Jet collision makes late editions

The plane crash over southern Germany happened too late for the early editions, but several papers change their later front pages to reflect the news.

"Many Die As Jets Collide" is the headline in the Daily Mail.

The paper says local police have spoken of a 25-mile zone of destruction as the planes came down.

The Times says first indications suggest the planes either touched each other or narrowly avoided a collision before crashing explaining the two fireballs reported by witnesses.

The Guardian reports that although it is not clear what caused the crash the Tupolev TU-154 has a poor safety record.

Orphan Afghan victim

A six-year-old Afghan girl is pictured in several papers.

Still in her party dress, she lies injured in a hospital in the city of Kandahar, one of those reported to have been hurt by the American bomb apparently dropped on a wedding reception.

Both the Mirror and the Sun use the same headline above the picture: "Orphaned".

The papers say the girl's mother, father and other members of her immediate family were all killed in the attack.

The Independent believes the bombing is the most "devastating and deadly mistake" made by the American military since it began its operation in Afghanistan.

Henman battles to quarter-finals

"The Battle Of Timmy's Tummy" is how the Daily Telegraph chooses to describe Tim Henman's nail-biting progression to the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Struggling against an upset stomach, the Times say Britain's Number One gave his legion of fans "near heart failure" before triumphing in a five-set epic against Michel Kratochvil.

He was helped along the way by smelling salts administered by his trainer.

The Independent notes that Henman left Centre Court saying, "I've no idea how I won".

He was not the only one, adds the paper.

The Mirror describes it as a "white-knuckle win".

The Telegraph notes optimistically that he is on the "home stretch" to his dream of winning Wimbledon.

The Guardian says he has taken another step nearer to the title he considers his destiny.

US criticised for court stance

The Americans attract criticism from several papers for their opposition to the new International Criminal Court.

The Financial Times says the sight of the US administration trying to strangle at birth a UN institution for the defence of human rights is "deeply disturbing".

The Independent describes Washington's behaviour as "arrogant and unacceptable".

However, there is support for President George W Bush from some quarters.

The Mail says he is merely asserting his country's commitment to its own constitution and independence.

The Telegraph chooses to concentrate on domestic issues and uses its front page to report on the case of a woman of 108 who, it claims, has died after refusing food in protest at the closure of her nursing home.

Alice Knight was forced to move from the home in Norwich because the owners said they could not afford the modernisation work needed to meet new regulatory standards, the paper says.

The Telegraph says campaigners for the elderly believe the case demonstrates the funding problems which have led to the closure of nearly 800 residential and nursing homes in the last year.

'Retirement poverty'

The problems of funding pensions are highlighted by the Independent, among other papers, which says a statistical blunder has forced the government to admit it has no idea how much millions of people are saving for their retirements.

The paper says the "hugely embarrassing" mistake means that contributions may have been exaggerated by up to £35bn a year.

The shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, David Willetts, says the admission reinforces fears that millions are heading towards a retirement in poverty.

Doctor Who's comeback

Finally, no chance of retirement for Doctor Who.

The Daily Express reports that the BBC is planning a new series to celebrate the timelord's 40th anniversary.

The paper says BBC staff have been sent to the sets of American sci-fi programmes to get some ideas on updating the show.

But some things will stay the same; the paper says, the Daleks will be returning too.