World

The Taliban have publicly flogged 17 people, giving them up to 35 lashes each in a barbaric display of medieval punishment. The hardline rulers of Afghanistan meted out the draconian sentences to a group of individuals convicted of alcohol and drug offences under the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law. In a statement, the Taliban’s Supreme Court in the capital Kabul …

In the early months of the war in Ukraine, Gen. Mark Milley, then chair of the joint chiefs of staff, carried a note card in his briefcase outlining what he saw as the main priorities when it came to the US and NATO approach to the war. As reported by the Washington Post, they were: No. 1: “Don’t have a …

An expert warned that NATO and the U.S. are (Image: Getty / AP) Following the recent onslaught of Russian drone incursions into NATO airspace, a former US State Department official said the defence bloc is ultimately “not prepared” to handle a new warfare tactic unleashed by Russian President Vladimir Putin — drone swarms. A couple of weeks ago, the Polish …

EXPERT PERSPECTIVE / OPINION — The initial phases of the India-Pakistan conflict in May followed a familiar incremental escalatory path. But in the final phase, the Indian use of BrahMos and other missiles against multiple Pakistani air bases represented a massive change of approach. In an ongoing rivalry where the final action of the previous conflict becomes the baseline for …

Kakha Kaladze has said the Ukrainian leader should look at his own country before saying anything about Georgia Tbilisi has condemned Vladimir Zelensky’s criticism of Georgia at the UN General Assembly, with officials accusing the Ukrainian leader of inflicting tragedy on his own people. Georgian figures including Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said Zelensky should look at his own country before …

The Hong Kong government had “clearly stated” to the organiser of a failed hot-air balloon festival that the chance of approving passengers to ride in the aircraft was “extremely slim” and had recommended that it cancel the attraction and issue refunds ahead of time, the tourism chief has revealed. Making public the details for the first time, Secretary for Sports, …

OPINION — North Korea’s Kim Jong Un publicly announced that he’s prepared to meet with President Donald Trump: “If the US drops its hollow obsession with denuclearization and wants to pursue peaceful coexistence with North Korea based on the recognition of reality, there is no reason for us not to sit down with the US. Personally, I still have a …

OPINION — During the ten-year Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the United States leveraged Pakistan’s geostrategic position to support the Afghan Mujahideen in their fight against the Red Army. What began as a marriage of convenience evolved into a strategic partnership after the Bush administration launched the Global War on Terror in 2001. Washington required Islamabad’s cooperation in its military campaign …

An urgent search is underway in Bali for a 23-year-old British tourist who disappeared after being dragged out to sea by a strong current at Legian Beach, on the island’s southwest coast. Harrison Edward Nada Kontounas, from East London, was swimming with two friends on Wednesday afternoon when a powerful rip current swept him away. Despite lifeguards warning the group …

India on Thursday signed a US$7 billion order for 97 domestically designed and built Tejas fighter jets as its air force retires its outgoing Russian MiG-21 jets after decades of use. The first Tejas jets – meaning “brilliance” in Hindi – were commissioned into the air force in 2016, with the latest commission for the fourth-generation version of the fighter, …