What the papers say

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

The Belfast Telegraph wants to know why the East Strand in Portrush failed to meet European standards for bathing water.

It knows there was a major pollution incident, but it says the Department of the Environment has refused to answer questions about when and how it happened, or if there's any health risk.

The Department says that if it was to comment, it could prejudice the outcome of a prosecution.

The Irish News reports that the leading loyalist Mark Harbinson, who's accused of raping a 13 year-old girl, has been suspended from the Orange Order pending the outcome of the case.

The paper describes it as "a highly unusual move".

The News Letter has the story of two-year-old Katie Maguire from Magherafelt, who's receiving treatment in America for a rare form of epilepsy.

The paper reports that she's suffering from pneumonia and is currently in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Chicago. Her parents say they are "praying she pulls through".

'Alienated'

The Lisbon Treaty is big news - not least in the Dublin papers.

The Irish Times says the road finally ran out for its opponents when the Czech president signed it.

But it says the issue remains a key challenge for European leaders, whose citizens "feel alienated".

The Irish Independent says the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, is on standby to travel to a summit of EU leaders to discuss who should be the new president of Europe.

Several of the cross-channel papers are angry that the treaty has been pushed through.

The Express calls it "the end of Britain as we know it", while the Sun says Britain has been "betrayed".

But the Daily Mail's disappointment is directed at the Conservative leader, David Cameron, who has scrapped plans for a referendum.

It says he'll be under intense pressure to hold a vote on the UK's whole relationship with Europe if he becomes prime minister.

'Major fissure'

The main headline in the Guardian focuses on "a split within Labour" over western strategy in Afghanistan.

It reports that Kim Howells, who had ministerial responsibility for the Afghan campaign until last year, has called for British troops to be withdrawn.

Writing in the paper, he says it's time to concentrate instead on securing the UK's borders.

He says the money saved should be spent on intelligence-gathering on people with suspected links to al-Qaeda.

The paper says a "major fissure" has opened up within Labour at a time when western governments have been deeply embarrassed by the events surrounding the election run-off in Afghanistan.

Finally, the Independent devotes an entire page to Britain's most expensive train fare.

A public transport consultant has discovered that to travel from Newquay in Cornwall to the Kyle of Lochalsh in Scotland and back - a round trip of 1,700 miles, could set you back £1,002.

It's the first time, apparently that a rail fare in Britain has topped £1,000.

The paper reports that for the same money, you could have 31 flights from London to Edinburgh or a one-week Caribbean cruise.

Or you could buy a second-hand car that was on sale in a garage in Newquay yesterday, and have enough left over to pay for the petrol.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
The Irish News
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Belfast Telegraph
The Irish Times
Irish Independent
The Mirror
The Sun
The Guardian
The Daily Telegraph
The Independent
The Times
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