Plus: Possum nests with fluffy toys in airport gift shop ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| | | Hello. In the wake of Israel's attack on Iran's South Pars gas field and Tehran's retaliatory strike on an energy complex in Qatar, both sides have issued warnings to each other over further attacks on infrastructure. In South Africa, we report on so-called water mafias. And travellers in an Australian airport gift shop searching for a cuddly toy may have received a shock when one of them appeared to come to life. | | | | | | |
| TOP OF THE AGENDA | | Deciphering Trump's Truth Social statement | | | | | While it would be a mistake to read too much into a single post, it does give us some idea of the US-Israeli alignment. Credit: Getty Images/Truth Social | | In an apparent threat to the US, Israel and Gulf nations, Iran's foreign minister has said there will be "ZERO restraint" if his country's infrastructure is hit again, following Wednesday's South Pars strike. While overnight, US President Donald Trump threatened to "massively blow up" the rest of the major gas field if Iran attacked Qatar again. In the same post on his Truth Social media platform, Trump said the US "knew nothing" about Israel's plans for the attack and that it had "violently lashed out". So, asks diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams, could this be a suggestion that "Israel and American war aims are diverging"? He takes a closer look at the president's post to see what it can tell us about the potential course of the war. | | | | | | | | |
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| | | Three women killed as Iran strike hits West Bank salon | | Eight others were injured when the beauty salon was hit. At a similar time in Israel, a Thai worker was killed by falling shrapnel. | | Read more > | | | | US states sue Trump over greenhouse gases ruling | | They want to overturn the administration's reversal of a ruling that held greenhouse gases were a threat to public health. | | What next? > | | | | Kevin Spacey and accusers settle before civil trial | | The actor was being sued by three men who accused him of sexual assault. Spacey denies all allegations of wrongdoing. | | More on this > | | | | | | |
| NEWS FROM THE UK | | | | | - 'Designer' dogs: "Doodle" dogs are more likely to display "undesirable behaviours" than their purebred parents, according to a new study.
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| | | | | Johannesburg & Hammanskraal, South Africa | | | | South Africans say criminal gangs are exploiting the water crisis | | | Johannesburg residents have seen years of water shortages and are angry. | | Parts of South Africa have suffered intermittent water shortages for years, and now, some areas have had no running water for two months. Many point the finger of blame at a lack of investment which they say is being capitalised on by criminal syndicates known as water-mafias, with reports they are charging people for water that should be free or damaging infrastructure to ensure their contracts continue. | | | | | | Mayeni Jones, Africa correspondent | | | | | | Northern Johannesburg is known for its plush leafy suburbs. But after years of intermittent water shortages in South Africa, residents say they are fed up. Some have had no running water for a month. "I am here today because it is an actual disgrace," says Jenny Gillies. "We are reduced to begging and protesting for water."
Johannesburg isn't the only area affected. In Hammanskraal, more than 100km (60 miles) north, residents of the township have not had reliable access to clean water for over a decade. Eric Sebotsane confirms that some of the trucks that deliver water in his neighbourhood charge people for what should be free. "When you don't have money you can't do anything," he says. | | | | | | |
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