Summary
Various media report that Syria's main political opposition group has formed a military bureau to unify armed resistance to the government. | Various media report that the Sun newspaper's defence correspondent, Virginia Wheeler, has been arrested by police investigating allegations of corrupt payments to police and public servants. | Various media report that members of the Armed Forces have met members of the Royal Family at a Diamond Jubilee event at upmarket grocers Fortnum and Mason in London. | Various media report that the Red Cross is due to enter the Baba Amr district of Homs in Syria to deliver aid. | Various media report that Parliamentary elections are taking place in Iran, where President Ahmadinejad is being challenged by supporters of supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei. | The BBC reports that the Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner wants to renegotiate an agreement with the UK on flights to the Falkland Islands from South America. | Various media report that the Pentagon has drawn up plans to help Israel in the event that it launches strikes against Iran's nuclear sites. | The Times reports that Britain might have to pay Pakistan tens of millions of pounds in extra transit fees so that it can ship home its military equipment from Afghanistan. | The Times has also published an obituary for Lieutenant General Sir Alan Reay, former Head of Army Medical Services, who pioneered the provision of paediatric support to soldiers' families. | Various papers report that the Prince of Wales has posed with a paintball gun during a St David's Day visit to the Welsh Guards. | The Daily Express reports that HMS Liverpool served as a refuge for exotic migrating birds during its stint off the coast of Libya last year.
BAE Systems job losses
Various media, including the Independent, report on BAE Systems' decision to stop manufacturing at its site in Brough, resulting in redundancies at the plant.
A Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spokesperson said: "Strategic decisions about the Brough site and business operations are a matter for BAE. We understand this decision was made primarily in response to changes in key international defence programmes and the need to remain globally competitive at a time when defence spending in many nations is under huge pressure.
"We will continue to work with the company, local authorities and local enterprise partnerships to make sure that everything possible is done to help individuals affected."
Defence Secretary meets Uzbek dictator
The Independent reports that the Defence Secretary has met with Uzbek President Islam Karimov, despite his being considered one of the world's most ruthless dictators who has overseen many human rights abuses.
A MOD spokesperson said: "Central Asia is a strategically important region for the UK, and one where we want to intensify our engagement. It is important to us for a range of reasons, including energy security and commercial opportunities, its role on Afghanistan, and our wish to promote governance and human rights. We want to work together to ensure a stable future for Afghanistan and its neighbours.
"It is right that we continue to engage with all those in the region. Our defence engagement with Uzbekistan absolutely does not change our stance on human rights, which will remain an essential component of our work. This includes when necessary raising our human rights concerns with the Uzbek Government, which we do robustly."
Carrier strike capability
The Telegraph reports that Britain could be left without an aircraft carrier equipped with fighter jets for the next decade after soaring costs threw Ministry of Defence plans into doubt.
A MOD spokesperson said: "The Strategic Defence and Security Review set out a strategic view of our defence requirements and took the decision to reintroduce carrier strike capability as part of Future Force 2020. This Government is committed to implementing that decision.
"We are currently finalising the 2012-13 budget and balancing the Equipment Plan. As part of this process we are reviewing all programmes, including elements of the carrier strike programme, to validate costs and ensure risks are properly managed. The Defence Secretary expects to announce the outcome of this process to Parliament before Easter."
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