Bay Ledger News Zonebill@blnz.comtag:www.blnz.com,2009:topics/social_issuestag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/Palestinians_invoke_civil_rights_Obama_7c9c

Palestinians sour at Barack Obama's perceived failure to honour their historical struggle have invoked the US civil rights movement and South Africa's apartheid in a bid to win his sympathy.

2013-03-22T08:49:09ZAFP Global Editionby Selim Saheb Ettabatag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/Lanka_state_media_slams_panel_5f1a

Sri Lankan state media called Friday for the dismantling of the UN human rights chief's office after Colombo was angered by a resolution calling for a probe into alleged war crimes in the island.

2013-03-22T07:23:01ZAFP South Asian EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/Divorce_just_much_hurdle_marriage_4559

It's hard enough for same-sex couples to marry in the United States, but divorce is a headache as well, and one that supporters of gay marriage hope the US Supreme Court can resolve.

2013-03-22T06:47:09ZAFP Global Editionby Fabienne Faurtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/Singapore_denies_being_haven_Malaysian_4f55

Singapore on Friday strongly rejected a whistleblower's allegation that its banks facilitate massive tax evasion by a powerful family in neighbouring Malaysia's Sarawak state.

2013-03-22T05:56:39ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/Mobs_roam_streets_riot-hit_Myanmar_6220

Angry mobs took to the streets of a riot-hit Myanmar town for a third day on Friday, as international pressure mounted for an end to communal unrest that has left 10 people reported dead.

2013-03-22T04:26:54ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/After_Boateng_Italy_looks_long_9f6f

It took a defiant gesture to reignite the debate on one of Italian sport's biggest demons, but the fight to rid football of racism in Serie A could be just beginning.

2013-03-22T02:26:23ZAFP Global Editionby Justin Davistag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Congo_rebel_transfer_wont_bring_1417

The transfer to the International Criminal Court of warlord Bosco Ntaganda would be a blow against impunity but will not fundamentally change the situation in eastern DR Congo, analysts say.

2013-03-21T21:12:01ZAFP Global Editionby Helen Vesperinitag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/least_dead_Myanmar_riots_28d6

At least 10 people have been killed in riots in central Myanmar, an MP said Thursday, prompting international concern at the country's worst communal unrest since a wave of Buddhist-Muslim clashes last year.

2013-03-21T20:45:54ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Southeast_Asia_human_rights_stagnating_ad7a

US officials voiced concern Thursday about human rights in fast-growing Southeast Asian nations, pointing to a lack of progress in many places and a worsening situation in some.

2013-03-21T20:27:00ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/senator_immigration_deal_very_close_88c6

Eight US senators crafting an overhaul of immigration policy are on the verge of finalizing a deal that could bring 11 million undocumented migrants out of the shadows, one of the lawmakers said Thursday.

2013-03-21T20:15:09ZAFP American Editionby Michael Mathestag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Mali_soldier_killed_first_Timbuktu_4115

A Malian soldier died in Timbuktu's first suicide bombing as the city came under assault overnight, triggering clashes in which 10 Islamist fighters died, military officials said Thursday.

2013-03-21T20:02:06ZAFP Global Editionby Serge Danieltag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Americans_support_citizenship_path_illegals_be60

Nearly two-thirds of Americans favor a path to citizenship -- with conditions -- for undocumented immigrants, according to a new poll out Thursday, as lawmakers debate reform plans.

2013-03-21T18:48:15ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Pro-fracking_filmmaker_accuses_censorship_7158

The maker of a documentary in support of oil and gas fracking accused the International Monetary Fund Thursday of censorship after it declined to show a key clip from his film at a conference.

2013-03-21T18:36:02ZAFP Global Editionby Jeremy Tordjmantag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Time_drain_swamp_racism_Boateng_17f3

AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng -- lauded for walking off the pitch to protest abuse by fans -- on Thursday called for an end to racism in the sport, likening it to a virulent disease that blighted the game.

2013-03-21T18:34:05ZAFP Global Editionby Jonathan Fowlertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/French_Jewish_students_take_legal_c30d

A Jewish student group has announced it was taking further legal action against Twitter over the global networking site's failure to respond to a French court order to hand over data to help identify the authors of anti-Semitic tweets.

2013-03-21T18:27:46ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/creates_expert_mission_boost_Mali_6f1f

The United Nations will appoint an independent expert to investigate and help improve the human rights situation in war-torn Mali, the UN Human Rights Council decided Thursday.

2013-03-21T18:22:51ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Lanka_must_launch_rights_abuse_b26a

Sri Lanka must launch an in-depth probe into claims that government troops killed 40,000 civilians during a 2009 offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels that ended its three-decade civil war, the UN Human Rights Council said Thursday.

2013-03-21T17:59:07ZAFP South Asian Editionby Jonathan Fowlertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Pakistan_refugee_camp_bomb_kills_2c42

A car bomb tore through a Pakistani refugee camp Thursday, killing 15 people including women and children and heightening security fears before a May general election.

2013-03-21T17:54:20ZAFP South Asian EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/launch_probe_into_NKorea_rights_7e02

The United Nations on Thursday said it will for the first time establish a commission of inquiry into grave human rights violations in North Korea that may amount to crimes against humanity.

2013-03-21T17:41:14ZAFP Global Editionby Nina Larsontag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Myanmar_must_launch_probe_into_8604

Myanmar must launch an independent investigation into reports of widespread human rights violations, the United Nations' top human rights body said Thursday.

2013-03-21T17:34:26ZAFP Asian EditionBy Staff Reporter