From NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston.

President Barack Obama is honoring the nation's top police officers. At a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House,the president praised the winners of a national police association award for officers who showed courage in the line of duty.We will be forever in debt to those who wear the badge, to men and women with a deep sense of duty and a willingness to serve and sacrifice on our behalf.He also says they represent the quiet courage found in officers across the nation.

Mitt Romney discussed his own family and offered a defense of Christianity in a commencement speech at Liberty University in Virginia. He said there is no greater force for good in the nation than Christian conscience in action. The presumptive Republican presidential candidate barely mentioned his Mormon faith. The Jesus sustained applause when he said marriage is a relationship between one man and one woman.

A group of veteran civil rights leaders have written in an open letter embracing President Obama's support for same-sex marriage. But NPR's Alison Keyes tells us the issue remains divisive for the black community and the rest of the nation.

The letter signed by NAACP chairman Emeritus Julian Bond and Civil Rights Icon Reverend Joseph Lowery among others, says they concur with Mr. Obama's view, because We cannot fight to gain right for some and not for all.

But some African-American faith leaders, such as Reverend Michael Waters of Dallas, Texas, say many in the black community believe as he does, that same-sex marriage undermines marriage. Waters told NPR's Tell Me More.

"I don't find President Obama stands on marriage to be, same-sex marriage to be compatible with Christian

teaching, tradition and authority. "

A new gallup poll finds that 39% of Americans say that the president's support of same-sex marriage will affect the votes. Alison Keyes, NPR News, Washington.

Turkey's foreign minister says two journalists captured and held in Syria for two months have been released by Damascus. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports from Istanbul that Iran negotiated the pair's release.

The two detained journalists were flown to Tehran according to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, adding that Ankara is sending a plane to bring them back to Turkey. The reporter and photographer went missing in northern Italy Province in early March, and their families were not permitted to speak with them, until last week.

Turkey relied on Tehran's help to win the journalists' freedom, because Ankara's own relations with Syria has soured, since Turkey condemned the Syrian regime's crackdown on dissent that began more than a year ago. Iran remains serious most important ally in the region. Peter Kenyon, NPR News, Istanbul.

A former Rome police officer has been sentenced to two years in prison for inappropriately touching a 17-year-old student. Marcus McReynolds pleaded guilty Friday to charges of making false statements, violating his oath of office and misdemeanor sexual battery. McReynolds is fired from the department, he must undergo counseling and pay a 3000-dollar fine.

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Boston University is mourning the death of three of its students. The school will hold a candle night visual this evening for the students. They were killed in New Zealand, when their mini-van crashed during a weekend trip. At least five other students from the university were injured in the accident early Saturday, including one who is in critical condition.

Facebook is updating its privacy policy just days before its initial public offering. As NPR's Steve Hen reports the move will allow Facebook morally way to use information it collects about its 900 million users to target ads across the Internet.

Facebook said Friday, it was updating its privacy policy, in response to an investigation by the Irish Data Protection authorities last year.

Facebook's European headquarters are based in Ireland.And officials there had asked Facebook to become more transparent. But the changes would give Facebook more freedom to use information it collects about its users to target and sell ads on other websites. Something the social network hasn't done before. The company also gives itself more vigil room on how long it will store the data it collects. Previously, it said it would keep information for only 180 days. Now it would keep data about its users for quoto as long as necessary. Steve Ken,

NPR News, Silicon Valley.

Attacks carried out by Afghan police have killed three Nato troops in Afghanistan today, while a fourth to die none battle related injury. All four members of the US-led military coalition died in Southern Afghanistan where much of the fighting has been concentrated. Nato provided no other details about the death so far this month, 18 NATO service members have been killed in Afghanistan.

I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.