Until this week, there had been a limit: Travelers could only take up to five pets across the borders. Now, thanks to a pet-loving member of the E.U. Parliament, those who prefer to travel with herds of animals are free to roam — as long as they're heading for a competition or sporting event.

It's Iran's first presidential election since the stunning vote in 2009. Back then, a surprisingly early declaration of victory for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparked a wave of protests, followed by years of government repression.

The state is trying to keep tabs on its bear population. Undergraduates at Unity College are in the woods tranquilizing bears and collaring them so the state can better understand the animals.

Kevyn Orr will ask unions, retirees and banks to take big losses on debt the city just can't afford to pay. But Orr is walking a fine line trying to convince those parties to accept a bankruptcy-style settlement, without actually going to bankruptcy court — at least, not yet.

Venezuelans do the oddest things to have normal lives in an abnormally crime-plagued country. For example: Jog in groups of up to 300 to avoid muggers.

Ralph Reed's Faith and Freedom Coalition kicked off its third annual conference Thursday in Washington D.C. The conclave's stated aim is to grow the conservative vote for next year's mid-term election. It's also a forum for a constellation of conservative stars, some of them eying the White House.

The two spaces in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood went for $560,000, according to the Boston Globe. The spaces are on crumbling asphalt in an alleyway.

The Obama administration has decided to provide more assistance to the Syrian opposition after officials became confident the Syrian regime was using chemical weapons against rebel forces.

Thursday's decision by the high court upends 30 years of patent awards granted by the U.S. Patent Office. The ruling also has enormous implications for the future of personalized medicine.

The Obama administration has decided to send military aid to the rebels in Syria. The decision was announced after the administration said it had concluded, with high confidence, that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons on multiple occasions over the past few months.

The Nicaraguan congress has granted a Chinese tycoon the exclusive right to develop a multi-billion dollar rival to the Panama Canal. The bill grants the investor 50 years of control over the potential shipping route — pending a study of its viability.

The Black Forest Fire burning near Colorado Springs is now the state's most destructive fire ever. At least two people have been confirmed killed. That fire also has forced nearly 40,000 people to evacuate. It's consumed more than 300 homes since lightening first ignited it on Monday.

Some college students in Maine are getting to know the state's bear population. Undergraduates at Unity College are in the woods tranquilizing bears and collaring them so the state can better understand the animals. Jay Field of Maine Public Radio has the story.

Emergency manager Kevyn Orr will ask unions, retirees and banks to take big losses on debt the city just can't afford to pay. But Orr is walking a fine line trying to convince those parties to accept a bankruptcy-style settlement, without actually going to bankruptcy court — at least, not yet. Michigan Radio's Sarah Cwiek reports.

Iranians are voting for president Friday. It's the country's first presidential election since the stunning vote in 2009. Renee Montagne talks to Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep, who's in Tehran, as Iranians cast ballots to choose a new president.

Venezuelans do the oddest things to have normal lives in an abnormally crime-plagued country, like jog in groups of up to 300 to avoid muggers.

Linda Wertheimer and Renee Montagne have the Last Word in business.

Ralph Reed's Faith and Freedom Coalition kicked off its third annual conference Thursday in Washington D.C. The conclave's stated aim is to grow the conservative vote for next year's mid-term election. But as NPR's David Welna reports, it's also a forum for a constellation of conservative stars, some of them evening the White House.

A plan to build on a small park in Istanbul's downtown Taksim Square prompted an outpouring of opposition to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. That led to clashes between police and protesters that have killed at least five people and injured hundreds.

Thursday's decision by the high court upends 30 years of patent awards granted by the U.S. Patent Office. The ruling also has enormous implications for the future of personalized medicine.