World

Sir Tony Blair has emerged as the surprise frontrunner to take control of Gaza once the devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas finally comes to an end. The former prime minister has thrown his hat into the ring with an ambitious proposal that could see him leading an interim administration in the war-torn territory. Blair’s controversial scheme has been developed …

Hong Kong stocks headed for the first weekly decline this month as concerns about frothy valuations for global equities dampened sentiment and drug makers slid after the Trump administration announced a fresh round of tariffs. The Hang Seng Index fell 0.9 per cent to 26,238.05 as of 10.04am local time, taking the loss for the week to 1.2 per cent. …

Former FBI Director James Comey has vowed to fight criminal charges of lying to Congress and obstruction of justice, describing himself as a victim of political retribution by President Donald Trump. In a video statement posted on social media Thursday night, Comey said his family had long expected there would be “costs to standing up to Donald Trump.” “We will …

US President Donald Trump held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on Thursday and signalled that the United States might soon lift its hold on sales of advanced fighter aircraft to Ankara. During Trump’s first term, the US removed Turkey, a Nato ally, from its flagship F-35 programme after Turkey bought an air defence system …

The US president nevertheless doubled down on his claim that the Russian military has little success to show for its efforts in Ukraine US President Donald Trump has said he will not describe Russia as a “paper tiger” ever again, after he used the term on Tuesday in a Truth Social post. In the same post from Tuesday, Trump also …

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 …