- France bans sale of fireworks for upcoming Bastille Day celebrations after riots
July 9, 2023
Fireworks were among the weapons of choice during the unrest that exploded in France after a police officer shot dead a 17-year-old during a traffic stop on June 27 in Paris, rekindling long pent-up frustrations and accusations of systemic racism among France’s security forces. “In order to prevent the risk of serious disturbances to public order ...
- Ukraine: ‘It’s simple and cheap’, the volunteers making Trembita bomb
July 9, 2023
At an industrial estate near Kyiv, a group of engineers stand next to a tube. The metal device is part of a homemade rocket. After twiddling with an ignition cable, the engine sparks into flame. There is a terrifying, ear-splitting roar. Two dogs that guard the compound slink away and hide; swallows fly off. The ...
- US to send cluster munitions banned by over 100 nations to Ukraine after months of debate
July 8, 2023
The US will send cluster munitions to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package, national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed on Friday, following months of debate within the Biden administration about whether to provide Kyiv with the controversial weapons banned by over 100 countries, including key US allies. “I’m not going to stand up ...
- Ukraine: Demining Leopard vehicles cannot work in 35-degree heat
July 8, 2023
When it comes to enduring 35-degree heat, the German Leopard 2R tank-based demining machines, supplied to the Ukrainian army from Finland, are somewhat of a hot mess. The demanding temperature requires additional engine cooling, a necessity that unfortunately leads to operational disruptions. Of the three remaining demining machines of this type in the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ ...
- Over 120 people wounded by Lepestok in Donetsk People’s Republic
July 8, 2023
More than 120 people, including 10 children, received various injuries after stepping on Lepestok anti-personnel landmines in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), acting DPR head Denis Pushilin told TASS on Saturday. The latest incident involving a Lepestok anti-personnel landmine in the DPR occurred on July 6. The victim, a man born in 1977, was hospitalized with ...
- IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine – Update 172
July 7, 2023
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts have received additional access at the site of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), without – so far – observing any visible indications of mines or explosives, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today. The IAEA experts – who in recent days and weeks have inspected parts of the facility ...
- Ukraine: Civilian Deaths from Cluster Munitions
July 6, 2023
Ukrainian forces have used cluster munitions that caused numerous deaths and serious injuries to civilians, Human Rights Watch said today. Russian forces have extensively used cluster munitions in Ukraine, killing many civilians and causing other serious civilian harm. New Human Rights Watch research found that Ukrainian cluster munition rocket attacks on Russian-controlled areas in and around ...
- IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine – Update 171
July 5, 2023
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts present at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) have in recent days and weeks inspected parts of the facility – including some sections of the perimeter of the large cooling pond – and have also conducted regular walkdowns across the site, so far without observing any visible indications of ...
- Ukraine: The lethal minefields holding up Kyiv’s counter-offensive
July 3, 2023
A Ukrainian soldier drags himself through the long grass, one leg trailing limply behind him. Seconds later, a flash of bright orange and a cloud of white smoke mark the spot, just a few metres away, where yet another land mine has been triggered. As a second badly wounded soldier pulls himself up on to the ...
- Underwater robot and drone: Ukraine’s rescue service reveals how it clears mines from bodies of water
July 1, 2023
Modern specialised equipment is being used to inspect bodies of water in Mykolaiv Oblast for explosive devices. Protective buoys were installed wherever divers found explosive devices; the devices were then brought to the surface and transported to the shore by boat, before being loaded into a special vehicle which took them to be destroyed in a ...
- IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine – Update 168
June 30, 2023
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts have so far found no visible indications of mines or other explosives currently planted at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), but they still need additional access to carry out further such checks at the site, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today. The team of IAEA experts were today ...
- Estonia should consider using anti-personnel mines – Kunnas
June 27, 2023
Estonia should consider introducing anti-personnel mines in its national defense program, said Leo Kunnas (EKRE), deputy chairman of the Riigikogu’s National Defense Committee, on Monday. Anti-personnel mines are banned in all European countries. “While during the previous Riigikogu session, we argued about participation in the Ottawa Convention , there is still no ...
- Northern Ireland: Woman admits having dozens of balaclavas and bomb making instructions
June 26, 2023
A woman has admitted having dozens of balaclavas and bomb making instructions for a terrorist purpose. Standing in the dock of Antrim Crown Court 53-year-old Jennifer Lennox, from Main Street in Portglenone, also admitted having more than 100 rounds of two different types of ammunition under suspicious circumstances on November 15 2021. Read more… Source: The Irish News
- UK: Arrests made and alleged ‘improvised explosive devices’ found after ‘explosion’ in South Shields
June 26, 2023
Arrests have been made after a number of alleged “improvised explosive devices” were found following reports of an explosion in South Shields. Police were called to an address on St Aidan’s Road on Sunday afternoon after reports of an explosion and a man and woman were arrested after suspicious items were discovered. Bomb disposal experts also ...
- UK pledges continued assistance to Nigeria
June 25, 2023
The UK government has pledged its willingness to continue to support Nigeria in its fight against insecurity. British High Commissioner to Nigeria Richard Montgomery stated this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Montgomery, who spoke on the defence relations his government shared with Nigeria, said: “We have very long-standing defence ...
- UK: Rotherham man charged with possession of explosive substance
June 24, 2023
A Rotherham man with appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court charged with possession of an explosive substance. Brett Ainley, 41, of Treefield Close in Wingfield is charged with possession of an explosive substance following a warrant at his property yesterday (23 June) 2023. During the warrant officers seized believed to be explosive devices. Read more… Source: South Yorkshire Police
- Yemen: A citizen was martyred in a cluster bomb explosion in Sana’a province
June 24, 2023
The Executive Center for Mine Action has announced that the citizen was martyred due to a cluster bomb explosion from the remnants of the aggression in Nihm district of Sana’a province, according to a brief statement released on Friday. Read more… Source: Al Khabar News
- Addressing mine ban treaty challenges: New contamination and compliance
June 23, 2023
The annual Intersessional Meetings of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpile, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (aka Ottawa Convention, AP Mine Ban Convention, or Mine Ban Treaty) closed on 21 June in Geneva with more than 450 delegates representing 91 States and 60 international and non-governmental organisations ...
