hello and welcome. i'm catherine byaruhanga. the us has launched a fresh strike against the houthis in yemen. military officials say they hit a radar site with missiles fired from the uss carney, based in the red sea. they've described this latest strike as a follow—on action to joint attacks yesterday, which authorities say are designed to degrade the houthis�* ability to attack maritime vessels. earlier, president biden had warned the us would respond if the iran—backed group continued what he called outrageous behaviour in attacking shipping in the red sea. on friday, the us and uk hit around 30 sites across yemen, including the capital city of sana'a. houthi leaders said five people were killed and have warned

of more retaliation. our correspondent graham satchell has more. before and after — satellite images show the impact of the american and british bombing raids. the american say airfields and weapons storage depots were destroyed. the raf didn't take part in the attack overnight, but both the british and american say the raids are vital to keep shipping routes openin vital to keep shipping routes open in the red sea. houthi militia have been targeting container ships of the yemeni coast for weeks. sometimes, like this, they have bordered vessels. in other attacks, they used drones and missiles. they say they are disrupting this key shipping route to show their support for palestinians in gaza. yemen sits at a key

strategic position in the middle east, especially for global shipping. the normal route from the far east goes around the coast of yemen, through the red sea and the suez canal. it has been significantly disrupted. most vessels are now taking the longer route around southern africa. it means delay and extra cost to global commerce. a huge rally in the yemeni capital, sanaa. protesters burned the american and israeli flags. millions in yemen and across the arab world are appalled by israel's conduct of the war in gaza, and they see the war in gaza, and they see the current airstrikes by the west as an escalation. a houthi military spokesman said british and american military aggression would not go unanswered or unpunished. the americans maintain airstrikes are a proportionate response, and they are talking down a

wider conflict. we absolutely do not want _ wider conflict. we absolutely do not want to _ wider conflict. we absolutely do not want to see _ wider conflict. we absolutely do not want to see an - wider conflict. we absolutely i do not want to see an extension of the conflict in gaza broader into the region and will continue to work hard on that. but at the same time, we can't allow the houthis to continue to conduct these attacks, putting innocent mariners' lives at risk and affecting the global economy. the lives at risk and affecting the global economy. the houthis our backs but not _ global economy. the houthis our backs but not controlled - global economy. the houthis our backs but not controlled by - backs but not controlled by iran. the clear worry now is that what's happening in gaza and the red sea spreads and escalates to the wider region. live now to washington, and our reporter will vernon. thank you forjoining us on the programme. what's the reaction being in the us to this military action in yemen? well, it's uuite military action in yemen? well, it's quite late — military action in yemen? well, it's quite late here _ military action in yemen? well, it's quite late here in _ military action in yemen? well, it's quite late here in the - military action in yemen? well, it's quite late here in the us. i it's quite late here in the us. frankly, there hasn't been much

reaction yet, and i don't expect there will be an awful lot. it doesn't sound, catherine, like this additional action was very significant. it sounds from the language and the statement that this was some sort of correction, a follow—up from those much larger scale attacks the night before. hours before these fresh strikes took place, president biden sent a warning to the houthis saying that the us would respond if they continued what he called their outrageous behaviour. now, these fresh strikes are clearly nowhere near on the same scale as those thursday night strikes, joint us, uk, supported by other nations, and we've been hearing in the last 12 hours or so some additional details about those strikes. the us military said that around 30 different targets were struck, targets on houthi

controlled territory, and that no civilians were killed as a result. indeed, from what we hear from the houthis themselves, they also don't mention any civilian casualties. the us military said this was because the sites, the targets, they struck were in rural areas, were in mountainous areas. now, president biden called this military action a success. i think it remains to be seen, based on what the houthis will do in the next hours and days, it remains to be seen whether mr biden is right. find it remains to be seen whether mr biden is right.— it remains to be seen whether mr biden is right. and what do ou think mr biden is right. and what do you think president _ mr biden is right. and what do you think president biden - mr biden is right. and what do you think president biden is i you think president biden is hoping to achieve politically, perhaps, in the us by carrying out these strikes?— out these strikes? well, remember _ out these strikes? well, remember it's _ out these strikes? well, remember it's an - out these strikes? well, | remember it's an election out these strikes? well, - remember it's an election year here, a crucial election year. mr biden has already come under criticism for not going to congress, for not seeking congressional approval, before he authorised these strikes.

