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Turkey Throws Out Child Sex Bill after Outcry

A Turkish parliamentary committee on Wednesday threw out a bill that could have pardoned men convicted of child-sex assault, sealing the end of a controversy that led to a huge public outcry and protests.

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Pakistan Sentences Five to Death over Burning of Christian Couple

A Pakistani anti-terror court sentenced five people to death Wednesday over the killing of a Christian couple who were lynched and burned in a kiln after being falsely accused of blasphemy.

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Dubai Drops Case against Briton Who Reported Rape

Prosecutors in Dubai said they have dropped the case against a British woman who had faced possible charges of extramarital sex after accusing two compatriots of rape.

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Launch of 'U.N. Aware' Certificate in Lebanon

The U.N. Information Center in Beirut (UNIC Beirut), in collaboration with UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States, World Youth Alliance-Middle East (WYAME) non-governmental organization and Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO (LNCU), has launched an outreach activity in Lebanon on the work and priorities of the U.N., entitled “U.N. Aware” certificate.

This initiative, which aims at educating high-school students on the work and priorities of the U.N., will be implemented as a pilot project in the current academic year 2016-2017. It includes lectures, field activities and fundraising campaigns.

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French Rightwing Presidential Hopefuls Spar on Abortion

The subject of abortion burst onto the stage of France's rightwing presidential primary Tuesday with the frontrunner Francois Fillon fending off accusations of being ambiguous on the right of women to terminate a pregnancy.

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Malawi 'Hyena' Man Faces Sentencing over Sex Ritual

An HIV-positive Malawian man who said he slept with at least 100 girls and women in traditional cleansing rituals was to be sentenced Tuesday after being convicted of "engaging in harmful practices."

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Bid to Quieten Muslim Call to Prayer Amplifies Israeli-Palestinian Tensions

It is 4:30 am and Mufeed Shawana is rushing to al-Aqsa Mosque, as the first Muslim call to prayer of the day rings out across the Old City of east Jerusalem.

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New Israeli Army Chief Rabbi Told to Clarify Remarks

Israel's top court on Monday said the army's incoming chief rabbi could not be appointed until he explained homophobic and misogynistic remarks, including seemingly justifying raping gentile women in war.

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Turkey Blasts Israeli Mosque Prayer Call Bill as 'Insult'

Turkey on Monday denounced as "unacceptable" and an "insult" a bill being discussed in the Israeli parliament to limit the volume of calls to prayer at mosques.

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Turkey Says Open to Changes on Child Sex Conviction Bill

The Turkish government said on Monday it was open to changes proposed by the opposition to a controversial bill that could overturn the convictions of thousands of male sex offenders, after a huge public backlash.

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