‘Obama, I know you are listening’: Gay activists march to Capitol

Calling for an end to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and equality in marriage, thousands of gay rights supporters marched by the White House and on to the Capitol to rally. Sunday’s National Equality March coincided with National Coming Out Day, and came a day after President Obama delivered a supportive speech to the nation’s largest gay rights group

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Net gain as TV snubs England game in Ukraine

England soccer fans will only be able to watch Saturday’s World Cup qualifier in Ukraine on the Internet after negotiations to broadcast it on television collapsed. Failed sports channel Setanta had been due to televise the game, but following its demise other channels such as Sky, the BBC and ITV, do not want to pay the rights fee, particularly as England have already sealed their place in the finals in South Africa.

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Protesters chant ‘death to dictator’ at annual Tehran rally

Large crowds gathered in the Iranian capital Friday to march in an annual pro-Palestinian rally, among them thousands of green-clad supporters of the opposition movement, according to CNN sources in Tehran. The Quds (Jerusalem) Day rally, in support of the Palestinian people, is observed on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan

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Police brutality rampant in Honduras, amnesty report says

In the seven weeks since the military-backed bloodless coup in Honduras, several hundred people protesting against the de facto government have been arbitrarily arrested and beaten by government forces, a new Amnesty International report says. The report, released Wednesday, said the beatings were meant to punish those who opposed the ouster of President Manuel Zelaya in June. It includes testimony from, and photographs of, several people who were baton-whipped and detained by police officers who sometimes wore no visible identification and hid their faces behind bandanas as they broke up demonstrations.

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Conditions of Zelaya’s return key for weekend talks

A second round of talks between two disputed governments of Honduras is scheduled to take place Saturday in Costa Rica The outcome of this weekend’s talks, following an unproductive initial mediation last week, could set the tone for how the crisis, now in its third week, will play out, observers say. “If you take too long too resolve this type of issue, the force of the mediation loses clout,” Larry Birns, director of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, said. Deposed Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a military-led coup June 28.

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Moussavi Facebook page throws blame back on regime

Iran’s ruling system is "going to the slaughterhouse" because of the national outrage over last week’s fraudulent presidential election, the Facebook page of Iran’s top opposition presidential candidate quoted him Saturday as saying. The post, attributed to Mir Hossein Moussavi, reasserted his call for a new election to be overseen by an independent council.

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Iran: A Showdown at Friday Prayers?

Friday’s weekly Friday prayer service at Tehran University will do a lot more than honor the onset of the Muslim sabbath. The country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, plans to lead the service himself — and he has publicly requested the attendance of all the main players in the political drama that has roiled Iran since last Friday’s disputed election. Reports on Thursday suggested that opposition presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi encouraged his supporters to attend the event, but overnight word circulated that he and reformist candidate Mehdi Karroubi had urged their followers to stay away, although the authenticity of those claims could not be verified.

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