<p>The FBI said on Thursday it thwarted a plot to overthrow the Michigan state government and kidnap its governor, Gretchen Whitmer, and had probable cause to charge six men with a failed operation that involved reaching out to a militia group.</p>

<p>The operation will be announced at a press conference of law enforcement officials at 1 pm&nbsp;in Grand Rapids, which will be attended by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the state`s leading federal prosecutors.</p>

<p>The FBI first got wind that a group of individuals "were discussing the violent overthrow of certain government and law-enforcement components" in early 2020, according to an affidavit by special agent Richard Trask released by the FBI on Thursday.</p>

<p>The alleged plot included reaching out to a militia group, which was not named in the affidavit.</p>

<p>Trask said there was probable cause to charge six men - Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta - with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer, a Democrat and frequent critic of Republican President Donald Trump.</p>

<p>In September, Fox posted in an encrypted chat that he did not want a final training exercise to be held in the last week of October because it would not leave enough time to execute the kidnapping before the national election on Nov. 3, Trask said.</p>

<p>"The group agreed to use the time until the final training exercise to raise money for explosives and other supplies," Trask wrote in the affidavit.</p>


The FBI said on Thursday it thwarted a plot to overthrow the Michigan state government and kidnap its governor, Gretchen Whitmer, and had probable cause to charge six men with a failed operation that involved reaching out to a militia group.

The FBI said on Thursday it thwarted a plot to overthrow the Michigan state government and kidnap its governor, Gretchen Whitmer, and had probable cause to charge six men with a failed operation that involved reaching out to a militia group. The operation will be announced at a press conference of law enforcement officials at 1 pm in Grand Rapids, which will be attended by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the state`s leading federal prosecutors. The FBI first got wind that a group of individuals "were discussing the violent overthrow of certain government and law-enforcement components" in early 2020, according to an affidavit by special agent Richard Trask released by the FBI on Thursday. The alleged plot included reaching out to a militia group, which was not named in the affidavit. Trask said there was probable cause to charge six men - Adam Fox, Barry Croft, Ty Garbin, Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta - with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer, a Democrat and frequent critic of Republican President Donald Trump. In September, Fox posted in an encrypted chat that he did not want a final training exercise to be held in the last week of October because it would not leave enough time to execute the kidnapping before the national election on Nov. 3, Trask said. "The group agreed to use the time until the final training exercise to raise money for explosives and other supplies," Trask wrote in the affidavit.

FBI says thwarted plot to kidnap Michigan governor

<p>Police, paramilitary rangers and other law enforcement agencies arrested several men and women, including students protesting against enforced disappearances in Sindh from Karachi press club on Saturday.</p>

<p>According to sources, the late crowd including family members of the victims gathered at the Karachi press club to hold a peaceful protest against illegal arrests and enforced disappearances of their loved ones.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistans-anti-graft-body-files-corruption-case-against-nawaz-sharif-309025"><strong>Also watch:&nbsp;Pakistan's anti-graft body files corruption case against Nawaz Sharif</strong></a></p>

<p>According to details when protesters started chanting slogans against enforced disappearances, a large number of Police, Paramilitary Rangers, and plainclothes personnel of intelligence agencies attacked peaceful protesters. They baton charged and tortured elderly men, women, young girls and students.</p>

<p>Many were injured. Security forces manhandled girls and threw them into police mobile vehicles and were shifted to an unknown place.</p>

<p>It is learned that since the last two weeks, more than 200 Sindhis and Mohajirs belonging to MQM and different groups of Jiye Sindh have been arrested by Paramilitary Rangers and other law enforcement agencies in Karachi, Hyderabad and other cities of Sindh.</p>

<p>No arrested person was presented before any court of law, said sources.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Police, paramilitary rangers and other law enforcement agencies arrested several men and women, including students protesting against enforced disappearances in Sindh from Karachi press club on Saturday.

