Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in a letter published Tuesday, addressing the issue of the fentanyl crisis and broader drug-related challenges. Her message emphasized cooperation over confrontation — whereas Trump has a penchant for the latter . “Neither threats nor tariffs will solve the migration or the drug abuse phenomenon in the US,” Sheinbaum said , calling for collaborative solutions to mitigate the escalating drug crisis. Migración y consumo de fentanilo no se atenderán con amenazas ni aranceles. México avanza con resultados en acciones integrales; la cooperación y el entendimiento son necesarios. El diálogo es el camino. pic.twitter.com/mwXkhUCwbL Sheinbaum To Trump: Fentanyl ‘Is An Issue In Your Country’ “For humanitarian reasons, we have consistently expressed Mexico’s commitment to preventing the continuation of the fentanyl epidemic in the United States, which, moreover, is an issue of consumption and public health in your country,” Sheinbaum says in the letter, which she read during her usual morning conferences. Sheinbaum detailed Mexico's recent measures, including enforcement actions by the armed forces and prosecutors. According to the data she shared, in 2024 alone, authorities seized large quantities of “various drugs”, confiscated over 10,340 firearms, and arrested more than 15,640 individuals for drug-related violence. Furthermore, she noted Mexico’s legislative progress toward stricter penalties. Get Benzinga’s exclusive analysis and the top news about the cannabis industry and markets daily in your inbox for free. Subscribe to our newsletter here . If you’re serious about the business, you can’t afford to miss out. Not Us Sheinbaum called attention to the illicit flow of chemical precursors from Asia, which enter North America through Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. She stressed that addressing this issue requires international collaboration: “It is publicly known that these precursors are smuggled into North America. This makes global cooperation imperative.” The president juxtaposed the flow of drugs with the southbound illegal trafficking of firearms from the U.S. into Mexico . She cited stark statistics: 70% of illegal weapons seized in Mexico originate in the U.S., fueling violence. “The synthetic drugs are not consumed by us, and the weapons are not produced here. Yet, we bear the brunt of the deaths caused by organized crime in response to the demand for drugs in your country.” Read Also: How Trump’s Election Could Revolutionize Cannabis And Cryptocurrency, CEO Says ‘Reciprocal Understanding And Cooperation’ Sheinbaum rejected the efficacy of punitive tariffs in addressing these challenges. Instead, she urged for “reciprocal understanding and cooperation” between the two nations. She noted that mutual economic ties, especially in industries like automotive manufacturing, would suffer under an antagonistic approach, leading to inflation and job losses on both sides of the border, and posed that both Mexico and the U.S. should work together on a mobility program instead of reinforcing the borders. “I am convinced that North America's economic strength lies in preserving our commercial partnership. Dialogue is the best path toward understanding, peace, and prosperity for our nations,” she added. Read Next: Goldman Sachs Expects Major Selloffs In Canadian Dollar, Mexican Peso, Says Trump Tariffs Threaten USMCA Agreement Translations in this article were made by Rolando García Cover: Shutterstock . © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- CBS News New York has learned more about the victims of Friday night's fiery car crash in Newark . Investigators say all six people inside the car were killed when it was traveling near the ramp of Routes 1 and 9 southbound, somehow became airborne, and hit a Pulaski Skyway support column, before bursting into flames on the ground. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office will be providing an update on the investigation into the fatal accident on Monday at 3 p.m. in Newark. According to the Archdiocese of Newark, two football coaches from Hudson Catholic High School were among the victims of the fatal crash. The archdiocese released a statement, which reads, in part: "They were dedicated educators and mentors who made a lasting impact on players, students and colleagues." The statement also says that classes will be cancelled at the school on Monday, and counselors will be on site to support the community. One of the victims was assistant coach Brad Cunningham. His parents said the family is too distraught to speak, but warm wishes from friends poured in on social media, including from Rutgers University head coach Greg Schiano, who wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Cunningham "was a member of our first recruiting class and laid the foundation of the Rutgers football program." Hudson Catholic High School head coach Lamar McKnight and his brother, Darryl, were also among those killed in the crash. On Saturday night, their loved ones released balloons into the sky in their memory. Their heartbroken mother said Lamar was a star college football player-turned coach, and Darryl was a counselor. "I loved my sons ... They lived ... my little cousin ... they lived, they enjoyed life ... You see the support I have here. It has been going all day and that's what helps with the healing," Natasha McKnight said. State Sen. Angela McKnight is married to their cousin. "It's a terrible loss to our family -- to the community -- and to the other individuals who passed away as well, my condolences to all of their families," Angels McKnight said. Hannah Kliger joined the CBS News New York team as a reporter in May 2022, focusing her coverage in Brooklyn. A native New Yorker, Hannah has received several awards for her investigative journalism about problems plaguing Brooklynites, from hate crimes to housing rental scams.
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A competitive spirit: Titans' Reagan Rus named 2024 Mitchell Republic volleyball player of the yearResearchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) have achieved a significant milestone in the advancement of nuclear reactor technology. For the first time in over two decades, a criticality experiment has been conducted in the United States utilizing a specialized ceramic fuel integral to certain advanced reactor designs. This experiment, called Deimos, was executed at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center situated near Las Vegas, Nevada. “The Deimos experiment is an important step towards deploying HALEU-fueled nuclear reactors,” said Chris Stanek, LANL Program Manager for Nuclear Energy. Deimos centers on the utilization of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel. HALEU is expected to play a pivotal role in the development of next-generation nuclear reactors due to its capacity to facilitate enhanced efficiency and performance. HALEU enables the design of smaller reactors with longer operational cycles, contributing to improved economic viability and reduced fuel consumption. Utilizing critical assembly machine To conduct the Deimos experiment, researchers utilized a unique critical assembly machine, which was specially modified to accommodate a graphite core and special containers, called “cups,” to hold the HALEU fuel pellets. These pellets are composed of TRISO particles, a type of ceramic fuel renowned for its ability to withstand incredibly high temperatures, even hotter than molten lava. “Many advanced reactors will require HALEU to achieve smaller designs, longer operating cycles, and increased efficiencies over existing nuclear technologies,” added the research team in a press release . The experiment involved several key steps. First, the researchers achieved criticality, the point at which a nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining. Then, they carefully measured the system at room temperature. Finally, they heated the system to over 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This allowed them to gather critical safety data on HALEU fuel under different conditions. This data is essential for understanding how HALEU behaves in real-world scenarios. Collaborative effort and future implications The Deimos experiment is not an isolated effort. It is a key component of a larger collaboration between the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This partnership aims to compile comprehensive data on HALEU, covering its use, storage, and transportation. The information gathered from Deimos will play a vital role in ensuring that the necessary infrastructure for handling HALEU is properly licensed and ready for the deployment of these advanced reactors. “We are excited and proud to make use of unique LANL capabilities to advance the nation’s advanced reactor goals, and we look forward to future experiments that Deimos enables,” concluded Stanek. Meanwhile, amid the growing demand for nuclear power, research on HALEU has increased. Recently, Bill Gates-backed leading nuclear energy developer, TerraPower, signed an agreement to produce HALEU to help the development of the next generation of nuclear power plants in the US. Recognizing the importance of HALEU research, the DOE has dedicated $17 million to fund 16 projects focused on developing public data and criticality benchmarks for HALEU.