Briefly

AUSTRALIA

Morrison in war-crime probe justice vow

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed that allegations of war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016 will be taken "very seriously". The Australian Defense Force on Thursday released the findings of a landmark four-year inquiry that found "credible evidence" of the special forces soldiers' murdering of 39 prisoners, farmers and other civilians during the war in Afghanistan. Morrison said the allegations would be pursued until "justice is indeed served".

UNITED KINGDOM

Military splurge biggest since end of Cold War

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday touted the biggest investment in the UK's armed forces since the end of the Cold War three decades ago. Johnson told lawmakers that the four-year financial package for the Ministry of Defense will "end the era of retreat". For example, the new money will fund space and cyberdefense projects such as an artificial intelligence agency. In an address, Johnson said the armed forces will receive $21 billion over and above the government's earlier plan.

SOUTH KOREA

Millions in online rush for BTS release

Tens of millions of fans around the world raced to listen to the latest offering from BTS on Friday, as the K-pop sensation dropped their highly anticipated new album to a deluge of excitement. Three hours after BE was made available on a worldwide release, the video for first track Life Goes On－a song offering a message of hope in the face of the coronavirus pandemic－had been viewed almost 20 million times on YouTube. BTS have ascended to global superstardom since their debut in 2013, holding a string of sold-out shows in Los Angeles, Paris and London last year.

Xinhua - China Daily - Agencies