Thousands of gay rights activists march through Rome; smaller parades in Warsaw, Zagreb

October 3rd, 2009 Rally held in Rome to defend press freedomROME — Tens of thousands of people, including journalists and media rights activists, gathered in a Rome square Saturday to defend press freedom, accusing Premier Silvio Berlusconi of trying to silence critical voices. Berlusconi, a media magnate, has dismissed the accusations as a "joke" and the demonstration as a "farce." He said this week that there is more press freedom in Italy than in any other Western country.

September 10th, 2009 Italy wraps up women conferenceROME — Participants at a conference on violence against women vowed Thursday to put women's rights at the center of the international agenda, saying world peace and security depended on women's leadership in government and society. U.N. officials, government representatives and activists participating in the two-day meeting approved a final declaration that will be presented to a Group of Eight foreign ministers' meeting later this month in New York.

July 28th, 2009 WARSAW - Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Tuesday visited the Warsaw Uprising museum and praised Poles' love of freedom in their fight against the Nazi German occupation during World War II. In a visit coming just ahead of the 65th anniversary of the start of the uprising on Aug 1, 1944, the Dalai Lama said the museum exhibition showed how bitter the fighting had been.

July 23rd, 2009 DHARAMSALA - Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, will get honorary citizenship of Warsaw during his visit to Poland next week, his aides said here Thursday. "On the invitation of the Warsaw administration, His Holiness (the Dalai Lama) is visiting Poland next week.

July 21st, 2009 Scuffles at Warsaw market over eviction planWARSAW, Poland — Traders at a Warsaw market clashed Tuesday with police and other officials trying to evict them from the hall where their stalls are located, leaving 12 officers injured. Stall owners barricaded themselves inside the downtown hall and sprayed fire extinguishers at bailiffs and security guards in an effort to prevent them entering, trader representative Damian Grabinski said.

July 13th, 2009 Protestants march in 18 cities of Northern IrelandBELFAST, Northern Ireland — Tens of thousands of Protestants marched Monday in cities across Northern Ireland in an annual demonstration of communal strength that threatens peace in this long-divided British territory. For centuries, Protestants from the Orange Order brotherhood have paraded on "The Twelfth" — an official holiday in Northern Ireland commemorating the July 12, 1690, battle victory by Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic rival James II for the British throne.

July 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Gay activists in the US, including Indian Americans, have hailed the Delhi High Court judgement decriminalising homosexuality, terming it as a "historic first". The US media too has flagged it prominently, with the New York Times calling it a "landmark ruling that could usher in an era of greater freedom for gay men and lesbians in India".

June 29th, 2009 Obama reassures gay rights activistsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is reiterating his support for gay rights causes, telling activists that he's a friend who will fight for them and with them while in the White House. The president and first lady Michelle Obama are holding an East Room reception Monday afternoon to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the birth of the modern gay rights movement.

June 28th, 2009 Indian gay rights march calls to legalize gay sexNEW DELHI — Hundreds of gay rights supporters waved flags and danced past traffic during marches through three Indian cities Sunday to celebrate gay pride and call for the decriminalization of homosexuality in this deeply conservative country. The New Delhi parade passed near the Delhi High Court, which is reviewing a law that prohibits gay sex — and can punish it with up to 10 years in prison.

June 6th, 2009 Poland honors John Paul II with monument in WarsawWARSAW, Poland — Poland on Saturday marked the 30th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's first pilgrimage to his homeland, unveiling a giant cross monument in central Warsaw in honor of the late Polish-born pontiff. The 30-foot (nine-meter) tall white granite cross stands on the site where John Paul II delivered a Mass in 1979 in then-communist Poland.

May 14th, 2009 ZAGREB - India's Somdev Devvarman went down fighting to Brazilian Ricardo Hocevar in the second round of the $50,000 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) challenger. Somdev, who is playing his first clay tournament of the season, lost 4-6, 6-7(4) here Wednesday.

May 12th, 2009 ZAGREB - India's Somdev Devvarman advanced to the second round of Zagreb Challenger tennis, beating Argentina's Leonardo Mayer here Tuesday. Somdev came back strongly after losing the first set to post a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory against the third seed Argentine in the $50,000 clay event.

May 11th, 2009 Sharapova to play singles in Warsaw next weekMaria Sharapova plans to be back on tour next week. Sidelined by shoulder surgery, Sharapova wrote on her Web site Monday that she will play her first competitive singles match in nearly 10 months at the May 18-23 clay-court tournament in Warsaw, Poland.

May 5th, 2009 Russian gays to hold parade on Eurovision finalMOSCOW — Russian gay rights activists announced plans Tuesday to hold a parade hours before this month's finals of the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow, potentially setting the stage for a confrontation with city authorities and extremists. Moscow's government has prohibited gay rights marches in the past and Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has drawn international criticism by describing homosexuality as "satanic." Russian gay rights movement leader Nikolai Alexeyev said he hoped 500 people would join a parade passing through central Moscow.

May 5th, 2009 Russian gays want parade before Eurovision finalMOSCOW — Russian gay-rights activists say they plan to hold a march and rally May 16 before the final night of the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. City authorities have banned gay pride parades in the past and Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has drawn international criticism by describing homosexuality as "satanic." Attempts to defy the bans have ended violently in some cases.