Police, paramilitary rangers and other law enforcement agencies arrested several men and women, including students protesting against enforced disappearances in Sindh from Karachi press club on Saturday. According to sources, the late crowd including family members of the victims gathered at the Karachi press club to hold a peaceful protest against illegal arrests and enforced disappearances of their loved ones. Also watch: Pakistan's anti-graft body files corruption case against Nawaz Sharif According to details when protesters started chanting slogans against enforced disappearances, a large number of Police, Paramilitary Rangers, and plainclothes personnel of intelligence agencies attacked peaceful protesters. They baton charged and tortured elderly men, women, young girls and students. Many were injured. Security forces manhandled girls and threw them into police mobile vehicles and were shifted to an unknown place. It is learned that since the last two weeks, more than 200 Sindhis and Mohajirs belonging to MQM and different groups of Jiye Sindh have been arrested by Paramilitary Rangers and other law enforcement agencies in Karachi, Hyderabad and other cities of Sindh. No arrested person was presented before any court of law, said sources.

Massive protest in Karachi against enforced disappearances in Sindh

<p>Taliban militants kidnapped about 60 civilians in central Afghanistan over the past week, officials said on Sunday, with more than half still being held amid efforts by the United States and other foreign powers to start peace talks.</p>

<p>The Taliban took the hostages in the central province of Daikundi after a women escaped a Taliban-controlled village in a neighbouring province, according to the provincial deputy governor, Mohammad Ali Uruzgani.</p>

<p>Some 26, including women and children, had been released and tribal elders were mediating to free the remaining civilians, Uruzgani added.</p>

<p>A Taliban spokesman denied kidnapping the civilians.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/western-powers-support-afghanistans-decision-to-not-release-taliban-prisoners-307334"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Western powers support Afghanistan's decision to not release Taliban prisoners</strong></a></p>

<p>The militants, fighting to re-introduce strict Islamic law after their 2001 ouster from power, signed a troop withdrawal agreement with the United States in February, which was designed to pave the way for peace talks with the Afghan government.</p>

<p>But violence has ramped up since the agreement and discord over the release of Taliban prisoners has hampered progress on formal talks.</p>

<p>Underscoring the tension, a spokesman for the national security council said the Taliban had killed more than 40 civilians around the country in the past week.</p>

<p>"The Taliban have failed to deliver on promises of reducing violence against the Afghan people and working for peace," spokesman Javid Faisal said on Twitter.</p>

<p>The U.N. mission in Afghanistan released a report on Sunday raising concerns about 15 attacks on health workers and health care facilities during the coronavirus pandemic, attributing responsibility for the majority of them to the Taliban.</p>

<p>The Taliban rejected both the U.N. and government allegations and accused the government of causing civilian casualties in the last week.</p>


Taliban militants kidnapped about 60 civilians in central Afghanistan over the past week, officials said on Sunday, with more than half still being held amid efforts by the United States and other foreign powers to start peace talks.

Taliban militants kidnapped about 60 civilians in central Afghanistan over the past week, officials said on Sunday, with more than half still being held amid efforts by the United States and other foreign powers to start peace talks. The Taliban took the hostages in the central province of Daikundi after a women escaped a Taliban-controlled village in a neighbouring province, according to the provincial deputy governor, Mohammad Ali Uruzgani. Some 26, including women and children, had been released and tribal elders were mediating to free the remaining civilians, Uruzgani added. A Taliban spokesman denied kidnapping the civilians. Also read: Western powers support Afghanistan's decision to not release Taliban prisoners The militants, fighting to re-introduce strict Islamic law after their 2001 ouster from power, signed a troop withdrawal agreement with the United States in February, which was designed to pave the way for peace talks with the Afghan government. But violence has ramped up since the agreement and discord over the release of Taliban prisoners has hampered progress on formal talks. Underscoring the tension, a spokesman for the national security council said the Taliban had killed more than 40 civilians around the country in the past week. "The Taliban have failed to deliver on promises of reducing violence against the Afghan people and working for peace," spokesman Javid Faisal said on Twitter. The U.N. mission in Afghanistan released a report on Sunday raising concerns about 15 attacks on health workers and health care facilities during the coronavirus pandemic, attributing responsibility for the majority of them to the Taliban. The Taliban rejected both the U.N. and government allegations and accused the government of causing civilian casualties in the last week.

