Hurricane Olaf has slammed into the Los Cabos resorts at the tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula and it's drenching the region with torrential rains. WION brings you a report.

Hurricane Olaf hits Mexico’s Los Cabos resorts at Category 2

Hurricane Olaf weakened to a Category One storm on Friday as it swept through Mexico's Baja California peninsula and as the disaster-prone country recovered from a 7.1-magnitude earthquake and major flooding.

But Olaf still threatened more damage, causing "hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall" over the Baja California Sur, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest report.

Olaf made landfall near the city of San Jose del Cabo late Thursday as a Category Two storm near the beach resorts of Los Cabos before it dropped to the lowest on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale.

A hurricane warning was in effect for a stretch of Baja California coastline from Los Barriles to Cabo San Lazaro.

"Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion," the NHC said earlier as the storm approached.

A dangerous storm surge was expected to be accompanied by large and damaging waves near the coast, the NHC said, warning that heavy rainfall may trigger "significant and life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides."

Authorities set up storm shelters and school children in the state of Baja California Sur were told to stay home on Friday.

Ports were closed for smaller boats and flights were cancelled at the Los Cabos and La Paz airports.

The storm was forecast to churn over the southern coast of Baja California before heading west out over sea again late Friday or early Saturday.

"Gradual weakening is expected through Friday as Olaf interacts with land. Further weakening is likely over the weekend after Olaf moves away from Baja California Sur," the NHC said.

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The hurricane comes as when Mexico recovers from a 7.1-magnitude earthquake and major flooding in the disaster-prone country.

Fourteen patients at a hospital in the town of Tula in the central state of Hidalgo died this week after flooding disrupted the power supply and life-sustaining oxygen treatment.

Tens of thousands of residents were affected after a river in the town burst its banks, forcing people to leave their homes.

Jenny Casillas, a housewife in her 40s, told AFP on Thursday that the water reached the roof of her house in less than 10 minutes&nbsp;

"From one moment to the next, everything got out of control," she said.

Then came the earthquake that left at least one person dead on Tuesday in the southern state of Guerrero, damaged buildings and was felt hundreds of kilometers away.

"The rain didn't let up and then to top it all came the earthquake," said Marisela Maya, 31, who works at a clinic in Tula.

"It will be difficult for us to climb out of this situation," she said.

Hurricane Olaf weakened to a Category One storm on Friday as it swept through Mexico's Baja California peninsula and as the disaster-prone country recovered from a 7.

Hurricane Olaf weakened to a Category One storm on Friday as it swept through Mexico's Baja California peninsula and as the disaster-prone country recovered from a 7.1-magnitude earthquake and major flooding. But Olaf still threatened more damage, causing "hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall" over the Baja California Sur, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest report. Olaf made landfall near the city of San Jose del Cabo late Thursday as a Category Two storm near the beach resorts of Los Cabos before it dropped to the lowest on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale. A hurricane warning was in effect for a stretch of Baja California coastline from Los Barriles to Cabo San Lazaro. "Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion," the NHC said earlier as the storm approached. A dangerous storm surge was expected to be accompanied by large and damaging waves near the coast, the NHC said, warning that heavy rainfall may trigger "significant and life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides." Authorities set up storm shelters and school children in the state of Baja California Sur were told to stay home on Friday. Ports were closed for smaller boats and flights were cancelled at the Los Cabos and La Paz airports. The storm was forecast to churn over the southern coast of Baja California before heading west out over sea again late Friday or early Saturday. "Gradual weakening is expected through Friday as Olaf interacts with land. Further weakening is likely over the weekend after Olaf moves away from Baja California Sur," the NHC said. Also read | White House says Biden, Jinping hold first phone call in seven months The hurricane comes as when Mexico recovers from a 7.1-magnitude earthquake and major flooding in the disaster-prone country. Fourteen patients at a hospital in the town of Tula in the central state of Hidalgo died this week after flooding disrupted the power supply and life-sustaining oxygen treatment. Tens of thousands of residents were affected after a river in the town burst its banks, forcing people to leave their homes. Jenny Casillas, a housewife in her 40s, told AFP on Thursday that the water reached the roof of her house in less than 10 minutes "From one moment to the next, everything got out of control," she said. Then came the earthquake that left at least one person dead on Tuesday in the southern state of Guerrero, damaged buildings and was felt hundreds of kilometers away. "The rain didn't let up and then to top it all came the earthquake," said Marisela Maya, 31, who works at a clinic in Tula. "It will be difficult for us to climb out of this situation," she said.

Hurricane Olaf weakens over Mexico's Baja California peninsula

Mexico is battling with floods and earthquakes. Government authorities have advised people to move to higher grounds. The heavy rainfall also caused flooding at a hospital in central Hidalgo state in Mexico.

Mexico battles floods and earthquakes, people advised to move higher grounds

Migrants in Mexico set out to US defying immigration rules and challenging detentions. US-Mexico border is facing its worst migrant crisis.

US-Mexico border faces its worst migrant crisis

Jeanette Zacarias Zapata, an 18-year-old boxer from Mexico, died Thursday, five days after she was knocked out in a fight, promoter Yvon Michel said.

"It is with great sadness and torment that we learned, from a representative of her family, that Jeanette Zacarias Zapata passed away this afternoon at 3:45 p.m.," a statement from Groupe Yvon Michel said.

Zapata took part in the GYM Gala International Boxing event Saturday in Montreal, losing to Marie Pier Houle in the fourth round of a welterweight match.

A left uppercut and right hook from Houle dazed Zapata in the fourth round.

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She did not answer the bell for the fifth round of the scheduled six-round professional bout, and after she appeared to have a seizure she was stretchered out of the ring and taken to hospital.

"The entire team at Groupe Yvon Michel team is extremely distressed by this painful announcement," the promoters said in their statement offering condolences to the fighter's family and in particular her husband, Jovanni Martinez.

"Jovanni does not wish to comment," the statement said.

Houle had posted a statement on her Facebook account Monday saying she was upset by the outcome of the bout.

"Boxing carries a lot of risks and dangers," she said. "This is our job, our passion. Never, forever, intention to seriously hurt an opponent is part of my plans."

Jeanette Zacarias Zapata, an 18-year-old boxer from Mexico, died Thursday, five days after she was knocked out in a fight, promoter Yvon Michel said. "It is with great sadness and torment that we learned, from a representative of her family, that Jeanette Zacarias Zapata passed away this afternoon at 3:45 p.

Jeanette Zacarias Zapata, an 18-year-old boxer from Mexico, died Thursday, five days after she was knocked out in a fight, promoter Yvon Michel said. "It is with great sadness and torment that we learned, from a representative of her family, that Jeanette Zacarias Zapata passed away this afternoon at 3:45 p.m.," a statement from Groupe Yvon Michel said. Zapata took part in the GYM Gala International Boxing event Saturday in Montreal, losing to Marie Pier Houle in the fourth round of a welterweight match. A left uppercut and right hook from Houle dazed Zapata in the fourth round. ALSO READ | Video: Raheem Sterling pelted with beer cups as England players targeted with racial abuses by Hungary supporters She did not answer the bell for the fifth round of the scheduled six-round professional bout, and after she appeared to have a seizure she was stretchered out of the ring and taken to hospital. "The entire team at Groupe Yvon Michel team is extremely distressed by this painful announcement," the promoters said in their statement offering condolences to the fighter's family and in particular her husband, Jovanni Martinez. "Jovanni does not wish to comment," the statement said. Houle had posted a statement on her Facebook account Monday saying she was upset by the outcome of the bout. "Boxing carries a lot of risks and dangers," she said. "This is our job, our passion. Never, forever, intention to seriously hurt an opponent is part of my plans."

Jeanette Zacarias Zapata: Mexican teen boxer dies of injuries suffered in ring

In Mexico, a company is now offering tourists an opportunity to learn all about pearl cultivation and the age-old secrets and traditions of the country's pearl producers.

Mexico pearl farmers aim to boost production with biotechnology

Five workers were killed and six injured in Sunday's fire on an offshore platform in the southern Gulf of Mexico operated by Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) that cut about a quarter of Mexico's oil production, the company said on Monday.

The fire broke out as crews were performing maintenance on the platform, and a search for missing workers continues, Pemex Chief Executive Octavio Romero told a news conference.

The platform remains out of operation, with about 421,000 barrels per day of oil lost and 125 wells offline, he said. The loss of output was slightly less than Reuters reported earlier on Monday, citing a company document.

The company plans to resume power supply to the facility and connected wells by Wednesday, aiming to restore gas and oil output afterward. The impact of the accident on Pemex's monthly production and exports had not yet been estimated, Romero said.

The heavily indebted Pemex has long had a checkered record on security, and dozens of people have been killed in major accidents in the past. Still, the platform fire was one of the worst Pemex has suffered under the current government.

"There is not a problem of lack of investment, there is not a problem of lack of resources," Romero said. "The oil industry is a risky industry. We have had accidents, which in numbers are less than in previous years."

A fire at another Pemex platform in the Bay of Campeche caused by an underwater gas pipeline leak was dubbed an "eye of fire" on social media due to the July blaze's circular shape. It took more than five hours to extinguish.

A rapid decline in the availability of gas, used by Pemex to boost oil at its Ku-Maloob-Zaap fields, knocked crude output in that cluster to nearly 275,000 bpd through early Monday from more than 719,000 bpd on Sunday, a document seen by Reuters showed.

Pemex's total crude production was 1.69 million bpd in June.

Four of those killed in Sunday's fire were from a contracting firm, Mexican oil services company Cotemar, and one from Pemex, Romero said.

