European police have smashed an international weapons-smuggling ring operating in at least four countries.

Four loaded weapons “primed, armed and ready” for use were among an arsenal of 15 firearms found at an “elaborate” industrial unit purporting to be a legitimate business.

The European Union has slapped new sanctions on North Korea for developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

More than 3,500 makeshift daggers and other deadly weapons were seized by prison officers working in jails during the past five years — an average of two every day.

A reputed Connecticut mobster who authorities say is the last surviving person of interest in the largest art robbery in US history is expected to plead guilty to unrelated weapons charges.

The overall amount of contraband seized in Irish prisons last year dropped slightly — and there has been a significant decline in the amount of weapons found in jails.

The Chinese government has said countries with the largest nuclear arsenals should take the lead in disarmament, after US president-elect Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin said they wanted to strengthen their nations' nuclear capabilities.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has described North Korea's government as "an illegal and illegitimate regime".

52 people have been arrested as part of an organised crime crackdown in Kilkenny and Carlow today.

The US Senate has backed the Obama administration's plan to sell more than 1 billion dollars worth of American-made tanks and other weapons to Saudi Arabia.

Drugs, phones, alcohol and weapons were all seized in jail cells last year according to the Irish Prison Service.

Gardaí have most likely saved lives and dealt a significant financial blow to one of the biggest trafficking gangs in Ireland after a major gun and drugs haul.

A day after threatening long-range rocket launches, North Korea declared it has upgraded and restarted all of its atomic fuel plants so it can produce more sophisticated nuclear weapons.

DOING anything this coming week? At a loose end at all? You could always pop over to London to the enormous ExCel events centre, which is hosting an arms fair, writes Suzanne Harrington. 

President Francois Hollande says France is continuing discussions with Russia about completing a mammoth weapons deal.

A TD has used Dáil privilege to claim that US military personnel have carried weapons on aircraft travelling through Shannon Airport.