SYDNEY: Australia has told 13 special forces soldiers they face dismissal in relation to a report on alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan, the head of the country’s army said on Friday. An independent report published last week in redacted form said there was evidence that 39 unarmed Afghan prisoners and civilians were killed by 19 Australian soldiers. None of the …

BANGKOK: Thousands of democracy activists blocked a major junction in Bangkok for several hours on Friday to rehearse “coup prevention” strategies in the latest round of Thailand’s anti-government protests. The country has for months been rocked by youth-led protests demanding a new constitution, reform of the untouchable monarchy, and for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha to resign. Prayut, who came to …

PARIS: Four French police officers were detained for questioning on Friday after a video showed them beating up a black music producer in Paris, sparking outrage from the government and celebrities, a source close to the case said. The officers, who have been suspended from duty, were being held at the National Police Inspectorate General (IGPN), and prosecutors opened an …

BERLIN: Germany, once a beacon of hope in Europe’s coronavirus nightmare, logged its one millionth case on Friday, while Russia signed up India to mass produce its controversial Sputnik vaccine. Although the virus spread is slowing thanks to weeks of tough restrictions, Europe remains at the heart of the pandemic, recording more cases than the United States in the past …

WASHINGTON: The Uni­ted States has closed at least 10 bases across Afghanistan since the signing of a deal with the Taliban in Feb­ruary, The Washington Post reported on Friday. Quoting US and Afghan officials, the Post reported that the base closures were part of the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan outlined in the deal. The report claimed that some bases had been …

MUMBAI: India’s economy contracted 7.5 per cent between July and September, putting it among the worst-performing major advanced and emerging economies as it entered a technical recession for the first time since independence, official data showed on Friday. Although the figures were an improvement on the record 23.9pc contraction recorded last quarter, they indicate that Asia’s third-largest economy is in …

Iran’s president on Saturday accused Israel of killing a prominent Iranian scientist long suspected by the West of masterminding a secret nuclear bomb programme, state TV reported. Iran’s clerical and military rulers have threatened revenge for Friday’s killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who Iranian media said died in hospital after assassins gunned him down in his car near Tehran. “Once again, the evil …

RAWALPINDI: The federal government on Friday appointed retired Flight Lieutenant Khaqan Murtaza as director general of the Civil Aviation Authority, a high-profile position that was vacant for quite some time. A notification on the subject issued by the Establishment Division said: “The federal government has appointed Flt Lt (Retd) Khaqan Murtaza, a BS-21 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service, presently posted …

ISLAMABAD: As the Supreme Court commences from Dec 2 hearing to decide who will head a high-powered commission to oversee disbursement of funds being deposited by Bahria Town Limited Karachi (BTLK), Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan has requested the court to allow him to be represented by some nominee of his office in the commission. A three-judge SC bench consisting …

ISLAMABAD: An international company is still waiting to receive approval for establishment of production units in major cities of the country for construction of prefabricated houses under the Naya Pakistan Housing project. The inauguration ceremony of the first double-storey home — built by Korean company G-Songuo — was held on Nov 9, however, due to non-compliance with procurement rules of …