Pemex has said two people at the site are still missing. They are from another contracting firm, earlier named as Bufete de Monitoreo de Condiciones e Integridad.

Pemex said it would investigate what caused the blaze at the E-Ku-A2 platform, part of the Ku-Maloob-Zaap complex's gas processing facility in the Bay of Campeche. The fire was brought under control on Sunday afternoon.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who expressed sorrow at the incident at a morning news conference, has made reviving Pemex's fortunes a top priority of his government.

Five workers were killed and six injured in Sunday's fire on an offshore platform in the southern Gulf of Mexico operated by Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) that cut about a quarter of Mexico's oil production, the company said on Monday.

Five workers were killed and six injured in Sunday's fire on an offshore platform in the southern Gulf of Mexico operated by Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) that cut about a quarter of Mexico's oil production, the company said on Monday. The fire broke out as crews were performing maintenance on the platform, and a search for missing workers continues, Pemex Chief Executive Octavio Romero told a news conference. The platform remains out of operation, with about 421,000 barrels per day of oil lost and 125 wells offline, he said. The loss of output was slightly less than Reuters reported earlier on Monday, citing a company document. The company plans to resume power supply to the facility and connected wells by Wednesday, aiming to restore gas and oil output afterward. The impact of the accident on Pemex's monthly production and exports had not yet been estimated, Romero said. The heavily indebted Pemex has long had a checkered record on security, and dozens of people have been killed in major accidents in the past. Still, the platform fire was one of the worst Pemex has suffered under the current government. "There is not a problem of lack of investment, there is not a problem of lack of resources," Romero said. "The oil industry is a risky industry. We have had accidents, which in numbers are less than in previous years." A fire at another Pemex platform in the Bay of Campeche caused by an underwater gas pipeline leak was dubbed an "eye of fire" on social media due to the July blaze's circular shape. It took more than five hours to extinguish. A rapid decline in the availability of gas, used by Pemex to boost oil at its Ku-Maloob-Zaap fields, knocked crude output in that cluster to nearly 275,000 bpd through early Monday from more than 719,000 bpd on Sunday, a document seen by Reuters showed. Pemex's total crude production was 1.69 million bpd in June. Four of those killed in Sunday's fire were from a contracting firm, Mexican oil services company Cotemar, and one from Pemex, Romero said. Pemex has said two people at the site are still missing. They are from another contracting firm, earlier named as Bufete de Monitoreo de Condiciones e Integridad. Pemex said it would investigate what caused the blaze at the E-Ku-A2 platform, part of the Ku-Maloob-Zaap complex's gas processing facility in the Bay of Campeche. The fire was brought under control on Sunday afternoon. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who expressed sorrow at the incident at a morning news conference, has made reviving Pemex's fortunes a top priority of his government.

Five killed in Mexico's oil platform fire, hammering Mexico output

Five members of an all-girl Afghan robotics team arrived in Mexico on Tuesday evening, fleeing an uncertain future at home after the recent collapse of the U.S.-backed government and takeover by the Taliban militant group.

"We give you the warmest welcome to Mexico," said Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister Martha Delgado as she greeted them during a news conference at Mexico City's international airport.

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan last week as the United States and its allies withdrew troops from the country. The White House and U.S. allies are racing to complete the evacuation of all foreigners and vulnerable Afghans before the expiry of an August 31 deadline agreed with the Taliban, U.S. President Joe Biden said this week.&nbsp;

The team, made up of girls and women as young as 14, has been heralded for winning international awards for its robots and started work in March on an open-source, low-cost ventilator as the coronavirus pandemic hit the war-torn nation.

The Taliban, which previously barred girls from schools and women from working when they ruled Afghanistan in the late 1990s, has promised to prioritize women's rights and girls' education.

Mexico has pledged to aid Afghan women and girls. Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Twitter on Aug. 18 that the country had begun "processing of the first refugee applications of Afghan citizens, especially women and girls who have requested it," with the aid of Guillermo Puente Ordorica, Ambassador of Mexico in Iran.

Tuesday's safe arrival in Mexico was made possible by an "extensive international effort and coordination from a group of volunteers" who helped the girls, according to a volunteer who requested anonymity for fear of the safety of the families that remain under Taliban control.

The foreign ministry invited press to the arrival gates at Mexico City's airport at 3 a.m. local time on Wednesday, saying a "large group of people from Afghanistan is expected to arrive" and Ebrard will offer a message.

Other members of the robotics team landed in Qatar in recent days.

Five members of an all-girl Afghan robotics team arrived in Mexico on Tuesday evening, fleeing an uncertain future at home after the recent collapse of the U.S.-backed government and takeover by the Taliban militant group.

Five members of an all-girl Afghan robotics team arrived in Mexico on Tuesday evening, fleeing an uncertain future at home after the recent collapse of the U.S.-backed government and takeover by the Taliban militant group. "We give you the warmest welcome to Mexico," said Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister Martha Delgado as she greeted them during a news conference at Mexico City's international airport. The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan last week as the United States and its allies withdrew troops from the country. The White House and U.S. allies are racing to complete the evacuation of all foreigners and vulnerable Afghans before the expiry of an August 31 deadline agreed with the Taliban, U.S. President Joe Biden said this week. The team, made up of girls and women as young as 14, has been heralded for winning international awards for its robots and started work in March on an open-source, low-cost ventilator as the coronavirus pandemic hit the war-torn nation. The Taliban, which previously barred girls from schools and women from working when they ruled Afghanistan in the late 1990s, has promised to prioritize women's rights and girls' education. Mexico has pledged to aid Afghan women and girls. Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Twitter on Aug. 18 that the country had begun "processing of the first refugee applications of Afghan citizens, especially women and girls who have requested it," with the aid of Guillermo Puente Ordorica, Ambassador of Mexico in Iran. Tuesday's safe arrival in Mexico was made possible by an "extensive international effort and coordination from a group of volunteers" who helped the girls, according to a volunteer who requested anonymity for fear of the safety of the families that remain under Taliban control. The foreign ministry invited press to the arrival gates at Mexico City's airport at 3 a.m. local time on Wednesday, saying a "large group of people from Afghanistan is expected to arrive" and Ebrard will offer a message. Other members of the robotics team landed in Qatar in recent days.

Fleeing an uncertain future, Afghan all-girl robotics team members land in Mexico

Five members of an all-girl Afghan robotics team arrived in Mexico, fleeing an uncertain future at home after the recent collapse of the US-backed government and takeover by the Taliban militant group.

Members of Afghan all-girls Robotics team reaches Mexico

The Supreme Court verdict refused to revoke Donald Trump's migration protection protocols which forced asylum seekers to stay in Mexico awaiting US hearings.

US Supreme Court requires Biden to revive Trump-era 'remain in Mexico' policy

At least 8 people, including two children, were killed after Hurricane Grace pummelled eastern Mexico on Sunday, causing floods, mudslides, and wrecking homes.

The storm, blowing at maximum sustained winds of 125 miles (200 kilometres) per hour, made landfall in Mexico for the second time near Tecolutla in&nbsp;Veracruz state.

The state government said among the eight people killed, 6 belonged to a single-family. Among the deceased include a young girl who was killed by a mudslide that hit her home.

While an adult was killed by a collapsed roof in Poza Rica city, further north in the state, Veracruz governor Cuitlahuac Garcia told a news conference.

“The state of emergency has not ended," Reuters quoted Garcia as saying.

Local television showed severe flooding in Xalapa, with coffins from a local business floating down a waterlogged street. The nearby River Actopan burst its banks, shutting down a local highway, the officials said.

Some flights were cancelled at Mexico international airport due to the hurricane. The Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) national power utility reported 565,000 electricity users were affected by outages.

However, Grace fizzled quickly as it moved inland over the central highlands.&nbsp;

Earlier in the week, Hurricane Grace battered Mexico's Caribbean coast, downing trees and resulting in power outages for nearly 7,00,000 people. However, no loss of life was reported, authorities said.

At least 8 people, including two children, were killed after Hurricane Grace pummelled eastern Mexico on Sunday, causing floods, mudslides, and wrecking homes. The storm, blowing at maximum sustained winds of 125 miles (200 kilometres) per hour, made landfall in Mexico for the second time near Tecolutla in Veracruz state.

At least 8 people, including two children, were killed after Hurricane Grace pummelled eastern Mexico on Sunday, causing floods, mudslides, and wrecking homes. The storm, blowing at maximum sustained winds of 125 miles (200 kilometres) per hour, made landfall in Mexico for the second time near Tecolutla in Veracruz state. The state government said among the eight people killed, 6 belonged to a single-family. Among the deceased include a young girl who was killed by a mudslide that hit her home. While an adult was killed by a collapsed roof in Poza Rica city, further north in the state, Veracruz governor Cuitlahuac Garcia told a news conference. “The state of emergency has not ended," Reuters quoted Garcia as saying. Local television showed severe flooding in Xalapa, with coffins from a local business floating down a waterlogged street. The nearby River Actopan burst its banks, shutting down a local highway, the officials said. Some flights were cancelled at Mexico international airport due to the hurricane. The Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) national power utility reported 565,000 electricity users were affected by outages. However, Grace fizzled quickly as it moved inland over the central highlands. Earlier in the week, Hurricane Grace battered Mexico's Caribbean coast, downing trees and resulting in power outages for nearly 7,00,000 people. However, no loss of life was reported, authorities said.

