What the papers say

Journalist Keith Baker takes a look at what's making the headlines in Wednesday morning's papers.

The Daily Telegraph says Tom Kelly doesn't like seeing his name in the papers.

It says he prefers to be known as PMOS - the Prime Minister's official spokesman.

But there's not much chance of anonymity in Wednesday's papers.

Several of the papers carry a front page picture of a rather penitent looking Mr Kelly after his apology on Tuesday for calling Dr David Kelly a Walter Mitty.

His explanation is quoted at length.

The Mirror, for one, is not impressed.

Labour is in a sorry state, the government is riddled with spin like dry rot. The Daily Telegraph

"A sorry excuse", the headline declares.

But the Mail shows some sympathy.

"Tom Kelly is generally respected by journalists", it says, "as a man who tries to tell the truth."

The Daily Telegraph says he is regarded as "a safe pair of hands but now he's dropped an almighty clanger".

"Labour's in a sorry state", it says, "the government is riddled with spin, like dry rot."

In the Independent, Paul Waugh, who started the story running on Monday, describes how he was taken aback when Tom Kelly used the Walter Mitty expression in a telephone conversation.

"At no time", he says, "was I told that the words weren't for publication."

The Times tries to track down some of the other players in the drama.

'Insensitive'

It claims that in order to avoid further upset, the Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has been advised to stay indoors on Wednesday.

Whitehall officials have suggested that a picture of him having a nice time on the day David Kelly's funeral would be "insensitive".

The paper says Tony Blair has hardly ventured outside the gates of the Cliff Richard's Barbados hideaway.

And at least one Sunday paper has sent a photographer to France, where Alastair Campbell is on holiday, in the hope of catching him appearing to enjoy himself.

Tuesday's fatal bomb blast in Jakarta is widely reported.

The Sun describes the attack as: "A carbon copy of the Bali bombing".

The Daily Telegraph says al-Qaeda has left its deadly calling card once again.

The Financial Times has an interview with the head of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority who reveals that A-level maths is to be made easier.

A new design for the course is to be announced on Wednesday.

The heatwave, which has now settled on 30 countries in the northern hemisphere, is a sign that global warming is speeding up The Guardian

The paper says the number of candidates taking the exam has been falling and there are fears that maths might actually disappear from many universities.

In Northern Ireland, Tuesday night's storms provide big headlines.

The News Letter writes of Ulster being treated to a "spectacular lightning show" and 20,000 homes being left without electricity.

The Irish News has a front page picture of a bolt of lightning striking somewhere in the north west.

The temperatures are a big story everywhere of course.

"Mucho scorchio", says the Mirror.

But the Guardian is worried where it's all going to lead.

It reports the views of a leading scientist that the heatwave, which has now settled on 30 countries in the northern hemisphere, is a sign that global warming is speeding up.

Meanwhile, the Express reports that a TV sports executive has won a charity auction run by the singer Carly Simon.

He has paid £35,000 to find out who her song, You're So Vain, is all about.

The rest of us are still in the dark, though. He has been sworn to secrecy.