Latest news with #WorldWarI
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sending it by sea snail mail
The recent news story of the message in a bottle finding its way from Canada to Ireland, reminded Malcolm Nicholson of Katoomba that his family have a letter that was found in a bottle on a Victorian beach during World War I: 'My great great uncle threw it overboard as he left Albany, WA, on his way to Egypt. He asked that, should anyone find it, to return the letter to his family in Springwood, NSW. A lady and her daughter found the bottle and forwarded the letter, with a note of explanation. Now a family keepsake.' David Prest appears to have the wrong McCarthy in placing Andrew, of Toormina, in the 1973 entry into HMAS Nirimba: 'I was a sprog when he was in 6th term, so he may have had the pleasure of rolling me out of bed. I'm a proud MOBI and not a MUPPET, like A.R. McCarthy.' For those struggling with all this naval neologism, it would appear that a MUPPET is the 'Most Useless Pathetic Person Ever Trained.' Here's hoping A.R. isn't a C8-er. Elevenses came early for Kerry Kyriacou of Strathfield: 'Whenever I see the words 'prime minister' and 'Xi Jinping' on the news. I think of cricket. I wonder why?' Still more roundabout advice (C8) from Col Begg of Orange: 'Surviving roundabouts here depends on hearing boom box-equipped Hyundai Excels, approaching at speed, sans signals, while the P-plate driver has the mobile phone wedged between head and shoulder, while delicately painting toenails on a foot propped up on the dash.' With both being German establishments, the recent Audi/Aldi mix-up (C8) has Judith Allison of Bexley seeking a bargain: 'Should I now await the chance to buy an Audi in their famous centre aisle specials?' Ann Madsen of Mount Annan reckons George Manojlovic (C8) is quite correct in choosing Wellington, New Zealand over its NSW counterpart for the Duke's favourite meal, the reason being that the New Zealand city 'has twice the annual rainfall of the Central Western town. Hence, there's a much greater need for waterproof boots there.' However, the man from Mangerton does make a concession to the initial faultfinder: 'You're right, Peter Duckmanton, remiss of me to ignore our very own Wellington. I'm such a Dubbo.' The suggestion of an anti-Septic envoy (C8) has moved Peter Miniutti of Ashbury to ponder, 'who will be charged with being our anti-Static envoy?'
The Age
4 hours ago
- General
- The Age
Sending it by sea snail mail
The recent news story of the message in a bottle finding its way from Canada to Ireland, reminded Malcolm Nicholson of Katoomba that his family have a letter that was found in a bottle on a Victorian beach during World War I: 'My great great uncle threw it overboard as he left Albany, WA, on his way to Egypt. He asked that, should anyone find it, to return the letter to his family in Springwood, NSW. A lady and her daughter found the bottle and forwarded the letter, with a note of explanation. Now a family keepsake.' David Prest appears to have the wrong McCarthy in placing Andrew, of Toormina, in the 1973 entry into HMAS Nirimba: 'I was a sprog when he was in 6th term, so he may have had the pleasure of rolling me out of bed. I'm a proud MOBI and not a MUPPET, like A.R. McCarthy.' For those struggling with all this naval neologism, it would appear that a MUPPET is the 'Most Useless Pathetic Person Ever Trained.' Here's hoping A.R. isn't a C8-er. Elevenses came early for Kerry Kyriacou of Strathfield: 'Whenever I see the words 'prime minister' and 'Xi Jinping' on the news. I think of cricket. I wonder why?' Still more roundabout advice (C8) from Col Begg of Orange: 'Surviving roundabouts here depends on hearing boom box-equipped Hyundai Excels, approaching at speed, sans signals, while the P-plate driver has the mobile phone wedged between head and shoulder, while delicately painting toenails on a foot propped up on the dash.' With both being German establishments, the recent Audi/Aldi mix-up (C8) has Judith Allison of Bexley seeking a bargain: 'Should I now await the chance to buy an Audi in their famous centre aisle specials?' Ann Madsen of Mount Annan reckons George Manojlovic (C8) is quite correct in choosing Wellington, New Zealand over its NSW counterpart for the Duke's favourite meal, the reason being that the New Zealand city 'has twice the annual rainfall of the Central Western town. Hence, there's a much greater need for waterproof boots there.' However, the man from Mangerton does make a concession to the initial faultfinder: 'You're right, Peter Duckmanton, remiss of me to ignore our very own Wellington. I'm such a Dubbo.' The suggestion of an anti-Septic envoy (C8) has moved Peter Miniutti of Ashbury to ponder, 'who will be charged with being our anti-Static envoy?'