Afghan Taliban kidnap dozens of civilians amid peace efforts, officials say

<p>A man, who was abducted as a toddler 32 years ago, has finally been reunited with his biological family, with the help of facial recognition technology.</p>

<p>According to Chinese state-broadcaster CCTV, Mao Yin was taken away from his parents in 1988 when he was two years old from a hotel in the Shaanxi province. He was then sold to a childless couple in the neighboring Sichuan province. Mao was then raised by his adoptive parents as Gu Ningning.</p>

<p>Authorities have not released further information about Mao's adoptive parents.</p>

<p>In late April, police in Xian received a tip-off that a man in Sichuan province had bought a child from Shaanxi in the late-1980s, state news agency Xinhua reported. The police used facial recognition technology to analyze an old photo of Mao as a boy and came up with a simulated image of him as an adult, which was then compared with photos in the national database.</p>

<p>He was later confirmed to be the missing son using a DNA test, Xinhua reported.</p>

<p>Following Mao's disappearance, Li had quit her job and devoted herself to the quest of searching for her son. Mao said he had seen Li talking about her missing son on television before, and was moved by her persistence -- but little did he realise he was the boy she had spent decades looking for.</p>

<p>Mao, who now runs a home decoration business in Sichuan, said he would move to Xi'an to live with his biological parents.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


A man, who was abducted as a toddler 32 years ago, has finally been reunited with his biological family, with the help of facial recognition technology. According to Chinese state-broadcaster CCTV, Mao Yin was taken away from his parents in 1988 when he was two years old from a hotel in the Shaanxi province.

A man, who was abducted as a toddler 32 years ago, has finally been reunited with his biological family, with the help of facial recognition technology. According to Chinese state-broadcaster CCTV, Mao Yin was taken away from his parents in 1988 when he was two years old from a hotel in the Shaanxi province. He was then sold to a childless couple in the neighboring Sichuan province. Mao was then raised by his adoptive parents as Gu Ningning. Authorities have not released further information about Mao's adoptive parents. In late April, police in Xian received a tip-off that a man in Sichuan province had bought a child from Shaanxi in the late-1980s, state news agency Xinhua reported. The police used facial recognition technology to analyze an old photo of Mao as a boy and came up with a simulated image of him as an adult, which was then compared with photos in the national database. He was later confirmed to be the missing son using a DNA test, Xinhua reported. Following Mao's disappearance, Li had quit her job and devoted herself to the quest of searching for her son. Mao said he had seen Li talking about her missing son on television before, and was moved by her persistence -- but little did he realise he was the boy she had spent decades looking for. Mao, who now runs a home decoration business in Sichuan, said he would move to Xi'an to live with his biological parents.

Facial recognition helps reunite man, kidnapped as toddler, with family after 32 years

<p>&nbsp;Actor Halle Berry, who recently got injured during a shoot, updated fans about her condition via social media. According to Fox News, the 53-year-old star sustained injuries while filming a fight scene for her new MMA-inspired flick 'Bruised'.</p>

