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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

On a quiet Jaffa backstreet, Israel’s twin fears intersected on Tuesday, seemingly by pure chance, set in motion by the unnerving crackle of gunshots.

“Hey — do you know what’s going on? I think I hear a lot of shooting,” the voice note, sent at 7:01pm on Tuesday, said. Two Palestinian assailants had just stepped off the light rail on to a leafy boulevard in the Tel Aviv neighbourhood, and opened fire.

Exactly 30 minutes later, as police swarmed the scene and ambulances raced away with the wounded, the eerie sound of air raid sirens rang across Israel — Iranian missiles had pierced the air space, streaking across the night sky, many to targets just a few kilometres north.

In that coincidental but fateful moment, Israelis confronted the anxieties that have consumed them for most of their lives — a chance encounter with death from a determined gunman, and an attack by a powerful enemy, aiming its resources at their territory.

In the hour that followed, Israeli air defences boomed as they fired interceptor after interceptor, chasing some 180 missiles in a spectacle broadcast live on television screens and social media feeds.

Families huddled in their safe rooms, trying to keep their children’s spirits up — the latest reminder of danger after nearly a year of war with Israel’s neighbours to the south and the north.

In the end, the Palestinian gunmen caused more pain than the Iranian missiles — six civilians were killed and nine were injured — before they were “neutralised” by bystanders in that south Tel Aviv neighbourhood.

First responders were forced to work through the howling of the air raid sirens as they tended the wounded.

Unlike in April, when Iran launched 300 missiles in a well-telegraphed retaliation for Israel’s killing of Iranian personnel in a bombing at its Damascus consulate, there was much less time for Israelis to prepare.

As the missiles tore across the nearly 1,000 miles between Iran and Israel, they also frightened the citizens of the countries beneath their trajectory, many of them already anxious that a regional war was on the verge of breaking out.

In Amman, the Jordanian capital, people reported seeing multiple missiles intercepted over the city, some near the US embassy, and said their houses violently shook from the impact.

“It was super intense, I’ve never witnessed such a thing before,” said Ibraheem Shaheen, a 32-year-old news producer living in the city.

Shaheen said this attack felt different from April’s because it came without warning. “Things are back to normal. But we lived a terrifying hour,” he said.

Unlike those under the missiles’ flight path, the Israeli army was prepared — US intelligence had caught wind of Iran’s preparations and warned Israel earlier in the day. The country’s famed Iron Dome and other air defences swung into action, knocking all but a handful of the missiles out of the sky before they found their targets.

At a hotel in East Jerusalem, the sirens sounded in the middle of a wedding party. Guests and relatives descended into the basement of a hotel in the predominantly Palestinian neighbourhood as wave after wave of air raid warnings interrupted the festivities.

Photographers idled away the time and the bride kept her cool as the party waited for the regular, booming sounds to subside. For close to an hour, the explosions — the sound of Israeli air defences shooting down volleys of rockets — reverberated overhead, and across the country.

But the guests, initially gripped by the missile alerts chorusing from their phones, soon grew tired of the enforced waiting. In the basement singing and ululating briefly broke out, and once the all-clear was issued, the group headed upstairs en masse to continue the party.

In Jaffa, the tense silence that followed the attack and the missile barrages was also broken by singing, this time by a group of Israelis gathered in the street while residents of the neighbourhood tentatively came outside to shop for groceries and walk their dogs.

Four streets from where the shooting attack unfolded, an ice-cream shop raised its shutters and flipped on its neon lights, its name both coincidental and fateful for an evening such as this — Victory.

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The stories that matter on money and politics in the race for the White House

JD Vance and Tim Walz are set to offer sharply contrasting visions of America on Tuesday night, as the vice-presidential candidates face off in a debate in New York City at a pivotal moment for the US election.

With just over a month until polling day, it will be the first, and probably only, time that Donald Trump’s and Kamala Harris’s running mates debate, and the primetime event offers Vance in particular an opportunity to improve his relatively tepid approval ratings.

An Associated Press poll last week showed more than half — 57 per cent — of registered voters had an unfavourable view of Vance, the Republican senator from Ohio, compared with just under a third — 32 per cent — who disliked Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota.

Tuesday’s showdown, hosted by CBS News, will also probably be the last televised debate of the 2024 presidential election cycle. While Harris has accepted an invitation from CNN for another presidential debate in late October, Trump has said he has no intention of taking the stage again.

The Financial Times poll tracker shows that while Harris enjoys a 3.6 percentage point lead over Trump in national polls, the two candidates remain in a virtual tie in all seven swing states that are likely to decide who wins the White House.

The first presidential debate between Harris and Trump last month on ABC News was viewed by more than 60mn people, according to Nielsen estimates, and was widely seen as a “win” for Harris, who repeatedly put Trump on the defensive.

