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Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 15h

Richard Grenell, a special presidential envoy for Venezuela who negotiated with Maduro, was told by Trump that diplomatic outreach was to stop. The Trump administration has drawn up multiple military plans for an escalation, including plans to force Maduro from power. www.reuters.com/world/americ...

www.reuters.com

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Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 18h

From the Caribbean to the Pacific: piracy is rising in Latin America. This continent accounts for 10-15% of incidents worldwide. The attacks are in critical zones, such as the Gulf of Mexico, the Venezuelan/Colombian Caribbean and the Pacific coast of Ecuador/Peru. insightcrime.org/news/caribbe...

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Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 19h

In Oaxaca, Mexico, many indigenous people live, each with their own native language group. Here’s an example for the word ‘bird’ (ave) throughout this culturally magnificent state.

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Reposted by Bart van Zwieten

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 19h

The US and Mexico held the first meeting of the Security Implementation Group, and launched Mission Firewall, a new effort to curb cross-border gun trafficking. The initiative expands Mexico’s use of US tracing tools like eTrace and ballistic imaging to all 32 states. www.state.gov/releases/off...

First Meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Security Implementation Group Launches Mission Firewall: United Against Arms Trafficking Initiative - United States Department of State

On Friday, September 26, 2025, representatives from six United States government agencies and their Mexican government counterparts convened the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Security Implement...

www.state.gov

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 15h

Richard Grenell, a special presidential envoy for Venezuela who negotiated with Maduro, was told by Trump that diplomatic outreach was to stop. The Trump administration has drawn up multiple military plans for an escalation, including plans to force Maduro from power. www.reuters.com/world/americ...

www.reuters.com

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 18h

From the Caribbean to the Pacific: piracy is rising in Latin America. This continent accounts for 10-15% of incidents worldwide. The attacks are in critical zones, such as the Gulf of Mexico, the Venezuelan/Colombian Caribbean and the Pacific coast of Ecuador/Peru. insightcrime.org/news/caribbe...

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 19h

In Oaxaca, Mexico, many indigenous people live, each with their own native language group. Here’s an example for the word ‘bird’ (ave) throughout this culturally magnificent state.

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 19h

The US and Mexico held the first meeting of the Security Implementation Group, and launched Mission Firewall, a new effort to curb cross-border gun trafficking. The initiative expands Mexico’s use of US tracing tools like eTrace and ballistic imaging to all 32 states. www.state.gov/releases/off...

First Meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Security Implementation Group Launches Mission Firewall: United Against Arms Trafficking Initiative - United States Department of State

On Friday, September 26, 2025, representatives from six United States government agencies and their Mexican government counterparts convened the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Security Implement...

www.state.gov

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 1d

Whoever governs Mexico is never just a local story. Mexico matters more than the world often realizes. It is the US top trading partner, the world’s 12th-largest economy, and the hinge of the Americas: decisions ripple across supply chains, migration flows, climate policy and security at the border.

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 1d

Income divergence is growing between Argentina's economy & the rest of the Southern Cone. As long as Argentina can't get its political economy in order, it will be hard for the country to keep up with its neighbours.

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 1d

Settlements in the New World in 1650. Only foreign powers are depicted, the existing indigenous population is not taken into account.

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 1d

PresidentTrump’s hardline deterrence are forcing asylum seekers and migrants to establish themselves in Mexico, even as the suspension of US aid is making it harder for them to obtain the protections and support they need to integrate into Mexican society. www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature...

For those deterred by Trump, can the American dream become the Mexican dream?

Not only are Trump’s policies pushing many migrants to request asylum in Mexico, but US aid cuts are making their integration there even harder.

www.thenewhumanitarian.org

Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 2d

US President Trump announced new tariffs starting October 1, which include a 25% levy on imported heavy-duty trucks – a major hit for Mexico, the largest exporter of mid- and heavy-duty trucks to the U.S. www.cnbc.com/2025/09/26/t...

