Papers speculate over election

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Speculation over whether Gordon Brown will call a snap November election continues to dominate the papers.

The Times carries three pictures of the prime minister's hands. His nails are bitten to the quick.

As the Guardian puts it, the tide has turned and Mr Brown has a "lonely decision to make".

The Daily Mirror believes he will win, but wonders whether voters would want "an unnecessary election ... on a dark, wet November Thursday".

Tributes

The resignation of the controller of BBC One, Peter Fincham, is given substantial column inches.

The Sun and Mirror both sum up his departure after suggestions the Queen had stormed out of a photo-shoot with the headline: "Orf with his head."

But both papers pay tribute to Mr Fincham too, calling him an honourable man whose creativity gave the public much pleasure.

The Daily Telegraph accuses BBC managers of closing ranks.

'An item again'

Along with the Queen, Prince William also finds himself in the news - on two contrasting counts.

The Sun reports that the officer who acted as his mentor when the prince was training at Sandhurst has been killed in Afghanistan.

The paper says the death will be a "devastating blow" for William.

But the Daily Mail says he has reason to be happy in his private life. The paper believes he and Kate Middleton are "an item" again.

'New life form'

The Guardian devotes its front page to work being undertaken by Craig Venter - the scientist who helped to decode the human genome.

It says he is on the point of building "a synthetic chromosome out of laboratory chemicals".

If he succeeds, the paper says it will amount to "the creation of the first new artificial life form on Earth".

Mr Venter is aware not all will be pleased, but said: "We are trying to create a new value system for life."