HARDCOVER FICTION

1. “Battle Mountain" by C.J. Box (Putnam)

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Council of Europe says Switzerland not doing enough to comply with landmark climate decision
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Council of Europe says Switzerland not doing enough to comply with landmark climate decision

  • By MOLLY QUELL - Associated Press

Switzerland has not shown it is meeting the requirements of a landmark climate change decision from Europe’s highest human rights court. The European Court of Human Rights sided with a group of older Swiss women against their government and ruled in April 2024 that countries must better protect their people from the consequences of climate change. The court  found that Switzerland “had failed to comply with its duties” to combat climate change and meet emissions targets.

90,000 Palestinians attend the first Friday prayers of Ramadan in Jerusalem
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AP

90,000 Palestinians attend the first Friday prayers of Ramadan in Jerusalem

  • By IMAD ISSEID and JULIA FRANKEL - Associated Press

Some 90,000 Palestinians prayed at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City under tight security by Israeli forces in the first Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Thousands made their way from the West Bank into Jerusalem for the prayers after Israel allowed men over 55 and women over 50 to enter from the occupied territory for the prayers. Tensions have risen in the West Bank the past weeks amid Israeli raids on militants. But there was no immediate sign of frictions on Friday. This Ramadan takes place as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is in place in Gaza since mid-January – though its future is uncertain.

Panama to allow 112 migrants deported from the US to move about freely in the country
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Panama to allow 112 migrants deported from the US to move about freely in the country

  • AP

Panama’s Security Minister Frank Ábrego says Panama will begin the process of issuing humanitarian passes to 112 migrants deported from the United States who have been held in a remote camp in the Darien region since last month. The passes would allow the migrants from a number of mostly Asian nations to move freely about Panama while they determine their next moves. Ábrego said on Friday that the migrants would find their own places to stay while they decide where they are going next. Rights groups have pressured Panama for holding the migrants without their passports or cell phones in harsh conditions. Lawyers had petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on their behalf.

Buffalo Bills reach agreement to sign linebacker Terrel Bernard to 4-year contract extension
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Buffalo Bills reach agreement to sign linebacker Terrel Bernard to 4-year contract extension

  • By JOHN WAWROW - AP Sports Writer

The Buffalo Bills signed starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard to a four-year contract extension in locking up their defensive leader through the 2029 season. The 25-year-old Bernard still has one year left on his rookie contract, and has quickly made an impact since being selected in the third round of the 2022 draft out of Baylor. He won the starting job in his second season and, last year, joined quarterback Josh Allen as being the team’s only two captains. Bernard’s a do-it-all player in Buffalo’s two-linebacker defensive system in teaming with veteran Matt Milano.

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Italy's top court orders government to compensate migrants who were stranded at sea for days

  • By GIADA ZAMPANO - Associated Press

Italy’s highest appeals court has ordered the government to compensate a group of migrants who were stranded at sea for days on a coast guard vessel in 2018 due to then-Interior minister Matteo Salvini’s tough anti-migration policies. Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday slammed the court decision as “questionable” and “frustrating.” The Cassation court ruling, which overturns a previous one, ordered the Italian government to pay for damages inflicted to the migrants at the time of the standoff. Judges late on Thursday sent the case back to an ordinary court, asking it to define the exact amount of compensation to be granted. The migrant ship was stranded at sea for about 10 days by Salvini’s orders.

Private lunar lander is declared dead after landing sideways in a crater near the moon's south pole
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Private lunar lander is declared dead after landing sideways in a crater near the moon's south pole

  • By MARCIA DUNN - AP Aerospace Writer

A private lunar lander is no longer working after landing sideways in a crater near the moon's south pole. The Texas company Intuitive Machines announced the news Friday, less than 24 hours after the botched landing attempt. The lander, named Athena, missed its mark by more than 800 feet and ended up in a frigid crater. It managed to send back pictures confirming its position and activate a few experiments, before going silent. Company officials say it's unlikely its batteries can be recharged and the mission is over.

