Mexico and El Salvador make big cocaine seizures at sea

MEXICO CITY (AP) – The navies of El Salvador and Mexico announced drug seizures in the Pacific Ocean this week of more than 10 tonnes of cocaine, in contrast to deadly strikes by the U.S. government that just this week left 11 people dead on three boats suspected of carrying drugs in Latin American waters.

US stocks sink after oil spikes to its highest price since 2024

NEW YORK (AP) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly dropped more than 1,000 points after the price of oil spiked to its highest level since the summer of 2024. The Dow lost as many as 1,160 points Thursday before finishing the day with a drop of 784, or 1.6%. The S&P 500 fell 0.6%, while the Nasdaq composite lost 0.3%

Guatemala ends emergency powers after monthlong crackdown

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) – Guatemala lifted its state of emergency Monday, one month after President Bernardo Arévalo sought special powers following the killing of 10 police officers by suspected gang members.

Panic in Beirut as Israel warns Lebanon's southern suburbs to evacuate

BEIRUT (AP) – Traffic was gridlocked in Lebanon ‘s capital on Thursday as panicked residents tried to flee after Israel’s military issued a notice ordering all of Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate, apparently signaling plans for a major bombardment of the area.

Judge orders jailed Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora to house arrest

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) – A judge ordered Thursday that Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora be returned to house arrest again while awaiting trial after spending nearly a year in jail in his latest stint of incarceration.

Lack of notice about Iran strikes frustrates Gulf nations

CAIRO (AP) – The Trump administration is confronting mounting discontent from allies in the Persian Gulf who have complained they were not given adequate time to prepare for the torrent of Iranian drones and missiles bombarding their countries in retaliation for strikes launched by the U.S. and Israel.

As Guatemala begins high-stakes court elections, agents raid voting sites

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) – Just as Guatemala began to elect magistrates to its highest court on Thursday in a test of strength of its democratic institutions, prosecutors said they raided two voting locations in what lawyers and the country’s president said was an attempt to interfere in the elections.

Editorials from The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian and others

March 2 – The Washington Post says DHS remains unfunded despite heightened terror threat. As America’s conflict with Iran continues, the Department of Homeland Security is warning law enforcement about the heightened risk of lone wolf attacks. Yet the agency tasked with keeping Americans safe – remains unfunded.

Trump is gathering Latin American leaders in Florida in March

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump has invited Latin American leaders to take part in a summit in Florida next month, gathering the officials at a moment when the administration is spotlighting what it sees as concerning Chinese influence in the region.