Yet the showdown has failed to have a significant impact on either candidate’s polling numbers, and few political operatives — including insiders from both campaigns — believe Tuesday’s debate will move the needle.

Still, the stakes remain high for Vance and Walz, as the debate offers both men arguably their biggest platform to pitch themselves — and more importantly their bosses — to the American electorate.

Vance, 40, had been seen as a rising star in the Republican party since he was elected to the US Senate in 2022. But his time on the campaign trail has been controversial, with the one-time Trump critic-turned-Maga loyalist seeing his approval ratings fall, particularly among women.

Even so, allies and critics say Vance — a Yale Law School graduate, Marine veteran and former venture capitalist — is likely to deliver a strong performance on Tuesday night. The Ohio senator prepared for the debate with help from top Trump campaign advisers; his wife, former US Supreme Court clerk Usha Vance; and Minnesota congressman Tom Emmer, who has played the role of Walz in mock debates.

Walz, a 60-year-old former teacher and high school football coach who served several terms in Congress before running for governor of Minnesota, is generally seen as a less enthusiastic debater. He also dedicated significant time to preparing for the event, with US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg — arguably one of the Democratic party’s most effective communicators — playing the part of Vance.

According to rules announced by CBS News last week, the format of the vice-presidential debate will largely mirror the presidential debate, taking place in a studio for 90 minutes with no audience and the two moderators the only ones asking questions.

No props or notes will be allowed on stage, and no topics or questions will be shared in advance. In one notable change from the presidential debate format, microphones are expected to remain on throughout the entire debate, rather than muted when it is not a candidate’s designated turn to speak.

Additional reporting by Steff Chávez in Washington

A MAN completely ignored a hefty lottery win amounting to £320,000 and he only believed it when they rolled up to his front door.

Nurse Jonas, of Moreton, in The Wirral, Merseyside, had his “life-changing” win just three months after he signed up for the Postcode Lottery.

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Jonas landed the windfall with seven neighbours in Wirral – birthplace of stars including Strictly‘s Shirley Ballas, late TV presenter Paul O’Grady and Hollywood actor Taron Egerton – after CH46 7TU was announced as the winner of the £3.2million Postcode Millions prize.

Every ticket was worth £160,000, but Jonas and another neighbour doubled their winnings as they each played with two tickets.

A further 240 people playing in the wider Wirral postcode sector of CH46 7 received cheques ranging from £5,904 to £29,520, depending on how many tickets they played with.

Jonas told of his shock after the lottery crew turned up at his door – after failing to read email messages that he’d won.

He said: “My heart is about to come out of my chest. It’s a bit surreal. I didn’t know you were coming. I’m actually speechless. Thank you so much.

“I joined up after getting a letter through the door. They normally go straight in the bin, but it just shows that they do work.”

And he joked: “I got two tickets because I thought that if next door was going to win I might as well have more than them.

“I can’t even say it was one for me and one for the other half. It just didn’t seem that expensive to have two, to be fair. I just thought that if I was going to win I might as well double up.”

Jonas now has his heart set on getting a hive of bees and making his own honey.

He has longed to make his own honey after quitting his London hospital job to return home after 30 years.

Jonas said:  “I’ve wanted to keep bees. When I left London, I was like, ‘I’m going up north and going to have a beehive and have my own honey.’”

He added: “I know that sounds really old and sad, but I always just wanted to keep bees. I will now.”

Jonas also said how he’s already in the process of buying a new semi-detached house after moving back home to The Wirral to start work at a local hospital – while husband AJ continues to commute to the capital.

He said: “I was working in London and moved back up here. I’ve just found a house to move into, so everything is heading in the right direction. This is an added bonus.

“The first thing I’m going to do when we move is decorate. This will help a lot.

“I can decorate the house in the way I’d like to rather than decoration I’m compromising on.

“This is going to change quite a lot of things. It will change our lives.”

Jonas revealed he only signed up in June and plays with two tickets.

He said, “I’ve only been playing for about three months since I lived here. I didn’t really expect to win – and certainly not so soon. But it won’t stop me from continuing to play.

“I know people must say it will never happen to them. It wasn’t something I was doing to win, which sounds really stupid, but I’m really glad I did now.

“I never thought it would happen. It happens to other people. It’s a big country with lots of postcodes.”

He added: “It’s really nice to win with neighbours. Everyone knows everybody else here and it’s nice to share it.”

Jonas said the charity aspect of playing People’s Postcode Lottery was the main driver for him.

He said: “I never win anything, I just thought I would help out local charities. It’s something I could do to give something back.”

Now he dreams of returning to South Africa where he spent a month in his youth and travelling around Europe with his hubby of two years.

He said: “We’ll have a holiday… relax. I’d like to travel round Europe together.

“I went to South Africa as a child and I’ve always wanted to go back. I went to Johannesburg but didn’t get down to the coast at the time. I stayed for a month with friends who lived there, but I ran out of time for the coast.”

