North Macedonia’s presidential race kicked off on Thursday, with seven candidates vying for the largely ceremonial post in a two-round vote that will conclude on May 8. The official start to campaign season means the candidates are allowed to make campaign speeches, hold rallies and present their agendas. The first round of the presidential election is scheduled for April 24, after which the two leading candidates will face...

California Democratic leaders announced Thursday they had come to an agreement on a plan that would reduce the state’s staggering multibillion-dollar shortfall by $17.3 billion through a combination of spending cuts, delays and deferrals. Gov. Gavin Newsom had enjoyed unprecedented surplus budgets of more than $100 billion throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. But the past two years have saddled him with a pair of multibillion-dollar deficits, a less-welcome position...