In the Nation

CALIFORNIA

Twins, 78, meet after a lifetime apart

It had been 78 years since Ann Hunt and Elizabeth Hamel were last together - in their mother's womb. The sisters were reunited last week in Fullerton, Calif., thanks to a nudge from their children, the Orange County Register reported Sunday.

Hunt, who lives in England, where she was born, was given up for adoption and learned she had a twin when she began looking for her birth mother after her adoptive mother died. Hamel, who married an American and moved to the States, knew she had a twin.

"How lovely to see you in the flesh," Hamel said, as the two embraced at a hotel.

The sisters' mother gave up one girl after their father fled. Hamel said she was kept because she was born with curvature of the spine. Hunt, who was adopted, learned a year ago she was a twin. One of her daughters tracked down Hamel. The two women were soon talking by phone. - AP
CALIFORNIA

Stowaway returns

A 15-year-old Somali who survived a nearly six-hour flight in the wheel well of a Hawaii-bound jet has been returned to California and placed in the custody of social services, the San Jose Mercury News reported. The teen was transferred to Santa Clara without his father, who has not been allowed to see his son since the April 20 flight, the newspaper said Saturday. - Reuters
NEW YORK

Gay divorce

The first openly gay Episcopal bishop, who became a symbol for gay rights far beyond the church while dividing the world's Anglicans, plans to divorce. Bishop Gene Robinson announced the end of his marriage to Mark Andrew in an e-mail to the Diocese of New Hampshire, where he served before retiring in 2012. He would not disclose details about the end of the 25-year relationship but wrote Sunday in the Daily Beast that he owed a debt to Andrew "for standing by me through the challenges of the last decade." - AP