Authorities seize ailing alligator kept illegally in New York home's swimming pool (apnews.com)
An ailing alligator was seized from an upstate New York home where it was being kept illegally, state officials said....
Biden backs Schumer after senator calls for new elections in Israel (apnews.com)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden expressed support Friday for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer after the senator called for new elections in Israel, the latest sign that the U.S. relationship with its closest Middle East ally is careening toward fracture over the war in Gaza....
Court upholds town bylaw banning anyone born in 21st century from buying tobacco products (apnews.com)
The IRS launches Direct File, a pilot program for free online tax filing available in 12 states (apnews.com)
After weeks of testing, an electronic system for filing returns directly to the IRS is now available to taxpayers from 12 selected states....
Europe's world-first AI rules get final approval from lawmakers (apnews.com)
A plan to find new leadership for Haiti is moving forward, Caribbean officials say (apnews.com)
A plan to create a transitional presidential council is moving forward after a majority of Haitian parties and coalitions submitted the names of those charged with finding new leaders for the country, Caribbean officials said Thursday....
Senegal’s top opposition leader freed from prison ahead of presidential election this month (apnews.com)
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal’s top opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, has been released from prison ahead of the presidential election later this month, triggering jubilant celebrations across the country’s capital....
Lyft and Uber say they will leave Minneapolis after city council forces them to pay drivers more (apnews.com)
Lyft and Uber said they will cease operations in Minneapolis after the city’s council voted Thursday to override a mayoral veto and require that ride-hailing services increase driver wages to the equivalent of the local minimum wage of $15.57 an hour....
Montana man used animal tissue and testicles to breed 'giant' sheep for sale to hunting preserves (apnews.com)
A Montana rancher illegally used tissue and testicles from wild sheep killed by hunters in central Asia and the U.S. to breed “giant” hybrid sheep for sale to private hunting preserves in Texas, according to court documents and federal prosecutors....
Ground cinnamon sold at discount stores is tainted with lead, FDA warns (apnews.com)
Croatian parliament dissolves to pave way for parliamentary election later this year (apnews.com)
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia’s parliament was dissolved on Thursday to pave the way for a parliamentary election later this year....
Connecticut considering barring legacy admissions at private colleges, in addition to public ones (apnews.com)
Connecticut lawmakers are considering banning the use of legacy and donor preferences in admissions to all colleges and universities across the state, including private ones like Yale University....
US, G-7 allies warn Iran to back off deal to provide Russia ballistic missiles or face new sanctions (apnews.com)
The United States and allies warned Iran on Friday that major Western economies will pile new sanctions on Tehran if it moves forward with an advancing plan to provide ballistic missiles to Russia for its war with Ukraine....
The first ship to use a new sea route approaches Gaza with 200 tons of aid (apnews.com)
Russians head to polls in a vote set to extend Putin's rule. His foes are in jail, in exile or dead (apnews.com)
They opened a Haitian food truck. Then they were told, 'Go back to your own country,' lawsuit says (apnews.com)
A married couple who fled Haiti for Virginia achieved their American dream when they opened a variety market on the Eastern Shore, selling hard-to-find spices, sodas and rice to the region’s growing Haitian community....
Prosecutors: A 'network' of supporters helped fugitives avoid capture after Capitol riot (apnews.com)
A Florida man charged with interfering with police during the Jan. 6, 2021, siege at the U.S. Capitol is connected to a “network” of supporters who have helped other Capitol riot defendants avoid capture by the FBI, prosecutors said in a court filing this week....
Argentina inflation slows for a second month as President Milei keeps pushing austerity measures (apnews.com)
Geert Wilders says he doesn’t have support of likely coalition partners to become Dutch premier (apnews.com)
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Geert Wilders, whose anti-Islam, anti-immigration rhetoric swept him to a stunning victory in the November election, said Wednesday he doesn’t have the support of his prospective coalition partners to become the next Dutch prime minister....
Russians head to polls in a vote set to extend Putin’s rule. His foes are in jail, in exile or dead (apnews.com)
Voters headed to the polls in Russia on Friday for a three-day presidential election that is all but certain to extend President Vladimir Putin’s rule by six more years after he stifled dissent....
Denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, a Japanese high court says (apnews.com)
A Japanese high court ruled Thursday that denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and called for urgent government action to address the lack of any law allowing for such unions....
Election disinformation takes a big leap with AI being used to deceive worldwide (apnews.com)
Artificial intelligence is supercharging the threat of election disinformation worldwide, making it easy for anyone with a smartphone and a devious imagination to create fake – but convincing – content aimed at fooling voters....
Report claims Yemen's Houthis have a hypersonic missile, possibly raising stakes in Red Sea crisis (apnews.com)
Yemen managed to get hypersonic weapons before US did 😂
Catalonia calls an early regional election that could add to Spain’s political uncertainty (apnews.com)
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The regional president of Catalonia has called an early election for May 12 after his minority government failed to pass a budget for Spain’s wealthy northeast region that includes Barcelona....
Abbas appoints adviser as prime minister amid calls for reform (apnews.com)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has appointed his longtime economic adviser to be the next prime minister in the face of U.S. pressure to reform the Palestinian Authority as part of Washington’s postwar vision for Gaza....
