World/Nation Briefs November 5, 2013

Anti-bias gay rights bill clears first major hurdle

WASHINGTON - The Senate pushed a major anti-bias gay rights bill past a first, big hurdle Monday, a clear sign of Americans' greater acceptance of homosexuality nearly two decades after the law prohibiting federal recognition of same-sex marriage.

The vote of 61-30 essentially ensured that the Senate has the votes to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that would prohibit workplace discrimination against gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.

Final passage, possibly by week's end, would cap a 17-year quest to secure Senate support for a similar discrimination measure that failed by one vote in 1996, the same year Congress passed and President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act.

Reflecting the nation's shifting views toward gay rights and the fast-changing political dynamic, seven Senate Republicans joined with 54 Democrats to vote to move ahead on the legislation.

Huge Iranian rally seeks 'death to America'

TEHRAN, Iran - In Tehran's largest anti-U.S. rally in years, tens of thousands of demonstrators joined Monday in chants of "death to America" as hard-liners directed a major show of resolve against President Hassan Rouhani's outreach to Washington more than a generation after crowds on the same streets stormed and occupied the U.S. Embassy.

Such American-bashing protests occur every year outside the former embassy compound to mark the anniversary of the 1979 takeover following the Islamic Revolution. But the latest demonstration had a dual purpose of sending the boldest warning yet to Rouhani's government over whether it can expand dialogue with the U.S. or offer the concessions needed to possibly settle the nuclear impasse with the West.

"Fighting the global arrogance and hostile policies of America is the symbol of our national solidarity," said Saeed Jalili, who lost to Rouhani in June's election and later was replaced as the country's top nuclear negotiator.

The choice of Jalili as the main speaker to the crowd showed how high the rifts reach in Iran.

Jalili is a leading voice of dissent over Rouhani's overtures to Washington, but he is also a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has given critical support to Rouhani's initiatives.

Police searching for gunman after shots fired at mall

PARAMUS, N.J. - A Bergen County official says a search is under way inside a northern New Jersey mall for a suspect who fired multiple shots just before closing time.

Bergen County spokeswoman Jeanne Baratta tells The Associated Press that authorities believe the suspected shooter is still in the Garden State Plaza Mall early Tuesday. She says SWAT teams are concentrating their search in the northeast corner of the 2.2-million-square-foot mall, near a Nordstrom store.

Paramus Mayor Rich LaBarbiera says the mall remains in lockdown.

Baratta says reports of shots being fired came in shortly before Monday night's 9:30 p.m. closing time at the mall, one of New Jersey's largest and most popular. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Egypt's ousted president defiant in court

CAIRO - Ousted President Mohammed Morsi refused to wear a prison jumpsuit, entering the caged dock in a dark business suit as his co-defendants applauded. He defiantly questioned the legitimacy of the court and proclaimed himself still Egypt's leader. His fellow Muslim Brotherhood members chanted, "Down with military rule!"

Morsi's long-awaited trial got off to a chaotic start Monday, with outbursts and interruptions, and it was quickly adjourned until Jan. 8.

The dramatic first public appearance for Morsi since the July 3 military coup that removed him from power was meant to be a step toward due process. Instead, it highlighted the challenges facing Egypt's interim authorities as they attempt to close a chapter of his presidency, while his Islamist supporters seek to disrupt the effort.

Morsi and 14 co-defendants - seven of whom are still at large - are charged with inciting the killing of protesters who massed outside the presidential palace in December 2012.

High court could soon take up new abortion case

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday declined for now to jump back into the long-running legal fight over abortion, but a flood of new state restrictions has increased the chances that the issue soon will be back before the justices.

The court stepped back from a dispute over a now-nullified Oklahoma law to limit drug-induced abortions. But a new filing asks the justices to block new Texas restrictions that have dramatically reduced the availability of abortions in Texas.

Oklahoma also is challenging its state high court's rejection of a law mandating an ultrasound exam before an abortion can be performed and Arizona, backed by 16 other states, wants the justices to let it enforce a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, except for medical emergencies.

- The Associated Press