Political Activism

HADDONFIELD, N.J. - Gay Americans have arrived at a "teachable moment." Often feeling marginalized in political discourse or grousing that they're used as political pawns, they have the nation's attention - and sympathy - after a recent spate of teenage suicides and two apparent anti-gay attacks in the heart of their community.

BAGHDAD - Gunmen in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul ambushed and killed the director of the city's crime lab Tuesday in the latest targeted killing of security officials and government workers around Iraq, police said.

BEIJING - China has warned the Nobel committee against awarding its coveted peace prize to a jailed Chinese dissident, the head of the Norwegian Nobel Institute said Tuesday A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman denied that China has exerted pressure but said that choosing dissident Liu Xiaobo would go against the prize's aims.