The U.S. and the U.K. conducted retaliatory airstrikes Thursday evening against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen following a cascade of attacks on commercial shipping‚ Reuters reported‚ citing four U.S. officials. The Houthis had launched at least 27 drone and missile attacks against commercial vessels near the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden‚ the U.S. military said Thursday‚ operations that the clan says were in opposition to Israel’s war with the Hamas terrorist group that governs the Gaza Strip. The U.S.-U.K. strikes‚ which occurred early Friday morning in Yemen‚ are the first time the U.S. has conducted deliberate strikes against targets linked to the Houthis since the group began attacking international shipping in late 2023‚ according to Reuters. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was preparing earlier to authorize strikes on the Houthis following a meeting with the National Security Council and briefings with Parliament‚ according to The Financial Times. The Pentagon already had drawn up potential targets‚ U.S. officials told the outlet. Western diplomats had discussed the possibility of strikes with maritime CEOs‚ The Wall Street Journal reported. Targets could include launch sites for missiles and drones‚ radars‚ weapons depots‚ and infrastructure in Yemen’s capital‚ Sanaa‚ the executives said. Houthi forces had bunkered down and taken steps to conceal sensitive assets in anticipation of strikes‚ U.S. officials said‚ according to the Journal. Earlier Thursday‚ Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi threatened to retaliate if the clan were to be struck by the U.S.‚ the BBC reported. “Any American attack will not remain without a response. The response will be greater than the attack that was carried out with 20 drones and a number of missiles‚” he said in a televised address‚ referring to a Wednesday attack local time that was the largest since the group began targeting commercial ships in October. The U.K. operates a destroyer in the Red Sea and is participating in a U.S.-led coalition‚ Operation Prosperity Guardian‚ aimed at deterring strikes and reassuring international shipping of the vessels’ safety. The Pentagon had declined to comment earlier Thursday on rumored plans of strikes on the Houthis. ?: Sailors from guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) participate in a vertical replenishment with @TheCVN69 while supporting Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea‚ Jan. 8. Led by @CMF_Bahrain's CTF 153‚ #OPG has more than 20 countries taking part. pic.twitter.com/m9AMaLsoWF— U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) January 11‚ 2024 After Wednesday’s missile and drone barrage‚ U.S. Central Command reiterated a Jan. 3 warning from the U.S. and partners against further Houthi attacks. Experts said the repeated threat signaled the Pentagon was rapidly losing patience with the Houthis’ continued attacks. “I think that statement from multiple nations when it comes to the fact that there will be consequences—should the attacks not stop—speaks for itself. And I’ll just leave it at that‚” Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a press briefing Thursday afternoon. Major shipping companies continue to avoid Red Sea transit routes. The Houthis over the weekend appeared to target a U.S. guided-missile destroyer in the region as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian. U.S. military assets in the Red Sea include 130 aircraft and the warships assigned to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group‚ carrying about 4‚000 sailors and Marines‚ White House national security spokesman John Kirby said at a Jan. 3 briefing. This report originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post BREAKING: US‚ UK Launch Retaliatory Airstrikes Against Houthis After Months of Attacks in Red Sea appeared first on The Daily Signal.

