Dutch authorities discovered two hand grenades hidden in a shipment of French onions destined for a factory in Zeeland, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) reported. Dating from 1925, the grenades were consistent with old French and German chemical weapons, though their exact chemical fill could not be identified. The reason for their presence in the delivery remains unknown. Since the Netherlands … Continue reading Century-old grenades found hidden in French onion delivery in the Netherlands

At least 14 soldiers were killed and several injured in South Sudan after a shootout erupted within the Unified VIP Protection Force over a suspected “love triangle” at a market near the Abyei Box region. The clash involved officers aligned with President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar, whose ongoing political rivalry has destabilized the country since their 2018 peace deal. The violence … Continue reading At least 14 soldiers killed in South Sudan, army says

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of plotting war in alliance with a hardline faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), warning in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that the collusion has intensified in recent months. The Ethiopian government alleges that Eritrea and the TPLF are funding and directing armed groups in the Amhara region, including Fano militias, which are increasingly targeting the federal … Continue reading Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of preparing for war as Red Sea tensions rise

Spanish police have dismantled one of the world’s largest cocaine trafficking networks, seizing 10 tons of the drug and arresting five suspects in a joint operation with Colombian authorities. Three arrests were made in Spain and two in Colombia during seven raids, though officials did not disclose exact locations or where the drugs were found. The network reportedly smuggled around 120 tons of cocaine annually … Continue reading Spain busts major cocaine trafficking ring, seizes 10 tons of drugs

Australian and Indian defense ministers signed a new bilateral security agreement Thursday aimed at strengthening Indo-Pacific stability. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh became the first from his country to visit Australia since 2013, meeting his counterpart Richard Marles to formalize the deal. The agreement establishes a forum for joint staff talks and submarine rescue cooperation, reflecting growing defense ties, highlighted by India’s first participation in … Continue reading India and Australia sign a security deal that includes military talks

The United Nations will reduce its peacekeeping forces and operations, forcing 13,000 to 14,000 personnel to return home in the coming months due to U.S. funding cuts, a senior U.N. official said. The reductions, representing roughly 25% of the deployed peacekeepers, will affect missions in countries including Congo, South Sudan, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Kosovo, and slash the force’s budget by about 15% this year. U.S. … Continue reading United Nations to cut 25% of its global peacekeeping force