German police find ‘WW2 bomb’ was big courgette –
A German man feared a monster courgette he found in his garden was an unexploded World War Two bomb and called the police. The 5kg (11-pound) courgette had probably been thrown over a hedge into the 81 year old’s garden, police said. Luckily no evacuation was required in Bretten, a town near Karlsruhe in south-west Germany. The 40cm (16-inch) vegetable – also called zucchini – “really did look like a bomb”, police said. Once police had reassured him following the early morning call-out, the pensioner disposed of the courgette himself. [BBC]
Other News –
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Syrian Civil War
- Siege of Deir ez-Zor (2014–17)
- The Syrian Army (SAA) and allies announce the complete liberation of Deir ez-Zor from ISIL. (Sputnik International)
- At least nine people are killed and another 23 are injured in Hader, Quneitra Governorate, after a Tahrir al-Sham-operated car bomb detonates inside the town. (Reuters)
- Siege of Deir ez-Zor (2014–17)
- Iraqi Civil War (2014–present)
- Western Iraq campaign (2017–present)
- The Iraqi Armed Forces enter the town of Al-Qa’im, close to the border with Syria. Al-Qa’im is one of the last towns in Iraq still held by ISIL. (Reuters)
- Western Iraq campaign (2017–present)
- War in Somalia (2009–present)
- The United States launches airstrikes against Islamic State in Somalia for the first time. The United States Africa Command says “several terrorists” were killed in the strikes, which took place in coordination with Somalia‘s government. (The Independent)
Arts and culture
- Kevin Spacey sexual assault allegations
- Netflix announces that it will no longer be working with American actor Kevin Spacey who plays Frank Underwood on the U.S. version of House of Cards. (News Limited)
International relations
- Japan–United States relations
- United States president Donald Trump‘s daughter Ivanka visits Japan. (The Washington Post), (The New York Times)
Law and crime
- Spanish constitutional crisis
- Spain issues an arrest warrant against former Catalonian president Carles Puigdemont. (BBC)
- War in Afghanistan
- United States soldier Bowe Bergdahl gets convicted of desertion and is dishonorably discharged, but is not imprisoned. (The New York Times)
- Human rights in Zimbabwe
- Zimbabwe accuses American citizen Martha O’Donovan of trying to overthrow the regime of Robert Mugabe. (The Los Angeles Times)
Politics and elections
- 2017 Westminster sexual scandals
- The Conservative Party suspends Dover MP Charlie Elphicke following “serious allegations” against him which have been passed on to police. Elphicke denies any wrongdoing. (The Guardian)
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