US‚ UK Carry Out Strikes Against Houthis in Yemen

This Is San Francisco

Regarding the latest network coverage (or lack thereof) Wednesday night and Thursday morning concerning Hunter Biden’s life of corruption‚ we’ve got some good news and we’ve got some bad news. The bad news? ABC‚ CBS‚ and NBC saw no problem with Hunter’s shameless stunt appearing before the House Oversight Committee as they debated a contempt of Congress resolution.     The good news was Thursday’s CBS Mornings became the first newscast to do a deep dive calling out Hunter’s shady‚ shadowy Hollywood bankroller. We’ll stick with the bad news. ABC’s World News Tonight anchor David Muir teased the nearly three-minute segment (2:53) on Hunter’s hijinks as merely a stunning moment while he boasted in the segment’s open that “Hunter’s appearance...and his willingness to answer questions in public...outraging Republicans.” Chief Biden apple polisher Mary Bruce added another piece of tape for a press secretary audition‚ boasting of Hunter causing “high drama” as “Republicans have tried to tie Hunter Biden's business dealings to his father‚ but acknowledge they have found no concrete evidence of wrongdoing.” “Today‚ he sat silently for 20 minutes. When Chairman James Comer called on Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene‚ who has attacked Hunter Biden in deeply personal terms‚ Biden walking out‚” she huffed. Thursday’s Good Morning America only had 46 seconds on what co-host and former Clinton spinster George Stephanopoulos dubbed “a surprise appearance”. Chief Washington correspondent and three-time anti-Trump author Jonathan Karl reveled in Hunter’s stunt and showed his admiration for it. At one point‚ he even chuckled at the decision by Hunter and his legal team because it showed the country how Republicans are in “chaos” (click “expand”): KARL: Yeah‚ he came into the — into the hearing room where they were having this contempt hearing against him. He was there for about 20‚ 30 minutes. It was interesting because it shined a light on the Republicans and the kind of chaos — [CHUCKLES] — around that case. You had one Republican‚ Nancy Mace‚ call for him to be arrested immediately and taken to jail in the hearing room. It didn’t make the Republicans look — STEPHANOPOULOS: But his point was that he’s actually willing to testify. KARL: — yes! His point was — in fact‚ one of the Democrats said‚ let’s take a vote right now. He will come up and answer questions right now in person. What he doesn’t want to do and what he’s refused to do is a private‚ closed door deposition. He wants to testify in public. He did. His lawyer — you know — Abbe Lowell‚ did speak to reporters after. Hours later on World News Tonight‚ there was only a measly 27-second brief on Hunter Biden's Los Angeles arraignment on his newest financial charges.  Wednesday’s NBC Nightly News only had 89 seconds on the political brinkmanship. Anchor Lester Holt refused to criticize the “dramatic scene” while Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles gave the spectacle a brief‚ blow-by-blow summary of what was supposed to be a hearing about Biden “not following the rules of [the GOP’s] subpoena‚ which required a closed door testimony.” Nobles was back on Thursday’s Today‚ but in Los Angeles for the arraignment. Co-host Hoda Kotb also downplayed the Hill stunt as just a “surprise appearance” that created “dramatics [sic] — dramatic moments.” Nobles explained Hunter opposed an initial closed-door deposition because of a fear “Republicans would selectively leak what he said” and his presence triggered “shouting matches and chaotic moments with Republicans accusing him of taunting them.” Nobles being in Los Angeles meant a full segment on Thursday’s NBC Nightly News and an overall coverage tally of two minutes and 25 seconds. During his report‚ Nobles fretted about how naked photos of Hunter Biden became public (via his laptop‚ which Nobles omitted): NOBLES: This morning‚ First Lady Jill Biden said she was proud of the way her son has managed his recovery‚ and blasted Republicans for showing naked selfies of Hunter during a recent hearing. JILL BIDEN [on MSNBC’s Mornings Joe‚ 01/11/24]: What they are doing to hunter is cruel. And I'm really proud of how Hunter has rebuilt his life after addiction and I think -- I love my son‚ and it's had -- it's hurt my grandchildren. And that's what I'm so concerned about.  