Cold War coverage makes comeback

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There is a distinctly retro feel to newspaper coverage of Britain's expulsion of four Russian diplomats.

It is, the Guardian declares, back to Cold War diplomacy. Or - in the Daily Mirror's words - it's Cold War Two.

In return, Russia is likely to expel British diplomats from Moscow, the Times says, but it could also choose to harm British commercial interests.

The Sun calls for a clear signal from Britain's allies that it will not face this threat alone.

Crikey!

Papers show excitement at the prospect of Boris Johnson - the "Tories' blond bombshell", as the Independent calls him - running for London Mayor.

"Crikey, Boris v Ken!" the Daily Telegraph exclaims.

After two terms of Ken Livingstone, the Financial Times says, a genuine contest would certainly be welcome.

The election, according to the Daily Mail, is suddenly shaping up to be one of the most gripping and entertaining public spectacles of the decade.

Doctor's orders

GPs' pay is the lead story in the Mail.

It says official figures show that almost half of family doctors now earn over Â£100,000 a year.

One in ten receives more than Â£150,000 while some family doctors are even being paid in excess of Â£250,000 per annum, the paper adds.

These salaries have become widespread despite the fact that GPs are working fewer hours than they were before new contracts came into effect in 2004.

Novel approach

The Daily Mirror reports Harry Potter author JK Rowling has written to every shop in the world selling her new book.

Ms Rowling has asked booksellers to display posters of missing Madeleine McCann, according to the newspaper.

Initially, it says, the author planned to insert a bookmark with Madeleine's picture into each copy of the new novel.

But this was dropped because she felt she had a responsibility not to expose younger readers to certain issues without their parents' permission.