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At this time's prime tales

The US and the UK have launched air and missile strikes on Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, Washington and London introduced in a single day. The strikes observe greater than two months of what President Biden referred to as “reckless assaults” by the Houthis on worldwide industrial cargo ships and US warships within the Crimson Sea. The strikes have been additionally supported by a number of allies of america and the UK.

Picture taken from the deck of HMS Diamond, seen right here firing Sea Viper missiles into the Crimson Sea on 1 October. HMS Diamond together with US warships have efficiently repelled a serious assault by Iran-backed Houthis within the Crimson Sea.

Kick USA / UK MOD / Kick USA by way of Reuters Conn


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Kick USA / UK MOD / Kick USA by way of Reuters Conn


Picture taken from the deck of HMS Diamond, seen right here firing Sea Viper missiles into the Crimson Sea on 1 October. HMS Diamond together with US warships have efficiently repelled a serious assault by Iran-backed Houthis within the Crimson Sea.

Kick USA / UK MOD / Kick USA by way of Reuters Conn

  • The Houthis have vowed to hold out extra assaults and say they’re doing this in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, NPR's Greg Myre stories Up First. Myre says the Crimson Sea is essential for delivery between Europe, the Center East and Asia. He calls Biden's efforts to get the Houthis to again down with out igniting a broader regional battle “an actual gamble.”

Israel right this moment defends itself towards a accused of genocide introduced by South Africa to the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice in The Hague. Yesterday, South Africa argued that Israel's navy response to Hamas assaults on October 7 that killed greater than 1,200 individuals is aimed not solely at Hamas militants however in any respect Palestinians in Gaza. Israel's air, land and sea assault on Gaza has killed greater than 23,000 individuals – most of them ladies and youngsters – in response to the Palestinian Ministry of Well being.

NPR's Rob Schmitz says a whole bunch of individuals gathered exterior the court docket yesterday, chanting slogans for either side. A Jewish instructor who traveled to the court docket from London tells NPR producer Abu Bakr Bashir that he agrees with South Africa, given the widespread destruction in Gaza.

  • The UN estimates that round 700,000 ladies and ladies in Gaza do not need entry to fundamental hygiene merchandise. equivalent to menstrual pads, rest room paper and working water. The circumstances put them liable to reproductive and urinary infections.
  • The struggle took an financial toll on Israel, probably the most developed economic system within the Center East. Reservists referred to as as much as the navy left tech firms underpowered, resulting in a shrinking economic system and job shortages.

Take a look at npr.org/mideastupdates for extra protection and evaluation of the battle.

Republican campaigns and teams that assist them have spent almost $300 million on adverts thus far in making an attempt to win the presidential nomination, in response to knowledge analyzed by NPR and compiled by promoting monitoring agency AdImpact. Two-thirds of the cash was spent within the first two nomination states, Iowa and New Hampshire. Greater than $100 million in Iowa alone, the place the caucuses can be held subsequent Monday. Tremendous PACs spent an inordinate sum of money on this election. In contrast to campaigns, they’ll elevate limitless quantities of cash.

Deep dive

The SAVE plan has turn into a key car for President Biden's pupil mortgage debt reduction efforts. In a press launch Friday, U.S. Training Secretary Miguel Cardona stated: “The Biden-Harris administration designed the SAVE Plan to place neighborhood faculty college students and different low stability loans on a sooner path to debt forgiveness than ever earlier than.”

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The SAVE plan has turn into a key car for President Biden's pupil mortgage debt reduction efforts. In a press launch Friday, U.S. Training Secretary Miguel Cardona stated: “The Biden-Harris administration designed the SAVE Plan to place neighborhood faculty college students and different low stability loans on a sooner path to debt forgiveness than ever earlier than.”

Bloomberg/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures

The Biden administration has introduced that it’ll observe a mortgage forgiveness coverage beforehand deliberate for July. The brand new change will erase the money owed of 1000’s of federal pupil mortgage debtors and college students who initially borrowed lower than $21,000. Right here's what you want to find out about your loans:

  • You should be registered within the new income-based reimbursement plan generally known as SAVE.
  • Anybody who borrowed $12,000 or much less and has been in reimbursement for at the very least 10 years, his loans have been written off in February.
  • The time window for mortgage forgiveness will increase for one 12 months for every further $1,000 borrowed.
  • The coverage seems on the quantity college students initially borrow – not as a lot as they owe now.

Weekend picks

Jaquel Spivey stars as Damian, Angourie Rice stars as Cady and Auli'i Cravalho stars as Janis in Imply Women from Paramount Footage. Photograph: Jojo Whilden/Paramount © 2023 Paramount Footage.

Jojo Whilden


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Jojo Whilden


Jaquel Spivey stars as Damian, Angourie Rice stars as Cady and Auli'i Cravalho stars as Janis in Imply Women from Paramount Footage. Photograph: Jojo Whilden/Paramount © 2023 Paramount Footage.

Jojo Whilden

Discover out what NPR watch, learn and hear:

Motion pictures: : dangerous ladies, the brand new adaptation of the Broadway musical adaptation of Lindsay Lohan's 2004 movie has all of it: songs, dance and teenage drama. The Pop Tradition Pleased Hour hosts talk about whether or not to stay to the unique.

TV: Tons of recent exhibits debuted this month, from Marvel's echo to a brand new season of True Detective. Right here's what to see in January.

Books: The graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham Love story of the lunar 12 months skillfully celebrates real love whereas acknowledging the darkish forces that hang-out the lives of refugees and immigrants in transition.

Music: It's shaping as much as be a terrific 12 months in music. NPR editors talk about the album releases they're most wanting ahead to in 2024.

Video games: This 12 months, avid gamers can sit up for Closing Fantasy 7 in February and a brand new Nintendo Swap console to shut the 12 months.

Quiz: This week's quiz is all about winners and losers. Who will you be?

3 issues to know earlier than you go

A Transportation Safety Administration employee screens baggage at LaGuardia Airport in New York on September 26, 2017. The TSA says it has discovered a file variety of firearms at checkpoints in airport safety final 12 months.

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A Transportation Safety Administration employee screens baggage at LaGuardia Airport in New York on September 26, 2017. The TSA says it has discovered a file variety of firearms at checkpoints in airport safety final 12 months.

Spencer Platt/Getty Pictures

  1. The Transportation Safety Administration says it discovered a file variety of firearms at airport safety checkpoints in 2023. Virtually all have been loaded.
  2. Good Morning America Anchor and former NFL participant Michael Strahan says her teenage daughter Isabella was just lately recognized with medulloblastoma, a uncommon type of mind most cancers.
  3. eBay agreed to pay a $3 million advantageous to settle the legal fees who say their former staff waged a marketing campaign of harassment on a Massachusetts couple by sending stay bugs, a funeral wreath and different disturbing shipments to their house.

This text was edited by Majd Al-Waheidi.

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