i have, in my brain, thought, well, if the next scan says nothing s working, i might buzz off to zurich. but, you know, it puts my family and friends in a difficult position because they would want to go with me and that means that the police might prosecute them. so we ve got to do something. at the moment, it s not really working, is it? the scottish government s tax and spending plans will be announced later today. economists are warning that ministers are grappling with a black hole in the budget amounting to £1.5 billion. 0ur scotland editorjames cook has the report. in nearly a quarter of a century of devolution, the scottish state has expanded. university tuition, prescriptions, personal care for the elderly and much more are all free here at the point of use. but every year comes the question, how to pay the bills and balance the books. the scottish government has a limited ability to borrow money. it can cut spending and has already warned of public sectorjob los
have stopped passing through here and are now taking the much longer route all the way around africa instead adding costs and delays. here s our diplomatic correspondent, james landale. the threats to shipping in the red sea is very real. this was an attack by iranian backed houthi fighters last month, storming a cargo ship registered in britain. the militia from yemen claiming that any vessels owned by allies of israel were legitimate targets. shouting. there have also been drone and missile attacks so many that shipping companies are pulling out of the red sea, sending their vessels around southern africa instead. in response, the us secretary of defence, who s visiting the middle east, has formed an international military coalition to protect ships and ensure freedom of navigation. these attacks are reckless, dangerous, and they violate international law. and so, we re taking action to build an international coalition to address this threat. and i would remind you that
the global monetary pivot that was what some commentators were declaring on wednesday, after the us federal reserve said it had probably finished raising interest rates, and signalled it was planning to start cutting them next year. but clearly, neither the european central bank nor the bank of england got the memo. they left their rates on hold and said it was too early to talk about cutting them. in fact, here in the uk, three members of the bank of england monetary policy committee actually voted to raise the interest rate above its current level of 5.25%. the bank is worried that inflation the rate that prices are rising is still not under control. our economics editor faisal islam reports # last christmas, i gave you my heart.# liverpool s christmas market the festive spirit is here, but little sign of a marked upturn in the economy. people here continuing to have to cope with new surges in the cost of living, even as inflation slows. i sold my car last week. car
translation: regarding the reduction in aid, and if that translation: regarding the reduction in aid, and if that has translation: regarding the reduction in aid, and if that has an translation: regarding the reduction in aid, and if that has an impact, - in aid, and if that has an impact, the fact in aid, and if that has an impact, the fact that ukraine didn t have air the the fact that ukraine didn t have air the premises had an impact on the operation in 2023. we don t control the operation in 2023. we don t control the skies, we don t have enough control the skies, we don t have enough ammunition, but that doesn t mean enough ammunition, but that doesn t mean that enough ammunition, but that doesn t mean that we will not find a solution mean that we will not find a solution. but for this, we really need solution. but for this, we really need support, because we simply lack some need support, because we simply lack some weaponry. our correspondentjess