In a disturbing revelation, an Australian court on Wednesday was presented with evidence of soldiers drinking from the prosthetic leg of a slain Afghan.

The artificial leg was allegedly taken from an Afghan killed by the military, photos of which were taken at an unauthorised bar at a military base in Afghanistan.

The court also referred to “hundreds” of pictures depicting soldiers drinking from the prosthetic at the bar called “Fat Ladies’ Arms”.

Out of these photographs, many had been amplified and published previously, The Guardian reported. But the full extent of such photographic evidence&nbsp;was revealed to a federal court in Australia on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Many publications are currently preparing to fight a defamation suit by the defendent in the case, Ben Roberts-Smith, who is the recipient of the highly coveted Victoria Cross. These publications include The Canberra Times, The Sydney Morning Herald and Rhe Age.

Matthew Richardson,&nbsp;a lawyer for Roberts-Smith, told the court that they had received&nbsp;new documents showing hundreds of soldiers drinking from the prosthetic leg at the bar, calling the process “onerous”. Richardson also alleged that these photos were leaked to the newspapers by Roberts-Smith’s former wife.&nbsp;

Lawyers representing the newspapers rejected the claim, saying that the USBs containing material including soldiers drinking from&nbsp;prosthetic leg were not sent by Emma Roberts, the former wife of Roberts-Smith.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/south-asia/afghan-boy-who-lost-a-leg-to-landmine-blast-dances-with-joy-after-getting-a-prosthetic-leg-216755" hreflang="en">Afghan boy, who lost a leg to landmine blast, dances with joy after getting a prosthetic leg</a>

The newspapers allege that in 2009, Roberts-Smith had shot the Afghan to whom the prosthetic leg belonged, which was then “souvenired” from the deceased man and transported to the Australian base.&nbsp;

Lawyers for Roberts-Smith previously told the court that he in fact shot a man with a prosthetic leg, reportedly a Taliban soldier, but claimed that the “souvenir” was carried to the base by another soldier.

The defamation case against Australian newspapers was filed in response to a series of reports published in 2018 wherein he was accused of war crimes, which his lawyers deny as “baseless” and “false”. The trial will begin in Sydney on June 7.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/prosthetic-flipper-helps-thai-turtle-swim-again-274230" hreflang="en">Prosthetic flipper helps Thai turtle swim again</a>

In a disturbing revelation, an Australian court on Wednesday was presented with evidence of soldiers drinking from the prosthetic leg of a slain Afghan. The artificial leg was allegedly taken from an Afghan killed by the military, photos of which were taken at an unauthorised bar at a military base in Afghanistan.

In a disturbing revelation, an Australian court on Wednesday was presented with evidence of soldiers drinking from the prosthetic leg of a slain Afghan. The artificial leg was allegedly taken from an Afghan killed by the military, photos of which were taken at an unauthorised bar at a military base in Afghanistan. The court also referred to “hundreds” of pictures depicting soldiers drinking from the prosthetic at the bar called “Fat Ladies’ Arms”. Out of these photographs, many had been amplified and published previously, The Guardian reported. But the full extent of such photographic evidence was revealed to a federal court in Australia on Wednesday. Many publications are currently preparing to fight a defamation suit by the defendent in the case, Ben Roberts-Smith, who is the recipient of the highly coveted Victoria Cross. These publications include The Canberra Times, The Sydney Morning Herald and Rhe Age. Matthew Richardson, a lawyer for Roberts-Smith, told the court that they had received new documents showing hundreds of soldiers drinking from the prosthetic leg at the bar, calling the process “onerous”. Richardson also alleged that these photos were leaked to the newspapers by Roberts-Smith’s former wife. Lawyers representing the newspapers rejected the claim, saying that the USBs containing material including soldiers drinking from prosthetic leg were not sent by Emma Roberts, the former wife of Roberts-Smith. Also read: Afghan boy, who lost a leg to landmine blast, dances with joy after getting a prosthetic leg The newspapers allege that in 2009, Roberts-Smith had shot the Afghan to whom the prosthetic leg belonged, which was then “souvenired” from the deceased man and transported to the Australian base. Lawyers for Roberts-Smith previously told the court that he in fact shot a man with a prosthetic leg, reportedly a Taliban soldier, but claimed that the “souvenir” was carried to the base by another soldier. The defamation case against Australian newspapers was filed in response to a series of reports published in 2018 wherein he was accused of war crimes, which his lawyers deny as “baseless” and “false”. The trial will begin in Sydney on June 7. Also read: Prosthetic flipper helps Thai turtle swim again

'Hundreds' of pictures show Australian soldiers drinking from slain Afghan's prosthetic leg, court told

On Thursday, Australia's top military officer made a revealing admission of having unlawfully killed at least 39 civilians and prisoners from Afghanistan.

The&nbsp;Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell said there is credible evidence that the Australian special forces broke rules and unlawfully killed civilians.

"Some patrols took the law into their own hands, rules were broken, stories concocted, lies told and prisoners killed," he said. This admission has come as a result of an investigation that has been going on for the past few years and concentrated on the military's behaviour in Afghanistan. He has further advised the authorities to let a prosecutor investigating alleged war crimes handle the case.

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He also told the tale of the rituals of 'blooding' and how the young soldiers were forced and pressured into making their first kill. "This shameful record includes alleged instances in which new patrol members were coerced to shoot a prisoner in order to achieve that soldier's first kill, in an appalling practice known as 'blooding'," he explained.

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With guilt in his heart for these kills, Campbell he apologises "sincerely and unreservedly" to the people of Afghanistan and especially to the victims' families. He regretted the killings and said the 25 Australian special forces who have been accused of wrongdoing in 23 incidents have bought a "stain" on the regiment and their country.

