The Economist.

Hello, you're listening to the free edition of the world in brief from The

Economist. As a reminder, if you subscribe to the economist, you'll get access to a deeper look at the day ahead, updated three times a day.

If you're already an economist subscriber, visit Economist.com slash Espresso,

or visit our Espresso app to start listening.

Here's today's free edition. This is the World in Brief from The Economist.

Our top stories.

Quote, if you harm an American, we will respond.

Joe Biden said after America launched several airstrikes at military sites in Iraq and Syria.

According to US Central Command, they were targeting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, quote, and affiliated militia groups.

Iranian state news reported that at least 10 people have died in Syria.

The strikes come less than a week after drones

launched by militants killed three American soldiers in Jordan. America added

353,000 jobs in January, nearly double what analysts forecast.

The unemployment rate remained at 3.7%. The hot labour market, November and December figures, had both been

revised up to 333,000 and 182,000 respectively and strong wage growth may encourage the Federal Reserve to further put off interest rate cuts.

On Wednesday, policy makers held the bank's main rate at a range of 5.25% to 5.5%.

It is expected to hold them for a fifth consecutive meeting in March. Hafiz Gaye-Kir Khan, the governor of Turkey's Central Bank,

resigned following what she called a, quote,

reputation assassination. Local media recently alleged that her father

interfered with the bank's affairs despite not working there. She denies the

allegations. Since being appointed in June she had dramatically raised interest rates to fight inflation.

...