South Korea is considering expanding the use of chemical castration of sex offenders and putting repeat criminals under closer watch with growing calls for tougher measures against rapists and pedophiles, government officials said Monday. Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and senior officials from related agencies agreed to adopt stricter measures to curb sex offenses and increase staff to monitor rapi

Two members of the punk band Pussy Riot have fled Russia to avoid prosecution for a protest against Vladimir Putin that sent three of their band mates to prison, the group said Sunday.Five members of the feminist group took part in a provocative performance inside Moscow's main cathedral in February to protest the Russian leader's rule and his cozy relationship with the Orthodox Church. The women

A 48-year-old Texas man is free after spending half his life in prison for a rape he didn't commit.David Lee Wiggins of Fort Worth had been sent to prison in 1989, largely on the basis of the 14-year-old victim picking him out of photo and live lineups. He was cleared by DNA testing that led state District Judge Louis Sturns to free him Friday, though the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals must accep

Fifty-year-old Roger Clemens retired 10 of the 11 batters he faced for the Sugar Land Skeeters Saturday night.Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner and 11-time all-star, had last pitched for the New York Yankees in 2007.In his 3 1/3-inning stint for the Atlantic League Skeeters, Clemens gave up only one single, to the Bridgeport Bluefish's James Simmons in the second inning, and no walks. He

A Maine woman recently gave birth to her grandson, serving as a surrogate womb for her daughter's baby.Linda Sirois, 49, of Madawaska delivered 7 lb., 14 oz. Madden Brian Hebert Aug. 17 at a hospital in Presque Isle, the Bangor Daily News reported. Madden is the first child for Sirois' daughter Angel Hebert, 25, and her husband Brian, 29."She is amazing," Angel Hebert, who could not carry the baby

South Korea's governing body of basketball held high school basketball matches on Dokdo on Saturday amid heightened tensions sparked by Japan's claim to the easternmost South Korean territory.Players from four high schools formed teams and engaged in three-to-three friendly matches against guards stationed on the rocky islets in a sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, according to the Korea

The Constitutional Court ruled Thursday the online real-name verification legislation is unconstitutional, paving the way for the controversial system to be repealed five years after its introduction.Under current law, Web sites with more than 100,000 visitors per day are required to authenticate their users' identities through their resident registration number. The policy set up in 2007 aims to