Development Conference in Monterrey. (Breves).

Right in our very own backyard of MONTERREY, the U.N. International Conference on Financing for Development will be held March 18-21. Most of the world's financial heavy hitters will be on the scene, including representatives from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European

Most of the wrangling is expected to revolve around the issue of foreign aid to the world's poorest nations. The U.N. would like to see its first-world members donate at least 0.7% of gross domestic product (GDP), while the current average in Europe, for example, hovers around 0.3%.

Meanwhile, President Vicente Fox and U.S. President George W. Bush are expected to take advantage of the occasion to discuss border security plans and, in particular, the creation of a so-called "fast lane" of pre-approved travelers between the two nations.