Tuesday, December 19, 2023

12/19 WAKE-UP CALL: U-S Vows To Protect Red Sea Shipping


The U.S. unveiled a multinational naval force to protect merchant vessels in the Red Sea after Houthi rebel attacks threatened the Suez Canal’s central role in global trade. On Monday, the Pentagon said it was establishing a security operation to protect seaborne traffic from ballistic missiles and drone attacks launched by the Houthi groups in Yemen. The effort, called Operation Prosperity Guardian, will include the U.K., Bahrain, France, Norway and other countries. Many of the world’s biggest shipping lines, oil producers and other cargo owners in recent days started diverting vessels from the region, prompting a spike in oil prices and insurance rates. “This is an international problem. And it deserves an international response,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in Tel Aviv on Monday.

U.S. officials tried to secure the support of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the two main players in the Yemeni civil war, people familiar with the discussions said. The two countries have opted to stay out for now as they are long at odds over how to deal with the Houthis, who get weapons and money from Iran. 

U-N DELAYS GAZA VOTE: Seeking to avoid another veto by the United States, the United Nations Security Council delayed a vote to Tuesday on a resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities in Gaza to allow unhindered access to deliver humanitarian aid.  Diplomats said negotiations were in motion to get the United States to either abstain or vote in favor of the Arab-sponsored resolution, which noted civilians in Gaza have scarce access to food, water, sanitation, electricity, telecommunications, and medical services "essential for their survival," according to The Associated Press.

The draft resolution considered Monday demanded the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas, and would express the council’s "strong concern for the disproportionate effect that the conflict is having on the lives and well-being of children, women, and other civilians in vulnerable situations," according to the AP. 

➤TEXAS TO ARREST MIGRANTS: Texas will begin arresting migrants under law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday Texas will begin authorizing state and local police to arrest migrants believed to be in the state illegally and granting state judges the power to order them to return to Mexico, under a new law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in Brownsville on Monday. 

The sweeping and controversial proposal is scheduled to take effect in early 2024 but some civil rights groups have already said they would file a lawsuit over the bill — which is likely destined to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

➤JUDGE STOPS REMOVAL OF CONFERDERATE MONUMENT:  A federal judge on Monday ordered a halt to the removal of a Confederate monument at Arlington National Cemetery shortly after U.S. Army crews began work to dismantle the tall bronze statue as required by Congress under a Jan. 1 deadline. A spokesperson for the cemetery, managed by the U.S. Defense Department, said the Army was complying with the restraining order and had ceased removal work begun in the morning atop the statue, known as the Confederate Memorial. The cemetery's own online critique describes the monument's imagery and inscriptions as sanitizing pre-Civil War slavery, romanticizing secession of the Southern pro-slave states, and perpetuating the noble "Lost Cause" myth of the Confederacy. The monument features a classically robed woman cast in bronze representing the American South standing atop a three-story pedestal adorned with life-sized figures of deities, Confederate soldiers and civilians.

➤APPLE HALTS SALES OF SMARTWATCH: Apple is halting sales for two of its new smartwatch models, at least for the time being.  The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 will soon no longer be available for purchase in the U.S., with Apple set to drop the device from its website starting at 3 p.m. ET Thursday and its retail stores after Sunday. Both versions of the smartwatch launched in September.   The sales pause comes after the U.S. International Trade Commission determined that Apple’s blood oxygen feature violated medical technology company Masimo's patent rights. Apple said it intends to appeal the decision to the Federal Circuit, arguing that a pause on sales could negatively impact users who rely on Apple Watch safety and health features.


➤4-YEAR-OLD BOY ID'D AFTER BEING KILLED IN FRONT OF PARENTS IN LANCASTER ROAD RAGE SHOOTING: A 4-year-old boy named Gor Adamyan was tragically killed in a road rage-related car-to-car shooting in Lancaster. The incident involved two suspects who allegedly chased down Gor's family, cut them off on a highway, and fired multiple shots at their vehicle. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department arrested a 29-year-old man, Byron Burkhart, and a 27-year-old woman, Alexandria Gentile, on suspicion of murder.
 
➤MORE THAN 100 KILLED AFTER EARTHQUAKE IN NORTHWEST CHINA: A magnitude 5.9 earthquake in China's Gansu Province has resulted in at least 111 deaths and over 200 injuries. The quake, which occurred late Monday evening, prompted the deployment of rescue workers. The United States Geological Survey initially reported a magnitude of 5.9, causing severe shaking with potential extensive economic damage, while Chinese authorities indicated a slightly higher reading of 6.2. The epicenter was about 23 miles west-northwest of Linxia Chengguanzhen, with the provincial capital of Lanzhou approximately 60 miles away.

