childhood here in this beautiful place,” said Angelina Torres Aguilar who co-owns the property with other family members She grew up at the ex-hacienda when it was still a working cattle ranch with turkeys and over a hundred peacocks The villagers would gather peacock feathers and take them into Dolores to sell “We dream of one day being able to restore it to a condition worthy of its history.” shared more of that history: “The Ruta de la Plata the main road of Camino Real Tierra Adentro haciendas and towns from Guanajuato to Mexico City and Veracruz among many more cities bring together people from all over the world with different belief systems and that’s exactly what happened here: there was a great mestizaje free mulatos as well as indigenous cultures brought in from other parts of Mexico this region was Nuevo España’s northern frontier The diverse contributions of so many different cultures forged this country.” “There has certainly been suffering in the course of that history our society still must strive toward justice in order to create peace We still have work to do — and remembering our history is an important part of it.” Three Westchester residents won a combined $13 million from the New York Lottery and were identified today and presented with ceremonial checks at Yonkers Empire City Casino.  won $7 million in the CASH4LIFE Jackpot after drawing the winning numbers 3-26-30-51-53 and Cash Ball 4 on March 19.  won $5 million in a Set for Life scratch-off ticket and said he'll share it with his close friend Juan Aldama Mendez.  won the $1 million second prize from the April 10 Mega Millions drawing Aprile's winning numbers were 5-13-31-43-53 Mega Ball 20.  DATABASE: How to find the luckiest lottery stores in New York Morano popped into Madaba Deli & Grocery in Ardsley before visiting her father and bought the Quick Pick ticket while the cashier was ringing her up.  She said her father always told her to stop playing the Lottery because "I was wasting my money." Now Morano is $4.7 million richer (after withholdings).  "I'm glad I didn't listen to him this time," Morano said.  She said she wants to buy a house and take care of her teenage sons and extended family.  “We won’t have to struggle anymore We’ll be able to get ahead in life,” Morano said Rosado went from 16-hour days to millionaireRosado works 16 hours a day for six days a week as a doorman.  he saw a coworker buy a Set for Life ticket from a Bronx bodega and decided to give it a shot.  revealed a match on number 14 with the word LIFE and suddenly became a millionaire.  "The two of us were talking about what we would do if we ever won that kind of money It made me want to go out and get one of my own,” Rosado said.  “I feel both blessed and lucky Blessed because I put in 16 hours a day six days a week and I think it’s like payback for being a hard worker I feel lucky because it could have been someone else.” Rosado said he's going to split the prize with his close friend Each received a net check of nearly $1.3 million (after withholdings).  will first go moving out of the home that he currently shares with his mom Then he wants  to use the money to try his luck as an entrepreneur.  “I want to buy a condo for me and a new home for my mom,” he said Aprile bought a Mega Millions ticket from a Pleasantville gas station but didn't think much of it until one of the employees told her that the gas station sold a winning ticket.  "An employee from the gas station told me that I should check my ticket because they sold a million dollar winner,” Aprile said.  “She made sure to tell me because she knows I let me tickets pile up before I check them." She'll receive a net check of $671,800 (after withholdings).  She said the money will go towards her children and her retirement.  "I’ll also treat myself to an extra trip or two to the spa each year,” Aprile said.  sits shoulder to shoulder with other Mexican asylum seekers on a dirty curb at the foot of the Santa Fe international bridge He was beaten to death two years ago by the same gang now threatening her daughter the heads of the dead appear in plastic bags who arrived last week from Michoacán state with her 13-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter “It is said that they were killed by the cartel She is one of more than 100 Mexican asylum seekers fleeing brutal violence who have recently been turned back by U.S Customs and Border Protection to wait in the country they are trying to escape CBP has processed hundreds of others in recent weeks but is struggling to keep up with the rising number of asylum seekers from Mexico The El Paso Times is withholding the asylum seekers' full names because they remain at risk Mexicans are explicitly exempt from the Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" policy that sends asylum seekers from all other countries back to border cities to await court hearings in the U.S But they are nevertheless being caught in the border backlog More: 'We should be prepared': After the crisis of migrant children at the Texas border, what's next? director of the Annunciation House shelter network said CBP released 286 Mexican asylum seekers into the shelter's care on Tuesday and Wednesday alone "They tell us they are trying to process families as quickly and efficiently as they can," Garcia said while continuing to manage the daily international traffic of vehicles and pedestrians "There seems to be something of a bottleneck on the ability of CBP to process them in the numbers at which they are arriving." But for someone fleeing organized crime in Mexico the streets of Juárez bear a special risk "There is a whole other level of problem when you stop someone from leaving the country they are fleeing," said Jeremy Slack a UTEP researcher and