Pope assassination plot foiled by UK intelligence

A plot to assassinate Pope Francis during a trip to Iraq was stopped following a tip-off from British intelligence, according to his upcoming autobiography. The Pope writes that, after landing in Baghdad in March 2021, he was told an event Read More …

Somalia concludes explosive management training with Chinese support

The Somali Explosives Management Authority (SEMA) on Monday concluded a training program aimed at tackling the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war. Funded by the Chinese Embassy in Somalia, the initiative trained 81 participants from federal member states, Read More …

Norway Provides Ukrainian Navy With $240M for Minehunting and Autonomy

On Monday, the Norwegian government announced a new grant of about $240 million to support Ukraine’s navy in its fight against Russian forces in the Black Sea. The grant includes financing for the joint Norwegian/British Maritime Capability Coalition, a capacity-building Read More …

Nigeria: Terrorist-bandits gaining improvised explosive expertise

A disturbing development that challenges Nigerian military claims of having the upper hand against terrorists has surfaced. Fulani terrorists in Zamfara State now deploy Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), marking a dangerous shift in their tactical operations against terrorism. Two suspected Read More …

UNDP Welcomes EUR 1.5 Million Contribution From Italy To Mine Action Programme In Ukraine

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine is to receive a substantial contribution of EUR 1.5 million from the Government of Italy to bolster UNDP’s Mine Action Programme in Ukraine. This funding will significantly enhance efforts to expedite land Read More …

Human Rights Watch Q&A: US Antipersonnel Landmine Transfers

On November 20, 2024, the administration of United States President Joe Biden announced the transfer of antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine, reversing a longstanding US prohibition. An additional transfer of antipersonnel mines was announced on December 2. The announcements did not Read More …

Ukraine intel unit dubbed “The Chemists” deployed kamikaze drones and operators to Syria

About 20 experienced drone operators and 150 drones were shipped over from GUR to the rebel headquarters in Idlib, Syria, four weeks ago. The Ukrainian military aid was a welcome injection of expertise and firepower for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Read More …

US announces $988 million military aid package for Ukraine

The United States unveiled a $988 million aid package of new arms and equipment to Ukraine for its ongoing fight against Russia’s invasion on Saturday. The package nearly halves the available $2.21 billion remaining in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative as Read More …

Czechs have raised over €8 million for drones for Ukraine in one year

The Czech initiative to raise funds for the purchase of drones for the Ukrainian military has raised more than CZK 203 million (over €8 million) to date. Skupina D, an organisation that organises a fundraiser called Drone Nemesis, on Thursday, Read More …

Demining Ukraine’s Farmland: Progress, Adaptation, and Needs

More than one thousand days into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) contamination on Ukrainian farmland remains a complex and pervasive challenge for Ukraine’s farmers and government, its allies, and the global mine action Read More …

US to Send $750M in Anti-Drone Systems and Mines to Ukraine

The United States is preparing a new $725 million military aid package for Ukraine, a move intended to propel Kyiv as Russia earmarks 32 percent of its 2025 budget on defense. The assistance includes counter-drone systems, munitions for High Mobility Read More …

Ukraine: Demining coalition agrees on nine-year roadmap for assistance

Participants in the ninth meeting of the Demining Coalition, co-chaired by Lithuania and Iceland, discussed Ukraine’s needs for equipment and weapons, and also agreed on the Roadmap for Assistance for 2025-2034. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense. The Read More …

Cross-Border Humanitarian Demining

This guide is intended to advance the clearance of landmines from border areas when there is political will to do so. More specifically, it is meant inform affected states, as well as donor states, of some of the various approaches Read More …

Chad terminates military cooperation agreement with France

This announcement marks a historic turning point in relations between N’Djamena and Paris, which until now had been based on close cooperation in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel and the maintenance of regional stability. This partnership, although sometimes Read More …

Ukraine: Drone coalition to allocate €1.8 billion for Ukraine’s Armed Forces this year

This year, countries in the international drone coalition will allocate €1.8 billion to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umierov revealed that this decision was communicated by partners from Latvia, which co-leads the drone coalition with Read More …

Japan donates equipment to enhance Somali Police Force’s mine action unit

The Japanese government has donated critical equipment to Somalia’s Police Force Mine Action Unit, to strengthen its capacity to detect and neutralize explosive devices in the country. Somali Police Chief Brigadier General Asad Osman Abdullahi received the equipment during a Read More …

Cambodia: CMAA commits to help Myanmar with mine clearance efforts

The First Vice-President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) and president of the Ottawa Convention for 2024 Ly Thuch reaffirmed his commitment to continuing communication with relevant parties and assisting in mine clearance efforts in Myanmar, Read More …

Ukraine to get US land mines for use against Russian forces

US President Joe Biden has approved providing antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine in what has been seen as another policy reversal on weapons provided to Kyiv by the outgoing United States administration, according to reports. The US expects Ukraine to Read More …

Poland signs agreement with domestic companies to manufacture explosives

The Polish government has signed a letter of intent with domestic companies to make the nitrocellulose and multi-base powders necessary for producing ammunition, it said on Monday. Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has taken significant Read More …