Human Race

Sentenced

A Canadian court convicted and sentenced three Afghan family members to life in prison for their roles in the "honor killing" deaths of three teenage sisters and another woman. Authorities say Mohammad Shafia, 58, his wife Tooba Yahya, 42, and their son Hamed, 21, staged an accident submerging the car of Zainab, 19, Sahar, 17, Geeti, 13, and Rona Amir Mohammad, 52-Shafia's childless first wife-in an Ontario canal. Wiretaps during the investigation uncovered that Shafia was infuriated over his daughters' rebellious Western ways.

Rescued

U.S. special forces rescued U.S. aid worker Jessica Buchanan, 32, and her Danish colleague Poul Hagen Thisted, 60, from Somali bandits who had held them captive for three months. The duo was working with the Danish Refugee Council's demining unit-one of the few Western organizations still operating in the African nation-at the time of their kidnapping. Family members and friends said Buchanan is also a missionary who sold nearly all of her belongings to go serve in the troubled region.

Reinstated

The board of directors of Sovereign Grace Ministries reinstated C.J. Mahaney as president of the Maryland-based church-planting ministry. Last June, Mahaney began a voluntary leave of absence after former Sovereign Grace leader Brent Detwiler accused him of pride, deceit, and hypocrisy. Mahaney said he only plans to resume the role of president temporarily, noting that he would like to return to pastoral ministry and the pulpit.

Marked

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, 85, marked this month the 60th anniversary of her ascent to the throne following the death of her father King George VI on Feb. 6, 1952. The country will continue to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee through June, the anniversary of her coronation.

Replaced

King Abdullah replaced last month the head of Saudi Arabia's feared religious police-the mutawa-amid growing complaints that the entity was growing more aggressive. The royal decree announced that Sheikh Abdullatif Al al-Sheikh would take over for Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Humain. Mutawa officers patrol the country's streets ensuring that people are complying with Islamic law, including enforcement of proper garb, gender segregation, and observance of prayer times.

Died

Soul Train creator Don Cornelius died from an apparent suicide Feb. 1 at age 75. Cornelius hosted the music and dance TV show, which is credited with introducing Americans to black pop culture, for more than 20 years after launching it in the early '70s.

Guilty

Pakistani-born taxi driver Raja Lahrasib Khan, 58, became the latest Chicagoan to plead guilty to attempting to provide material support for terrorism. Accused of sending cash to Pakistan-based, al-Qaeda-linked terrorist leader Ilyas Kashmiri, he also was accused of making plans to plant bombs in a stadium. His likely sentence as part of the deal: five to eight years.