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California sues Trump administration for cutting teacher training over 'illegal DEI'

  • Jaweed Kaleem - Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES — California joined seven Democrat-led states that sued the Trump administration Thursday, seeking to halt hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to teacher training programs designed to increase instructors in direly needed STEM fields as well as educate students who have disab…

Flight attendant pleads guilty to secretly recording a 14-year-old girl in plane bathroom
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Flight attendant pleads guilty to secretly recording a 14-year-old girl in plane bathroom

  • By MICHAEL CASEY - Associated Press

A former American Airlines flight attendant has pleaded guilty to secretly recording video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom. Estes Carter Thompson III, of Charlotte, North Carolina, also pleaded guilty to having recordings of four other girls using aircraft lavatories. The 37-year-old former flight attendant pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of images of child sexual abuse depicting a prepubescent minor. Prosecutors say the investigation also turned up of hundreds of AI-generated images on Thompson’s iCloud account depicting child sexual abuse. He's scheduled to be sentenced June 17.

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NYC Probation Commissioner Juanita Holmes under fire for personnel moves, attrition

  • Graham Rayman - New York Daily News (TNS)

NEW YORK — An inquiry is underway into the circumstances surrounding the hiring on Probation Commissioner Juanita Holmes’ watch of a doctor for a $19,500 contract to perform physicals on people on probation – one of a series of personnel moves attracting scrutiny inside and outside the agenc…

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3 Bulgarians convicted of spying for Russia across Europe from base in UK

  • AP

Three Bulgarian nationals have been convicted by a London jury of spying for Russia. The verdicts Friday followed a trial that began in November. The trio based in the U.K. was accused of putting lives in danger as they acted on orders on behalf of Russia to carrying out surveillance across Europe. The trio were convicted at London’s Central Criminal Court.

Dolly Parton releases sweeping ballad in tribute to her late husband, Carl Dean
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Dolly Parton releases sweeping ballad in tribute to her late husband, Carl Dean

  • By MARIA SHERMAN - AP Music Writer

Dolly Parton has released a breathtaking new ballad in tribute to her late husband Carl Dean. Dean was Parton’s devoted husband of nearly 60 years. He avoided the spotlight and inspired her timeless hit “Jolene." He died Monday at 82. Parton announced a new song in tribute to Dean titled “If You Hadn’t Been There” on Friday morning. The song enters the pantheon of great, big-hearted Parton ballads. At the end, Parton's big voice retreats into a whisper when she delivers the song’s titular line. “I wouldn’t be here, If you hadn’t been there," she sings.

Broadway's 'Wicked' welcomes Lencia Kebede, its first pionering full-time Black Elphaba
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Broadway's 'Wicked' welcomes Lencia Kebede, its first pionering full-time Black Elphaba

  • By MARK KENNEDY - AP Entertainment Writer

Green tears were flowing when Lencia Kebede made history this week on Broadway, becoming the first Black actor to assume the role of Elphaba full time in the Broadway company of “Wicked.” Kebede, a first-generation Ethiopian-American from Los Angeles, spent five years touring with “Hamilton,” most recently in the role of Angelica Schuyler. Stepping into “Wicked” on Tuesday marked her Broadway debut. In the audience were some 60 family and friends — mom and her aunts and uncles, her many cousins, her boyfriend, pals from other shows, her agent and casting directors, even her college choir director. The actor calls the experience "electric.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says his request to Blue Jays was for less than $600 million
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says his request to Blue Jays was for less than $600 million

  • AP

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says his proposal for a long-term contract with the Toronto Blue Jays was for less than $600 million. In an interview to ESPN, the four-time All-Star disputed speculation he sought a deal similar to the $765 million, 15-year contract that Juan Soto agreed to with the New York Mets. Guerrero has a $28.5 million, one-year contract and can become a free agent after the World Series. Guerrero hit .323 with a .396 on-base percentage, .544 slugging percentage, 30 homers and 103 RBIs in 159 games last season.

