Sorry for the gap, but I’ve been hard at work on a number of other projects lately. I’ll resume updates today, and catch up the last 10 days in the next day or so.

Royal Navy – 42 Commando Royal Marines from the HMS Ocean amphibious ready group have arrived again off of Sierra Leone, and are carrying out “show of force” amphibious exercises. The British Army, meanwhile, is helping to plan a major offensive against the rebels.

• Daily Telegraph (registration required): British Army plots downfall of rebels in Sierra Leone
• Daily Telegraph (registration required): British show of strength to deter Sierra Leone’s rebels

Russian Navy – The Russians are boasting that their aircraft are shadowing and harrassing the USS Kitty Hawk battlegroup in the Sea of Japan.

• Daily Telegraph (registration required): Russian planes buzzed US carrier 3 times