In learning. Breaking news about an offensive by Kurdish Forces against i. S. I. L. In Northern Iraq. On the phone, what more can you tell us about whats happening . I can tell you that the defense started in the early hours of the morning to retake the mountain. It is very important because it is a community that has been under threat from i. S. I. L. Fighters when they took over that territory. They slaughtered three to five thousand men. What were being told there were a number of air strikes that took place before the offences began on the ground, with various forces moving towards the central areas that i. S. I. L. Control. They say that this will be the definitive operation to take the mountain. It is likely to take at least a few weeks. Weve seen the kurdish try and do this before, and have been pushed back by i. S. I. L. For various reasons, but with the air strikes now and the Coalition Getting involved, it looks like this will be their final push towards the mountain we under
Welcome to countdown. Im guy johnson. Anna is down in brighton. We will be with her shortly. Let me tell you whats happening on the markets. U. S. Futures are a little softer at the moment. Over the last half hour, they have started to firm a little bit. When i was in this morning, the s p was called down by 0. 5 . As london traders start to make their voices heard, maybe we will see that continue. At the moment, u. S. Futures are looking a little softer. In around an hour, we will find out what the european picture is. In terms of the news at the moment, market still feels very jittery. This is quarter to date. This is the japanese yen continuing to massively outperform its peers. The market is looking for a safe haven. The japanese yen is where it is looking. Big moves into the yen continuing. That is a quarter to date figure. An interview in a french paper, Christine Lagarde talking about maybe cutting global growth. Again, this going back to the heart of the issue, this concern abo
Of the public to come and generally on matter within the commissions per have you and suggests future consideration items. Is there anyone from the public that wishes to speak to comment on anything not on todays agenda seeing none, Public Comment is closed. Mr. President , id like to make a recommendation we call items three and four together as their presentations are enter seconded and over laptop a presentation and discussion on mayor ed lees shop and dine in the 49 that presentation by Mary Ann Thomas of the Economic Workforce Development and then well also have a presentation and discussion on the Small Business saturday presentations by lynn of women impacting the Public Policy and the saturdays coalition. Okay sound good okay. We do work i guess im short. Good afternoon, commissioners regina thank you for having us here on behalf of myself were here to present shop and dine in the 49. So here we go perfect so just by ggsd as many of you may know you know last year in november w
Prisoners in northern iraq, secretary carter promised there would be more raids like that, and todays move is an effort to make good on that promise. In more than three hours of testimony before the Armed Services committee, ashe carter and Joseph Dunford faced predictably sceptical questions. Are we winning, mr. Secretary . We will win. Are we winning now . Were going to win. Reporter have we currently contained isil . We have not contained isil. Both democrats and republicans seemed dissatisfied with the pentagon talking points, but theyre making progress, and gaining momentum. I can climb down from here and say that im making progress, and if i run the next 15 feet, im gaining momentum. Reporter carter unveiled one wrinkle to the plan, something that he called a special Expeditionary Targeting force, u. S. Comandos to be based in irbil, iraq, to conduct raids in both iraq and syria. Sometimes jointly with the iraqi forces and sometimes unilaterally. With a mission to free hostages,
Oyster shells are heading back to the sea as part of a unique recycling program. Libyas rival governments have reached a deal after key talks in the tunisian capitol. Representatives of the countrys two rival administrations have agreed to sign a u. N. Brokered plan next wednesday. The agreement will lead to a unity government which should take place in two years. The conflict began in 2011 when gadhafi was forced out of power. Reporter the meetings in tunis and the agreement that was reached in tunis, will reflect positively on that conference you are talking about that will be held here in rome on sunday. We heard representatives from the two parliaments who agree to sign the u. N. Draft deal, calling for a National Unity government. But the u. N. Special envoy to libya, martin cobbler was very clear when he said that yes, this is anning a chiefment but problems still remain. But we do know that there are a lot of thorny issues that the warring sides need to agree on. There are armed