World in brief: Tropical storm gathers strength

ACAPULCO, Mexico – A strengthening Tropical Storm Andres roared toward Mexico’s Pacific coast Monday, prompting emergency preparations for a storm that forecasters predicted would become the season’s first hurricane.

Forecasters said Andres was likely to brush the coast at hurricane strength around the port city of Manzanillo by today. The forecast track showed its center later pushing up the coast near picturesque towns such as Barra de Navidad that are home to some American and Canadian expatriates.

Mexico issued a hurricane warning for the Pacific coast from Cabo Corrientes to Punto San Telmo. A hurricane watch was in effect further south, from San Telmo to the port of Lazaro Cardenas.

Brown pleads guilty to assault

LOS ANGELES – R&B singer Chris Brown pleaded guilty Monday to assaulting his former girlfriend, the pop star Rihanna, in a last-minute deal that allowed him to avoid both jail time and another public airing of the domestic violence allegations that have damaged his image and promising career.

The deal with prosecutors was finalized in the hours leading up to a hearing.

Under the terms of the agreement, Brown, 20, will be on probation for five years, attend a yearlong domestic violence-prevention class and complete six months of what the judge termed “community labor.”

Jon, Kate say they’ll divorce

NEW YORK – Celebrity parents Jon and Kate Gosselin said they plan to divorce.

In a statement, Jon Gosselin said he and wife Kate filed for divorce Monday afternoon.

The co-stars of “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” who are parents of sextuplets and twins, spoke of their decision to separate during Monday’s episode of the TLC reality series.

But both parents said the show will continue, with their segments of the show filmed separately.