What the papers say

Journalist Keith Baker takes a look at what is making the headlines in Monday's newspapers.

The Irish News concentrates on the proposals to stop supermarkets and off-licences selling cut-price drink.

It says this is likely to bring the Executive into conflict with some of the most powerful companies in the world.

Elsewhere, the Belfast Telegraph writes of worries about the economic situation here. This is based on information from the Ulster Bank showing that business activity in the private sector is down for the 10th month in a row.

The paper says that while the rest of the UK economy is showing some signs of recovery, the pace of decline in Northern Ireland is accelerating.

And the main story in the News Letter...a row over a republican parade in a village in Tyrone at the weekend, part of an event to remember two IRA men who were shot by the SAS in 1990.

The paper talks of Unionist outrage. The Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott wants the police to investigate and says the parade was designed to be inflammatory.

And a very different kind of event is covered at length in Daily Telegraph.

It says people who were once too afraid to cross the peace lines of North Belfast have been taken to see their feared neighbours at first hand.

It reports how residents from the nationalist New Lodge and the Loyalist Tiger's Bay took the first of a series of tours aimed at promoting understanding between the once bitterly-divided communities.

Meanwhile the Irish News reports how a new Orange Order mural has gone on public display - in the heart of West Belfast.

The artwork shows the banner of Broadway Defenders LOL 824 and it's on the building used by an Irish language centre and which was once Broadway Presbyterian Church.

The paper describes how some young people from East Belfast came to help with the project.

And the Orange Order's got an apology from the Ulster Bank.

This is a story on the front page of the News Letter.

It's about the controversy over members of the bank's staff in Castlewellan wearing Down GAA shirts in the run-up the last month's All-Ireland final.

As a result the Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson wrote to the bank asking for sponsorship for local lodges taking part in next year's Twelfth.

According to the paper, he's now received a letter apologising for any discomfort caused by their enthusiasm over Down's success.

Mr Nelson says he's happy with this and will now be seeking a meeting about the sponsorship issue.

In the Dublin papers there are more revelations about prominent figures in the economic crisis.

The Irish Independent reports how the former head of the Irish Nationwide Michael Fingleton claimed almost 450,000 euro in holiday pay when he said farewell to the ailing building society.

The paper says he was paid the money for untaken leave, all part of his 2.4 million euro package. It says a Department of Finance official expressed concern at the time, saying the payment was likely to raise further questions.

A couple of stories dominating the London papers. The Independent says proposals about the funding of English universities could trigger the first big split of the coalition.

And we have acres in the tabloids about the latest X-Factor controversy. What the X going on, says the Sun.

And there's great excitement about the lottery fortune that hasn't been claimed.

The Mail tells readers - perhaps no-one's checked the numbers of the office syndicate yet. In which case it could still be you.

A cartoon shows a couple in a restaurant. She says - Half a bottle of the house white? I take it we haven't won the £113 million.