AMSTERDAM (AP) — The Dutch capital marked the 25th anniversary of the world's first gay marriages with three same-sex couples tying the knot at City Hall early Wednesday. The celebration, conducted by Mayor Femke Halsema just after midnight, came a quarter of a century after one of her predecessors, Job Cohen, married four couples in a landmark ceremony for LGBTQ+ rights that paved the way for similar legislation in nearly 40 countries around the world. Same-sex weddings are commonplace now...

WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump assembled his Cabinet last week, he asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance to give an update on the Iran war. Rubio, known for his hawkish views, gave an impassioned defense of the war, calling it “a favor” to the United States and the world. Vance, who has long pushed for restraint in U. S. military intervention overseas, was more sedate. He said that the U. S. now has “options” it didn’t have a year ago and it...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — After weeks of fuel leaks and other issues, NASA faced a trouble-free countdown Tuesday on the eve of astronauts' first trip to the moon in more than half a century. Officials reported the moon rocket was doing well on the pad, and the weather looked promising. Forecasters put the odds of favorable conditions at 80%. “Everybody's pretty excited and understands the significance of this launch,” said senior test director Jeff Spaulding. The four astronauts to II...