What the papers say

Journalist Grania McFadden takes a look at what is making the headlines in Wednesday's morning papers.

The News Letter warns that Northern Ireland is facing an Aids explosion, as the number of HIV cases in the province has doubled in the first six months of 2003.

The charity Aids says the 24 new cases include four pregnant women, indicating the level of danger to the heterosexual community.

It warns that "ignorance and embarrassment about sex are putting lives in danger."

Meanwhile, the Irish News warns of a sharp increase in Northern Ireland's drug problems.

The Westminster Committee for Northern Ireland Affairs says that crack cocaine has become a major problem in the province.

It warns: "The province is on the brink of a drugs explosion, if more resources aren't made available to deal with this growing problem."

Money experts are warning that Britain's devastating debt time bomb is on the verge of exploding The Express

The Irish News also reports shock among staff at Analog Devices, an electronics factory in west Belfast.

All 80 workers there have been made redundant after the firm's US-owned parent company was unable to find a buyer for it.

The Dublin papers concentrate on news that the Irish Minister for Justice is considering a change in evidence laws for trials, in the wake of the dramatic collapse of the Limerick murder trial on Monday.

The Irish Independent says Gardai are to get a two million euro boost to fight crime hotspots in Limerick and Dublin.

Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness appears on the front page of the Mirror, alongside the headline "What has he got to hide?"

The paper reports that Mr McGuinness was criticised by Lord Saville after he refused to answer questions at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

'Devastating debt'

The judge warned him it would be suggested that the reason he didn't answer was that he had something to hide.

The cross-channel papers concentrate on the murder of Lincolnshire schoolboy Luke Walmsley, who was stabbed in a scuffle outside his classroom.

The Mail says the killing echoes the death of Damilola Taylor, and the Mirror believes it must act as "a wake-up call".

As economists forecast a rise in interest rates on Thursday, the Express says "money experts are warning that Britain's devastating debt time bomb is on the verge of exploding".

A report by the consumer group CPP suggests that one in four of us won't be able to keep up with debt repayments and bills over the next three months, and many will choose to default.

A spokeswoman tells the paper a rate rise will tip many borrowers over the edge.

Finally, the Star reports that more than 10,000 Daleks have been destroyed in a warehouse fire.

The remote controlled toys were tipped to be big Christmas sellers among Dr Who fans until they were exterminated.