now, that is a controversial, thorny issue — whether he is bound by the constitution to seek congress's approval first. but frankly a lot of the attention here from us networks and us people is on the state of iowa. that is where, in around three days' time, the us primary season will kick off. americans will begin selecting their candidates for the republican — the republican candidate in the us presidential election. although this was a controversial decision, i think most of the attention will be on iowa at the moment.— attention will be on iowa at the moment. thank you very much. let's get some background on the houthis. they have been fighting a civil war against the yemeni government since 2014. when the war in gaza began last year, they declared their support for hamas and said they would target any ship travelling to israel. 0ur security correspondent frank gardner looks now at whether this military

action will deter them. proudly independent, wary of outsiders, and also staunchly anti—western and anti—israel, the houthis are a tough mountain tribe who seized power in yemen ten years ago. today, the us—led air strikes seem only to have emboldened them and their supporters. translation: we condemn the criminal terrorist strikes on the yemeni people by israel, america and britain. we have been at war for eight years. these strikes do not frighten us and do not worry a hair on our head. we will support our brothers in palestine and gaza, and we are with them. the houthis have already endured nearly eight years of air strikes as saudi arabia, armed with western weapons, sought to reverse their takeover and restore the legitimate government. it failed. the houthis are in firm control of most of the populated parts of yemen.

that's the purple bits here, including the capital, sana'a, and, crucially, most of the red sea coast. and they're backed by iran, which trains them, arms them and provides them with intelligence — which it denies. this has enabled the houthis to build up a powerful arsenal of drones and missiles. now, the houthis have effectively entered the gaza war on the side of hamas. they've demanded a ceasefire and they say they're targeting any ship linked to israel, but they've also attacked plenty of vessels that aren't. the capabilities the iranians have provided the houthis have included cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and also the capability to manufacture home—grown uavs, drones, which can be used as a cheap way to attack both shipping at sea and targets on the land. houthi patience may outlast america's and britain's in this crisis. their drones cost a fraction of what it costs to shoot them down. they've vowed to keep attacking

shipping and to exact revenge for last night's air strikes. frank gardner, bbc news. with me now is said shahata from bbc arabic. this latest strike by the us is different from the one that we saw, the first major strike. why do you think they have carried out a fresh strike? i think to give assurances for the shipping companies that america is supporting the freedom of navigation on the red sea. it shows the resistance of the us states, and the protection of freedom of navigation. in addition to that, they try to weaken the abilities of the houthis, because the houthis resisted four years, and they came out stronger after the bombing of yemen by the coalition led by saudi arabia. so there is no

response yet from the houthis, but there is an expectation that they will respond at any point. the americans are trying to do a precautionary step or action in order to weaken their abilities, so in case the houthi take an action, it will not be damaging to much to the freedom of navigation in the red sea. it will make the shipping companies trust the way in order to relieve the pressure on prices and other negative consequences of disrupting the movement of ships from the red sea to the suez canal, which is the shortest way to europe. find shortest way to europe. and 'ust a shortest way to europe. and just a point _ shortest way to europe. and just a point on _ shortest way to europe. and just a point on those - shortest way to europe. and just a point on those shipping companies. what has the reaction be into this military action? , ., , , action? the problem is even the intention of— action? the problem is even the intention of the _ action? the problem is even the intention of the americans - action? the problem is even the intention of the americans to i intention of the americans to give assurances— on the contrary, there are four big oil tanker companies that diverted away from their activity there. in addition to

that, the revenues of the suez canal at the beginning of this year compared to last year is lessened by 40% because about 40% of the ships are going through the red sea. two big shipping companies have said they welcome the steps by the americans, the strikes, but they are not sure yet if they are enough. the shipping companies are advised to turn off their tracking systems when they are close to yemen. they are putting armoured guards on the boats, so all of these steps by the shipping companies show that the american strikes and the british are not giving assurances yet. and even with that, i imagine the houthi responsible put off some other companies, and this will have consequences on the prices of oil. already the price of oil has increased by 4% because of these oil tankers holding their

activities in the red sea. thank you very much forjoining us. for more analysis, let's go live now to dr greg young, a former naval officer and professor of political science at university of colorado boulder, specialising in middle east politics, national security studies and american foreign policy. doctor young, thank you for joining us on the programme. these attacks by the houthis have been happening for several weeks now. why do you think these strikes by the us and the uk have started this week? well, a couple of things, and thank you for having me. this new axis of opposition we are dealing with, houthis, hamas, hezbollah, all supported by iran, this is not really new. when i used to fly during the cold war, the houthis would come on board and say american