8, including 2 kids, killed after Hurricane Grace batters Mexico

Hurricane Grace devastates Mexico

Hurricane Grace lashed eastern Mexico with heavy rain and strong wind on Saturday, causing flooding, power blackouts and damage to homes as it gradually lost strength over the mountainous interior.

The storm made landfall in Mexico for a second time during the night near Tecolutla in Veracruz state as a major Category Three storm, triggering warnings of mudslides and significant floods.

The streets of Tecolutla, home to about 24,000 people, were littered with fallen trees, signs and roof panels as dawn broke, television images showed.

In the Veracruz state capital, Xalapa, streets were turned into muddy brown rivers. Many homes in the region were left without electricity.

Flooding was also reported in parts of neighboring Tamaulipas state while in Puebla in central Mexico trees were toppled and buildings suffered minor damage.

Grace weakened to a tropical storm as it churned inland clocking maximum sustained winds of 70 miles (110 kilometers) per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

At 1500 GMT, the storm was located 25 miles northeast of Mexico City, which was drenched by heavy rain, and moving west at 13 mph, forecasters said.

'Seek refuge'

Grace was "weakening rapidly over land but still causing very heavy rains and flooding over portions of east-central Mexico," the NHC said.

The storm was forecast to weaken to a tropical depression and dissipate by early Sunday, it said.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had urged residents living in places considered to be at risk to "seek refuge in high places with relatives and in shelters."

Nearly 8,000 civil defense members, soldiers and electricity board workers were ready to tackle the aftermath of the storm, he said on Friday night.

Authorities in the state of Veracruz said they had prepared 200 storm shelters and urged residents to hunker down in safe places.

Veracruz Governor Cuitlahuac Garcia warned of the risk of flooding and mudslides as the storm dumped heavy rain on the mountainous region.

Authorities closed most highways in Veracruz, which is crossed by numerous rivers.

Fishermen affected

In preparation for the storm, workers along the coast boarded up windows to protect stores, fishermen brought their boats ashore and residents secured their homes after stocking up on canned food and water.

"We will spend many days without fishing -- almost a week," said Isabel Pastrana Vazquez, head of Veracruz's federation of fisheries cooperatives.

"About 35,000 fishermen will be affected because we can't go out. We're going to have a swell and rain," he said.

The hurricane had already lashed Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, where more than 6,000 tourists and residents were evacuated to storm shelters earlier in the week across the southeastern state of Quintana Roo.

The storm first struck on Thursday near the town of Tulum, famed for its Mayan temples, drenching a string of Caribbean beach resorts.

The hurricane passed the Riviera Maya coastline without any loss of life, according to Quintana Roo Governor Carlos Joaquin.&nbsp;

Hurricane Grace lashed eastern Mexico with heavy rain and strong wind on Saturday, causing flooding, power blackouts and damage to homes as it gradually lost strength over the mountainous interior.

Hurricane Grace lashed eastern Mexico with heavy rain and strong wind on Saturday, causing flooding, power blackouts and damage to homes as it gradually lost strength over the mountainous interior. The storm made landfall in Mexico for a second time during the night near Tecolutla in Veracruz state as a major Category Three storm, triggering warnings of mudslides and significant floods. The streets of Tecolutla, home to about 24,000 people, were littered with fallen trees, signs and roof panels as dawn broke, television images showed. In the Veracruz state capital, Xalapa, streets were turned into muddy brown rivers. Many homes in the region were left without electricity. Flooding was also reported in parts of neighboring Tamaulipas state while in Puebla in central Mexico trees were toppled and buildings suffered minor damage. Grace weakened to a tropical storm as it churned inland clocking maximum sustained winds of 70 miles (110 kilometers) per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). At 1500 GMT, the storm was located 25 miles northeast of Mexico City, which was drenched by heavy rain, and moving west at 13 mph, forecasters said. 'Seek refuge' Grace was "weakening rapidly over land but still causing very heavy rains and flooding over portions of east-central Mexico," the NHC said. The storm was forecast to weaken to a tropical depression and dissipate by early Sunday, it said. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had urged residents living in places considered to be at risk to "seek refuge in high places with relatives and in shelters." Nearly 8,000 civil defense members, soldiers and electricity board workers were ready to tackle the aftermath of the storm, he said on Friday night. Authorities in the state of Veracruz said they had prepared 200 storm shelters and urged residents to hunker down in safe places. Veracruz Governor Cuitlahuac Garcia warned of the risk of flooding and mudslides as the storm dumped heavy rain on the mountainous region. Authorities closed most highways in Veracruz, which is crossed by numerous rivers. Fishermen affected In preparation for the storm, workers along the coast boarded up windows to protect stores, fishermen brought their boats ashore and residents secured their homes after stocking up on canned food and water. "We will spend many days without fishing -- almost a week," said Isabel Pastrana Vazquez, head of Veracruz's federation of fisheries cooperatives. "About 35,000 fishermen will be affected because we can't go out. We're going to have a swell and rain," he said. The hurricane had already lashed Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, where more than 6,000 tourists and residents were evacuated to storm shelters earlier in the week across the southeastern state of Quintana Roo. The storm first struck on Thursday near the town of Tulum, famed for its Mayan temples, drenching a string of Caribbean beach resorts. The hurricane passed the Riviera Maya coastline without any loss of life, according to Quintana Roo Governor Carlos Joaquin.

Hurricane Grace batters Mexico for second time

Mexico&nbsp;said Friday that a&nbsp;court&nbsp;in the United States had agreed to&nbsp;hear&nbsp;its lawsuit&nbsp;against&nbsp;major&nbsp;gunmakers&nbsp;over cross-border firearms trafficking that it blames for fueling drug-related violence.

A federal&nbsp;court&nbsp;in Massachusetts accepted to consider the&nbsp;suit&nbsp;against&nbsp;companies "responsible for the negligent trade in weapons used by criminals here," Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said.

"It's a first great step," he wrote on Twitter.

The companies named in the&nbsp;suit, which was filed on August 4, include Smith &amp; Wesson, Beretta, Colt, Glock, Century Arms, Ruger and Barrett.

Together they manufacture more than two-thirds of the over half a million weapons that are illegally brought into&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;each year, according to the Mexican authorities.

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The Latin American country accuses US manufacturers of developing different firearm models especially for Mexican drug traffickers.

Between 70 and 90 percent of all weapons recovered from crime scenes in&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;were smuggled in from the United States,&nbsp;Mexico's foreign ministry&nbsp;says.

The lawsuit seeks compensation for the damage caused by the firms' alleged "negligent practices," as well as the implementation of adequate standards to "monitor and discipline" arms dealers.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the US firearm industry trade association, has called the allegations "baseless" and told the Mexican government that it is responsible for crime within its own borders.

Mexico&nbsp;has seen more than 300,000 murders since 2006 when it deployed the military in the war on drug trafficking, most of them blamed on criminal gangs.

Mexico said Friday that a court in the United States had agreed to hear its lawsuit against major gunmakers over cross-border firearms trafficking that it blames for fueling drug-related violence.

Mexico said Friday that a court in the United States had agreed to hear its lawsuit against major gunmakers over cross-border firearms trafficking that it blames for fueling drug-related violence. A federal court in Massachusetts accepted to consider the suit against companies "responsible for the negligent trade in weapons used by criminals here," Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said. "It's a first great step," he wrote on Twitter. The companies named in the suit, which was filed on August 4, include Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Colt, Glock, Century Arms, Ruger and Barrett. Together they manufacture more than two-thirds of the over half a million weapons that are illegally brought into Mexico each year, according to the Mexican authorities. Also read | Pope Francis takes time out with some Foosball The Latin American country accuses US manufacturers of developing different firearm models especially for Mexican drug traffickers. Between 70 and 90 percent of all weapons recovered from crime scenes in Mexico were smuggled in from the United States, Mexico's foreign ministry says. The lawsuit seeks compensation for the damage caused by the firms' alleged "negligent practices," as well as the implementation of adequate standards to "monitor and discipline" arms dealers. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the US firearm industry trade association, has called the allegations "baseless" and told the Mexican government that it is responsible for crime within its own borders. Mexico has seen more than 300,000 murders since 2006 when it deployed the military in the war on drug trafficking, most of them blamed on criminal gangs.

Mexico says US court agrees to hear suit against gunmakers

Tropical storm&nbsp;Grace&nbsp;strengthened into a&nbsp;hurricane&nbsp;on Wednesday as it barreled toward&nbsp;Mexico's&nbsp;Caribbean&nbsp;coast, grounding flights and threatening to bring strong winds, flash flooding and large waves.

A&nbsp;hurricane&nbsp;warning was in effect for a string of beach resorts,&nbsp;including Cancun, on&nbsp;Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the US National&nbsp;Hurricane&nbsp;Center (NHC) in Miami said.

At least 124 flights to or from Cancun were canceled, the city's mayor, Mara Lezama, said on Twitter.

At 0000 GMT, the Category One&nbsp;hurricane,&nbsp;the lowest on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale, was packing maximum sustained winds of 80 miles&nbsp;per hour, according to the NHC.

It was located 170 miles east of the Mexican town of Tulum and expected to make landfall early Thursday, having already drenched earthquake-stricken Haiti, the NHC said.

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The storm was then expected to cross the southwest Gulf of&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;before lashing the eastern states of Veracruz and Tamaulipas.

Grace&nbsp;was "expected to bring strong winds and a dangerous storm surge" to parts of the Yucatan, according to the NHC.

"Heavy rainfall from&nbsp;Grace&nbsp;will likely result in areas of flash and urban flooding, and will also be capable of producing mudslides," it said.

The storm surge will be accompanied by "large and destructive waves" near the&nbsp;coast, the NHC warned.

