Papers focus on Moscow deaths

The deaths of at least 100 people at the end of the siege of the Russian theatre being held by Chechen militants receives much discussion in Monday's papers.

The Times speculates that the gas pumped into the theatre by Russian forces was designed by Soviet military technicians during the Cold War to penetrate nuclear bunkers and battlefield command centres.

The Daily Telegraph notes that people who were in the gallery of the theatre seemed to have suffered less... suggesting the gas was heavier than air.

It says many of the dead may have been suffocated.

The paper then turns to the reluctance of the Russians to name the gas.

It quotes a security consultant who thinks it might be "just the sort of thing they're not supposed to have".

And The Guardian says the Russian authority's secrecy is likely to back-fire on them.

"If it turns out that hostages died who could have been saved had the government told medical staff what the nature of the gas was", it cautions, "then the political consequences could be very dire indeed for the president".

'Horror Hurricane'

Mountainous waves, fallen trees and crushed cars are pictured by many of the papers to try to illustrate the violence of yesterday's storms.

They give detailed accounts of the trail of death and destruction left by the gales.

The Sun describes how Britain was flattened by what it calls the "Horror Hurricane".

For the Daily Star it was carnage, while the Daily Express says the 100mph winds created a "nightmare".

The Telegraph says the damage was particularly severe in southern England and Wales while the Express reckons the repair bill will amount to more than £50m.

Widespread cheating

The Guardian predicts a crisis of confidence among parents and teachers over the credibility of national tests for 11-year-olds.

The paper says it has gathered enough evidence to prove that cheating is so widespread that the league tables can no longer be trusted.

But it seems the cheaters aren't children anxious to please their parents but teachers under pressure to deliver good results.

Another group of public sector workers is the focus of many of the other papers.

In general, they welcome the Fire Brigades Union's decision to call off the first planned stoppages in their dispute over pay.

Feeding frenzy

The Telegraph says an improved pay offer from the government is likely in response to the union's move.

And The Mirror thinks it knows the figures.

It suggests the dispute could finally be resolved with a 16% pay rise.

It's thought such a deal over three years would stop a wave of strikes after bonfire night.

But the paper says that such a settlement would trigger a feeding frenzy over pay in the public sector.

The Sun doesn't think the government should give an inch: "The slightest hint of a white flag", the paper argues, "and the union will shove its hand deeper into the public purse".

Vintage wine

The introduction of the Euro hasn't provided all tourists within the Eurozone a clearer understanding of exchange rates.

The Independent reports that eight Swedish students, who enjoyed an expensive meal out in Cannes were jailed when they refused to pay their bill.

The visitors, drank £35,000 worth of vintage wines without realising how much they cost.

It seems they became confused by the number of zeros on the prices on the wine list.