MSNBC: Bush pushes for gay marriage ban
“WASHINGTON - President Bush and congressional Republicans are aiming the political spotlight this week on efforts to ban gay marriage, with events at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue — all for a constitutional amendment with scant chance of passage but wide appeal among social conservatives.
“Ages of experience have taught […]

Guardian Unlimited: Internet suicides rise in Japan
“The number of Japanese people killing themselves in online death pacts rose alarmingly again last year, despite government efforts to monitor websites where suicidal people meet.
The National Police Agency said 91 people died in group suicides arranged over the internet - up from 55 in 2004. The number of […]

Human Rights Watch: D.R. Congo: Mai Mai Warlord Must Face Justice
“The Democratic Republic of Congo’s transitional government must bring to justice the recently surrendered Mai Mai warlord known as Gédéon, who is accused of war crimes in the southeastern province of Katanga, Human Rights Watch said today.
Kyungu Mutanga, alias Gédéon, on Friday turned himself over […]

BBC News: Toxic warning for nano industry
“Nanotechnology companies need to do more to understand potential toxic effects of their products, a senior UK researcher has warned.
Professor Anthony Seaton, of Aberdeen University, said “very little” was still known about the health impacts of particles engineered at small scales.
His concern over nanoparticles covered production and lab workers […]

Guardian Unlimited: Nepal’s parliament sits for first time in four years
“Nepal’s parliament reconvened for the first time in four years today following weeks of violent protests that forced the country’s king to restore democracy.
MPs opened the session with two minutes’ silence for the victims of the unrest, in which the security forces killed 15 people […]

Human Rights Watch: Sudan: Government Offensive Threatens Darfur Civilians
“(New York, April 27, 2006) – The Sudanese government has launched a new military offensive in South Darfur that is placing civilians at grave risk, Human Rights Watch said today.
An April 24 attack on a village in rebel-controlled territory used Antonov aircraft and helicopter gunships indiscriminately in […]

Guardian Unlimited: Nepalese opposition calls off protests
“The seven-party Nepalese opposition alliance today called off its pro-democracy protests after the country’s king offered to reinstate parliament last night.
However, Maoist rebels - who have waged a 10-year campaign to create a communist state - rejected King Gyanendra’s offer of “a way of out of the continuing violence” […]

The U.N. has put up an informative page regarding its new Human Rights Council.
“May 9, 2006 the reformed U.N Human Rights Council meets for an election that the US has stated it will not participate in. Worldwide, the news on Oppression appears to be the best Entertainment around. This reform of the Human Rights Council […]

BBC News: US orders Nepal staff withdrawal
“The United States has ordered all its non-essential diplomatic staff and their families to leave Nepal.
The move comes on the eve of what protesters in the capital, Kathmandu, vow will be their biggest demonstration yet against King Gyanendra.
[…]
Meanwhile in Kathmandu the seven-party opposition alliance opposed to the king says […]

Nepal police fire on protesters as more defy king’s rule
“Protests demanding democracy be restored continued across Nepal for a 13th day yesterday, with security forces firing on anti-monarchy demonstrators as a general strike emptied roads, closed schools and cut supplies of food and petrol to the capital.
Defiance of royal rule has spread quickly through society. […]

Greg Walton submitted quite the news round-up regarding China, censorship, surveillance, globalism, and more! You can find it here: http://gregwalton.civiblog.org/blog/_archives/2006/4/18/1894701.html.

Human Rights Watch: Colombia: Uribe Must End Attacks on Media
“(New York, April 17, 2006) - Instead of attacking the news media for reporting allegations of criminal activity in a Colombian intelligence agency, President Álvaro Uribe should ensure a full investigation of the charges, Human Rights Watch said today.
Over the last two weeks, major news media […]

China president at Gates house, not White House
“SEATTLE–The first lavish dinner of China President Hu Jintao’s historic visit to the United States next week will be in a big, secure house in Washington where the host is one of the world’s most powerful men.
The White House? No.
It won’t be in Washington D.C., but Seattle, and […]

Human Rights in China: Press Advisory: Dissident Lu Decheng free; others remain in asylum limbo
“Human Rights in China (HRIC) welcomes the discharge of dissident Lu Decheng from the custody of Thai authorities and his arrival in Canada, where he has been offered political asylum. His release comes after months of pressure from the international community […]

Greg Walton: FRONTLINE SEARCHES FOR MAN WHO STOPPED TANKS, AND FINDS THAT MEMORIES OF 1989 STILL HAUNT BEIJING . U.S. INTERNET COMPANIES FACE CRITICISM OVER CENSORSHIP.
“Antony Thomas’ C4/PBS documentary broadcasts on Frontline tonight at 9pm EST.
On June 5, 1989, one day after Chinese troops expelled thousands of demonstrators from Tiananmen Square in Beijing, a solitary, […]

Worldpress.org: Human Rights Defenders Honored
“Five human rights defenders who have made a significant contribution to free expression over the past year have been recognized in the annual Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards.
The human rights defenders were selected from a shortlist of 25 individuals and organizations. The winners were announced March 22 in London.
Huang […]

BBC News: Kuwaiti women vote for first time
“Polling is taking place in a Kuwaiti council by-election in which women are allowed to vote for the first time.
Two women are also among eight candidates running for the seat in the Salmiya district, south of the capital.
The 28,000 eligible voters, 60% of whom are women, are voting […]

MSNBC: Doctors attack Guantanamo force-feeding
“LONDON - More than 250 doctors from seven countries urged the U.S. government on Friday to abandon force-feeding and the use of restraints on hunger strikers at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp.
The doctors from Britain, the United States, Ireland, Germany, Australia, Italy and the Netherlands said prisoners at the camp in […]

HRW: Libya - Hopeful Sign as 132 Political Prisoners Freed
The Libyan government’s pardoning today of 132 political prisoners is a hopeful sign of reform, Human Rights Watch said. Most of them had spent more than seven years in detention, imprisoned for nonviolent activities after unfair trials.
“The release of these long-time prisoners is a welcome step,” […]

ACLU: ACLU Sues West Virginia Police Chief Who Blocked Life-Saving Measures for Gay Heart Attack Victim Assumed to Be HIV Positive
The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a federal discrimination lawsuit on behalf of the surviving family members of a Welch man who died of a heart attack after the police chief physically prevented his […]