Edward Snowden used the code name “Verax,” truth-teller in Latin, as he made his cautious approach to Washington Post reporter Barton Gellman about disclosing some dramatic state secrets on top-secret intelligence gathering and surveillance.

A convicted sex offender and his wife have pleaded guilty to kidnapping and raping a California girl in a surprise plea deal that will spare their victim and the two daughters she had during her 18 years of captivity from taking the stand at a trial.

A couple charged with kidnapping an 11-year-old girl and holding her captive for 18 years have made full confessions, a defence lawyer said.

THE US man charged with kidnapping and raping long- time captive Jaycee Dugard has “a serious mental illness” and “may not be competent to be a defendant,” his defence lawyer said in court papers.

The US man charged with kidnapping and raping long-time captive Jaycee Dugard has "a serious mental illness" and "may not be competent to be a defendant", his defence lawyer said in court papers.