<p>The 'Kidnap' star took to Instagram to update fans on her condition. "Thank you to all the folks that have showered me with love since my injury," Berry captioned the picture which seems to be a still from her film. "It's par for the course when you do your own stunts, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Just know I'm far from tired. I'm wide awake...and just getting started! 'Bruised'&nbsp;the movie.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5F-xTfjayw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5F-xTfjayw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5F-xTfjayw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5F-xTfjayw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Thank you to all the folks that have showered me with love since my injury. It’s par for the course when you do your own stunts, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just know I’m far from tired. I’m wide awake...and just getting started! 💪🏽🙏🏽 #BruisedTheMovie</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/halleberry/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Halle Berry</a> (@halleberry) on <time datetime="2019-11-20T16:10:25+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Nov 20, 2019 at 8:10am PST</time></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>After the delayed production on Monday, a representative for the flick said, "Halle got slightly injured in the fight. She's tired. She needed a break".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The production is expected to resume on Friday. &nbsp;which also serves as Berry's feature directorial debut, follows her as a disgraced MMA fighter forced to confront her demons when the six-year-old son she walked out on returns to her doorstep. When Berry began training for the film, she posted a photo to Instagram, displaying her pride in finally having ''ripped abs''.</p>

<p>In the caption, she encouraged fans to "Set the BAR higher than you think, share your goal in the comments and HOLD yourself to it."</p>


Actor Halle Berry, who recently got injured during a shoot, updated fans about her condition via social media. According to Fox News, the 53-year-old star sustained injuries while filming a fight scene for her new MMA-inspired flick 'Bruised'.

Actor Halle Berry, who recently got injured during a shoot, updated fans about her condition via social media. According to Fox News, the 53-year-old star sustained injuries while filming a fight scene for her new MMA-inspired flick 'Bruised'. The 'Kidnap' star took to Instagram to update fans on her condition. "Thank you to all the folks that have showered me with love since my injury," Berry captioned the picture which seems to be a still from her film. "It's par for the course when you do your own stunts, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Just know I'm far from tired. I'm wide awake...and just getting started! 'Bruised' the movie. View this post on Instagram Thank you to all the folks that have showered me with love since my injury. It’s par for the course when you do your own stunts, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just know I’m far from tired. I’m wide awake...and just getting started! 💪🏽🙏🏽 #BruisedTheMovie A post shared by Halle Berry (@halleberry) on Nov 20, 2019 at 8:10am PST × After the delayed production on Monday, a representative for the flick said, "Halle got slightly injured in the fight. She's tired. She needed a break". The production is expected to resume on Friday. which also serves as Berry's feature directorial debut, follows her as a disgraced MMA fighter forced to confront her demons when the six-year-old son she walked out on returns to her doorstep. When Berry began training for the film, she posted a photo to Instagram, displaying her pride in finally having ''ripped abs''. In the caption, she encouraged fans to "Set the BAR higher than you think, share your goal in the comments and HOLD yourself to it."

Halle Berry thanks fans for support after sustaining injury on sets of  'Bruised'

<p>New Zealand revealed Monday that it had dispatched a special forces unit to Syria to search for nurse Louisa Akavi who was abducted by the Islamic State group more than five years ago.</p>

<p>Details of the kidnapping had been kept under wraps until the International Committee of the Red Cross appealed on Sunday for news about 62-year-old Akavi and two Syrian drivers kidnapped with her in October 2013.</p>

<p>They were in a Red Cross convoy delivering supplies to medical facilities in Idlib, northwest Syria when armed men stopped the vehicles and abducted seven people. Four were released the next day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said information about the kidnapping had not been previously released for fear that any publicity would place them at greater risk.</p>

<p>But he said it was believed Akavi was still held by IS and there were ongoing operations to locate her which included the deployment of a small multi-agency team based in Iraq.</p>

<p>"This has involved members of the NZDF (New Zealand defence force) drawn from the Special Operations Force, and personnel have visited Syria from time to time as required," Peters said.</p>

<p>"This non-combat team was specifically focused on locating Louisa and identifying opportunities to recover her."</p>

<p>The New York Times has reported the Red Cross has reason to believe she is alive because at least two people described seeing her in December at a clinic in Sousa, one of the final villages to be held by IS jihadists.</p>

<p>Some of the witnesses said they saw her performing medical duties at clinics and hospitals under IS control, indicating that she was no longer held in a cell and was able to use her nursing skills to win a modicum of freedom.</p>


New Zealand revealed Monday that it had dispatched a special forces unit to Syria to search for nurse Louisa Akavi who was abducted by the Islamic State group more than five years ago.