aeroplane, turn away, you will be shot down. but they didn't have the capability. this capability is supplied by iran and motivated by the perception that they are the guardians of the palestinians, which has emboldened them. as you heard earlier in your programme, i don't think these attacks are going to deter them. it may reduce their capabilities. president biden has said he doesn't want a wider war, but in fact, there already is a wider war. in fact, there already is a widerwar. us in fact, there already is a wider war. us forces have been attacked in syria by iranian militias, they have been attacks in iraq. he was reluctant until us or uk ships have been attacked in the red sea, and responding now, i think, to minimise capabilities, not really thinking that this is going to deter the houthis. their banner is very straightforward. it says god is great, death to america, death to israel and a cancer on alljews. it is

pretty clear, and given the capability... pretty clear, and given the capability- - -_ capability... sorry to interrupt _ capability... sorry to interrupt you, i capability... sorry to | interrupt you, doctor capability... sorry to - interrupt you, doctor young, what do you think the likely reaction is going to be from the houthis? how can they respond to these american and british strikes?— british strikes? certainly in sana'a today _ british strikes? certainly in sana'a today there - british strikes? certainly in sana'a today there was i british strikes? certainly in sana'a today there was a l british strikes? certainly in i sana'a today there was a huge rally against america and the uk and our allied response. i do not know what the bta or bomb damage assessment has been from the strikes, both yesterday and now the most recent one on our radar site —— bda. if it really has diminished their capability to strike the ships in the red sea, we know that some 10% to 15% of all commerce, particularly container commerce, comes to europe that way, and it could have a huge cost, as your previous guest said. but i am assuming that iran will be more than happy to step in and continue to supply these weapons. i think long—term, the probability that this war will maintain its

lower status, this war will maintain its lowerstatus, i this war will maintain its lower status, i think, this war will maintain its lowerstatus, ithink, is unlikely. lower status, ithink, is unlikely-— lower status, ithink, is unlikel . ~ . ., ,, , lower status, ithink, is unlikel . ~ . . ,, , ., unlikely. what happens in that case if the _ unlikely. what happens in that case if the strikes _ unlikely. what happens in that case if the strikes don't i unlikely. what happens in that case if the strikes don't deterl case if the strikes don't deter the houthis, what to americans and brits do?— and brits do? britain demonstrated i and brits do? britain demonstrated a i and brits do? britain| demonstrated a great and brits do? britain i demonstrated a great deal and brits do? britain - demonstrated a great deal to and brits do? britain _ demonstrated a great deal to be able to come from cyprus with tornado aircraft to join in this and demonstrated their commitment to both self defence as well as freedom of navigation. without escalating too much, i would imagine that this, what is it called? 0peration prosperity guardian, let'sjoin the allies 0peration prosperity guardian, let's join the allies together will probably increase in size and probably increase the number of strikes on yemeni if iran supplies them with ballistic missiles and drones. thank you very much. doctor greg young of the university of colorado. thank you forjoining

us. colorado. thank you for “oining us. ., ~' colorado. thank you for “oining us. ., ~ , ., let's also take a look at the political response to the strikes here in the uk. after deciding to take part in the attacks, pm rishi sunak then briefed his government, the leader of the house of commons and key 0pposition party members. labour leader sir keir starmer says the strikes were justified. they are putting civilian lives at risk and disrupting that traffic through the red sea, traffic through the red sea, traffic that is vital for the world economy. we support the action that the government has taken. of course is for the government to make a statement about it but the principle is important. governments don't have to ask mps for approval to take military action, although there has been pressure for them to do so since the iraq war. the scottish national party condemned the houthis, but leader humza yousaf says the pm should have consulted more widely. parliament should have been recalled, the evidence basis

weighed out, the legal basis weighed out, the legal basis weighed out, the legal basis weighed out and the house of commons for mps to scrutinise and the issue to be debated and then of course for the decision to then be taken. the liberal democrat leader says he sympathises with the government's desire to act but would have liked mps to debate it beforehand. to really important that parliament, whenever we use our military forces, has a say. i'm not saying we wouldn't support it but i think it is reasonable and the public would expect that to be information for them to make the case. but prime minister rishi sunak has defended his approach and says it was justified. what we have done here is take limited and necessary action in response to a specific threat in self defence and if you look at similar situations in 2015 and 2018, a statement was made to parliament after the action and that is what i will be doing. here in the uk, the minister

