The international stories making headlines around the world in the past 24 hours.
Guaido risks arrest and returns home
Venezuela's self-declared interim leader Juan Guaidó has risked immediate arrest and has arrived back in the capital Caracas to a rapturous welcome from thousands of supporters.
Mr Guaido, who is now recognised by more than 50 countries, left Venezuela ten days ago to try to accompany humanitarian aid across the border.
Speaking to cheering crowds on his return, he announced a new protest march for Saturday and called on public sector workers to abandon President Nicolas Maduro.
Just before his arrival, US Vice President Mike Pence warned the Maduro administration to ensure Mr Guaido's safety.
Mr Guaido is likely to face charges of violating a travel ban.
Read the full story:
Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed acting president Juan Guaido greets supporters upon his arrival in Caracas on March 4, 2019. Photo: AFP
Canada's corruption scandal deepens
A corruption crisis in Canada is escalating with the resignation of a second cabinet minister.
Treasury Board President Jane Philpott said she had lost confidence in the government's handling of a corruption inquiry into the engineering and construction firm SNC-Lavalin.
Last month, Canada's Attorney General stood down saying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his aides had put her under inappropriate pressure to avoid putting the company on trial for bribery.
Mr Trudeau has denied political meddling.
Listen to Globe and Mail political reporter talking to Jesse Mulligan:
China looks for economic boost
China will cut billions of dollars in taxes and fees, increase infrastructure investment, and step up lending to small firms as the government looks to boost an economy growing at its slowest pace in almost 30 years.
Speaking at the opening of the annual meeting of China's parliament, the Premier Li Keqiang said the government was targeting economic growth of 6 to 6.5 percent in 2019, which is less than the 6.6 percent gross domestic product growth reported last year.
He also said the government aims to create more than 11 million new urban jobs this year and keep the urban unemployment rate within 4.5 percent.
China's 2019 defence budget will rise 7.5 percent, lower than last year's 8.1 percent.
- Reuters
Tornado leaves behind a 'warzone'
Authorities in the US State of Alabama say they expect to find more bodies after a string of tornadoes caused a trail of devastation yesterday which locals have described as a war-zone.
A fallen cell tower lies across U.S. Route 280 highway in Lee County, Ala., in the Smiths Station community after what appeared to be a tornado struck in the area. Photo: AP / Mike Haskey/Ledger-Enquirer
So far 23 people - several of them children - have been confirmed dead in Lee County, where the twisters left behind a large trail of destruction.
Residents and emergency services are continuing to pick through the wreckage for more victims.
President Donald Trump has ordered the federal disaster agency, FEMA, to provide immediate assistance.
- BBC
Stroke claims 90210 heartthrob
Tributes have been pouring in for US actor Luke Perry who died aged 52 after suffering a stroke.
Dearest Luke,
— Ian Ziering (@IanZiering) March 4, 2019
I will forever bask in the loving memories we've shared over the last thirty years. May your journey forward be enriched by the magnificent souls who have passed before you, just like you have done here, for those you leave behind.
Perry rose to superstardom in 1990s TV drama Beverly Hills 90210, playing brooding hearthrob Dylan McKay.
He's also known to a new generation of TV viewers, starring as Fred Andrews on the CW show Riverdale.
A number of fans, along with current and former co-stars have taken to Twitter to pay their respects.
Perry is survived by his children Jack and Sophie and his fiance Wendy Madison Bauer.
Photo: Photo / AFP
