Papers assess witness restriction

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The fallout from the collapse of a murder trial due to the restriction of the use of anonymous witnesses is considered in Wednesday's papers.

The Guardian reports that the government is trying to rush through emergency legislation which would stop other criminal cases falling apart.

The Times says granting anonymity could encourage witnesses to commit perjury.

And the Sun accuses the law lords who overturned the measure of "sabotaging a vital prosecution tool".

Energy industry criticism

The Daily Mail is angry about what it calls "the great gas swindle".

It refers to the practice of cheap North Sea gas being exported to Europe in the summer, stored, and then sold back to UK customers during the winter.

And the Daily Mirror criticises chief executives of energy firms for taking home big pay rises while failing to keep their customers' bills down.

It urges Gordon Brown to force them to curb price increases by bolstering the powers of the industry regulator.

Over-stretched military

The UK's most senior military officer tells the Daily Telegraph the armed forces cannot continue fighting in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup says British military resources are already stretched beyond their limit.

Meanwhile, the Daily Express is angry that a former soldier was arrested by police for making a citizens' arrest.

The paper says Frank McCourt acted after the alleged culprit threw stones and eggs at his home.

Apocalyptic prediction

The Telegraph reports that thousands of Dutch people are awaiting an apocalypse predicted by the Mayan civilisation of South America.

Many, it says, are convinced that a world catastrophe will occur in December 2012, prompting them to buy boats and rations and build bunkers.

One even tells the paper that her country will sink into the sea under the weight of immigrants arriving.

She says "maybe it's not so bad" as she no longer likes the country.