Crime

Kidnappings in southern Philippines rise to 11

Kidnappings in southern Philippines rise to 11 Manila - Two employees of a lending firm were abducted in the southern Philippines in the latest in a series of kidnappings, police said Wednesday.

The victims, Lea Patris and Ammad Sali, were kidnapped Tuesday in Sumisip town in Basilan province, 900 kilometres south of Manila, while they were collecting payments.

The provincial police chief, Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar, said a third companion was able to escape and report the incident to police.

Macapantar said police officers and marines were pursuing the kidnappers.

Brothers get 17 years in prison for murdering 3-year-old

Brothers get 17 years in prison for murdering 3-year-oldWellington - Two brothers convicted of murdering a 3-year-old girl who was kicked to death after months of abuse, including being hung and spun on a rotary clothesline and put into a tumble dryer, were sent to prison for a minimum of 17 and a half years Wednesday, news reports said.

Wiremu Curtis, 19, and Michael Curtis, 22, were found guilty late last year of the murder of Nia Glassie, who died from severe brain damage in August 2007, 12 days after being taken to hospital.

Six-year-old Dalit girl beaten up by Indian police

Six-year-old Dalit girl beaten up by Indian police New Delhi - Two policemen were suspended from their jobs Tuesday for beating up a 6-year-old Dalit girl for allegedly stealing 280 rupees (less than 6 dollars) in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state, news reports said.

The incident, which was caught on camera, showed the station officer of Jaswantpur area in Etawah town grabbing and lifting the tiny low-caste girl by her hair and threatening her while another officer and at least six policemen looked on.

Pakistani investigators seeking clues on abducted UN official

Pakistani investigators seeking clues on abducted UN officialIslamabad - Pakistani investigators were examining evidence Tuesday connected to the kidnapping of a United Nations official in the south-western province of Balochistan the previous day.

Gunmen abducted US citizen John Solecki, local head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in the provincial capital Quetta as his Pakistani chauffer drove him to work at around 8:45 am (0345 GMT) without any escort.

Gunmen attack Greek police station; no casualties reported

Gunmen attack Greek police station; no casualties reportedAthens - Gunmen opened fire at a Greek police station early Tuesday, but there were no casualties, news reports said.



The attack took place in the western suburb of Korydallos and Greece's most dangerous left-wing terrorist group, Revolutionary Struggle, was suspected of having carried it out, the reports said.



According to the reports, the shots fired were from a similar semi-automatic weapon that the group had used in the past. A hand grenade was also thrown at the police station.


Ex-boss of Chinese firm involved in milk scandal appeals for overturning life sentence

Ex-boss of Chinese firm involved in milk scandal appeals for overturning life sentenceBeijing, Feb. 2: The former chairwoman of the Sanlu Group, Tian Wenhua, has lodged an appeal to overturn a life sentence for her role in the melamine milk contamination scandal, her lawyer said.

Liang Zikan said Tian had appealed to the Higher People''s Court of Hebei Province because the judgment in the first trial did not clearly distinguish the facts and lacked evidence, Xinhua reports.

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