Businesses on&nbsp;Mexico's Riviera Maya boarded up windows, while fishermen and tour operators hauled their boats onto land and tourists soaked up the final hours in the sun.

At supermarkets in Cancun, some residents stocked up on food in preparation for the storm's arrival, although the authorities called on people to avoid panic buying.

"We don't know what it will be like," said 41-year-old housewife Hortencia Rodriguez.

"With Wilma we didn't prepare and we were hit hard," she said, referring to a Category 5&nbsp;hurricane&nbsp;that pummeled Cancun in 2005.

Authorities in&nbsp;Mexico's southeastern state of Quintana Roo set up 85 shelters for people who needed refuge from the storm.

Tropical storm Grace strengthened into a hurricane on Wednesday as it barreled toward Mexico's Caribbean coast, grounding flights and threatening to bring strong winds, flash flooding and large waves.

Tropical storm Grace strengthened into a hurricane on Wednesday as it barreled toward Mexico's Caribbean coast, grounding flights and threatening to bring strong winds, flash flooding and large waves. A hurricane warning was in effect for a string of beach resorts, including Cancun, on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said. At least 124 flights to or from Cancun were canceled, the city's mayor, Mara Lezama, said on Twitter. At 0000 GMT, the Category One hurricane, the lowest on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale, was packing maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour, according to the NHC. It was located 170 miles east of the Mexican town of Tulum and expected to make landfall early Thursday, having already drenched earthquake-stricken Haiti, the NHC said. Also read | 'Delta poses a greater threat': New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern defends lockdown call The storm was then expected to cross the southwest Gulf of Mexico before lashing the eastern states of Veracruz and Tamaulipas. Grace was "expected to bring strong winds and a dangerous storm surge" to parts of the Yucatan, according to the NHC. "Heavy rainfall from Grace will likely result in areas of flash and urban flooding, and will also be capable of producing mudslides," it said. The storm surge will be accompanied by "large and destructive waves" near the coast, the NHC warned. Businesses on Mexico's Riviera Maya boarded up windows, while fishermen and tour operators hauled their boats onto land and tourists soaked up the final hours in the sun. At supermarkets in Cancun, some residents stocked up on food in preparation for the storm's arrival, although the authorities called on people to avoid panic buying. "We don't know what it will be like," said 41-year-old housewife Hortencia Rodriguez. "With Wilma we didn't prepare and we were hit hard," she said, referring to a Category 5 hurricane that pummeled Cancun in 2005. Authorities in Mexico's southeastern state of Quintana Roo set up 85 shelters for people who needed refuge from the storm.

Mexico's Caribbean coast braces for Hurricane Grace

In an attempt to ease the acute economic and political crisis in the country Venezuela's government and opposition have now launched a series of negotiation talks in Mexico City to address the situation.

Venezuela Political Crisis: Two sides launch 3-day talks in Mexico

Mexico has filed a lawsuit against US gun-makers, accusing them of promoting arms trafficking. American guns are used by miscreants and cartels in Mexico. Will the US crackdown on its favourite industry? Or will the war romance persist? Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Mexico sues American gun-makers

Aztec culture came alive in the heart of Mexico City on Thursday (August 12), to mark 500 years since the fall of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan to the Spanish.

Aztec culture returns to Mexico City's heart, marking 500 years since fall of Tenochtitlan

An "unprecedented"&nbsp;number&nbsp;of&nbsp;migrants&nbsp;were intercepted illegally crossing the US-Mexico&nbsp;border&nbsp;in July, the head of America's Homeland Security department has said.

Border&nbsp;guards recorded more than 200,000 instances of people attempting to enter the United States during the month, according to US&nbsp;Customs&nbsp;and&nbsp;Border&nbsp;Protection.

"We are encountering an&nbsp;unprecedented&nbsp;number&nbsp;of&nbsp;migrants&nbsp;in between the ports of entry at our southern&nbsp;border," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told a press conference in Texas Thursday.

"The situation at the&nbsp;border&nbsp;is one of the toughest challenges we face. It is complicated, changing and involves vulnerable people at a time of a global pandemic."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-covid-19-china-locks-citizens-behind-iron-bars-as-delta-variant-surge-405157">Also read |&nbsp;Watch | COVID-19: China locks citizens behind iron bars as Delta variant surge</a>

Migrant arrivals to the United States declined markedly during the initial phase of the Covid-19 pandemic but began to pick up later in 2020, before surging since President Joe Biden took office.

The latest figures demonstrate a deviation from seasonal trends. Punishingly hot summer weather usually sees the&nbsp;number&nbsp;of&nbsp;migrants&nbsp;attempting to&nbsp;cross&nbsp;decrease.

Border&nbsp;authorities also said the&nbsp;number&nbsp;of unaccompanied children increased 24 percent in July, to just under 19,000, from the previous month.

A significant&nbsp;number&nbsp;of expulsions during the pandemic has also contributed to "a larger-than-usual&nbsp;number&nbsp;of&nbsp;migrants&nbsp;making multiple&nbsp;border&nbsp;crossing attempts."

An "unprecedented" number of migrants were intercepted illegally crossing the US-Mexico border in July, the head of America's Homeland Security department has said.

An "unprecedented" number of migrants were intercepted illegally crossing the US-Mexico border in July, the head of America's Homeland Security department has said. Border guards recorded more than 200,000 instances of people attempting to enter the United States during the month, according to US Customs and Border Protection. "We are encountering an unprecedented number of migrants in between the ports of entry at our southern border," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told a press conference in Texas Thursday. "The situation at the border is one of the toughest challenges we face. It is complicated, changing and involves vulnerable people at a time of a global pandemic." Also read | Watch | COVID-19: China locks citizens behind iron bars as Delta variant surge Migrant arrivals to the United States declined markedly during the initial phase of the Covid-19 pandemic but began to pick up later in 2020, before surging since President Joe Biden took office. The latest figures demonstrate a deviation from seasonal trends. Punishingly hot summer weather usually sees the number of migrants attempting to cross decrease. Border authorities also said the number of unaccompanied children increased 24 percent in July, to just under 19,000, from the previous month. A significant number of expulsions during the pandemic has also contributed to "a larger-than-usual number of migrants making multiple border crossing attempts."

'Unprecedented' number of migrants cross Mexico border: US govt

The&nbsp;bodies&nbsp;of&nbsp;six&nbsp;men&nbsp;were&nbsp;found&nbsp;hanging&nbsp;off a&nbsp;bridge&nbsp;in the city of Zacatecas in north-central&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;on Thursday, an official said, in a region where some of the country's biggest drug cartels are fighting over lucrative trafficking routes.

The half-naked&nbsp;bodies&nbsp;were discovered in the early hours of the morning, said the source at the local prosecutor's office, requesting anonymity as he was not allowed to speak publicly to the media. Mexican newspapers also reported the grisly find.

Zacatecas, the capital of the state with the same name, has been plagued by intense violence in recent months as the Sinaloa Cartel and its biggest rival, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, battle for control of key trafficking routes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-take-kandahar-and-herat-us-and-uk-to-evacuate-afghanistan-embassies-405040">Also read |&nbsp;Taliban take Kandahar and Herat; US and UK to evacuate Afghanistan embassies</a>

During July, 11&nbsp;bodies&nbsp;were&nbsp;found&nbsp;hanged under&nbsp;bridges in Zacatecas state, some accompanied by threatening messages. Some of the&nbsp;bodies&nbsp;were dumped in the Fresnillo and Valparaiso municipalities, which have also seen crime rates spike.

Some 536 people were killed in Zacatecas state in the first&nbsp;six&nbsp;months of the year to June, a 57% rise on the same period last year, according to official figures.

The bodies of six men were found hanging off a bridge in the city of Zacatecas in north-central Mexico on Thursday, an official said, in a region where some of the country's biggest drug cartels are fighting over lucrative trafficking routes.

The bodies of six men were found hanging off a bridge in the city of Zacatecas in north-central Mexico on Thursday, an official said, in a region where some of the country's biggest drug cartels are fighting over lucrative trafficking routes. The half-naked bodies were discovered in the early hours of the morning, said the source at the local prosecutor's office, requesting anonymity as he was not allowed to speak publicly to the media. Mexican newspapers also reported the grisly find. Zacatecas, the capital of the state with the same name, has been plagued by intense violence in recent months as the Sinaloa Cartel and its biggest rival, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, battle for control of key trafficking routes. Also read | Taliban take Kandahar and Herat; US and UK to evacuate Afghanistan embassies During July, 11 bodies were found hanged under bridges in Zacatecas state, some accompanied by threatening messages. Some of the bodies were dumped in the Fresnillo and Valparaiso municipalities, which have also seen crime rates spike. Some 536 people were killed in Zacatecas state in the first six months of the year to June, a 57% rise on the same period last year, according to official figures.

Bodies of six men found hanging from a bridge in Mexico

Brainwashing is one of the most dangerous weapons present in this world, and a recent incident of a father killing his own children is a proof of the same.

An American dad has been charged with killing his own two children as he believed his kids will grow up to be "monsters" as they had "serpent DNA".

Matthew Taylor Coleman, a 40-year-old American man, told the authorities that he was very well aware that he was committing a crime and he was wrong, but "it was the only course of action that would save the world," the federal complaint read.

Coleman was "enlightened" by QAnon and other conspiracy theories that the world will be full of "monsters" in the future. So, he took his two children, aged two years and 10 months, to Mexico and killed them before returning to the US.

