Afghan mission dominates papers

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The situation in Afghanistan and the continuing deployment of British forces there provides the dominant story.

Under the Times' headline, <a class="bodl" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6799817.ece">"Tears on the front line",</a> and a picture of soldiers mourning fallen comrades, they describe the horror of a deadly attack.

The Daily Mail says figures show that troops "now face an <a class="bodl" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1207245/Rage-soldiers-grieving-mother-Now-family-200th-Briton-die-Afghanistan-savage-Defence-Minister.html">almost one-in-10 chance</a> of becoming a casualty".

The Mail wants clear mission objectives but sees "confusion and contradiction" in Westminster and Whitehall.

Jobless

The Daily Express and Mail report on a think-tank's figures suggesting there are six million UK unemployed.

The Express says <a class="bodl" href="http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/121114">the figures "blow apart"</a> the government's 2.4 million total, "leading to possible accusations that Labour is massaging the numbers".

"The crippling cost of the benefits culture is now £193billion a year", the paper says - almost twice NHS spending.

The government tells the Mail that it is doing more to help than the previous Conservative government.

Stunned

As figures for police use of Taser stun guns are released, the Guardian highlights <a class="bodl" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/aug/18/taser-home-office-police-weapons">"an obvious danger</a> of Tasers being reached for too casually".

As more officers are issued with the weapon, "it will be more important than ever to hold them to account", it says.

The Sun is one of a number of papers to report on a Tunisian woman <a class="bodl" href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2592012/Woman-in-Tunisia-pregnant-with-12-babies.html">expecting 12 babies </a> after IVF treatment.

After first thinking it was twins, the woman is defying medical advice by aiming to give birth to all 12 babies.

Good game

Visitors to a Suffolk seaside resort could face £2,500 fines for feeding chips to seagulls that are a "serious pest", reports the Daily Telegraph.

Signs in the town of Aldeburgh also warn of £500 fines for allowing dogs on the beach.

Days before the decisive Ashes Test, the Independent reports on research into cricket's <a class="bodl" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/cricket-can-make-you--a-nicer-person-but-no-one-told-ricky-ponting-1773475.html">"civilising influence".</a>

"Cricket can make you a nicer person (but no one told Ricky Ponting)," suggests the Aussie-baiting headline.