And hubby AJ might get the big TV he’s been wanting.

Jonas said: “We don’t have a telly at the moment. Just because it is expensive and way down there on my list. I won’t be able to argue against it now.”

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HOLIDAY park guru Robbie Lane has visited dozens of sites across the UK, cherry-picking his favourite destinations with the best indoor water parks for an autumnal getaway.

From water parks with seaside-themed slides and 60ft-high flume rides to huge indoor pools and tipping buckets, Robbie has recommended the best of the best.

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The former BBC journalist is the face behind the specialist website, Holiday Park Guru.

Robbie has covered everything, from adults-only trips to ski holidays and popular chains like Center Parcs and Butlin’s to little-known independent sites and budget-friendly breaks.

He recently told Sun Online Travel: “If you want a big range of activities and good swimming pools, then some good options include Butlin’s Skegness, Butlin’s Bognor Regis and Butlin’s Minehead.

“There’s also Craig Tara in Scotland, which is one of the larger Haven Resorts, and Trecco Bay in Wales.”

Robbie also added that other Haven and Parkdean sites also have “great swimming pools, splash parks and adventure villages”.

He added: “Center Parcs and Bluestone in Wales also have brilliant swimming pools and lots of activities; however, they tend to cost quite a lot more than the other brands.”

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Butlin’s, Skegness

The main pool at Butlin’s Skegness finally reopened earlier this year after it was forced to close back in November 2023.

Along with the main pool, the wave pool and the lazy river also reopened in July.

There are plenty of other features at the Skegness-based water park, including the 60ft-high Vortex Fast Flume, which sends riders into a spinning bowl.

Other rides include the Family Riptide Raft Ride and a children’s pool called Rockpool Cove for younger guests.

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Craig Tara, Scotland

The Splashaway Bay at Craig Tara is Scotland‘s biggest indoor water park, and it features two water flumes, a giant tipping bucket, a tots’ pool and water features.

One of the flumes has neon lights and three crystal-clear sections, so you can wave to your family while travelling down.

But it doesn’t end there. The other interactive flume allows you to time your ride and try to beat the fastest time of the day.

Although some activities are included, you could also add others for an additional cost.

The Haven’s holiday park also features an adventure village, crazy golf and a NERF training camp – described as a mixture of paintball and basketball.

There are even roller discos, slime-creation workshops and baby sensory rooms.

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Butlin’s, Bognor Regis

The second Butlin’s water park Robbie recommended was Splash at Bognor Regis.

According to its website, the water park has been “designed to bring the best of the British seaside inside” with a Helter Skelter-themed slide, Seaside Garden rapids and Stick of Rock slides.

There’s also an Adrenaline Flume ride and Racer slides for those who are looking for something a little more exhilarating.

Other areas include a wave pool and a children’s pool for younger or less confident swimmers.

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Trecco Bay, Wales

Elsewhere in Wales, Trecco Bay is a holiday park on a Blue Flag beach, making it ideal for those looking to enjoy a waterpark and sunbathe.

The ‘Splashland’ at Parkdean Resorts features a giant swimming pool with water chutes, waterslides, and a pirate ship attraction for children.

Plus, in the summer, there’s even an outdoor wet zone with shoots and water guns.

The park also has a high ropes course, an ‘Arts & Crafts Den’ and a climbing wall.

On top of that, there is a ‘Next Level Gaming Arena’ with the latest consoles and games to keep teenagers entertained.

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Butlin’s, Minehead

Just like the two other Butlin’s sites Robbie recommended, Minehead Splash Waterworld is home to water flumes and rides.

One of those is Master Blaster, a raft ride with a series of twists and turns.

There are other rides too, including Black Hole, Space Bowl and Blue Comet – one of the fastest rides at the water park.

Five new water attractions opening in the UK

1. Therme Manchester will have 25 swimming pools, 25 water slides and an indoor beach.
2. Modern Surf Manchester will be a surfing lagoon offering lessons to both beginners and experts.
3. Chessington World of Adventures Waterpark is set to have wave, infinity and spa pools as well as waterslides and cabanas.
4. The Cove Resort, Southport is likely to have a water lagoon and a thermal spa with steam rooms and saunas.
5. The Seahive, Deal plans to be the “surfing wellness resort” in the UK.

Last month, Robbie revealed England’s top three underrated holiday parks – with private beaches, indoor water parks and jet skis for kids.

And here are the other lesser-known holiday parks named among the best in the UK.

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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Nike reported a steeper than expected drop in sales for its most recent quarter, extending a tumultuous several months for the world’s largest sportswear maker.

Revenues at Nike for the three-month period to the end of August fell 10 per cent to $11.6bn compared to the same quarter a year ago, while net income dropped 28 per cent to $1.1bn.