Upon arrival in the US, he was arrested and questioned by the FBI after the children’s mother had alerted the police on August 07.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-capitol-invader-qanon-shaman-jake-angeli-charged-over-pro-trump-riots-355695">US Capitol invader 'QAnon Shaman' Jake Angeli charged over pro-Trump riots</a>

His wife reported that Coleman had taken them from the home saying he is taking the kids camping but had refused to tell her where was he taking them or when will he be returning. He was also not answering her text messages or calls.

When his wife alerted the police, the officials tracked his phone through the Find My iPhone app, which showed his last known location as Rosarito, Mexico.

Coleman then confessed to killing his children with the spear fishing gun and dumping their bodies in Mexico, which were later found by the Mexican authorities, because he believed that "his children were going to grow into monsters so he had to kill them,"&nbsp;he told the agents.

He also added that he was "enlightened by QAnon and Illuminati conspiracy theories and was receiving visions and signs revealing that his wife ... possessed serpent DNA and had passed it on to his children."

Brainwashing is one of the most dangerous weapons present in this world, and a recent incident of a father killing his own children is a proof of the same. An American dad has been charged with killing his own two children as he believed his kids will grow up to be "monsters" as they had "serpent DNA".

Brainwashing is one of the most dangerous weapons present in this world, and a recent incident of a father killing his own children is a proof of the same. An American dad has been charged with killing his own two children as he believed his kids will grow up to be "monsters" as they had "serpent DNA". Matthew Taylor Coleman, a 40-year-old American man, told the authorities that he was very well aware that he was committing a crime and he was wrong, but "it was the only course of action that would save the world," the federal complaint read. Coleman was "enlightened" by QAnon and other conspiracy theories that the world will be full of "monsters" in the future. So, he took his two children, aged two years and 10 months, to Mexico and killed them before returning to the US. Upon arrival in the US, he was arrested and questioned by the FBI after the children’s mother had alerted the police on August 07. Also read | US Capitol invader 'QAnon Shaman' Jake Angeli charged over pro-Trump riots His wife reported that Coleman had taken them from the home saying he is taking the kids camping but had refused to tell her where was he taking them or when will he be returning. He was also not answering her text messages or calls. When his wife alerted the police, the officials tracked his phone through the Find My iPhone app, which showed his last known location as Rosarito, Mexico. Coleman then confessed to killing his children with the spear fishing gun and dumping their bodies in Mexico, which were later found by the Mexican authorities, because he believed that "his children were going to grow into monsters so he had to kill them," he told the agents. He also added that he was "enlightened by QAnon and Illuminati conspiracy theories and was receiving visions and signs revealing that his wife ... possessed serpent DNA and had passed it on to his children."

'Serpent DNA': American man kills own children after watching QAnon videos

Mexico's indigenous communities descended on the capital's Zocalo square on Monday (August 9) to mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.

Mexican folk dancers on show for World's Indigenous Peoples Day

When Diego started going out again to meet friends he never expected to be among a growing number of&nbsp;young&nbsp;Mexicans&nbsp;hospitalised by a highly contagious&nbsp;Covid-19&nbsp;variant&nbsp;driving another wave of infections.

"I let my guard down thinking that I wasn't going to catch it, but in the end I did," the 20-year-old student told AFP at a private clinic in a suburb north of Mexico City.

"This is&nbsp;no&nbsp;joke. It's a pretty cruel disease," said Diego, who did not want to give his full name.

He is one of 16 coronavirus patients being treated in the same&nbsp;hospital&nbsp;in Coacalco.

Unlike during the first two waves of the pandemic, most of the sick are in their 20s and 30s.

Mexico's official&nbsp;Covid-19 death toll of more than 244,000 is the fourth highest in the world, and the actual figure is believed to be significantly higher.

The government says that is partly a reflection of the country's large population, but is also due to the prevalence of underlying health problems, including obesity, hypertension and diabetes.

The country has registered nearly three million confirmed cases since the pandemic began, of which around 138,000 are active.

No&nbsp;lockdown

Experts say the latest wave of infections is due to the arrival of the Delta&nbsp;variant&nbsp;of the virus, as well as reduced social distancing, particularly among younger&nbsp;Mexicans.

The Mexico City authorities on Friday ruled out imposing any new lockdown measures, despite the health ministry raising the capital's alert status to the highest level.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-says-thousands-fled-fighting-in-syrias-daraa-403264">Also read |&nbsp;UN says thousands fled fighting in Syria's Daraa</a>

"Right now it seems that neither the government nor anyone is interested in making people stay at home again," said Jesus Victoria, the head of nursing at the&nbsp;hospital&nbsp;in Coacalco.

Although people aged between 18 and 29 began to be vaccinated in late July, it was too late for some of the patients at the clinic, he said.

"We've been able to discharge most of them, but we have also had many deaths of&nbsp;young&nbsp;people," Victoria said.

"I don't know if as a society we are failing, if the government is failing. Shopping centres are open, cinemas, sports centres. It complicates things," he added.

Thanks to vaccinations, hospitalisations remain far below a peak seen in January when occupancy rose above 90 percent.

Now around half of general beds and 58 percent of those equipped with ventilators are available, according to the government.

Almost 50 million people in the country of 126 million have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and 27 million of them are fully vaccinated, the health ministry says.

&nbsp;Bars, parties

Hector Lopez, a 26-year-old computer programmer who is also hospitalised for&nbsp;Covid-19, said that in hindsight his family was not careful enough.

"Usually I don't go out. The problem is that my relatives do," he said.

"I had been taking care of myself. I hadn't gone out unless it was necessary," he added, as machines monitored his vital signs.

Lopez, who is expected to be discharged soon, said he had seen on social media that friends were going out more, despite the risks.

"It was very easy to see that they were in a bar or at a party as if nothing was happening," he said.

Mayra Jimenez, another patient, believes the Delta&nbsp;variant&nbsp;is so infectious that anyone who has avoided catching it without taking extra care is very lucky.

"We didn't go to parties or gatherings," said the 39-year-old, who is using a medical device to help her lungs recover.

"Fortunately I came through it okay, but there are people who are in a really bad way," she said.

When Diego started going out again to meet friends he never expected to be among a growing number of young Mexicans hospitalised by a highly contagious Covid-19 variant driving another wave of infections.

When Diego started going out again to meet friends he never expected to be among a growing number of young Mexicans hospitalised by a highly contagious Covid-19 variant driving another wave of infections. "I let my guard down thinking that I wasn't going to catch it, but in the end I did," the 20-year-old student told AFP at a private clinic in a suburb north of Mexico City. "This is no joke. It's a pretty cruel disease," said Diego, who did not want to give his full name. He is one of 16 coronavirus patients being treated in the same hospital in Coacalco. Unlike during the first two waves of the pandemic, most of the sick are in their 20s and 30s. Mexico's official Covid-19 death toll of more than 244,000 is the fourth highest in the world, and the actual figure is believed to be significantly higher. The government says that is partly a reflection of the country's large population, but is also due to the prevalence of underlying health problems, including obesity, hypertension and diabetes. The country has registered nearly three million confirmed cases since the pandemic began, of which around 138,000 are active. No lockdown Experts say the latest wave of infections is due to the arrival of the Delta variant of the virus, as well as reduced social distancing, particularly among younger Mexicans. The Mexico City authorities on Friday ruled out imposing any new lockdown measures, despite the health ministry raising the capital's alert status to the highest level. Also read | UN says thousands fled fighting in Syria's Daraa "Right now it seems that neither the government nor anyone is interested in making people stay at home again," said Jesus Victoria, the head of nursing at the hospital in Coacalco. Although people aged between 18 and 29 began to be vaccinated in late July, it was too late for some of the patients at the clinic, he said. "We've been able to discharge most of them, but we have also had many deaths of young people," Victoria said. "I don't know if as a society we are failing, if the government is failing. Shopping centres are open, cinemas, sports centres. It complicates things," he added. Thanks to vaccinations, hospitalisations remain far below a peak seen in January when occupancy rose above 90 percent. Now around half of general beds and 58 percent of those equipped with ventilators are available, according to the government. Almost 50 million people in the country of 126 million have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and 27 million of them are fully vaccinated, the health ministry says. Bars, parties Hector Lopez, a 26-year-old computer programmer who is also hospitalised for Covid-19, said that in hindsight his family was not careful enough. "Usually I don't go out. The problem is that my relatives do," he said. "I had been taking care of myself. I hadn't gone out unless it was necessary," he added, as machines monitored his vital signs. Lopez, who is expected to be discharged soon, said he had seen on social media that friends were going out more, despite the risks. "It was very easy to see that they were in a bar or at a party as if nothing was happening," he said. Mayra Jimenez, another patient, believes the Delta variant is so infectious that anyone who has avoided catching it without taking extra care is very lucky. "We didn't go to parties or gatherings," said the 39-year-old, who is using a medical device to help her lungs recover. "Fortunately I came through it okay, but there are people who are in a really bad way," she said.

COVID-19 variant 'no joke,' young Mexicans warn from hospital

Mexicans began voting Sunday in a national referendum promoted by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on whether to investigate and prosecute his predecessors for alleged corruption.

Lopez Obrador, a self-styled anti-graft crusader, says the public consultation will strengthen participatory democracy, but critics see it as little more than a political stunt.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fears-for-future-of-mexico-citys-green-lung-396099">Fears for future of Mexico City's 'green lung'</a>

To be binding, 37.4 million people -- 40 per cent of the electoral roll -- must participate, but many voters appear unenthusiastic.

