This morning’s broadcast headlines are dominated by the ongoing migrant crisis in Europe.
Army Leadership
Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Nicholas Carter, told this morning’s Today programme that a new Army code of conduct will crack down on bullying and sexual harassment. He said the Army should "accept everyone in an inclusive way" and yesterday told hundreds of men and women at RMA Sandhurst to project a "no tolerance" message against prejudice. General Carter said the Army recognised "the world was moving on, and the Army had to move with it. I'm not arguing for political correctness, what I'm arguing for is to live by our values and standards and to accept everyone in an inclusive way. I think there is a risk we will lose sight of our ultimate goal, which is to close with and kill the Queen's enemies, and we have to have that at the forefront of our mind, but equally we cannot accept unacceptable behaviour."
Airseeker
As part of the Airseeker Programme, the second signals intelligence aircraft has been delivered to the RAF. The specialist surveillance aircraft was handed over today at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and will be deployable on operations within a matter of weeks. The first Airseeker commenced operations in July 2014 and is currently employed alongside other RAF units in the fight against ISIL supporting operations in Iraq and Syria.
Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, said:
The delivery of the second Airseeker provides our Armed Forces with another vital intelligence aircraft that will give valuable support to our fight against enemies such as ISIL.
With a Defence budget that will rise in real terms over the next five years and a £163 billion equipment plan, we are able to give our Armed Forces the best equipment to meet the growing and complex threats we face today.
For more click here.
Syrian Migrants
As part of their coverage of the migrant crisis, the Daily Telegraph reports on comments by former Defence Minister Anna Soubry who said that Britain "made a very, very big mistake" by voting against military action in Syria in 2013.
As the Defence Secretary has said:
We have always been clear that ISIL has to be defeated in Syria and Iraq. ISIL is organised and directed and administered from Syria and there is an illogicality about not being able to do it. The US and others are striking in Syria which means we can play our part in Iraq. I think MPs will want to think about how we best deal with ISIL.
The UK continues to play a leading role in activity that has, so far, seen ISIL lose 25% of its territory in Iraq - RAF aircraft have carried out more than 270 air strikes and have flown over 1,200 missions, we have around 800 people supporting operations against ISIL and have trained nearly 2,000 Iraqis on the ground.
Find out more about the UK Government’s actions to counter ISIL.
Turkey
The Daily Telegraph reports that two British journalists from Vice News, charged with links to a terrorist organisation, have been released by a Turkish court that also ruled their fixer, an Iraqi, must remain in custody. Turkey is planning to deport the two men according to The Guardian.
China
The Daily Telegraph and The Times report that China showed off a new missile it claims is capable of destroying an aircraft carrier, as the military put on a massive display of strength at a parade in Beijing commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. President Xi pledged to reduce troop levels in the army by 13% according to the The Guardian. He also vowed to modernise the armed forces with wide-ranging reforms that will seek to streamline the People's Liberation Army and transform them into a high-technology force, the Financial Times writes.
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