us and british forces carry out another wave of strikes against who the targets in yemen. reports from the american news website ask io say israel has offered hamas a two month's cease—fire in return for all remaining hostages. the republican presidential hopeful nikki haley has been making a last pitch to voters in the state of new hampshire ahead of a pivotal primary election on tuesday. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. it's newsday.

welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. we start with some breaking news — officials in washington say us and british forces have carried out another wave of strikes against houthi targets in yemen. it's the latest action against the iranian—backed group, which has been attacking commercial shipping in the red sea in response to israel's war against hamas. president biden and the british prime minister rishi sunak have been discussing the crisis on the phone. our defence correspondent jonathan beale gave us this update. is the second time that this coordinated action has taken place. it happened ten days ago when british jets from raf akrotiri in cyprus, which i think probably would have been involved again,

took part with american led strikes against the houthis, specific going over command and control and sites also where they have been storing, manufacturing drones and missiles, which they have been using to target merchant shipping in the red sea and the gulf of aden. the hope was that initial set of strikes on the 12th of january would stop them but they have not stopped, they have carried on fighting. in between that, the us says there have been some limited unilateral action, just their own ships in the red sea priming and trying to destroy what they say are houthi missiles about to be fired. this looks like it would have been a lot more intelligence used, like the first time, a coordinated attempt to try to degrade at least the houthis parkes ability to do this but the trouble is they show no signs of backing down at the moment, a determined group who have been fighting the saudis. the other thing to say is that the us and uk have been involved in this action, no other country, and i think that is because they do not

know what the endgame is here. this tit—for—tat could go on for weeks. thank you, jonathan beale. for more on this, i spoke to nadwa al—dawsari, a yemeni conflict analyst at the middle east institute in washington, and asked her would the strikes against houthi target would produce required results 7 short answer no. the houthis have endured five years of air strikes by the saudi led coalition and they emerged stronger. the houthis have probably already stashed most of their weapons in in storage weapons in storage facilities that the us and the uk cannot reach or detect. we've seen also from the development how the houthis are also showing no sign of willingness to stop these areas. these attacks in the red sea. what do you think the international community should be doing? well, i think the international

community should be strategic. the houthis have proven to be a strategic threat to not only to international shipping, but also to security in the region. and the houthis control 70% of the yemeni population. they recruit children. they indoctrinate children. so the houthis plan is long term, and the houthis are a transnational movement with a religious fundamentalist agenda. their goal is to establish a theocracy in yemen and from there to expand to makkah and then jerusalem. they're also part of axis of iran's axis of resistance. and the houthis are the result of 30 years of investment of iran's investment in yemen. so i think long term, i think strategic threats have to be dealt with strategically. and the us and the uk are simply being very tactical and very short term.

having said that, i don't suggest that the us and the uk should send boots on the ground. i think what should happen is for the us and the uk to support the yemeni government forces in yemen who are already present there, who can push the houthis militarily. they're clearly much more fundamental than the other groups operating in the region. but what's public opinion within yemen towards the houthis? the houthis have their supporters, but they're mostly very unpopular in yemen because they are they are repressive. they're extremely repressive, especially towards minorities, women and also religious, religious minorities. but yemenis at large, they also are not providing they're not providing services, and they're extremely cruel to any critics. and so on top of that, they're also,

they want to establish a theocracy in yemen, which goes against our infant democracy. we had religious freedoms before. we had freedom of press. we had relative... very vibrant civil society. we had political parties, we had elections. and the houthis are coming now to change all of that and claim a divine right to rule to the to their leaders clan. and and that goes against yemeni values. they're also violent, which also goes against yemeni social violent — social values, which are. very tolerant and yemenis have co—existed for a long time because of their tolerant nature. and though these are opposite to that. nadwa al—dawsari. the uk defence secretary has also been speaking about the opertion —

in the last hour or so. our political correspondent harry farley told me more. they say that four ref air force jets they say that four ref air forcejetsjoined us they say that four ref air force jets joined us forces they say that four ref air forcejetsjoined us forces in the attacks on who the targets in yemen tonight. they say they launched a paved way for precision guarded bombs targeting multiple targets across two different sites. the statement says that the locations they targeted were used to enable those who these two attack shipping in the red sea. and the statement says the ministry of defence conducted a rigorous analysis of the targets before and to make sure that civilian casualties were limited. we've also in the last half hour had a joint statement from the country supporting, australia, bahrain, the nettle is it as well as the uk and the us. that statement ends with this warning to the houthi leadership they say we will not hesitate to defend lies in the free flow of commerce in one of