While the "yes" vote could win up to 90 per cent, it will be difficult to achieve even 30 per cent turnout, said Roy Campos, director of the polling company Mitofsky.

Rosario Gomez is among those who plan to vote at one of 57,000 ballot boxes set up by the electoral institute, compared with more than 160,000 for June's legislative and local elections.

"It's about time these thieves pay!" the 52-year-old market vendor said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fuel-tanker-owned-by-mexicos-pemex-on-its-way-to-cuba-report-400875">Fuel tanker owned by Mexico's Pemex on its way to Cuba: Report</a>

Polls opened at 8 am (1300 GMT) and were due to close at&nbsp;6 pm, with the result expected to be known within two or three days.

'Political circus'&nbsp;

Mexico is ranked 124th out of 179 on Transparency International's world corruption perceptions index.

But former presidents can be tried like any other citizen and critics argue that the referendum is unnecessary.

"Waiting for the results of a consultation is making justice a political circus," said Jose Miguel Vivanco, regional director of New York-based Human Rights Watch.

Former National Electoral Institute president Luis Carlos Ugalde argued that if the prosecution has evidence against the ex-presidents, it's not necessary for "the people to tell you yes or no."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-war-veteran-walks-us-mexico-border-protests-deportation-of-veterans-400365">Iraq war veteran walks US-Mexico border, protests deportation of veterans</a>

Although the vote was Lopez Obrador's brainchild, he has ruled out voting himself because he does not want "corrupt and hypocritical conservatism" to accuse him of vindictiveness.

The referendum question proposed by Lopez Obrador named five predecessors -- Carlos Salinas, Ernesto Zedillo, Vicente Fox, Felipe Calderon, and Enrique Pena Nieto, whose terms in power stretched from 1988 to 2018.

Lopez Obrador has accused them of presiding over "excessive concentration of wealth, monumental losses to the treasury, privatization of public property, and widespread corruption," drawing angry denials.

In the end, the Supreme Court modified the referendum question for a more ambiguous alternative.

"It's not very sexy. Not even the lawyers understand it," analyst Paula Sofia Vazquez told AFP.

'Final straw'&nbsp;

The question reads: "Do you agree or not that the pertinent actions be carried out, in accordance with the constitutional and legal framework, to undertake a process of clarification of the political decisions made in the past years by the political actors, aimed at guaranteeing justice and the rights of potential victims?"

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-city-to-accelerate-vaccinations-as-covid-19-infections-surge-398634">Mexico City to accelerate vaccinations as COVID-19 infections surge</a>

Omar Garcia, a survivor of the disappearance and presumed murder of 43 students in 2014, allegedly at the hands of corrupt police and drug traffickers, said listening to the people was valid even if it was not binding.&nbsp;

"It does encourage an end to impunity," Garcia said.

But&nbsp;59-year-old manager Monica Ortiz-Monasterio has no plan to vote and thinks it is "the final straw to ask if crimes are prosecuted or left unpunished."

Mexicans began voting Sunday in a national referendum promoted by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on whether to investigate and prosecute his predecessors for alleged corruption.

Mexicans began voting Sunday in a national referendum promoted by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on whether to investigate and prosecute his predecessors for alleged corruption. Lopez Obrador, a self-styled anti-graft crusader, says the public consultation will strengthen participatory democracy, but critics see it as little more than a political stunt. Also read | Fears for future of Mexico City's 'green lung' To be binding, 37.4 million people -- 40 per cent of the electoral roll -- must participate, but many voters appear unenthusiastic. While the "yes" vote could win up to 90 per cent, it will be difficult to achieve even 30 per cent turnout, said Roy Campos, director of the polling company Mitofsky. Rosario Gomez is among those who plan to vote at one of 57,000 ballot boxes set up by the electoral institute, compared with more than 160,000 for June's legislative and local elections. "It's about time these thieves pay!" the 52-year-old market vendor said. Also read | Fuel tanker owned by Mexico's Pemex on its way to Cuba: Report Polls opened at 8 am (1300 GMT) and were due to close at 6 pm, with the result expected to be known within two or three days. 'Political circus' Mexico is ranked 124th out of 179 on Transparency International's world corruption perceptions index. But former presidents can be tried like any other citizen and critics argue that the referendum is unnecessary. "Waiting for the results of a consultation is making justice a political circus," said Jose Miguel Vivanco, regional director of New York-based Human Rights Watch. Former National Electoral Institute president Luis Carlos Ugalde argued that if the prosecution has evidence against the ex-presidents, it's not necessary for "the people to tell you yes or no." Also read | Iraq war veteran walks US-Mexico border, protests deportation of veterans Although the vote was Lopez Obrador's brainchild, he has ruled out voting himself because he does not want "corrupt and hypocritical conservatism" to accuse him of vindictiveness. The referendum question proposed by Lopez Obrador named five predecessors -- Carlos Salinas, Ernesto Zedillo, Vicente Fox, Felipe Calderon, and Enrique Pena Nieto, whose terms in power stretched from 1988 to 2018. Lopez Obrador has accused them of presiding over "excessive concentration of wealth, monumental losses to the treasury, privatization of public property, and widespread corruption," drawing angry denials. In the end, the Supreme Court modified the referendum question for a more ambiguous alternative. "It's not very sexy. Not even the lawyers understand it," analyst Paula Sofia Vazquez told AFP. 'Final straw' The question reads: "Do you agree or not that the pertinent actions be carried out, in accordance with the constitutional and legal framework, to undertake a process of clarification of the political decisions made in the past years by the political actors, aimed at guaranteeing justice and the rights of potential victims?" Also read | Mexico City to accelerate vaccinations as COVID-19 infections surge Omar Garcia, a survivor of the disappearance and presumed murder of 43 students in 2014, allegedly at the hands of corrupt police and drug traffickers, said listening to the people was valid even if it was not binding. "It does encourage an end to impunity," Garcia said. But 59-year-old manager Monica Ortiz-Monasterio has no plan to vote and thinks it is "the final straw to ask if crimes are prosecuted or left unpunished."

Mexico holds referendum on prosecuting ex-presidents

A diesel cargo sent by Mexico's state-run Pemex is due to arrive in Cuba's Havana port on Monday, according to Refinitiv Eikon data and sources, after Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador promised humanitarian aid to the Communist-run island. 
 
The Jose Maria Morelos II, a tanker owned and managed by a Pemex unit, is on its way to the Caribbean island after Mexico's left-leaning government last week announced it would send two humanitarian shipments, including food and diesel, to Cuba. 
 
Authorities in Havana have long said that a decades-old US&nbsp;embargo on Cuba has caused widespread hardship on the island, where thousands took to the streets this month in protests. Cuba's vital tourism industry has also been hard hit by the slump in travel following the global coronavirus pandemic. 
 
The vessel departed from the Mexican port of Coatzacoalcos and is sailing with its transponder switched on, but has not updated its port of destination, according to Eikon. 
 
Monitoring service TankerTrackers.com and a shipping source said it is navigating half-loaded. A Pemex source told Reuters the cargo contains 20 million liters or about 126,000 barrels of diesel. 
 
Pemex declined to comment on the vessel's content and destination. The foreign affairs ministries of both Mexico and Cuba did not reply to requests for comment. 
 
A separate shipping source said the tanker departed last week from the Coatzacoalcos port's berth number four, after being given "priority," which is why it loaded immediately. 
 
The terminal is located nearby Pemex's Minatitlan refinery on the Gulf of Mexico. 
 
The US&nbsp;Treasury Department, which enforces sanctions, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. 
 
Mexico said it would assist Cuba after this month's rare protests by thousands of citizens against the dire economic conditions on the island and the government`s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. 
 
Mexico said its policy toward Cuba is a demonstration of international solidarity. 
 
López Obrador on Monday asked US&nbsp;President Joe Biden to make a decision about the embargo on Cuba to allow families in the island to receive remittances. 
 
Cuba's main fuel provider is Venezuela, whose own economy is mired in a deep recession that has sparked widespread shortages. Venezuela's oil production and refinery output has shrunk in recent years under lack of maintenance and tough US&nbsp;sanctions, reducing its exports to Cuba.

A diesel cargo sent by Mexico's state-run Pemex is due to arrive in Cuba's Havana port on Monday, according to Refinitiv Eikon data and sources, after Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador promised humanitarian aid to the Communist-run island.

A diesel cargo sent by Mexico's state-run Pemex is due to arrive in Cuba's Havana port on Monday, according to Refinitiv Eikon data and sources, after Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador promised humanitarian aid to the Communist-run island. The Jose Maria Morelos II, a tanker owned and managed by a Pemex unit, is on its way to the Caribbean island after Mexico's left-leaning government last week announced it would send two humanitarian shipments, including food and diesel, to Cuba. Authorities in Havana have long said that a decades-old US embargo on Cuba has caused widespread hardship on the island, where thousands took to the streets this month in protests. Cuba's vital tourism industry has also been hard hit by the slump in travel following the global coronavirus pandemic. The vessel departed from the Mexican port of Coatzacoalcos and is sailing with its transponder switched on, but has not updated its port of destination, according to Eikon. Monitoring service TankerTrackers.com and a shipping source said it is navigating half-loaded. A Pemex source told Reuters the cargo contains 20 million liters or about 126,000 barrels of diesel. Pemex declined to comment on the vessel's content and destination. The foreign affairs ministries of both Mexico and Cuba did not reply to requests for comment. A separate shipping source said the tanker departed last week from the Coatzacoalcos port's berth number four, after being given "priority," which is why it loaded immediately. The terminal is located nearby Pemex's Minatitlan refinery on the Gulf of Mexico. The US Treasury Department, which enforces sanctions, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Mexico said it would assist Cuba after this month's rare protests by thousands of citizens against the dire economic conditions on the island and the government`s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Mexico said its policy toward Cuba is a demonstration of international solidarity. López Obrador on Monday asked US President Joe Biden to make a decision about the embargo on Cuba to allow families in the island to receive remittances. Cuba's main fuel provider is Venezuela, whose own economy is mired in a deep recession that has sparked widespread shortages. Venezuela's oil production and refinery output has shrunk in recent years under lack of maintenance and tough US sanctions, reducing its exports to Cuba.

