Papers question Hamilton arrest 'ethics'

The impact of the widespread newspaper coverage of the allegations against Neil and Christine Hamilton is summed up neatly by Peter McKay in the Daily Mail.

He says: "I doubt if there was a household in the country yesterday which didn't discuss the couple."

Elsewhere, there is a general sense of unease about the way the Hamiltons have been treated.

In its editorial, the Mail questions whether the couple should have to endure their very public ordeal on the word of someone protected by the cloak of anonymity.

The Sun sympathises with the Hamiltons - arguing that people accused of serious offences should not be named until they are found guilty.

The Daily Telegraph acknowledges it is hard to feel sorry for the couple, but says they are entitled to justice.

Zimbabwe exodus

The scale of the continuing exodus of white farmers from northern Zimbabwe is conveyed in graphic terms in the Telegraph.

The paper quotes a British woman who was forced to leave: "It reminded me of Jews leaving Germany or the people leaving Kosovo".

The Guardian thinks the situation is so volatile that farmers' leaders fear the other 4.000 white-owned farms in the country will be attacked.

NI apprehension

There is little optimism about the immediate prospects for the Northern Ireland peace process.

The Independent highlights apprehension that the IRA may take its proposals on decommissioning off the table in protest at the one-day suspension of the province's devolved government.

The Financial Times believes Sinn Fein and the IRA would be foolish to go back on their commitments to date.

University place 'bonanza'

As thousands of A-level students await their exam results this week, the Times reports that universities and colleges are struggling to fill a record number of places.

All but four of the leading universities will have vacancies.

The paper predicts many students will enjoy the easiest ever route to a degree place, with many of the former polytechnics accepting applicants with bare passes.

The Independent believes the record number of university applications this year is heartening evidence that the unpopular system of student loans is not the deterrent that many had forecast.

But The Mirror argues that tuition fees are pricing thousands of students out of higher education - and it urges the government to re-think its policy.

Gherkin patrol

The Telegraph has news of the latest attempt by the authorities in Germany to prevent a decline in the standards of gherkins.

The Rhineland chamber of agriculture has employed a team of inspectors to ensure growers do not sell bent gherkins.

Apparently the best ones are small and straight.

The bendy gherkins that fail to make the grade are shredded and used in salads.