Israel first. Israelis have always regarded Iran's nuclear ambitions as an existential threat. Israel-Iran latest: Iran retaliates against airstrikes The ayatollahs insist their nuclear programme is entirely peaceful, but their leaders have also talked of wiping Israel off the face of the Earth, and that threat has been taken at face value by Israelis. Benjamin Netanyahu clearly thinks this is the time to act for a number of reasons. Iran has never been weaker internally after nationwide protests a few years ago, and Israel has massively degraded its proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas. And they have a sympathetic president in the White House. Israel may have plenty on its plate in Gaza and southern Lebanon still, but that is not holding its leaders back from seizing the moment. Critics might also wonder whether this is a distraction from the growing diplomatic isolation of Israel over Gaza. Britain has just taken the unprecedented step of sanctioning two Israeli government ministers. France is thought to be poised to recognise Palestine as an independent state. Whatever the reasons, Israel will try to finish what it's started. Equally, Iran will do what it can to stop Israel's attacks. Doing nothing or not enough looks weak, and in the Middle East that is dangerous. But how? Missile and drone attacks on Israel seem certain, but possibly against US assets and allies too. The Trump administration may have tried to distance itself from the Israeli operation. But Iran won't believe that. For Iranians, America and Israel are inextricably linked as part of the same evil. Read more:Watch: Iran and Israel in major conflictIsrael attacks Iran and declares emergencyIran TV shows bomb damage The big fear is Iran starts striking targets in the Persian Gulf. Enough tankers being sunk or oil refineries going up in smoke could have an immediate impact on the global economy. Bad enough and President Trump might call time on Israel's actions. That would be the Iranian hope, at least. So expect the following: Israel continues striking Iran; Iran hits back with all it can; America is forced to help defend Israel; Iran hits both Israel, the US and possibly US allies. That is the predictable bit. Wars follow the laws of unintended consequences. At any point in that escalation, unexpected events could lead to greater escalation. Brace yourself, the coming days could go in a number of directions. If the Persian Gulf becomes the battlefield, we will all feel the consequences.

The YouTuber and musician, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, appeared before Perth District Court in western Australia on Friday. The 29-year-old social media star has been on bail since October 2024 after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room after a gig last year in Perth. In March this year, he pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, one of strangulation and four counts of sexual penetration without consent. Court documents filed on Friday revealed he faces two new counts of sexual penetration without consent. No plea has yet been entered for these charges. His case is due to be heard at a 10-day trial starting on 20 July 2026. During his initial court hearing in October, Barrientos was granted bail with strict conditions and a personal undertaking of 100,000 Australian dollars (£52,000), as well as a surety of the same amount. Read more from Sky News:Israel attacks IranBlack box recovered after Air India crash According to court documents, he pleaded guilty to a reckless driving charge on 5 December. He had been caught driving at more than 96mph on the Roe Highway in eastern Perth on 17 November. Barrientos rose to fame as a social media personality and rapper and has appeared on several BBC shows. He is known for working with Beta Squad - a YouTube collective. He has also appeared on Soccer Aid and The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer on Channel 4.