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
What does the International Court of Justice do?
Peace palace (Image: AP) Peace Palace — even the name of the brick building in the Hague with its ornamental turrets, dormers and arcades leaves no doubt about its founding claim for settling international conflicts. But it took a while to begin this task. World War I broke out just one year after the building's completion in 1913. The building stood through two world wars and, for a time, housed the legal umbrella organisation of the League of Nations. When the United Nations was founded in aftermath of World War II, the Hague once again became the center of international law. But while all other main UN bodies were located in New York, the international court of justice ( ICJ ) began its work in the Peace Palace in the Netherlands. What is the International Court of Justice? "The International Court of Justice shall be the principal judicial organ of the United Nations," states Chapter XIV, article 92 of the UN Charter, the authoritative international treaty that governs the United Nations. The 193 member states are automatically parties to the treaty and must comply with ICJ decisions — at least, according to the charter. The court is made up of 15 judges, each of whom must come from a different country and are elected by the UN General Assembly and the Security Council. Five new judges are rotated into the panel every three years. As in the UN Security Council, fixed quotas ensure they represent all regions of the world. Since March, the body has been chaired by the Japanese judge Yuji Iwasawa, with Julia Sebutinde, of Uganda, as vice president. The ICJ hears cases in which states act as adversaries. That differs from the International criminal court (ICC), which handles trials for individuals accused of charges such as war crimes. What is the court's jurisdiction? While one might expect the signing of the UN Charter to result in a clear mandate for all states, this isn't the case. The ICJ only has blanket jurisdiction if all states involved have issued a declaration of submission in which they transfer all international legal disputes to the court. Germany made such a declaration in 2008, as have around a third of the UN member states. States that have not made this declaration can, in the event of a dispute, voluntarily agree with each other to bring the matter before the ICJ. However, there are also cases in which these states can be accused before the ICJ without individual consent. This is the case when the plaintiff refers to individual UN conventions for which the ICJ is designated as a court, and which have also been signed by the defendant state. A prominent example of this would be the UN Genocide Convention of 1948, Article 9 of which states that disputes "shall be submitted to the International Court of Justice at the request of any of the parties to the dispute." Ukraine based its lawsuit against Russia on this agreement shortly after the invasion began in early 2022. Another example is the case initiated by Gambia, in which Myanmar must defend itself against the accusation of genocide against the Rohingya. South Africa's case against Israel is also based on the Genocide Convention. The ICJ is currently examining whether Israel is violating the Genocide Convention with its war in the Gaza Strip. In 2024, the ICJ ordered Israel to take precautionary measures to avoid doing so and gave the government until the beginning of 2026 to respond. The ICJ was not involved in the arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of war crimes, which was issued by the International criminal court. The ICJ can also be appointed as a dispute resolution body in bilateral agreements. In 2018, for example, the judges heard a case brought by Iran against certain US sanctions based on a 1955 friendship agreement, ultimately ruling in favor of Tehran. The US had to ensure that medical care, for example, was not affected by sanctions. The administration of then-President Donald Trump subsequently terminated the friendship agreement with Iran. In 2023, Tehran nevertheless achieved a partial victory in another lawsuit based on the agreement as a legal basis. At that time, the case concerned frozen Iranian funds in US banks. Because the measure had already been enforced prior to the agreement's termination in 2018, the judges considered themselves to have jurisdiction. No enforcement of rulings In all three cases — declaration of submission, consent to ICJ dispute resolution or action on the basis of a treaty — the court's rulings are legally binding. There is no provision for appeal proceedings. In the example of Ukraine's case, the Hague ordered Russia to temporarily halt its war of aggression against Ukraine back in March 2022. A final decision is still pending.
