Newspaper headlines: 'Dartbreaker' and 'halt Red Sea attacks or else'

Many of Thursday's papers speculate about the perpetrator of a deadly bomb attack in Iran on Wednesday.

The Guardian cites analysts as saying that despite some Iranian officials pointing the finger at Israel, it would be unusual for the country "to undertake a generalised attack on civilians", but the paper says whoever is behind the bombing "is clearly willing to risk igniting a regional war".

The Times says the Islamic State group tops the "long list of possible suspects", and it warns that the Middle East is "on the brink of a widespread conflict".

According to the international edition of the New York Times, Hamas's allies have "expanded the war with Israel on multiple fronts", with Houthi rebels attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea, and Hezbollah in Lebanon firing rockets across the border.

But, while the Financial Times says the assassination of a Hamas leader in Beirut "raises the stakes", the Daily Telegraph says Iran does not want to give Israel a reason to "bounce the US into a full-blown regional war".

Luke Littler has taken the dart world by storm

The Telegraph also features an interview with Boris Johnson, who condemns a Metropolitan Police investigation into alleged war crimes by Israel in Gaza. The former prime minister is concerned about what he called the "worrying politicisation" of Scotland Yard, after it launched an appeal for witnesses travelling through British airports.

Three former British diplomats warn the i of "massive security risks" to the UK if Donald Trump is re-elected US president. They tell the paper they have "major defence concerns" about Mr Trump potentially withdrawing support for Ukraine and pulling out of Nato. Sir Peter Westmacott and Lord Kerr - both former ambassadors to the US, as well as Lord McDonald, who previously headed the diplomatic service, say the government needs to draft up "contingency plans to protect the UK".

The Financial Times reports that more than two-thirds of a £4.2bn ($5.3bn) government housebuilding fund remains unspent, six years after it was launched. It says a Freedom of Information request has revealed just £1.3bn has been used. The paper quotes one former official as saying the criteria to apply have made the scheme hard to access, adding that it was "killed by the economy and ridiculous business-case requirements".

"New Year mortgage price war boost for Tory hopes," is the headline in the Daily Mail. Analysts tell the paper that decisions by some lenders to cut mortgage rates will give the Conservatives what it calls a "much needed" uplift in the polls. In its leader column, the paper says the moves are also a sign that the worst of the cost of living crisis may be behind us.

And images of Luke Littler feature on many of the front pages, after his defeat at the World Darts Championship. "Dartbreaker" is the headline in the Daily Mirror, which says the 16-year-old has "done himself proud". While the Daily Express says his "teenage dream" has come to an end, and the Sun predicts he could be on course to make millions of pounds in sponsorship deals. The paper speculates he could even sign an agreement with a kebab shop he visited during the tournament.

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