Newspaper headlines: 'UK ready to strike again' and '100 days of hell'

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Image source, Reuters

The Sunday Telegraph leads on Lord Cameron's comments, external under the headline "UK ready to strike Houthis again". In his article, the foreign secretary says Britain's "unambiguous" message is that it will always defend the freedom of navigation, and be prepared to "back words with actions". Lord Cameron also describes Houthi claims that the attacks are "all about Israel and Gaza" as "nonsense".

The Observer carries a warning from some leading economists, external that the Red Sea "crisis" could "shatter" hopes of economic recovery around the world by reigniting inflation and disrupting energy supplies. Experts at the World Bank tell the paper that a prolonged crisis threatens to feed through into higher interest rates, lower growth, persistent inflation and greater uncertainty. The Observer says there is growing concern in government circles in London and Washington that a slowing global economy could harm Rishi Sunak and Joe Biden's chances at the ballot box this year.

A milestone in the war between Israel and Hamas is marked by the Sunday Mirror, external. It carries a picture of premature baby in an incubator in Gaza under the headline "100 days of hell". It says the infant is "clinging to life" but close to becoming one of the war's "tiniest victims" because of power cuts at one of the last working hospitals in the territory. A doctor tells the paper that children there are too frail to be moved, despite the area being considered a battle zone.

The Mail on Sunday names a Jamaican criminal, external it says Britain is unable to deport. The paper says the "gun-toting ... gangster" was saved from being forcibly removed from the country by a protest by passengers on his flight in November. According to the Mail, Home Secretary James Cleverly has "furiously lambasted" the passengers, calling them "do-gooders", and suggested he's considering measures to stop passengers blocking deportation flights.

The fallout from the Post Office scandal is still headline news. The Sunday Times reports that Theresa May's government ignored warnings, external about the Horizon IT system and pushed through a CBE for the former head of the Post Office, Paula Vennells. The paper says at least one member of the main honours committee questioned the wisdom of the honour in 2018. The Sunday Times' article includes a denial from the chair of the honours sub-committee that he "brushed aside" concerns, and an unnamed source says assurances were received from civil servants about her fitness for the award. Ms Vennells announced on Tuesday that she was handing back her CBE.

The Scottish Mail on Sunday leads on an opinion poll, external which suggests the SNP faces losing 24 MPs in the next general election - more than half of its current total. The paper says the survey "heaps misery" on the "embattled" First Minister Humza Yousaf.

And the Daily Star, external has a warning about the "Beast from the North" which it says will put Britain in the grip of "ice chaos" for a week. It's predicting snow storms all over the country and temperatures of -13C.

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