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Israel has launched what looks to be its biggest-ever direct attack against Iran, but an announcement that its forces are only striking military targets is key.The world has been bracing for an Israeli retaliation against the Iranian regime ever since Iran's military launched a barrage of more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel more than three weeks ago in response to Israeli attacks against its proxy forces in the region. The Israeli government had vowed a "hard" response. There had been speculation that this could include the targeting of Iranian nuclear sites, energy infrastructure or even the country's leadership.Middle East latest: IDF confirms airstrikes on TehranHowever, if the attack is restricted to purely military targets, then - depending on the scale of the damage - it could...

This was a royal tour that marked a number of firsts.It was the first real test of the monarchy in an overseas realm, the King's first time at a Commonwealth leaders' meeting as head of the Commonwealth. And for the King personally, this was his first big trip since his cancer diagnosis.It was also a trip notably shorter than previous tours.With no early starts and only one late night, the King and Queen had a lighter schedule and fewer days away. They had a lot to get through in those days, and with so few days Down Under, they wanted everything to run smoothly.Palace aides had planned for protests but probably hadn't imagined it would happen at the heart of Australia's parliament. Image: King Charles and Queen Camilla with members of a ...

Publicly and privately, the United States has been pressuring Israel to formulate its retaliatory attack against Iran very carefully.The 1 October Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel (itself a retaliation in a series of escalatory actions by both sides) warranted a significant Israeli response - of that Joe Biden's administration was in no doubt. But President Biden's diplomatic challenge was to persuade Israel to be smart with its response, knowing that anything too large could instigate a rapid spiral into all-out regional war which would draw America in.The problem for Biden has been that he's seen his ability to influence the Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu over the past year - in Gaza and then Lebanon - has been limited.Middle East latest: IDF confirms airstrikes on Tehran An...

An online predator who led an American girl and her father to take their own lives has been jailed for at least 20 years after the UK's largest "catfishing" case.Warning: This article contains references to suicide and child sex abuse which readers may find distressing.Alexander McCartney, 26, previously admitted 185 charges, including the manslaughter of a girl who took her own life.Police called him a "dangerous, relentless, cruel paedophile" who "may as well have pulled the trigger himself" and said there were about 3,500 victims.Devices seized from his bedroom contained hundreds of thousands of indecent photographs and videos of underage girls. Image: Alexander McCartney. Pic: PSNI Belfast Crown Court heard victims were...