Second defendant pleads guilty in 2020 abduction of 2 US soldiers at Bogota bar

A Colombian man who helped kidnap two U.S. Army soldiers in Bogota four years ago became the second person to plead guilty in the case, according to the Justice Department.

Pitcher Ayami Sato makes history as first woman to play Canadian pro baseball

A 34-year-old female pitcher has broken through baseball’s gender barrier by signing with an independent men’s league team, becoming the first woman to play Canadian pro baseball.

At the Pentagon, DeSantis could attempt plans on lethal border force and domestic deployments

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis repeatedly vowed during his presidential campaign to send troops to the U.S. southern border, authorize lethal force against migrants attempting to cross between ports of entry, and even consider firing missiles into Mexico. Now, should Trump ask him to lead the Pentagon, DeSantis may have a chance to fulfill those promises.

Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton offloads $182.8 million in seized cocaine

A large haul of cocaine — more than 16,100 pounds of cocaine, with an assessed street value of $182.8 million — is off the market.

How Cuba fooled the US to get millions of dollars from Miami for its armed forces

The Cuban government has been fooling U.S. sanctions by concealing the true nature of the company that handles money sent by Cuban-Americans to their families on the island, a Miami Herald investigation shows.

Venezuela targets opposition with bill that codifies economic sanctions as crimes against humanity

Venezuelan lawmakers on Thursday approved a bill that codifies economic sanctions, like those imposed by the United States, as crimes against humanity and allows the prosecution of anyone who expresses support for the measures.

Canada feels Trump’s wrath over drugs, migrants and pledges tighter border

President-elect Donald Trump has threatened tariffs of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico until fentanyl and undocumented migrants stop flowing over US borders. Canada says it has a plan to boost border security - and points to US government data that show most of the problems come from Mexico.

Maduro purges rivals from Venezuela with wave of repression

The situation is expected to worsen in the coming weeks, with Maduro’s government likely to approve electoral reforms that seek to exclude the opposition and its parties ahead of a Dec. 15 deadline.

Why Haiti’s gangs are gaining ground despite the presence of an international armed force

The upsurge in violence in the face of an international armed force in Haiti has raised questions about the effectiveness of the Kenya-led mission, as well as whether the deployment of a formal United Nations peacekeeping operation would make a difference.

Mexico says there’s plan to receive Mexicans deported by Trump

The Mexican government has a plan to receive Mexicans living in the U.S. if Donald Trump makes good on his promise of mass deportations, according to President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Colombia races for US climate funds but has China as back up

Colombia is looking for as much as $10 billion to come from international financial institutions and developed countries. The move may set a template for other countries looking to transition away from fossil fuels.

Trump confirms deportation strategy will include national emergency and military

President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to execute mass deportations of immigrants in the U.S. illegally will involve the military and a national emergency declaration, he confirmed Monday.

China opens huge port in Peru to extend its reach in Latin America

The level of Chinese interest and involvement in Chancay has drawn warnings from the United States about Peru potentially being used by Chinese military ships as a foothold in the Americas.

Haiti police accused of shooting two patients, attacking staff of French medical charity

The French medical charity Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières said Wednesday that at least two patients at its Haiti hospital were executed and its staff violently attacked after one of its ambulances in Port-au-Prince was stopped on Monday by Haitian police officers and members of a vigilante group.

Cars bombs. Massacres. A cartel turf war. Mexico’s new president confronts a wave of violence

Six weeks after taking office, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is contending with a nationwide wave of violence, and is facing increasingly urgent questions about what she plans to do about it.

US Southern Command gets another historic change in leadership

“We’re making America more secure for sure,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. “But we’re also making history today — as the first woman commander of SOUTHCOM passes the baton to the first African-American commander of SOUTHCOM.”

Bolivia military bases overrun by supporters of ex-president

Supporters of former President Evo Morales stormed three Bolivian military bases and took soldiers hostage on Friday as the nation descends further into chaos.