Heroin on NHS considered

Thousands of heroin addicts are to be prescribed the drug at GPs' surgeries, according to the Observer.

It says the move is a bid to tackle what it calls "Britain's soaring drug addiction rate", and follows an investigation by the Home Affairs Select Committee.

The story also appears in the News of the World, which says that three independent inquiries have concluded that prescription of diamorphine - a pure version of heroin - would help wean addicts off the drug.

Britain 'terrorist target'

The Sunday Times claims to have seen an encrypted video featuring Osama bin Laden, during which he mentions Britain as a terrorist target.

In the film, he is said to refer to an earlier warning from an al-Qaeda spokesman, adding that if the spokesman "specifically targeted Britain and America... it served as an opportunity for other nations to revise their stance".

Al-Qaeda supporters, says the paper, claim that part of the interview was recorded just eight weeks ago.

Bush under fire

The Observer gauges the reaction of the American press to what it describes as "one of the most explosive documents to arrive in any US President's in-tray" - the memo which, reports the paper, warned George W Bush last August that "al-Qaeda would strike at America's heart".

It says that President Bush has been riding on "the political crest of a wave" since the 11 September attacks.

The article quotes several US papers, including the Washington Post, which alleges that the memo "left little doubt that the hijacked airliners were intended for use as missiles".

Conflicting euro reports

There are conflicting views as to whether the government is on the verge of introducing a Bill for a referendum on the euro.

The Sunday Times reports that a memo to MPs from Nigel Smith - a referendum expert who is advising the anti-euro campaign - says Tony Blair will not be able to drum up enough support for the single currency in this parliament.

Elsewhere, there are indications that Mr Blair is pressing ahead with his bid for an early referendum.

The Independent on Sunday reports that the speculation of recent days is part of a campaign to confront holidaymakers travelling to mainland Europe this summer with the issue of the single currency, before they handle the euro abroad.

Downing Street may have dismissed Stephen Byers' suggestion that a bill for a euro referendum will be published in the autumn, but the Sunday Telegraph says there is evidence that Gordon Brown is warming to the idea of the single currency.

The paper says he has "explicitly authorised close supporters" to talk up the likelihood that Britain will join the euro before the next election.

Wembley woes

The Independent on Sunday tells us that yet another setback for the bid to replace Wembley Stadium appears to be on the horizon.

It says government approval of plans for the £715m project could be delayed for weeks, after the publication of a damning report into the development.

The paper adds that this further delay may lead to fresh demands for the national stadium to be built in Birmingham instead.

While England still awaits its new arena, the Sunday Times reveals details of what it calls the "hi-tech heaven" about to greet players and supporters at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

We are told that the stadium playing host to England's opening game with Sweden features grass grown a lighter shade of green, to give better TV pictures.

The venue for England's match with Argentina has the "world's first hovering football pitch" - the turf will be brought in to the covered arena using a cushion of air and 34 wheels.