US shoots down drones in Red Sea

The US Central Command says that a navy destroyer, the USS Laboon, has shot down four drones in the Red Sea, launched from areas of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Writing on X, it said that shortly afterwards, a Gabon-owned, Indian-flagged crude oil tanker was hit by a drone but there were no injuries or damage. No injuries or damage were reported in either incident. Earlier, the US Department of Defense accused Iran of launching the drone that damaged an oil tanker off the coast of India on Friday.

Also in the programme: another referendum in Chile; and the origins of a Christmas classic.

Joining Shaun Ley on the programme are; Aowen Jin, a British multidisciplinary artist and social commentator, and Alex Andreou, an actor and broadcaster.

(Photo: People hold Palestinian flags during a protest against the recently announced operation to safeguard trade and to protect ships in the Red Sea, in Yemen. CREDIT: EPA/OSAMAH YAHYA)