Mexico

Retired Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos was arrested in October at Los Angeles International Airport by U.S. law enforcement, outraging Mexican officials who demanded and obtained his extradition.

U.S. tourists aren't welcome in most countries because of the surging coronavirus. But Mexico lets them in, with no quarantine or test requirements.

The Russian leader contacted U.S. President-elect Joe Biden after the Electoral College affirmed his victory. Putin was one of the last major world leaders to do so.

The milestone comes just two days after the country reported one million confirmed coronavirus infections. Mexico is only the fourth country to surpass 100,000 COVID-19 deaths.

Salvador Cienfuego Zepeda was arrested last month at Los Angeles International Airport. He is now free to return home to Mexico though his prosecution there is far from certain.

Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda was accused of working on behalf of one of Mexico's deadliest cartels. On Tuesday, Attorney General Barr said the former general will be investigated by Mexican authorities.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador says he won't congratulate the president-elect until the U.S. formally certifies the winner.

Leaders in the Kremlin and Beijing, as well as in Mexico and Brazil, have conspicuously not congratulated the president-elect, instead waiting for legal challenges to be resolved.

"The situation in the United States continues to be of concern. So we're going to make sure we're keeping Canadians safe as best as we can," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

Retired Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos was allegedly known as "El Padrino" and worked on behalf of a deadly criminal organization while he was defense chief from 2012 to 2018, according to a court filing.

This week, Code Switch is talking about the books that are getting us through the pandemic. Today's conversation is with Silvia Moreno-Garcia, author of the creepy and engrossing Mexican Gothic.

"The damage of this kind of diet is even more visible because of the pandemic," says a Oaxaca legislator who spearheaded a law against the sale of junk food and soda to minors. The idea is spreading.