Tuesday briefing: Houthis attack an American ship

Houthis hit a US-owned ship

Houthi fighters fired a missile yesterday that caused limited damage to a US cargo ship off the coast of Yemen, the US military said.

The missile attack came a day after the Iran-backed Houthis attempted to hit a US Navy ship in the Red Sea. The Houthis, who say they stand in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, have launched four anti-ship cruise or ballistic missiles in four separate attacks since the US-led assaults began last week.

US forces are preparing for much larger retaliatory attacks from the Houthi militants and preparing a series of escalating responses, senior US military officials said. The escalation has fueled fears that the war between Israel and Hamas will spread further into the Middle East. But for now, it appears the US and Iran are trying not to bring their forces into direct combat.

Details: The missile fired yesterday hit the Gibraltar Eagle, a bulk carrier owned by a US company and flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, which was sailing in the Gulf of Aden, south of Yemen.

Other news from the war between Israel and Hamas:

• Hamas released a video of three hostages and said it would reveal their fate, an apparent attempt to pressure Israel to secure their release.

• One person was killed and seventeen others were injured in a car ram attack near Tel Aviv yesterday. Two Palestinian men have been arrested, Israeli police said.

• An Israeli footballer was briefly arrested and suspended from the football club in Turkey after expressing his support for Israel during a match.

The race for second place in Iowa

As we send out this newsletter, a group of Americans are gathering in Iowa to vote for the Republican presidential candidate, with polls showing Donald Trump as the dominant frontrunner.

The lingering question is who will finish second in the Iowa caucuses. Polls show it will be Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, or Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and UN ambassador under Trump.

Trump's opponents hope one of their own will emerge as a clear alternative to the former president, who faces 91 felony charges in four criminal cases set to go to trial before the November election.

Caucusing begins at 7 p.m. local time at gyms, community centers and churches, as brutal cold and snow in Iowa could impact turnout.

You can follow our live updates here.

For more: What are the Iowa caucuses and how do they work?

Nauru cut ties with Taiwan

Taiwan just lost a diplomatic ally in its rivalry with China: Nauru broke off diplomatic ties with the self-governing island just two days after Taiwan voters elected Lai Ching-te – whom Beijing sees as a staunch separatist – as their next president. He will take office in May.

Nauru is one of a growing number of Pacific island states that China has aggressively courted in its bid to dominate the region. The move leaves Taiwan with just twelve diplomatic relationships, mostly with smaller countries such as Eswatini, Guatemala, the Marshall Islands, Palau and Paraguay. As of early 2017, it had ties with 21 states.

The Crochet Coral Reef is a long-term artisanal and scientific collaborative work of art: nearly 25,000 crocheters (“reefers”) have created a global archipelago of more than 50 reefs.

The project, now on view at the Schlossmuseum in Linz, Austria, and the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, has been called the environmental version of the AIDS quilt: a celebration and advocacy for ecosystems threatened by climate change .

Indigenous tourism goes deeper

Around the world, travelers are looking to go beyond superficial interactions with indigenous cultures and opt for more in-depth experiences, such as tours led by indigenous guides and stays in indigenous-owned lodges.

In New Zealand, travelers have long wanted to witness the haka, the ceremonial Maori dance. But now, says a manager at the country's tourism marketing agency, “it's not just about attending a haka; it's about understanding the meaning and the stories behind it.” That shift is happening around the world, especially as more travelers want to experience natural wonders through the people and traditions native to those places.

Indigenous-owned and led tourism experiences are forecast to grow to $65 billion by 2032, up from $40 billion by 2022.