Mexico mayor assassinated one day after taking office

CUERNAVACA, Mexico - Several gunmen burst into the home of a newly elected Mexican mayor and shot her dead on Saturday, just hours into her tenure, police said.

Gisela Mota, 33, a left-of-center former member of Congress, was gunned down barely 24 hours after taking her oath of office in the city of Temixco, which is about 90 kilometers (55 miles) from the capital Mexico City.

Temixco is plagued by organized crime and rampant drug trafficking -- problems the slain mayor had vowed to help clean up.

The government of central Morelos state said that two of the suspected gunmen had been killed and one was in custody.

State Governor Graco Ramirez pledged there would be "no impunity."

Morelos has been one of the Mexican states most affected by drug violence plaguing the country, including kidnappings and murders.

More than 100,000 people have been killed or gone missing in a nearly a decade of drug violence nationwide.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who took office in December 2012, has pledged to reduce the murders, kidnappings and extortion haunting Mexicans.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LOOK: Photos of 'APEC hotties' Pena Nieto, Trudeau

MANILA – Two leaders who arrived in Manila for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Tuesday set Twitter on fire, with Filipino netizens gushing over their good looks.

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have been dubbed by Filipino Internet users as “APEC hotties,” which became a top trending topic on the microblogging site.

Mobile users can view the desktop version of the slideshow here.

 

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

 source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Mexico, Philippines sign tax agreement

 

MANILA - The Philippines and Mexico have inked several bilateral agreements, including the avoidance of double taxation.

The agreements were signed during Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's state visit Tuesday.

In his remarks during a joint press conference with President Aquino at Malacanang Palace, Nieto said,"Today, we have undersigned several agreements in the area of the economy. We have undersigned an agreement to avoid double taxation and, by this, enable trade and financial activities between our countries. In the area of tourism, we will consolidate more cooperation in areas like R&D, education, training, and also in trade promotion and investment. In the area of security, we will exchange best practices and will share information to jointly fight the scourge of drug dealing."

Aside from this, Nieto said both sides agreed to accelerate the conclusion of three initiatives: the air services agreement that dates back to 1952; the reciprocal, the promotion and protection of investments,and the creation of a joint economic committee.

"This way, we will create the Mexico and the Philippines Action Plan and that would be the roadmap to strengthen our relationship. With this new institutional scaffolding, we will find new collaboration and exchange opportunities. The Philippines and Mexico are both stable, strong and dynamic nations with solid economies and a great potential for the future."

For his part, President Aquino said, "Today, President Peña Nieto and I welcomed the signing of agreements on Avoidance of Double Taxation, on Tourism Cooperation, and on Anti-Narcotics Cooperation. We also took the opportunity to welcome two business agreements, which both our nations signed earlier this year."

He also congratulated Nieto for Mexico’s chairmanship of the Open Government Partnership, "an endeavor the Philippines is proud of, as both a founding partner and as an advocate for transparency and openness in governance through the use of new technologies that enable our respective citizens to better engage in the process of nation-building," Aquino said.

Nieto is on a state visit to the Philippines and was accorded honors for a state visit. He was feted in a state dinner with entertainment provided by local music artists led by Pops Fernandez and Jet Pangan.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com