Japan’s prime minister starts US visit in Boston

BOSTON (AP) — Japan’s prime minister has arrived in the U.S. for a closely watched visit beginning with a stop at Boston’s John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and a dinner hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry.

Shinzo Abe arrived Sunday. He speaks at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government today before heading to Washington on Tuesday, where he’ll be the first Japanese leader to address a joint session of Congress.

Abe will also make stops in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Protesters are calling on Abe to apologize for World War II-era crimes, including sexual slavery in Korea. Twenty-five U.S. lawmakers urged him “to formally reaffirm and validate” apologies made by his predecessors for Japanese wartime aggression.

Trade and new security arrangements between the two countries are top issues.

Supporters of Senate Iran bill against changes

WASHINGTON (AP) — Debate is coming up on a Senate bill that would let Congress review and potentially reject any Iran nuclear deal ”“ and supporters of the measure must fend off some colleagues who want changes that could sink it.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina says “anybody who monkeys with this bill is going to run into a buzz saw.”

The high-profile debate on Tuesday comes as negotiators from the U.S. and five other nations are trying to finalize a nuclear deal by the end of June.

A framework agreement would require Iran to curb its program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.

Some Republicans want to amend the legislation to hold up that relief unless Iran stops sponsoring terrorism, recognizes Israel and allows inspections of its military sites.

Supreme Court to deal with gay marriage

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just two years ago, the Supreme Court struck down part of the federal anti-gay marriage law that denied a range of government benefits to legally married same-sex couples.

The decision did not address the validity of state marriage bans. But courts across the country, with few exceptions, said the ruling’s logic compelled them to invalidate state laws that prohibited gay and lesbian couples from marrying.

The number of states allowing same-sex marriage has grown rapidly.

As recently as October, just over one-third of the states permitted same-sex marriage. Now, same-sex couples can marry in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court hears arguments in highly anticipated cases about the right of same-sex couples to marry.