WWII Bren gun seized in raid

A WORLD War Two-era machine gun has been seized from a drugs gang.

The weapon, a Bren gun, was discovered by gardai in a search at Ashbourne, Co Meath last night.

The .303 calibre Bren fires at a rate of 500 rounds a minute and is extremely accurate up to 600 yards.

If the weapon was destined for gangland criminals, the find represents the most serious increase in firepower ever uncovered by gardai.

It was found with ammunition during the garda operation, which targeted organised crime in Meath.

No arrests have been made in the investigation and the intelligence-led operation is on-going.

Probe to look into extradition

Hearings will soon be launched to examine the Jamaican government's handling of a US extradition request for alleged drug kingpin Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

Emil George, a lawyer who will lead the inquiry, said the three-member panel would start hearing evidence on January 17.

The commission will look at the hiring of a US lobbying firm to contest the extradition request for Coke, listed as one of the world's most dangerous drug lords.

Oprah viewers on visit to Oz

An Oprah Winfrey audience of 300 has arrived in Australia from the US to begin enjoying the talk show queen's ultimate giveaway -- an eight-day journey Down Under.

Winfrey kicked off her 25th and final season of The Oprah Winfrey Show in September by surprising fans with what she billed as the trip of a lifetime.

The hand-picked audience was made up of some of whom the programme called its most loyal viewers over the years.