RAF takes aid to the victims of Pakistan's earthquake

Flour, lentils and cooking oil make up some of the twenty tonnes a day being flown into the quake zone by Chinook helicopters from 27 Squadron. The region's still being hit by aftershocks and as the weather draws in, the Himalayan winter threatens the people who survived the disaster but have lost so much.

It's awe-inspiring country - exposed terrain where remote communities cling to the mountainside. Flying thousands of feet up in a helicopter the villages appear normal - but a closer look shows the buildings have crumbled with the roofs staying intact. Some towns are up to 90 per cent destroyed by the earthquake - and are fast becoming cities of tents.

It's not just food and shelter - RAF Chinooks are flying military paramedics and nurses into the devastated region, and taking refugees and the sick out. Susie boarded one of the flights to see the work firsthand - listen here. The British effort is being co-ordinated by some of the team who worked out of Aceh in Indonesia following the Boxing Day tsunami.

The British military had extra pairs of hands to load aid onto the helicopters. Two of England's cricketers boarded an RAF flight in Pakistan to see the devastation. Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick helped out, days after flying to the country for their tour. Susie caught up with them when they landed - listen here.

The troops say the work is hard, but they're getting great satisfaction from helping as best they can. Military from many countries have sent helicopters to transport the UN and charity aid, but the area affected by the natural disaster is vast and the efforts very much a race against time.

Joining up for Scotland's new super-regiment

Recruiting has started for the new Royal Regiment of Scotland.  The super-regiment is being created by amalgamating the current six Scottish regiments.  The decision to merge was controversial, sparking an unsuccessful court challenge by veterans and attracting opposition from some high profile political figures. The new regiment doesn't form until March 06, but anyone who signs up from now will join the new regiment when they've finished their training.  BFBS Reporter Rachel Alderson was at the launch of the recruitment drive at the regiment's headquarters at Edinburgh Castle. Hear her report.

Trafalgar 200

It was the Trafalgar day battle the Royal Navy couldn't win - against the British weather. Driving wind and rain dominated the start of celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary Nelson's famous victory at sea. But the Senior Service refused to let the weather dampen their special day. The focal point for the celebrations was Portsmouth Naval Base, home of Nelson's flagship HMS Victory. Sheena Mackay was there for BFBS - hear her report.

Iraq voters back new constitution

Iraqis have voted to approve their country's new constitution. Sunnis who opposed it had hoped to block the charter by taking two-thirds of the vote in at least three provinces. However, they won only two. According to electoral officials, 78% of voters backed the constitution and 21% opposed it. Its approval now clears the way for elections to a new Iraqi National Assembly in December. Despite fears, the referendum passed off relatively peacefully, with more than 60% of the 15 million registered to vote turning out. BFBS reporter Rachel Alderson was in southern Iraq for the ballot and sent this report.

Fighting drug trafficking in Afghanistan

Three and a half years after the fall of the Taleban in Afghanistan the British team, which has trained Afghans to search out drug traffickers, is setting up more units.

British troops based in the north of Afghanistan report opium poppy fields they see in the country which puts 95% of the heroin onto the UK's streets.

But it's an uphill struggle against drugs. President Hamid Karzai has described international efforts to stop the production of opium in his country half-hearted and ineffective.

During Rachel's visit, the British troops were generally keeping a low profile, as unrest was spreading across Afghanistan. Almost 20 people died in riots sparked by reports in Newsweek magazine, that US interrogators at Guantanamo Bay had desecrated copies of the Koran. Newsweek later retracted parts of its story.

But 2nd Batallion Royal Gurkha Rifles were out on patrol in the capital – in the form of the Kabul Patrol's Company – just one year on from the end of their last tour in Afghanistan.

Cricket star launches Poppy Appeal  

England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has launched this year's Poppy Appeal. The Ashes-winning star joined forces with the Royal British Legion to call on people to back the fundraising campaign and wear their poppy with pride. He was joined by Lance Corporal David Hart who was injured in Afghanistan in January 2004 when his unit was attacked by a suicide bomber. Just before jetting off on his team's tour of Pakistan, Vaughan said he's proud to be part of the campaign. Listen to the launch.

EUFOR’s progress in Bosnia

EUFOR troops have been in Bosnia and Herzegovina since December. They took over from SFOR after NATO concluded its mission. EUFOR has 7000 troops there – the same number that were under NATO. It’s continuing much of the work NATO was doing, with EUFOR’s key role being to provide a safe and secure environment for the country’s people.

One of its largest tasks is contributing to the fight against organised crime, which is thought to be funding indicted war criminals still at large. In April, British troops were involved in one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s largest ever drug seizures – 27kg of heroin, worth several million pounds. BFBS Reporter, Rachel Alderson was there.

EUFOR also works with other EU bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina – as one of the country’s main aims is to get into the European Union and NATO. NATO still has a small presence in Sarajevo, with its main role being to conduct defence reform. It’s also involved in counter terrorist operations, plus it works alongside EUFOR in helping local authorities find indicted war criminals.

The British Commander of EUFOR troops says he’ll close down a cold war-era command bunker where an indicted war criminal’s believed to have been hiding out.

EUFOR has told the Bosnia and Herzegovina military authorities to shut the complex, as it serves no useful military purpose. Rachel went to see the underground network at Han Pijesak.