Embryo vote considered in papers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7409712.stm

Version 0 of 1.

The Parliamentary vote allowing scientists to create hybrid embryos makes the news in several papers.

The Daily Telegraph says Britain is now set to become a world leader in the stem cell research.

For the Mail, however, the development is "a huge step into the unknown" as millennia of moral, religious and scientific belief have been defied.

The Mirror says MPs voted for progress. In the Sun's view, such science could potentially improve quality of life.

Phone records

The Times reports that the government is planning to hold details of calls and internet use as part of the fight against crime and terrorism.

The data would be held for 12 months and the police and security services would have to seek the permission of the courts to gain access to it.

The Guardian says an opinion poll suggests that support for Labour is the lowest recorded since 1984.

The poll put the Conservatives on 41% and Labour on 27%.

Pregnant man

The Mirror and the Sun have pictures of a pregnant American man, who was born female, Thomas Beatie, six weeks before he is due to give birth.

They say he became a man in his 20s, keeping his reproductive organs and fell pregnant eight months ago with donor sperm.

The Independent welcomes increasing support for the armed forces.But the Express says the idea of having a bank holiday to honour the military could become an empty symbolic gesture.

South African violence

The violence against foreigners in South Africa is vividly told in pictures of mobs on the rampage.

The Financial Times blames the violence on President Mbeki.

The Independent asks whether pets have become the latest victims of the credit crunch, after thousands have been abandoned and sanctuaries struggle.

And the Telegraph reports that the credit crunch may also force middle class shoppers to abandon organic and fair trade food as too costly.