German soldiers to choose their own underwear

The German defence ministry has decided to give soldiers a special grant to allow them to buy their own choice of underwear.

An army spokesman said many soldiers disliked the regulation army-issue, and it was a waste of money to supply them with clothes that were not going to be worn.

He said a one-off payment of twenty-five dollars would be made to soldiers to allow them to buy whichever style of underwear they preferred; the German army would not be carrying out any inspections.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service