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'US troops gather in Gulf' and 'Strictly No Baftas'

The headline on the front page of i Paper reads: "US troops gather in Gulf, as Trump's deadline nears."
The US military build-up in the Gulf, raising the possibility of Donald Trump escalating the Iran war, is featured in several papers. The i Paper says 3,000 airborne troops are being deployed, with US Marines expected to arrive on Friday. However, the "decision to put boots on the ground in Iran" is still undecided, the paper adds.
The headline on the front page of the Guardian reads: "US set to deploy airborne troops as Middle East strikes intensify."
Paratroopers are "poised to go to the Gulf", the Guardian reports, as talks remain ongoing between the US and Iran. According to Donald Trump, Washington was in "very good talks" with Iran to end the war, the paper says. Meanwhile, "Iranian barrages targeted Israel, Gulf Arab states and northern Iraq", the paper says.
The headline on the front page of the Times reads: "Trump prepares to seize island with elite forces."
The Times also leads on airborne units being deployed to the Middle East. The paper claims the US president's sights are potentially set on Kharg Island, "the oil-exporting hub on which the Iranian economy relies". About 3,000 troops based at Fort Bragg in North Carolina "can deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours", it adds.
The headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph reads: "National Savings in chaos over payouts."
Accusations against National Savings and Investments of "short-changing bereaved families by losing track of investments, delaying payouts and withholding premium bond prizes", is the focus of the lead story in the Daily Telegraph. Elsewhere is a photograph of HMS Dragon personnel arriving in the Eastern Mediterranean to defend Cyprus from Iranian attacks.
The headline on the front page of Daily Mail reads: "Middle Class 'To Foot Bill' For Reeves Benefits St Fuel Bailout."
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has warned the UK's middle class will foot the bill for any energy bailouts aimed at helping lower income households, the Daily Mail reports. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged to help those who need it most if energy bills spiral due to the US-Israel war with Iran.
The headline on the front page of the Independent reads: "Pain at the pump: drivers pay £370m price of Trump's war."
The Independent leads with the "£370m price of Trump's war", following on from Rachel Reeves announcement, which the paper says did not outline the government's exact plans to help millions struggling with rising fuel costs.
The headline on the front page of the Financial Times reads: "VW weighs shift from cars to defence in deal with Israel's Iron Dome maker."
Volkswagen is reportedly in talks with Israel's Iron Dome maker to "shift from cars to defence", the Financial Times reports. Volkswagen may "start producing missile defence systems instead of cars" at one of the German group's factories to help save the company from massive job losses, according to the paper.
The headline on the front page of Daily Express reads: "No More Money Unless French Finally Stop The Boats."
The Daily Express leads with Reform's demands for the UK's arrangement with France to deal with Channel migrant crossings to be scrapped. The party wants ministers to cancel the "monstrous" deal and for Paris "to return" £700m, the paper says.
The headline on the front page of Metro reads: "I halted baby unit terrorist with cuddles."
Metro highlights a "hero hospital patient" who helped stop a potential terrorist attack at a maternity unit and who has been awarded the George Medal for his courage. Nathan Newby spoke and hugged the "lone wolf" terrorist, who had a pressure cooker device with 10kg of explosives, while at St James's University Hospital, Leeds, in January 2023, it reports.
The headline on the front page of Daily Mirror reads: "Would-Be Bomber Asked Me For A Cuddle."
Similarly, the Daily Mail pictures Nathan Newby on its front page, noting he gave a "would-be bomber" a cuddle and chat, which ultimately stopped an attack. Newby will be presented with the George Medal for bravery on Wednesday.
The headline on the front page of the Sun reads: "£90??!! England shirt hits the fan!"
"Rip-off" World Cup replica shirts have caused upset among England fans because of their £90 price tag, the Daily Star reports. The Fifa World Cup is set to kick off in June this year.
The headline on the front page of the Sun reads: "Strictly No Baftas."
And Strictly Come Dancing "has been sensationally snubbed" after failing to receive a single nomination at this year's Baftas, the Sun reports. It's the first time in eight years that the BBC One's flagship show missed out on a nomination in the Entertainment category, the paper says.

The Daily Mailsays the middle class will "foot the bill" for the chancellor's plan to subsidise higher energy costs because of the Iran conflict. It will target those on benefits and lower incomes. The Times believes the warm home discount, which reduces energy bills for poorer households, could be used as a model for the scheme. The Daily Telegraphquotes the head of Shell as saying that European governments could have to curb energy demand within days, to stop the Middle East crisis causing fuel shortages.

A number of papers consider the prospect of talks to end the war in Iran. The Timessays President Trump seems to have found someone to his liking to negotiate with. It says Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is a hard-talking right-winger, reported to have made a fortune in property - formerly the mayor of Tehran and now the speaker of parliament. The Guardian considers whether he is a strongman or a pragmatic insider, and concludes that his "anointment" by Trump may at least send the message to Israel that he is not to be killed.

The Daily Mirror says the six-time Olympic champion cyclist, Sir Chris Hoy, has launched a new campaign, urging men to get themselves tested for prostate cancer, after he was diagnosed with an incurable form of the disease. "It's easy, it's simple, it's painless - and it could save your life," was the message he delivered at an event in Glasgow, says the paper. The Telegraph reports that prostate cancer screening plans could be scaled back even further, despite growing calls for more testing to be rolled out.

Many of the back-pages lead with the departure from Liverpool of the Egyptian striker Mo Salah after nine years. The Daily Express headlines its coverage with a phrase from his statement: "I'll Never Walk Alone." The i Paper says there's confidence in Saudi Arabia that he might join the Pro League there, as long as there's a de-escalation of conflict in the region.

Sticking with football, the Daily Mail considers the "most expensive Three Lions World Cup shirts ever." At £90, the Daily Starsuggests, "the shirt hits the fan!"

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