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South Korean court says impeached President Yoon can leave jail

  • Sam Kim, Shinhye Kang and Soo-Hyang Choi - Bloomberg News (TNS)

A South Korean court has decided to release President Yoon Suk Yeol from prison, potentially providing the impeached leader with a rare victory as he awaits a separate verdict on whether he should be permanently ousted from office over his brief imposition of martial law.

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Iran summons British envoy over ‘baseless’ allegations of interference

  • AP

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency says the Iranian foreign ministry has summoned the British ambassador over what it described as “baseless” accusations by British officials against Iran. IRNA said the ministry summoned Ambassador Hugo Shorter in response to repeated baseless accusations and the allegation that Iran is attempting to interfere in the U.K.’s internal affairs. On Tuesday the U.K. security minister told the British Parliament that direct action by Iran against UK targets “has substantially increased over recent years" and the U.K. was placing the whole of the Iranian state on the highest level on its foreign influence watchlist.

Potassium mining project in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest divides Indigenous tribe
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Potassium mining project in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest divides Indigenous tribe

  • By ROSIENE CARVALHO - Associated Press

Beneath Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, one of the planet’s largest potassium reserves is fueling tensions between industrial ambitions and Indigenous rights. The $2.5 billion project led by Toronto-based Brazil Potash seeks to mine for potash, a mineral that is used to make fertilizer that is essential to Brazil's agribusiness sector. While it promises to meet 17% of national potash demand and reduce dependency on imports, it also raises concerns about environmental risks and the disruption of the Mura people’s ancestral lands. The tribe is divided over the project. Some warn of threats to culture, land and water, while others see an opportunity to lift their people out of poverty.

Nearly 100 people died of cholera in less than a month in Sudan's White Nile State
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Nearly 100 people died of cholera in less than a month in Sudan's White Nile State

  • By FATMA KHALED - Associated Press

Nearly 100 people have died of cholera in two weeks since the waterborne disease outbreak began in Sudan’s White Nile State. That is according to Doctors Without Borders. The outbreak in White Nile State was triggered by a mass outage at a power plant. People in the area had to rely mainly on water obtained from donkey carts because water pumps were no longer operational. More than 2,000 people have been infected with cholera since Feb. 20, including 92 people who died. Sudan plunged into war nearly two years ago when tensions simmered between the Sudanese army and its rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with battles in Khartoum and across the country.

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Kennedy and influencers bash seed oils, baffling nutrition scientists

  • By JONEL ALECCIA - AP Health Writer

Seed oils have been the focus of fiery critics from internet influencers to high-profile politicians like HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. They claim that these oils pressed from the seeds of certain plants are toxic to human health and fueling high rates of chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes. Kennedy has called for a return to the use of fats such as beef tallow for frying. Such claims have exasperated nutrition scientists, who say decades of research have confirmed the health benefits of consuming such oils, especially when compared to sources such as butter or lard.

Berlin airport cancels flights ahead of Monday strike. 10 other airports could see disruptions
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Berlin airport cancels flights ahead of Monday strike. 10 other airports could see disruptions

  • By STEFANIE DAZIO - Associated Press

Berlin’s airport has canceled all of its flights for Monday ahead of a labor union strike that is expected to impact thousands of flights at 11 airports across Germany. The ver.di union representing airport ground staff announced the strike Friday to give travelers time to prepare. It said workers will walk out at the airports in Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt/Main, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin-Brandenburg and Leipzig-Halle. Hundreds of thousands of travelers could see delays or cancelations of their flights. The union’s negotiators demand better working conditions, higher wages and additional days off.

Raphinha scoring in the clutch to keep Barcelona on pace for titles
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Raphinha scoring in the clutch to keep Barcelona on pace for titles

  • By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Robert Lewandowski is leading Barcelona in scoring. Pedri is in complete command of the midfield, and Lamine Yamal has all the trappings of a generational star. But it is Raphinha who has Barcelona looking like a championship-caliber team thanks to his clutch scoring. The Brazil forward has blossomed into an all-round player this campaign with 25 goals across all competitions. Osasuna coach Vicente Moreno called Raphinha one of the world's best players day before his team visits La Liga leader.

