During World War II, hundreds of thousands of Asian women were forced into sex slavery for Japanese troops. Conservative groups argue that this accusation is false. A Berlin university has opened courses for women and the Afghan president seems to be willing to change a law which was described as a setback to women’s rights. Read on for women’s news that made it to the headlines.

Conservative groups in Japan insist that claims of hundreds of thousands of Asian women being forced into sexual slavery during World War II are “fabricated.” Read more here.

In an effort to balance the sex ratio, rather than stem the tide of male students, a Berlin university has opened courses for women only. Read more here.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered changes to a law called a setback for women’s rights. The law had already been passed by both houses of parliament, which are dominated by conservatives and tribal chieftains. Read more here.

Three years ago Libya was hurtling headlong into the revolution that culminated in the death of Moammar Gadhafi. Although instrumental in the fall of the regime, women face mixed fates in the country of new men. Read more here.

Abortion in Lebanon is essentially illegal and definitely taboo. Yet many hospitals and clinics across the country perform the operation clandestinely. The lack of regulation, however, often puts women’s life at risk. Read more here.