By Himari Semans and Chris Lau, CNN Tokyo/Hong Kong (CNN) — With a history spanning more than 1,200 years, “hadaka matsuri,” or the naked festival, is Japanese masculinity on full display. Quite literally. Across Japan, in freezing winter, thousands of men strip naked — except for a delicate piece of crotch-covering white loincloth — to
Continue ReadingBy PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (AP) — A New York judge has struck down a Long Island county’s order banning female transgender athletes after a local women’s roller derby league challenged it. Judge Francis Ricigliano ruled Friday that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman didn’t have the authority to issue his February executive
Continue ReadingBy BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean Burroughs, a two-time Little League World Series champion who won an Olympic gold medal and went on to a major league career that was interrupted by substance abuse, has died. He was 43. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s online records said Burroughs died
Continue ReadingBy The Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sam Rubin, a beloved entertainment anchor and reporter for KTLA in Los Angeles who was on a first-name basis with Hollywood’s top stars, has died. He was 64. The station announced that he died unexpectedly on Friday. No cause was released. Rubin joined the station’s morning news
Continue ReadingBy The Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sam Rubin, a beloved entertainment anchor and reporter for KTLA in Los Angeles who was on a first-name basis with Hollywood’s top stars, has died. He was 64. The station announced that he died unexpectedly on Friday. No cause was released. Rubin joined the station’s morning news
Continue ReadingANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Mike Dunleavy has issued a state disaster declaration for southwest Alaska communities that have experienced flooding due to the spring breakup of river ice and snowmelt. The Anchorage Daily News reports that water surrounded some homes in low-lying areas of the regional hub of Bethel, while much of Kwethluk was
Continue ReadingBy KIM CHANDLER Associated Press FAIRHOPE, Ala. (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has told attendees at a judicial conference that he and his wife have faced “nastiness and lies” over the last several years. He also decried Washington, D.C., as a “hideous place.” Thomas was the closing speaker at the 11th Circuit Judicial
Continue ReadingBy ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer Sean “Diddy” Combs on Friday asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that he and two co-defendants raped a 17-year-old girl in a New York recording studio in 2003, saying it was a “false and hideous claim” that was filed too late under the law. The legal
Continue ReadingBy ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer Sean “Diddy” Combs on Friday asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that he and two co-defendants raped a 17-year-old girl in a New York recording studio in 2003, saying it was a “false and hideous claim” that was filed too late under the law. The legal
Continue ReadingBy JEFF AMY Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s Republican Party has removed one of its officers after a judge found he voted illegally nine times after moving to the state. Party Chairman Josh McKoon says the state Republican Committee voted 146-24 on Friday to remove Brian K. Pritchard. Georgia is among states where supporters
Continue ReadingBy Haley Britzky and Katie Bo Lillis, CNN (CNN) — The US is trying to negotiate an agreement with the military junta that took over Niger last July to leave behind a small contingent of US forces, even as a broad withdrawal order has been issued to enable the departure of the majority of the less than 1,000 US troops
Continue ReadingBy JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers’ experiment of bringing in a defensive coordinator from the outside didn’t work out, with the team firing Steve Wilks after just one season. Now they’re counting on the internal promotion of Nick Sorensen into that role — with a
Continue ReadingBy Melanie Zanona, CNN (CNN) — The Office of Congressional Ethics, a nonpartisan Capitol Hill watchdog, said there is “probable cause” to believe GOP Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas misused campaign funds for personal use – which he denies. The OCE’s December report was released Friday by the House Ethics Committee, which is still reviewing whether to
Continue ReadingBy KEN SWEET AP Business Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge in Texas temporarily halted a plan by the Biden administration to lower late fees on credit cards to $8 that was slated to go into effect next week. The temporary injunction imposed by Judge Mark Pittman in the Northern District of Texas
Continue ReadingBy JOCELYN NOVECK AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Rudy Giuliani has been suspended from WABC Radio and his daily show canceled over his violation of a ban on discussing discredited 2020 election claims. The former New York City mayor says the station’s ban was overly broad and “a clear violation of free speech.”
Continue ReadingKING CITY, Calif. (AP) — Three suspects have been arrested in connection with a March shooting by masked men at a party in rural central California that killed four people and left seven others wounded, officials said Friday. The three people were arrested on multiple gang-related charges and included one juvenile, Monterey County Sheriff Tina
Continue ReadingKING CITY, Calif. (AP) — Three suspects have been arrested in connection with a March shooting by masked men at a party in rural central California that killed four people and left seven others wounded, officials said Friday. The three people were arrested on multiple gang-related charges and included one juvenile, Monterey County Sheriff Tina
Continue ReadingBy WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — A newly released ad promoting Apple’s new iPad Pro has struck quite a nerve online. The ad, which was released by the tech giant Tuesday, shows a hydraulic press crushing just about every creative instrument artists and consumers have used over the years — from
Continue ReadingBy FRANKLIN BRICEÑO Associated Press LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peruvian authorities have arrested President Dina Boluarte’s brother and her lawyer over influence-peddling accusations. Their detentions Friday come a day after the South American country’s government disbanded a police unit that assisted prosecutors in investigating the president’s inner circle. A judge signed off on the arrests.
Continue ReadingBy STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Xander Schauffele has been a mainstay near the top of the leaderboard most of the year. Now he’s hoping to close the door. Schauffele shot a 4-under 67 on Friday after opening with a 64, leaving him at 11-under 131 and four shots ahead of
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