U.S. LAUNCHES MULTINATIONAL PUSH TO PROTECT RED SEA FROM HOUTHI STRIKES

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday announced the creation of a multinational operation to safeguard commerce in the Red Sea following a series of missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.

Austin, who is on a trip to Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s headquarters in West Asia, said participating countries include the U.K., Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain. The group will conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

In their response, Houthi rebels said they would not halt attacks on Red Sea shipping in solidarity with Gaza. “Even if America succeeds in mobilising the entire world, our military operations will not stop... no matter the sacrifices it costs us,” senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said on X, formerly Twitter.

Rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam said the “U.S.-formed coalition aims to protect Israel and militarise the sea,” adding that “whoever seeks to expand the conflict must bear the consequences of those actions.”

Austin. in a statement early on Tuesday, had said: “This is an international challenge that demands collective action. Therefore today I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative”.

The new mission is aptly named, as it is designed to protect the 15% of global shipping that passes through the region. The US Navy will command it through Task Force 153, a counterpiracy flotilla based in Bahrain. So far a robust group of nations have signed on: local states Bahrain and the Seychelles, as well as North Atlantic Treaty Organization members Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the UK. In addition, nearly 40 countries already participate in Task Force 153 and many are likely to soon join Operation Prosperity Guardian.

In a virtual meeting with Ministers from more than 40 nations, Austin called on other countries to contribute as he condemned “reckless Houthi actions.”

“We’re all here because many countries can directly contribute to our common efforts to keep strategic waterways safe,” Austin said, according to prepared remarks.

Still, the announcement leaves many questions unanswered, including whether any additional countries are willing to do what mostly U.S. warships have done in recent days — shoot down Houthi missiles and drones, and rush to the aid of commercial ships under attack.

NAWAZ SHARIF BLAMES INTERNAL FACTORS FOR PAKISTAN'S WOES

In a conversation with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ticket aspirants, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif asserted that neither India nor the US were responsible for Pakistan's current challenges. Instead, he pointedly stated, "we shot ourselves in our own foot," indirectly alluding to the powerful military establishment. Sharif, who seeks to become prime minister for the fourth time, highlighted his removal from power on three occasions—1993, 1999, and 2017. He attributed Pakistan's economic state to internal factors, particularly the imposition of a selected government through alleged rigging in the 2018 polls, leading to the people's suffering and economic decline. Sharif also criticized judges for legitimizing military dictators, questioning their actions in contrast to their treatment of elected leaders.

COLORADO SUPREME COURT KICKS TRUMP OFF BALLOT

The Colorado Supreme Court has voted 4-3 to remove Donald Trump from the 2024 presidential ballot, citing the insurrection clause in the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. This marks the first use of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to disqualify a presidential candidate.

The decision is on hold pending appeal until next month but only affects Colorado. The court's ruling overturned an earlier decision by a Colorado judge who found that the insurrection ban did not apply to presidents and that Trump had participated in the Capitol riot in 2021.

The exclusion is set to take effect on January 4, 2024, the eve of the state's presidential primary ballot deadline. Trump's campaign plans to appeal swiftly to the US Supreme Court.

QATAR-ISRAEL HOSTAGE TALKS POSITIVE BUT DEAL NOT IMMINENT: REPORT

A meeting between Qatar’s PM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and the heads of Israel’s Mossad spy agency David Barnea and the CIA William Burns in Warsaw on Monday about hostages held by Hamas was positive but there is no expectation of an imminent deal, according to a source briefed on the diplomatic efforts. The leaders met in Poland’s capital to discuss a potential new deal to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. “The talks were positive with negotiators exploring and discussing different proposals in an attempt to progress on negotiations,” the source said.

4 KILLED AS TRAIN TORCHED IN B’DESH

Dhaka : In Dhaka, Bangladesh, an unidentified group set fire to a passenger train, resulting in at least four fatalities, including a woman and her child. The incident occurred during heightened political tensions surrounding the January 7 elections. Bangladesh's railway minister accused the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of arson, while the BNP denied the allegations, expressing suspicion that the attack aimed to divert attention from ongoing democratic movements. This marks the fifth arson attack on trains in the past month, proving the deadliest in terms of casualties. The incident adds to the challenges facing the upcoming elections and raises concerns about public safety.