New Zealand revealed Monday that it had dispatched a special forces unit to Syria to search for nurse Louisa Akavi who was abducted by the Islamic State group more than five years ago. Details of the kidnapping had been kept under wraps until the International Committee of the Red Cross appealed on Sunday for news about 62-year-old Akavi and two Syrian drivers kidnapped with her in October 2013. They were in a Red Cross convoy delivering supplies to medical facilities in Idlib, northwest Syria when armed men stopped the vehicles and abducted seven people. Four were released the next day. New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said information about the kidnapping had not been previously released for fear that any publicity would place them at greater risk. But he said it was believed Akavi was still held by IS and there were ongoing operations to locate her which included the deployment of a small multi-agency team based in Iraq. "This has involved members of the NZDF (New Zealand defence force) drawn from the Special Operations Force, and personnel have visited Syria from time to time as required," Peters said. "This non-combat team was specifically focused on locating Louisa and identifying opportunities to recover her." The New York Times has reported the Red Cross has reason to believe she is alive because at least two people described seeing her in December at a clinic in Sousa, one of the final villages to be held by IS jihadists. Some of the witnesses said they saw her performing medical duties at clinics and hospitals under IS control, indicating that she was no longer held in a cell and was able to use her nursing skills to win a modicum of freedom.

Special forces in search for New Zealand nurse held hostage by Islamic State

<p>A 17-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and subsequently raped by eight men in Haryana's Mewat, following which she committed suicide, the police said today.</p>

<p>The girl was found lying unconscious after she was gang-raped in a secluded area in Nuh district after being abducted from her house on Monday, according to a complaint filed by the girl's father with the police.</p>

<p>The teenager was alone in the house when the accused came on two motorcycles and a car and abducted her, it said.</p>

<p>After committing the crime, the accused fled the spot, a police officer of Rojka Meo police station said over phone today.</p>

<p>Following the incident, the girl allegedly committed suicide in her house on Tuesday by hanging herself.</p>

<p>Her father told the police that the 17-year-old had identified the accused, who had stalked her in the past as well.</p>

<p>"We have registered a case of abduction, gang-rape and abetment to suicide against the accused, and are conducting raids to nab them," said Rojka Mev SHO Jai Bhagwan.</p>

<p>"Investigations in the case are on," SP, Mewat, Nazneen Bhasin said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Registered cases of sexual violence have been steadily rising despite the national outrage that followed the fatal gang-rape of a student on a bus in New Delhi in 2012.</p>

<p>Amid the wave of anger at that time, the government promised to speed up rape trials, introduce harsher penalties, including the death sentence in extreme cases, and introduced a law against stalking.</p>

<p>But statistics show that since 2012, reported rape cases climbed 60 percent to about 40,000 in 2016, with child rape accounting for about 40 percent of them.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from PTI)</em></p>


The teenager was alone in the house when the accused came on two motorcycles and a car and abducted her, it said.

A 17-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and subsequently raped by eight men in Haryana's Mewat, following which she committed suicide, the police said today. The girl was found lying unconscious after she was gang-raped in a secluded area in Nuh district after being abducted from her house on Monday, according to a complaint filed by the girl's father with the police. The teenager was alone in the house when the accused came on two motorcycles and a car and abducted her, it said. After committing the crime, the accused fled the spot, a police officer of Rojka Meo police station said over phone today. Following the incident, the girl allegedly committed suicide in her house on Tuesday by hanging herself. Her father told the police that the 17-year-old had identified the accused, who had stalked her in the past as well. "We have registered a case of abduction, gang-rape and abetment to suicide against the accused, and are conducting raids to nab them," said Rojka Mev SHO Jai Bhagwan. "Investigations in the case are on," SP, Mewat, Nazneen Bhasin said. Registered cases of sexual violence have been steadily rising despite the national outrage that followed the fatal gang-rape of a student on a bus in New Delhi in 2012. Amid the wave of anger at that time, the government promised to speed up rape trials, introduce harsher penalties, including the death sentence in extreme cases, and introduced a law against stalking. But statistics show that since 2012, reported rape cases climbed 60 percent to about 40,000 in 2016, with child rape accounting for about 40 percent of them. (With inputs from PTI)

