Colombians are electing a new Congress and choosing presidential candidates

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – Colombians voted Sunday for a new Congress and to select candidates from three major coalitions in a primary-style contest ahead of a presidential election in May. The election unfolded under high alert for political violence across the South American country, particularly in rural regions dominated by illegal armed groups.

US stock market remains calm, even as oil prices rise

NEW YORK (AP) - Most U.S. stocks fell, but the market remained calm, even as the price of oil got back to rising. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% Wednesday for a second day of modest moves following what had been a wild stretch caused by the war with Iran. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite edged up 0.1%.

Trump encourages Latin American leaders to use military action to help US fight cartels

DORAL, Fla. (AP) – President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States and Latin American countries are banding together to combat violent cartels as his administration looks to demonstrate it remains committed to sharpening U.S. foreign policy focus on the Western Hemisphere even while dealing with five-alarm crises around the globe.

Trump has one prescription for midterms. House Republicans have another

DORAL, Fla. (AP) – President Donald Trump insisted he had the answer for Republicans anxious about losing their congressional majority this year: build on an already strict national voter identification law to ban mail ballots and restrict transgender rights.

A nightclub bombing in Peru injures 33, including minors

LIMA, Peru (AP) – A bombing at a nightclub in Peru has injured 33 people, including minors, authorities said Saturday. The explosion happened in the pre-dawn hours at the Dali nightclub in the province of Trujillo along Peru’s northern coast, according to a statement from the local Emergency Operations Center. It’s a region that has recently been plagued by violence..

Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Morning Edition

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) – Cambodia hopes to shut down all of the country’s notorious online scam centers by the end of next month, the head of the Southeast Asian nation’s effort to combat the cybercrime said Wednesday. The government had targeted 250 locations believed to be carrying out the lucrative criminal activity and has shut down about 80% of them.

Cuba shuts its Quito embassy as Ecuador expels its diplomats

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) – The Cuban diplomatic mission in Ecuador left the country Friday after a 48-hour deadline given by the government of Daniel Noboa to depart expired. Before the diplomatic staff left, the Cuban flag was removed from the embassy located in northern Quito.

 

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

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

US and Venezuela agree to reestablish diplomatic relations

CARACAS (AP) – The United States and Venezuela agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations in a major shift in a historically adversarial relationship, the State Department said on Thursday.