Wednesday on the CBS Evening News‚ anchor Norah O’Donnell said what Hunter went against what’s general a city with “few genuine surprises” and hyped his actions as having “thrown” the GOP “for a loop”. January 6 correspondent Scott MacFarlane had this one and remarked Tuesday “add[ed] another chapter into the probe of his business dealings and the committee’s claims‚ without direct evidence‚ the President benefited from them.” “Biden’s appearance surprised even some Democrats...and fueled...a fierce marathon of arguments‚” he added. Congressional correspondent Nikole Killion had the story for Thursday’s CBS Mornings after co-host Nate Burleson merely characterized Hunter’s brazen nose-thumbing as “a surprise appearance yesterday to confront Republicans‚” who “refused to allow” him to testify and put this behind him. Killion followed this narrative in shouting at Congressman James Comer (R-KY) about why he didn’t “let him testify.” Comer shot back: “He doesn’t get to set the rules.” To her credit‚ she noted Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to say whether the White House knew in advance about this. Fast-forward to CBS Evening News and there was only 26 seconds on Biden with O’Donnell recalling how the First Son had “ignited chaos” a day earlier. Back to CBS Mornings‚ there was an actual Hunter Biden story of substance about Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris‚ who’s showered Biden with millions of dollars in recent years to help him make rent and pay back taxes after only meeting at a 2019 fundraiser for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign Though the Daily Caller has been covering Morris since October‚ Herridge’s story opened the door for viewers to hopefully do their own homework on this shady character that even co-host and Democratic donor Gayle King admitted “has been heavily funding” Biden. Herridge began with Hunter’s Venice Beach home that he had signed a two-year lease for‚ which Morris helped pay for “much of” to the tune of “approximately $200‚000”. Hunter Biden said Kevin Morris‚ a prominent Hollywood attorney‚ is like a brother to him. Morris‚ according to an IRS agent involved in the Hunter Biden tax investigation‚ has spent nearly $5 million on behalf of the president’s son. @CBS_Herridge reports. pic.twitter.com/CEuKxNVX8s — CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) January 11‚ 2024 After explaining Morris came into his money as “prominent Hollywood attorney who brokered lucrative deals for the creators of the animated sitcom‚ South Park...and the Broadway hit The Book of Mormon‚ Herridge said Hunter’s been his “latest project‚” adding he’s drawn the eye of both congressional Republicans and IRS agent-turned-Biden probe whistleblower‚ Joseph Ziegler (click “expand”): JOSEPH ZIEGLER: No one should be above the law. HERRIDGE: An IRS agent involved in the Hunter Biden tax investigation told Congress‚ Morris spent nearly $5 million on behalf of the President’s son. According to prosecutors and other sources‚ payments include $11‚000.00 on a Porsche‚ purchases of Hunter Biden’s art‚ and a loan of more than $2 million for Hunter Biden’s back taxes. The payments and the timing have drawn the attention of Republicans running the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. CONGRESSMAN JASON SMITH (R-MO): What is Kevin Morris getting from Hunter Biden or from Joe Biden? These are things that we need to look into.  HERRIDGE: Morris and Hunter Biden reportedly met at a political fundraiser in 2019 as Joe Biden launched his campaign for the presidency. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Folks‚ America is an idea. HERRIDGE: A month before Super Tuesday‚ Morris sought to get Hunter Biden’s outstanding tax returns filed‚ writing in an e-mail: “We are under considerable risk personally and politically to get the returns in.” An accountant for the President’s son explained to an IRS investigator‚ unpaid tax could generate media attention. [TO BURNS] What rule does that break? BURNS: Well‚ it seems to break some of the rules of politics. HERRIDGE: Caleb Burns is an expert in campaign finance law. He says the money Morris gave Hunter Biden doesn’t appear to meet the narrow standard for any illegal campaign contribution. Morris has not been charged with any crime. [TO BURNS] Going forward‚ could the Kevin Morris money present a legal issue? BURNS: Yes‚ if President Biden were to take official action to benefit Mr. Morris. Among the charges‚ Morris even allegedly covered for Hunter as‚ upon leaving said residence‚ the First Son “left tens of thousands of dollars in damage” and “months of unpaid rent.” Wrapping up her nearly-four-minute piece‚ Herridge said a Morris representative relayed Morris “has not asked for or expected anything from President Biden or his administration in return for his support of Hunter.” Exit question: Does any honest believe that’s true? To see the relevant transcripts from January 11‚ click here (for ABC)‚ here (for CBS)‚ and here (for NBC).

