Papers nervous over new bail-out

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There is an almost palpable sense of nervousness, as the papers contemplate a second bail-out of the UK's banks.

For the Daily Mail, the plan, the second in three months, represents a "last desperate throw of the dice".

It calls it the "biggest economic gamble of our history", and it is just one of many papers to use the word gamble.

The Daily Telegraph says in such an unprecedented situation, Treasury officials are working in the dark as they try to rescue the economy.

'Foolish actions'

According to the Guardian, Labour officials fear the public will not understand why a second tranche of assistance is going to bankers.

The Daily Express condemns the way the public is again being asked to save the banks from what it calls "their own foolish actions".

But the Financial Times says the government is right to act.

"We are now in a position where the dangers of doing too much are far smaller than the dangers of doing too little," it said.

Gaza pictures

The Times has a front page picture of US President-elect Barack Obama and his wife under the headline "Washington rocks as the party begins".

The couple attended the pre-inauguration concert, where Bruce Springsteen and Beyonce performed.

The Guardian devotes two pages to photographs of the destruction in Gaza.

It features images of a mother cradling her dead son, an Israeli soldier shouting with relief, and of a boy playing in the ruins of a mosque.

'Big Beast'

The Independent welcomes the return of former chancellor Kenneth Clarke as shadow business secretary.

But it has a word of warning. "The return of such a Big Beast could spell trouble for lesser inhabitants of the jungle," it said.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail is concerned with another animal. It says TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has found himself in hot water for admitting he is partial to giraffe meat.

Animal welfare group, Viva!, describes the chef as "totally irresponsible".