Portal:Current events/2004 March 12

March 12, 2004 (Friday)

Same-sex marriage in the United States: Oregon's attorney general issues his opinion on same-sex marriage within Oregon. He concludes that current state law prohibits issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but that the Oregon Supreme Court is likely to conclude those statutes violate the state's constitution. The Wisconsin State Senate approves state constitution amendment to ban same-sex marriages or civil unions, to counter efforts elsewhere to legalize such partnerships. (Oregon Attorney General's opinion—PDF) (Wisconsin State Journal)
A Utah woman is charged with murder when her child is stillborn, after allegedly refusing a Caesarean section. (Reuters) (SF Chronicle) (Toronto Star)
March 11, 2004 Madrid attacks: Millions of people pack rainswept streets across Spain in protest against the recent Madrid bombings. (Reuters) Archived 2005-03-06 at the Wayback Machine
The parliament of South Korea votes to impeach President Roh Moo-hyun, saying he "breached election rules" by calling for support for the Uri Party. Prime Minister Goh Kun will run the country until the Constitutional Court rules on the issue. Roh's supporters dismiss the move as a power play to influence the upcoming April elections. Thousands protest in support of Roh. (Reuters) Archived 2005-04-08 at the Wayback Machine (BBC) (BBC)
Guantanamo Bay: Recently released British Camp X-Ray inmate Jamal al-Harith is interviewed by the Daily Mirror, alleging physical assaults and psychological torture. (Daily Mirror) (BBC)
Iraqi insurgents kill two U.S. soldiers in a roadside bomb attack near the Sunni Triangle town of Habbaniyah. (AP)
Iraqi police are responsible for killing two U.S. civilians, local investigators state. (UPI)
The U.S. government announces its intention to stockpile as many as 25 million doses of an experimental anthrax vaccine. (AP)
ROC presidential election, 2004: An ad comparing Chen Shui-bian to Adolf Hitler is withdrawn after protests by Jewish leaders.(CNN)