US, Britain launch military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen - The Straits Times

WASHINGTON - The United States and Britain have launched strikes against targets linked to the Houthi movement in Yemen, four US officials told Reuters on Jan 11, the first strikes against the Iran-backed group since it started targeting international shipping in the Red Sea late in 2023.

A Houthi official confirmed “raids” across the country, including in the capital Sanaa along with the cities of Saada and Dhamar as well as in Hodeidah governate, calling them “American-Zionist-British aggression”.

The ongoing strikes are one of the most dramatic demonstrations to date of the widening of Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East since its eruption in October.

One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the strikes were being carried out by aircraft, ships and submarine. Two officials said Australia, Canada, Bahrain and the Netherlands provided support for the operation.

The official said more than a dozen locations were targeted and the strikes were intended to be more than just symbolic.

The Houthis, who control most of Yemen, defied a UN call to halt their missile and drone attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and warnings from the United States of consequences if they failed to do so.

The Houthis say their attacks are a demonstration of support for Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that controls Gaza. Israel has launched a military assault that has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza after Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023.

The Houthi have attacked 27 ships to date, disrupting international commerce on the key route between Europe and Asia that accounts for about 15 per cent of the world’s shipping traffic.

Witnesses told Reuters that the raids on Jan 11 targeted a military base adjacent to Sanaa airport, a military site near Taiz airport, a Houthi naval base in Hodeidah and military sites in Hajjah Governorate.

A formal statement from the United States was soon expected to detail the strikes.

The Pentagon declined comment.

Earlier on Jan 11, the Houthis’ leader said any US attack on the group would not go without a response.

The Houthis, who seized much of Yemen in a civil war, have vowed to attack ships linked to Israel or bound for Israeli ports. However, many of the targeted ships have had no links to Israel.

The US military said on Jan 11, Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile into international shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden, the 27th attack by the group since Nov 19, 2023.

US and British naval forces shot down 21 drones and missiles fired by Yemen-based Houthis on Jan 9 towards the southern Red Sea, the largest attack in the area by the militants.

In December, more than 20 countries agreed to participate in a US-led coalition, known as Operation Prosperity Guardian, safeguarding commercial traffic in the Red Sea. REUTERS

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2024-01-12 00:05:57Z
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US demands release of oil tanker taken by Iran's navy off Oman - CNA

COMMUNICATIONS LOST

Ambrey, a British maritime risk company, said the group which boarded the St Nikolas covered the ship's cameras. A security officer "reported hearing unknown voices over the phone along with the master's voice", it added.

Communications have been lost with the vessel, which was carrying 19 crew - 18 Filipinos and one Greek - the tanker's Greece-based management company Empire Navigation told AFP.

The vessel had been loaded with 145,000 tonnes of crude oil in Basra, Iraq and was destined for Aliaga in Turkey via the Suez Canal, Empire added.

Ambrey said the recently renamed tanker was previously prosecuted and fined for carrying sanctioned Iranian oil, which was confiscated by US authorities.

IRNA, quoting the Iranian navy's public relations office, said the ship was "being transferred to the ports of the Islamic republic for delivery to the judicial authorities".

In September, the United States said it had seized the Suez Rajan and its cargo of 980,000 barrels of crude oil months earlier.

The US Department of Justice said at the time that the oil on the Greek-managed tanker was allegedly being sold by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to China.

Shortly after that seizure, Iran seized two tankers - the Marshall Islands-flagged Advantage Sweet as it sailed toward the United States in the Gulf of Oman, and then the Greek-owned Niovi, as it travelled from Dubai to Fujairah.

The Gulf of Oman, a key route for the oil industry that separates Oman and Iran, has witnessed a series of hijackings and attacks over the years, often involving Iran.

Shipping in the resource-rich region is also on heightened alert following weeks of drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

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2024-01-11 18:22:05Z
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World's Most Powerful Passports 2024: Europe Catches Up to Japan, Singapore - Bloomberg

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1. World's Most Powerful Passports 2024: Europe Catches Up to Japan, Singapore  Bloomberg
2. World's most powerful passports: Singapore shares top spot with 5 other countries  The Straits Times
3. Singapore, Japan have most powerful passports, but so do 4 nations in Europe  South China Morning Post
4. Pakistan passport ranks fourth least powerful globally, trails behind North Korea  Times of India
5. The most powerful passport in the world? Six countries tie for top spot  CNBC

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2024-01-11 12:59:24Z
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South Africa accuses Israel of breaching Genocide Convention - CNA

Top lawyer for South Africa Adila Hassim said Israel's bombing campaign aimed at the "destruction of Palestinian life" and had pushed Palestinians "to the brink of famine".

"Genocides are never declared in advance, but this court has the benefit of the past 13 weeks of evidence that shows incontrovertibly a pattern of conduct and related intention that justifies a plausible claim of genocidal acts," she said.

As a fellow signatory to the treaty, South Africa can take Israel to the ICJ, which rules on disputes between countries and is often described as the "World Court".

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has long been a firm supporter of the Palestinian cause, often linking it to its own struggle against the white-minority government, which had cooperative relations with Israel.

