OBAMA-NETANYAHU

WASHINGTON — In what is becoming an increasingly nasty grudge match, the White House is mulling ways to undercut Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming trip to Washington and blunt his message that a potential nuclear deal with Iran is bad for Israel and the world. 

UNITED STATES-SRI LANKA-LOBBYING

WASHINGTON — In a sign of improving relations with the U.S., Sri Lanka has terminated lobbying contracts worth tens of thousands of dollars a month that the previous government had signed to help it win friends in Washington amid war crimes allegations, the nation's ambassador says. 

CARTER-AFGHANISTAN

KABUL, Afghanistan — U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter makes his international debut Saturday with a visit to Afghanistan to see American troops and commanders, meet with Afghan leaders and assess whether U.S. withdrawal plans are too risky to Afghan security. 

VENEZUELA-MAYOR ARRESTED

CARACAS, Venezuela — Opponents of President Nicolas Maduro pour into the streets to condemn the surprise arrest of Caracas' mayor for allegedly participating in a U.S.-backed plot to overthrow his government. 

BRAZIL-PETROBRAS

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian federal prosecutors say they're seeking $1.55 billion from six construction and engineering companies for their alleged involvement in a kickback scheme at state-run oil firm Petrobras.