author of "Deported to Death: How Drug Violence is Changing Migration on the U.S "If you are fleeing from a criminal cartel or gang in Zacatecas the likelihood they know and work with people in Juarez is almost guaranteed," he said People are in extremely dangerous situations." CBP says it “will process whomever is at the queue when capacity allows.” the line begins at the top of the international bridges where CBP officers are stationed to block those without documents from entering U.S The ACLU maintains that people have the legal right to seek asylum and other forms of protection at the U.S “When someone expresses a desire to apply for asylum or a fear of returning to their country of origin CBP is required to provide that person with an opportunity to seek protection,” according to the ACLU “CBP officers are not authorized to evaluate the individual’s asylum claims themselves or to turn people away.” It’s a practice immigration advocates call “metering,” and it’s been going on for more than a year in El Paso as the number of migrants seeking humanitarian relief at the border surged More: Want asylum? Take a number: Juarez waitlist grows to 5,500; Cubans make up the majority 1 in defensive asylum claims — those made at or between a port of entry — from 2014 to 2018 according to the Executive Office of Immigration Review But Mexicans are less likely to be granted asylum than applicants from China CBP said its officers stationed at the borderline aren't weighing the validity of an asylum claim but are "rather making certain those who intend to apply have entry documents."   “If they do not and there is no space available at the CBP facility they are instructed to wait,” the customs agency said “Every month CBP officers in El Paso are processing hundreds of asylum seekers who claim fear at area ports from a variety of nations including Mexico.” migrants wait for the callThe Mexican migrants crowd the sidewalks where burrito vendors do brisk business before dawn citizen students living in Mexico line up to go to school in El Paso a slow-rolling line of passenger vehicles at the border chokes the air with exhaust The number of Mexicans waiting in Juárez to seek asylum in the U.S began rising in June and July and “then in August it exploded,” Slack said “The waiting in the street might be a result of the explosion in numbers." about 1,900 Mexicans have voluntarily registered with a Chihuahua state-run migrant aid center in downtown Juárez, according to Dirvin Garcia deputy director of the center that maintains a list of asylum seekers from Cuba and Central America CBP hasn’t called up numbers on the list of asylum seekers maintained by the migrant aid center since Sept The agency has been requesting five or 10 people at a time but the Mexican migrants have chosen to bunk down within view of the entrance to the Santa Fe bridge The Mexican migrants began their own separate list CBP said it contacts Mexico's National Migration Institute to advise when a certain number of Mexican asylum seekers may be allowed to cross On the clipboard list is the family of a man murdered with a machete in the small Zacatecas town of Juan Aldama More: Border Patrol apprehensions decline in August in El Paso region, breaking pattern Two days after his cousin was killed there He, his wife and three young children ― and 25 other relatives ― left for Juárez They were resting on mats against the wall of a currency exchange last Friday and had been sleeping outside for about a week “We’re better off here where we know everyone,” José A. said “and where we can see if they call us.” "I met the family" from Juan Aldama, Valenzuela said waiting for the moment when CBP makes the call So it's not so easy to make them wait a long time in this country."  Mexico has been engulfed in a wave of violence stemming from the splintering of criminal organizations Homicides in Mexico have climbed in the double digits each of the past three years and the first six months of 2019 became the bloodiest first half of any year on record with 14,603 homicides nationwide according to the country’s National System of Public Security agency "The drug war never stopped," said David Shirk director of the Justice in Mexico program at the University of San Diego "But the violence is much more diffused today," he said "The problems of violent crime have spread to a greater number of geographic areas of Mexico Part of that is the proliferation and splintering of organized crime groups." Michoacan and Guerrero were among the Mexican states with the highest per-capita homicide rates The asylum seekers in Juárez come from some of those hardest-hit regions Hundreds have left the small farming community of about 15,000 people for the Juárez-El Paso border ever since the police chief and his bodyguard were gunned down in July Towns in the southern state of Michoacán, where Maria A.'s husband was murdered, have been besieged by organized crime for years She didn't consider leaving until her teenage daughter began to receive threats by phone Then armed men began following her to the store That was when she took her kids to the bus station and left for Juárez And now we're just waiting to see if they give us a chance Lauren Villagran covers the border and can be reached at lvillagran@elpasotimes.com just outside the Buenavista subway station darkness converges on the semi-rough streets of near-north Mexico City t-shirts and general attitude – gathers for Tianguis Cultural del Chopo: “The Punk Market,” “The Metal Market” or “The Goth Market,” depending on your distinct “El Chopo” is a weekly flea market dedicated to the somewhat fringe arts often associated with the general lack of color: books on Satanism and black magic; underground films; bondage-inspired fashion; and