Time of India
a day ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
India, US, China or Pakistan: Which country has the most combat tank fleet? List of top 10
Combat tanks have become a vital part of a nation's military strength. These powerful war machines are designed to dominate on the battlefield with their thick armour, powerful guns, and ability to move across difficult terrain. But which country in the world has the largest fleet of combat tanks in 2025? Let's find out in this list of top 10 countries with the most combat tank units. What is a Combat Tank? A combat tank is a heavily armoured vehicle that carries powerful weapons and moves on metal tracks instead of wheels. The design helps it move over rough land, making it useful in warzones. Tanks were first introduced during World War I, with Britain creating the world's first functional tank called Little Willie. Since then, tanks have become more advanced, faster, and stronger. A Brief History of Tanks in Warfare The idea of using vehicles in war is not new. Thousands of years ago, ancient Egyptians used horse-drawn chariots during battles. Later, in the Middle Ages, people used armoured wagons and battering rams. But the invention of the modern-day combat tank changed everything. It allowed armies to break through enemy lines and added a new level of power to ground forces. Military Spending and the Rise of Combat Tanks According to a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), global military spending increased by 37% between 2015 and 2025. Many countries are now investing in air defence and land forces. Adding more combat tanks to their armies is one of the main strategies to strengthen their military power. Top 10 Countries with the Most Combat Tanks in 2025 Here's a look at the top 10 countries with the largest combat tank fleets in 2025: 1. China – 6,800 Tanks China tops the list with a massive fleet of 6,800 combat tanks. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) owns the world's largest number of main battle tanks (MBTs) currently in service. This reflects China's focus on becoming a leading global military force. 2. Russia – 5,750 Tanks Russia holds the second position with around 5,750 tanks. One of its most powerful tanks is the T-14 Armata, a fourth-generation main battle tank built on the Armata Universal Combat Platform. Despite economic challenges, Russia continues to invest in armoured strength. 3. United States – 4,640 Tanks The United States ranks third with a total of 4,640 combat tanks. Most of these are M1A2 Abrams tanks, considered one of the most powerful MBTs in the world. The US also has a large number of reserve tanks ready for action. 4. North Korea – 4,344 Tanks North Korea has surprised the world with its fleet of 4,344 tanks, securing the fourth spot. In 2024, North Korea introduced a new MBT that closely resembles Western tank models, strengthening its ground forces. 5. India – 4,201 Tanks India is in the fifth spot with around 4,201 combat tanks. According to the website War Power India, its fleet includes the Ajeya Mk.2 (T-72 Ajeya), and Bhishma (T-90S (Bhishma)). These tanks boost India's ability to respond to threats from neighbouring countries and improve its defence capabilities. 6. Egypt – 3,620 Tanks Egypt comes sixth with 3,620 tanks, including 1,130 US-made M1A1 Abrams. This makes Egypt one of the leading nations in terms of tank strength in the Middle East and Africa. 7. Pakistan – 2,627 Tanks Pakistan ranks seventh with 2,627 tanks in its fleet. In 2024, the country launched an ambitious project through Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) to develop an Active Protection System (APS) for its main battle tanks, aiming to modernise and enhance tank performance. 8. Türkiye – 2,238 Tanks Türkiye holds the eighth position with 2,238 tanks. The country uses a variety of tank models, including Leopard 1, Leopard 2, M60 Sabra, M60 Patton, and M48 Patton. Türkiye's defence industry has also been working on producing its own tank called Altay. 9. South Korea – 2,236 Tanks With a total of 2,236 tanks, South Korea ranks ninth. Its advanced K2 Black Panther is considered one of the most modern and technologically superior combat tanks in the world today. 10. Iran – 1,713 Tanks Iran rounds off the list with 1,713 combat tanks. It has developed home-grown models like the Karrar and Zulfiqar tanks. These domestic tanks show Iran's efforts to reduce reliance on foreign arms imports. As military strategies continue to evolve, so does the race to build better, stronger, and faster combat tanks. These tanks will remain a key part of any country's defence system for years to come. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Cosmopolitan
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
‘Outlander' Prequel ‘Blood of my Blood' Reveals Twist in Fraser and Beauchamp Love Stories
