The two-day state visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy attracts the attention of Wednesday's papers.
The Independent calls it "the state visit of the year".
Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph's Simon Heffer finds it hard to think of more disparate characters than Gordon Brown and Mr Sarkozy.
And the Times warns that a hint by the French president that he might boycott the Beijing Olympics threatens to open a rift with Mr Brown.
'Screeching U-turn'
Some papers criticise the prime minister for his handling of the Commons vote on the government's embryo research legislation.
The Sun thinks Mr Brown is right to allow a conscience vote.
However, the paper wonders why it took the threatened resignation of his closest Cabinet allies to bring about what it calls this "screeching U-turn".
And the Daily Mail refers to a morally messy compromise which has more than a whiff of political expediency about it.
Jackson debts
The Daily Express and the Daily Mirror report that drunken teenagers are to face random breath tests in the street. Those who fail will be marched home to face their parents.
The Express calls it the most radical police clampdown on the UK's binge-drinking yob culture.
Meanwhile, the Daily Star reports that each member of 70s band the Jackson Five are struggling to make ends meet.
Michael Jackson's debts run into millions, while his brothers and fellow band members are even worse off.
Baby pandas
Animal experts in China have devised a new tactic to try to help pandas have more babies, according to the Times.
An exercise involving an apple helps the panda to walk on its rear legs, strengthening pelvic muscles and making it better equipped for mating.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail has a photograph of Amy - described as the biggest rabbit in the world.
She is 4ft-long (1.2m) and reportedly weighs nearly a stone (6.3Kg) more than the previous record holder.
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