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Also today, a San Francisco Superior Court will hear arguments brought by the City of San Francisco and a handful of same-sex partners challenging Proposition 22.

Same-sex marriage:

• Patriots win can't beat gay marriage debate | February, with all its hearts and valentines, is sometimes called the month of love. And while love for a pro football team soared to new heights Feb. 1 when the New England Patriots won their second Super Bowl, it was marriage that dominated the news. (Milford Daily News, Mass.)
• Court denies bid to block gay rights bill | A state appeals court on Tuesday denied an effort by Christian activists to prevent a law that will grant same-sex couples nearly all the rights and responsibilities as married couples from taking effect on Jan. 1. (Associated Press)
• Same-sex marriage -- little room to agree | This morning, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer will open a hearing in which both sides will present oral arguments on why the state constitution either permits California to prohibit gay couples from marrying, or disallows it from banning such marriages. (Sacramento Bee, Calif.)
• Same-sex union cases to be heard | Consolidated lawsuits on marriage rights for gays and lesbians are to be presented today before a judge in San Francisco. (Los Angeles Times)

Sudan:

• Newsview: Settlement in sight in Sudan | Suffering continues in war-ravaged western Sudan. But to the south, after 21 years of conflict, things are looking up. (Associated Press)
• Sudan conflict settlement 'in sight' | The Islamic government in Khartoum may be ready to initial a peace agreement with southern Sudanese rebels on or before a December 31 deadline. There might even be a formal signing ceremony in Washington if all goes well during the next month. (icWales, UK)
• Crisis in Darfur | The humanitarian crisis in Darfur, western Sudan, got much worse yesterday when the British charity Save the Children announced it is to withdraw its 350 personnel after four of them were killed. (Irish Times, via Sudan Tribune, Sudan)
• Somali talks conclude, Sudanese talks drag on at yearend | Peace talks held in Kenya to end long-running civil wars in Somalia and Sudan have figured prominently in 2004. Cathy Majtenyi from VOA's East African Bureau in Nairobi looks at where peace negotiations stood as the year ended - and at the challenges that lay ahead. (Voice of America)

Germany's Christian Democrats leader steps down:

• German opposition leader steps down | The general secretary of Germany's leading opposition Christian Democrats resigned from his post Wednesday, succumbing to pressure that had been building since it emerged that he continued to be paid by a former employer after taking the party job. (Associated Press)
• Company's payments to party official set off uproar in Germany | Adding to the growing troubles of Germany's conservative opposition, leading politicians were calling Monday for the resignation of the Christian Democratic Union's general secretary following disclosures that he had received payments from a large utility company for which he once worked. (Associated Press)
• German opposition leader backs senior aide | Germany's opposition leader gave her backing to a senior aide in a dispute over payments he received from his former employer, a utility company. (Associated Press)

December dilemma:

• Panel to address manger issue | Commissioners will discuss growing controversy over the holiday displays. (The Ledger, Fla.)

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December (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48