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Kandinsky Painting Sets $23 Mn Record in New York

A painting by Wassily Kandinsky sold for $23 million in New York on Wednesday, setting an auction record for the Russian avant-garde artist.

The oil painting "Studie fur improvisation 8" was a highlight of the big evening sale of impressionist and modern works at Christie's auction house in Manhattan.

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Egypt Prosecutor Orders Internet Porn Ban

Egypt's state prosecutor on Wednesday ordered a ban on Internet pornography, after a previous court order to do so was not implemented.

State prosecutor Abdel Meguid Mahmoud "ordered a block on pornography sites," his office said in a statement.

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France Adopts Gay Marriage Plan Despite Bitter Opposition

France's Socialist government Wednesday adopted a draft law to authorize gay marriage and adoption despite fierce opposition from the Roman Catholic Church and the right-wing opposition.

President Francois Hollande, who made the issue a key part of his electoral platform, told a cabinet meeting the move was "not only a step forward for some but for all of society," government spokeswoman Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said.

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Corsican Epic Wins France's Top Book Prize

France's top literary prize, the Goncourt, on Wednesday went to Jerome Ferrari for a Corsican epic, set in a bar on the violence-wracked Mediterranean island.

"Le Sermon de la Chute de Rome" (The Sermon of the Fall of Rome) tells of a young man who packs in his philosophy studies to open a bar with an old friend, with the aim of turning it into a haven of peace and friendship.

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Gay Marriage, Marijuana Backed in Historic Votes

Maine and Maryland became the first states to approve same-sex marriage by popular vote, while Washington state and Colorado set up a showdown with federal authorities by legalizing recreational use of marijuana.

The outcomes for those ballot measures Tuesday were a milestone for persistent but often thwarted advocacy groups and activists who for decades have pressed the causes of gay rights and drug decriminalization.

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Bolivia Returns Ancient Mummy to Peru

Bolivian authorities on Tuesday returned to Peru the ancient mummy of a young girl that was intercepted by police as it was about to be illegally shipped to France.

The mummy, which dates from between the years 1200 and 1450, was discovered in October 2010 when a Bolivian citizen was attempting to send a box to the French city of Compiegne to be then presumably sent to an auction house, Peru's Ministry of Culture said in the statement.

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Canada Circus Shows off Long-Lost Dali Painting

A massive painting by Salvador Dali created in 1944 as a backdrop for a ballet put on by New York's Metropolitan Opera was recently found and displayed Monday in Montreal.

The eight by 15 meter piece was offered to circus master Daniele Finzi Pasca, who will use it in his next theatrical and acrobatic production, La Verita, which opens on January 17 in the Canadian metropolis.

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Russian Church Confirms Patriarch to Visit Holy Land

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill will this week embark on his first visit to the Holy Land since becoming head of the powerful church in 2009, a church official confirmed on Tuesday.

Kirill, who became patriarch in February 2009 after the death of his predecessor Alexy, will visit Christian sites in Israel and the Palestinian territories from November 9-14, Orthodox church spokesman Alexander Volkov told Agence France Presse.

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Bulgaria's Christian Orthodox Patriarch Maxim Dies Aged 98

Patriarch Maxim, Bulgaria's religious leader for over 40 years and the longest-serving Orthodox Christian leader in Europe, died early Tuesday, the Holy Synod announced. He was 98.

"This morning around 4:00 am (02H00 GMT) at the age of 98, the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Patriarch Maxim has presented himself to God," the synod said in a short statement.

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'Looted' Chinese Antiques Pulled from UK Auction

Two Chinese antiques have been withdrawn from auction in Britain, the auctioneer said, after the proposed sale sparked fury in China amid claims they were looted from Beijing in the 19th century.

Bonhams issued an apology as it confirmed the two jade carvings would not be sold after the owner withdrew them from a planned auction on Thursday to "avoid any possible offence".

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