He called reports of Israel's so-called Operation Rising Lion "concerning", but stopped short of condemning it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had targeted the "heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment programme", which he feared would eventually be aimed at Israel. Iran promised "severe punishment" for the attacks, which killed several top commanders and nuclear scientists, and launched 100 drones towards Israel in an initial response. Follow latest: Israel attacks Iran's nuclear sites In a statement on Friday, Mr Starmer urged "all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently". He added: "Escalation serves no one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. "Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy." The UK does not appear to have been warned in advance of Israel's plan to attack Iran. David Lammy, the foreign secretary, had been due to travel to Washington on Friday to meet his American counterpart. The trip was cancelled once it became known that Israel had launched its operation. A Whitehall source said the late cancellation of Mr Lammy's travel plans indicated the UK had not been alerted in advance to the timing of the attack. However, the UK had been aware of the increasing likelihood of an Israeli mission to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, given the rhetoric from the Israeli government in recent weeks. Mr Lammy called it a "dangerous moment" and said "stability in the Middle East is vital for global security". Speaking to Sky News this morning, British industry minister Sarah Jones also said the UK had not been involved in the Israeli military operation. It is understood British warplanes are not currently involved in helping to defend Israel's skies from any Iranian counterattacks. This could change as the situation develops. Additional forces could well be sent to a key Royal Air Force base in Cyprus, where Typhoon jets are stationed. The deployment of reinforcements to RAF Akrotiri has happened in the past during times of crisis in the Middle East. The US also said it had not been involved in Israel's attack on Iran, and warned against any retaliation targeting American interests or personnel. US President Donald Trump had previously urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to attack Iran while Washington negotiates a nuclear deal with the country. In his first public comment about the attacks, he again urged Iran to reach a deal with Washington on its nuclear programme, warning on his Truth Social platform that Israel's attacks "will only get worse". Without saying whether he was privy to specific Israeli plans, the US president said "there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end". Read more from Sky News:Charges over Ballymena riotsMPs to vote again on assisted dying - will it pass?Everything we know about the Air India plane crash But China, Saudi Arabia and Russia condemned Israel's strikes, while Japan called the use of military force "deeply regrettable". Russia's foreign ministry called the attack "unprovoked" and "categorically unacceptable" and said it was in breach of the United Nations charter. Spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry Lin Jian said: "China opposes the violation of Iran's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, opposes the intensification of contradictions, the expansion of conflicts, and the suddenrise in temperature of the regional situation." Takeshi Iwaya, Japan's foreign minister, said: "Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, including talks between the United States and Iran, to achieve a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue, the use of military force is deeply regrettable."

The Dane has signed a contract until 2028 and leaves Brentford after seven impressive years in charge to succeed Ange Postecoglou. Spurs sacked the Australian despite winning the Europa League to end the club's 17-year trophy drought. Flexible Frank can add layers to Angeball - but Spurs move a gambleTransfer Centre LIVE! | Tottenham news & transfers⚪Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from next season Tottenham said: "In Thomas we are appointing one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game. He has a proven track record in player and squad development and we look forward to him leading the team as we prepare for the season ahead." Frank will be joined from Brentford by assistant coach Justin Cochrane, head of performance and assistant coach Chris Haslam and analyst Joe Newton, with Andreas Georgson arriving from Manchester United as an assistant coach. Frank takes over a side that endured its worst-ever Premier League campaign last season as Tottenham finished 17th after suffering 22 defeats to record just 38 points. But despite their domestic woes, Spurs will be competing in next season's Champions League after Europa League glory, meaning Frank will manage in Europe for the first time in his career. The 51-year-old can also win the first major silverware of his career in his first competitive game in charge of the north London club, with Spurs taking on Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup on August 13 in Udine, Italy. Frank's appointment comes nearly a week after the dismissal of Postecoglou, which was "one of the toughest decisions" the Spurs board had to make after the ex-Celtic boss had won the club's first European trophy in 41 years. Frank was the Spurs board members' number one managerial target to succeed Postecoglou, with no second or third-choice options. The ex-Brondby boss took over at Brentford in 2018, earning Premier League promotion three years later with Championship play-off final victory at Wembley and has established the Bees as a top-flight club despite their small budget. Frank departs Brentford to become the fifth permanent manager in six years appointed by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy since Mauricio Pochettino left in 2019. Frank: I have left a big piece of my heart at Brentford Frank said an emotional farewell to Brentford by penning a letter to supporters and thanking the club for giving him a chance "to pursue his dreams". He wrote: "The time has come for me to move on. But, even as I leave, I know I have left a big piece of my heart at Brentford, not just at the football club but with the community and, of course, the incredible and loyal supporters. "I want to extend my profound gratitude to the club for giving me the chance to pursue my dreams and for everyone involved who made the journey such a memorable one. "For my family and I, it has been a privilege to be allowed to be part of such a special community - it's an experience and adventure that we will cherish for life. So, thank you. "Whatever we have achieved, we have achieved together, and our success is built on unity, spirit, courage and ambition at every level of the club and amongst the fans. "Everybody has contributed, and every contribution has been invaluable. I am not just leaving a football club, I am saying goodbye to friends whose support through good and bad times I will carry with me always. "I would like to say a special word of thanks to Matthew Benham. His trust and friendship have meant so much and the fact he gave me a chance in English football means I will always owe him a debt of gratitude. Thank you, Matt. "So, while this is a goodbye, I hope the relationships I have built with everybody will be lasting ones and, of course, we will meet again in the wonderful world of football. "Thank you." 