Washington  - The United States is doubling, tripling and quadrupling its anti-drug efforts on its border with Mexico even as Mexico has sent 10,000 armed troops into the border city of Juarez to quell drug violence.

Janet Napolitano, secretary of Homeland Security, and other administration officials Monday laid out a huge boost in efforts on the US side of the border to stem traffic in illegal drugs and weapons.

Geneva  - The United States blocked Friday the formation of a World Trade Organization panel to look into a complaint by Mexico that the US was unfairly closing its markets to tuna from its southern neighbour.

Mexico said US labeling rules, which prevent Mexican companies from placing "dolphin safe" labels on their products, violated trade rules as the tuna was in line with regulations on protecting dolphins.

About one-third of Mexico's fishing fleet was said to be adversely affected by the decision.

Mexico City - Once a week, vans loaded with reams of material to be stitched into trousers and shirts for US retailers, drive through the muddy streets of the Los Reyes-La Paz neighbourhood on the outskirts of Mexico City.

The fabric is distributed to the area's many seamstresses, who have a week to each make about 50 trousers and shirts. For sewing all day for some of the biggest and most expensive department stores, these women earn about 4,000 pesos (283 dollars) a month.

Mexico City - US President Barack Obama is set to visit Mexico on April 16-17, the Mexican government said Wednesday.

Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon are set to discuss "several matters in the hemispheric and global agenda that are of interest to both nations, particularly taking into account the active participation of both countries in several regional and global forums," said Max Cortazar, spokesman for the Mexican Presidency.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to visit Mexico on March 25-26 for meeting with Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa.

Washington  - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Mexico March 25 and 26 amid increasing drug-related violence along the US border.

The State Department said Friday Clinton will meet with Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa for talks on a host of issues that focus on cooperation between the two countries in fighting narcotics.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon's crackdown on drug cartels has resulted in a jump in violence near the US border among trafficking gangs and retributions against police.

Mexico City  -