Ever since the Outlander: Blood of my Blood prequel series was first announced in 2022, fans have been dying to know how the show would connect two love stories that seemingly have nothing to do with one another. Jamie Fraser's parents, Ellen and Brian Fraser, lived in Scotland in the 1700s and Claire's parents, Henry and Julia Beauchamp, died in a car accident shortly after WWI. And while their children did end up getting married, that was basically the only thing they had in common. But in a major twist, the prequel series is doing some revisionist history: Julia and Henry didn't die in that car accident. They traveled back in time to Scotland and crossed paths with—you guessed it—Ellen and Brian. It's a huge lore addition that goes against the books but breathes fresh air into the Outlander universe. While the main show is gearing up to air its final season, the prequel (which premieres August 8) gives fans more of what they want. We're back in Scotland, and we have two new-to-us love stories to obsess over, brought to life by Jamie Roy (Brian Fraser), Harriet Slater (Ellen MacKenzie), Hermione Corfield (Julia Beauchamp), and Jeremy Irvine (Henry Beauchamp). Because Claire's parents died when she was so young, she has basically no memories of them, which makes the Beauchamp family storyline particularly interesting. 'You're discovering a completely untold story,' Hermione says. How did they fall in love? How long were they in Scotland? What happened to them when they were there? Did they ever make it back to a future time? It's all on the table. 'If Claire's parents had stayed during World War I and it had just been that romance, there wouldn't have been a huge journey for them across the series,' Hermione says. 'Because of the time-travel, you see a similar thing that we saw with Claire, where she had to learn to survive in a world she didn't understand. That adds a whole element for the characters.' Julia and Henry meet almost by accident during WWI, when Julia reads a letter Henry wrote, not intended for her, and writes back. 'When we meet Henry, he's fighting for his life in the trenches,' Jeremy says. 'That is somewhere where there is no romance, there is no poetry, there is no beauty. He's just about to give up all hope. But they fall in love with each other's letter writing. I think there's something really romantic and beautiful about that.' For both of them, surviving the war itself is an almost insurmountable task. As soon as they get comfortable in their post-war life, they're transported back in time. Theirs is a story about fighting for the survival of a relationship that already exists. 'There's a depth to the love because they've seen each other's flaws. They're out the other side of the honeymoon stage,' Hermione says. Meanwhile, Ellen and Brian are fighting for a relationship that's just beginning. As book readers and show watchers will remember, Ellen was initially supposed to marry someone else. When this series begins, she is reeling from the death of her father and staring down the barrel of being used as a political pawn by her brothers. She meets Brian, a man she absolutely should not be with, and their Romeo and Juliet story begins. 'Brian is the only person Ellen can fully be herself around. With pretty much everyone else, she's always got some kind of mask on. She can't say what she wants to say or do what she wants to do,' Harriet says. 'Brian is very different to any of the other men in her life. I think there's an openness, sensitivity, and an ability to be self-reflective that she's not encountered in a man before.' And the attraction clearly goes both ways, with Jamie describing their meeting as a thunderclap moment. 'He meets this woman, and he just instantly knows, I'm never going to meet anyone like you ever again, you've given me a purpose and a direction,' Jamie says. 'When they're together just the two of them, they can finally breathe. The rest of the world fizzles away.' For existing fans, watching this relationship begin will be irresistible. All the stories you've already heard about Brian and Ellen gain more depth and romance when you see them actually play out onscreen. And for new watchers, it will be equally compelling. There's nothing more enjoyable than watching two people fall in love, especially when the odds are stacked against them. And when it's a forbidden love? Even better. Without spoiling too much, our two couples' stories do fairly quickly intertwine. They find ways to help each other on their journeys and work through the obstacles that inevitably pop up in their paths, and you start to see why Jamie and Claire ended up together. Their parents have a lot in common. 'They're all warriors, in the sense that they fight for the ones they love,' Jamie says. 'These characters will do absolutely anything for their opposite. They will literally die for the one they love, go to the extremes.' And there are definitely extremes here. Being in love in 1714 is not easy. Feuding clans, vengeful lords, suspicious neighbors, annoying brothers, and spiteful spurned lovers are only the beginning of the challenges these couples face throughout the season. And it's made all the more difficult by the constraints of the time period. 