A family is suing their son's high school for wrongful death after the 16-year-old committed suicide in part because he was accused of being racist. The parents of Charlie Schnell said that he committed suicide in March 2022 because of numerous incidents relating to his experience at Landon School in Bethesda‚ Maryland. “Every day‚ I wake up‚ and he dies again‚” said Scott Schnell‚ the boy's father‚ to WRC-TV. “There’s not a day that we don’t think of him‚ that I don’t think of him.” The family claims in a lawsuit against the school that their son suffered a concussion during a sports event‚ and the school dean mocked him in front of other students. They also said that a classmate accused him of making a racist drawing‚ and he was subjected to threats of violence and extreme bullying. The family says he faced discipline in another incident and was not allowed to respond in his defense. He was given the option to withdraw or be expelled‚ and he withdrew. This was 13 days before he killed himself. “Our biggest mistake was sending Charlie to Landon‚” said Dawn Schnell‚ his mother. The family says that a father of their son's classmate committed suicide‚ and the school didn't offer adequate grief support. They also claim that a student at the school threatened to commit mass violence‚ and their son had a difficult time processing it‚ but a teacher didn't inform them about that anxiety. “There was fear across that campus‚ and the boys were not supported to be able to process that fear‚” said Dawn Schnell. They are asking for $75‚000 and for changes in policy at the school in order to prevent further incidents of student suicide. The school released a statement to WRC about the lawsuit describing all the policies they put in place to help children process mental stress. “At Landon‚ we have no higher duty than supporting the well-being of our boys‚ a role we take very seriously‚" the statement read. "We continue to feel only compassion for the grief that this family is experiencing over the devastating loss of their son. And while we strongly disagree with the claims and characterizations made in their lawsuit‚ we will continue to navigate this situation with respect‚ compassion and sensitivity.” The Schnells said they wanted children to know that there's help for those who feel desperate and hopeless. “If I could do one thing in my life over‚ it would be not sending him there‚” his father said of the school. Here's a local news report about the incident: Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Ali Vitali‚ who indicates on Instagram that she is an NBC News and MSNBC correspondent‚ suggested that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' references to "pale pastels" during a GOP presidential primary debate against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley could be perceived as "sexist.""A color scheme‚ 'pale pastel' or otherwise‚ is not the way you attack a presidential candidate. None of the men who’ve been on these debate stages have had their clothes used to criticize their policies‚" Vitali tweeted."DeSantis slamming the 'pale pastels' of Haley’s policies…as she stands there in a pale pastel pink dress‚" Vitali wrote on an NBC News blog during the debate. "At a certain point‚ the 'pale pastels' commentary could start to ring a little sexist. None of the male candidates are being taken to task for their bright red ties' somehow being akin to their policy stances‚" Vitali opined.In what seemed to be an apparent attempt to hearken back to terminology that had been used by Ronald Reagan‚ DeSantis repeatedly used the "pale pastels" language while debating Haley on Wednesday night."We need to fly a flag of bold colors ... not the pale pastels of the warmed-over corporatism of people like Nikki Haley‚" DeSantis declared.During remarks at the 1976 Republican National Convention‚ Reagan said‚ "I believe the Republican Party has a platform that is a banner of bold‚ unmistakable colors with no pale pastel shades." He used the figure of speech during remarks at the 1984 Repubican National Convention‚ saying‚ "Four years ago‚ we raised a banner of bold colors‚ no pale pastels."Reagan lost the 1976 GOP presidential nomination to then-President Gerald Ford. But the actor-turned-politician ultimately ended up winning the Republican presidential nomination in 1980. Reagan‚ who won the 1980 and 1984 presidential elections‚ served as president from early 1981 until early 1989.People on social media responded to Vitali's tweet."This reporter thinks this old quote is about clothes. Please tell me this is a parody account‚" Dana Loesch tweeted. — (@) "Ron DeSantis has used this line quite a bit on the campaign trail‚ and it stems from Ronald Reagan's 1976 speech at the Republican convention in which he called for leading with bold colors vs. pale pastels. Has nothing to do with clothes..." DeSantis campaign spokesperson Carly Atchison tweeted."Lots of folks — rightly so— pointing out that this was a famous Reagan line. Also worth noting Santorum used it all the time in 2012‚" Jonah Goldberg wrote.Vitali is the author of a book titled‚ "ELECTABLE: Why America Hasn't Put A Woman In the White House...Yet."