After the admission, he also called for revoking of several distinguished service medals that were awarded to few selected special operations forces who had served in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2013.

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The matter came to light as reports of violent and brutal crimes even after the Australian combat troops left the country in 2013. These troops had been stationed in Afghanistan in 2001 to fight against Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Islamist groups.

The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had urged the Afghanistan counterpart to brace for the "honest and brutal truths" that were in the redacted document, and to foreshadow&nbsp;some disturbing allegations" that the government was taking "very seriously". However, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani had assumed that Morrison was expressing "&nbsp;his deepest sorrow over the misconduct" — a claim not supported by Australia.

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Following the Twitter threads, Morrison had appointed a special investigator to prosecute the alleged war crimes in the country and an independent panel has also been set up to bring in cultural and leadership changes in the special forces.

The recent revelations are a result of a report called "Afghan files" by a public broadcaster ABC in 2017. The "Afghan files" had made similar allegations at that time, accusing special forces of killing unarmed men and children in Afghanistan.

On Thursday, Australia's top military officer made a revealing admission of having unlawfully killed at least 39 civilians and prisoners from Afghanistan. The Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell said there is credible evidence that the Australian special forces broke rules and unlawfully killed civilians.

On Thursday, Australia's top military officer made a revealing admission of having unlawfully killed at least 39 civilians and prisoners from Afghanistan. The Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell said there is credible evidence that the Australian special forces broke rules and unlawfully killed civilians. "Some patrols took the law into their own hands, rules were broken, stories concocted, lies told and prisoners killed," he said. This admission has come as a result of an investigation that has been going on for the past few years and concentrated on the military's behaviour in Afghanistan. He has further advised the authorities to let a prosecutor investigating alleged war crimes handle the case. Also read| Ethiopia says its troops marching on Tigrayan capital He also told the tale of the rituals of 'blooding' and how the young soldiers were forced and pressured into making their first kill. "This shameful record includes alleged instances in which new patrol members were coerced to shoot a prisoner in order to achieve that soldier's first kill, in an appalling practice known as 'blooding'," he explained. × With guilt in his heart for these kills, Campbell he apologises "sincerely and unreservedly" to the people of Afghanistan and especially to the victims' families. He regretted the killings and said the 25 Australian special forces who have been accused of wrongdoing in 23 incidents have bought a "stain" on the regiment and their country. After the admission, he also called for revoking of several distinguished service medals that were awarded to few selected special operations forces who had served in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2013. Also read| US troops are packing up, ready or not The matter came to light as reports of violent and brutal crimes even after the Australian combat troops left the country in 2013. These troops had been stationed in Afghanistan in 2001 to fight against Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Islamist groups. The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had urged the Afghanistan counterpart to brace for the "honest and brutal truths" that were in the redacted document, and to foreshadow some disturbing allegations" that the government was taking "very seriously". However, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani had assumed that Morrison was expressing " his deepest sorrow over the misconduct" — a claim not supported by Australia. Also read| Israel air strikes in Syria kill three troops, hit Iranian targets Following the Twitter threads, Morrison had appointed a special investigator to prosecute the alleged war crimes in the country and an independent panel has also been set up to bring in cultural and leadership changes in the special forces. The recent revelations are a result of a report called "Afghan files" by a public broadcaster ABC in 2017. The "Afghan files" had made similar allegations at that time, accusing special forces of killing unarmed men and children in Afghanistan.

Australian troops 'unlawfully killed' 39 civilians and prisoners in Afghanistan, says top official

Boeing Australia&nbsp;has unveiled the first artifical powered drone called the ''Loyal Wingman''&nbsp;for the Royal Australian Air Force.

It is also&nbsp;the first military aircraft to be designed and built locally in more than 50 years.

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said ''this a truly historic moment for our country and for Australian defense innovation.''

''The Loyal Wingman will be pivotal to exploring the critical capabilities our Air Force needs to protect our nation and its allies into the future,'' he added.

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The Loyal Wingman is a&nbsp;38-foot-long&nbsp;drone with a range of 2,000 miles.

It will "use artificial intelligence to fly independently, or in support of manned aircraft, while maintaining safe distance between other aircraft," according to Boeing's website on the project.

The drone&nbsp;will be able to engage in electronic warfare as well as intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions and swap quickly between those roles, according to Boeing.

The aircraft delivered in Sydney on Tuesday is the first of three prototypes Boeing is producing.

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Boeing Australia has unveiled the first artifical powered drone called the ''Loyal Wingman'' for the Royal Australian Air Force. It is also the first military aircraft to be designed and built locally in more than 50 years.

Boeing Australia has unveiled the first artifical powered drone called the ''Loyal Wingman'' for the Royal Australian Air Force. It is also the first military aircraft to be designed and built locally in more than 50 years. Also read: Scientists release app to track COVID-19 symptoms, inform users about hot spots Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said ''this a truly historic moment for our country and for Australian defense innovation.'' ''The Loyal Wingman will be pivotal to exploring the critical capabilities our Air Force needs to protect our nation and its allies into the future,'' he added. Also read: Amid coronavirus pandemic, China eyes moon trip with successful rocket launch The Loyal Wingman is a 38-foot-long drone with a range of 2,000 miles. It will "use artificial intelligence to fly independently, or in support of manned aircraft, while maintaining safe distance between other aircraft," according to Boeing's website on the project. The drone will be able to engage in electronic warfare as well as intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions and swap quickly between those roles, according to Boeing. The aircraft delivered in Sydney on Tuesday is the first of three prototypes Boeing is producing.

Australian military unveils its first AI-powered drone

Australian military assisted fire emergency and rescue personnel on Thursday (January 2) in Australia's south-east state of Victoria, where 50 fires are currently burning.

Australian military brings aid to fire-stricken communities in Victoria state