MEXICO | Lower FDI. Mexico attracted US$9.62bn in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first half of 2012, 9.2% less than in the same period of last year, reports the economy ministry (SE). The result is somewhat surprising given analysts’ general bullishness on Mexico of late. To the delight of the Mexican government, a string of economic agencies have singled out the country as an increasingly attractive destination for FDI thanks to its positive economic outlook and its successful recovery from the global economic crisis in 2009. According to SE data, most of the first half FDI (49.1%) was made…

A car carrying US diplomatic plates came under sustained fire from federal police (PF) officers in the south-central state of Morelos on 24 August. Two US officials travelling in the vehicle were injured, and a Mexican navy captain was largely unscathed. At this point the facts of the incident give way to speculation. The identity of the US officials, for instance, is unclear, as is precisely what they were doing in Mexico, and why they came under attack. Without clearing up these issues, President Felipe Calderόn apologised in public to US ambassador Anthony Wayne four days later. The car apparently…