US ambassador says Mexico 'closed the doors' on security cooperation and denies its violence problem

MEXICO CITY (AP) — U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar lashed out Wednesday at Mexico’s failure to accept aid in the fight against drug cartels, claiming the country “closed the doors” on security cooperation. In a press conference, Salazar launched his harshest criticism yet of...

Death toll of riot in Ecuador's largest and most dangerous prison rises to 17

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The number of inmates killed in a riot in Ecuador’s largest and most dangerous prison rose to 17, authorities said Wednesday, a day after the goriest prison episode under the watch of President Daniel Noboa broke out. Noboa handed control over the most...

At least 15 inmates killed in a fight in Ecuador's largest prison

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — A fight among inmates in Ecuador’s largest and most dangerous prison left 15 dead and 14 wounded, authorities said Tuesday, in the bloodiest prison episode faced by President Daniel Noboa’s government. Authorities attributed the outbreak to internal...

A former prosecutor in southern Mexico is arrested in the grisly decapitation of a mayor

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A former prosecutor and local police official was arrested Tuesday in connection with the grisly decapitation of a mayor on Oct. 6. Officials in the southern state of Guerrero confirmed that Germán Reyes was arrested on charges of homicide for the killing of...

A 14-year-old boy last seen in a kidnap video is among the 11 found dead in southern Mexico

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Among the many horrifying videos posted online amid Mexico’s drug cartel violence, few have been as profoundly shocking as that of a 14-year-old boy kidnapped in late October along with about a dozen family members in the country's south. In the video, posted...

Police find 11 bodies dumped by a highway in southern Mexico and 4 more in the resort of Acapulco

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Police in a southern Mexico region rife with drug cartel violence have found 11 bodies, including two minors, dumped by a highway, prosecutors in the state of Guerrero said Thursday. Also Thursday, authorities in the nearby resort of Acapulco said four bodies,...

Mexico appears to abandon its ‘hugs, not bullets’ strategy as bloodshed plagues the country

MEXICO CITY (AP) — For the last six years, Mexico bragged about its oft-questioned “hugs, not bullets” strategy, in which its leaders avoided confrontations with drug cartels that were gradually taking control of large parts of the country. The thinking was that social programs, not...

Rapper Young Thug is a free man. Here are things to know about his plea.

ATLANTA (AP) — Rapper Young Thug is a free man after pleading guilty to gang, drug and gun charges. About 2 ½ years after he was arrested on the charges in a sprawling gang and racketeering indictment, Young Thug was released from custody Thursday evening. It was a remarkable...

Rapper Young Thug pleads guilty to gang, drug and gun charges

ATLANTA (AP) — Rapper Young Thug pleaded guilty Thursday in Atlanta to gang, drug and gun charges and will be released from jail, though he could be put back behind bars if he violates the terms of his sentence. The 33-year-old Grammy winning artist, whose given name is Jeffery...

Rapper Young Thug pleads guilty to gang, drug and gun charges almost a year after opening statements in trial