17-year-old raped by 8 men in Haryana's Mewat, hangs herself

<p>The kidnapping, gang rape, and murder of an eight-year-old&nbsp;girl in Kathua, Jammu has left the country in shock.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The child was kept at a temple, sedated, for several days,&nbsp;allegedly repeatedly raped, and finally murdered.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The main accused is a retired revenue department official, and the crime included policemen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the charge sheet, one of the policemen asked the killer to wait so that he could rape her one more time.</p>

<p>Eight people have so far been arrested, with a teenager included in the list of accused.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kathua-rape-case-union-minister-vk-singh-demands-justice-for-asifa-says-we-failed-as-humans-130083">We have failed her as humans: VK Singh</a></p>

<p>Tennis player Sania Mirza recently took to Twitter to express her anguish over the crime. "Is this really the kind of country <em class="gr-progress">we we</em> want to be known as to the world today ?? If we can’t stand up now for this 8 year old girl regardless of our gender,caste,colour or religion then we don’t stand for anything in this world.. not even humanity.. makes me sick to the stomach," she wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Is this really the kind of country we we want to be known as to the world today ?? If we can’t stand up now for this 8 year old girl regardless of our gender,caste,colour or religion then we don’t stand for anything in this world.. not even humanity.. makes me sick to the stomach <a href="https://t.co/BDcNuJvsoO">pic.twitter.com/BDcNuJvsoO</a></p>
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) <a href="https://twitter.com/MirzaSania/status/984317357198725120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Soon, and sure enough, the trolls were at her door, with one of them essentially telling Sania to mind her own business because she was "no longer" India.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>"With all respect madam which country are you talking abt. Last time I checked u had married into Pakistan. You no longer are a Indian. And if u must tweet <em class="gr-progress">thn</em> also tweet for the innocents killed by Pak terror outfits.."&nbsp;said @Kichu_chirps".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sania is married to the Pakistani cricket&nbsp;player Shoaib Malik.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I play for India, I am Indian and always will be," replied Sania.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She tweeted: "First of all nobody marries ‘into’ anywhere .. you marry a person! Secondly NO LOW LIFE like you will tell me which country I belong to.. I play for India,I am Indian and always will be.. nd maybe if u look beyond religion and country one day you may just also stand for humanity!"&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">First of all nobody marries ‘into’ anywhere .. you marry a person! Secondly NO LOW LIFE like you will tell me which country I belong to.. I play for India,I am Indian and always will be.. nd maybe if u look beyond religion and country one day you may just also stand for humanity! <a href="https://t.co/0rF9SwG7WT">https://t.co/0rF9SwG7WT</a></p>
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) <a href="https://twitter.com/MirzaSania/status/984330940259360768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Sania was responding to a tweet that had questioned her nationality