Fuel tanker owned by Mexico's Pemex on its way to Cuba: Report

A US military veteran is trekking 2000 miles (3219 km) US-Mexico border to draw attention to plight of veterans who were sent back to their country of birth. Ramon Castro, the veteran trekking along the border and meeting deported US veterans living along the US-Mexican border. As he met them he realised that but for a piece of paper proving his citizenship, he could have been one of them.

Castro says that even when former veterans are deported back due to infractions like drug use, a large number of the cases are associated with mental health issues.

Between 2013 and 2018, about 250 veterans were deported or placed in deportation proceedings, according to a Government Accountability Office report. Advocates say the total number of deported veterans may be far higher.

Although Castro was born in the United States, his family has sprawled across both sides of the desert borderlands for generations and he lived briefly in Mexico as a child, he told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday about 20 miles east of El Paso, Texas.

Castro served two enlistments in the Marine Corps, including a deployment to Kuwait during the Iraq war.

He says that after his discharge, memories of missiles hurtling at him lingered. Aas a coping mechanism, he said that he turned to alcohol and soon found himself in bar fights.

The behaviour never landed Castro in serious legal trouble - a privilege he knew his non-US-citizen fellow service members did not share.

Castro started his march at Friendship Park in San Ysidro, California, and plans to keep walking until he reaches the easternmost tip of the U.S.-Mexico border, near Brownsville, Texas.

A few days after Castro began the journey, the Biden administration announced a new initiative aimed at allowing some deported veterans to return to the United States.

(With inputs from agencies)

A US military veteran is trekking 2000 miles (3219 km) US-Mexico border to draw attention to plight of veterans who were sent back to their country of birth. Ramon Castro, the veteran trekking along the border and meeting deported US veterans living along the US-Mexican border.

A US military veteran is trekking 2000 miles (3219 km) US-Mexico border to draw attention to plight of veterans who were sent back to their country of birth. Ramon Castro, the veteran trekking along the border and meeting deported US veterans living along the US-Mexican border. As he met them he realised that but for a piece of paper proving his citizenship, he could have been one of them. Castro says that even when former veterans are deported back due to infractions like drug use, a large number of the cases are associated with mental health issues. Between 2013 and 2018, about 250 veterans were deported or placed in deportation proceedings, according to a Government Accountability Office report. Advocates say the total number of deported veterans may be far higher. Although Castro was born in the United States, his family has sprawled across both sides of the desert borderlands for generations and he lived briefly in Mexico as a child, he told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday about 20 miles east of El Paso, Texas. Castro served two enlistments in the Marine Corps, including a deployment to Kuwait during the Iraq war. He says that after his discharge, memories of missiles hurtling at him lingered. Aas a coping mechanism, he said that he turned to alcohol and soon found himself in bar fights. The behaviour never landed Castro in serious legal trouble - a privilege he knew his non-US-citizen fellow service members did not share. Castro started his march at Friendship Park in San Ysidro, California, and plans to keep walking until he reaches the easternmost tip of the U.S.-Mexico border, near Brownsville, Texas. A few days after Castro began the journey, the Biden administration announced a new initiative aimed at allowing some deported veterans to return to the United States. (With inputs from agencies)

Iraq war veteran walks US-Mexico border, protests deportation of veterans

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has urged the United States to halt the construction of the border wall.&nbsp;

Also, the committee called on the US to work with Mexico to assess damage from the wall to a World Heritage site in Mexico, and adjacent protected lands in the US.

The committee recommended several ways to restore the landscape and wildlife habitat.

Earlier, the Pentagon cancelled all US-Mexico border wall construction projects paid for with military funds.

Former US president Donald Trump had ordered the diversion of billions of dollars in Pentagon money to pay for the barrier after being denied funding by Congress.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-cancels-border-wall-construction-projects-381894">Also read |&nbsp;Pentagon cancels border wall construction projects</a>

"Consistent with the president's proclamation, the Department of Defence is proceeding with cancelling all border barrier construction projects paid for with funds originally intended for other military missions," deputy Pentagon spokesman Jamal Brown said.

Brown said the Defence Department "has begun taking all necessary actions to cancel border barrier projects."

"Today's action reflects this administration's continued commitment to defending our nation and supporting our service members and their families," he said.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has urged the United States to halt the construction of the border wall. Also, the committee called on the US to work with Mexico to assess damage from the wall to a World Heritage site in Mexico, and adjacent protected lands in the US.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has urged the United States to halt the construction of the border wall. Also, the committee called on the US to work with Mexico to assess damage from the wall to a World Heritage site in Mexico, and adjacent protected lands in the US. The committee recommended several ways to restore the landscape and wildlife habitat. Earlier, the Pentagon cancelled all US-Mexico border wall construction projects paid for with military funds. Former US president Donald Trump had ordered the diversion of billions of dollars in Pentagon money to pay for the barrier after being denied funding by Congress. Also read | Pentagon cancels border wall construction projects "Consistent with the president's proclamation, the Department of Defence is proceeding with cancelling all border barrier construction projects paid for with funds originally intended for other military missions," deputy Pentagon spokesman Jamal Brown said. Brown said the Defence Department "has begun taking all necessary actions to cancel border barrier projects." "Today's action reflects this administration's continued commitment to defending our nation and supporting our service members and their families," he said.

UNESCO calls on US to end construction of Trump’s border wall

After failing to score in their Olympics debut,&nbsp;Mexico's&nbsp;softball&nbsp;players came good on their promise that a different team would show up on the second day of the Games.

With their bench ramping up cheering at each turn,&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;erased deficits against defending gold medallists Japan and nearly won in extra innings.

Now,&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;will need to bring even more fighting energy, as their players described it, to avoid sinking to a third straight loss in the Olympics tournament when they&nbsp;take&nbsp;on United States on Saturday.

Fortunately, it may be easy to muster: nearly all of&nbsp;Mexico's roster hail from the United States, but were effectively passed over for the Olympics run and are qualified to represent&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;through dual heritage.

Several played for United States previously. Danielle O'Toole, who pitched&nbsp;Mexico's entire 3-2 loss to Japan on Thursday, played on the&nbsp;US&nbsp;team in 2017 and 2018 before being cut.

Lead-off hitter Sydney Romero previously competed for the United States, as did starting pitcher Dallas Escobedo, who struggled in a loss to Canada on Wednesday.

The strong links between the two teams are even more personal for some: Shortstops and former pro-league teammates Amanda Chidester of the United States and Anissa Urtez of&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;last November became engaged to marry.

Urtez, like others on&nbsp;Mexico, said she tried out for&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;because she knew "USA wasn't in the cards for me".

Chidester said she and Urtez are "beyond proud of each other for living out our dreams."

U.S. Coach Ken Eriksen told Reuters that his counterparts had excelled at identifying players of Mexican heritage "that were just on the cusp of making it and didn't for whatever reason it was."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-2020-day-1-live-updates-indian-men-archers-finish-below-30-places-399834">Also read |&nbsp;Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 1 Live Updates: Indian men archers finish below 30 places</a>

"You can't argue with what they are doing right there," he said.

The assemblage was not by chance.&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;coach Carlos Caro began scouring rosters of&nbsp;U.S. colleges for Latinas in 2013, when Tokyo was named Olympics host. He contacted coaches, cousins, everyone he could think of in a years-long recruiting push.

Catcher Sashel Palacios was among the first on board. She roped in Escobedo and the line continued from there.

Mexico&nbsp;Softball&nbsp;President Rolando Guerrero used personal credit cards and sold off real estate to get the team to tournaments, Caro said. After qualifying for the Olympics, the government upped funding.

Palacios said she and others receive criticism on both sides of the border for being a roster of Mexican Americans. Critics in&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;at least could be silenced by a medal.

After failing to score in their Olympics debut, Mexico's softball players came good on their promise that a different team would show up on the second day of the Games.

After failing to score in their Olympics debut, Mexico's softball players came good on their promise that a different team would show up on the second day of the Games. With their bench ramping up cheering at each turn, Mexico erased deficits against defending gold medallists Japan and nearly won in extra innings. Now, Mexico will need to bring even more fighting energy, as their players described it, to avoid sinking to a third straight loss in the Olympics tournament when they take on United States on Saturday. Fortunately, it may be easy to muster: nearly all of Mexico's roster hail from the United States, but were effectively passed over for the Olympics run and are qualified to represent Mexico through dual heritage. Several played for United States previously. Danielle O'Toole, who pitched Mexico's entire 3-2 loss to Japan on Thursday, played on the US team in 2017 and 2018 before being cut. Lead-off hitter Sydney Romero previously competed for the United States, as did starting pitcher Dallas Escobedo, who struggled in a loss to Canada on Wednesday. The strong links between the two teams are even more personal for some: Shortstops and former pro-league teammates Amanda Chidester of the United States and Anissa Urtez of Mexico last November became engaged to marry. Urtez, like others on Mexico, said she tried out for Mexico because she knew "USA wasn't in the cards for me". Chidester said she and Urtez are "beyond proud of each other for living out our dreams." U.S. Coach Ken Eriksen told Reuters that his counterparts had excelled at identifying players of Mexican heritage "that were just on the cusp of making it and didn't for whatever reason it was." Also read | Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 1 Live Updates: Indian men archers finish below 30 places "You can't argue with what they are doing right there," he said. The assemblage was not by chance. Mexico coach Carlos Caro began scouring rosters of U.S. colleges for Latinas in 2013, when Tokyo was named Olympics host. He contacted coaches, cousins, everyone he could think of in a years-long recruiting push. Catcher Sashel Palacios was among the first on board. She roped in Escobedo and the line continued from there. Mexico Softball President Rolando Guerrero used personal credit cards and sold off real estate to get the team to tournaments, Caro said. After qualifying for the Olympics, the government upped funding. Palacios said she and others receive criticism on both sides of the border for being a roster of Mexican Americans. Critics in Mexico at least could be silenced by a medal.

