Defeat over Gurkhas celebrated

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There is celebration in the papers over the government's Commons defeat on restricting the right of former Gurkhas to settle in Britain.

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/97970">"A great day</a> for all who believe in decency," suggests the Daily Express. The Sun calls it "A triumph for decency and democracy."

That it is a humiliation for Gordon Brown is another widely held view.

The Times detects around the government a <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6195069.ece">"Stench of death</a> reminiscent of John Major's last days in office".

Virus spread

Swine flu is spread across page after page of coverage, as the threat of the virus also appears to be spreading.

A Guardian double-page spread maps its <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2009/apr/28/swine-flu-outbreak-mexico-pandemic">movement across the world.</a>

The paper reports health experts' fears that swine flu could mix with avian flu in south-east Asia, transforming into an "armageddon virus".

The Daily Star is concerned that the crisis could see major sporting events and music festivals <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/78729/Glasto-FA-Cup-facing-the-axe-over-piggy-flu/">cancelled</a> - but the government plays down this possibility.

Economy 'hope'

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/apr/30/recession-consumer-confidence">Consumer confidence</a> is at its highest level since the start of the financial crisis in the summer of 2007, according to the Guardian lead story.

For the government, the poll is "the first glimmer of hope that the economy will stage a pre-election recovery".

The paper admits, though, that the poll pre-dates a Budget predicting the weakest year of growth since WWII.

The Financial Times leads on hedge fund managers' and private equity bosses' <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d5eaa8a2-34c1-11de-940a-00144feabdc0.html">opposition</a> to planned new regulations.

Young learners

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/04/29/exclusive-the-amazing-two-year-old-with-an-iq-of-156-she-s-cleverer-than-carol-vorderman-115875-21319470/">"Britain's brainiest child,"</a> a two-year-old girl with an IQ of 156, is front page news in the Daily Mirror.

The mother of Mensa's youngest member is quick to point out: "We're not pushy parents. She just loves to learn."

She is a while away from being affected by the primary education overhaul anticipated in the Daily Telegraph.

The paper says children will be taught to read using internet search engines, as computing skills are put on an equal footing with literacy and numeracy.