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Russia Bans Transvestites and Transsexuals from Driving

Russia has passed a controversial law banning transvestites and transsexuals from driving, prompting sharp criticism from rights activists, including a prominent Kremlin advisor.

The legislation that entered into force this week bans anyone diagnosed with a range of personality and gender identity disorders, including transvestites and transsexuals, from taking the wheel.

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5.5 Million in Philippines Parade ahead of Papal Visit

More than five million barefoot devotees paraded a centuries-old icon of Jesus Christ through Manila Friday in a loud, heaving paroxysm of religious fervor ahead of Pope Francis's visit to Asia's bastion of Christianity.

In fervent displays of devotion, huge crowds of men, women and children chanted "Viva!" (Long live!) and twirled white handkerchiefs at the Black Nazarene, with some hurling themselves at the supposedly miraculous statue for good luck.

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Houellebecq Stops Plugging New Book after Paris Attack

French author Michel Houellebecq has suspended the promotion of his new novel "Submission", a dystopian vision of France under Islamic rule, after this week's massacre at satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, his agent said.

The book was released on Wednesday -- the same day that 12 people were killed when gunmen stormed the magazine's Paris office, including some of France's best known cartoonists.

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Venezuelan Textbooks Teach Math, Science, Socialism

Students here study math by calculating the benefits of government land takeovers. They practice English by reciting where late President Hugo Chavez was born and learn civics by explaining why the elderly should give him thanks.

Pro-administration messages scattered through the pages of Venezuela's textbooks have become yet another point of conflict in this hyper-polarized country, where Chavez's socialist party won a bare majority in the presidential elections of 2013.

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Brunei Bans Christmas Celebrations

Oil-rich Brunei has banned public celebrations of Christmas for fear of Muslims being led astray, its religious affairs ministry said Thursday, in a country that last year controversially instituted tough Islamic sharia penalties.

The ban, instituted after Christmas last month when local children and adults were seen wearing clothes "that resemble Santa Claus", raises fresh concerns of religious restrictions after last April's announcement of the introduction of a penal code that will eventually include penalties such as the severing of limbs and death by stoning.

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Indian Scientists at Odds on Ancient Discovery Claims

A series of sensational claims, including that ancient Hindu sages were the pioneers of aviation and algebra, have triggered a furious debate in Indian academic circles amid warnings that nationalist breast-beating could undermine the country's burgeoning scientific reputation.

A weekend conclave of experts and researchers, whose guests included new Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was intended to highlight some of the latest achievements by India's scientific community.

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Religion Must be Subject to Satire, Rushdie Says

British-Indian writer Salman Rushdie paid tribute to the work of satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo following a deadly attack on its offices Wednesday, saying religion must be subject to satire.

Rushdie was forced into hiding after Iran issued a death sentence on him for allegedly insulting Islam with his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses."

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China Censors Behind the Curve in TV Breasts Row

Chinese censors should pay more attention to public opinion, a state-run newspaper argued Wednesday, after an online backlash over the removal of all cleavage from a TV show about China's only female emperor.

"Empress of China", about the Tang dynasty ruler Wu Zetian, who came to power at the end of the 7th century, was abruptly taken off the air soon after its debut on satellite station Hunan TV late last month, ostensibly for "technical reasons".

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Boston Opens 'Oldest' U.S. Time Capsule from 1795

It dates back to 1795, and has been dubbed the oldest time capsule in America. On Tuesday, a museum in Boston re-opened the relic, last seen over a century and a half ago.

The Museum of Fine Arts in the northeastern city opened the time capsule at a press conference at 6pm (2300 GMT).

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China Nobel Winner Praises Communist Party

Chinese Nobel laureate Mo Yan has heaped praise on the ruling Communist party and its leader Xi Jinping in an interview likely to renew debate about his political stance.

Mo Yan was awarded the Nobel literature prize in 2012 for his novels which sometimes contain grotesque satire of recent Chinese history, but he has been derided by liberals as a government stooge.

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