What the papers say

Journalist Fionola Meredith takes a look at what is making the headlines in Tuesday's morning papers.

"Tragedy and Trouble overshadow the twelfth" is the Belfast Telegraph headline.

All the Northern Ireland papers carry images of the scenes of disorder - the Telegraph shows a firework exploding in front of police lines; the Irish News pictures a rioter silhouetted against burning cars.

The shot fired at police officers during last night's riots involving dissident republicans in Ardoyne is the focus in the Irish Times.

It says that some minutes after the controversial feeder parade passed the Ardoyne shops, a policeman was heard to issue a warning that a gunman was seen in the area.

The Irish News describes how one of its journalists was treated in hospital for a deep cut to her face, after she was hit by a brick which ricocheted off a police land rover.

And the death of a female band member in Killyleagh is the main story in the News Letter. The paper reports that the 30-year-old woman was one of a number of people struck by the vehicle as they left the twelfth field to head for home.

Afghanistan and swine flu dominate the English front pages.

Troops

"The Army asked for 2,000 troops to be sent to Afghanistan," says the Times, "and Gordon Brown sent 700".

This was despite being warned that not doing so could jeopardise the mission against the Taliban, claims the paper.

Meanwhile, the Guardian reports that the prime minister has told the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, to put more Afghan troops into Helmand province immediately, to make sure the costly territorial gains made by UK forces are not lost - and that British soldiers do not die in vain.

And as swine flu kills a GP and a schoolgirl aged six, there are many fearful headlines around, like the Mail's - a sore throat and 48 hours later Chloe was dead.

Still, Dr Mark Porter writes up in the Times to says that it's vital to keep the risks in perspective, and the current strain poses little threat to life.

The Times explains how bankers entered the world of the teenager.

Just over a fortnight ago, Matthew Robson had never worked in banking.

This was mainly because he was 15 years old and attending a comprehensive school in south London.

But, as the paper notes, today he is the talk of Tokyo, Wall Street and the City, and all because of a report he wrote while on work experience in Morgan Stanley.

In 'How Teenagers Consume the Media', Matthew described how most adolescents do use Facebook but don't use Twitter, which is considered "uncool" and "strictly for the elderly".

They also scorn newspapers, turning instead to online news, and prefer to get their music free from blogs and torrent downloads. Matthew is now considering a career in investment banking.

Manipulative cats

The Guardian has a report on how cats exploit the human need to nurture.

As the paper says, for those with a deep suspicion of cats and their motivations, this may well be the scientific proof they were waiting for.

Instead of loudly yowling when they want food, some cats disguise their cries for attention with a pleasant purr.

But the purr contains a high-frequency element, similar to a baby's cry, that triggers a sense of urgency in the human brain.

Owners do find it irritating, but not irritating enough to kick the cat out, and are driven to respond. So no surprises there then - cats really are manipulative.

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