Trump says he sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader over country's advancing nuclear program
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Trump says he sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader over country's advancing nuclear program

  • By JON GAMBRELL and WILL WEISSERT - Associated Press

U.S. President Donald Trump says he sent a letter to Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, something not immediately confirmed by the supreme leader. Trump made the comments in an interview aired on Friday by Fox Business News. The White House confirmed Trump’s comments, saying that he sent a letter to Iran’s leaders seeking to negotiate a nuclear deal. Trump made the comments in an interview that will air fully on Sunday. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported Trump’s comments, citing the broadcast. However, there was no immediate word from the office of the 85-year-old Khamenei, who has final say over all matters of state.

Lawsuit aims to strike down LGBTQ antidiscrimination protections in Pennsylvania
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Lawsuit aims to strike down LGBTQ antidiscrimination protections in Pennsylvania

  • By MARC LEVY - Associated Press

Two public school districts and several parents are suing in Pennsylvania in a bid to undo antidiscrimination protections for gay and transgender people. They say that the two-year-old regulation in Pennsylvania is illegal because it goes beyond what lawmakers intended or allowed. The lawsuit was filed in the statewide Commonwealth Court late Thursday. It comes amid debate in Pennsylvania and nationally over the rights of transgender high school athletes to compete in women’s sports. If the lawsuit is successful, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission would no longer be able to investigate complaints about discrimination involving sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Gov. Josh Shapiro's office had no immediate comment.

The Latest: Trump changes course and delays some tariffs on Mexico and Canada
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The Latest: Trump changes course and delays some tariffs on Mexico and Canada

  • By The Associated Press

President Donald Trump has postponed 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada for a month amid widespread fears of the economic fallout from a broader trade war. The White House insists its tariffs are about stopping the smuggling of fentanyl, but the taxes proposed by Trump have caused a gaping wound in the decades-old North American trade partnership. Trump’s tariff plans have also caused the stock market to sink and alarmed U.S. consumers.

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AP

A day-by-day look at Pope Francis' hospitalization for pneumonia, at the 3-week mark

  • AP

Pope Francis was hospitalized on Feb. 14 after suffering a bout of bronchitis for weeks and after increasingly finding it hard to speak publicly. His condition soon developed into double pneumonia. The 88-year-old pope had part of a lung removed as a young man, is overweight and sedentary. That creates a complex health picture that has resulted in the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy. Francis' prognosis remains guarded despite several days without any acute respiratory crises. Doctors say he's in stable condition and that the infection is taking its normal course under treatment.

European leaders downplay skepticism from Trump about NATO solidarity
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European leaders downplay skepticism from Trump about NATO solidarity

  • By SUMAN NAISHADHAM - Associated Press

European Union leaders on Friday downplayed skepticism from U.S. President Donald Trump about solidarity among NATO members. Their comments came after EU leaders backed plans to spend more on defense amid growing U.S. disengagement. Trump’s repeated warnings that he would make European allies face the threat of Russia alone has spurred countries that for decades spent little on defense find ways to bolster their security and back Ukraine in its war against Russia. The leaders of France, Spain and Italy defended European support for Ukraine and the military alliance's commitment to the bloc's security after Thursday's emergency talks.

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Poland's Tusk plans large-scale military training for all adult males to boost reserves

  • AP

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk says his government is working on a plan to prepare large-scale military training for every adult male in response to the changing security situation in Europe. Tusk told the country’s Sejm, the lower house of parliament, that his government wants to have a reserve force that is “adequate to possible threats.” Poland is located along NATO’s eastern flank and is deeply concerned by the war in Ukraine. There are fears that if Ukraine is defeated, Moscow it will next turn its imperial ambitions to countries in the region, including Poland and the Baltic states.