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Two U.S. officials confirmed to Fox News that the U.S. launched a "massive retaliatory" attack in a joint effort with Britain against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. The 28 attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen included shipping lanes and were supported by the countries of Australia‚ the Netherlands‚ Bahrain‚ and Canada. President Joe Biden said that he had authorized the strikes "in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea—including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history." He went on to say that the airstrikes were a response to more than 130 attacks on U.S. forces in the region by Houthis. "These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes‚" Biden added. Abdel-Malek al-Houthi. the leader of the Houthi militants‚ released a statement saying that they would respond to the attacks with greater force. "Any American attack will not remain without a response. The response will be greater than the attack that was carried out with twenty drones and a number of missiles‚" he said‚ according to Fox News. The war in Yemen is widely considered a proxy war between U.S. interests and those of Iran. The U.S. had previously sunk four Houthi vessels on New Year's Day after the militants spent weeks harassing and attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea. "I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary‚" Biden concluded. Here's a news report about the attacks: Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A militant attack on the U.S. embassy in Iraq was reported after the U.S. issued a "massive retaliatory" airstrike campaign against numerous targets in Yemen. Reports on social media said that sirens were heard at the embassy in Iraq overnight just hours after the U.S. confirmed the joint airstrikes on the rebels with aid from Britain. The Jerusalem Post reported that the attack on the embassy could not be confirmed apart from social media reports. Abdel-Malek al-Houthi‚ the leader of the Houthi militants‚ had threatened a response to the attacks from the U.S. "Any American attack will not remain without a response. The response will be greater than the attack that was carried out with twenty drones and a number of missiles‚" he said.The White House released a statement attributed to President Joe Biden saying the airstrikes on the Houthis were a direct response to about 130 attacks in the Red Sea aimed at stopping global trade. "Today‚ at my direction‚ U.S. military forces - together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia‚ Bahrain‚ Canada‚ and the Netherlands - successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world's most vital waterways‚" read the statement. "These attacks have endangered U.S. personnel‚ civilian mariners‚ and our partners‚ jeopardized trade‚ and threatened freedom of navigation‚" he added. "More than 50 nations have been affected in 27 attacks on international commercial shipping."Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described the attacks in a statement Thursday night. "Today’s strikes targeted the Houthis’ unmanned aerial vehicle‚ uncrewed surface vessel‚ land-attack cruise missile‚ and coastal radar and air surveillance capabilities‚" he said. "The United States maintains its right to self-defense and‚ if necessary‚ we will take follow-on actions to protect U.S. forces‚" he added. The U.S. has not attacked the Houthi rebels since 2016. About 10% of the global economy flows through the Red Sea‚ and it was blocked by Houthi aggression. Last week‚ the U.S. joined in a statement by 14 countries condemning the actions of the militants. "The Houthis will bear the responsibility for the consequences should they continue to threaten lives‚ the global economy‚ or the free flow of commerce in the region's critical waterways‚" they said. Here's more about the US attack on Houthis: Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

CES 2024 has been awash with stunning new gaming laptops‚ with the likes of Acer‚ Asus‚ Gigabyte‚ Lenovo‚ MSI‚ Razer‚ and more showing off new models. Packed with stunning displays‚ the latest CPUs and GPUs from AMD‚ Intel‚ and Nvidia‚ and a multitude of wild and wonderful gaming extras‚ we've had hands-on time with dozens of them and these are the ones that have stood out to use the most so far. Continue reading These are the best gaming laptops we’ve seen at CES 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card‚ Best gaming PC‚ Best SSD for gaming

Trapped in a loveless marriage and suffering from mental health problems and opium addiction‚ Empress Wanrong ultimately died alone at age 39 in a prison camp run by Chinese Communist guerillas. The post The Tortured Life Of Empress Wanrong‚ The Last Empress Of China appeared first on All That's Interesting.