Saudi Arabia accuses Houthis of targeting Mecca, calls it a 'red line'
France 24 •

Saudi Arabia accuses Houthis of targeting Mecca, calls it a 'red line'

Saudi Arabia accused Yemen’s Houthis on Wednesday of launching an attack on the holy city of Mecca, which the Iran-backed rebels denied. Saudi Arabia, a US ally which has been the target of large-scale Houthi strikes since early September, declared Mecca a “red line” as it slid deeper into the new front of the Iran war.

Saudi Arabia accuses Houthis of targeting Mecca, calling it a 'red line'
France 24 •

Saudi Arabia accuses Houthis of targeting Mecca, calling it a 'red line'

Saudi Arabia accused Yemen’s Houthis on Wednesday of launching an attack on the holy city of Mecca, which the Iran-backed rebels denied. Saudi Arabia, a US ally which has been the target of large-scale Houthi strikes since early September, declared Mecca a “red line” as it slid deeper into the new front of the Iran war.

Charlie Kirk's family blame Utah university officials for his killing

Charlie Kirk's family blame Utah university officials for his killing

The Guardian •

String of ‘reckless decisions’ by Utah Valley University officials left him exposed to sniper, attorneys sayCharlie Kirk’s family blamed Utah officials for failing to prevent the conservative political activist’s fatal shooting at a state university, according to a wrongful death notice announced on Wednesday that presages a possible lawsuit.Attorneys for the family said Kirk’s death resulted from...

‘Inflation is too high and has been for too long,’ says Kevin Warsh as Fed announces rate hikes – as it happened

‘Inflation is too high and has been for too long,’ says Kevin Warsh as Fed announces rate hikes – as it happened

The Guardian •

This live blog is now closed.US Federal Reserve raises interest rates for the first time since 2023Kay Haigh, global head and CIO of Fixed Income and Liquidity Solutions at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, has this analysis of today’s decision:The Fed has signalled it does not at this stage envisage an aggressive tightening cycle. Most FOMC members see a total of two hikes this year per the SEP, an...

Saudis turn to Western, regional allies as missile defences run low

Saudis turn to Western, regional allies as missile defences run low

SCMP •

Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has turned to regional and Western allies for help as its stand-off with Houthi rebels in Yemen drags on, two regional officials said on Wednesday. The officials said the Saudis have asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt to deploy air-defence support to the region to help defend against missiles and drones fired by Houthis and other Iran-...

Saudis seek allies’ help as missile defences run low in fight with Houthis

Saudis seek allies’ help as missile defences run low in fight with Houthis

SCMP •

Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has turned to regional and Western allies for help as its stand-off with Houthi rebels in Yemen drags on, two regional officials said on Wednesday. The officials said the Saudis have asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt to deploy air-defence support to the region to help defend against missiles and drones fired by Houthis and other Iran-...

LGBTQ 'a threat to Erdogan's ideal of a strong, masculine state', expert says

LGBTQ 'a threat to Erdogan's ideal of a strong, masculine state', expert says

France 24 •

Turkish courts have jailed more LGBTQ activists and supporters, raising to 62 the number remanded in custody following a weekend crackdown, a legal rights group said on Wednesday. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Koen Slootmaeckers, Reader in International Politics at City St George's, University of London, says that Turkish President Recep Tayyp Erdogan wants to claim "the idea of a strong, m...

‘Made in Europe’ law threatens UK plans for reset with EU

‘Made in Europe’ law threatens UK plans for reset with EU

The Guardian •

Government sources say legislation aimed at China poses a risk to British businesses and must be addressedThe UK government’s EU reset summit will be delayed again unless the bloc agrees to discuss legislation that could lock British business out of parts of EU industry, government sources have said.The “Made in Europe” legislation – formally known as the Industrial Accelerator Act – is designed t...

