WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has determined that a federal law that barred gay marriages was unconstitutional and told government lawyers to stop defending it in court, the U.S.

"Since the brutal repression of nationwide dissent following the 2009 elections, authorities are now increasing their crackdown on Kurds.

"Nearly one-third of Zimbabwe's registered voters are dead, and others appear to be babies or up to 120 years old, researchers said Friday,

A Saudi housewife who wears full Burkha while delivering poetry denouncing attitudes to women in her country is poised to win the Middle East's equivalent of Pop Idol.