Americans back the diplomatic deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program – We could tell you that Japan is a step closer to enacting an official secrets act, but it’s classified – A devastating report shows AIDS increasing in youngsters in South Africa, but a bright spot offers hope – Two US television personalities pay the price for scandal.

Americans, weary of war after a decade in two conflicts in the Muslim world, are in approval of the newly brokered nuclear deal with Iran by a 2-to-1 margin.  The Reuters/Ipsos news poll also shows respondents 4-to-1 against resorting to military action against Tehran even if the historic diplomatic effort falls through.  Tehran accepted temporary restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for limited relief from tough economic sanctions.  Washington sees it as a “first step” toward ensuring that Iran cannot develop an atomic bomb.

Ten members of the panel drafting Egypt’s new constitution walked out in protest after police arrested dozens of activists in Cairo.  The detainees were rallying against the newly-adopted law requiring police approval for gatherings of more than ten people. Human rights groups criticize the new law as a major setback to freedom of assembly in Egypt.

Japan’s lower house has passed a state secrets act that critics say will stifle a free press and limit the public’s access to information about the ongoing Fukushima Nuclear Disaster.  It’s expected that the upper house will do the same.  The ruling conservative coalition claims the law was necessary to “to protect the safety of the people.”  The United Nations Human Rights Council has expressed misgivings about the restrictive law.

Government grants are protecting South African girls from HIV and the lurid advances of older men.  An Oxford University study says girls from homes that received child support grants were two-thirds less likely to date older men for money.  Young girls are up to three times more likely to become infected with HIV than boys in South Africa.  But failure to bolster the health system has led to a 50 percent rise in AIDS-related deaths in youngsters aged 10 to 19 years old.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claims an economic and political alliance between Ukraine and Western Europe would have been a threat to Russia.  Kiev’s decision to jilt Europe in favor of its old Soviet master Moscow has led to days of massive protests by Ukrainians looking to the west, which organizers say will continue at least through the 29th – the date Kiev was “supposed” to have inked the deal with the EU.

Cuba says it has been forced to close most of its consular services in the United States because no bank will take its business, apparently the result of US sanctions.  The two nations broke off diplomatic relations in 1961, but have since 1977 operated “interests” offices in each other’s capitals under Swiss protection. 

Conservative National Party candidate Juan Hernandez is assembling his cabinet after being all but assured of victory in the Honduran presidential election.  Second-placed Xiomara Castro, spouse of Manuel Zelaya who was himself freely elected but ousted in a coup in 2009, is alleging massive electoral fraud and refused to accept the results.  Monitors from the European Union and Organization of American States say the contest and vote count was transparent.

The American CBS Television Network has asked “60 Minutes” correspondent Lara Logan to go on leave, after her report on the attack on the US compound in Benghazi proved inaccurate.  US Ambassador Chris Stevens was killed in the 2012 assault by suspect Islamist militants.  Logan’s source claimed to have been there (but really wasn’t), and coincidentally was selling his book which was published by a CBS sister company.  Also in broadcasting, American movie star Alec Baldwin’s low rated talk show was canceled from the Liberal MSNBC network, after the temperamental actor was caught on video hurling really awful homophobic slurs, Mel Gibson style.