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World's Biggest Emerald Shines in Colombia

A massive uncut emerald on exhibit in Colombia's capital is being touted by its owners as the biggest in the world, officials said Saturday.

The 11,000-karat raw green gem weighs in at 2.27 kilos (almost five pounds) and is on show in Bogota 12 years after it was mined in Muzo, in the South American nation's emerald country in Boyaca province.

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French Fetishist Held for 'Pleasuring Self on Foreign Feet'

French police have arrested an alleged serial foot fetishist who lured foreign women to his home near Paris with the promise of a warm bed but instead pleasured himself on their feet.

The unnamed man, aged 42, from Mantes-la-Jolie to the west of Paris, allegedly approached young women at night after they missed the last train and offered them somewhere to sleep.

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Three Baby Elephants Killed by Sri Lankan Train

Three baby elephants were killed when they were hit by a passenger train in Sri Lanka on Saturday, an official said.

The trio were crossing the tracks in a forested area near Ambanpola, 93 miles (150 kilometers) north of Colombo, when they were struck by a passenger train bound for the capital, railway general manager Wije Samarasinghe said.

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From "Slut Walk" to "Shameless Front", Delhi Renames Protest

Organizers of India's first "Slut Walk" have changed the name of the event and toned down its dress code because of concern the protest is too provocative, reports said Friday.

"Slut Walks," which have become a global phenomenon to protest sexual violence, see women dress in skimpy clothing to challenge the mindset that victims of sexual assault should be blamed for the crime against them.

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Porn Mogul Offers Job to Disgraced U.S. Lawmaker

Porn mogul Larry Flynt offered disgraced U.S. lawmaker Anthony Weiner a job Thursday, after the New York congressman resigned over a tawdry "sexting" scandal.

Hustler founder Flynt said he would pay Weiner, who posted pictures of his intimate anatomy to a number of women on Twitter, 20 percent more than what he earned in the House of Representatives.

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U.N. Rights Council Passes 'Historic' Gay Rights Resolution

The U.N. Human Rights Council passed Friday a historic resolution that seeks equal rights for everyone regardless of their sexual orientation, marking progress for gay rights despite strong Arab and African opposition.

The resolution was passed narrowly with 23 votes in favor, 19 against and three abstentions, after an emotional debate that saw African states accusing South Africa of breaking ranks with the region and siding with the West after it introduced the issue.

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U.S. Man Who Quit College in 1932 Graduates at 99

A man who dropped out of college just short of graduation in 1932 has earned his degree at age 99.

KTVZ-TV in Bend reports that Leo Plass, of Redmond, received his diploma a few days ago from Eastern Oregon University in La Grande.

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Japan Region to Cut Power Use with Siestas

As Japan looks to save electricity this summer amid its ongoing nuclear crisis, one regional government has come up with a novel solution not usually found in workplaces here -- siestas.

The government of central Gifu prefecture is urging its staff to go home for a nap between 1:00 and 3:00 pm to cut down on air conditioning and other power usage during the sweltering summer months of July to September.

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Ash Cloud Forces U.N. Chief to Spend Birthday on Bus

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was forced to rough it on an overnight bus to meet Argentine leaders on Monday because of Chile's volcanic ash cloud. Worse still -- it was his birthday.

Ban became the highest-profile person to fall victim as the eruption of Chile's Puyehue volcano, high in the Andes, entered a second week, spewing ash that has disrupted air travel from South America to Australia.

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Total Lunar Eclipse Set for Africa, Middle East, C. Asia Wednesday Night

Astronomers in parts of Europe, Africa, Central Asia and Australia were hoping for clear skies on Wednesday to enjoy a total lunar eclipse, the first of 2011 and the longest in nearly 11 years.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth casts its shadow over the Moon.

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