A program this month encourages library patrons in Worcester, Mass., who have lost or damaged books or other items to reactivate their accounts. All they need is a picture of a cat.

Photographer Diego Ibarra Sánchez accompanied mourners in southern Lebanon after Israel stepped up airstrikes that claimed the lives of civilians and Hezbollah fighters.

The strikes were aimed at degrading the capabilities of the Iranian-backed militants that have continued to attack ships in the Red Sea in a campaign that they say is in solidarity with Palestinians u...

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The most significant storm to hit California so far this year lashed the state on Sunday.

When a defense lawyer expressed annoyance with prosecutors, Fani T. Willis, the district attorney on the case, replied that “some people will never be able to respect African Americans.”

Unearth Boeing's dangerous secrets: corruption, political influence and corporate greed exposed by The Lever.

Strikes follow attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Iranian-backed Houthi militants in protest against Israel’s war in GazaSee all our Middle East crisis coverageHello and welcome to our latest blog on the Middle East crisis. It’s currently 7:21am in Sana’a and 6:21am in Gaza and Tel Aviv. I’m Reged Ahmad and I’ll be with you for the next while.The United States and Britain have carried out strikes against targets linked to Houthis in Yemen. It’s the first time strikes have been launched against the Iran-backed group since it started targeting international shipping in the Red Sea late last year.An official from Yemen’s Houthis has reacted to the bombings on X. Abdul Qader al-Mortada said: American-Zionist-British aggression against Yemen launches several raids on the capital, Sanaa, Hodeidah governorate, Saada, and DhamarThe US and British militaries have used warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets in the strikes, several US officials told the Associated Press. The military targets include logistical hubs, air defence systems and weapons storage locations.US president Joe Biden has released a statement on the strikes – where he highlights the countries involved in the military action – including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands. Biden said: 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. I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.Britian’s prime minister Rishi Sunak has also released a statement on the military action, describing it as “limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence” and saying that the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain offered “non-operational support”.The UK’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement that “particular care was taken to minimise any risks to civilians” and that “early indications are that the Houthis’ ability to threaten merchant shipping has taken a blow”Ten countries were involved in the strikes, according to a joint statement released by the White House from the government’s of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States saying they will “not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways”.Saudi Arabia says it is monitoring situation with “great concern”. The kingdom’s foreign ministry has told Reuters news agency it is calling for restraint and “avoiding escalation” in light of the airstrikes launched by the United States and Britain.US defence secretary Lloyd Austin says the US is prepared to take “follow-on” action to protect US forces, Reuters reports. Austin is in hospital due to surgery complications.Some Democrats have reacted to the military strikes saying that the president should be coming to Congress first before taking action , US representative Ro Khanna from California says “The President needs to come to Congress before launching a strike against the Houthis in Yemen and involving us in another Middle East conflict.But US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnel was in support of the action, although he said it was “overdue”Australia has commented on its part on the strikes in Yemen. Defence minister Richard Marles says that Australia provided personnel support to the US and UK in their strikes. Continue reading...

Joe Biden says he ‘will not hesitate to direct further measures’ to protect international waterways in wake of attacks on Red Sea shipping

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