Women's Day marches in Brazil decry gender-based violence

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Sunday’s marches in Brazil for International Women’s Day served as a rallying cry against gender-based violence, fueled by the latest case to outrage the country involving the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in Copacabana.

Oil jumps to $100 per barrel and stocks sink worldwide

NEW YORK (AP) - Worries about the war with Iran sent oil prices back to $100 per barrel and stocks sinking worldwide. The S&P 500 fell 1.5% Thursday and returned to big swings following a couple days of relative calm. The Dow dropped 1.6%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.8%. The price of a barrel of Brent crude got as high as $101.59.

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.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine awaits White House sign-off on US drone production deal

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukraine is awaiting White House approval for a major drone production agreement proposed by Kyiv last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday, as countries scramble to modernize their air defenses after the Iran war exposed shortcomings.

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.

Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Morning Edition

BEIJING (AP) – While much of the world’s attention is on the Iran war, that hasn’t stopped China from moving ahead with national priorities. Not that China doesn’t care about the war and its impact on energy supplies and geopolitics. But for the world’s second largest economy, its growing rivalry with the United States revolves around a different battle.

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..

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

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.