the worlds most critical waterways. —— defend lives. this is a second time the uk hasjoined in military air strikes in yemen. thejoint statement from all those countries supporting this action tonight seems to indicate it may well not be the last. meanwhile to israel, reports from the axios news website have emerged of a proposal being given to hamas — through qatari and egyptian mediators — which would include a two month pause in fighting. the deal would also include the release of all remaining hostages held in gaza. our chief international correspondent lyse doucet has been monitoring events and told us more about that report. axios is known to have its really good israeli sources. they've got a very good israeli correspondent. but this report by axios comes with a blizzard of other reports. yesterday, the wall street journal had a report that also spoke about a peace plan

in the work. what we can say for certain, the egyptian and qatari mediators have tried for weeks to try to close the gaps between israel and hamas. the plan that axios talks about makes it absolutely clear that it is not on the table to end the war. it is there's no discussion of israel completely leaving the territory. those are two key hamas demands. but at the centerpiece is the release of all of the remaining hostages. they're said to be about 130 out of the nearly 200, around 250 which were taken, as well as the dead bodies of those who have died in the israeli military campaign or as part of what the aftermath of it since october the seventh in really in in phases for the release of palestinians held in israeli jails. in gaza, the hamas—run health ministry now estimates that more than 25,000 people have been killed since

the war with israel, with the un warning repeatedly of the miserable conditions endured by the people there. some of them have been sending us videos and voice messages. tonight we hearfrom khalid 7 a medical equipment supplier and father of five. he's in jabaalia in the north of gaza. khalid, his wife and five children have moved three times since october, trying in vain to find safety. khalid used to sell medical supplies, but he's not a doctor. yet, as gazan hospitals shut down, his home becomes a makeshift clinic. it's now december. they're at home injabalia, and his work and the war

are affecting his children. on december the 22nd, an air strike hits the next street to his home. the danger is too close. khalid decides it's time to leave.

on december the 26th, khalid moves his family to shelter near al—shifa, which was the main hospital in northern gaza.

the next day, they're back injabalia, families now all live together in blown—out buildings. to new hampshire now where the republican presidential hopeful nikki haley has been making a last pitch to voters ahead of a pivotal primary election on tuesday. the former un ambassador has emerged as the only real challenger to donald trump in the republican race for the white house — although she's still trailing him by a wide margin in the polls. at the first of five planned events in the us state on monday, she told potential supporters that mr trump was hung up on vendettas

and mired in court cases. earlier i spoke to our reporter carl nasman who was in new hampshire. she has pitched herself as someone new, the alternative to donald trump. in fact, there she is right now. shejust took the stage she is here to speak to what is really an overflow crowd. she is trying to get her voters out there to the polls tomorrow. she's trailing in the polls but she is the nearest challenger to donald trump after ron desantis dropped out yesterday. she's going to re—relying on moderate republics, not the type of voters that would be supporting donald trump. she's hoping for independent voters, not democrats, republicans, voters that are not registered by the party. she's pulling very strong with them. she's going to be making that case from the government or of new hampshire who said earlier where tired of losing, referring to republicans. they didn't do

well in the last midterms. nikki haley is pitching herself as someone who can put the republicans back.— as someone who can put the republicans back. what about her policies. _ republicans back. what about her policies, issue _ republicans back. what about her policies, issue gaining - her policies, issue gaining supporters, especially the ones who were supporting ron desantis who get two dropped out? ,, �* , ., , desantis who get two dropped out? ,, �*, out? she's running as somebody who's out? she's running as somebody wh0's paying _ out? she's running as somebody who's paying attention _ out? she's running as somebody who's paying attention to - out? she's running as somebody who's paying attention to the - who's paying attention to the issues with up someone who has been a governor of south carolina, un ambassador, involved in foreign policy, talking about conflict in ukraine, the conflict in the middle east. she's also trying to picture yourself as somebody who is separate from what she calls the drama in washington. she knows that most american voters don't want a rematch of donald trump and joe biden. she's trying to say that voters are tired of the drama and the criminal cases surrounding donald trial. there isn't much enthusiasm forjoe biden. that's the kind of claim she's