The earnings come as Nike is preparing for a new chief executive. John Donahoe, who held the top job for more than four years, said he will retire in two weeks and be replaced by company veteran Elliott Hill.

The leadership shuffle follows months of sluggish sales as Nike trainers became outmoded in an otherwise thriving sneaker industry, the result of slowing innovation and an out-of-step retail strategy that it has been working to correct.

Matthew Friend, Nike’s chief financial officer, said: “A comeback at this scale takes time, but we see early wins — from momentum in key sports to accelerating our pace of newness and innovation.”

Randal Konik, managing director at Jefferies, on Monday wrote Nike shares were in “no man’s land” and that the company’s “product line-up ahead for calendar [20]25 and beyond remains unclear”.

It was also dealt a blow by Major League Baseball’s announcement on Monday that teams would phase out the Nike-supplied uniforms that debuted this spring. The kits, featuring small lettering and see-through fabrics, were unpopular with players and fans. Nike will continue to supply uniforms to the league but will revert to using fabrics found in earlier editions from next season.

Wall Street analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected profits of $786mn and $11.7bn in revenue for the three months ended in August. Shares of Nike fell about 1.6 per cent to $87 in after-hours trading on Tuesday. By Tuesday’s close, the company’s shares had fallen roughly 18 per cent this year, while the S&P 500 is up more than 20 per cent.

Analysts were closely watching the earnings report on Tuesday, which covers the critical back-to-school season, particularly in North America, and typically serves as an indicator of how popular Nike’s products are among young consumers.

Nike’s board of directors held quiet discussions this summer about succession planning for Donahoe, just weeks after co-founder and largest individual shareholder Phil Knight publicly declared his full support for the former eBay and Bain executive.

Hill, a Texas native, joined Nike as an intern after business school and worked his way up from sales to executive leadership before retiring in 2020. He will rejoin Nike on October 14.

While Nike employees and much of Wall Street celebrated news of Hill’s appointment — the company’s shares surged 6 per cent the day after it was announced — analysts have cautioned that the effects of his leadership may not be felt for months.

Nike on Tuesday said it would postpone a planned investor day, initially scheduled for November, as the company undergoes its executive transition. It did not give a new date for the presentation.

SHOPPERS are racing to their nearest Tesco store to snap up a summer essential for next year after its price was slashed from £20 to just £5.

A savvy bargain hunter shared a picture of the supermarket’s discounted product on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group.

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The post revealed that Tesco’s branch in Wath Upon Dearne is selling Status’ 12-inch Desk Fan for just £5.85.

The fan’s price was slashed by a whopping 70 per cent after the major retail chain moved the item to its reduced-to-clear section.

Shoppers can also bag Status’ 31-inch Tower Fan, scanning at Tesco’s tills for just £9.40,

It’s unclear what the original price of the tower fan was, but similar models on the supermarket’s website cost nearly £40.

Alternatively, Tesco shoppers can buy Status’ 16-inch Pedestal Fan for £6.60 after it too was moved to the reduced-to-clear section.

Similar models of the 16-inch fan cost around £25 from the popular supermarket chain, so those opting for Status’ fans will save £18.40.

The savvy shopper’s post in the bargain Facebook group garnered hundreds of likes and comments from fellow shoppers eager to grab the summer essential.

“Hope they have some left,” wrote one user.

Another commented: “Cheers pal just what I need.”

While a third, who tagged their friend, added: “If ur in at lunch have a nosey.”

Despite their eagerness, shoppers should be aware that not all of Tesco’s branches will stock these items in the reduced-to-clear section.

It’s always worth phoning ahead to your local store to check how many they have available.

As always, make sure to have a shop around before you commit to a purchase to make sure you’re always getting the best deal.

To find your nearest store head over to the Tesco website.

It follows a lucky Tesco shopper who managed to nab the “bargain” of their life when they found a pair of kids’ sports shoes priced at just 4p.

The shockingly low price sent social media into a frenzy with many wondering how shoes were so cheap.

The pair of B Sports Shoes normally costs £13 but its price had been reduced by more than 99%.

A post of the staggering deal shared on Facebook amassed countless shocked reactions.

The post stated: “Bargain of [my] life, Tesco kids School trainers for 4p, original price £13.00.”

Users were also quick to comment on the extraordinary offer.

One said: “Well done on your bargain!”

But many also shared insight into why the price was so low.

One sharp commenter claimed: “Item at 4p are old stock and meant to be removed from shelves.”

However, another said: “Shouldn’t have been sold.

“It’s meant to be for charity.”

Tesco often reduces prices to 4p on goods that are considered ‘old stock.’

It comes after Poundland shoppers rush to buy an “amazing” dupe of an iconic designer perfume for just £4.

And a much-loved bargain shop chain is pulling the shutters down on one of its stores in just a few hours.