What the papers say

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

Two of the local papers examine the continuing controversy over plans to protest at the armed forces' homecoming parade at the weekend.

The Irish News reports that hundreds of loyalists and republicans may come face-to-face in a series of illegal protests, and says fears are growing that it could lead to violence.

The story adds that the police are planning one of the biggest security operations since the height of the protest at Drumcree.

The News Letter reports that the Presbyterian Moderator, Dr Donald Patton, has called on Sinn Féin to cancel its planned demonstration.

It says he wrote to the Sinn Féin president last week, but so far has received no response. The paper calls it a surprise intervention by the churchman.

'Frustration'

The Belfast Telegraph concentrates on another intervention - this time an appeal from the business community for the executive to get back to business at Stormont.

It comes in an open letter, which the paper publishes in full on an inside page.

The paper describes it as "a sign of growing frustration among the business community" over the failure by the politicians to meet.

Unusually, three papers have the same front page picture.

The photograph, in the Irish News, News Letter and Irish Times, shows two children playing with a huge snowball. It wasn't taken in the Arctic Circle, but in Newtownabbey.

It might have been cold there, but the government in Dublin is still feeling the heat.

Thousands of parents and teachers are descending on the Dail today to protest at the education cutbacks announced in the budget.

It follows last week's demonstrations by students and older people which achieved some concessions from ministers.

'Abyss'

But the Irish Independent says the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, won't be backing down this time. The paper says that if the government is to avoid further trouble, it must explain to people why certain choices were made.

The Irish Times concentrates on the increasing pressure on the Green Party, which put education matters at the centre of its election campaign.

It says the party's leader, John Gormley, defended his decision to support the measures in the budget because the country was "staring into an economic abyss".

He said everybody had to face up to responsibilities.

Gadgets

Most of the cross-channel front pages are dominated with what one of them is calling "Manuel-gate".

It makes the lead in five papers and the editorial comment columns of eight. The Guardian says that if the BBC thought the controversy over comments by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross was going to go away, it was sorely mistaken.

The Independent says it has turned into a hurricane-force political and media storm.

The Sun has been talking to Georgina Bailie, the 23 year-old granddaughter of the actor Andrew Sachs, who was the main subject of the controversial comments on Brand's radio show.

She calls for both broadcasters to be sacked.

Finally, Britain's top chefs have been voting for their favourite kitchen gadget.

The Daily Telegraph reports that 30 leading names in the cookery world, including Jamie Oliver and Raymond Blanc, have been pondering the one utensil they couldn't do without.

It reports that they considered mixers, breadmakers, egg poachers and garlic presses, among others. They finally plumped for one that's been around for centuries and costs less than a pound - the wooden spoon.