trying to run in. it's not resonating as my doing that much is use help with republicans. she's hoping a strong finish tomorrow, something maybe with single digits within donald trump will in this, keep her close and move to the next date which is her home state of south carolina. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. bbc news — bringing you different stories from across the uk. should far more water at this time of year. but locals who enjoy walking, fishing and boating here have sea levels drop significantly in the past two weeks. just as nearby roads, some homes and vast areas of agricultural land have been inundated. after the recent heavy rainfall and with so much of the cells still dealing with the after effects of flooding it may seem surprising that major reservoirs like this one artful

to the brim. as you can see, we're still way below capacity. thames water was unable to give us an interview but confirmed it paused pumping water into the reservoir when recent storms raise the volume of dirt and debris being carried by the rivers that feed far more. campaigners argue the company has at least in part made the situation worse for itself. for more stories from across the uk head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. the number of north korean defectors to south korea tripled in 2023, according to authorities in seoul. the easing of pandemic border closures led to the surge, which south korea's unification ministry says includes a higher number of elite diplomats and young people. we can speak now to ee—fang bremer, who's the seoul correspondent for nk news.

great to have you on the programme. can you help us understand what's happening here? , ., here? yes, we saw that the numbers — here? yes, we saw that the numbers tripled _ here? yes, we saw that the numbers tripled compared l here? yes, we saw that the l numbers tripled compared to 2022. 2022 only 67 defectors reach south korea. it's currently 96. actually, it still very low compared to the number of north koreans were able to reach the south pre—pandemic. before 2028 you saw between 1000 and 2000 reaching south korea. yes, an increase but not a huge increase, actually. what about the demographic, the report seems to say they are younger, they are more elite and even diplomats and trade official, why is that?- official, why is that? among these 196 — official, why is that? among these 196 north _ official, why is that? among these 196 north koreans - official, why is that? among| these 196 north koreans the vast majority are people who have been stranded abroad. the context here is that north

korea closed its borders even for its own citizens in 2020. in response to the pandemic. these people have been overseas for many years and have been in 2023 decided to make the journey to south korea. the people that have been able to defect are mostly not actually defecting straight from the north into the self but have worked in china and russia for example. among them are also what soul calls elite defectors and this would be trade officials and diplomats who have been spending the last three years in other countries and now it might feel that it's and now it might feel that it's a now or never a moment. so north korea actually started slowly reopening its borders, bit by bit allowing its own citizens in. some of the defective organisations in seoul say that these recent defectors, some have felt that

if i don't go now and i'll be sent back to north korea i don't know what the conditions are inside the country and i don't know how difficult it would be to actually escape if i want to do that at a later moment once i am back. one of the reasons _ moment once i am back. one of the reasons that _ moment once i am back. one of the reasons that they _ moment once i am back. one of the reasons that they are - the reasons that they are returning is because north korea is reducing its diplomatic presence in other countries. what is their life like after defecting? you had a lot of first—hand experience with defectors, right? lot of first-hand experience with defectors, right?- with defectors, right? yes. man of with defectors, right? yes. many of the _ with defectors, right? yes. many of the defectors - with defectors, right? yes. many of the defectors who | many of the defectors who arrive in south korea, all of them will receive government support. but financially —— both financially and mentally. that doesn't mean life is easy for them. that means they have to start completely from zero sometimes. especially people who come from a more elite background, it will be very challenging for them to start

basically without a job, without anything. it's not an easy task but they still feel that it might be a better option then returning to north korea where they don't know what will await them.- what will await them. ifang bremer, — what will await them. ifang bremer, we've _ what will await them. ifang bremer, we've run - what will await them. ifang bremer, we've run out - what will await them. ifang bremer, we've run out of l what will await them. ifang - bremer, we've run out of time. many thanks for your time. the house of lords has dealt a blow to rishi sunak�*s plans to send some illegal migrants to rwanda. peers have backed a move by 43 votes to delay the treaty with the african nation which paves the way for the scheme to go ahead. legislation was passed in the commons last week despite threats by some conservative mps to oppose it. drones have become an important weapon for both sides in russia's war with ukraine. ukrainians are being encouraged to assemble them at home, as well as take part in free pilot lessons. with military aid packages currently blocked in both the us and the european union,

president zelensky has promised to make a million drones within the country this year. russian forces still have a significant presence in the east of the country, as shown in red on this map, but it's pretty much a stalemate between the two sides. james waterhouse reports from the southern kherson region to see what difference drones are making.

