Compassionate release expected for Lockerbie bomber

A Scottish court is expected to release convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi on compassionate grounds, senior State Department officials tell CNN. Al Megrahi, 57, is suffering from terminal prostate cancer. He is serving a life sentence for bombing Pan Am Flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 270 people

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Controversy as Semenya wins women’s 800m

South African teenager Caster Semenya won the women’s 800 meters gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin, just hours after the sport’s governing body asked for the 18-year-old’s gender to be verified. Semenya crushed her rivals by streaking away to secure victory in a time of one minute 55.45 seconds — the best time in the world this year. Defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei of Kenya took the silver with Briton Jennifer Meadows claiming bronze.

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Katey Sagal: Peg Bundy to motorcycle mama

Don’t confuse Katey Sagal for Peg Bundy — it’s a common mistake. While her infamous alter ego was uneducated, Katey is thoughtful and well-spoken; Peg’s fashion is time-warped (hello, bouffant!), Katey’s is earthy; for every ounce of laziness in Peg’s body, Katey has a multitasking one to match

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Autistic boy saw Florida couple slain, documents say

The son of a Florida couple known for adopting special-needs children was in his parents’ room when they were slain in a home invasion last month, according to documents released by prosecutors. A nurse who works with special-needs children interviewed the boy, who has autism and speech issues, regarding the deaths of Byrd and Melanie Billings.

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Former Sunday school teacher indicted in girl’s death

A grand jury in northern California on Monday indicted a former Sunday school teacher on charges of kidnapping, murder and rape in the death of an 8-year-old girl. Melissa Huckaby, 28, is accused of killing 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, who disappeared on March 27 in Tracy, California

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Muslim Women Demand an End to Oppressive Family Laws

While Western governments have been worrying about bearded men with bombs in caves, a new jihad has quietly gained strength in the Muslim world: Islamic feminism. Earlier this week, 350 women and men gathered in Malaysia to launch Musawah — “Equality” in Arabic — a movement for justice in the Muslim family. Organized by the Malaysian Muslim feminist group Sisters in Islam, the conference, two years in the planning, is a kick-off to a campaign to enshrine Muslim women’s rights within an Islamic framework.

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