responsible for the post office says he wants people to be jailed over the it scandal which saw hundreds of workers falsely accused of stealing money. kevin hollinrake said anyone found responsible must be held to account after an official inquiry reaches a verdict. hundreds of sub—postmasters were wrongly prosecuted after the faulty horizon it system made it look like money had gone missing. meanwhile, experts say the post office may have underpaid more than £100 million in tax. the state—owned company deducted payments to victims of the scandal from its profits, reducing the amount of money it was taxed on. experts believe that could be a breach of tax law. the post office says its financial information was appropriate and accurate. it's election day in taiwan, and voters there have a few more hours before the polls close to choose a new president and parliament.

the elections are seen as a core test of the island's relationship with china. the economy and education are key issues for voters. but globally, one issue looms large — and that's how taiwan should address the threat from china. taiwan is a key flashpoint in the tussle between china and the us for supremacy in asia. but what is the historical background to their current, complex relationship? from the newsroom, our reporter tom brada has more. the elections in taiwan are being closely watched around the world. that is because taiwan finds itself at the centre of a geopolitical flashpoint between the united states and china. for all purposes the island has been independent since 1919. the

china sees it as part of its own territory which will one day unite with the mainland. if necessary, by force. 0n day unite with the mainland. if necessary, by force. on that, here is the chinese president speaking in 2022. translation: ~ translation: we will never -romise translation: we will never promise to — translation: we will never promise to renounce - translation: we will never promise to renounce the i translation: we will never promise to renounce the use| translation: we will never. promise to renounce the use of force as an option. to understand _ force as an option. to understand why i force as an option. to understand why the issue of taiwan is so contentious, it's important to understand some of the island's history. in the first half of the 20th century there was a civil war on mainland china which pitted the chinese nationalist party against the chinese communist party. and in 19119, the communist forces emerged victorious which meant that the nationalist leader and his supporters fled to the island. here is one of the former advisers. translation: �* , advisers. translation: �*, translation: if it's say leavina translation: if it's say leaving mainland - translation: if it's say leaving mainland china | translation: if it's say i leaving mainland china was translation: if it's say - leaving mainland china was the lowest moment in his life, but

he never accepted defeat. the -a ball he never accepted defeat. the party ball for— he never accepted defeat. the party ball for several decades but after his death the island began transitioning to democracy and in 1996 it held its first free presidential elections. it is now a prosperous, self—governing island and many of its citizens see it as entirely distinct from mainland china. but that does not sit well with beijing. which insist that countries cannot have official relations with itself and taiwan. and the united states is a major sticking point. it maintains official relations with china, but it also is the most significant supporter of taiwan and maintains on official links with taipei. on the us position book taiwan is security, here is presidentjoe biden. the is president joe biden. the idea that — is president joe biden. the idea that it _ is president joe biden. the idea that it can _ is president joe biden. the idea that it can be - is presidentjoe biden. tue:

idea that it can be taken by force, just taken by force, is not appropriate. it will dislocate the entire region and be another action similar to what happened in ukraine. taiwan finds itself in the middle of a diplomatic tug—of—war. and the outcome of its domestic elections could well have a profound impact on some very delicate international affairs. live now to taipei and our correspondent, shaimaa khalil. how is building going there in taipei and what are voters saying to you? —— voting. d0 saying to you? -- voting. do ou saying to you? -- voting. do you know? _ saying to you? -- voting. do you know? as _ saying to you? —— voting. dr? you know? as i was a lot of weather talk during any election day, people are either braving the weather or enjoying the weather and this is a really nice, sunny, breezy day. we are at the part of taipei, blackburn coming and going to this point station or morning. family with small children, some looking sleepy and others excited but all have come to

cast their vote in this high—stakes and highly consequential election. you were talking about, and in the report, about how this is very important when it comes to geopolitics. it's epic, tense geopolitical undertone and background to all of this. people have been speaking to me have also been talking about the economy, about wages and housing and childcare subsidies. about early learning, also talking about social issues, one mother was with her nine—year—old son and was saying that i want to talk about and handle domestic by one, harassment in schools for example. while there is a big geopolitical tension, if you will, the heart of it, the competition between united states and china about regional influence with taiwan right in the middle of it. what people also want from those, whoever comes in power, is for them to do whatever they can to make their lives and the lives of their lives and the lives of their families that are. and their families that are. and the economy, i think, is the