South Africa has acknowledged the "particular weight of responsibility" of accusing Israel of genocide. It has "unequivocally" condemned the Hamas attacks that touched off the war in Gaza.

"ATROCIOUS AND PREPOSTEROUS"

Israel will present its own arguments Friday but President Isaac Herzog has already hinted at his country's likely defence.

"There's nothing more atrocious and preposterous than this claim," said Herzog.

"We will present proudly our case of using self defence ... under international humanitarian law," he said.

Herzog said the Israeli army was "doing its utmost under extremely complicated circumstances on the ground to make sure that there will be no unintended consequences and no civilian casualties".

The United States is backing its ally Israel, with the State Department describing the charges as "unfounded".

"In fact, it is those who are violently attacking Israel who continue to openly call for the annihilation of Israel and the mass murder of Jews," said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

As it is an urgent procedure, the ICJ could rule in a matter of weeks.

Its rulings are final and cannot be appealed. However, countries do not always follow the court's verdicts - the ICJ has ordered Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine, for example.

But a court ruling against Israel would certainly increase political pressure on the country, with many speculating it could serve as a pretext for sanctions.

Cecily Rose, assistant professor of public international law at Leiden University, said the court did not have to rule on the fundamentals of the case at this stage - that issue will likely take years.

"Instead, the court would only be evaluating whether there is a risk of irreparable prejudice to rights held under the Genocide Convention, in particular the right of the Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts that threaten their existence as a group," Rose told AFP.

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2024-01-11 12:17:47Z
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Taiwan Votes 2024: Cross-strait relations at the forefront of election issues - CNA

DIALOGUE WITH BEIJING

The DPP’s presidential candidate William Lai has said he is open to dialogue with Beijing, but the possibility remains remote after he flatly rejected the 1992 consensus — the “one China” principle — which Beijing insists forms the basis of any engagement between both sides.

On the other hand, the Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party are keen to restart high-level talks and explore trade agreements with Beijing.

While there has been speculation about a possible easing of cross-strait relations if the pan-blue camp, which favours closer ties with China, wins the presidency, political science Professor Chang Chun-Hao from Tunghai University said there are other factors at play.

“Given the CCP's (Chinese Communist Party) increasing consolidation of authoritarianism, it's unlikely that the situation will completely change just because the blue camp wins. Therefore, I believe it's crucial for Taiwan to stand firm on national stability regardless of the election outcome,” he said.

He noted that in recent years, Taiwan has received substantial support from the international community through its diplomatic approach.

“Especially in the past, cross-strait relations were purely between Taiwan and China. Now they have become an international issue. No matter which candidate wins the election, he must safeguard the island's democratic values and (be more selective) with international allies,” he said.

ENSURING TAIWAN’S SECURITY

While China has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure on the DPP government for advocating the island’s independence, the chances of Chinese President Xi Jinping taking any action are “currently relatively low due to numerous internal challenges”, said Prof Chang.

“But entering his fourth term facing escalating internal issues, coupled with increased foreign involvement in Taiwan, he might be compelled to respond,” he noted.

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2024-01-11 08:15:42Z
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Brunei's Prince Mateen marries commoner in lavish days-long celebration - CNA

Many Bruneians plan to line the streets on Sunday to watch the royal newlyweds take part in a procession.

"It's like something from a movie," said Nazatul Izzati Saifulrizal, 19.

EXTREME WEALTH

The pomp and pageantry of the royal extravaganza highlights the tiny country's extreme wealth, which is almost entirely derived from its enormous oil reserves.

A sliver of land on the northern edge of Borneo island in Southeast Asia, Brunei was influenced by Buddhism and Hinduism before its rulers converted to Islam in the 14th century.

It fell under British rule in the 19th century and gained independence in 1984.

An absolute monarchy with strict Islamic laws and a population of only about 450,000 people, Brunei is one of the world's richest countries.

Its annual GDP per capita is nearly US$36,000, according to the International Monetary Fund. However, analysts have warned that Brunei faces serious challenges to diversify its economy away from oil as crude prices remain volatile and its reserves dwindle.

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2024-01-11 07:34:32Z
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China warns Taiwan's ruling DPP presidential candidate is dangerous - CNA

Both the DPP and the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party parties support Taiwan's sovereignty but offer different views on the island's relations with China.

The KMT argues that both Taipei and Beijing belong to one single China but each can interpret what that means under something called the "1992 consensus", a tacit understanding reached between the then-KMT government and China in 1992.

On Thursday, the KMT's presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih, told reporters that he wouldn't touch the issue of reunification during his term of office if elected, while maintaining the status quo and encouraging exchanges with China.

The DPP rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying Taiwan's future should be decided by its people.

The United States, in a clear signal to China, opposes any outside interference or influence in Taiwan's upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, a senior Biden administration official said on Wednesday.

In a move that might stoke tensions with China, the United States said it plans to send an unofficial delegation to Taiwan following the election, according to a US senior official.

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2024-01-11 04:11:20Z
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