The Hill – Jaime Martínez Veloz, a former member of Mexico’s Congress who is now a mid-level official with the Mexican federal government, filed a federal criminal tax fraud complaint against Donald Trump in Tijuana related to Trump Ocean Resort, a real estate project that folded in 2009. He also sent a letter to the mayor of Tijuana, asking city hall to determine if any local regulations were violated by the failed development.
Reuters – Mexican homebuilder Geo named a new chief executive officer, less than a year after the previous CEO took over. Juan Carlos Diaz, who previously headed Mexican homebuilder Sare, replaced Juan Carlos Brainff on Oct. 24.
Fox News – Authorities in Mexico say deforestation caused by the expansion of avocado orchards is much higher than previously thought. The attorney general’s office for environmental protection says that almost 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares) of forest land are converted to agricultural uses each year in the western state of Michoacan, the world’s top producer of the fruit.
Reuters – Mexican Formula One Grand Prix organizers say Sunday’s race attracted an even bigger crowd than in 2015, bucking a trend of lower attendances in an event’s second year after the novelty has worn off.
Goal – Mexico has long been able to point to Europe as the club-team home of its best attackers, but more and more it’s now able to do so with its defenders as well. With the final round of World Cup qualification beginning this month with games at the United States and at Panama, El Tri’s best center backs are coming off sterling months in Europe.
UPI – Constellation Brands announced plans to acquire a Grupo Modelo brewery for $600 million to meet growing demands of its beer imported south of the border. The brewery in Obregon is a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Constellation’s best-selling imported beer brands include Corona, Modelo and Pacifico.
Insight Crime – An alleged front man for fugitive Veracruz Gov. Javier Duarte has acquired a string of properties in a suburb of Houston, offering a further demonstration of the importance of the United States in laundering the proceeds of criminal activity in Mexico. Facing dozens of criminal complaints against him and his subordinates, former Gov. Duarte took a leave of absence in mid-October, just a couple of months before he was set to leave office, and subsequently went underground.
Reuters – Canadian miners are seeking a meeting with Mexico’s president to air grievances about issues ranging from the rule of law to aggressive tax collection, according to an unusually strident letter by an industry group.
AP – Mexico’s increasingly frank president, who is battling low approval ratings, launched a campaign to get people to talk positively about his country. President Enrique Pena Nieto said his administration has made mistakes, but that his efforts were in good faith. “I don’t think any president has woken up and thought, and forgive me for saying it, ‘How do I screw Mexico?’” Pena Nieto said.
Reuters – In remote indigenous hills, President Enrique Pena Nieto’s telecommunications reform, credited with slashing prices for many Mexicans and boosting competition against billionaire Carlos Slim’s company America Movil, is coming up short.
Almost a third of Mexico’s population is estimated to live with no mobile subscription, meaning Latin America’s second largest economy has a lower percentage of cell phone users than countries like Argentina, Uruguay and even Nicaragua.
Fox – Mexico hasn’t decided whether they will join the United States for a joint bid to host the 2026 World Cup yet, but that it will not affect whether they bid or not. The country is committed to entering the bidding to host the tournament and will do it regardless of whether they are with the Americans. FIFA has yet to set all the rules for 2026 World Cup bidding and have not yet laid out a timeline,
