Mexico Unites Behind Own President Peña Nieto, Against President Donald Trump | MSNBC

Bouncing back from record low approval ratings, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto is surging in popularity for his aggressive stance against Trump. But what's his next course of action?

A 'Wall' of Trouble: Mexican President Cancels Visit to White House

Mexico-US Relations Plummet over Trump’s Border Wall

As relations between the US and Mexico nosedive, there are escalating concerns about the future for Mexicans who live close to the border. The cancellation of a planned meeting between Donald Trump and Enrique Peña Nieto is adding to the anxiety. Al Jazeera’s John Holman reports from Mexicali.

Mexican President Cancels US Visit over Trump's Order to Build Border Wall

THE GUARDIAN: Enrique Peña Nieto has said Mexico will not pay for the wall, as US Congress faces questions about budgetary impact of its construction

Mexico’s president, Enrique Peña Nieto, has cancelled a scheduled visit to Washington next week to meet with Donald Trump, after the US president signed an executive order to move forward on construction of a border wall and repeated his claim that Mexico would be forced to pay for it.

Peña Nieto tweeted on Thursday that he had informed the White House that he would not attend the meeting with Trump that had been scheduled for Tuesday.

“Mexico reiterates its willingness to work with the US to achieve agreements which benefit both nations,” he added. » | David Agren in Mexico City and Ben Jacobs in Philadelphia | Thursday, January 26, 2017

Trump, Mexican President Peña Nieto to Meet in Washington

The White House said Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto will visit President Donald Trump after the two leaders spoke on Saturday. Nieto has said he wants an open dialogue with Trump, who has vowed to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border and make Mexico pay for it. Washington Post reporter Josh Partlow joins Alison Stewart via Skype with more analysis from Mexico City.

Mexico to Tackle Obesity with Taxes on Junk Food and Sugary Drinks

Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico

THE GUARDIAN: President calls for hour of exercise per day and a 'change of culture' as Mexico has higher rates of adult obesity than the US

Mexico has become the standard bearer in the global fight against obesity, after parliamentarians passed a law imposing significant new taxes on junk food and sugary drinks.

The vote by congress is a triumph for the anti-obesity crusade of President Enrique Peña Nieto, who will now sign the measures into law. As the legislation was passed, he called for a "change of culture" in his country, including the incorporation of at least an hour of exercise for all Mexicans every day. Mexico has higher rates of adult obesity even than the United States, according to the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation this year – 32.8% against 31.8% of Americans.

"We can't keep our arms crossed in front of a real overweight and obesity epidemic," the president said. "The lives of millions of Mexicans are literally at risk."

Taxes on unhealthy foods and sugary drinks such as colas and lemonades have been introduced by a few other countries in Europe and Scandinavia, but often subtly. Mexico has confronted the food and drink industry head on, resisting tough lobbying and warnings that raising prices would do nothing to help the country's economy.

But the government has taken the long view – that the potential economic harm from reduced junk food and soft drink sales now is insignificant compared to the damage in ten years time if obesity continues at the current rate. The healthcare burden of diabetes and heart disease in Mexico is already huge and increasing. Some 9.2% of children in Mexico now have diabetes. » | Sarah Boseley, health editor | Friday, November 01, 2013