Renouned Mexican economist Moises Schwartz has been appointed to the position of Director of the IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office. This is a major posting for the Mexican economist, who had previously served as President of the National Commission for Retirement Savings in Mexico since December 2006. He is, however, no stranger to the IMF. According to the IMF’s press release, “ Between 2004 and 2006 he served as an Executive Director of the IMF, representing Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain and Venezuela.”

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Peter Ferry of the Chicago Tribune makes a compelling case for Americans to travel to Mexico by car. According to the writer, it not only makes fiscal sense, but it is sure to also make for a great time. With security and influenza being a non-issue, as Ferry puts it, there has never been a better time to visit Mexico, by plane, car, or any mode of transportation. To read the full article, click here.

Mexico furthered its effforts to ensure public safety and environmental responsibility today by voluntarily closing the New Gold mine in the town of Cerro de San Pedro. The Canadian-owned mine has become a dangerous site over the last decade.

“The closure marks the end of a 10-year battle by the Frente Amplio Opositor (FAO), the international coalition that worked to close the mine on the basis of its environmental and social impacts on the nearby community of San Luis Potosi.”

To read the full article, click here.

One of Mexico’s most unique bazaar’s received national attention last week in a profile by the New York Times. The Mercado de Dulces has been attracting tourists, locals, and even a handful of bees for years. Now, Colleen Kinder of the Times turns her attention to one of the most unique offerings that Mexico has to offer.

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Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government recently honored the innovator’s behind the minibuses that have come to be a trademark in Mexico City. The 2009 Roy Family Award was presented to the Mexico City Metrobús project for its impact on inner city congestion with sustainability in mind. To read the full article from the Boston Globe, click here.

The University of Queensland recently published a story about one of it’s students, Alison Rae, who recently studied abroad in Mexico at the Tecnologico de Monterrey. Her tale is one of fun, adventure, and cultural understanding, even in the face of the H1N1 health crisis.

According to the student,

“I would definitely recommend Mexico as a place to go on exchange – the culture and way of life is very different to Australia but a great experience.”

With swine flu interrupting her first Mexican adventure, Ms Rae will resume her travels once the end-of-semester exams are complete.

“It happened a week before the assessment period, my brother was just about to arrive and we had plans to travel for about three weeks,” she said.

“I had to leave Mexico a few weeks early, so there were a few places I didn’t get to see and I’m also keen to explore Central America.”

To read the full story, click here.

Prosecutors in Mexico are questioning Mauricio Fernandez, the new mayor of Mexico’s wealthiest municipality, the Monterrey suburb of San Pedro Garza, for his alleged support of his residence in a move of vigilantism.

It is suspected that Hector Saldaña Perales, reputed chief of the Monterrey branch of the Beltran Leyva drug cartel, and three of his underlings were murdered by citizens taking the law into their own hands. The death was mentioned by the Mayor in an address to the public, hours before the body was found, further suggesting that the Mayor had prior knowledge of the incident.

While nothing has been proven as of yet, Federal Prosecutors are showing the public that they cannot, and will not stand for a lawless state, and that citizens taking matters into their own hands is simply not acceptable.

To read more on the story, please click here.

Mexico has joined in the fight to put pressure on China to drop unfair and potentially illegal export barriers.

The United States and the European Union had been struggling with these barries imposed by Beijing for some time now, and with Mexican officials, joining in the struggle, the Wall Street Journal is confident that the standstill could shortly come to a close.

The trade barriers, as currently imposed, violated World Trade Organization agreements, enraging the global community.

To read more, please click here.

While no loss of life is ideal in any situation, the streets of Mexico are safer tonight, as Braulio Arellano Dominguez, also known as “El Gonzo,” “Zeta 20″ or “El Verdugo,” is being reported dead.

The alleged drug czar was mortally wounded in a gun-fight with authorities, according CNN, during which he opened fire first. He was pronounced dead on the way to the hosptial.

According to www.CNN.com

“Officials said they confiscated five cars, four motorcycles, a submachine gun, a hand grenade, four pistols, more than 150 rounds of ammunition, communication equipment, three bags containing unspecified powder and pills, 74,900 pesos ($5,655) and $107 in U.S. currency.”

To read the full story, please click here.

BREAKING NEWS:

An earthquake that has measured at a 4.0 has struck just near the border of the United States and Mexico. The epicenter is estimated somewhere roughly nine miles west of Calexico, California.

As of yet, there is no information on any damages and/or casualties. For more information, please visit: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/40-earthquake-strikes-usmexico-border.html