Bradley Manning Left Naked In Cell For Seven Hours, Serbian Far-Right Nationalist Denies Organizing Anti-Gay Violence, Michigan Senate Committee Attempts To Rescind Same Sex State Employee Benefits Ruling, Joe Jonas Steps Out, Charlie Sheen Simultaneously Sets Twitter Record And Renders Social Media Irrelevant, Zac Efron Wears Sunglasses At Night

The New York Times reports that the attorney representing Bradley Manning, the Army intelligence analyst accused of leaking secret government files to WikiLeaks, says his client was stripped and left naked in his cell for seven hours on Wednesday. The conditions of Private Manning’s confinement at the Marine brig in Quantico, Virginia have drawn criticism in recent months from supporters and his lawyer, David E. Coombs. Manning’s clothing was returned to him Thursday morning, after he was required to stand naked outside his cell during an inspection, Mr. Coombs said in a posting on his Web site. “This type of degrading treatment is inexcusable and without justification,” Mr. Coombs wrote. “It is an embarrassment to our military justice system and should not be tolerated. Pfc. Manning has been told that the same thing will happen to him again tonight. No other detainee at the brig is forced to endure this type of isolation and humiliation.” First Lieutenant Brian Villiard, a Marine spokesman, said a brig duty supervisor had ordered Private Manning’s clothing taken from him. He said that the step was “not punitive” and that it was in accordance with brig rules, but he said that he was not allowed to say more. “It would be inappropriate for me to explain it,” Lieutenant Villiard said. “I can confirm that it did happen, but I can’t explain it to you without violating the detainee’s privacy.” Private Manning is being held as a maximum security detainee under a special set of restrictions intended to prevent self-injury, even though supporters say there is no evidence that he is suicidal.

The Associated Press reports that the trail of a far-right Serbian leader accused of orchestrating violence during an October, 2010 gay pride march in Belgrade has begun. Miaden Obradovic denied responsibility during the opening hearing Thursday. Obradovic and 13 others have been charged with violent behaviour at a public gathering, and if convicted face up to 12 years in prison. Far-right groups attacked the police securing last year's gay pride march. Serbia's pro-Western government has pledged to protect human rights as it seeks EU membership.

The Lansing State Journal reports that Wednesday, the Senate Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee approved a resolution 4-2 to overturn a January ruling by the Civil Service Commission to extend the benefits to same sex partners and others living with 35,000 state employees. Allegedly the resolution is a part of an effort by Governor Rick Snyder's administration to rein in rising employee costs to address a $1.4 billion budget shortfall. "Some people will say this is a social issue," said Jan Winters, director of the Office of the State Employer. "This is about cost ... We don't have the funds to cover a benefit that could be in the tens of millions of dollars," adding that the newly approved benefit would cost at least $8 million the first year, and rise substantially in following years as more employees learn of it. The resolution likely will go to the full Senate next week, where the measure's sponsor, Sen. Mark Jansen (Republican-Grand Rapids) said he expects to cull 26 Republican votes for the two-thirds majority needed to overturn the commission's ruling. Republicans have a 26-12 majority in the Senate. The tougher battle will be in the House, where Republicans have a slimmer majority of 63-47. Resolution proponents must get 74 votes for a two-thirds majority for passage. The benefits, effective October 1st, are to be extended to about 22,000 members of the United Auto Workers Local 6000 and the Service Employees International Union Local 517M, as well as 13,700 nonunionized employees. In January, the commission extended the benefits to the two unions based on letters of agreement originally drafted in 2004, and then also extended them to the non-unionized employees as a matter of equality. Ray Holman, legislative liaison for UAW 6000, said he does not comprehend why the Legislature is revisiting the issue when it has rarely overturned the commission's decisions in the past. "This has already been negotiated," he said. "These kinds of things need to be done at the bargaining table."

Joe Jonas and his beefy bodyguard rumoured to be his boyfriend spotted in Los Angeles Wednesday.

Charlie Sheen set a new Guinness record, Sheen the fastest to ever have one million followers on Twitter (which actually says more about the social media site than words could ever), which he did in 25 hours and 17 minutes.

The always edible Zac Efron spotted wearing Aviator sunglasses at night in New York City Thursday, downtown, shopping at Armani Exchange.