'We will never forget Thomas' Brentford director of football Phil Giles paid tribute to Frank, saying: "It has been a pleasure working alongside Thomas. "From the moment he replaced Dean Smith, he understood what we were trying to build and his wisdom, coaching ability and emotional intelligence have helped transform the club. "There have been so many special moments with Thomas and nobody will ever forget the day at Wembley for the play-off final or that emotional first Premier League game against Arsenal. "But it's not just what you see on the pitch. He forged a special connection with our fans, helped develop and improve players, and was instrumental in implementing the culture that has seen Brentford go from strength to strength. "However, just as when a player leaves, it provides an opportunity for someone else to come in and make their own impact. "We will never forget Thomas, but now it is time to thank him and take the next steps in our journey with a new leader who we believe can be just as successful and influential." Frank reunites with Spurs chief Lange Frank's switch sees him reunite with Tottenham technical director Johan Lange after the pair worked together in Denmark at Lyngby, and they have known each other for many years. Frank was in the mix for the Aston Villa job while Lange was sporting director at Villa Park. Data forms a huge part of the work Lange does at Spurs in terms of recruitment, and the data on Frank is understood to be strong. He has had Brentford performing way above their budget and resources in each of the seasons they have been in the Premier League. Since guiding the Bees to top-flight promotion in 2021, Frank has overseen finishes of 13th, ninth, 16th and 10th in their four Premier League seasons. After they recovered key players from injury last season, Brentford surged up the table and almost finished in a European spot as they ended 10th, seven places and 18 points above Spurs. Could Semenyo or Mbeumo become Frank's first signing? Before Frank's appointment, Sky Sports News reported Tottenham had stepped up their interest in Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo. Manchester United also remain admirers of the 25-year-old despite having a bid rejected for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo - a player also on the list at Spurs. Sky Sports News understands Frank would be keen to sign Mbeumo - but it is ultimately Spurs as a club that decide which players to sign. Levy and Lange call the recruitment shots, with the returning Fabio Paratici also having a say, so Frank's arrival does not necessarily make a move for Mbeumo inevitable. In fact, Sky Sports News understands Spurs have recently done more work on Semenyo. Flexible Frank can add layers to Angeball - but Spurs move a gamble Sky Sports' Sam Blitz: When you sit down with Thomas Frank for a one-on-one chat or in a press conference, you always get honesty and insight rarely seen in the game. For this journalist, the most recent meeting with the Dane was no different. It was late April for what turned out to be Frank's final one-on-one chat with Sky Sports as Brentford's head coach. Given that context, there was one line that stood out. "We've got patience at Brentford, which is a word that you probably can't say in football. I think you need to have it," Frank said. Frank's appreciation of patience makes his move to Tottenham a career gamble. He arrives at a club where Postecoglou's shadow, success and popularity loom large in the fanbase. Frank also enters a Spurs dressing room where players went public in their support for his predecessor. "Him continuing would be good for the dressing room," said Pedro Porro about Postecoglou, while James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray all backed the Australian for a third season. It begs the question: what do Spurs see in Frank - who has no experience managing Champions League football - that the popular Postecoglou could not deliver? Read more about Frank's philosophy and why his move is a risk here. Lyngby boys: Frank and Lange reunite Sky Sports' Adam Bate: Frank and Lange have come a long way since the two men used to share a small office together back when they were part of the coaching set-up at Danish club Lyngby. Speaking to Birgir Jorgensen in 2021, the man who hired them both over two decades ago revealed that these are two very different Danes. But the charismatic Frank and the analytical Lange also shared qualities. "Good people," Jorgensen told Sky Sports. "Thomas is Thomas, he walks the talk. He has always been the same and will always be the same. He is very hardworking and always in a good mood. Johan is the opposite of Thomas, he keeps his cards close to his chest. But he is a fantastic guy, very smart." Together in that office at Lyngby, ideas were shared and an unlikely coaching school developed, one that included future Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand. What exactly was it about Frank and Lange, about Lyngby, that has helped them all to flourish? "I think we all have a common thing, we all believe in ourselves, we all know where we are coming from and none of us think we are something we are not. That is what has made us successful, good people who are working hard, being themselves. "Lyngby is just an ordinary football club but we have a special environment. We are built on curious coaching. You can experiment here. Of course, we try to win our games and be champions. But we are always collecting good people, hard-working people. "A lot of clubs believe only in serious people but you need a bit of yourself, a bit of social life. A football club is about teamwork, otherwise it cannot exist. That is why so many former Lyngby coaches are successful. We are happy about it and want it to continue."

