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Argentine Pedophile Priest Begins 15-year Jail Sentence

A well-known Argentine priest began a 15-year prison sentence for pedophilia Monday, four years after he was convicted.

A court ordered the immediate arrest of Julio Cesar Grassi, 57, who was on provisional release after being convicted in 2009.

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Catholics React to Pope Remarks on Gays, Abortion

Catholics around the globe are reacting mostly positively to Pope Francis' recent remarks that the church has become too focused on "small-minded rules" on hot-button issues like homosexuality, abortion and contraceptives.

At Masses over the weekend, the faithful reflected on how they believe Francis' comments would impact the Catholic Church. The pope said Thursday that pastors should focus less on divisive social issues and should emphasize compassion over condemnation.

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Austen Museum Successful in Bid to Buy Jane's Ring

A Jane Austen museum announced it has raised enough money to buy the writer's ring back from pop singer Kelly Clarkson.

Earlier this year, the British government placed a temporary export ban on the gold-and-turquoise ring Clarkson bought at auction in the hope that money could be found to keep it in Britain.

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Russia's Top Mufti Protests Ban on Quran's Edition

Russia's top Islamic cleric has protested a provincial court order to declare a translation of the Quran as extremist and to destroy it.

Ravil Gainutdin, the head of the Council of Muftis of Russia, said in an open letter to President Vladimir Putin released Monday that the ruling was "illiterate" and "provocative."

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Award-winning Colombian Writer Alvaro Mutis Dies

Alvaro Mutis, an award-winning Colombian poet, essayist and novelist influential throughout the Spanish-speaking world, died Sunday in Mexico City, officials said.

Mutis, who was 90, won the prestigious Principe de Asturias award in 1997 and the Cervantes award in 2001, two of the top Spanish language literature prizes.

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Saudi Women Call New Day of Defiance against Driving Ban

Saudi women activists have called for a new day of defiance next month of the longstanding ban on women driving in the ultra-conservative kingdom.

An online petition entitled "Oct 26th, driving for women" had on Sunday gathered more than 5,800 signatories, as activists try again to push authorities to end the unique ban.

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Hundreds Join Myanmar March to End Ethnic Conflicts

Activists praised Myanmar authorities Saturday for allowing a peace march through Yangon calling for an end to the nation's civil conflicts, after several people were charged for rallying without permission last year.

Around 300 people joined the colorful International Day of Peace rally through the city -- the majority wearing blue t-shirts printed with anti-war slogans -- with just a handful of police watching the event.

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Americans Increasingly Hungry for Hipster Foods

So maybe the chance to taste the flaky spawn of a doughnut and croissant won't get you lining up at the crack of dawn. Maybe you're holding out for a burger nestled between fried ramen noodles. Or perhaps it's the elusive McRib that moves you.

Whatever flies your foodie flag, it's hard to deny that Americans love feeling part of something deliciously exclusive, that they clamor to taste trendy, hard-to-get morsels.

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Meet MySOUK: An Online Shop For All Lebanese Shops

Based in the Middle East, MySOUK.com is a design-driven marketplace where local & independent designers set up shop & promote their brands to the world. Their concept is to help designers, artists & brands establish a presence online by offering them a personalized, easy-to-manage space, through which they can promote their trademarks and expose their products.

Their vision, derived from their eagerness to expand creativity beyond borders, is to become the region’s ultimate gathering point for talent, creativity, & design.

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French Imams to Meet Pope Francis

A group of 10 French imams will meet Pope Francis on Wednesday in the latest sign of rapprochement between the Vatican and the Muslim world.

The meeting has been organised by Marek Halter, a French Jewish author known for promoting religious tolerance who has organised similar initiatives in the past.

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