North America

Canada: Toronto “Panhandlers” Kill a Man

Date: August 15th, 2007 |

Aggressive panhandling that more resembled armed robbery took the life of a man near downtown Toronto’s Trinity Bellwoods Park. He and a friend were walking just after midnight Aug. 11 when accosted by two men and two women, all in their early 20s, who demanded money. When the victim and friend refused, a verbal exchange [read more]

Mexico: Unrest Returns to Oaxaca

Date: July 19th, 2007 |

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Police and protesters clashed in Oaxaca City July 16 when demonstrators tried to march to a stadium where the annual Guelaguetza cultural festival is set to begin July 23. Some protesters said they wanted to hold an alternative fair before the renowned festival began, while others said they wanted to block the event as they [read more]

Mexico: Gang Violence Reaches Zihuatanejo

Date: April 11th, 2007 |

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Drug gang-related violence that has plagued Acapulco and other places in Guerrero state spilled over to the resort town of Zihuatanejo April 4 when assailants tossed grenades at a municipal police station and an office of federal police. A tourist from Michoacan received minor injuries but a police officer was seriously hurt. Authorities consider the [read more]

Mexico: Cancun’s Beach Eroding Again

Date: March 14th, 2007 |

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Cancun is hopping again with 85 percent hotel occupancy rates and is preparing for spring break, but its beaches are being eroded once more following their complete rehabilitation after Hurricane Wilma left them empty of sand in 2005. Cancun without a beach was a resort without a draw, so the government spent the money to [read more]

Mexico: Canadians Shot in Acapulco; Police Killed by Drug Gangs

Date: February 7th, 2007 |

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Two Canadian tourists were grazed by bullets in the heart of Acapulco’s tourist district Feb. 4 when someone fired into their hotel lobby. The city has been the site of ongoing hostilities between rival drug cartels, and police believe this incident was related to these turf wars. Last month more than 7,000 federal police and [read more]

Mexico: Making Mexico City More Friendly

Date: August 8th, 2007 |

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In an effort to change the face and reputation of Mexico City, the mayor has trucked in sand to create urban beaches at public pools, staged outdoor movies, imposed tougher traffic rules and closed off main avenues for “bicycle Sundays.” His goal is to make Mexico City a more livable place by encouraging fun and [read more]

Mexico: Mexico City Could Face Sewage Flood

Date: June 20th, 2007 |

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Mexico City could see floods of sewage 15-feet deep in its historic center and at the international airport if the city’s main drainage tunnel fails, which is a strong possibility according to Mexico’s national water agency. The 21-foot-wide tunnel has been losing capacity for years but because it’s always filled it hasn’t been checked thoroughly [read more]

Mexico: Dengue Fever Cases Up around Country

Date: April 4th, 2007 |

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Dengue fever is surging in Mexico and other areas of Latin America. Dengue cases in Mexico have increased more than 600 percent since 2001, with the deadly form of dengue hemorrhagic fever increasing dramatically. It now accounts for one in every four cases compared to one in every fifty cases seven years ago. Officials have [read more]

Mexico: Federal Police Patrolling Acapulco Tourist District

Date: February 28th, 2007 |

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Federal police are now patrolling the hotel zone in Acapulco around the clock in an effort to curtail drug gang violence and protect the tourism industry. Officers set up roadblocks on the main beachfront road Feb. 23 to search vehicles and passengers for drugs and weapons, paying special attention to SUVs and pickup trucks with [read more]

Mexico: Oaxaca Almost Back to Normal, Tijuana Police Issued Slingshots

Date: January 24th, 2007 |

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The U.S. State Department has downgraded its advisory on travel to Oaxaca, now urging Americans to use caution when visiting the city rather than stay away. The situation remains unsettled but is largely back to normal. Demonstrations could recur and should be avoided. Mexican law forbids political activities by foreigners, and participating in demonstrations could [read more]