records and t-shirts from classic rock to severely piercing heavy metal El Chopo originally sprung up in 1980 just outside the Museo Universitario del Chopo with a small group of hippie-leaning artists as a place to trade books and LPs that were often hard to find in Mexico As is the case with many of Mexico City’s weekly tianguis where it now runs alongside the beautiful Vasconcelos Library while these scenes gained momentum as the more outwardly countercultural movements of the time when young kids opening their eyes to the darkness for the first time mix with semi-practiced teens and old-timers in their 40s and 50s who’ve been committed to the scene for years El Chopo is the spot in Mexico City to show off your best gear – leathers and chains stylized eye makeup and decades-old t-shirts from obscure bands that have long since disbanded The biggest draws at the market these days are the screen-printed knock-off t-shirts from mainstays like Metallica and The Ramones and anarchist punk and ska bands from around the world the skull is king and the logo from American horror punk favorites The shirts are generally well-made and can run from about 50 to 250 pesos the price rising with the intricacy of the design Classic band logos are interspersed with homemade Chopo originals like a soft Renaissance nude above the sharp-edged logo of Norwegian black metal pillars Toward the back of the tianguis is the Radio Chopo stage appropriately situated directly in front of an electrical substation the veritable pulse of modern Mexican metal Up to five bands and DJs perform weekly – giving viewers a chance to see renowned bands for free and smaller bands a chance for exposure to a pre-made audience which can make for an interesting sight of sweaty longhairs headbanging to death metal in the blazing early afternoon sun Directly in front of the stage are the roving LP carrying crates and bags overflowing with American and British rock classics and harder-to-find underground Latin American punk and ska almost all guys) are in it for the love and offer the chance to dive into some rare Mexican psychedelic gems like Zig Zag Grupo Nahuatl and Peace & Love for as little as 100 pesos Some of the vendors have been collecting records since long before El Chopo began and trading since its inception so it can be a great opportunity to hear stories from the 60s and 70s They were shunned in the streets and their concerts regularly shut down when the “normal” citizenry found it just fine that the police should beat the hell out of the freaks: the good ol’ days • Tianguis Cultural El Chopo runs every Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm on Calle Juan Aldama This is the 17th in a series on the bazaars The young Yakarés are to play as the home side in the upcoming South American Under 19 Championship and will do so as the lowest ranked side Visiting Asunción will be the under 19 teams from Brazil In other words Paraguay will be hosting the under 19 level players of 50% of the countries included in the proposed Americas Six Nations Paraguay will open the 2015 South American Under 19 Championship against Uruguay on August 9 while Brazil will also play that day against Chile Round two will be played three days later with matches between the winners and losers of the opening round Round three is to then be played on August 15 with the it serving to determine the final places of all four competitors The competition will be played at the Héroes de Curupatyty Paraguay’s national rugby stadium in Asunción Tags Mexico hosted and defeated Jamaica on Saturday Mexico today celebrates national holidays for the 206 anniversary of Independence with the traditional military parade where thousands of troops and military means involved Led by Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto the parade involves more than 23 thousand items of the Armed Forces and the Federal Police with the traditional military parade where thousands of troops and military means involved Led by Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto the military parade will begin with the flight of an eagle represented in the shield and the flag of Mexico on the Zocalo at 11 pm on September 15 known as the Griot de Dolores was performed at the National Palace the president of the nation is responsible for ringing the bell of Dolores El Grito de Dolores is considered the act that started the War of Independence of Mexico in the company of Ignacio Allende and Juan Aldama made the call to his parishioners to rise up against the colonial authority of New Spain for which Hidalgo tolled one of the bells of the parish of Dolores The fireworks are part of the show each year with the Grito de Dolores So Mexico celebrates in these two days of September which is called the Month of the Fatherland Escambray reserves the right to publish comments and website in this browser for the next time I comment Estado de Zacatecas has relatively few earthquakes Based on data from the past 55 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900 there are about 30.2 quakes on average per year in or near Estado de Zacatecas Estado de Zacatecas has had at least 3 quakes above magnitude 6 since 1900 which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently probably on average approximately every 40 to 45 years Estado de Zacatecas has about 18.7 quakes of magnitude 2 or higher per year The quake had a very shallow depth of 32 km (20 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter Estado de Zacatecas was shaken by 5 quakes of magnitude 4.0 or above There have been also 21 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel 2024 at 7.11 pm local time (America/Monterrey GMT -6) The depth of the quake is unknown.The quake was felt by many near the epicenter.