While reports on the plane crash in Egypt continue to dominate print and broadcast media, The Daily Telegraph holds a front page article on Armed Forces Pay and BBC and Sky are reporting that Sierra Leone is set to be declared free of the Ebola virus
today after meeting the World Health Organisation’s standard of 42 days with no new cases.
Egypt
This morning’s broadcast headlines continue to be dominated by the situation in Egypt and reports on increasing evidence that the plane tragedy was caused by a bomb. Sky News and BBC Radio 4 led with new American claims that celebratory ‘chatter’ had been heard from militants in the wake of the incident, while BBC Breakfast focuses on French sources’ suggestion that an explosion could be heard on the black box recorder. Sky also references a near miss involving a missile and passenger jet as it approached Sharm El Sheikh last August – a story they have picked up from the Daily Mail.
The Daily Mail reports the Department for Transport has confirmed a British Thomson flight from London Stansted carrying 189 passengers came ‘within 1,000ft’ of a rocket as it approached Sharm El Sheikh on August 23. The flight only took evasive action after the pilot spotted the missile, according to the report, the jet landed safely, and holidaymakers were not told they had been close to disaster. The lead article carries a Government statement confirming the matter was investigated and a targeted attack ruled out, with the incident most likely to have been the result of an Egyptian military exercise.
Much coverage focuses on the cause of last week’s crash. The Telegraph Independent, Mirror and Times report suggestions from French investigators that data aboard one of the Airbus black boxes ends abruptly, like “a cardiogram showing the unexpected death of a person from a heart attack”. Ansar Jerusalem is the key suspect behind the downing of Metrojet Flight 9268, according to the Daily Telegraph. The jihadist group is based in the Sinai province and is reported to have been behind a number of terrorist attacks, including against Israeli interests.
Military pay
The front page of the Daily Telegraph reports that members of the Armed Forces will be denied automatic pay rises under reported proposals put forward by the Chancellor George Osborne. It is claimed Mr Osborne wants to end the long-standing system of incremental pay rises that are given to military personnel after each year of service. Senior military figures are said to be angry at the way in which the Treasury is forcing the MoD to make £1.5b in “efficiency savings” in the forthcoming Whitehall spending review. Senior military officers are bitterly resisting the demands, it is reported, arguing that any further cuts to benefits will simply persuade more highly qualified personnel to quit the Forces for better-paid jobs in the private sector. Instead, the article states, military chiefs want the Government to reduce spending on some costly equipment programme.
Ebola
BBC Breakfast and Sky News both report that Sierra Leone is set to be declared free of the ebola virus today after meeting the World Health Organisation’s standard of 42 days with no new cases. The outbreak that engulfed west Africa 18 months ago claimed 4,000 lives in the country and led to the deployment of British troops and medics. In an interview with the BBC, president Ernest Bai Koroma claims he had “conflicts” with the WHO who delayed providing expert advice that would have allowed him to declare a state of emergency and restrict movement.
United Arab Emirates
The Times and Guardian report that The United Arab Emirates used billions of pounds worth of arms deals and other contracts as leverage when asking Britain to “challenge” the Muslim Brotherhood’s role in this country. The articles state that David Cameron will seek to appease key Middle East allies when he publishes a long-awaited report into Brotherhood activities within weeks. The reports cite leaked emails between UAE and its British public relations chiefs appearing to reveal the scale of behind-the-scenes lobbying designed to persuade Mr Cameron to take action against the Brotherhood. An FCO spokesman said, "we don't comment on leaked documents", and Downing Street also refused to comment.
National Security Review
The Times has reported that Russia will be named as a top-tier risk to Britain in a review of national security. The paper says that instability caused by mass migration will be listed among the biggest threats, along with terrorism, radicalisation by extremist groups and the potentially devastating impact of a global health scare. The risk assessment will form a key element of the national security strategy.
Syria
An article in the Daily Mail reports on comments made by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon yesterday, that Britain's reluctance to bomb ISIL in Syria is "morally indefensible" following the group's suspected involvement in downing the Russian passenger jet. However, in an editorial, the newspaper argues ministers should resist the temptation to cite the air disaster as a reason to support the war in Syria.
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