BRIEF – ME! – DAILY NEWS BRIEFING
In today’s briefing update, Iran strikes back at the US with rockets fired at the US bases, a major escalation as the two countries inch ever closer to war.
Israel’s PM Netanyahu has backed away from Gen Soleimani’s death and calls it a purely ‘American event’. He reportedly told his cabinet ministers to avoid talking to the press, through fears it would look like Israel played a part in the death of the general.
In Mexico, a US teen has been shot and killed near the US border. The 13-year-old was returning to the US with three other family members when they were ambushed.
In the UK, homicide rates have dropped for the first time in five years but continue to climb in the Capital.
Entertainment, Timothee Chalamet is reportedly set to play Bob Dylan is an upcoming film on the musicians early years.
In Manchester, Man United has warned that anyone “visibly or audibly” supporting Manchester City in the home section of Old Trafford during the semi-finals on Tuesday will be ejected. The warning has come after fears City fans could buy tickets in home areas after United tickets failed to sell out.
In London, the Natural History Museum will showcase ‘fantastic beasts’. A major new exhibition at the institution will bring the extraordinary creatures from the Harry Potter world to shine a light on some of the “magical” animals that existed in the real world.
All this and more in today’s news briefing – A daily roundup of all the news headlines that you need to know, summarised as part of WTX News Briefing.
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Iran attacks US airbases in Iraq
Arab News reports Iran has struck back at the United States for the killing of a top Iranian general last week. A series of 
ballistic missiles have been fired at two Iraqi bases housing US troops in a major escalation.
The US and Iran are inching closer to war.
Iranian state TV said the missile attack was revenge for the US killing of Gen. Soleimani.
A US official said there were no immediate reports of American causalities, though the buildings were still being searched.
Read the full story on Arab News
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Netanyahu backs away from Soleimani’s assassination to ‘stay out’ of purely ‘American event’
RT News says Israel’s PM Netanyahu has reportedly told his cabinet not to get too involved in the US murder of Iranian 
General Qassem Soleimani.
“The assassination of Soleimani isn’t an Israeli event but an American event. We are not involved and should not be dragged into it,” Netanyahu said during a meeting with his Security Cabinet, according to Israel’s Channel 13.
The PM also advised his ministers to avoid talking to the media about the assassination beyond supporting the US’ right to defend itself. He wants to avoid it looking like Israel played a role in Soleimani’s death.
Read the full story on RT News
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A 13-year-old American boy is killed in an ambush in Mexico near the US border
CNN says Oscar Lopez, 13, was killed in Mexico while travelling with his family back to the US, his father and 
authorities have confirmed.
He was shot in both legs and died in the attack on Saturday night in Tamaulipas state, close to the US border.
The boy’s father said three other relatives were injured in the ambush attack: his wife, 42; their other son, 11 and his brother-in-law, 48.
The elder Oscar Lopez said the family was visiting relatives in the Monterrey area for the holidays, though he stayed back in the US.
Read the full story on CNN
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Homicide level down for the first time in five years
BBC News says the number of people killed in the UK fell in 2019 for the first time in five years, BBC research suggests. 
In total, 650 people were killed in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland last year- down from the 774 homicides in 2018, police figures show.
Despite the overall drop, homicides in London rose for a third successive calendar year – to its highest level since 2008.
Last week the Home Secretary gave 18 police forces an extra £35m to combat violence.
Read the full story on BBC News
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Timothee Chalamet ‘in talks to play Bob Dylan in new film’
Sky News reports Timothee Chalamet is in talks to play Bob Dylan in a new film about the musician, according to 
reports.
US entertainment site Deadline says the actor will play a young Dylan during his defining period in the mid-60s, when he moved from folk to embrace the electric guitar and recorded albums Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde.
The film will be directed by James Mangold and Dylan is said to be working with Mangold and film studio Fox Searchlight Pitcures on the movie.
Read the full story on Sky News
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