Soldiers in Mexico killed 27 suspected cartel members in a raid and gun battle near the U.S. border. Mexican president, Felipe Calderon, insists that this fighting is crucial to ending the drug war in that country. "I'm completely conscious that during this last year, the problem of violence has worsened. This is fundamentally because there is an even bloodier war between organized criminal groups in their battle for territory, markets and routes," said Calderon.

Prisoners in a Mexican jail were let out at night in order to perform murder-for-hire jobs. Three massacres have occurred in the city of Torreon, killing 35 people, including 17 who were killed at a birthday party last week. The attacks reveal the high level of corruption in the country. David Cuen, reporter for BBC Mundo, has the details.

Investigators in Mexico have begun examining the black box flight recorder from a plane that crashed in Mexico City on Tuesday, killing at least 14, including Mexican interior minister, Juan Camilo Mouriño. As President Felipe Calderón's "strongman," he had been leading a government campaign against Mexico's powerful and violent drug gangs. The government says investigators had not found any signs of foul play so far.