U.K., FRANCE REITERATE RUSSIA’S UKRAINE WAR MUST END IN FAILURE AS U.S. AID FALTERS

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and French counterpart Catherine Colonna emphasized their determination to ensure the failure of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Cameron urged Ukraine's allies to leverage their economic strength, highlighting that the combined economies of Western partners outmatch Russia's by 25 to one or more. The statements come as US wartime aid to Ukraine encounters challenges in Congress. While the EU has provided substantial assistance, there are ongoing discussions about the next planned lump-sum amount. The leaders did not announce new aid during their talks in Paris, emphasizing the need to make economic strength and commitment count to ensure Russian President Vladimir Putin's defeat.

MILITARY SEEKING MOBILISATION OF UP TO 500K TROOPS: ZELENSKY

Kyiv : Ukraine’s military wants to mobilise up to 500,000 more troops to fight Russia’s invasion, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that he has asked them to spell out their plans in detail on what is “a sensitive matter” before deciding whether he grants their wish as the war approaches the two-yearmark.

Such a major mobilisation would cost Ukraine around 500 billion hryvnias ($13.4 billion), Zelensky said. Other aspects to be considered include whether troops currently on the front line would be rotated or allowed home leave after almost 22 months of full-scale war.

Ukrainian ministry of defence statistics say the Ukrainian army had nearly 800,000 troops in October. That doesn’t include National Guard or other units. In total, 1 million Ukrainians are in uniform.

Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the country’s military to increase the number of troops by nearly 170,000 to a total of 1.32 million.

Putin said earlier Tuesday that the Kremlin’s forces have taken the initiative in Ukraine and is well positioned for the coming year.

GUV SIGNS LAW LETTING TEXAS POLICE ARREST ILLEGAL MIGRANTS

Brownsville (US) : Texas governor Greg Abbotton Monday escalated his challenge of President Joe Biden’s border policies by signing a measure that allows the state’s law enforcement officials to arrest migrants who enter the state from Mexico without legal authorisation, setting the stage for a showdown with the federal government. The powers have long been delegated to the US government. Migrants who enter the US illegally can already be charged with illegal entry or re-entry under federal laws, but Abbott has criticized what he calls Biden’s failure to enforce them.

Abbott pushed for the legislation, which passed in a special session of the Republicandominated state legislature last month over the strong objections of Democrats, immigrant rights groups and Hispanic organisations who argued that the measure violated the US Constitution and would encourage racial profiling. Some border sheriffs have also opposed the legislation, expressing concern that it could rapidly overwhelm the local jails and courts if even a fraction of those who come over the border everyday were arrested.

The Texas law takes effect in March and is likely to wind through the courts in subsequent months, just as presidential and congressional campaigns intensify.

Legal experts have said the legislation could create the opportunity for the US Supreme Court to revisit a 2012 case, Arizona v. US, that was narrowly decided in favour of the power of the federal government to set immigration policy.

Abbott called the legislation he signed Monday “so extreme” that it would drive migrants away from Texas.

UK ISSUES TRANSGENDER GUIDANCE TO SCHOOLS

LONDON, United Kingdom - The UK's Conservative government released guidance for schools regarding children considering changing their gender identity. The guidelines address the increasing number of children questioning their gender and have caused internal divisions within the Conservative Party. While there is no general duty for "social transition," the guidance allows pupils to informally change their names if it's in their best interest, with parental consultation. The advice, not mandatory, states that teachers and children should not be required to use a child's preferred pronouns. The guidance reaffirms single-sex schools' ability to refuse admission to pupils of the opposite sex. Despite criticism, Women and Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch asserts the guidelines provide confidence in handling the issue without misrepresentation. However, some, like former Prime Minister Liz Truss, argue the guidance doesn't go far enough and call for legal changes to protect single-sex spaces.