‘Made in Europe’ laws could derail UK plans for reset with EU

‘Made in Europe’ laws could derail UK plans for reset with EU

The Guardian •

Government sources say legislation aimed at China poses a risk to British businesses and must be addressedEuropean legislation that threatens to lock British business out of EU industry could derail a planned reset summit between the bloc and the UK, government sources have said.The “Made in Europe” legislation – formally known as the Industrial Accelerator Act – is designed to curb China’s increa...

Utah couple's 14-year effort saves their 25.5-acre farm from becoming a subdivision

Utah couple's 14-year effort saves their 25.5-acre farm from becoming a subdivision

Times of India •

A couple from Utah dedicated their passion to maintaining their twenty-five-acre farm by entering into a fourteen-year conservation easement. This vital agreement safeguards the property from development, ensuring that the Schiess family's farmland remains a thriving agricultural site for future generations. By utilizing conservation easements, lands can be preserved effectively, allowing for envi...

Colin Kaepernick says NFL owners are colluding against Macklemore after Ed Sheeran tour ban

Colin Kaepernick says NFL owners are colluding against Macklemore after Ed Sheeran tour ban

The Guardian •

Rapper was dropped from tour after pro-Palestine remarksFormer NFL star settled case over collusion in 2019Colin Kaepernick has accused NFL owners of colluding against Macklemore after the rapper was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour over comments he made onstage about Palestine.Kaepernick, whose NFL career was effectively ended in the wake of his protests against police violence, says he sees parall...

Sweden's centre-left opposition wins election, SVT says

Sweden's centre-left opposition wins election, SVT says

France 24 •

Sweden's centre-left opposition has defeated the incumbent right-wing governing bloc by the slimmest of margins, public broadcaster ​SVT ‌said on Wednesday, after 99% ⁠of the votes in Sunday's parliamentary election had been counted. FRANCE 24's Paul Rhys reports.

Palestinian American activist arrested and ‘charged for trespassing at a public hearing’

Palestinian American activist arrested and ‘charged for trespassing at a public hearing’

The Guardian •

Noura Erakat says a Florida mayor shortened speaking time and banned discussion of investment in Israeli bondsThe human rights lawyer Noura Erakat was arrested on Tuesday at a Palm Beach county, Florida, budget hearing about the county’s more than $1bn investments in Israeli bonds.Erakat, a prominent Palestinian-American activist, legal scholar and Guardian contributor, was one of several people i...

Saudi Arabia accuses Houthis of targeting Mecca, warns of 'red line'

Saudi Arabia accuses Houthis of targeting Mecca, warns of 'red line'

France 24 •

Saudi Arabia accused Yemen's Houthis on Wednesday of launching a "cowardly" attack targeting Islam's holy city of Mecca, sparking outrage across the Muslim world. The Houthis swiftly rejected as a "lie" Riyadh's statement that it had shot down a drone heading towards Mecca, which attracts millions of pilgrims each year. FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell reports.

Republican senator blames Trump administration policies for measles deaths in Pennsylvania

Republican senator blames Trump administration policies for measles deaths in Pennsylvania

The Guardian •

Health committee chair Bill Cassidy said fatal outbreak of disease is a ‘terrible legacy’ for Trump administrationUS politics live – latest updatesSenator Bill Cassidy, the Republican chairman of the US Senate health committee, blamed the Trump administration’s vaccine-skeptical approach for ‌recent measles deaths in Pennsylvania and challenged Donald Trump’s pick for surgeon general to directly s...

Is EU’s offer to Canada a blueprint for Britain – or a reminder it is out in the cold?

Is EU’s offer to Canada a blueprint for Britain – or a reminder it is out in the cold?

The Guardian •

Ursula von der Leyen has opened door for Canada to become associate member to deepen links in ‘openly hostile world’Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has been advocating closer alignment with “middle powers” since January in the face of recklessness in Washington.But what should worry another middle power, the UK, is that it was Brussels that came up with Wednesday’s big reveal in Strasbourg. ...