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Mexico will never tolerate an invasion of its national sovereignty by the United States, President Claudia Sheinbaum warned Thursday after Washington designated Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.

"This cannot be an opportunity for the U.S. to invade our sovereignty," she said. "With Mexico it is collaboration and coordination, never subordination or interventionism, and even less invasion."

On Wednesday, the Trump administration formally labeled eight cartels as terrorist groups. They include Mexico's two main drug trafficking organizations, the Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa cartels.

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The Mexican army says it has arrested a key player in the Sinaloa drug cartel in the northern city of Culiacán.

José Ángel Canobbio, also known as "El Güerito" (little blond one), is accused of being the right hand man of Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, one of the sons of infamous jailed drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

Mexican security forces say the arrest of Canobbio, who they say was in charge of security for Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, is a severe blow to the Sinaloa cartel.

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“I don’t think that this ‘peace process’ is for Ukrainians’ sake. It is laughable that they pretend it is,” said Iryna, 26, a lawyer from Kyiv.

Iryna was among thousands of Ukrainians who got in touch with the Guardian to share how they felt about the Trump administration-led peace talks with Russia, which exclude Ukraine.

“It doesn’t seem like a negotiation to me, more like a cruel auction. My main concern is that we are being sold for someone else’s gain. I am afraid that the USA sees us as just an asset to sell and move on, while Europe is too concerned about itself.”

Israel prepared Saturday to receive six more hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees as a body returned from Gaza on Friday was confirmed to be that of hostage Shiri Bibas.

Israel has sparked global outrage after dropping leaflets over the besieged Gaza Strip, warning Palestinians to either cooperate with its forces or face forced displacement or eradication. The messages, written in Arabic, carried explicit threats, including the chilling statement: "The world map will not change if all the people of Gaza cease to exist."

The move, condemned as a psychological warfare tactic, has intensified concerns over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, with many seeing the leaflets as an open admission of ethnic cleansing.

The threats also reference a so-called "Trump plan", aligning with recent remarks by US President Donald Trump. who suggested the mass expulsion of Gaza's population to neighbouring countries. The posters featured images of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity and wanted by the IC

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The city of Buriticupu in Brazil’s Amazon declared a state of emergency after huge sinkholes threatened hundreds of homes.

In Maranhão state, rapidly expanding sinkholes have already destroyed several buildings and risk displacing about 1,200 people from a population of 55,000.

Known locally as “voçoroca,” these erosions have worsened over 30 years due to deforestation, poorly planned construction, and heavy rains eroding vulnerable sandy soils.

Authorities admit their limited capacity to address the erosion and relocation.

• Digital service taxes a longstanding trade irritant for US
• Countries including France, Canada, UK have DSTs
• White House says it will scrutinize EU tech regulations

President Donald Trump on Friday ordered his trade chief to revive investigations aimed at imposing tariffs on imports from countries that levy digital service taxes on U.S. technology companies.

A White House official, providing details of the order, said Trump was directing his administration to consider responsive actions like tariffs "to combat the digital service taxes (DSTs), fines, practices, and policies that foreign governments levy on American companies."

. . .

The memo directs the U.S. Trade Representative's office to renew digital service taxes investigations that were initiated during Trump's first term, and investigate any additional countries that use a digital tax "to discriminate against U.S. companies," according to a White House fact sheet.

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German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that forcing Ukraine into an unfair peace deal would lead to more war, rejecting any agreement that concedes territory to Russia without security guarantees.

She urged Europe to pressure the U.S. to support its NATO allies. Meanwhile, Trump dismissed Zelensky's role in peace talks, claiming Ukraine has "no cards" to negotiate.

U.S.-Ukraine relations remain strained, though some American officials signaled continued support.

Trump's team insists Zelensky will eventually accept a U.S. rare earth mineral deal despite Kyiv’s current resistance.

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Thousands of people across Germany rallied in mid-February under the slogan “Vote for love,” protesting the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) ahead of an election expected to see the party surge in support.

Activists warn of increasing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and violence, citing 26 attacks on Pride marches last year.

The AfD opposes LGBTQ+ rights, despite its chancellor candidate Alice Weidel being openly lesbian.

Concerns also mount over mainstream parties adopting AfD’s stances, including efforts to repeal Germany’s Self-Determination law.

