Mexico, Ukraine anniversary, Mandelson and snowstorm
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Hi, I'm Kim Vinnell in Whanganui, New Zealand. It's Tuesday, February 24th. Today, tourists shelter in place in Mexico due to cartel violence. Another arrest in the UK over ties to Jeffrey Epstein. A record-breaking blizzard hits the northeast of the U.S. And we look at any chances for peace after four years of fighting in Ukraine.
What caused the recent cartel violence affecting tourists in Mexico?
This is Reuters World News, bringing you everything you need to know from the front lines in 10 minutes, seven days a week. In Huchitan, Oaxaca, a school bus lies charred outside a school. Soldiers and security forces are nearby, following coordinated cartel attacks across the country. The death of the infamous cartel boss, Nemicio Ezequiel, known as El Mencho, has triggered a wave of violence across Mexico. On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum said that roadblocks set up by cartel loyalists are now cleared. But tourists remain stranded after airlines cancelled flights across the country. Ryan Davis was vacationing in Puerto Vallarta.
My friend was supposed to leave yesterday. And, you know, when we woke up and we heard the initial things, we thought there was always a lot of fireworks in Puerto Vallarta. So our first thought was they were fireworks. And it wasn't until the text started coming in that we realized what was happening.
Reporter Laura Godestina in Monterey says it's unclear whether Mexico can open another front in its war against cartels, as it's already cracking down on the Sinaloa cartel. And there are big questions about what this all will mean for tourism.
A number of international tourists are still stranded in cities like Puerto Vallarta. Obviously, the World Cup is coming to Mexico and it will be in Guadalajara, which is in Jalisco, the home of the new generation Jalisco cartel. But it really remains too soon to tell. While there were short term impacts, things have mostly settled down and we will see where this goes. We still have a few months before the World Cup and it is worth reiterating there has been widespread tourism in Mexico despite flare-ups in the security crisis now for years upon years.
Mexican authorities say it was a tip about a romantic liaison that led them to El Mencho's hideout in Jalisco, where he was then killed. Britain's former ambassador to the US has been released on bail after being arrested over ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Peter Mandelson was taken into custody Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. There was no immediate response from Mandelson's lawyers. In the US, CBS News says longevity expert Dr. Peter Attia has stepped aside as a contributor after his emails with Epstein became public. The United States is pulling staff from its embassy in Beirut as tensions with Iran raise fears of war.
Washington says non-essential personnel and family members are being evacuated, although the embassy will still operate with core staff. The move comes as the USS Gerald R. Ford, an American aircraft carrier, arrives at a NATO base in Greece. Washington is building up one of its largest military deployments in the Middle East. And President Trump is warning Iran there will be serious consequences if nuclear talks collapse, with the next round set for Geneva on Thursday. Iran has threatened to strike American bases if it is attacked, even as both sides insist diplomacy is still possible. New York resident Jonathan Chapman tries to free his car from a mountain of snow after more than 15 inches fell on the city.
It's hard work. I've already done it several times already this winter. It's getting a bit of a pain.
Other places in the northeast saw more than a foot of snow. That brought travel to a near standstill for millions as the treacherous conditions closed roads, shut train services and forced the cancellation of thousands of flights. New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani says conditions remain dangerous and people should continue to stay home.
I know that this is a city full of people who do not like to sit still.
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