The Guardian says Turkey's poor could not afford to meet building regulations - and it suggests the west should help with long-term investment. While praising the rapid humanitarian response, the paper says it is a "cruel irony" that it takes a disaster to make such resources available.

Reporting on the rescue operation, The Times notes there were isolated moments of relief among the despair. One came with the rescue of a young woman from the wreckage of her home in Izmit. But her family was not so lucky. Her father died an hour before the rescuers could reach him, as did her young brother.

Rail services under fire

The record number of complaints about rail services draws condemnation from many papers. Responding to a critical report by the body representing rail users, The Mirror says passengers are treated like cattle - but cattle do not have to pay such high prices to be transported.

The Financial Times believes that the bright new paint put on rail carriages after privatisation three years ago only makes it more annoying that they arrive crammed full, or fail to turn up.

The Daily Telegraph says that Railtrack's plans to invest £23 bn would have been unimaginable before privatisation. But it warns that the money must go towards essentials like signalling, as well as prestige projects such as the Channel Tunnel Link.

A-level success criticised

As A level students discover their results, most of the papers ask the usual question posed at this time of year - are the exams getting easier? The Daily Telegraph claims this year's record haul of A and B grades amounts to A-level "inflation".

Other papers are more charitable. The Mirror says this year's students are a credit to their country. While The Independent argues that a little grade inflation is a small price to pay for more young people going to university. It is time to stop complaining and celebrate their achievements, the paper says.

The Express and the Times have stories on an unlucky pickpocket at Seville airport who picked the wrong victim - a member of the US athletics team travelling to Spain for the World Athletics Championships. The thief fled only for the victim's team-mate - and the world's fastest man - Maurice Greene to catch up with him in seconds. "This time he chose the wrong man," a spokesman for the Spanish Civil Guard told the Times.

Day of the triffids

Several papers report on a new peril facing Britain's postmen: Hydrangea Danger. When vet David Brown asked why his letters were arriving late, he was told that postmen had been banned from delivering to his house on wet days, because the overgrown pink hydrangeas at his door made the path slippery. Royal Mail officials at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire told the Daily Mail it was a safety issue.

But Mr Brown is unimpressed. I could understand if I had a couple of snarling rottweilers chained up outside, he tells The Sun. But a damp bush? - You would have thought the postmen were being chased by giant triffids.