The Unkindest Cut: A Czech Solution for Sex Offenders

A doctor makes an incision in a man’s scrotal sac and, deftly wielding his scalpel, quickly removes both testicles. In the Czech Republic, that simple operation is the punishment for male sex offenders. But to the Council of Europe, the region’s leading human-rights body, the procedure is “invasive, irreversible and mutilating.” In a report issued last week, the council called the punishment “degrading” and demanded it be scrapped immediately

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Stimulus bill snag worked out, sources say

Negotiators have worked out a disagreement between the Senate and House over education funding that threatened to throw a last-minute roadblock in front of the economic stimulus bill, Democratic leadership sources said Wednesday evening. Details on how they settled it were not immediately available. But a Democratic source said leaders have come up with an agreement that House Democrats and moderate Senate Republicans can live with.

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Girl, 5, likely taken from Florida home, police say

A missing 5-year-old Florida girl was most likely abducted from her home in rural Florida, police said Wednesday. Haleigh Cummings has been missing since 3 a.m. Tuesday, when her father’s girlfriend called 911 to say the child had vanished from her Putnam County home.

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Spain beat England as Beckham equals record

David Villa and Fernando Llorente scored the goals as European champions Spain extended their amazing unbeaten run to 29 games with a 2-0 victory over an England side for whom David Beckham equalled the Three Lions record of 108 caps for an outfield player. A tight match between two in-form sides in Seville came to life in the 36th minute when Xabi Alonso’s pass found Villa in the area — and the Valencia striker twisted defender Phil Jagielka one way then another before slotting the ball into the corner of the net.

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