Iran attack Gulf states came to Israel's defence. Does this signal an unlikely alliance?

Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel had by the end of this week already become one of the most interpreted events in recent modern history. And then, in the early hours of yesterday morning, came Israel's riposte.

Analysis Both sides play with fire as old rules are torn up

While the details remain vague, and Iranian denials strong, it seems very likely, given past history and strong comments from US officials, that a limited Israeli drone strike was launched against the Iranian city of Isfahan yesterday morning.

Thousands to join Canary Islands protest demanding freeze on tourist numbers

Thousands of people will join protests across the Canary Islands today to call for an urgent rethink of the Spanish archipelago's tourism industry and a freeze on tourist numbers, arguing the decades-old model has made life unaffordable and environmentally unsustainable for local people.

Insiders say water firms are knowingly breaking sewage law

Water companies are knowingly failing to treat legally required amounts of sewage and some treatment works are manipulating wastewater systems to divert raw sewage from the works and into rivers and seas, say whistle-blowers.

Calls for calm after Israeli strikes hit Iran

World leaders urged calm yesterday after Israel conducted a pre-dawn strike on Iran following a cycle of tit-for-tat attacks which crossed an important red line that has for decades held the Middle East back from a major regional conflict.

'We have a superior product': Dukes maker asks Key to discuss ball

The maker of Dukes balls has entered the debate on the trial use of the Kookaburra ball in county cricket and invited Rob Key, the England and Wales Cricket Board's managing director of men's cricket, to talk to him about the type of ball he wants to see.

'I'm not swayed': Hamilton bats away criticism of Ferrari move

Lewis Hamilton has insisted his decision to join Ferrari in 2025 does not need any vindication, as he bemoaned the continued discussion over whether it is the right choice.

Customers failed by poor 'country of origin' labels, says Which?

\"Misleading\" and \"inconsistent\" labels make it hard for shoppers to know where their food comes from, the consumer organisation Which? has said. It found supermarket chains were selling products with \"meaningless\" statements on their packaging.

Russia's war in Ukraine a barrier to global growth, says IMF boss

Russia's war with Ukraine is stoking geopolitical tensions and damaging the recovery prospects of the global economy, the head of the International Monetary Fund warned yesterday.

India's 'most predictable' election begins with Modi accused of undermining rivals

Voting has begun in India's general election, as Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata party looks to increase its parliamentary majority amid allegations that the country's democracy has been undermined since it came to power 10 years ago.

Men were flown to UK to attack Iranian journalist, police believe

Three suspects wanted for the stabbing of an Iranian dissident journalist on a suburban London street were from eastern Europe and were hired and flown into Britain to carry out the attack, investigators believe.

'People are begging us for help' - Refugees in Egypt reliant on grassroots aid groups

The last thing Rania sold was her jewellery. In the weeks after her family first woke up to heavy shelling in northern Gaza, they lost everything as they journeyed south to escape the bombardment.

Israel still plans to launch Rafah ground assault, says Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has told western diplomats that he will go ahead with a ground offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza, and suggested that Israel's anticipated reprisal against Iran for its missile and drone salvo will be aimed at Iranian interests rather than Tehran's proxies.

Let your grass grow long and boost sightings of butterflies

Good news for lazy gardeners: one labour-saving tweak could almost double the number of butterflies in your garden, according to a new scientific study - let the grass grow long.

Police to speak to Tory MP over 'cash used to pay off bad people'

Police said yesterday that they would contact a Conservative MP who was suspended by his party over allegations that campaign funds were misused to pay off \"bad people\".

German-Russian nationals arrested on suspicion of plotting sabotage attacks

Two German-Russian nationals have been arrested in southern Germany on suspicion of plotting sabotage attacks, including on US military facilities, in what officials called a serious effort to undermine military support for Ukraine.

Designers stay in lane and out of the culture wars with 'classic' Team GB kit

Bland, blue, and designed to avoid any brouhaha - or hoo haa. That is the formula for the official British kit for this summer's Paris Olympics and Paralympics, which was unveiled in Paris yesterday.

State could be left with £15bn debt by Thames Water nationalisation

40% Proportion by which the value of some loans to Thames' parent company may be reduced

Appleby's pick pipped on the line but future remains rosy

He had just seen his filly Dance Sequence, the third-favourite for the 1,000 Guineas, beaten in her Classic trial by the 18-1 outsider Pretty Crystal, but Charlie Appleby was still in a positive frame of mind after the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket yesterday, about Dance Sequence and life in general.

Winter wondering Surprise, big-name exit is a sign of football media's fractured evolution

For more than three decades, English football media was a Winter wonderland.

Everton on the brink Questions over club's future as urgent as ever

Everton fans are used to the club's owner, Farhad Moshiri, telling them that better times will be arriving soon. He began his reign in 2016 promising to give fans \"whatever I have\" - the type of soundbite he would continue to deliver during the following eight years.

Heir to Dutch throne spent year in Madrid over concern for her safety

The heir to the Dutch throne, Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, spent over a year in Spain as the Dutch royal family grappled with threats to her safety, according to media in the Netherlands.

'Epic' Emerson Evicted seal's 126-mile swim to his favourite flowerbed

Last week, gun-wielding conservation officers stuffed a 225kg (500lb) elephant seal in the back of a van, drove him along a winding highway in western Canada and left him on a beach \"far from human habitation\".

Russian oil tankers risk environmental havoc in Baltic, says Swedish minister

Russia appears prepared to create environmental havoc” by sailing unseaworthy oil tankers through the Baltic Sea in breach of all maritime rules, the Swedish foreign minister has said.

Nasa data reveals razed villages as fire becomes 'weapon of war' in Sudan

The number of villages destroyed or severely damaged by fire in Sudan has risen sharply in recent weeks, suggesting the country's conflict is intensifying as it enters its second year.

Birth of the new banger A first taste of lab-grown pork fat cell sausages

Even before I see the sausages, I am greeted by their meaty, rich aroma.

US and UK complicit in detentions at camps in Syria where torture rife’

The US and UK are complicit in the detention of thousands of people, including British nationals, in camps and facilities in north-east Syria where disease, torture and death are rife, according to Amnesty International.

Here comes the son: Beatles’ children unite for new song

The most famous songwriting credit in history, Lennon-McCartney, has been resurrected - though for a song written by the Beatles' sons.

Football mentoring can boost wellbeing of troubled pupils’

Intensive mentoring for troubled schoolchildren using football kickabouts can significantly increase wellbeing and deliver happiness boosts equivalent to an unemployed adult getting a job, a study has found.

Military Israel deploys extra weapons for offensive against Rafah

Israel has reportedly deployed extra artillery and armoured personnel carriers to the Gaza Strip periphery, suggesting that the military is preparing for its long-threatened ground offensive on Rafah, currently the only place of relative safety for at least 1.4 million displaced Palestinian civilians.