'What's lovely about having a romance where it's not set nowadays, where we can just text each other and FaceTime, is it opens up so many more obstacles,' Jeremy says. 'It makes it a lot more difficult for them but also so much more romantic. The state of longing and and really not knowing if that person that you love is safe and well, it must have been horrible.' As is true with any romance, all of this tension and longing only works if the actors in each couple have actual chemistry. It's definitely not a problem here, and both couples prove equally swoonworthy. For Harriet and Jamie, that was apparent during their first read together. 'That day, I don't think I'll ever forget it. It was unlike any experience I've ever had,' Harriet says. She found out about the chemistry read on a Friday with only a weekend to prepare. She and Jamie, along with a cameraman, were the only people in the room in the Scotland studio. The rest of the team was on Zoom. They met five minutes before they went in, but they felt that spark immediately. 'Chemistry is a weird one to define. It's this intangible thing that you can't put into words, but you can feel it when it's there.' Jamie had already officially gotten role of Brian, so he was doing chemistry reads with many actors who were still in the running for Ellen. But he liked reading opposite Harriet so much he texted casting afterward to advocate for her to get the part, basically saying, 'She's the one, right?' 'When I met Harriet and we started doing the scenes together, they just had a totally different flavor, this energy and urgency. It gave me something that I really wanted to fight for in the scene,' Jamie says. Jeremy and Hermione had a chemistry read, too, but they had a bit of a leg up. They had worked on a movie together 10 years prior, spending three months filming in Budapest. As old friends, Jeremy jokes that Hermione has seen him at his worst. They texted each other 'good luck' before hopping into the read. 'We're very comfortable together,' Jeremy says. 'Doing sex scenes with her was something I didn't think I'd be ticking off the friendship bingo card, but there you go. You can always take your friendship to a whole new level.' This brings me to the part of the article where we talk about those sex scenes. The original Outlander is obviously known for them, with media outlets making lists of the best ones (guilty as charged) and fans editing the steamiest into fan cams. The Outlander subreddit is littered with NSFW tags. That means Blood of my Blood has big shoes to fill. The actors knew that going in, and while some people would not be up for that challenge, these four were thankfully not those people. And the show is better for it. The intimate scenes are somehow both spicy and tender, with the romance cranked up to 10. One of them is over six minutes long. 'I definitely knew what kind of show it was going in,' Jamie says. 'The scenes are really beautiful, and they do push the story forward. They are really important moments in these characters' journeys.' They're also used sparingly enough so as to not be gratuitous. And they're balanced with plenty of longing glances across a crowded room, stolen kisses, and other trademarks of the people-who-yearn genre. 'Sex is a hugely important part of life and relationships, and it's something most of us can relate to,' Harriet says. 'Those early stages of falling in love with someone, when even the touch of a finger just sends fireworks through you, I think that is what I loved the most about this. It's the most exciting feeling.' That feeling is what carries the show. And even though fans of the original seem nervous about this prequel, they shouldn't be. The show pays homage to the first while doing enough to justify itself as a standalone with its own flavor. Not having a book to go by was a positive in this case, Jamie says, because it gave them freedom to construct their own plots. But that doesn't mean there isn't a level of expectation for the actors. 'There's always a pressure when something has such a huge fan base and a whole world,' Hermione says. 'But I feel excited, and I know this series is going to only expand that universe further and deepen the story and the legacy.' Jeremy agrees, saying it's a privilege to have such a built-in fan base for the show. 'I've done lots of things where it doesn't really go out into the world,' he says. 'How lucky to be part of a world that you know people have already got strong feelings for.' There will be plenty for fans and newcomers to have strong feelings about with this new series. The stakes are high, the choices are impossibly tough, and the obstacles are many. But the love at the center of the story is the real anchor. 'Love is love—it's universal,' Harriet says. 'No matter how old you are, or what time period you're from, we can all relate to it.'
