Mexico City  - Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday proposed life sentences for those found guilty of kidnapping, in a move to curb a crime wave in the North American nation.

He sent the proposal to Parliament in the wake of outrage over the recent murder of a 14-year-old kidnapped boy.

The life sentences would be aimed particularly at public officials - such as police officers - involved in kidnappings, as well as those who snatch children, or abuse or sell their victims.

Mexico City  - The northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas was preparing for the worst Tuesday as tropical storm Dolly shifted northward from the Yucatan Penninsula.

Monday the storm was moving north-west over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said. A hurricane watch has been issued for part of the coast of the US state of Texas and for the Mexican coast north of San Fernando to the US border.

Mexico City  - Over 1,000 people were evacuated early Monday from the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico as Tropical Storm Dolly entered the Gulf of Mexico.

The storm was moving north-west over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said. A hurricane watch has been issued for part of the coast of the US state of Texas and for the Mexican coast north of San Fernando to the US border.

Mexico City  - Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said Tuesday that he has