Yale University on Thursday said it is reversing a pandemic-era policy that made standardized test scores like the SAT exam optional for applicants, joining other top colleges such as Dartmouth and MIT. In a statement posted to its website, Yale said it is abandoning the test-optional approach that it began four years ago, when the pandemic shut down testing centers …

After promising that its software would shield internet users from third-party tracking, Avast allegedly harvested and sold customers’ online browsing data, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The maker of antivirus software deceived customers by claiming it would protect their privacy, while not making clear it would collect and sell their “detailed, re-identifiable browsing data,” the agency announced Thursday. “Avast …

Vice Media will no longer publish content on its website, with the former digital media darling joining BuzzFeed in slashing additional staff this week. Vice also plans to lay off several hundred workers as it shifts a studio-only business model, CEO Bruce Dixon told employees in a memo delivered late Thursday, the Associated Press reported. The women’s lifestyle site Refinery …

Google has struck a deal with Reddit that allows the search giant to use posts from the online discussion site for training its artificial intelligence models and to improve services such as Google Search. The arrangement, announced Thursday and valued at roughly $60 million, will also give Reddit access to Google AI models for improving its internal site search and …

Rates have increased significantly over the last few years due to the Federal Reserve attempting to temper inflation. The trend started in March 2022, when high post-pandemic inflation levels led the Fed to increase its target federal funds rate. And, the Fed then opted to increase its benchmark rate several more times before pausing rate hikes temporarily. And, in general, …

The economy of recent years has left many Americans looking for new ways to protect and grow their savings. Seniors, in particular, many of whom rely on a tight budget made up of retirement savings and Social Security, need to be particularly careful with where they store their money and where they invest it. While traditional savings vehicles like high-yield …

These days, investors have a lot of asset options to choose from, including traditional investments, like stocks and bonds, and alternative assets, like cryptocurrency. And, while too many choices can be overwhelming, in this case, it’s a good thing. After all, diversification is a key strategy when building a portfolio that can withstand losses due to economic fluctuations, so you …

Debt can be challenging and the idea of debt relief can be an attractive one. After all, if you’re struggling to make your payments each month and someone offers you a way out, it makes sense to listen to what they have to say. And, while there are plenty of legitimate debt relief services, it’s also important to be cognizant …

Jerusalem —Israel plans to build thousands of new homes in settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in response to a fatal shooting attackby Palestinian gunmen, a senior cabinet minister said. At a time of growing tension over the course of Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters Friday that the Biden administration …

The Fulton County District Attorney’s office filed a response Friday to an analysis filed by former President Donald Trump’s lawyers of phone records that purport to raise questions about the timeline D.A. Fani Willis gave regarding when her relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade began. Trump’s attorneys filed an analysis Friday of cellphone data that allegedly belongs to Wade as …

Republicans aiming to take back control of the U.S. Senate are urging lawmakers and candidates to express support for in vitro fertilization after a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that determined IVF embryos are children, “regardless of their location.” In a memo released Friday, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which works to elect Republicans to the Senate, advised candidates …

Valencia, Spain — The death toll from a dramatic fire that left two residential buildings charred in Valencia rose to 10 on Saturday after authorities announced they located the remains of what they believe is the last missing person. Forensic police found the 10th victim inside the scorched building, national government delegate in Valencia Pilar Bernabé told journalists. Police will …

NEW YORK — Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl who has been followed by bird watchers across Manhattan since escaping the Central Park Zoo last year, has died, the zoo said Friday. He apparently collided with a building on West 89th Street, according to a news release from the Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the zoo. The society said that the Wild …

Lviv, Ukraine — The mood in Ukraine is about as gloomy as it has been since Russia launched its full-scale invasion two years ago, on Feb. 24, 2022. Ukrainian troops are desperate for ammunition, and many feel they’ve been forgotten about by their global allies. Saturday’s two-year landmark will come right on the heels of one of the toughest losses …

The two Mississippi National Guardsmen who died after the helicopter they were in crashed Friday afternoon have been identified. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves identified the men as Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bryan Andrew Zemek, 36, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Joshua Abbott, 42, in a statement on social media. Zemek served in the Alpha Company 1st Battalion, 149th Aviation …