What the papers say

Journalist Tony Macaulay takes a look at what is making the headlines in Friday's morning papers.

The financial crisis dominates the headlines, with The Independent calling it the 'Summer Meltdown' and sums it all up in a series of headlines in stock exchange lettering on its front page.

"Shares plummet around the world, FTSEs worst day in 4 years. Value of UK plc falls £60 billion. Market slumps 13% since June."

Then comes the scary stuff: "Pensions surplus wiped out. Fears for housing market and Growing Threat to the Economy."

Irish pension funds have lost almost 7% over the summer as a result of mounting difficulties in the US mortgage market Irish Times

The Times focuses on fears of what it calls a "global credit crunch".

It says increasingly fearful investors around the globe are bailing out of shares for the safe haven of government bonds and cash.

The Sun calls this "Sell Hell".

There is a plunging FTSE 100 graph on the front page of The Daily Telegraph and advice for investors on how to weather the storm.

'Blood pressure epidemic'

The Irish Times says Irish pension funds have lost almost 7% over the summer as a result of mounting difficulties in the US mortgage market.

Banks have been hardest hit "as the worst crisis in 30 years looms", says the Irish Independent.

But the paper manages one positive note that the crisis may mean no further rises in interest rates.

If all that financial gloom raises your blood pressure, The Daily Mail has more bad news.

It says doctors are warning of a "blood pressure epidemic that is out of control".

It says "alcohol abuse, smoking, a salt rich diet and a lack of exercise have caused the condition to soar out of control".

There are calls for an independent audit for the Public Prosecution Service spending after it was revealed that it paid out £10.8m last year for lawyers fees, witness costs and expenses Irish News

And if you thought the official advice that 30 minutes of gentle exercise a day is enough to improve your health, the Guardian reports on a new study by public health experts, that says "adults need to add jogging and twice weekly weight training sessions if they want to cut their risk of heart disease and obesity".

Kate and Gerry McCann are pictured in many of the papers thanking the public for 20,000 messages of support and the Daily Express reports that "detectives were last night just hours away from solving the mystery of Madeleine's disappearance".

Locally, the Belfast Telegraph reports that 27 couples have had their wedding receptions cancelled after a local hotel cancelled all bookings from January 2008 because of complaints made by residents about loud noise coming from the function room.

The Irish News leads on calls for an independent audit for the Public Prosecution Service spending after it was revealed that it paid out £10.8m last year for lawyers fees, witness costs and expenses.

It says this figure is five times higher than an area with a similar caseload in Britain.

"Pensioners flee hall arson attack" is the News Letter headline, reporting on an attack on a community hall in Bangor on Thursday night.

The front page features a picture of delighted A-level students from Ballyclare High School.

In fact, jubilant A-level students are jumping for joy in most of the papers.

Newry teenager Kevin O'Reilly makes the front page of The Sun with his six straight As in his A-levels, in spite of having his leg amputated and enduring six bouts of chemotherapy.

Finally, the Times reports on a would-be thief in Wisconsin who forced a 61-year-old nun to drive him around in her car for almost an hour in search of money.

The paper says he eventually gave up and apologised to the nun when she explained that she had taken a vow of poverty.