US, UK strikes pound Yemen rebels, adding to fears of wider war

US, UK strikes pound Yemen rebels, adding to fears of wider war

US and British forces struck rebel-held Yemen early on Friday after weeks of disruptive attacks on Red Sea shipping by the Iran-backed Huthis who say they act in solidarity with Gaza. The pre-dawn air strikes add to escalating fears of wider conflict in the region, where violence involving Tehran-aligned groups in Yemen as well as Lebanon, Iraq and Syria has surged since the Israel-Hamas was began in early October. Iran […]

January 12, 2024 9

Business / Economics

IMF on G7 and the US debt ceiling

https://youtu.be/WOlz3Uh8HCo The IMF warned of negative consequences to the global economy if US leadership is unable to resolve its political impasse over negotiations to extend the debt ceiling, spokesperson Julie Kozack told reporters Thursday in Washington, DC. “We encourage all of the interested parties to come together, reach consensus to urgently resolve the matter. And of course, the reason that we're calling for this is because we are concerned about […]

January 12, 2024 18

World

Russian group to be first North Korean tourists since before pandemic

Reports suggest that a group of Russians will soon become the first tourists to visit North Korea since before the covid pandemic started. North Korea had some of the strictest border controls to stop the spread of coronavirus, and is still not fully open to foreigners. Andrew Wood has more.

January 12, 2024 49

Business / Economics

UK economy rebounds in November: official data

Britain's recession-threatened economy rebounded in November from the previous month, official data showed on Friday. Gross domestic product expanded 0.3 percent in November after contracting by 0.3 percent in October, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement. "GDP bounced back..., led by services with retail, car leasing and computer games companies all having a buoyant month," noted ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner. "The longer-term picture remains one […]

January 12, 2024 3

World

Sunak to visit Kyiv Friday to set out new ‘support package’

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will visit Kyiv on Friday to launch "a major new package of support" for Ukraine and increase military funding for this financial year to £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion), his office said. The figure is an increase of 200 million pounds over the last two years and will ensure the "largest ever commitment of drones," a statement said, adding that he was also due to […]

January 12, 2024 8

World

US and Western allies launch attacks in Yemen

The United States, alongside coalition forces including the UK, have launched air strikes against Houthi-rebel targets in Yemen, marking a major development in a region engulfed by tensions since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. US President Joe Biden says the action was taken because the Iran-backed militants were "endangering freedom of navigation in one of the world's most vital waterways" — a reference to continued Houthi attacks in past […]

January 12, 2024 9

Health / Medical

In a Fractious Rerun, GOP Rivals Haley and DeSantis Debate Health Care. Trump Sits It Out.

Left: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley debate at an event hosted by CNN in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 10. Right: Former President Donald Trump conducts a town hall hosted by Fox News in Des Moines on the same night. (CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY IMAGES; ALEX WROBLEWSKI / BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES) By KFF Health News and PolitiFact staffs The race to win the quickly approaching Iowa caucuses was […]

January 12, 2024 14

World

US & UK strike Houthi targets in Yemen

The United States with coalition forces including the UK have begun air strikes against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen. There are fears the attacks could further widen the Middle East conflict that began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th. Nick Harper reports from Washington.

January 12, 2024 25

World

Japan boosts aid as poor conditions affect quake survivors

Japan’s government is boosting aid to the earthquake struck Ishikawa region as tens of thousands of people remain in evacuation centers. Tokyo is elevating the seriousness of the quake to a ‘disaster of extreme severity’ in order to unlock access to extra funds for the region. Chris Gilbert reports from Tokyo.

January 12, 2024 4