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Saudi Arabia Reshuffles Cabinet with Eye on Culture

Saudi Arabia announced another cabinet reshuffle Saturday with a heavy focus on culture and religion, as the kingdom undergoes a major image overhaul.

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Danish Circumcision Ban to Go to Parliament

A petition calling for a ban on male circumcision in Denmark will now go to parliament after organisers said Friday it had attracted more than the 50,000 signatures required.

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Denmark Bans Islamic Full-Face Veil in Public Spaces

The Danish parliament on Thursday passed a law banning the Islamic full-face veil in public spaces, becoming the latest European country to do so.

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For Displaced Syrians, Plentiful Ramadan Cannot Erase Loss

After years of Syrian government siege, Umm Samer can finally prepare an appetising spread to end her family's daily Ramadan fast. But war has given the holy month a bitter aftertaste.

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Spirit of Ramadan Returns to Iraq's IS-Free Mosul

Under the cover of night in the Iraqi city of Mosul, Rayan and Ali break the silence by drumming to announce suhur, the pre-dawn breakfast during the holy month of Ramadan.

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Starbucks to Educate Staff against Racial Bias, Set Example

Can you teach employees not to be racist? Coffee giant Starbucks will shut stores around the United States on Tuesday to conduct an unprecedented training exercise at its more than 8,000 American outlets.

The initiative, which is expected to last four hours and reach 175,000 employees, was announced by Starbucks management on April 17, as it sought to contain outrage over the arrest of two young black men at one of its cafes in Philadelphia.

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Troubled Exhibits: Five Disputed Museum Treasures

Europe's museums are full of items taken from Africa during colonization, but many other objects on their shelves also carry an uncomfortable history.

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Lebanon LGBT Scene Empowered despite Crackdown

It took him more than two months to prepare, coming up with the concept, assembling his outfit and rehearsing. Then on the big night, a five-hour session putting on makeup. The very last step, he slid on the red lace gloves with 4-inch (10-centimeter) red fingernails that he had specially ordered from the United States.

Elias was transformed into Melanie Coxxx. She was ready for her most important show: The largest drag ball in Lebanon.

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Spain Issues Int'l Warrant for Rapper who May Have Fled

Spain issued a national, international and EU arrest warrant Thursday against Valtonyc, a rapper who may have fled the country just as he was due to enter jail in a case that raised free speech concerns.

The whereabouts of Jose Miguel Arenas Beltran -- better known as Valtonyc -- remain a mystery and speculation is mounting that he has escaped Spain to avoid starting a three-and-a-half-year jail term, due to begin on Thursday, over his songs.

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Three Saudi Activists Released after Crackdown

Saudi authorities have released three prominent women's rights advocates following their detention in a sweeping crackdown against activists, a month before the kingdom lifts its ban on women drivers, campaigners said Thursday.

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