Good morning. We're covering Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and a state of emergency in Ecuador. Plus: Crucial elections in Africa.
U.S. and Britain shot down Houthi attack in Red SeaU.S. and British warships intercepted 21 drones and missiles fired on Tuesday from areas of Yemen controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia, officials said. The U.S. and its allies are now weighing how to shut down other attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea. The Houthi attacks, in solidarity with Hamas in its war against Israel, have forced the world's largest shipping companies to reroute vessels away from the Red Sea, creating delays and extra costs felt worldwide through higher prices for oil and other imported goods. The Biden administration and a number of allies said last week that they would hold the Houthis responsible for the attacks, a warning that suggested the government may be considering retaliatory strikes on Houthi territory in Yemen, military officials said. Rather than back off, the Houthis appear to have stepped up their attacks. Context: So far, the U.S. has held back from hitting Houthi bases in Yemen, in large part to avoid undermining a fragile truce in Yemen's civil war. Pentagon officials have drawn up plans for striking bases in Yemen and facilities where boats used to attack ships appear to be moored, and London is also considering military action. In other news:
Ecuador imposed drastic measures to curb drug gangsA sense of dread has taken hold in Ecuador after the disappearance of two gang leaders on Monday set off shocking prison riots, police kidnappings and the on-air storming of a TV station. In what experts say are his most aggressive steps yet, the country's president, Daniel Noboa, has declared an "internal armed conflict" and directed the military to "neutralize" the country's two dozen gangs, which the government labeled "terrorist organizations." The unrest began with violence erupting in prisons across the nation, as soldiers surged into a penal compound after the disappearance of a powerful gang leader from his cell. Inmates took prison guards captive, and dozens of detainees escaped, including another prominent gang leader. Explosive violence soon spilled over into cities and towns, where drug gangs run rampant. Context: For two years, the country of nearly 18 million has been dominated by an increasingly powerful narco-trafficking industry. International drug cartels from as far away as Albania have joined forces with local prison and street gangs, unleashing a wave of violence unlike anything in the country's recent history. Homicide rates have soared to record levels.
The race for second place is heating up in IowaNikki Haley and Ron DeSantis — who are virtually tied for a distant second place in the Republican battle for the presidential nomination behind Donald Trump in national polls — took the stage in Iowa for a one-on-one debate. Read our commentary. Trump, choosing again to skip any event in which his front-runner status could be challenged in person, instead appeared in a town hall on Fox News. This week, he attacked Haley with the false claim that she is not eligible for the presidency because her Indian immigrant parents were not yet citizens when she was born in South Carolina. Trump court case: The former president backed down from delivering his own closing argument in his civil fraud trial after refusing to abide by a judge's restrictions. Chris Christie: The former governor of New Jersey and Trump critic, who has suspended his presidential campaign, was heard mocking Haley and DeSantis during a hot-mic moment. President Biden: Hunter Biden appeared at a hearing on Capitol Hill, as Republicans prepared for an impeachment inquiry against his father.
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After decades of declining fatality rates, dangerous driving in the U.S. has surged again. Since the first lockdowns of 2020, drivers have been speeding more and plowing through intersections with an alarming frequency. Seatbelt use has declined, and arrests linked to intoxicated driving have rebounded to near historic highs. Lives Lived Amalija Knavs, a former Slovenian factory worker who became a U.S. citizen with help from one of her daughters, Melania Trump, has died at 78.
Roony Bardghji interview: FC Copenhagen's rising star. Copyright infringement: Why Manchester City are being sued by Superdry. Becoming the GOAT: How Novak Djokovic changed his game. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.
A year of crucial electionsAfricans in at least 17 countries will cast ballots this year to choose a president or national legislature. Senegal and Ghana, two nations in West Africa that are enjoying stability in a region beset by coups, will hold elections. South Sudan, the youngest nation in the world, will also head to the polls in East Africa, while in southern Africa a new generation of voters will test the parties that led the continent's struggles for independence. Here's a look at the elections that will put democracy to the test in Africa. Can liberation movements survive? A new generation of voters will test liberation-era parties in South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Botswana. South Africa is the most closely watched contest. There, 30 years after Nelson Mandela became president, the governing African National Congress faces widespread discontent. Will a military junta hand over power? After successive coups, the ruling junta in Mali has promised to return power to a democratically elected government, but the generals in charge have already postponed the election scheduled for February, without announcing a new date. Will a strongman be victorious? In power since 2000, President Paul Kagame is once again vying to lead Rwanda. Human rights groups have accused him of abuses, but Kagame points to the country's relative economic successes since the genocide of 1994 as he cements his power.
Cook: This red curry chicken bakes on a sheet pan. Read: Cynthia Zarin's first novel, "Inverno," is a tale of a woman's incurable longing and haunted past. Brew: Make a full-bodied cup of coffee with a French press. Chill: The very things that make January dreary are what endears the month to its fans. Exercise: Your workout isn't complete without strength training. Watch: "Good Grief" is a wise, funny portrait about navigating life after loss. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha P.S. Tell us about the little things you do for love. You can reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.
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