AP National News

Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese high court has ruled that the refusal to recognize same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, the latest victory for the LGBTQ+ community that adds pressure on the reluctant government. Friday’s decision by the Fukuoka High Court in southern Japan marks the eighth victory out of nine rulings since the first

BEIJING (AP) — The former coach of the Chinese men’s national soccer team Li Tie has received a 20-year prison sentence for bribery. Chinese state media reported Friday that Li, who once played in the English Premier League for Everton, was found guilty of “leveraging his positions” as head coach of the national football and

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA has punished Serbia’s soccer federation for racist acts by fans at two Nations League games including trying to burn an Albania flag in Switzerland. On Monday, UEFA’s executive committee is set to confirm Serbia and Albania as co-hosts of the Under-21 European Championship in 2027. At a Switzerland-Serbia game last

BANGKOK (AP) — Police in Thailand say a 14-year-old has been arrested on charges alleging that he stabbed a Thai-Australian schoolmate to death in a fight after having an ongoing feud. A police official in Chonburi province outside Bangkok said the suspect told investigators he and the victim harbored a mutual dislike from school and

Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Scientists suspect the first complete specimen ever recorded of the world’s rarest whale died from head injuries, an expert said Friday. The first dissection of a spade-toothed whale, a type of beaked whale, was completed last week after a painstaking examination at a research center near the New Zealand

Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine on Friday, firing 93 cruise and ballistic missiles and almost 200 drones, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, describing it as one of the heaviest bombardments of the country’s energy sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion almost three years ago. Ukrainian defenses shot

AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — A quarterly survey by Japan’s central bank shows business sentiment among manufacturers has improved slightly, especially in major heavy industries such as automaking, fossil fuels and machinery. The survey by the Bank of Japan, called the tankan, is a factor the central bank takes into account in assessing its

MILAN (AP) — Kering has announced that Louise Trotter has been named creative director of the Bottega Veneta fashion house. She will succeed Matthieu Blazy. Trotter arrives from the French brand Carven, where she has been creative director since February 2023. She will join Bottega Veneta at the end of January 2025. As a designer,

BEIJING (AP) — China’s military is keeping silent on its large deployment of naval and coast guard ships off Taiwan this week. Its top spokesperson quoted an ancient Chinese text called “The Art of War” instead. Wu Qian said Friday that military tactics adapt to changing conditions, just as flowing water does. He offered no

Dick Vitale said he’s cancer-free after his fourth bout with the disease in just over three years. The 85-year-old ESPN college basketball analyst announced Thursday on social media that he got the news after a morning scan. “SANTA CLAUS came early as Dr Rick Brown called & said that my PET SCAN at 7 AM

Associated Press ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Specially trained miniature horses visit hospital wards and residential care homes in the Greek capital, providing pet therapy to sick and disabled children and adults. The tiny equines, standing about 30 inches tall, undergo two years of training to ensure they are at ease in confined environments and working

Associated Press TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s capital and outlying provinces have faced rolling power blackouts for weeks in October and November, with electricity cuts disrupting people’s lives and businesses. And while several factors are likely involved, some suspect cryptocurrency mining has played a role in the outages. Iran economy has been hobbled for years

Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s new state agency for nonlethal military procurement is an example of the type of reform that the country hopes will clear the path toward NATO. Western officials are closely monitoring the State Logistics Operator known by the local abbreviation DOT. They have been pleased with the results one

Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes for one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy — seafood — and some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more complicated picture,

Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Sen. Mitt Romney has given his final remarks after seeing the Republican Party for which he was once the standard bearer drastically transform under Donald Trump. At a news conference Friday at his Salt Lake City office, the retiring senator reflected on his two-decade political career, which included

AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — “The Bibi Files” started with a sudden leak that turned into a deluge. A source contacted documentarian Alex Gibney out of the blue and offered access to video recordings of police interrogations of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife, Sara, son Yair and many others – some 1,000

AP Business Writers Major stock indexes on Wall Street drifted to a mixed finish Friday, capping a rare bumpy week for the market. The S&P 500 ended essentially flat, down less than 0.1%, after wavering between tiny gains and losses most of the day. The benchmark index posted a loss for the week, its first