Nepal to stop Ghurka recruiting

The Toronto Star reports that Nepal's new Maoist government intends to stop foreign governments recruiting Ghurka soldiers. The British have recruited Ghurkas for 200 years and last year 17,500 applicants competed for 230 positions.

Canadian soldiers to go high-tech

The Toronto Star has an article about some new gadgets the Canadian Forces may be issuing to soldiers.

51 year old is oldest British serviceman to die in Iraq

The Times reports the death of Gary Thompson who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Thompson, who was 51, is the oldest British serviceman to be killed in Afghanistan. He was an RAF reservist who enlisted at the age of 48. He had served full-time in the RAF in his twenties.

Canadian pilots training on Chinooks

The Canadian Press has an article about preparations underway for the arrival of the Canadian Forces' Chinook helicopters. Pilots have already started training in the US in expectation of delivery in the fall.

A comeback for prop-planes

Danger Room reports that US commanders in Iraq would like to get some propeller driven aircraft to provide support to troops on the ground. It seems that Air Force commanders aren't interested as they prefer fast jets.

Royal Navy ordered not to arrest pirates

According to this article in The Times, the British Foreign Office has told the Royal Navy not to arrest pirates. The concern is that this may violate the pirates' human rights and that they may be able to claim asylum in the UK.

Fake parts on US planes

Danger room has an article about counterfeit parts ending up on US Air Force and Navy aircraft.

Navy ship assists burning freighter mid-Atlantic

The Toronto Star reports that HMCS Toronto assisted a burning cargo ship 1900 kilometers east of Cape Cod.

CF takes delivery of last C-17

The Torch has a blog post reporting that the Canadian Forces have taken delivery of their fourth and last C-17 cargo plane.

They also have a post profiling some of the pilots of the new aircraft.

CF has new super-trucks

Canada.com has an article about new trucks being used by the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan. The armoured trucks have been nicknamed "Transformers" by the troops.

Inside the Halifax Detention Barracks

The Lookout has an article about the Halifax Detention Barracks.

Cold steel bars, bright lights, spotless floors, bright orange coveralls, red lines and boxes on the floor are only some of the sights you can expect to see when the door slams shut on the outside world and the corrective measures of the Canadian Forces take over your life.

Royal Marine nominated for Victoria Cross

The Times has the story of Royal Marine Lance Corporal Matt Croucher who threw himself on a grenade to save his squad mates. Croucher, who is a reservist, was uninjured except for a nosebleed as his backpack took the force of the blast.

Related followup: The Washington Post reports that a US Navy SEAL has been awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor for performing a similar act in Iraq.

Female Gunners in Afghanistan

The CBC has an article about the experiences of female gunners serving with the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Afghanistan.

US to allow married troops to live together in Iraq

The Associated Press reports the the Pentagon is going to allow married US troops who are serving together in Iraq to share living quarters. Public displays of affection will still not be allowed.

High Tech US Infantry project still lives

Danger Room has a blog post about how the US Army's high tech soldier project, was supposed to have been killed last year, is still continuing in a limited form.

Money had already been spent to equip a single Iraq-bound battalion with the gear, however. So, despite some pretty horrendous reviews from the troops, the Army let the 4/9th Infantry take Land Warrior with them to war.

And then, something rather odd and unexpected happened. The 4/9 -- known since the early 1900's as the "Manchus," for their fighting in China -- stripped Land Warrior down, made the gear more functional, and discovered the equipment could actually be pretty useful in combat.