Tokyo Olympics softball: Mexico to take on US in clash of familiar foes and fiancees

Mexico City's government will speed up COVID-19 vaccinations to its more than 9 million inhabitants starting from next week as infections and hospitalizations see a rise, mostly among younger people, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday.

The number of people in Mexico City hospitalized with COVID-19 rose by 650 from last week to 1,871.&nbsp;

Infections are hitting 18- to 39-year-olds, many of them unvaccinated.

Sheinbaum gave the green light for all residents over 30 years of age to get vaccinated anywhere in the city as of Tuesday.

Approximately 63 per cent of Mexico City residents have received at least one vaccine dose and 38.5 per cent have had the two doses.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-to-vaccinate-migrants-in-baja-california-under-new-border-initiative-392499">Also read |&nbsp;Mexico to vaccinate migrants in Baja California under new border initiative</a>

Sheinbaum's government aims to have at least one dose given to 74 per cent of residents and to have 41 per cent fully vaccinated by July 26.

Meanwhile, authorities in the Mexican border state of Baja California say they will include migrants in the new COVID-19 vaccination plan for border cities, which is aimed at accelerating the reopening of the shared land border with the United States.

The state, which lies just across from California, began vaccinating adults over the age of 18 this week as part of a new mass vaccination push across northern Mexico, which relies on over a million Johnson &amp; Johnson doses donated by the United States.

Baja California Health Secretary Alonso Óscar Pérez said on Friday that the agency has a plan to vaccinate migrants as part of this new border vaccination initiative. He added that the agency has allocated specific days for migrants, without providing additional details.

Despite the new surge, Sheinbaum said Mexico City was not planning to re-impose confinement measures or suspend activities.

&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Mexico City's government will speed up COVID-19 vaccinations to its more than 9 million inhabitants starting from next week as infections and hospitalizations see a rise, mostly among younger people, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday.

Mexico City's government will speed up COVID-19 vaccinations to its more than 9 million inhabitants starting from next week as infections and hospitalizations see a rise, mostly among younger people, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday. The number of people in Mexico City hospitalized with COVID-19 rose by 650 from last week to 1,871. Infections are hitting 18- to 39-year-olds, many of them unvaccinated. Sheinbaum gave the green light for all residents over 30 years of age to get vaccinated anywhere in the city as of Tuesday. Approximately 63 per cent of Mexico City residents have received at least one vaccine dose and 38.5 per cent have had the two doses. Also read | Mexico to vaccinate migrants in Baja California under new border initiative Sheinbaum's government aims to have at least one dose given to 74 per cent of residents and to have 41 per cent fully vaccinated by July 26. Meanwhile, authorities in the Mexican border state of Baja California say they will include migrants in the new COVID-19 vaccination plan for border cities, which is aimed at accelerating the reopening of the shared land border with the United States. The state, which lies just across from California, began vaccinating adults over the age of 18 this week as part of a new mass vaccination push across northern Mexico, which relies on over a million Johnson & Johnson doses donated by the United States. Baja California Health Secretary Alonso Óscar Pérez said on Friday that the agency has a plan to vaccinate migrants as part of this new border vaccination initiative. He added that the agency has allocated specific days for migrants, without providing additional details. Despite the new surge, Sheinbaum said Mexico City was not planning to re-impose confinement measures or suspend activities. (With inputs from agencies)

Mexico City to accelerate vaccinations as COVID-19 infections surge

First, there were&nbsp;fake&nbsp;vaccines. Now bogus coronavirus immunisation&nbsp;certificates&nbsp;are being offered for&nbsp;sale&nbsp;in the Mexican capital, aimed at people travelling to countries that require proof of inoculation.

In an area of the historic district known for its printers and counterfeiters, a new service has appeared alongside documents purporting to be birth&nbsp;certificates, driver's licenses and passports.

Customers for the&nbsp;fake&nbsp;COVID-19&nbsp;vaccination&nbsp;certificates&nbsp;are usually people who want to travel but have not been fully immunised, or who received vaccines not recognized in the country they plan to visit, a vendor said.

"If they were vaccinated with the Chinese shots, here we change it for Pfizer or Sputnik V," said the man, who gave his name as Cris.

Undeterred by the presence of police officers nearby, he told potential customers the price ranged from 1,100 to 2,000 Mexican pesos ($55-100), according to an AFP reporter.

"In two hours you'll have the document," he added, his face partly concealed by a face mask, as he worked in the Santo Domingo district.

Mexico's health ministry recently announced that people who have been vaccinated can download an immunisation certificate for free through an official website to use when travelling or in other situations.

Around 21 million people have been fully vaccinated in&nbsp;Mexico, a country of 126 million, which has used Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Cansino, Sputnik V and Johnson &amp; Johnson shots.

The official&nbsp;certificates&nbsp;have a QR code that redirects whoever scans it to a government page that confirms the holder is fully immunised.

The counterfeiters offer to tamper with that code, but whether it actually works is unclear.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/patients-taking-statin-are-at-41-lower-risk-of-an-in-hospital-death-due-to-covid-19-398625">Also read |&nbsp;Patients taking statin are at 41% lower risk of an in-hospital death due to COVID-19</a>

To cheat the system would require a certain level of technological know-how so that the person checking the certificate is redirected to a&nbsp;fake&nbsp;government website said cybersecurity specialist Carlos Ramirez.

In theory, he said, it would be possible to load each QR with the data requested by customers -- a challenging but not impossible task for cybercriminals.

The Mexican health ministry did not respond to a request for information about its digital security protocols and what measures it plans in response to the counterfeits.

It is not the first fraudulent activity linked to the pandemic in&nbsp;Mexico, where Pfizer said in April&nbsp;fake&nbsp;vaccines had been found for&nbsp;sale&nbsp;under its brand name.

In Santo Domingo, forged laboratory tests with a negative&nbsp;COVID-19 result are also on&nbsp;sale&nbsp;for about $30.

The falsification of official documents carries a prison sentence of four to eight years in&nbsp;Mexico, whose official coronavirus death toll of more than 235,000 is the world's fourth-highest.

First, there were fake vaccines. Now bogus coronavirus immunisation certificates are being offered for sale in the Mexican capital, aimed at people travelling to countries that require proof of inoculation.

First, there were fake vaccines. Now bogus coronavirus immunisation certificates are being offered for sale in the Mexican capital, aimed at people travelling to countries that require proof of inoculation. In an area of the historic district known for its printers and counterfeiters, a new service has appeared alongside documents purporting to be birth certificates, driver's licenses and passports. Customers for the fake COVID-19 vaccination certificates are usually people who want to travel but have not been fully immunised, or who received vaccines not recognized in the country they plan to visit, a vendor said. "If they were vaccinated with the Chinese shots, here we change it for Pfizer or Sputnik V," said the man, who gave his name as Cris. Undeterred by the presence of police officers nearby, he told potential customers the price ranged from 1,100 to 2,000 Mexican pesos ($55-100), according to an AFP reporter. "In two hours you'll have the document," he added, his face partly concealed by a face mask, as he worked in the Santo Domingo district. Mexico's health ministry recently announced that people who have been vaccinated can download an immunisation certificate for free through an official website to use when travelling or in other situations. Around 21 million people have been fully vaccinated in Mexico, a country of 126 million, which has used Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Cansino, Sputnik V and Johnson & Johnson shots. The official certificates have a QR code that redirects whoever scans it to a government page that confirms the holder is fully immunised. The counterfeiters offer to tamper with that code, but whether it actually works is unclear. Also read | Patients taking statin are at 41% lower risk of an in-hospital death due to COVID-19 To cheat the system would require a certain level of technological know-how so that the person checking the certificate is redirected to a fake government website said cybersecurity specialist Carlos Ramirez. In theory, he said, it would be possible to load each QR with the data requested by customers -- a challenging but not impossible task for cybercriminals. The Mexican health ministry did not respond to a request for information about its digital security protocols and what measures it plans in response to the counterfeits. It is not the first fraudulent activity linked to the pandemic in Mexico, where Pfizer said in April fake vaccines had been found for sale under its brand name. In Santo Domingo, forged laboratory tests with a negative COVID-19 result are also on sale for about $30. The falsification of official documents carries a prison sentence of four to eight years in Mexico, whose official coronavirus death toll of more than 235,000 is the world's fourth-highest.

Fake COVID-19 vaccination certificates for sale in Mexico

Virgin Galactic space flight to take off. The countdown has begun for the milestone flight to space where soon you get the live shots coming in from the new Mexico Spaceport authority. Watch this report to know more.

News Alert: Branson to fly into space along with 5 crew members

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