artillery fire. he breathes heavily. we just had some incoming fire. when you're this close to the river, which is a front line, you are always watched, through drones in the sky or from the russians themselves, so you have to move quickly. they specialize in these attack drones — basic, cheap, deadly — and one of the defining weapons in this war. translation: we have now received information that. several enemy drones have taken off from a location we know. we're flying there right now. system message: telemetry lost, telemetry recovered. _ a drone is launched and inches into russian occupied territory. a few kilometers later, artem finds his target — a drone antenna used by a russian unit in a building just like his. it explodes on impact. system message: telemetry lost. translation: the first time i hit the enemy - or their equipment i was more emotional than i am now. now, this is business as usual.

this cycle of search and destroy has pushed the russians back. but they are doing the same here, draining life from kherson's streets. it's much celebrated liberation feels long ago. many people have since fled. russia controls the eastern bank. the dnipro river looks calm, but the invaders are constantly watching and striking. some ukrainian troops have crossed upstream but have yet to make an impact. despite being a mile from invading forces, there are still fragments of civilization. here in the form of alexei. translation: russians

attack every day. - you never know where exactly the next hit will be. it's then you notice the bullet hole in his coffee machine. when his customers leave, they sometimes write messages outside. his reads: "we are invincible." with the russians still close and not going anywhere, kherson will be hoping he's right. james waterhouse, bbc news, kherson. we're getting some breaking news from reuters, seven people found shot to death in chicago. we will bring you more as we get it. do state with bbc news. hello. storm jocelyn is the latest named storm to come our way, through tuesday and into

tuesday night. the storm system has been fired up by the same process which we saw with storm isha. cold arctic air recently across the eastern portion of the united states and in canada, big temperature contrast down towards florida and that has really fired up an active and potent jet stream. and its jet streams which have developed this low pressure system. this isjocelyn, not as potent as isha, but will still cross the country and have impacts. now storm jocelyn almost like a two stage storm. the winds will strengthen throughout tuesday, but by day it's the heavy rain which could have its greatest impact across parts of scotland, north—west england, north—west wales. and then into the night the winds start to peak with the worst of them across the northern half of the uk. by contrast, out there to start the day on tuesday, fairly quiet start. earlier frost will have gone across eastern areas as temperatures rise clear and bright here to begin with

with some high cloud around. but in the west already mild, windy and wet. some heavy rain at times in northern ireland throughout much of the day, clearing into the late afternoon. some of the heaviest, most persistent rain, though, setting up across the hills of south—west scotland, also into parts of cumbria, yorkshire, dales and north—west wales. it's here where there's a real risk of flooding. rain will have pushed across all parts, turning a bit drizzly, that rain across the south later and lots of low cloud. very mild but very windy to end the day. and it's into the night where winds will strengthen further. met office amber warning across the north and west scotland. we're expecting some of the greatest impacts and gusts of wind in excess of 80 miles an hour. so let me take you through tuesday night. there's jocelyn passing to the north. the isobars really packing in once the worst of the heavy rains out the way and the winds strengthen right the way through into the start of wednesday morning rush hour, particularly in scotland. those winds will gradually ease there and impacts could still be ongoing. but wednesday, it's almost a repeat of what we saw on monday — a lot more in the way of dry and sunny weather around a few showers in the north and then clouding over across the south with some drizzle in cornwall later in the day. overall, a fresher

day than tuesday. a fresher night, then with a touch of frost in the north—east of the country as we go through into thursday, these next weather fronts that are pushing not quite as potent as we've seen so far this week. it will bring lots of cloud across the country. damp and drizzly, around some western coast and some of the heavier bursts of rain at times in the west, but a bit more erratic and not as windy as it will be during the next 36 hours. take care.

us markets hit new record highs, extending friday's rally. we find out why, and why now? and the british high street shop that has found a new lease of life after covid. hello and welcome to asia business report. our top story this hour begins in the us, where the stock market has continued its rally on monday. the s&p 500 and the dowjones industrial average both notched new record highs, building off friday's massive gains. from new york, erin delmore has the latest. for the dow, a new benchmark — the index traded above 38,000. that's a first. the tech heavy nasdaq, for its part, ended the day up

more than 3/10 of a percent. this is what they call a bull run.