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| Taliban releases new video of Australian and US hostage pair captured last year | Taliban releases new video of Australian and US hostage pair captured last year |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Taliban have released a new video showing an American and an Australian captive they abducted last August, the second such footage of the hostages. | The Taliban have released a new video showing an American and an Australian captive they abducted last August, the second such footage of the hostages. |
| The two men – an American identified as Kevin King and an Australian identified as Timothy Weekes – were abducted outside the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, where they work as teachers. | The two men – an American identified as Kevin King and an Australian identified as Timothy Weekes – were abducted outside the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, where they work as teachers. |
| Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid sent the video to media outlets on Wednesday. | Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid sent the video to media outlets on Wednesday. |
| In the footage, both King and Weekes say the date is 16 June. The previous video of the pair, released in January, showed them appearing pale but in this one, they look healthier. | In the footage, both King and Weekes say the date is 16 June. The previous video of the pair, released in January, showed them appearing pale but in this one, they look healthier. |
| Both say they are being treated well by the Taliban but that they remain prisoners and appeal to their governments to help set them free. | Both say they are being treated well by the Taliban but that they remain prisoners and appeal to their governments to help set them free. |
| “My freedom has been taken from me and I want to spend the rest of my life in the service of American people and in the service of humanity,” King says in the video. | |
| He appeals to US president Donald Trump to help him and to offer a prisoner exchange to secure their freedom. | He appeals to US president Donald Trump to help him and to offer a prisoner exchange to secure their freedom. |
| Weekes also said the Taliban are treating him well, giving him food, tea and milk; allowing him to exercise and making sure he has enough sleep. | Weekes also said the Taliban are treating him well, giving him food, tea and milk; allowing him to exercise and making sure he has enough sleep. |
| “I am still a prisoner, I am so far from home, far from my family and far from my friends,” he said and also appealed to Australian authorities to release him for captive Taliban. | “I am still a prisoner, I am so far from home, far from my family and far from my friends,” he said and also appealed to Australian authorities to release him for captive Taliban. |
| US officials said in September that American forces had launched a rescue mission, but the captives were not found at the raided location. | US officials said in September that American forces had launched a rescue mission, but the captives were not found at the raided location. |