Trump slaps 25% tariffs on heavy truck imports, starting Oct. 1

The decision came as Trump took aim at a swath of imported goods with fresh tariffs, as part of the broader campaign to encourage domestic manufacturing.

www.cnbc.com

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 2d

Police in Spain arrested three men thought to have piloted a “narco-submarine” carrying more than 3.6 tonnes of cocaine from South America to Spain, after the trio’s wet clothes, accents and claims to be pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago, raised suspicions. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Men in wet clothes claiming to be Camino pilgrims arrested over alleged ‘narco-sub’ plot

Three men had fled in taxi after allegedly piloting vessel carrying 3.65 tonnes of cocaine to Galicia, Spanish police say

www.theguardian.com

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 2d

The IMF bumped up its GDP growth forecast for Mexico in 2025 from a 0.3% contraction to 1% growth. The IMF predicated its optimism on Mexico’s record of “very strong policies and policy frameworks” that have helped it to weather adverse conditions this year. mexiconewsdaily.com/business/imf...

International Monetary Fund revises Mexico’s economic forecast upward

The IMF revised its forecast upward for Mexico’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on Friday to 1.0% growth for 2025 and 1.5% in 2026.

mexiconewsdaily.com

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 3d

One year in, President Sheinbaum has a 73% approval rating: high for a Mexican president at this stage. Her popularity rests on handling of Trump, social programs and public safety. But warning light: her party Morena lost 15 points in partisan identification. www.mexicodecoded.com/p/decoding-s...

Decoding Sheinbaum’s Unprecedented Popularity

What Sheinbaum’s approval reveals about power, perception, and the changing political landscape in Mexico.

www.mexicodecoded.com

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 3d

Maya art: mask belonging to a ceremonial belt discovered in 1988 in Tomb 1 of Structure III at Calakmul, Yucatan, Mexico. This piece was first reconstructed in 1989 and again between 2005 and 2007. It dates from the Early Classic period, 250-500 AD.

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 3d

Independent: Mexico’s Supreme Court upheld the 2023 mining reform, rejecting challenges from corporations that argued its environmental rules violated rights to new concessions. Two voted in favor of the mining corporations—showing the government has less control over the Court than many assumed.

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 4d

U.S. military officials are drawing up options to target drug traffickers inside Venezuela, and strikes within that country’s borders could potentially begin in a matter of weeks. www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...

U.S. preparing options for military strikes on drug targets inside Venezuela, sources say

President Donald Trump has not approved any action yet, and the U.S. and Venezuela are talking through Middle Eastern intermediaries, sources told NBC News.

www.nbcnews.com

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 4d

Pre-Hispanic ruins in Mexico attract millions of tourists. A list of he most visited archaeological sites, according to the INAH (National Institute of Archaeology and History). First place Chichén Itzá relying on tourism from Cancun, second Teotihuacan close to Mexico City. Tulum in third place.

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 4d

An increasing number of women in Mexico are turning to midwife practices rooted in Indigenous traditions and knowledge, seeking a more personal and meaningful approach to childbirth and postpartum care than conventional health centers, clinics or hospitals provide. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/w...

In Mexico, New Mothers Are Seeking Out Old Rituals

www.nytimes.com

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 5d

UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) is the largest university in Latin America and one of the largest in the world. It has over 360,000 students. The mural "The people to the University, University to the people" was made by David Alfaro Siqueiros, it is located in the Rector's Tower.

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 5d

This a great work of art of the Teenek or Huastec people, 200 AD, made of sandstone. It is known as the "scarified woman" or "the Venus of Tamtoc". It depicts the body of a woman, with scarifications on her thighs, breasts, and shoulders, scars possibly associated with the maize cycle and fertility.

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 5d

The Caribbean is now in the Oxford English Dictionary with 12 new words from the region: bobolee (stupid person), pholourie (fried flour balls), carry-go-bring-come (to gossip), cou-cou (ocra dish), bulla (bread rol), buss shut up (fried unleaneved bread, a roti). apnews.com/article/cari...

From 'bobolee' to 'pholourie,' the Oxford English Dictionary adds 12 new Caribbean words

The Caribbean has elbowed its way into the Oxford English Dictionary with 12 new words commonly used in the region. The longest word is “carry-go-bring-come."

apnews.com

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Bart van Zwieten @bvzw.bsky.social · 6d

Today 55 years old, still fantastic: Pink Floyd released their fifth studio album, “Atom Heart Mother” on this day in 1970.