Airstrikes on civilians & medical facilities in Syria; International Workers' Day in Turkey & Egypt; sexual slavery in Lebanon; deaths at sea off Libya; freedom of expression in Iraq; India caving in to China; accountability & the Asian Development Bank; and Philippines presidential candidates.

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North Korea has banned all weddings and funerals in Pyongyang as the country gears up for a gathering of ruling party members. Ending freedom of movement in the name of security is just the latest abuse thrust on North Korean citizens by the government.
Last week's murder of two LGBT rights advocates in Bangladesh sparked international condemnation and calls for justice, as well as protection for Bangladeshi activists and journalists. The government, however, had a different take.
Last week's announcement that the controversial Australia-run Manus Island detention center would be closed was a welcome move. But another facility on the island of Nauru remains open, and Australia's harsh, unfair policies toward refugees are leading to tragedy there.
Tomorrow May 3 is World Press Freedom Day, and as we prepare to honor and advocate for all those who put their lives at risk just for doing their jobs as journalists, it's high time Azerbaijan releases Khadija Ismaliyova, an investigative journalist sentenced to seven years in prison on political charges.
From earlier today: Amid diplomatic efforts to re-establish at least a limited ceasefire in Syria, there have been calls for the UN to investigate the deadly airstrikes on a hospital and a clinic in Aleppo, which "show a disregard for civilian life and may amount to war crimes."
On International Workers' Day yesterday, Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannons at demonstrators and arrested some 200 people.
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