News Summary for December 17th, 2009

BIG NEWS!! Arturo Beltrán Leyva, main kingpin of the Sinaloa Cartel was killed Wednesday in a shootout in Cuernavaca, according to the Mexican Navy. Four of Beltrán Leyva´s bodyguards were also killed.
++ Joint committees at the Mexico City´s legislative body, for the second time approved a bill to allow same-sex marriage, granting homosexuals the same rights and obligations as heterosexuals, except when it comes to adopting children.
++ Senate speaker PRD politician Carlos Navarrete announced that the Senate will review the way the Mexican political system operates, especially with regard to the prominent role played by the president… Navarrete said that President Calderón’s proposals to reform the political system only reduce Congress’s role and there is no change proposed to so-called “presidentialism.”
++ Rafael Acosta, “Juanito,” demanded that he be reinstated as Iztapalapa borough chief… He warned that in mid-January he will return to govern Iztapalapa.
++ Head of the Mexican Electricians Union Martín Esparza said that before year’s end new elections will be held to choose a leader.
++ U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Mexico Carlos Pascual said that the increase in violence in Mexico is a reaction by organized crime to the government’s clampdown.
++ Federal police captured Antonio Chávez Andrade, known as “El Sobrino,” or “The Newphew,” who is being accused of the attacks on police stations in Michoachán and Guerrero in retaliation for operations to dismantle the La Familia Michoacana drug cartel.
++ The head the Firefighters Department in Hermosillo, Sonora, Martín Lugo Portillo, was arrested by federal agents in connection to the deadly fire at the ABC day care center in which 49 infants and young children were killed.

++ Speaking at the 15th United Nations Conference on Climate Change being held in Copenhagen, President Felipe Calderón announced he will report on Mexico’s pledge to set a goal to reduce its emissions by 30 percent by 2020 as long as the international community provides it with the necessary financial and technological support.