Israel attacks Iran's nuclear sites - follow live The strikes eliminated several senior military commanders and six top nuclear scientists. Who were they - and what do we know about them? Mohammad Hossein Bagheri Bagheri was chief of staff of the armed forces of the Iranian regime and the highest ranking military officer in Iran. He was second-highest commander after the country's supreme leader. His involvement in the military dated back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution. According to The Times of Israel, Bagheri was reportedly one of the students who stormed the US embassy in Tehran that year. Hossein Salami Salami was commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran's primary military force. He had a history of threatening the US and Israel. Salami previously warned Iran would "open the gates of hell" if attacked by another country. He joined the Revolutionary Guards during the Iran-Iraq war. Salami had been sanctioned by the UN Security Council and the United States since the 2000s for his involvement in the country's nuclear and military programmes. In a 2016 speech, he said there was "fertile ground" for the "annihilation, the wiping out, and the collapse of the Zionist regime". Gholam-Ali Rashid Rashid was head of the IRGC's Khatam al Anbia headquarters (Emergency Command). He previously served as deputy chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and fought for Iran during the 1980s war with Iraq. Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani Abbasi was a nuclear scientist and head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation from 2011 to 2013. A hardliner, Abbasi was a member of parliament from 2020 to 2024. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi Tehranchi was also a nuclear scientist - and a theoretical physicist and president of the Islamic Azad University in Tehran. The Israeli strikes targeted Iran's nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders to prevent Tehran from developing an atomic weapon. Four other scientists killed in the strikes were Abdolhamid Manouchehr, Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, Amirhossein Feghi and Motalibizadeh.

More than 2,500 US performers were barred from working on games impacted by the strike while the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) negotiated a deal with studios. Now, after more than 11 months of discussions, a "tentative" agreement has been reached. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the AI age, alongside other important gains," said SAG-AFTRA's national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. Actors were banned from working with major game makers like Activision, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Formosa, Insomniac Games, Take 2 and WB Games. Other studios were also impacted by the strike, as actors took industrial action in solidarity. "We are pleased to have reached a tentative contract agreement that reflects the important contributions of SAG-AFTRA-represented performers in video games," said Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the video game producers, to Sky News. "It delivers historic wage increases of over 24% for performers, enhanced health and safety protections, and industry-leading AI provisions requiring transparency, consent and compensation for the use of digital replicas in games." In the UK, actors protested in solidarity with their American counterparts, while Equity, the UK actors' union, called for a similar wide-reaching agreement between UK studios and actors. Earlier this week, the British Film Institute (BFI) released a report detailing the risks posed by AI to the UK screen sector, including video games, and described it as a "direct threat". Read more from Sky News:Powerful new supercomputer to be built in government U-turn'Trump's anti-migrant rhetoric boosting UK's tech industry'Number of Nintendo Switch 2s sold in four days revealed The scripts of more than 130,000 films and TV shows, YouTube videos, and databases of pirated books have been used to train AI models, according to the report. AI poses a particular threat to some video game voice actors, according to one expert, because of the nature of their work creating animal or monster sound effects. "The generic stuff is the easiest thing for generative AI to replace," Video Games Industry Memo author George Osborn told Sky News previously. "Just saying to the model, 'make 200 monster noises' is much easier than convincingly [making AI] sound like it is having a conversation with someone," he said. Unlike the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike in 2023, which saw blockbusters like Deadpool 3 and Gladiator 2 delayed and entire TV series cancelled, huge delays to games were unlikely. Games take years to make and any game already in development before September 2023 was exempt from the strike. Tensions have risen in the game actor community since the industrial action began, as studios appeared to hire international actors to replace the striking US workers.

