Members of the Armed Forces have not only been providing security at the Olympic Park but have also been helping visitors to the park.  One member of the public commented that: "We feel a lot safer now the soldiers are looking after the park.  It's great to see them here.  We feel very proud of them."  Pictured left to right: Captain Sarah Bennett and Captain Steven Trichen with some young Japanese children outside the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park. [ Picture: Sergeant Alison Baskerville RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

A view from onboard one of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team's Hawk aircraft as the Red Arrows flew in formation over the Olympic Stadium in London as part of the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Games.  Click here to see cockpit video footage from the flypast. [ Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

SummaryVarious papers report that Leading Medical Assistant Kate Nesbitt MC carried the Torch Flame to Downing Street after she was personally shown chosen by the Prime Minister.  The Guardian online reports that RAF pilots flew armed US drones as part of NATO's military effort in last year's Libyan conflict, the Ministry of Defence has revealed.  The Guardian online reports that three of the four main dissident republican terror groups in Northern Ireland are to merge and reclaim the banner of the IRA, in a major escalation of attempts to destabilise power sharing.  The Wall Street Journal reports that the number of insurgent attacks in Afghanistan in the three months through June was 11 per cent higher than last year which comes after almost a year of declines, providing fuel that the Taliban are gaining momentum as ISAF withdraws.  The Guardian has published a feature on an Afghan ice-cream seller who set up a business eight years ago in Herat which is now worth $15m and employs more than 200 people churning out 30 tonnes a day.  The Daily Mirror has published a feature on the oldest surviving British athlete of the 1948 London Olympic Games who flew for the RAF during the war winning a DFC.  The Times reports that more than 70 years of military history ended yesterday, when the RAF ensign was lowered at RAF Kinloss to be replaced by an Army flag.  Various papers report that the Defence Secretary raised the prospect bringing British troops back home early from Afghanistan as it emerged preparations were already underway for the withdrawal.