PROTEST--An Egyptian protester shouts slogans as she holds an anti-Muslim brotherhood poster during a protest in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, March 2.  (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

by Edith M. Lederer
Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Conservative Muslim and Roman Catholic countries and liberal Western nations approved a U.N. blueprint to combat violence against women and girls, ignoring strong objections from Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood that it clashed with Islamic principles and sought to destroy the family.

RESIGNS--Investigating officer Hilton Botha, sits inside the court witness box during the Oscar Pistorius bail hearing at the magistrate court in Pretoria, South Africa. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

by Christopher Torchia

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The former lead detective in South Africa's investigation of the murder case against Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has resigned from the police force, police said Thursday.

CHILD BRIDE--Zali Idy, 12, poses in her bedroom in the remote village of Hawkantaki, Niger. Zali was married in 2011. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay-file)

by Charlton Doki

Associated Press Writer

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — The 17-year-old beaten to death for refusing to marry a man old enough to be her grandfather. The teen dragged by her family to be raped to force her into marrying an elderly man.

LOSES CANCER BATTLE-- In this May 14, 2004 file photo, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez gives a press conference at the presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela. (AP Photo/Leslie Mazoch, File)

by Frank Bajak

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — President Hugo Chavez was a fighter. The former paratroop commander and fiery populist waged continual battle for his socialist ideals and outsmarted his rivals time and again, defeating a coup attempt, winning re-election three times and using his country's vast oil wealth to his political advantage.