➤HUNTER GETS COURT DATE: Hunter Biden will make his initial appearance in a California federal court on nine tax-related charges on Jan. 11, 2024. Biden will appear before Magistrate Judge Alka Sagar at 1 p.m., according to the Central District of California's court calendar. The court is located in Los Angeles. During an initial court hearing, defendants learn more about their rights and charges against them, according to the Justice Department's website.  A judge then decides whether the defendant will be released or not if they meet the requirements for bail.

NY Post 12/19/23
➤HAMAS SUPPORTERS HARRASS BALDWIN: Alec Baldwin was berated by anti-Israel protesters on Monday evening after hundreds of agitators flooded into Penn Station and Grand Central Station during a fiery demonstration where they told Israel to “go to hell.” The irate “30 Rock” star jawed out the protesters who told him he has “no f—king shame” and belittled his “tanking” career while hundreds descended on the major Big Apple transit hubs during the protest opposing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza against Hamas. Baldwin was walking by the demonstration near West 29th Street when protesters spotted him and darted toward him, accusing him of supporting Israel. NYPD officers needed to escort the actor. Baldwin had no problem shouting back at them but was quickly met with the ire of the protesters.

➤MAJORS LOSES GIG: Jonathan Majors (left) has been dropped by Marvel Studios and will no longer portray Kang the Conqueror going forward in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Wrap has confirmed. It is not known at this time if the role of Kang the Conqueror will be recast, or if Marvel Studios will change plans for the MCU.  The decision comes shortly after Majors was found guilty of assault and harrassment in his New York domestic violence case. The “Creed III” actor was accused of physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend in March. Sentencing is scheduled for February.

➤SUPPORT GROWS FOR HONG KONG PUBLISHER:  International pressure was building over a landmark national security trial in Hong Kong for leading China critic Jimmy Lai, with British authorities calling for consular access to the jailed democrat as his trial entered its second day on Tuesday. Lai, 76, the founder of now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and one of the most prominent critics of China's Communist Party leadership, faces several collusion with foreign forces charges under a China-imposed national security law that could see him jailed for life. The trial has become a diplomatic focal point and a key test for the financial hub's judicial independence and freedoms, with diplomats including those from the U.S., U.K., European Union, Canada and Australia in attendance. The British and U.S. governments have called for Lai's immediate release, saying the trial is politically motivated.

➤U-S STEEL TO BE ACQUIRED: United States Steel agreed to be acquired by Nippon Steel in a $14.1 billion deal that would give the Japanese corporation a major role in U.S. steelmaking and end the independence of one of America’s oldest, most storied industrial enterprises. A takeover of U.S. Steel would make Nippon Steel, already one of the world’s largest steelmakers, one of the top suppliers to the American auto industry. The deal would give the Tokyo-based company access in the U.S. to specialized steel used in electric vehicle motors, along with steel used in appliances and construction materials. The agreement Monday ends a monthslong sales process for U.S. Steel X 26.09%increase; green up pointing triangle, which had been evaluating various offers for its business since August.


🏈NFL SEAHAWKS 20 EAGLES 17: Eagles lose third straight, collapse late as Seahawks’ Drew Lock tosses TD pass and Jalen Hurts throws 2 INTs  The Eagles lost to Seattle, 20-17, Monday night after giving up a 92-yard touchdown drive to Seahawks backup quarterback Drew Lock after the two-minute warning. The Birds fell to 10-4 and lost a third consecutive game for the first time since 2021.

🏈NFL SUSPENDS STEELER: The NFL suspended Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee for the final three games of the regular season and any potential postseason games the team plays. The ruling came Monday from NFL vice president of operations John Runyan, two days after Kazee was ejected in the Steelers' 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis' Michael Pittman Jr. left the game following a play in which he dove for a pass and Kazee flew in and drilled the defenseless receiver. Flags littered the field and he was disqualified with 8:42 left in the second quarter.

In a letter to Kazee, the league cited a rule that prohibits players from forcibly hitting a defenseless player’s head or neck area with the helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder, "even if the initial contact is lower than the player’s neck, and regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the defenseless player by encircling or grasping him."

🏈AARON RODGERS 'WANTS TO PLAY' AS DEADLINE NEARS: New York Jets coach Robert Saleh revealed that quarterback Aaron Rodgers wants to play again this season, despite the team being eliminated. While Rodgers, recovering from Achilles surgery, is eager to return, Saleh did not confirm whether he will be back on the field. Saleh emphasized Rodgers' willingness to play, even if not at 100%, but stated that discussions about his return would only happen after clearance. Although it seems unlikely for Rodgers to play in the final three games, the Jets will respect his recovery process and await further developments.



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