As one of the last female-run stations in the country is silenced, a former broadcaster gives an inside view of the crackdown on women working in the media

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Moscow warns that Western companies that left Russia after its invasion of Ukraine will face consequences if they return.

Russian industry minister Anton Alikhanov stated, "There will be a price to pay for past decisions," emphasizing a focus on domestic and Eurasian partners.

Nearly 475 firms, including McDonald's and Ikea, exited following sanctions, though some may consider returning post-war.

Experts note that political, reputational, and economic challenges—amid ongoing inflation, tight monetary policy, and Putin’s authoritarian control—will likely deter a rapid re-entry by Western companies.

Chinese authorities have extended the prison sentence of a Tibetan environmental activist from Sichuan province by an additional eight months after he rejected charges of “disrupting social order,” two sources from inside Tibet told Radio Free Asia.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau taunted Donald Trump after Canada defeated the United States 3-2 in overtime in the 4 Nations ice hockey competition in Boston.

Trudeau’s viral post, “You can’t take our country – and you can’t take our game,” came amid ongoing tensions between the leaders.

Trump, who previously mocked Trudeau as “Governor Trudeau” and floated annexing Canada, had earlier imposed tariffs on Canadian produce.

Amid boos of the American anthem and a surge in Canadian nationalism, the rivalry highlights both political and sporting divisions between the nations.

Germany's interior ministry on Friday warned of a Russian disinformation operation attempting to influence the country's federal election campaign with fake videos spreading on social media in Hamburg and Leipzig.

The ministry said there were indications that the campaign was linked to the so-called "Storm-1516," a pro-Russian influence operation previously observed in the 2024 U.S. presidential election that was investigated by U.S. authorities.

Sinn Fein, Ireland’s main opposition party, announced Friday that it will boycott this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at the White House in protest of US President Donald Trump’s position on the Israel-Gaza conflict, Anadolu news agency reported.

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Elon Musk accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of “feeding off the dead bodies of soldiers” and falsely claimed he is “despised” by Ukrainians, echoing Donald Trump’s rhetoric.

Musk also threatened changes to X’s Community Notes after fact-checkers refuted his claims. Trump and Musk’s remarks align with Russian propaganda, prompting European leaders to reaffirm support for Ukraine.

Observers rejected claims that Ukraine is a dictatorship, emphasizing that its wartime election suspension is both legal and justified, similar to the UK's approach during World War II.

Critics argue Musk’s stance undermines free speech and factual discourse while aiding Kremlin narratives against Ukraine.

France's far-right leader Jordan Bardella said Friday he had cancelled his speech at a right-wing meeting in Washington after a "gesture alluding to Nazi ideology" by conservative firebrand Steve Bannon.

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Days before the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Ukrainians find unity threatened not just by Russia but also shifting U.S. support.

Donald Trump’s false labeling of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "dictator" has provoked fierce backlash, even from Zelenskyy’s critics, who now rally around him.

With ongoing Russian attacks and Ukrainian forces stretched thin, Trump’s suggestion of a swift end to hostilities raises fears of concessions favoring Russia.

Officials argue that elections amid war would undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty. Many vow to continue resisting, regardless of major foreign policy changes.

Two Israelis were arrested overnight into Friday on suspicion of involvement in the explosions that took place on empty buses in two Tel Aviv suburbs.

The two suspects have been transferred to the Shin Bet security agency for interrogation, though a court has issued a gag order on further details of the affair.

On Thursday night, three explosive devices were set off on buses in Bat Yam and an additional device was found before it detonated in the nearby city of Holon. No casualties were reported. The Israeli army announced that three battalions will be transferred to the West Bank as reinforcements.

Hamas said on Friday it was investigating a possible error in identifying human remains handed to Israel under a ceasefire deal as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened retaliation for failing to release the body of hostage Shiri Bibas.

Hamas was due to hand over the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons Kfir and Ariel on Thursday along with the remains of a fourth hostage under the ceasefire deal that has halted fighting in Gaza since last month.

Four bodies were delivered and the identities of the Bibas boys and the other hostage, Oded Lifshitz, were confirmed.

But Israeli specialists said the fourth body was that of an unidentified woman and not Bibas, who was kidnapped along with her sons and her husband, Yarden, during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.