Speaking to Sky News political editor Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Baroness Harman reckons there could be resignations over the matter. While this week's spending review was taking up most of the headlines, the government told their MPs that controversial reforms to disability benefits would go ahead. The measures - headed up by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall - have proved mightily unpopular in Labour circles. More than 100 MPs from government benches are thought to have concerns about the plans to cut nearly £5bn from the welfare bill by restricting personal independence payments (PIP) and the health top-up to Universal Credit. Spiralling welfare costs, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, have been singled out as an area where the government could save money. Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants more people returning to the "dignity" of work. Asked by Beth if resignations could be on the cards, Baroness Harman said: "There might be. But I don't think, not cabinet." She added: "There is people on a watch list at the moment, but not cabinet ministers." Read more:Disability benefit reforms will go aheadWhat is PIP and how is it changing? A report released by a House of Lords committee earlier this year revealed that around 3.7 million people of working age get health-related benefits, 1.2 million more than before the pandemic. It also found that the government spends more (£65bn as of January) on incapacity and disability benefits than on defence. It added that if 400,000 people out of the workforce were able to find employment, it would save the government around £10bn through tax income and lower spending on benefits. Another area is the number of PIP claims being made - PIP is a benefit to help disabled people with the increased costs of day-to-day living. Rebel MPs have concerns about making this harder to access.

Spaun equalled the lowest-ever opening round for a US Open at Oakmont by carding four birdies in a four-under 66, with his impressive start the only bogey-free round on a day where just 10 of the 156-man field finished under par. The American's closest challenge comes from Thriston Lawrence, who made six birdies in a three-under 67, while Scheffler, defending champion Bryson DeChambeau and world No 2 Rory McIlroy were among those to struggle on the opening day. US Open LIVE! Latest updates, news, highlightsLatest US Open leaderboard and other golf scoresStream the US Open and more sport with NOWWhen is the US Open on Sky Sports? Key TV timesChoose the sports notifications you want! Scheffler mixed three birdies with six bogeys during a frustrating opening-round 73, leaving him seven back in his bid for back-to-back major titles, with DeChambeau on the same total after three bogeys in his last seven holes. McIlroy - looking to bounce back from last week's missed cut at the RBC Canadian Open - was also unable to build on a fast start, having reached the turn in a bogey-free 33, as The Masters champion dropped five shots in the last six holes of a four-over 74. How Spaun grabbed major lead Spaun chipped in from off the 10th green - his opening hole of the day - and took advantage of the par-five 12th, with back-to-back birdies from the 16th lifting him to four under and top of the leaderboard. The world No 25 holed from 11 feet to save par at the first and scrambled brilliantly to close out a blemish-free card, with South African Lawrence one back after recovering from a mid-round double-bogey to card three birdies on the back nine of an opening-round 67. "I was actually pretty nervous," admitted Spaun, who finished runner-up to McIlroy at The Players earlier this year. "I actually tried to harness that, the nerves, the anxiety, because it kind of heightens my focus, makes me swing better. "I just tried to kind of take what the course gave me. I hit a lot of good shots and tried to capitalise on any birdie opportunities, which aren't very many out here. But I scrambled really well, too, which is a huge component to playing well at a US Open, let alone shoot a bogey-free round." Sungjae Im briefly moved to five under and the solo lead before three late bogeys dropped him back to two under, alongside compatriot Si Woo Kim, with five-time major winner Brooks Koepka producing a birdie-birdie finish to join the Korean pair in tied-third. McIlroy and marquee names make slow starts at Oakmont Scheffler - in the afternoon wave - sent an ominous warning to the field when he picked up a shot at the par-four second, only for him to bogey three of his next four holes and cancel out a birdie at the seventh with another dropped shot at the ninth. The three-time major champion drained a 20-footer at the 11th but three-putted the 13th and missed from three feet to save par at the 15th, with Scheffler's frustrating round seeing him match the total posted by DeChambeau earlier in the day. DeChambeau had been under par until he three-putted the ninth and had to hole from the fringe, having taken three shots out of the rough, to get away with a bogey at the par-five 12th. Last year's champion also registered successive bogeys from the 15th, dropping him back to three over, with Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and former Masters champion Patrick Reed - who carded an albatross and triple-bogey in his round - also on the same score. "Just didn't get anything out of it," DeChambeau said. "I wasn't fully on my game. Pretty disappointed with how I played. It's not too far off. Just got to get the putting a little bit more dialled and I'll be right there, because three over could have easily been two under." McIlroy - also out early - made a dream start when he followed a 30-foot birdie at the 11th by firing a 392-yard drive on his way to another at the par-five next, although he sits eight back after carding four bogeys and a double-bogey in a second-nine 41. Playing partners Justin Rose and Shane Lowry did not fare any better, posting scores of 77 and 79 respectively, leaving plenty of notable names needing to improve on Friday to break into the top-60 and ties required to make the cut. Who will win the US Open? Watch throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Friday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream no contract on NOW.