A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world. A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world Friday:

A 17-year-old pleaded guilty Friday to murdering a Border Patrol agent who was shot eight times in head, neck and torso in the mountains east of San Diego.

Mexico abortion fight moves to federal level, as majority of states pass right-to-life laws. Lawmakers in Veracruz made it Mexico's 17th state to pass legislation declaring life begins at conception, then adopted a proposal that requires Congress to consider amending the constitution to outlaw abortion.

Lawmakers in Veracruz made it Mexico's 17th state to pass legislation declaring life begins at conception, then adopted a proposal that requires Congress to consider amending the constitution to outlaw abortion.

US, Colombian and Mexican law enforcement seize $41 million in suspected drug money. U.S. and Colombian authorities seized $41 million in suspected drug money over the past two weeks ? one of the largest seizures in the history of the countries' joint efforts, law enforcement officials said Monday.

AP Exclusive: Mexican Foreign Minister says high violence shows hardline on drugs working. Mexico's Foreign Minister said Monday the startlingly high death toll of her government's all-out war against drug trafficking shows the policy is working.

13 US-bound Cuban migrants detained on Mexico's Caribbean coast after boat engine fails. Mexican authorities have detained 13 U.S.-bound Cuban migrants whose makeshift boat reached the country's Caribbean coast after an engine failed.

Gore, Mexican president discuss importance of breaking deadlock over climate change treaty. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore has met with Mexico's president to discuss the importance of breaking an impasse over a new global warming pact.

Mexico's political theater reaches new heights (or lows) with street vendor's election scheme. An eccentric street vendor known for his Rambo-style headband took charge of Mexico City's most populous borough Thursday ? at least for a few hours.

Officials say extra ATF agents in Houston helped disrupt gun trafficking from US to Mexico. A four-month effort to stop the flow of firearms from the U.S. to Mexican drug cartels has helped law enforcement disrupt various gun trafficking rings and gain a better understanding of how these groups try to avoid detection, officials announced Thursday.

Despite court ruling, reporter refuses to pay Mexico's former first lady in lawsuit. An Argentinian journalist says she will not pay damages to Mexico's former first lady, despite a court order in an invasion of privacy case.

First bricks of cocaine were found stashed in statues of the Virgin Mary, then in a frozen shark. Now, Mexican authorities have seized a load of "over-ripe" bananas bearing 2.6 tonnes of marijuana.

Man wanted by FBI in Idaho murders of girlfriend, 2 children arrested in southern Mexico. One of the FBI's most-sought fugitives, wanted for the 2002 killings of his girlfriend and her two young sons in Idaho, has been captured in Mexico.

Mexico announced that it was closing a state-run power company in a move that will save the government almost 1.5 billion dollars, sparking union outrage.

The Mexican government faced off with the powerful Electrical Workers Union Monday after announcing the closure of a state-run power company that serves more than one fifth of the country.

Former US, Mexican diplomats recommend new US assault weapons ban to improve border security. The United States should reinstate a Clinton-era ban on assault weapons to prevent such guns from reaching Mexican drug cartels, former officials from both countries said in a report released Tuesday.

Canada has refused a respected Mexican policeman's bid for political asylum despite his claims he faces death threats at home from drug cartels and corrupt officials, media reports said Wednesday.

Top trade officials from the United States, Mexico and Canada were to meet in Dallas, Texas Monday to discuss trade, labor and environmental issues under the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Tens of thousands march against Mexican government decision to disband public utility. Tens of thousands of people have marched to protest Mexican President Felipe Calderon's decision to disband a public electricity company.

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican workers in the United States have lost jobs and faced a crackdown on illegal immigration but are not heading home in droves despite the worst recession in decades, officials and researchers say.