What the papers say

Journalist Andy Wood takes a look at Friday's morning newspapers

The presence, or rather the non-presence, of the Ulster Unionist Party at talks among pro-Agreement parties next week gives the News Letter its lead this morning.

The paper reports that, rather than taking part in what a party source calls "Weston Park Mark Two", David Trimble is expected to lead a small delegation to Hillsborough, state the unionist case to Prime Minister Tony Blair and then leave.

The News Letter's leading article reminds the UUP that if politics is about anything it is about "fighting your corner and stating your case".

However, Mr Trimble denied the report saying he had taken "no such decision".

Given the sensitivities involved on all sides Mr Maskey's stance is both dignified and praiseworthy

Irish News

The Irish News, reports that Belfast Lord Mayor Alex Maskey has been "heartened" by the pubic response to his plan to lay a wreath at Monday's Battle of the Somme commemoration ceremony.

A spokesman for the Royal British Legion calls the lord mayor's decision "a step forward" and the Irish News' leading article also gives its support.

"Given the sensitivities involved on all sides," the paper says: "Mr Maskey's stance is both dignified and praiseworthy."

Mutual defence

Moving south, and it is the possibility of increased taxes which gives the Irish Independent its front page story.

The paper claims that, with little sign of growth in the Republic's economy, the extra 1.2bn euro planned for the public sector, the wage bill will have to be met by the taxpayer.

The Irish Times goes for a more overtly political lead story.

It says the Irish Government will propose a constitutional ban on Irish involvement in any European mutual defence arrangements and the issue will be put to a referendum in October along with the proposal to ratify the provisions of the Nice Treaty.

'Prince Charming'

The cross-channel papers have a variety of lead stories.

The Daily Telegraph says it could cost taxpayers £21bn to put Railtrack back on the rails.

The Guardian, whose front page is dominated by a striking picture of a starving child in Angola, highlights criticism by aid agencies of the G8 Summit's rescue plan for Africa as "recycled peanuts".

Both the Daily Express and Daily Mail report criticism of the government's decision that school clinics should be able to hand out contraceptives to pupils.

"Dangerous and immoral" is how the Daily Mail summarises reaction to the decision but the Express leading article says that while the move will always be controversial, it is a sensible one if handled "carefully".

Differing page one stories apart there is one picture which is a clear favourite with the nationals; Prince William, fresh from victory on the polo field, getting a congratulatory kiss from supermodel Claudia Schiffer.

"Prince Charming" is how the Express captions the encounter.

However the Daily Mail speaks for millions of men with their clearly envious "Some Princes get all the luck".