The kidnapping, gang rape, and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, Jammu has left the country in shock. The child was kept at a temple, sedated, for several days, allegedly repeatedly raped, and finally murdered. The main accused is a retired revenue department official, and the crime included policemen. According to the charge sheet, one of the policemen asked the killer to wait so that he could rape her one more time. Eight people have so far been arrested, with a teenager included in the list of accused. Also read: We have failed her as humans: VK Singh Tennis player Sania Mirza recently took to Twitter to express her anguish over the crime. "Is this really the kind of country we we want to be known as to the world today ?? If we can’t stand up now for this 8 year old girl regardless of our gender,caste,colour or religion then we don’t stand for anything in this world.. not even humanity.. makes me sick to the stomach," she wrote on Twitter. Is this really the kind of country we we want to be known as to the world today ?? If we can’t stand up now for this 8 year old girl regardless of our gender,caste,colour or religion then we don’t stand for anything in this world.. not even humanity.. makes me sick to the stomach pic.twitter.com/BDcNuJvsoO — Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) April 12, 2018 × Soon, and sure enough, the trolls were at her door, with one of them essentially telling Sania to mind her own business because she was "no longer" India. "With all respect madam which country are you talking abt. Last time I checked u had married into Pakistan. You no longer are a Indian. And if u must tweet thn also tweet for the innocents killed by Pak terror outfits.." said @Kichu_chirps". Sania is married to the Pakistani cricket player Shoaib Malik. "I play for India, I am Indian and always will be," replied Sania. She tweeted: "First of all nobody marries ‘into’ anywhere .. you marry a person! Secondly NO LOW LIFE like you will tell me which country I belong to.. I play for India,I am Indian and always will be.. nd maybe if u look beyond religion and country one day you may just also stand for humanity!" First of all nobody marries ‘into’ anywhere .. you marry a person! Secondly NO LOW LIFE like you will tell me which country I belong to.. I play for India,I am Indian and always will be.. nd maybe if u look beyond religion and country one day you may just also stand for humanity! https://t.co/0rF9SwG7WT — Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) April 12, 2018 ×

I play for India, I am Indian and always will be: Sania Mirza

<p><br />
An Afghan man taken hostage by the Taliban made a dramatic escape by stealing a gun while his captors were praying and shooting dead seven of them and wounding 18 others, officials said Thursday.</p>

<p>Awal Khan and a local police officer were kidnapped on Wednesday as they were driving in the eastern province of Paktika, provincial deputy security chief Abdul Rauf Masood told.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Paktika is a Taliban stronghold bordering Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The officer was killed and 36-year-old Awal taken to a Taliban compound in Gomal district where he was held for hours.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During afternoon prayers, Awal, who Masood said was handcuffed at the time, grabbed a weapon belonging to one of his captors and opened fire.</p>

<p>&quot;Awal Khan sprayed bullets on all of them, killing seven and wounding 18 others,&quot; provincial governor spokesman Mohammad Rahman Ayaz told.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the group had kidnapped the two men and that Awal had opened fire on the militants, killing three of them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Awal then fled in a pickup truck belonging to his kidnappers, Ayaz said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His brother, a local police commander, shared details of the incident with authorities.</p>

<p>The Taliban is often involved in kidnappings of Afghans and foreigners, sometimes holding people for years for prisoner exchanges.&nbsp;</p>


Awal Khan and a local police officer were kidnapped on Wednesday from the eastern province of Paktika

An Afghan man taken hostage by the Taliban made a dramatic escape by stealing a gun while his captors were praying and shooting dead seven of them and wounding 18 others, officials said Thursday. Awal Khan and a local police officer were kidnapped on Wednesday as they were driving in the eastern province of Paktika, provincial deputy security chief Abdul Rauf Masood told. Paktika is a Taliban stronghold bordering Pakistan. The officer was killed and 36-year-old Awal taken to a Taliban compound in Gomal district where he was held for hours. During afternoon prayers, Awal, who Masood said was handcuffed at the time, grabbed a weapon belonging to one of his captors and opened fire. "Awal Khan sprayed bullets on all of them, killing seven and wounding 18 others," provincial governor spokesman Mohammad Rahman Ayaz told. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the group had kidnapped the two men and that Awal had opened fire on the militants, killing three of them. Awal then fled in a pickup truck belonging to his kidnappers, Ayaz said. His brother, a local police commander, shared details of the incident with authorities. The Taliban is often involved in kidnappings of Afghans and foreigners, sometimes holding people for years for prisoner exchanges.

Afghan hostage shoots Taliban captors, killing seven

kidnap

Kidnap, News on Kidnap, stories on Kidnap, articles on Kidnap, Kidnap stories at Wion, Kidnap news, Kidnap latest news