Explosives seized in Derry

According to a report, psni officers have seized explosives, two hand grenades and two handguns during searches in Derry. Reportedly, three people, two men and a woman have been arrested under terrorism legislation. According to the report, police say the material is linked to the new ira and the intention was to use them to attack their officers.

Reportedly, a handgun was found in a search at Southway, another handgun, two hand grenades, a kilogram of plastic explosives and 50 rounds of ammunition were found at Creevagh Heights and £2000 in cash was found at Dove Gardens. According to the report, sixteen police officers were hurt during the operation. Reportedly, they had masonry thrown at them.

Russia hold elections in four regions of Ukraine

According to a report, people in Russia occupied areas of Ukraine were being asked to vote in what the authorities are describing as local elections. Reportedly, Ukraine’s foreign minister called the polls a sham, candidates are either Russian or pro Russian. According to the report, many taking part in early polling have been asked to cast their votes in the presence of armed russian soldiers.

Reportedly, the elections which conclude on Sunday are taking part in four regions that Russia does not fully control, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk, 15% of Ukraine’s territory. According to the report, these areas were formally claimed by Russia in September last year after holding so called referendums on the future of the lands. Reportedly, the referendums were condemned as a sham with reports of over 99% support for switching to russian control, and at times involved armed soldiers going door to door to collect votes.

According to the report, Ukraine’s generals claimed they have breached Russia’s first line of defence in the Zaporizhzhia region suggesting the country’s counter offensive is gaining momentum. Reportedly, the focus of Ukraine’s efforts there is around the village of Robotyne, 35 miles south east of Zaporizhzhia, the region’s capital.

Forty nine people die in boat attack

According to a report, an islamist military group have attacked a river boat in north eastern Mali killing atleast 49 civilians. Reportedly, militants atttacked the boat as it was travelling on the River Niger from the town of Gao to Mopti. According to the report, the river is a transport link in an area where there are few roads. Reportedly, the government has announced three days of national mourning.

Mali’s military rulers have asked french troops and the u.n. to leave and have replaced them with the wagner group, though there still is a threat of insurgency.

Former gabonese president freed

According to a report, Gabon’s military leaders say they have freed the former president, Ali Bongo Ondimba who has been under house arrest since they took power. Reportedly, the removal of Mr Ondimba was welcomed by many gabonese. According to the report, a communique read out on tv on Wednesday evening by military spokesman Col. Ulrich Manfoumbi said the decision to free the former president was due to his state of health. Reportedly, he suffered a stroke in 2018. According to the report, he may if he wishes travel abroad for medical checkups.

Reinforced shells contain a nuclear component

According to a report, the u.s. has announced a €1 billion package to Ukraine, including reinforced shells that Russia say contain a nuclear component. Reportedly, Russia has condemned the move to equip u.s. Abram tanks with shells made of depleted uranium which makes weapons more powerful, but those weapons could be a threat to people in areas where they are used.

According to the report, depleted uranium is uranium stripped of some not all of its nuclear activity. Reportedly, a very dense metal, it can be used on the tips of bullets, mortar rounds and tank shells in order to penetrate conventional tank armour. According to the report, depleted uranium sharpens on impact and ignites after contact. Reportedly, it was developed by the u.s. and uk in the 1970s and was used in the Gulf war in 1991, Kosovo in 1999 and the Iraq war in 2003. According to the report, a study published in the journal, Environmental pollution in 2019 suggests there may be links between the use of depleted uranium weapons and birth defects in Nasiriya, Iraq.

1900 year old swords date back to jewish revolt

According to a report, four 1,900 year old swords were found in a cave in the judean desert. Reportedly, the swords found by an archeological team are thought to date from the second jewish revolt 132-136 ordinary time, a rebellion by jews of the roman province of Judaea against the roman empire.

According to the report, the four swords, three still in their scabbards are amazingly preserved, including the metal, the handles and the scabbards. Reportedly, three of the swords are roman spatha swords with blades 60-65 cm long, the fourth weapon a ring pommel sword has a 45 cm blade. According to the report, they were discovered in a fissure in a cave near the Ein Gedi national park near the Dead Sea, also found in an adjacent niche was pieces of carved wood which turned out to be pieces of the sword’s scabbards.

Reportedly, the cave was known to archaeologists because it contained a stalactite with a fragmentary inscription in ancient hebrew. According to the report, a team went to the cave to photograph the inscription with multisceptral photography (can decipher parts of the inscription not visible to the naked eye) when the swords were discovered.

Reportedly, the judean desert archaeological survey team are conducting a multiyear survey of over 800 caves in the judean desert to find and preserve archaeological remains.

Trip to Israel, Samaria and Jordan

Tánaiste Micheál Martin is visiting Israel, Samaria and Jordan in a five day tour, ends Friday. Mr Martin who is minister for foreign affairs and minister of defence is in favour of a two state solution 0though palestinians are accused of seperatism. He has expressed concerns about the revent upsurge in violence.

Dozens killed in clashes in Syria

According to a report, dozens of people are said to have been killed during days of clashes between the syrian democratic force, a u.s. backed kurdish army and arab tribesmen. Reportedly, the fighting erupted after the sdf arrested a council leader and head of an arab clan in an eastern province on 27 August. According to the report, the sdf accused him of complicity in multiple crimes including drug trafficking, mismanaging security and failing to stop islamic state sleeper cells.

Reportedly, the unrest spread north and westwards, there are reports of 54 civilians dying in attacks, and atleast two hospitals and three water treatment facilities have been destroyed or damaged.

The Syrian civil war was a multisided conflict fought between the syrian arab republic under Bashar al Assad and various groups. According to the report, though there was a ceasefire in 2020 there is sporadic clashes. Reportedly, as of 2020 the syrian armed forces control 63.57% of Syria, the syrian democratic force, a kurdish u.s. backed force 25.57% and turkish backed militias control stretches of land along Syria’s northern border. According to the report, the government accuses the sdf of seperatism.

Two people accused of damaging the Great wall of China

According to a report, a part of China’s great wall has been damaged by two construction workers who used an excavator to dig through to create a shortcut for their construction work. Reportedly, two people, a 38 year old man and a 55 year old woman were working near the affected area, they dug a big gap by widening an existing cavity so their excavator could pass through. According to the report, police said they wanted to reduce the distance they had to travel, they have been detained.

North Korea’s leader to visit the russian president

According to a report, north Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un is to visit the russian president this month to discuss weapons. Reportedly, Russia needs weapons and sanctions starved north Korea need money and food. According to the report, during a recent visit Russia’s defence minister tried to convince the north Korean leader to sell Moscow artillery ammunition. Reportedly, it was the first time that Kim Jong Un had opened his doors to a visitor since the covid pandemic. According to the report, weapons on display at the meeting included the Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missile, believed to be the first icbm to use solid propellants. Reportedly, the leaders have since exchanged letters pledging to increase their bilateral cooperation.

According to the report, south Korea’s intelligence service said there was a suggestion Russia, China and north Korea hold joint naval drills similar to the ones carried out by the u.s., Japan and south Korea. According to the report, Kim Jong Un may ask the russian president to supply him with advanced weapons technology or information to enable him to make breakthroughs in his nuclear weapons programme.