Peru police raid ex-election chief's home as ballot shortages spark a widening probe

LIMA, Peru (AP) – Police in Peru raided the homes Friday of the now-resigned elections chief and five other officials in an investigation into a ballot shortage and other irregularities in the first round of the presidential election on April 12.

Intel leads the US stock market to more records

NEW YORK (AP) - A surge for Intel following a blowout profit report led the U.S. stock market to more records Friday, while oil prices kept yo-yoing in the wait for what's next with the Iran war. The S&P 500 climbed 0.8%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 79 points, or 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 1.6%.

Brazil sees the Mercosur-EU deal as relief in a turbulent world

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) – The trade deal between South American bloc Mercosur and the European Union that capped a quarter-century of talks offers some solace at a time when unilateral moves have dominated the geopolitical landscape, Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said.

National Trust won't drop suit against Trump's $400M White House ballroom

WASHINGTON (AP) – Preservationists are pressing ahead with their lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s planned $400 million White House ballroom, declining a request by the Department of Justice to withdraw the complaint following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.

Colombia's leader to visit Venezuela for key talks

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Colombian President Gustavo Petro is visiting Venezuela on Friday for key talks on border security and trade with the country’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez. The meeting, their first, comes months after the U.S. military seized former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife from their home in January.

Argentina's leader bars journalists from government HQ, raising concerns

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) – The president blocked accredited reporters from entering the government’s headquarters. He took to social media, in all caps, to insult the country’s news media as “filthy scum that claims to be journalists.” He posted an AI-generated image that showed a local TV journalist in an orange prison jumpsuit.

Peru's defense and foreign ministers resign over US military planes deal

LIMA, Peru (AP) – Peru’s defense and foreign ministers resigned Wednesday following an announcement by the country’s interim president to defer the decision on a $3.5 billion deal for U.S. F-16 fighter jets to his successor who will emerge from a presidential runoff vote in June.

Editorials from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Brazil's 80-year-old Lula hits the treadmill to ease voter concerns

SAO PAULO (AP) – Fewer podiums and interviews. More lunges and squats.  Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is pumping up his reelection bid at age 80 by looking jacked in workouts that his critics say are more popular than the man himself.