centre of this.— centre of this. and the vote has been — centre of this. and the vote has been watched - centre of this. and the vote has been watched very i centre of this. and the vote i has been watched very closely around the world, what do we hear from around the world, what do we hearfrom china around the world, what do we hear from china and the around the world, what do we hearfrom china and the us? key actors in what happens in taiwan?_ taiwan? that is really interesting. _ taiwan? that is really interesting. we i taiwan? that is really interesting. we have | taiwan? that is really i interesting. we have had a couple of comments from ageing for example and a lot of that is also in our life page. —— from china. the foreign ministry spokesman said taiwan is part of china, there is only one china in this world, the chinese defence ministry has released a statement saying the people's liberation army is on high vigilant at all time and will take necessary measures to crush any form of design for "taiwan independence." you can tell they are not only watching this closely but is ready to react to ever comes to power. whoever wins today is going to be going for a pew hours, it's going to determine what happens in domestic politics but also how taiwan's relationship with beijing is going to be for the

next four years.— beijing is going to be for the next four years. thank you. in tai ei next four years. thank you. in taipei covering _ next four years. thank you. in taipei covering the _ next four years. thank you. in taipei covering the crucial i taipei covering the crucial elections and we will have updates throughout the day here where voting is expected to close in just a few hours in taiwan. you are watching bbc news. hello there. a few wintry scenes captured by our weather watchers on friday across parts of scotland, such as here in perth and kinross. but the severe frost will become a lot more widespread as we go into the start of next week, with the potential for some disruptive snow, too. where is that colder air? well, it's behind this series of weather fronts. across northern scotland on sunday, that chilly airjust spilling down from the arctic as we head through the start of next week across the whole of the uk, with brisk and cold northerly winds blowing. so, lots of added wind chill to

factor into the temperatures. but this is how we start off the day on saturday, with temperatures hovering just above freezing, a few pockets of air frost where we see the clear spells, a weak weather front sinking southwards, bringing outbreaks of patchy rain into northern areas of northern ireland, north west england and north wales. to the north of the front across scotland, some winter sunshine, showers by the end of the day in the north ahead of the front across england and wales, variable amounts of cloud, but also some brighter spells, temperatures ranging between 5—8 degrees celsius. and it's more of the same, too, on saturday night into sunday morning. there will be some clear skies around at times. we'll start to see the northerly wind pick up, brisk across the northern isles with some snow showers for the north of scotland. but again, to start the day on sunday, most of our temperatures will be slightly above freezing. but then that colder air really starts to show its hand with some snow showers even to low levels across northern scotland, with this feature just running down towards the north, further south as we head throughout the day. but we've still got the milder air with some winter sunshine

across england and wales, 7—8 degrees celsius here. but on sunday night into monday, there is the risk of some snow and ice, with weather warnings in place across northern ireland and the north of scotland. that wind starts to really pick up — look at the squeeze on the isobars on monday into tuesday — so wintry showers towards north sea—facing coasts with this feature running across northern ireland into southern scotland and perhaps northern england. so, here, the snow risk will extend further southwards through the day on tuesday. and then we look to the south—west to see this weather frontjust moving its way further northwards. there is the possibility that as it bumps into the colder air, we could possibly see some snow across the south of england on wednesday, but it's still very uncertain, so my advice would be to keep an eye on the forecast. it will certainly be cold. there is the greater risk of some snow with some severe frosts by night.

lowerstatus, ithink, is unlikely.

this is bbc news. the headlines: the us military says they have carried out a fresh new strike on a houthi target in yemen, a day after dozens of similar us—british airstrikes across the country. this latest attack targeted a radar site alleged by the us to be used by the iran—backed forces which control much of yemen and have been attacking international shipping in the red sea. in the uk, the government

minister responsible for the post office has called forjail time for those responsible for an it scandal in which hundreds of workers were falsely accused of theft. and people in taiwan are voting in presidential and parliamentary elections, the outcome of which could define future ties with china. now on bbc news, gary lineker meets sir eltonjohn. # rocketman # burning out his fuse up here alone # and i think it's gonna be a long, long time